DENMARK.

DENMARK is bounded on the north by the Skager Rack; on the west by the German Ocean; on the south by Germany (SchleswigHolstein); and on the east by the Cattegat, the Sound, and the Baltic.

Its length from the Skaw to lat. 55° 17′ is 200 miles; and its breadth, from Copenhagen to the German Ocean, is about 180 miles. Its AREA in square miles is 14,553; and its POPULATION in 1880 was 1,969,000.

Denmark is partly a continental, and partly an insular kingdom. Its continental territory consists of the peninsula of Jutland; and its principal islands are Zealand and Funen at the entrance of the Baltic.

CHIEF TOWNS.-Copenhagen (273,000), the capital, and residence of the king, is situated on a fine harbour on the east coast of the island of Zealand. The city is very regularly built and strongly fortified. Elsinore (8,000), on the east coast of the island of Zealand, at the narrowest part of the Sound, the passage of which is commanded by the castle or fortress of Krongberg in the vicinity, is the place where the "Sound dues" were formerly levied from foreign vessels. Aalborg (14,000), (“Eeltown") so called from the number of eels obtained at Lymfiord in its neighbourhood. Odensee (21,000), the principal town on the island of Funen, has considerable manufactures in woollen and iron wares. Aarhuus (25,000), on the east coast, has considerable trade.

ISLANDS.-The other islands are Langeland, Falster, Laaland, Bornholm (noted for its wooden clocks), &c., in the Baltic.

STRAITS.-The Sound, the Great Belt, and the Little Belt. RIVERS.-Numerous but small. The principal are the Skive, Guden, Varde, &c.

CAPES.-The Skaw, in the north of Jutland.

ARMY AND NAVY.-The Danish army consists of about 50,000 men, with a large reserve of landwehr, or militia. The naval force consists of 7 screw steamers, iron-clads; 12 screw steamers, unarmoured; 7 s. s. gun boats and 5 paddle steamers; in all, 31 steamers, carrying 314 guns and manned by 117 officers and 911

men.

FOREIGN POSSESSIONS.-Iceland and the Faroe Isles, in the Atlantic; the Islands of St. Thomas, St. Croix, and St. John, in the West Indies, and part of the coast of Greenland in the Arctic Ocean.

The AREA of Iceland is estimated at 37,800 square miles; and ts POPULATION, in 1880, was 72,000. The chief, and only town is Rey

kiavik. The Faröe Islands are 22 in number, of which 17 are inhabited. The POPULATION of them is about 11,000. Thorshaven, in Stromöe, is the principal town.

The AREA of Greenland, on the west coast, where the Danish settlements are, is estimated at 25,000 square miles-the remainder of the ice-bound island or peninsula being unknown. The POPULATION in 1878 was estimated at 10,000.

The AREA of the Danish Islands in the West Indies is estimated at 120 square miles, and the POPULATION at 34,000.

Continental Denmark, and particularly Jutland, forms a long continued plain, with few elevations, or rising grounds. There is no river of importance, the longest hardly exceeding 50 miles in length; but rivulets, brooks, and small lakes, are numerous. The climate is moist, but temperate, and generally healthy. The soil is in general fertile, and well adapted to pasturage; but in the north of Jutland there are large barren tracts covered with heath and sand.

HISTORICAL SKETCH.

The peninsula of Jutland, which was called the Chersonesus Cimbrica by the Romans, was at that period occupied by the Cimbri, a German tribe, but originally from the East. Little is known of Denmark till the 8th century after the Christian era. About the beginning of this century, and for two hundred years after, they, and their neighbours, the Norwegians, were notorious for their piracies, and for their predatory descents upon the coasts of England, France, Flanders, and Germany. They were then known by the name of Nordmans, Northmans, or Normans; and they called themselves Vikings or Sea-kings. In 832, they landed in England, and established themselves in a portion of it, and subsequently, they were for a time in possession of the whole kingdom. See page 272. In 911, under Rollo or Rolf, their celebrated leader, they made a descent upon the northern coast of France; and gave their name to Normandy. See page 282. They subsequently proceeded to Spain, Italy, and Sicily, spreading terror wherever they went, by their courage, ferocity, and rapacity.

In the year 1000, Sweyn, a warlike prince, conquered a part of Norway; and in 1013, he invaded England, and took possession of a portion of it. Having died the year after, his son Canute completed his conquests, and became king of Denmark, Norway, and England. Under Canute, the power of Denmark reached its highest point, and he was deservedly called the "Great." The sovereigns after him were little distinguished till Margaret, who was called "the Semiramis of the North," ascended the throne. She was daughter of Waldemar III., King of Denmark, and wife of Hakon VI., King of Norway. Upon the death of her son in 1387, she was crowned queen of both kingdoms. The Swedes, dissatisfied with their king Albert, offered her the crown, which she, having defeated Albert, accepted. She then effected the famous Union of Calmar, by which the three kingdoms became united under one crown. This wise and heroic princess reigned 26 years over Denmark and Norway, and 16 over Sweden. In 1523 the Union of Calmar was broken, and Sweden regained her independence; but Norway continued to be annexed to Denmark.

In the Revolutionary War with France, Denmark identified herself with the interests of Napoleon; and she was, in consequence, treated with great severity by England. In 1807, her capital was bombarded by a British fleet, and her fleet seized and carried off; and at the peace of 1814, she was obliged to cede the island of Heligoland to Britain in exchange for some West India islands; and Norway to Sweden in exchange for Swedish Pomerania, and the island of Rugen. In the following year_Denmark gave Pomerania and Rugen to Prussia in exchange for Lauenburg, and a pecuniary consideration. In 1848,

the Duchies of Schleswig and Holstein revolted, and after a short war matters were arranged by the Great Powers on condition that they were to retain their own distinct institutions, and not to be incorporated with Denmark or each other. In 1864, these conditions ceased to be carried out; and the Duchies were annexed to Prussia.

HOLLAND OR THE NETHERLANDS.

HOLLAND is bounded on the north and west by the German Ocean; on the south by Belgium; and on the east by Prussia.

Its length from north to south is 160 miles; and its breadth from east to west, 110 miles. Its AREA in square miles (excluding Luxemburg) is 12,791, and its POPULATION, in 1881, was 4,414,000.

The kingdom of the Netherlands is divided into 11 provinces:Chief Towns.

Provinces.

North Brabant,

Guelderland,

North Holland,

South Holland,

Zeeland,

Utrecht,

Friesland,

Overyssel,

Groningen,

Drenthe (Drent),

Limburg,

Meppel, Assen.

Maestricht, Venloo, Roermond.

The Grand Duchy of Luxemburg is connected with the kingdom by the King of the Netherlands being Grand Duke of Luxemburg; but it has a separate administration. It lies to the south-east of Belgium, within the limits of Germany. From 1815 to 1866 it was included in the dissolved Germanic Confederation as a separate and independent sovereign state. Its AREA is 995 square miles, and its POPULATION, 210,000. Luxemburg. its capital. is situated on an affluent of the Moselle. It has a population of 16,000.

CHIEF TOWNS.-Amsterdam (328,000) the capital, on the Amstel, is one of the inost commercial cities in Europe. The site of the city is marshy, and the houses are built on piles or timbers, driven deep

a See note, p. 141.

into the earth. Rotterdam (157,000) is next to Amsterdam in population and commerce. These cities are intersected in all directions by canals. The Hague (123,000) is a beautiful city, and the seat of government. Leyden (41,000) is celebrated for its university; and Utrecht (71,000) is memorable for its treaties. The Briel or La Brielle (4,000) is a handsome and strongly fortified town. The capture of the Briel is famous in Dutch history.

ISLANDS.-Texel, Vlieland, Ter Schelling, Ameland, Schiermonnik-Oog, Rottum, Borkum, which belong to the province of North Holland; Ysselmonde, Voorne, Beyerland, and Over Flakee, in South Holland; and Walcheren, N. Beveland, S. Beveland, Tholenland, and Schouwen, in the province of Zeeland.

SEAS AND BAYS.-Dollart Bay, Lauwer Zee, Zuyder Zee, and the Y, a branch of the Zuyder Zee.

RIVERS.-The Rhine, with its branches, the Waal, Yssel, and Leck; the Meuse or Maese, the Scheldt or Escaut, &c.

FOREIGN POSSESSIONS.-In the West Indies, Aruba, Curaçao, Buen Ayre, St. Eustatius, Saba, and part of St. Martin; in the East Indies, Java, and the Moluccas or Spice Islands, with settlements in Sumatra, Borneo, and Celebes; in South America, Dutch Guiana or Surinam.

The Dutch colonies rank next in importance to those of the British empire. Their united AREA is estimated at 675,000 square miles, and their POPULATION at 28,000,000.

ARMY AND NAVY.-The army consists of 62,000 men; and the navy of 103 steamers, and 19 sailing vessels, carrying in all 550 guns.

Holland, as its name implies, is a low flat country. In fact the greater portion of it is below the level of the sea, from which it is only preserved by enormous dykes or embankments. Viewed from an eminence, it presents the appearance of a vast plain, intersected by innumerable canals, which not only drain the country, but render it navigable in all directions. The tame monotony of the prospect is however relieved by the rich and verdant appearance of the country, interspersed with comfortable farm-houses, neat cottages, and elegant villas. The scene, too, is enlivened by the number of boats and ships which seem to be sailing through the country, amid trees and villages. The CLIMATE in the south is mild, but in the north moist and foggy,

a One in 1579, uniting the Seven United Provinces against the Spaniards; and another in 1713, terminating the wars of the Spanish succession.

b The Rhine, on its entrance into Holland, throws off two branches, the Waal, which unites with the Maese, and the Yssel, which falls into the Zuyder Zee. The Rhine further divides itself into the Leck, &c., and at length finds its way into the sea near Leyden, after having been nearly lost in the sands. The Scheldt receives the Lys at Ghent; and the Maese the Sambre, at Namur. No country in Europe, in proportion to its extent, has so many rivers as Holland.

and in winter very cold. At this season the canals are generally frozen over, but they are still used as modes of travelling. The people skate along them with surprising rapidity, and it is quite usual to see country girls proceeding to market in this way with baskets of eggs or other articles on their heads.

The Dutch are as remarkable for their enterprise abroad as they are for industry and perseverance at home. Their COMMERCE extends to all parts of the world; and their MANUFACTURES are extensive and valuable. The fine linens of the south, and the earthenware of the north have long been celebrated.

HISTORICAL SKETCH.

In the time of the Romans Holland was inhabited chiefly by the Batavii and Frisii. After the fall of the Roman Empire it was seized by the Goths and other northern hordes, who divided it into several petty states. It was conquered by Charles Martel in the eighth century, and subsequently formed a part of the dominions of Charlemagne. From the tenth to the fourteenth century the Netherlands were divided into many petty sovereignties, under the dukes of Brabant, the counts of Holland and Flanders, &c. In 1383, by marriages, and otherwise, the whole became subject to the dukes of Burgundy; and subsequently to the house of Austria; and thence it passed into the possession of Spain. In 1579, seven of the provinces threw off the yoke of Spain, and formed themselves into the "Republic of Holland, or the Seven United Provinces," under a supreme magistrate, called the Stadtholder or Defender of the State. The seven united provinces were Holland, Friesland, Groningen, Overyssel, Utrecht, Guelderland, and Zeeland. The other ten provinces remained subject to Spain till transferred to the German branch of the house of Austria in 1700. See the Historical note on Belgium.

BELGIUM.

BELGIUM is bounded on the north by the Netherlands; on the west by the North Sea; on the south by France; and on the east by Dutch Luxemburg, Rhenish Prussia, and Dutch Limburg.

Its length, from east to west, is about 150 miles; and its breadth, from north to south, is about 120 miles. Its AREA in square miles is 11,400; and its POPULATION in 1880 was 5,000,000.

Belgium, including a portion of the Duchies of Limburg and Luxemburg, consists of nine provinces.