abounds with coal, the rich quicksilver mines of Idria, and the salt mines of Galicia, Salzbourg, and the Tyrol, which are yet in their infancy; and what might not Hungary alone become, if once emailcipated from the trammels of feudal despotism? Nor is this all; for Austria being situated in the centre of Europe, with fine rivers adapted to steam navigation, she must attain a great degree of prosperity, when the government and the people become sensible of their favourable position for commercial intercourse with the surrounding nations. Take, for instance, the Danube, the noblest river in Europe, running through the heart of the empire, and navigable from Ulm to the Black Sea but this is not her only advantage; for the greater part of its numerous tributaries have their source in some part of the empire. Among these, the Save and the Drave are the most important: the first is navigable through the whole of the immense district from Laibach, within two days' journey of Trieste, on the Adriatic, to Belgrade; the latter is nearly equal in importance, being navigable, in consequence of its junction with the Mur, from Gratz in Styria to Essek in Hungary; to which we may add the Theyss, the Patissus of the Romans, which, rising in the Carpathian mountains, runs a course of five hundred miles through Hungary, and empties its waters into the Danube at Salankemen. Austria also possesses the Moldau, which, falling into the Elbe, below Prague, might, at no very great expense, be united with the Danube by means of a canal, and thus open a communication between the Black Sea

and the German Ocean. The Vistula, another of Europe's finest rivers, which rises in Austrian Silesia, might also, by means of a canal, be connected with the Danube, through the medium of the Waag, and thus afford the means of transit to the Baltic. Finally, we shall, in a few years, behold the Danube connected with the Atlantic, in consequence of the canal now in progress, to effect a union between that river and the Rhine.

Such is a brief view of the facilities which Austria enjoys for commerce; and yet, in the nineteenth century, we find many of the provinces of that country in almost a primitive state. But the steam naviga

tion now commenced between Vienna, the Black Sea, and Constantinople, will gradually produce its good effects. Vienna will most probably, from her superior intelligence, wealth, and manufactures, become the emporium of commerce on the Danube; and Hungary— the fertile Hungary-will assume the station for which nature seems to have destined her. The Turkish provinces of Servia, Wallachia, and Bulgaria, will also become civilized, their immense natural riches multiplied, and their institutions gradually assimilated to those of the more intellectual nations of Europe. Will not, therefore, the children yet unborn of these beautiful, but benighted countries, have just cause to erect monuments to the memory of the immortal inventor of the steam engine, James Watt? Had the princes of Austria extended their empire down the Danube to the Black Sea, to which there was formerly scarcely an

obstacle, instead of grasping after the costly phantom of the Roman diadem, and a share in the plunder of unhappy Poland, what a path would be now open to her commerce and political power!-whereas, Russia, in possession of the Black Sea, not only dictates laws to Austrian commerce on the Danube, but, in the event of a war, can utterly destroy it; and powerful, independent Poland no longer exists as a barrier to protect her.

CHAPTER XXI.

Austria and Prussia contrasted-Departure from Vienna-Styria-Valley of the Mur-Styrian Peasants - Gratz-Archduke John-NobilityMarburg-Zilly-Laybach-The late Sir Humphry Davy-Zirknitzer Lake-Grotto at Adelsberg- The Proteus Anguinus-Castle of Lueg - Idria.

I HAVE now, I hope, considering my very limited space, in some degree, familiarized my readers with the present state of the two great leading powers of the Germanic empire. The governments of both are despotic, in the fullest sense of the word, in their admirable social institutions there is little difference: the same paternal solicitude is evinced by the monarchs for the welfare of their subjects, and each possesses a code of laws, mild and vigorous, for the enforcement of good order; the same stern police and army of spies; the same restrictions on native, foreign, and political literature, is to be found both in Austria and Prussia: the only dif ference being in religious liberality, which is all in favour of the latter. But though the clergy in Austria may exercise an undue share of power, yet the military despotism of Prussia is still greater, and its effects upon

AUSTRIA AND PRUSSIA CONTRASTED.

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the people more irksome and irritating. In Austria at least, we are never reminded by the conduct of the soldiers, that they exercise any influence in the affairs of the state: this absence of offensive behaviour is no doubt caused in some measure by the majority of the army being composed of well-disciplined veterans, and probably because it is not countenanced by the government; while in Prussia, the youth taken from the plough or the loom to serve a few years, no sooner finds that he has got a sword, than he becomes a little despot, and lords it over those of his companions who have not the wished for distinction.

The two countries have for some time been making rapid strides in commercial prosperity; yet notwithstanding they are so nearly balanced in their exterior features, how comes it that we find crime on the increase in Prussia, not only political offences, and secret revolutionary associations, but moral crime ?-while in Austria, if we except poaching and smuggling, it is comparatively unknown; so much so, that the post-boy with his money-bag may be seen travelling alone in every part of her German provinces; and I was assured that not a single native of them was confined for political offences, and very few from what may be termed her foreign provinces-Hungary, Italy and Poland.

The increase of moral crime in Prussia is referred by some to the compulsory military duty, and the habits of idleness it produces; others assert that it has originated in the example of injustice exhibited to the people by