towards Russia, Austria, and France; hence its situation is dependent. It is compelled to keep up a large military force, consisting of 180,000 regular troops, with so large an addition of irregulars, as make up in all nearly half a million of soldiers. The king of Prussia is an absolute monarch, yet he is surrounded by a spirit of freedom which necessarily influences his actions. One of the most striking features of this monarchy is the care which it bestows on science and education. The sciences are nowhere fostered with more care, and there are few countries in which common schools are more widely diffused. (See our article EDUCATION.) Prussia carries on some maritime trade by means of the Baltic, and its inland trade is promoted by the rivers Oder, Vistula, Elbe, and Saale, the Rhine, Memel, Pregel, Warta, Netze, Hanel, Spree, Weser, Moselle, &c., which either flow through Prussia or belong to it. Nine and a half millions of the inhabitants of Prussia are of the Reformed Church, and four and a half millions are Catholics.

SWITZERLAND.

Switzerland is a mountainous territory, occupying the alpine regions betwixt France and Germany, and having Italy on the south. This beautiful and romantic country has, from time immemorial, been occupied by a hardy and independent race of inhabitants, mostly attached to republican forms of government, and always ready to defend their rights and their country from the aggression of the great powers in the neighbourhood. Switzerland measures about 300 miles in length by 140 in breadth, and is supposed to contain 19,000 square miles. Politically, the country is divided into twentytwo small states or cantons, generally independent of each other, but confederated for purposes of mutual protection. Some states are more free in their forms of government than others. The total population amounts to two and a half millions, of which upwards of one-half are Protestants, and the remainder chiefly Roman Catholics and Jews. The German language is used in most cantons.

England in some kinds of goods, particularly printed calicoes. Recently great improvements have been made upon the roads through this attractive territory, and | travellers are now well accommodated on all the main routes.

The people of Switzerland form one of the best educated, most industrious, and best behaved nations in the world; and consequently they are generally happy and in good circumstances. Although the country does not any where touch the sea, and all goods have to be carried many miles by land journey through other states, the Swiss possess a thriving system of trade and commerce, and are rapidly advancing in a career of national prosperity, thus proving that nothing is denied to good conduct and industry.

NORWAY, SWEDEN, AND DENMARK.

These, with the province of Finland, form the northwestern frontier of Europe, facing the North Sea or German Ocean, and reaching to the shore of the Baltic on the south. Norway lies on the shore of the North Sea, Sweden is behind it with its southern extremity to the Baltic, and Denmark is formed by the peninsula of Jutland, projected northwards from the Netherlands and kingdom of Hanover into the mouth of the Baltic. Norway and Sweden are now erected into a kingdom, under one sovereign, much in the same manner as England and Scotland are united. Bernadotte, one of Bonaparte's commanders, has for a number of years been the reigning monarch. The united kingdom measures 1550 miles in length by about 350 in breadth. The country is mostly mountainous and pastoral, and covered with dense forests, producing the finest timber in the world. The climate is dry and cold, but that of Sweden is warmer than that of Norway. The mineral kingdom is rich, particularly in iron, copper, and silver. The inhabitants of these countries are of the ancient Scandinavian races; hardy, honest, industrious, and kind-hearted. In the sciences, the Swedes have shown a sound and penetrating mind. The two kingdoms, Norway and Sweden, had, in 1825, a population of nearly four millions of inhabitants. Stockholm, the capital, had a population of nearly 80,000; Gottenburg, the principal commercial city, had 24,000; Christiana, the capital of the Norwegian division, had 20,600; and Bergen, the chief commercial city in Norway, 20,800. Few towns, however, number more than 4000 inhabitants, and many have scarcely 500.

Geneva is the smallest but most populous state in proportion to its size, and in this canton is situated the town of Geneva, upon a beautiful lake of about fifty miles in length and eight or ten in breadth. The highest mountains of Switzerland are found in the cantons of Uri, Berne, Underwalden, and Grisons. Of about sixty Swiss mountains which have been measured, the highest is Monte Rosa, 15,535 feet high; the lowest, The Danish monarchy is composed of the peninsula Chalet, is 3000 feet high. Mont Blanc, within the limits already mentioned, with some islands and detached of Savoy, is the highest mountain in Europe, being portions. The principal of the attached territories are 15,668 feet high. The mountains of Switzerland are the duchies of Holstein and Lauenburg; likewise the pastoral in their lower parts, and in many instances Feroe Islands, in the North Sea; Iceland; the western covered at top with perpetual ice, the icy coverings coast of Greenland; some places in Guinea; and the being here characteristically named glaciers. The con- city and territory of Tranquebar, in the East Indies. tinual alternation of hill and dale affords the most strik-The exact measurement of so scattered a territory is ing natural scenes in every part of Switzerland. In of little moment; and it is sufficient to state, that Densome places, within a short distance, one may see at the mark Proper and the duchy of Scleswick contain 17,375 same time all the seasons of the year; and it is often square miles. Denmark Proper is estimated to conpossible to stand between spring and summer, so as to tain 1,230,000 inhabitants; Holstein and Lauenburg, collect snow with one hand, and to pluck flowers from 370,000; and the total population under the monarchy the soil with the other. Every mountain has its water- amounts to something under two millions. The people falls; and as their sources are sometimes lost in the are partly Danes and partly Germans. Denmark is a clouds, the cataracts seem to descend from the skies. level country. The coasts are low, and protected from Switzerland abounds in lakes and rivers, the fisheries the sea by dykes. The soil consists partly of marshes of which are valuable, and which serve to embellish and heaths, and is on the whole but moderately fruitful. the landscape; but none of the rivers are navigable. By the improvident extirpation of the woods which Small steam-vessels now ply on the lakes of Geneva, protected the north and north-western coasts of Jutland Zurich, Constance, and Neufchatel, and are a great against the sea, vast extents of fruitful territory have convenience to travellers. The chief rivers are the become barren and sandy deserts. The staple producRhine, the Reuss, the Rhone, and the Tessino. The tions are grain, rapeseed, and tobacco; and the breeding cultivation of the vine is carried on to a considerable of cattle forms a principal source of profit. Denmark extent in Switzerland; the breeding of cattle is, how- now contains, without including Iceland and the Feroe ever, the chief employment of the inhabitants. Swiss Islands, 100 cities, 73 boroughs, 2305 parishes, and cheeses are imported in great numbers into Germany, 5500 villages. The government is an absolute monarchy. France, and Italy. Copenhagen, situated on the east coast of the island of Zealand, is the capital, and contains a population of 105,000 inhabitants.

Manufactures of silk, cotton, and linen, have of late years greatly increased in Switzerland, which is rivalling

of every monarch. Latterly there has been some improvement in this respect; still the whole arrangements for a regular succession are on a precarious footing.

ASIA.

been imposed on the newly erected nation by the European powers, with Otho, a Bavarian prince, as king. Athens, the chief town or capital, is now undergoing improvements, and frequently visited by strangers. The most remarkable thing about the Turkish system The population of the continental part of Greece is of government is, that the Koran, or Book of Mahom-stated at three millions, and nearly half a million for med, is the source of all civil, political, or criminal law. the islands adjacent. In addition to the code of laws, the interpretations of the ulema, or priesthood, have great weight in the tribunals. The mufti is not only the chief of the priests, but the highest interpreter of the laws. His decisions are collected. The highest tribunal, the divan chaneb, is held four times a-week by the grand vizier in his palace, or in his absence by the tehaush-baschi. In the lower tribunals of the large cities, the mollas sit; in those of small towns, the cadis. The moslems are, under them, the executors of the sentences. The administration of justice is as simple as it is prompt and energetic. The common punishments are the bastinado, hanging, drowning, strangling, and impaling. The court or government of the sultan is known by the name of the Porte, Sublime Porte, or Divan, and the sultan has received from Europeans the title of Grand Seignior. In Constantinople, and other parts of Turkey, English, French, and other foreigners from western Europe, are generally termed Franks.

The land forces were until recently organised on a miserable Asiatic system. They are now modelled, armed, and disciplined, on the common European principle, and partly dressed on the same plan. The navy of Turkey has been also organised according to the European system. In civil life many reforms have likewise been effected by orders of the late Sultan Mahmoud (deceased 1839), and altogether the Turkish empire may now be described as in a transitive state towards civilisation.

GREECE.

The north-eastern part of the Mediterranean is divided into two large bays or gulfs, which run far up into the European continent; that towards the west being called the Adriatic, and the other the Ægean Sea. The peninsula, or tongue of land which lies between the two, is the original country of the Greeks. Colonies of the same nation have, from time beyond the reach of history, occupied the whole coasts and islands of both these gulfs, from Sicily almost to Cyprus; but the parent states of the middle peninsula are those to which the Grecian name is indebted for all its splendour; and it is this country only which is properly called Greece. From the situation of the Greeks in a region whose bays, headlands, and islands, present a great extent of sea-coast, habits of adventure and mutual intercourse were produced among them in the earliest times, which had the greatest influence in cherishing a national activity of character, and making each community cager to rival the prosperity of the others. The people were early accustomed to make voyages, sometimes for traffic, sometimes for war, betwixt the opposite coast of their gulfs, guiding themselves by the stars from island to island. From this and other circumstances, Greece in early times attained the first rank as a state, or confederacy of states. (See article ANCIENT HISTORY.) After being conquered by the Romans, it fell a prey to the Turks, from whom it was in part only recently wrested by a skilful rebellion or revolution.

In the present day, Greece comprises in its northern parts the districts of Albania and Macedonia; next, in a southerly direction, Epirus and Thessaly; the Morea (anciently Peloponnesus) is an island-like peninsula, almost cut off from the latter divisions by a strait called the Gulf of Lepanto. Altogether, modern Greece measures about 400 miles in length, and little more than 100 in general breadth. Greece is a mountainous and romantic region, with several beautiful rivers. Its agriculture is in a very rude condition, but its commerce is increasing; and the long exhausted nation is gradually assuming a settled powerful character. A constitutional monarchy, not very well organised, has

Asia, which forms the eastern and northern portion of the great tract of land in the eastern hemisphere, is the oldest known portion of the globe, and is usually called the cradle of the human race, of nations, and of arts. It is separated from Australia by the Indian and Pacific Oceans; from America on the north-east by Behring's Straits, and on the east by the great Eastern or Pacific Ocean; from Africa by the Arabian Sea (with which is connected the Persian Gulf), and by the Arabian Gulf, or Red Sea, with the straits of Babelmandel; from Europe by the Sea of Azoph, with the Straits of Caffa, by the Black Sea with the Bosphorus, by the Sea of Marmora and the Dardanelles, and by the Grecian Archipelago. On the other hand, it is united with Africa by the desert Isthmus of Suez, and with Europe by the waters of the Wolga, which rises near the Baltic, and falls with the Ural into the Caspian Sea.

The area of Asia is about 16,175,000 square miles. It extends from 26° to 190° E. longitude, and from 2° to 78° N. latitude. Its greatest breadth, from north to south, is 4140 miles, and its greatest length about 8000. It is four times larger than Europe. It is divided into 1. Southern Asia, comprehending Natolia, Armenia, Curdistan, Syria, Arabia, Persia, Hindostan, Farther India, Siam, Malacca, Annam, Tonquin, Cochin China, Laos, Cambodia, China, Japan; 2. Middle or Upper Asia, containing Caucasus, Tartary, Bucharia, Mongolia, Tungousia; 3. Northern or Russian Asia, from 44° N. latitude, containing Kassan, Astrachan, Orenburgh, Kuban, Kabarda, Georgia, Imireta, Siberia, with the alpine regions of Dauria and Kamschatka.

The large portion of Asia composing the northern and middle divisions, inhabited by wandering Tartar races, possesses little interest, and is generally viewed as little else than a great wilderness. The parts which are important, either from their historical interest, or their present condition, are the three lobes or masses of land, partially jutting out from the continent on its southern side; the first, on the west, comprehending Arabia, Syria, and Persia; the second, or mid part, Hindostan or India; and the eastern part, China and Japan. Arabia is a fine large peninsular tract lying betwixt the Persian Gulf on the east, and the Red Sea on the west. It contains about 1,000,000 square miles, and is situated between the 12th and 30th degrees of north latitude. Its chief towns are Mecca and Medina, near the shore of the Red Sea. The southern portion is entitled Arabia Felix, or the Happy, and its northern part Arabia Petræa, or the Rocky. Adjacent to this northern division, and stretching along the border of the Mediterranean Sea, is Syria or Palestine, tho ancient country of the Jews, but, along with the surrounding country, now held in subjection by the Turkish power, and in a state of barbarism. A description of PALESTINE is elsewhere given in the present work.

The district of country anciently termed Asia Minor, but now forming part of Turkey in Asia, and called Natolia or Anatolia, is a territory 650 miles long and 400 broad, having Armenia on the east, and a part of the Mediterranean on the west and south. It is a fruitful and delightful part of Asia; its principal town and sea-port is Smyrna, with which a considerable traffic is carried on with western Europe.

Persia lies on the eastern shore of the Persian Gulf, between the 25th and 40th degree of north latitude. It has the Caspian Sea, or a great inland lake, on the north, and the Arabian Sea on the south. It comprises about 390,000 square miles, with a population of about 6,500,000. The people are Mahommedans, and in a

semi-barbarous condition, governed by a shah or despotic | religions of the Asiatics are described in the article sovereign. Ispahan is the capital. Within a portion PAGAN AND MAHOMETAN RELIGIONS.

AFRICA.

of country anciently called Mesopotamia, and now generally entitled Turkey in Asia, and lying at the head of the Persian Gulf, between Persia and Arabia, are the Africa is a vast peninsula of a triangular form, with rivers Euphrates and Tigris, also the towns of Bagdad its narrowest point towards the south, containing and Bassora. It was by these channels, the Persian 12,256,000 square miles; situated between 18° W. and Gulf, the Euphrates, and also the Red Sea, that a great 51° E. lon., and from 34° S. to 37° 30' N. lat. ; bounded trade was once carried on betwixt India and the shores on the north by the Mediterranean, on the east by of the Mediterranean Sea; now this traffic is at an end, Asia, the Red Sea, and Indian Ocean, and on the south in consequence of the barbarous state of the whole and west by the Southern and Atlantic Oceans. It has region round about, and the opening of a communica-a great breadth from east to west. The northern portion betwixt India and England. Of INDIA, and also CHINA, no account need here be given, as they are fully described in other parts of the present work.

In all parts of Asia, excepting the mid and northern regions, the climate is delightful, and Nature has spread her most bounteous gifts. ""Tis the clime of the East, the land of the sun," but sunk in false religion, superstition, and in a state of moral and intellectual torpor"all but the spirit of man is divine"-and when or how it is to be rescued from such a condition, no one can foretell. In the southern divisions within the torrid zone, whose genial warmth converts the juices of plants to spices, balsams, sugar, and coffee, with whichi Asia has enriched the West Indies, the palms (sago, cocoa, date, and umbrella-palms) reach a height of 200 feet, and the white elephant attains a size surpassing that of all other quadrupeds. From hence the silk-worm was brought to Europe. This region conceals in its bosom the most beautiful diamonds, the finest gold, the best tin, &c., whilst the waves flow over the purest pearls and corals. The temperate zone has given to Europe the melon, the vine, the orange, and many of its most agreeable garden fruits, as well as the most productive farinaceous grasses, and the most charming flowers; and unites, in its productions, symmetry with richness, particularly in the western regions. Here the oldest traditions place Paradise; here lie the enchanting Cashmere and tlie Garden of Damascus; here blossoms the rose of Jericho, near the cedars of Lebanon. The eastern countries in the same latitude possess the tea-shrub and the genuine rhubarb. The camel, the Angora goat, the Thibetan sheep, the pheasant, and the horse, are natives of this zone. In the north blossoms the Alpine flora of Dauria, and from the icy soil grows the dwarf-like Siberian cedar, till, at 70°, vegetation mostly ceases. Here live the smallest of quadrupeds-the shrew-mouse of the Yenisey. Sables, ermines, foxes, otters, &c., afford the finest fur. The mineral kingdom furnishes rich ores, rare precious stones, and remarkable fossil remains of the mammoth, in high northern latitudes.

tion is much larger than the southern; the greatest breadth, from west to east, from Cape Negro to Cape Guardafui, is 69°. Under the equator, the breadth is 4500 geographical miles. The internal structure of Africa is marked by many peculiarities. It possesses deserts or arid sandy tracts of immense extent, uninhabitable by a settled population, and only traversed by troops of wild Arabs, and caravans or companies of travellers on the backs of camels. In these awful solitudes, lions, tigers, and other wild animals, hunt for a prey, and dispute possession with the savages who intrude upon their domain. Africa also possesses immensely long chains of mountains rising to an enormous height. Such are the Atlas mountains, the Mountains of the Moon, and others. The highest peak of the Camerones is 13,000 feet above the level of the sea. Africa has few rivers suitable for navigation, and hence its impenetrable character. The principal river is the Niger or Joliba, which flows some hundreds of miles from the interior, to the Atlantic on the west coast. In this quarter also are the Gambia, the Congo, and the Senegal. The Nile has been the longest and best known; it flows from Abyssinia through Egypt to the Mediterranean.

Excepting in some small spots on the sea-coast inhabited by European colonists, the whole of Africa is in the possession of races of men, black and fiercely savage, or very slightly civilised, and of a copper complexion. Of the latter variety are the Moors of the extensive region of Barbary on the north, and also the modern inhabitants of Egypt. Egypt, which is little else than the valley of the Nile, and lying adjacent to Arabia Petræa, and Syria, in Asia, is the only country of Africa in which we can find any interest from historical recollections. It is described at length in a separate number of the present work. West from Egypt is Barbary, a country in part nominally subject to Tartary, and containing the districts of Tripoli and Tunis, also Algiers, which has lately been conquered and appropriated by the French. The empire of Morocco is likewise in this northern division, in the angle of territory between the Mediterranean and Atlantic. Central Africa comprises a number of savage states, among the rest Guinea on the Atlantic coast. Along this coast are certain British, French, Portuguese, and Dutch possessions. Southern Africa comprises the countries inhabited by the Hottentots and Caffres, and the Cape of Good Hope, which is at the extreme southern promontory, and now forms a flourishing British colony.

The islands considered to belong to Africa are the Madeiras, the Canaries, Cape Verd, and Azore islands, also St Helena and Ascension, all in the Atlantic; and the large isle of Madagascar, with a few of smaller size, in the ocean to the east of the continent.

The inhabitants of Asia (amounting to 390,000,000; according to some, to 580,000,000) are divided into three great branches :- The Tartar-Caucasian, in Western Asia, exhibits the finest features of our race in the Circassian form; the Mongolian race is spread through Eastern Asia; the Malay in Southern Asia and the islands. The north is inhabited by the Samoiedes, Tehooktches, and others. Twenty-four tribes, of different language and origin, may be distinguished, some of which are the relics of scattered tribes of Nomades: Kamtschadales, Ostiacs, Samoiedes, Koriacks, Kurilians, Aleutians, Coreans, Mongols, and Kalmucks, Mantchoos (Tungoos, Daurians, and Mantchoos Proper), Finns, Circassians, Georgians, Greeks, Syrians and Armenians, Tartars and Turks, Persians Madeira is the finest and most accessible of the and Afghans, Thibetans, Hindoos, Siamese, Malays, African islands. It extends to about 37 miles in length Annamites (in Cochin China and Tonquin), Burmese, by 11 in breadth, and lies at the distance of about five Chinese and Japanese, besides the indigenous inhabi- hundred miles from the coast of Barbary, in the route tants of the East Indian islands, Jews and Europeans. of vessels proceeding from Europe to the Cape of Good The principal languages are the Arabian, Persian, Hope or India. Lying at about the 31st degree of Armenian, Turkish, Tartar, Hindoo, Malayan, Mongol, north latitude, it enjoys a delightful climate, suitable Mantchoo, Chinese, and Sanscrit. The principal reli- for the tender constitution of invalids. Vegetation is gions which prevail are Mahommedanism in the western luxuriant, and the grape grows to great perfection, and parts, the worship of the Lama of Thibet in the central yields a fine wine, usually called Madeira. The island region, Budhism in the Burmese territory, and Hin- is in possession of Portugal, but many English reside dooism or Brahminism in India. These and other | upon it, both for the sake of commerce and health.

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places the inclination is inwards, instead of outwards, to the sea. There being a general absence of hills, clouds are not attracted over the land, and hence there is a deficiency of rain in the country; the climate is nevertheless one of the finest in the world, and no country on the globe seems so suitable for sheep pasturing. The chief native quadrupeds of Australia are pouched animals, such as kangaroos, of which there are several varieties. The native human beings are of the Malay race, and in a low state of barbarism.

Australia now possesses three distinct British settle

The African races of men offer many points of interest to the inquirer. The majority of them are distinguished from the rest of the human family, not only by their black complexion and curly hair, but also by peculiarities in the construction of the bones of the head and even of the nerves. This seems to imply that the negro is originally a distinct race. It is thought that traces of this primitive race may still be detected here and there; for example, of the original Egyptians in the Copts, and of the Guanches (the original inhabitants of the Canaries) in the natives of Barbary. The population is probably between a hundred and a hun-ments-New South Wales, which stretches about 1500 dred and ten millions. The interior of the country must be very populous, since, within two centuries and a half, it has contributed forty millions of vigorous men to the slave-trade, and, notwithstanding, is any thing but depopulated. Even the countries along the coast are thickly peopled. Jackson computed the population of Morocco alone at seventeen millions, and the Barbary states, with Egypt, which constitute but an eighth part of the continent, contain twenty millions. The torrid Guinea has, on the whole, a numerous population; and large cities are situated on the Joliba, of which we hardly know the names. The inhabitants belong to two branches of the human family; to the black or Ethiopian race, which extends from the Joliba to the southern extremity, comprising, notwithstanding their tawny complexions, the Hottentots; and to the Caucasian race, which includes the natives of Barbary, Copts, the Arabs or Moors, the Agaziones or Abyssinians, and the nations of Nubia. The Arabs are not to be regarded as abori-increasing. gines of Africa, but they have scattered themselves, and become occupants of the greater part of the north and west.

The prevailing religions are Mahomedanism, and different kinds of Paganism. The arts are exercised only on the northern coasts, where the Moors manufacture much silk, cotton, leather, and linen; an active commerce is carried on by them with the maritime nations of Europe, and, by means of caravans, a traffic, fully as important, with the interior, to which they convey their own products and those of Europe. The wants of the savage races are exceedingly simple, and every article used by them is prepared by themselves; the cloth which surrounds their loins, the hut which protects them from the weather, the bow and arrow necessary for the chase and self-defence, as well as all their household furniture, are manufactured by themselves; the gold which they collect from the surface of the earth is wrought by them into ornaments, and iron into arms. Commerce, however, with Europeans has taught them many wants, and increased their list of necessaries; among which may now be reckoned fire-arms, powder, brandy, tobacco, different kinds of cloth, glass beads, coral, &c.; for which they barter slaves, ivory, gold, and gums, the staples of Africa. The most odious branch of traffic is that carried on in the sale and export of slaves; although in some respect limited in recent times, it is calculated that still 50,000 negroes are carried off annually for the South American market. Of all the states of Africa, Barbary alone uses coin; in the rest not frequented by Europeans, money rarely serves as a medium of exchange; in some, on the western coast, cowries (small shells) are made to answer the purpose of coin; in others, pieces of salt.

AUSTRALASIA,

miles along its eastern coast, and some hundreds of miles inland; South Australia, on its southern shore, which has been but recently opened for emigration; and Western Australia, or Swan River Settlement. Van Diemen's Land is another British settlement. New South Wales, which is the oldest and most populous of the Australian colonies, lies at the distance of 16,000 miles from Great Britain, and its capital, Sydney, to which most vessels proceed, is reached in from 100 to 120 days' sailing. Lying on the opposite side from us, its seasons are reversed in relation to ours; its winter is in May, June, and July, and its summer in November, December, and January. Sydney, which is agreeably situated on a fine bay of the sea, called Port Jackson, now possesses a population of 25,000 souls. The whole population of New South Wales, free and convict, is understood to be about 110,000, but the number of inhabitants is rapidly

South Australia, to which no convicts are allowed to be sent from England, is at present a thriving colony; the town of Adelaide is its capital.

Van Diemen's Land is an island of about the size of England, lying at a short distance south from Australia, and possessing many excellent harbours. Van Diemen's Land is more hilly and better watered than Australia, and therefore better adapted for agriculture. Its capital is Hobart Town, on its southern side. On its northern shore, opposite Australia, is Launceston, the second largest town in the island, and a busy seat of trade. The population of the island was lately estimated at 25,000, about one-half of which were convicts.

The New Zealand islands, which belong to the Australasian group, are situated at a greater distance to the east of Australia.

For a complete description of the whole of these interesting territories, we refer to the articles on the subject in the present work.

AMERICA.

The continent of America lies in the western hemisphere, in a situation altogether aloof from the continents of the Old World-as Europe, Asia, and Africa, are termed. America, or the New World, was first discovered by Columbus in the year 1492, but its coasts were not fully known to Europeans for nearly a century after that period. It was long a matter of doubt whether America was connected at its northern extremity with Asia, and many expeditions were fitted out to discover if such were really the case: it is now ascertained that it is not connected with Asia, but is a detached continent. Although Columbus is entitled to be considered the first discoverer of America, it happened that he was robbed of the honour of giving it his name by the superior address of Americus Vespucius, one of his adventurous successors. America consists of two large portions, very nearly separated by the intervening Gulf of Mexico, and only connected by a neck of land called the Isthmus of Darien. The northern portion is named North America, that in the south, South Ame

Which now ranks as one of the great divisions of the earth, consists of a number of large and small islands in the Indian or South Pacific Ocean, between the 10th and 45th degrees of south latitude, in a south-easterly direction from China, which is the nearest part of the Asiatic continent. These islands also lie in a south-rica. easterly direction from India, or Hindostan. The chief island in the group is Australia or New Holland, which measures 2000 miles from east to west, and 1700 in breadth from north to south. The physical character of Australia is very peculiar. With the exception of some mountain ranges, it is generally flat, and in many

From its northern boundaries to the Gulf of Mexico, North America extends about 4376 miles in length, and 3000 miles wide at the broadest part. South America commences at the ninth degree of north latitude, reaching to the 56th degree south latitude, being a length of 4550 miles, by a breadth at widest of nearly 3000 miles. On this vast double continent, the works of