POPULATION. [AUSTRIA.] HISTORY. We now enter one of the largest, most | the German provinces of the empire compopulous, and most important of the European states, viz., THE EMPIRE OF AUS TRIA. According to its recent division, the Austrian Empire embraces seventeen provinces or governments, some of which are countries of large extent; their names and population are as follows: 12,268 2,727,265 2,78S 4,053 337,694 prehend the portion of its population that The chief defect of the empire, in regard 153,159 to natural capabilities, is the limited extent 8,785 1,137,990 of its sea-coast. The entire range of this is 3,902 436,334 only about five hundred miles, which are confined to the shores of the Adriatic; and 3,052 600,525 even of this comparative small extent of 4,183 513,504 11,109 maritime frontier, by far the greater part 885,789 19,953 5,140,544 belongs to the Hungarian provinces of the 8,602 2,017,274 empire, a portion which is only united to 1,988 513,352 it by the code of political necessity, and is 33,800 5,444,689 22,196 2,115,024 liable at any time to be dissevered from its 69,504 11,188,502 rule. The entire frontier of the empire 8,980 1,168,037 measures upward of four thousand miles. 15,138 456,951 11,390 1,037,892 The greater portion, however, of these 241,691 35,874,525 states are united by peaceable means, that is, by inheritance or treaty, and their boundaries remain as they existed when they formed independent states. The principal ports of Austria are Trieste, Venice, and Fiume in Hungary. The empire is bounded on the north by Russia, Prussia, Poland, and Saxony; on the west by Bavaria, Switzerland, and the kingdom of Italy; on the south by Italy, the Adriatic Sea, and Turkey; and on the east by Turkey and Russia. Its great est length is 860 miles, and its average breadth 400 miles, the total area being nearly twice the size of Great Britain and Ireland, and one third more than the whole of the Middle and Northern States of our own country. The countries brought together under the rule of Austria, comprise a greater portion of the European continent than belongs to any other single power excepting Russia. They include provinces inhabited by people of different race and language, and whose only bond is that of political rule. The nucleus of Austrian power is German, and M'Culloch, in speaking of the size and increase of the Austrian empire, says: "The house of Austria derives its origin and the foundations of its power from Rodolph, count of Hapsburg, in Switzerland. Rodolph was one of the ablest princes of his age: having extended his authority over the greater part of Switzerland, and distinguished himself by his ability and bravery, he was raised in 1273 to the imperial throne. Rodolph's elevation was owing principally to the wish of the electors to have an emperor of undoubted ability, capable of putting down the anarchy that had long prevailed in the greater part of the states included within the limits of the "The great power and ambition of the princes of the house of Austria excited a well-founded alarm among the European powers. For a lengthened period the whole politics of Europe, its alliances and its wars, had little other object than the humbling of the power of Austria. This was the motive of the Thirty Years' War, terminated by the treaty of Westphalia in 1648, which secured the independence of the different states of the Germanic empire, and the free exercise of the Protestant religion. empire, and who, at the same time, was not | branches of the house-that of Austria, powerful enough to occasion any fear of properly so called, and that of Spain. cubverting the privileges of the different states. The family of the ancient Dukes of Austria, of the house of Bamberg, became extinct a short while previously to the elevation of Rodolph; their states were taken possession of by Ottocar, king of Bohemia, whose ascendency threatened the independence of the empire. But Rodolph, having secured the sanction of the Diet, declared war against Ottocar, whose forces were totally defeated and himself killed in the decisive battle of Marchfield in 1278. This formidable competitor being removed, Rodolph had little difficulty in procuring from the Diet the investiture of the duchy in favor of his eldest son, and it has ever since continued in the possession of his descendants, and formed one of the principal sources of their power. It "For a lengthened period the Turks held the greater portion of Hungary, but in 1699 they were finally expelled from that kingdom, and the arms of Prince Eugene gave the Austrians an ascendency over the Ottomans they have ever since preserved. "In 1740 the male line of the house of Austria terminated by the death of the Emperor Charles VI.; but his daughter, Maria Theresa, married to Francis of Lorraine, grand-duke of Tuscany, succeeded to his dominions, and eventually to the imperial crown. Shortly after her accession, Frederick the Great, king of Prussia, seized upon the greater part of Silesia. The recovery of this province was the principal object of Austria and her allies in the Seven Years' War; but his Prussian majesty triumphed over all his enemies, and Silesia was finally ceded to Prussia by the treaty of Hubertsburg in 1773. "Albert, the son of Rodolph, did not inherit the talents of his father. The Swiss revolted from his dominion in 1307, and, after a lengthened contest, achieved their independence; but, notwithstanding this event, and the elevation of several princes of other families to the imperial throne, the power of the house of Austria rapidly increased, and in no very long time its dominions embraced some of the largest and most important countries in Europe. It has been principally indebted for its extraordinary aggrandizement to fortunate alliances. The marriage, in 1477, of Maximilian, son of the Emperor Frederick III., with the daughter and heiress of Charles the Bold, last Duke of Burgundy, brought "The reign of Joseph II., son and sucto the house of Austria all the rich inherit- cessor of Maria Theresa, is important for ance of the latter in the Low Countries, the reforms he effected in most departFranche-Comté, and Artois. Another mar-ments of the government, and the territoriage opened to the house of Austria theries he added to the empire. Under his succession to the Spanish monarchy, in- reign Galicia was acquired from Poland, cluding its vast possessions in Italy and and the Bukowine from Turkey." the New World. And Frederick I., having married in 1521 Anne, sister of Louis, king of Hungary and Bohemia, succeedcd, on the death of the latter at the battle of Mohacz in 1526, to these states. "Charles V., the most powerful mon-olution in 1789. At certain stages of her arch of the house of Austria, concluded in 1521 a treaty with his brother Ferdinand, by which he assigned to him the hereditary possessions of the family in Germany; and there can be little doubt that this arrangement was for the advantage of both It would be unnecessary, even if our limits admitted of it, to attempt any sketch of the fluctuations of the Austrian power during the eventful period that has elapsed since the breaking out of the French Rev great struggle with France, Austria seemed to be depressed to the rank of a secondrate power. But the insatiable ambition of Napoleon effecting his downfall, Austria was left at the end of the contest as powerful as ever, the loss of the Low Countries being fully compensated by her acquisi- | 821,000. The navy consists of 72 vessels tions in Italy and elsewhere. In 1804 Francis assumed the title of hereditary Emperor of Austria, and on the 6th of August, 1806, renounced the title of Emperor of Germany. The latter event had been preceded by the formation of the Confederation of the Rhine, and the entire dissolution of the old Germanic Confederation. His son, Ferdinand I., succeeded him in March, 1835, and he was succeeded by the present emperor, Francis Joseph, born Aug. 18, 1830, ascended the throne Dec. 2, 1848. The government of Austria is an hereditary and almost absolute monarchy, in which the chief legislative as well as the executive power is in the hands of the Emperor. Nearly three fourths of the population of Austria are the followers of the Roman Catholic Church. Next in numbers are the members of the Greek Church, who are most numerous in Transylvania, Southern Hungary, Slavonia, Croatia, and Galicia. Members of the various Protestant churches are found chiefly in Hungary and Transylvania; in these countries, however, as in the bulk of the empire, the people are Roman Catholics, and the Protestants are confined to the Magyar portion of the population. Education is not generally in an advanced condition in Austria, though more so in the German-speaking provinces than in other parts of the empire; but in our country we have a wrong impression entirely. The spirit of elementary instruction, if not the most enlightened, inculcates, at every step, morality, the advantage and happiness of a virtuous life, the evils of vice, and the miseries consequent on crime. The military resources are considerable, and a very large standing army is maintained. Military science is highly esteemed, and there are various institutions for the purpose of its cultivation at Vienna and other principal cities of the empire. The people of the southern counties lead a semi-military life, and are almost constantly under arms. The navy is small and of modern date, but the inhabitants of the Adriatic coasts and islands are enterprising ship-builders and mariners, and are much addicted to nautical pursuits. The estimated strength of the Austrian army, when on a war footing, is little short of of all descriptions, the tonnage of which is 109,820 tons, carrying 522 cannon: 47 of these vessels are steamers. As every province in Austria forms a separate land, each has its peculiar language or dialect, and its distinguishing customs and habits. Of the Slavonic languages, the Polish possesses the richest literature; but the Bohemian has of late years been highly cultivated, and forms the written language of the Moravians and Slowaks of the northwest counties of Hungary. The dialect of Carniola has been methodized, and is grammatically taught as the written language of Illyria and Croatia. The ephemeral existence of the Illyrian kingdom, established by Napoleon, sufficed to call forth the powers of a lyric poet of considerable merit named Wodnik, who wrote in this dialect. The Slavonian nations have all the distinguishing characteristics of ardent feelings and sanguinity of temperament, which makes them more easily elated and sooner depressed than their neighbors the Germans. They are fond of music, and every district has its national airs, which are often of great antiquity, and usually plaintive. Among the Slavonians the Poles are distinguished by a martial disposition and love of show. The national costume is now only kept among the peasantry, whose winter dresses especially are tasteful and even elegant. In the other Slavonic nations of the empire the love of ornament is less remarkable, the national spirit having sunk in the lapse of time during which they have been dependent. No Slavonic dialect is used in the courts of justice, or in public instruction in the higher schools of the empire. The German peasants wear the dress commonly met with all over Germany, with varieties in the color and head-gear in nearly every village. The Austrian women wear caps or bonnets made with gold lace and decorated with spangles. In Tyrol the German costume is most picturesque. The German language is that used in transacting public business in the German and Slavonian provinces, and in the universities on the north side of the Alps. The Magyars, or inhabitants of the Hungarian plains of Tartar descent, are a high spirited race, warmly attached to their habits and rights. Their national costume is the most splendid in Europe, and every family wears its distinguishing colors. The rich dollman (hussar jacket) and the tasteful attila (a frock-coat trimmed with fur) are only worn on state occasions by the nobles; but the tight pantaloon and short bcot is the usual dress of the peasant, who also wears a blue jacket and low-brimmed hat. Though fond of music, the Hungarians are no musicians. The national dances are often highly pantomimic, and the Magyar, who is seldom seen to smile, expresses the excitement of his feelings, whether in joy or sorrow, in dancing. The Magyar and the Latin languages are those used in the courts of justice and in the public offices. The dress of the Wallachian peasantry on festive occasions is highly ornamental and becoming. The Italian costume is both rich and elegant, especially the head-dresses of the women, which are more tasteful than those worn on the north side of the Alps. In the conflict for superiority between Germans and Italians, neither nation does justice to the good qualities of the other; but the northern Italian must be allowed the merit of displaying those of continence, sobriety, and industry in a high degree, though he be less the slave of form than his German neighbor. The Alps cover a large portion of Austria, and render its scenery enchanting. Sir Humphrey Davy says, "The variety of the scenery, the verdure of the meadows and trees, the depths of the valleys and altitudes of the mountains, the clearness and grandeur of the rivers and lakes, give it, I think, a decided superiority over Switzerland." There is a greater disparity in the manners and customs of the people than in the scenery of the two countries. In Austria you are struck with the warm reception accorded to you, and an earnest desire evinced to give you all they can for your money. Money.-Accounts in Austria are kept in florins and kreutzers. A florin at par =50 c. U. S. currency; but its value, if in paper money, fluctuates from 33 c. to 40 c. Sixty kreutzers=1 florin. By no means carry the paper money of Austria out of the country, else you will suffer a most incredible discount in getting it exchanged; in fact, it will not be taken at all but by money-changers. On our route from Dresden to Prague, 50 miles from the former is Aussig, the junction of the railway to the watering-place of Töplitz, which is about 14 miles distant on the route. Passengers for Carlsbad change cars here, going by railway to Töplitz and thence by diligence to Carlsbad, a distance of 50 miles. Töplitz is celebrated for its warm springs, the medical properties of which attract visitors from every part of the Continent. Population 3000; principal hotels are H. Prince de Ligne, H. König von Preussen, and Stadt London; for lodging alone, the Herrnhaus is the best. Nearly the whole of the town belongs to Prince Clary, a Bohemian nobleman of immense wealth. It is said he owns nearly one hundred villages in Austria, principally in Bohemia. The baths of Töplitz are nearly one hundred in number, and during the season are in constant use. They contain carbonate of soda, and are very efficacious in cases of gout or rheumatism. Their temperature averages 120° Fahr., but are cooled down to 90° preparatory to use. A bath costs about 15 cents; time allowed, one hour only. It is necessary to be very particular, else you lose your turn. The routine is slightly different from other watering-places. The morning is spent in bathing; dinner early, say one o'clock; the afternoon in driving or riding; at 6 o'clock performances commence in the theatre; after that a ball. There is no gambling allowed. The principal place of resort is the palace and the gardens of the Prince of Clary. The promenades are very delightful. Töplitz owes its celebrity to the number of crowned heads and nobility of Europe who resort here every season. It is considered the cheapest watering-place in Europe. Dinners at the table d'hôte about 33 cents, and a parlor and bedroom for five dollars per week. There was a diplomatic Congress held here in 1813 and in 1835. Carlsbad contains a permanent population of 3000 inhabitants. Principal hotels are H. Prince Wilhelm von Preussen, Stadt Hanover, Deutscher Hof, Goldener Schild, and Angers. The rates are about the same |