officers of state. Difference of religion does not affect the equal enjoyment of political rights. Every citizen is bound to serve for a certain period in the army, should he be chosen by lot, or to find a substitute. No citizen can remain in arrest for the space of twenty-four hours without being informed of the cause of his apprehension.

The territories of the duke of Gotha lie in Thuringia; they are extremely fertile, well cultivated, and thickly populated. Agriculture is their principal source of prosperity. The northern districts are plains, intersected by chains of hills; the south is mountainous and woody.

The principal products are corn, potatoes, carrots, and other vegetables, flax, poppies, aniseed, woad, and an immense quantity of wood, which is the staple article. A few hops are grown; there is not much fruit, and the wine is only made for vinegar. There are plenty of pigs and poultry, but the horses are of an inferior breed. The country contains mines of iron, manganese, coal and slate. There are numerous worsted-spinners and linenweavers, particularly in the hilly districts. There are also woollen and cotton manufactories, but they are not very numerous. Other articles of manufacture are, iron-ware, wire, copper goods, stockings, tobacco, glue, leather, and soap. There are five paper-mills, three porcelain, and three hardware manufactories.

The exports are corn, wood, wool, woad, manganese, pitch, potash, bilberries, coriander-seeds, aniseed, butter, linen, iron goods, sausages, and livers of geese.

Coburg, the capital of the principality of Coburg, and formerly the residence of the duke, is situated in a delightful country; it contains more than 800 houses, and about 9000 inhabitants. One of the most prominent public buildings is the palace of Ehrenburg, in which the present duke has made large improvements. It now contains a library, a cabinet of natural history, of medals and prints, and an armoury. In the neighbourhood of the town is the castle of Coburg, which contains a workhouse, and a house of correction. In the town itself is a gymnasium, supplied with a library, with specimens of natural history, and medals. There are a senate house, an orphan

asylum, a casino, an armoury, and a government house, built in an Italian style of architecture. Amongst the curiosities of the place are Luther's room, which contains some beautiful woodwork, and the alabaster monument of Duke John Frederic, in the church of St. Maurice. The principal places of amusement are the theatre, the casino, the redoute, and the musical club. In the neighbourhood, are the beautiful old and new walks, the ruins of the castles of Callenberg and Lauterburg, and the lovely seat of the duke, the Rosenau.

Gotha, the capital of the duchy of Gotha, and also a residence of the present duke, contains about 1300 houses, and 13,000 inhabitants. The palace of Friedenstein contains a very good library, a collection of coins, a museum of natural history, a Chinese cabinet, a picture gallery, and remarkable collections made by the late duke,—the whole forming a treasure of literature and art, such as few moderate towns can boast of. In 1824, the museum which was given to the country by the late duke, Frederic, was opened. The ducal libraries contain 150,000 volumes. The walls and fortifications of the town have been changed into ornamental walks. Near the town is the observatory on the Seeberg, 1189 feet above the level of the sea. In the neighbourhood, too, is the palace of Friedreichsthal, containing some valuable monuments of Italian art, and the Orangery and Park, where the Dukes Ernest and Augustus are buried.

The chief places of amusement and public resort here, are the theatre, ball-rooms, and public gardens. In the neighbourhood of Gotha are, two ducal palaces, and the Moravian colony of Neudietendorf.

The house of Saxe-Coburg is indisputably the most fortunate of all the existing great families of Europe. No common lot has attended them in our time, and they appear destined to fill a remarkable place in modern history. The reigning duke has succeeded to the inheritance of the duchy of Saxe-Gotha, which he enjoys in addition to his original sovereignty of Coburg. His brother, Leopold, was born under an extraordinary star; he first married the heiress to the British throne, and subsequently a daughter of the king of the French; two ladies not

less amiable than elevated; and, after declining the throne of Greece, he has been chosen king of Belgium. One sister espoused the Archduke Constantine of Russia, and thus in the ordinary course of events would have become empress of all the Russias. The history of another sister, the duchess of Kent, is too well known to require comment; she is the mother of the queen of England. Another brother has married one of the greatest heiresses of the Austrian empire, the daughter of the prince of Kohary, and occupies the high post of lieutenant fieldmarshal, in the service of the emperor. Finally, a nephew of the duchess of Kent is the reigning king of Portugal. An impartial review of the progress of this distinguished family compels us to add, that it does not owe its success to unworthy intrigue; its members bear their great estate with prudence, with good sense, and with moderation; and their domestic qualities form an antidote to the venom which generally pursues a career of

success.

CHAPTER XXXIII.

THE DUCHY OF SAXE-ALTENBURG.

Ruling Family. Provinces and Population. Principal Towns. Religion. Educational Institutions. Budget. Form of Government. Ministers and Officers of the Court.

THE ducal house of Saxe-Altenburg is of the Lutheran religion. The present duke, Joseph, born in 1789, succeeded his father in 1834. He married, in 1817, Amelia, daughter of Duke Lewis of Wurtemberg, by whom he has four daughters. He has two sisters: Charlotte and Theresa, the former married to Duke Paul of Wurtemberg; the latter to the king of Bavaria and three brothers: George, married to Princess Maria of MecklenburgSchwerin; Frederick; and Edward, married to a princess of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen.

The following is a view of the divisions of the duchy, and of their population:

According to the latest census, the duchy contains 117,921 inhabitants.

The principal towns are, Altenburg (12,629 inhabitants), Ronneburg (4640), and Eisenberg (4605).

The inhabitants are all Germans, except 10,443 Vandals, who, however, are now quite Germanized. There are 150 Catholics in this state; all the rest of the population is Lutheran.

There are a general superintendant, 6 special superintendants, 130 churches, and 79 filiale, or chapels of ease.

There is a gymnasium, a lyceum, 8 town-schools, a girls'school; an institution for the daughters of noble families, a seminary for schoolmasters, a school for drawing, and one for trade and art.

The revenue amounts to 682,560 florins, of which 370,800 florins are contributed by the taxes. The exchequer debt amounts to 399,015 florins; the public debt to 1,440,000 florins. The contingent to the army of the confederacy is 982 men.

The government is a monarchy, which is limited by a diet, consisting of deputies of nobles, citizens, and peasants.

The ministers are, a president of the chamber of finance, a president of the consistory, and a president of the government. The chief officers of court are, a grand huntsman, a grand marshal, and a grand equerry.