were annexed to the dominions of neighboring princes. The secular princes of the empire, except the few who have been allowed to retain their sovereignty, have been mediatized, that is, deprived of their sovereignty and subjected to other princes; and of these, some possess larger estates than their more fortunate brethren, enjoying their revenues without the troubles attached to royalty. Of the mediatized princes the most wealthy are:Prince Esterhazy, whose state is now subject to Bavaria, and who derives about $900,000 a year from three square miles of territory, and less than 900 people; the Prince of Thurn and Taxis (annexed to Bavaria, Wurtemburg, and Hohenzollern,) who has a revenue of $250,000, and the monopoly of post-routes; the Duke of Aremberg, (now subject to Hanover and Prussia,) who has $375,000, &c.; and others, to the number of 99, whose former states on the aggregate covered only 7,036 square miles, and contained a population of about 980,000; and as these princes still retain the revenues of these states, no less a sum than £1,130,000 sterling, or five millions and a half of dollars, are annually drawn from the German laborer de jure divino! Such is Germany to-day.

The revolution which broke out in Paris in February, 1848, was not confined to that city, but spread widely over Europe, bearing along on its wings the great democratic idea. The states of Germany were, perhaps, more immediately moved than those of the extremes of Europe, and great changes have been made in almost every government of the country; and the empire, modified however in its forms, has been materially revived. under the sanction of the National Diet, at Frankfort, and Arch-Duke John, of Austria, called to the chief executive office. The Diet is yet in session, (December, 1848;) and it is probable that before rising, it will enact laws for the guidance of the general government, and establish a fair imperial constitution, giving to the people those rights they have through ages sought to obtain from the hands of their several princes. The unity of Germany must raise the country in the scale of nations.

THE EMPIRE OF AUSTRIA.

THIS great empire is situated almost in the centre of Europe, between the parallels of 420 and 51° north, and between 8° 30′ and 26° 30′ west longitude. The configuration is irregular, but the territory forms a very compact mass, embracing a great diversity of soil and climate, and containing a heterogeneous assemblage of tribes and nations, which differ from each other in language, manners, laws, religion, and degree of civilization. Its greatest length is about 860 miles, and its greatest breadth, exclusive of Dalmatia, about 492 miles; the area of the whole being estimated at 257,368 square miles. The frontier line, which is mostly marked by natural boundaries, extends upwards of 4,250 miles, of which less than 80 miles is sea

coast.

The Austrian empire comprises six kingdoms, viz:-Hungary, with Sclavonia and Croatia; Bohemia, Galicia, and Lombardy and Venice; the Principality of Transylvania; the Duchy of Styria; the Margraviate of Moravia and the County of Tyrol. The city of Cracow also forms a portion of the empire, having been seized upon by the Emperor, in 1846,

with the consent of the protecting powers. For administrative purposes, however, these, exclusive of Cracow, are arranged into 15 great provinces, the general statistics of which are exhibited in the annexed table:

=

PROVINCES.

Total Area Area |Population Population Pop. Area in within without Total within without to sq. miles. Germany. Germany. Population Germany. Germany. sq. m.

The aspect of the country, so far as it lies within the limits of Germany, has been alluded to in a former section. The remaining portions will be treated of when we notice the topography of the several regions. The climate is very various. The countries in the north, including Bohemia, Moravia, Galicia, &c., have a climate resembling that of the north of France; and the agricultural products are very similar. The middle region comprehends Upper and Lower Austria, Hungary, Transylvania, &c., and has a milder climate, and in many parts vines and maize are cultivated. In Lombardy and Venice, and the Illyrian coast, the winters are short, and the soil productive of the finest of fruits, oil and wine. It is proper to add, however, that the influence of altitude is nowhere so apparent as in the several regions of the Austrian empire. The extensive tracts adjacent to the Carpathians, and the lofty barriers between Bohemia and Moravia, partake of all the rigor of the north, while Galicia and the interior of Bohemia, though lying north of these, are considerably warmer. The average fall of rain is much greater in the mountains than on the plains. In Vienna and the low-lying tracts, 28 inches are a frequent average; but in the mountains the average often amounts to 40 inches and upwards. More than a third of the productive soil of the empire is said to be occupied by forests.

The inhabitants of the Austrian empire may be arranged under five classes, viz:-I. Sclavonians, comprising more than half the whole popula tion, and subdivided into several distinct races, as the Tschekkes of Bohemia, the Slowacks of Moravia and Hungary; the Poles of Galicia, the Rusniaks of Galicia and Hungary, the Wendes of Styria, Carniola, Carinthia, &c. II. Deutsch or Germans, who occupy Austria, and are thinly scattered over the whole empire. III. Græco-Latins, in the Italian kingdoms, including also the Wallachians, who form the greater portion in the Bukowine, and are very numerous in Transylvania, Hungary, and the Military Frontier. IV. Magyars, who are the dominant races in Hungary and Transylvania. V. Beside the above, there are a great number of Jews, in the west, and Zinganies or Gipsies, Armenians and Greeks in the east.

The average annual increase of population in the empire is about 1.193 per cent., thus appearing to double itself in 513 years. The populations of the above races may be thus stated-Sclavonians, 18,500,000; Germans, 6,000,000; Italians, 5,300,000; Wallachians, 900,000; Magyars, 4,500,000; Armenians, Albanians, Gypsies, &c., 150,000, and Jews, 667,139.

The Roman Catholic is the dominant religion, but the Greek Church prevails in the eastern provinces. Calvinism is also professed by many in Hungary and Transylvania, and in the latter some Unitarians or Socinians are to be found. Mennonites, Jews, and other sectaries are to be met with throughout the empire. The Roman Catholics number 25,704,119; Greeks, 6,529,300; Protestants, 3,536,849; Jews, 667,139; all others, 48,022. The military, whose religion is not given, numbers 464,972. Every sort of occupations and official places are open to all without respect to creed. The emperor is in all but the name, head of the church, and Popery is very limited in its influence, and since the virtual suppression of the monasteries by Joseph II., the regular clergy have been subject to the secular. The church services are now read in the vernacular, except the mass, which is still mumbled in Latin. There are eleven Roman Catholic archbishops, one Greek (united) archbishop, one Greek (schismatic) archbishop, and one Armenian archbishop. The Catholic Church has besides 59 bishops with chapters and consistories, and 43 abbots of richly endowed monasteries in Austria, Styria, Bohemia, Illyria, and Moravia. In Hungary there are 22 endowed abbots, 114 titular abbots, 41 endowed and 29 titular prebendaries, and 23 college foundations. Transylvania has three titular abbots and 150 monasteries and convents, and Galicia 70 monasteries The Greek United Church has one archbishop and one bishop in Galicia, and five bishops in Hungary. The Armenian Catholic Church has an archbishop at Lemberg. The Greek Church has an archbishop, with 10 bishops and 60 deacons. The Lutherans are under ten, and the Calvinists under nine superintendants or bishops. The Unitarians have one superintendant for 164 parishes. The great principle which pervades the whole ecclesiastical government of the empire, is the supremacy of the civil power over the persons, the property, the beneficiary appointments, and even the spiritual functions of the clergy of all denominations. Every person promulgating a papal bull, edict, or ordinance, without the previous sanction of the crown, is subject to confiscation of property and imprisonment; and no Austrian subject can be excommunicated by any ecclesiastical authority, or even by the Pope himself, without the emperor's consent. Patronage belongs partly to the crown, and partly to the bishops, corporations, and private individuals. A strict surveillance is had over the conduct of the ministers; and in cases of irreclaimable immorality, the offenders are removed to a kind of monastic penitentiary, and kept on short allowance for a given period, or for life.

The system of primary and elementary schools in all the Austrian states is nearly uniform. In the German portion, the schools are more numerous and efficient than in Hungary, and the more remote parts of the empire. In the lowest grade of schools, the "Volks-Schulen," instruction is confined to reading, writing, and accounts. Above these are the "Gymnasia," or high schools, for the classics and mathematics, and commercial academies in the towns; and universities, of which there are nine, viz.: at Prague, Vienna, Padua, Pavia, Lemberg, Gratz, Olmutz, Innspruck, and Pesth. The clergy have the general supervision of all schools, and the whole are regulated with a view to strict uniformity of system, and to their

connection with some one or more of the religious professions recognized by the state. At the head of the department is the Hof-Studien-Commission, at Vienna: a board of lay commissioners, which is in constant communication with the religious consistories; and which examines and reports on every point connected with instruction, profane or sacred, civil or military, but has no legislative power or authority of any kind. The principle of instruction which pervades all the schools is not of the most beneficent kind; the tendency of the system is to check the expansion of the mental powers, by confining the attention of the scholars to a prescribed routine of verbal tuition; and the result is, that the pupils leave school with a very small amount of actual knowledge; but having been imbued with the doctrines and opinions which are sanctioned by the government, they are found to be ready instruments in carrying into effect its most obnoxious measures. In spite, however, of the prejudices imbibed with their early instruction, the Austrians are far from being that bigoted and slavish race a priori deduction would suggest.

races.

On the 25th April, 1848, the Emperor Ferdinand gave a new constitu tion to the empire, the principal provisions of which are herewith briefly summed up. All the countries belonging to the empire form one constitu tional, indivisible monarchy. Nationality and language is granted to all The crown remains hereditary; the heir to the throne is of age on attaining his eighteenth year; but in cases of minority or incapacity, a regency is to be established by special law. The emperor is irresponsible, but his ordinances, to be of force, must be signed by a responsible minister. The executive power belongs to the emperor alone, and he exercises the legislative in connection with the Diet. He nominates to all public offices; decrees all dignities, orders, and titles of nobility; exercises the command in chief by land and sea; declares war and concludes peace and treaties with foreign governments, but all treaties require the ratification of the Diet; and he has the right of pardon, except in cases where a crown minister is implicated. The entire administration of justice is under the jurisdiction of the emperor, and all proceedings are had in his name. No law is in force until sanctioned by the emperor. He convokes, prorogues, and dissolves the Diet; but in the latter case a new Diet must be called within three months thereafter.

Liberty of conscience and of person is guaranteed to all citizens. No arrests can be made without form of law; and within 24 hours every person arrested must be interrogated and brought up for trial. Liberty of speech and of the press is guaranteed, and the censorship is abolished; the secrecy of letters is inviolable; the right of petition and of forming civil associa tions is also guaranteed; and the liberty of emigration. Every citizen may become a freeholder, may follow any branch of trade, and may take any office or dignity. The law is equal to every citizen. Judges cannot be dismissed, except by virtue of a judgment given by proper judicial authority. The laws are to be publicly and orally administered. Trial by jury is to be introduced. The free exercise of worship is assured to all, the Jews included.

The Diet, which is to exercise the legislative functions in concert with the emperor, is to be divided into two chambers: a Senate and Chamber of Deputies. The duration of a Diet is fixed at five years, with an annual convocation. The "Senate" consists of the princes of the royal house, who have attained their 24th year; of members nominated for life by the

emperor; and of 150 members, elected by the principal landed-proprietors from their own body, and for the full period of the Diet. The "Chamber of Deputies" is to be composed of 383 members; the apportionment being based on population, and the representation of all civic interests. Each chamber elects its own officers. Members must vote in person; and any pledge made to their constituents is not to hold good. The sessions are to be public, except in certain cases. Members are free from arrest; must receive pay; but cannot occupy any other official station without vacating their seats.

The Diet which immediately succeeds each new accession to the throne, fixes the civil list of the emperor for the duration of his reign. The allowances to members of the imperial family are also under the control of the Diet. The annual authority for keeping up a standing army, for raising taxes and tithes, and for the carrying out of the state laws, the alienation of state property, the examination and passing of the state budget of receipts and payments, cannot take place but by the laws; and all projects of laws on these heads must originate in the Chamber of Deputies. Petitions are only presented by members. The number of members constituting a quorum is 30 in the Senate, and 60 in the Chamber of Deputies. Any project of law for the completion, extension, or modification of the constitution, must, before becoming a law, be passed by two-thirds of all present; but, in ordinary cases, an actual majority is sufficient. The government is represented in the chambers by responsible ministers, who, if members, have a casting vote. Each chamber fixes the order of its own affairs.

In the different countries there are provincial states for defending the interests of the provinces, and such as existed at the promulgation of the constitution still retain their organization and attributions. Municipal bodies are provided for the circles and districts of each province. Communal institutions are based on the principle that all the interests of the commune and its members may be represented by them. The National Guard will be organized throughout the whole monarchy: it is subordinate to the civil tribunals, and each member, as well as all public officers, must swear fidelity to the emperor and the constitution. The oath of the army to the

constitution is taken in the oath to the colours.

The present Empire of Austria was founded in 1806, when the Holy Roman (German) Empire having been dissolved by Napoleon, the Emperor Francis II. assumed the new title of Emperor of Austria. The imperial family are the descendants of Francis, Duke of Lorraine, who married Maria Teresa, the eldest daughter and heiress of the Emperor Charles VI., the last male of the house of Hapsburg, and was through her influence elected emperor in 1745. Dying in 1765, he was succeeded successively by his two sons, Joseph I., who died in 1790, and Leopold I., who died in 1792. The latter was succeded by Francis I, who, as already stated, was the last Emperor of Germauy, and first of Austria. Maria Teresa died in 1780, and was succeeded in her hereditary states by her son, the Emperor Joseph, who then became, in right of his mother, King of Hungary and Bohemia, Arch-duke of Austria, &c. Ferdinand succeeded his father Francis in 1835, but being incapacitated for his high duties by mental and bodily weakness, the government was managed by a council until early in 1843, when the revolutionary movements compelled the members, of which Prince Clement von Metternich-Winneburg was the most able, to absquat ulate, and the governmental functious fell to the lot of a popular ministry