EUROPE. 



279 



noxation to Germany of those eastern districts 

 .inv in which the German language is 

 still spoken, namely, the whole of Alsace, and 

 a part of Lorraine. (See GEBMAN-FBENCH N\ \i: 

 and ALSAOB.) 



In jilini.st iminodiato connection with the 

 outbreak of the war between France and Ger- 

 many, was the invasion of the Papal States by 

 tin- King of Italy, and their annexation to his 

 kingdom. For years the sovereignty of the 

 Pope has needed for its undisturbed existence 

 tin- protection of French bayonets. When they 

 wore withdrawn, the King of Italy did not 

 hesitate to occupy the papal dominions and 

 the city of Rome, and the people of the 

 annexed territory were called upon to ratify 

 the change of government. The Pope, of 

 course, entered a protest against the loss of 

 his independence, but none of the govern- 

 ments supported the protest. Some of them 

 only intimated that they would demand for 

 the Pope, as the spiritual head of the Cath- 

 olics in every country, full freedom in the ex- 

 ercise of his ecclesiastical functions ; and this 

 freedom the Government of Italy declared it- 

 self willing to guarantee. 



When it became apparent that the power of 

 Franco would, for a long time to come, be par- 

 alyzed, Russia renewed the Eastern question 

 by declaring that she would no longer recog- 

 nize the Paris Treaty of 1856, and, in particu- 

 lar, that article which provides for the neu- 

 tralization of the Black Sen. England and 

 Austria earnestly objected to this one-sided 

 violation of an international treaty, while 

 Prussia reciprocated the sympathy which she 

 had received from Russia in the war against 

 France. For a time a new war seemed to be 

 inevitable, but at length it was agreed to lay 

 the matter before an international congress, 

 which was to meet in London, in January. 

 1871. 



The throne of Spain, after being vacant 

 more than a year, was at length filled by the 

 election of the second son of the King of Italy, 

 Prince Amadeus. The election was followed 

 by disturbances in the country and by the 

 assassination of General Prim in the streets 

 of Madrid. The prince arrived at the close of 

 the year, and took possession of the throne, and 

 was received in a very pacific and quiet man- 

 ner ; but soon disturbances again began to 

 arise, which were indications of extensive dis- 

 satisfaction throughout the country. 



The interest which has been created in Eu- 

 ropean affairs during the year has led us to 

 present numerous tables showing the popula- 

 tion of the different countries, the debts of 

 the various kingdoms, and their comparative 

 military strength, also the relative proportions 

 of the three great races which occupy that con- 

 tinent, together with fragments of other races. 



The following table shows the area and pop- 

 ulation of Europe, at the close of the year 

 1870, and also the number of inhabitants per 

 square mile : 



According to the Gotha Almanac, for 1871, 

 the ecclesiastical statistics of Europe were as 

 follows : 



Besides, there were of Mohammedans, 2,000 

 in Poland, 2,092,000. in Russia, and 4,550,000 

 in Turkey. Of those whose religious denomi- 

 nations could not be ascertained, and of pa- 

 gans, there were : 24,000 in France, 4,000.in tho 

 Netherlands, 5,000 in Germany, 8,000 in Den- 

 mark, 200,000 in Russia, and 200,000 in Tur- 

 kov 



The following table exhibits the comparative 



