Dublin, in a wet dock on the south side of the Liffy. Another canal connects Dublin with the river Boyne: it terminates in a wet dock on the north side of the Liffy. Both these canals are navigated by boats of 60 tons burden. In the N. E. part of the island there are two canals; one opening a communication between Lough Neagh and Belfast bay on the east, and another connecting the same lake with Carlingford bay on the south.

Education.] Trinity college in Dublin is the only university in Ireland. It was founded by queen Elizabeth, and consists of a provost, 25 fellows, and 70 scholars. There are 13 professors, and in 1818 the number of students was 1209. Attached to the university are a printing office, an anatomy house, an observatory, and a library of 68,946 volumes. The education of the lower classes has been almost entirely neglected. Within a few years, however, societies have been formed by the benevolent in Great Britain for the establishment of schools in Ireland, and their efforts have been attended with much success. In 1817 there were 27,000 children receiving instruction in the schools of the Hibernian society.

Government.] Since 1800 Ireland has been inseparably united with Great Britain, and the two countries are styled the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Ireland sends 100 representatives to the house of commons, and 28 members to the house of lords as the representatives of the Irish peerage, besides five spiritual lords.

Religion. The established religion is that of the church of England; but it is computed that three fourths of the people are Catholics, and of the remaining fourth about one half are Presbyterians. The Catholics were formerly very severely oppressed, being deprived of every civil privilege, and subjected to various penalties, on account of their religion. This system of intolerance is now considerably mitigated. The Catholics have been long freed from all penalties in consequence of their religion, and the road to civil and military distinction has been opened to them, with some reservation of the higher offices.

Population and Character.] The population of Ireland has about doubled within the last 70 years. In 1754 it was 2,372,634, and at present it is estimated at more than 4,500,000. The manners of the superior classes in Ireland very much resemble those of the English. The Irish gentry seldom devote themselves to literature or science, but amuse themselves with hunting and other robust exercises. Hence an overflow of health and spirits; and the observation of an able writer that Ireland produces the stoutest men, and the finest women in Europe, must not be confined to the inferior classes. The Irish peasantry are, in general, sunk in poverty and ignorance. They are lodged in miserable mud hovels with one door, and frequently without either window or chimney. They go almost naked, and their food consists almost entirely of milk and potatoes. These remarks apply to the southern part of the island; the north of Ireland, having been

planted by colonies of the English and Scotch, the institutions and manners of all classes of the people resemble those of the parent countries.

Manufactures and Commerce.] The manufacture of linen is the staple branch of irish industry, but the cotton manufacture is spreading very rapidly, and the distillation of spirits has long been carried on to a great extent. The principal exports are linen, corn, butter, provisions, hides, and whiskey. The val ue of the exports in 1816 was £6,703,799, and of the imports £5,084,890. The number of vessels belonging to Ireland is about 1,200, navigated by between 5,000 and 6,000 sailors.

Natural Curiosities.] The Giants Causeway is the most remark” able curiosity in Ireland. It consists of a surprising collection of basaltic pillars on the northern coast, about eight miles N. E. of Coleraine. It projects into the sea to an unknown extent, but the part explored is about 600 feet long and from 120 to 240 broad. The pillars are mostly in a vertical position, and their height is from 16 to 36 feet above the level of the strand: in some places, for a considerable space, they are of an equal height so as to form a level pavement. They are usually from 15 to 24 inches in diameter, and are rarely composed of one entire piece, but consist of short or long joints with the surfaces where they meet either flat, or concave with convex corresponding. The form of the pillars is very various; sometimes it is square, sometimes three-sided, sometimes hexagonal and often heptagonal, but the most numerous are pentagonal.

The lake of Killarney is remarkable for its picturesque scenery, and for several natural curiosities. It is about 10 miles long and from one to seven broad, and is divided into three parts, called the Lower, Middle and Upper lakes. The shores of the Lower lake are diversified with the most beautiful scenery, and on the south side are lofty mountains, from one of which O'Sullivan's ascade falls into the lake with a tremendous roar, opposite the romantic island of Innisfallen, the seat of an ancient noted abbey. In the Middle lake is the celebrated rock called the Eagle's Nest, a place wonderful for its echoes; the sound of a bugle horn producing tones equal to 100 instruments, and the discharge of a musket causing a succession of peals equal to the loudest thunder, The Upper lake is entirely surrounded by mountains, and near the summit of one of them is a circular lake, called the Devil's Punch Bowl, which, from its immense depth and continual overflow of water, is considered as one of the principal curiosities of Killarney. After heavy rains the water falls down the side of the mountain in the form of a beautiful cascade.

43

NORWAY.

Situation and Extent.] Norway is bounded W. and N. by the Atlantic ocean; E. by Russia and Sweden; and S. by the Skager Rack. It extends from the Naze in lat. 58° N. to the North cape in lat 71° 11' N. The breadth of the country is very different in different parts. The part below the parallel of 62° 30' N. lat. is much the broadest, forming a compact territory 350 miles long by 250 broad. The part of the country lying north of this parallel is a long narrow territory included between the mountains and the sea. The number of square miles in Norway is estimated at 161,000.

Divisions.] Norway is divided into five governments or dioceses, viz. Aggerhuus or Christiania, in the S. E.; Christiansand in the S. W.; Bergen in the W.; and Drontheim and Nordland, long narrow provinces, in the N.; to which may be added Finmark or Norwegian Lapland, a dreary and inhospitable region, lying still farther north. The extent and population of these divisions are given in the following table :

Sea Coast.] The coas tof Norway stretches in a long line from S. W. to N. E. and is deeply indented with bays and creeks. It presents also a succession of islands of various sizes, some of which are barren and uninhabited, and others contain tolerable pasture, and many of them afford convenient stations for the fisheries. The shore of Norway is often bold, and the sea of great depth in the immediate vicinity of the rocks.

Mountains.] The great Scandinavian range passes, under various names, through the whole extent of this country from N. E. to S. W. Above the parallel of 62° 30′ N. lat. it forms the boundary between Norway and Sweden. Below that parallel its course lies wholly in Norway; and here it proceeds at first in a westerly direction under the name of the Dofrafield mountains, forming the boundary between the governments of Aggerhuus and Drontheim, and approaching very near to the western coast: it then turns to the south, and under the name of the Langfield mountains, divides the government of Aggerhuus from that of Bergen, and

passing through Christiansand, terminates abruptly at the southern extremity of Norway in a lofty precipice. The highest summit of the whole range is near lat. 68° N.; the highest of the Dofrafield mountains is 4,297 feet above the level of the sea. These summits and numerous others are covered with perpetual snow and ice. There are passes across the mountains in various places, some of which are narrow and dangerous; that of Fillafield under 61° N. lat. is rich in romantic prospects.

Rivers and Lakes] The rivers of Norway are numerous, but short and rapid. The mountains every where approaching near to the coast, the rivers descend from them like torrents directly and impetuously into the sea. Owing to the rocks with which they abound they are generally unfit for navigation. The Glommen, the largest river in Norway, falls into the Cattegat at Frederickstadt, after a southerly course of about 300 miles. It is full of shoals and cataracts which completely obstruct the navigation. The Drammen falls into the gulf of Christiania on the west side. The lakes in the southern part of the country are numer ous but many of them are mere expansions of the rivers.

Face of the Country.] The surface of Norway is very uneven, presenting a succession of mountains and vallies, the former in general barren,and uninhabited; the latter not deficient in the productions of a high latitude. The scenery is striking from its grandeur and sublimity, but seldom pleasing from the softer beauties. Vast forests, lofty mountains, rocks, precipices and water falls, and at times a picturesque valley, are the objects which here present themselves to the traveller.

Climate.] In the interior, near the high mountains which form the eastern frontier, the cold of winter is intense, but the atmosphere is serene and healthy. On the sea coast the climate is materially different, being softened by the western breeze, and is often less cold in the depth of winter than the interior of Germany. The bays along the coast are seldom frozen, the open sea never. This, however, is the region of fog, rain and high wind. In summer the length of the day counterbalances the shortness of the warm season, and corn ripens with uncommon rapidity. In Nordland and Finmark, the sun remains above the horizon for several weeks successively, and in winter is invisible for a corresponding interval; the dreariness of the latter, however, is lessened by the coruscations of the aurora borealis, and the brightness of the snow, which furnish light sufficient for ordinary purposes.

Soil and Productions.] The soil of Norway is generally stony and barren, though in the southern provinces there are some tracts of considerable fertility. The country does not yield corn enough for the support of its inhabitants, about one fourth part of all that is consumed being imported from foreign countries. In places remote from the coast the inhabitants live on coarse fare, and are accustomed, in seasons of scarcity, to lengthen out their scanty stores by mixing pine bark with their bread. Flax and hemp are raised in many parts of the country; in others barley

and oats. It is computed that not more than one hundreth part of the kingdom is under tillage; the pastures, however, are extensive, and cattle in considerable numbers are raised for exportation. The mountains are covered with forests of pine, ash, and fir, and these are the most important natural productions; timber having been for many ages the principal article of export from Norway.

Chief Towns. Christiania, the capital, is situated in a fertile valley at the bottom of a gulf of the same name, in the province of Aggerhuus. This gulf penetrates above 50 miles into the interior of the country, and is filled with rocky islands which, however, do not interrupt the navigation. The harbor is excellent, and vessels of the largest size ascend to the wharves. The town, though not large, is the best built and most thriving place in the kingdom, having regular streets, neat stone houses and about 9,000 inhabitants.

Bergen, the largest town in Norway, lies at the bottom of a long bay, which is inclosed on all sides by rugged and barren rocks. While it has thus from its situation the advantage of a secure harbor, the access is attended with considerable danger. The rise of the commerce of this place is to be dated from the year 1445, when the German Hanse towns established here a factory and ware houses. In process of time they came to exercise a sort of authority over the inhabitants; and though this has long ceased to exist, there is still at Bergen a company of about 17 German merchants in correspondence with Bremen, Lubeck and Hamburgh. The trade consists in the export of fish, fish-oil, timber, tar, tallow and hides, and the import of corn and foreign merchandise. The population is 18,000.

Drontheim is 235 miles N. E. of Bergen on a large bay or arm of the sea at the mouth of the Nid. The harbor is perfectly safe, but the entrance is hazardous on account of concealed rocks. It has considerable trade, and the principal exports are copper, iron, timber and fish. The population in 1814 was 8,832.

Christiansand is on the southern coast opposite several small islands, the principal of which is Flekkeroen. The barbor is one of the safest in Norway, and between, the island of Flekkeroen and the shore there is a road several miles in length where there is good anchorage. The town was founded by Christian IV. of Denmark, in 1641, with the view of making it the principal station of his navy. The inhabitants, about 5000 in number, carry on some trade in timber, but their principal employment is in building and repairing vessels.

Roraas, celebrated for its copper mines, is 67 miles S. F. of Drontheim, on a high mountain which is covered with show almost the whole of the year. Kongsberg, 36 miles west of Christiania, was formerly celebrated for its rich silver mines, but they are now unproductive. Skeen, 38 miles S.S.W. of Christiania, has productive mines of iron and copper. Frederickshall is on the frontier of Sweden, 52, miles S S. E. of Christiania. On a rock which overhangs the town is the almost impregnable fortress èf