160 



ASIA. 



AUSTRIA. 



ASIA. Among the empires of Asia, only 

 three remain under the rule of native govern- 

 ments, China, Japan, Persia. Each is coming, 

 from year to year, into closer contact with the 

 civilized nations of the world, and in conse- 

 quence of this intercourse undergoing a radi- 

 cal transformation. 



China continues to court the friendship of 

 foreign powers. Two of them have greatly 

 aided her in her struggle against the powerful 

 rebellion of the Taepings. Thanks to the 

 English and French officers and contingents, 

 the Chinese Government made, during the year 

 1864, very rapid progress toward the entire 

 suppression of this rebellion, and the capture 

 of Nankin seemed to deal but the fatal blow. 

 (See CHIXA.) 



The Government of Japan, although sending 

 a new embassy to Europe, made desperate 

 efforts to repeal at least the concessions for- 

 merly made to foreigners. The representatives 

 of the foreign powers were, however, found un- 

 willing to abandon their acquired rights. New 

 attacks upon vessels of foreign nations were 

 made in the straits of Simonoseki, but promptly 

 and severely punished by an expedition con- 

 jointly undertaken by ships of England, France, 

 Holland, and the United States. After this 

 new proof of the superior power of foreign 

 civilized nations, both the Prince, who had 

 directed the treacherous attack, and the Gov- 

 ernment of Yedo, showed much readiness to 

 improve their relations with the foreigners. 

 (See JAP AX.) 



, British India was generally quiet, although 

 a petty war began and ended on the north- 

 west frontier, and an expedition was engaged 

 in punishing an affront offered to a British 

 ambassador by the ruler of Bhootan. The vice- 

 regal reign of Sir John Lawrence was illus- 

 trated by a grand "Durbar," in which he ad- 

 dressed an assembly of great but tributary 

 powers in the most widely known 'native 

 tongue. (See INDIA.) 



The steady and rapid progress which the 

 arms of Russia are achieving in Asia are at- 

 tracting the consideration of the whole world, 

 and exciting the serious alarm of English states- 

 men. The barrier presented by the mountain 

 chain of the Caucasus to the extension of the 

 Russian dominions ceased, in 1864, to exist by 

 the termination of the long war against the 

 Circassians, and the Russian Government was 

 thus enabled to devote her whole power to the 

 accomplishment of one of the objects of her 

 settled policy that of attaining for herself the 

 supremacy of Asia. Even before the Cauca- 

 sus was entirely subjugated the Russians had 

 already made good their footing in Toorkistan, 

 having taken possession of Khiva and sent 

 pioneers as far as Bokhara. Since the termina- 

 tion of the Circassian war, they have assumed 

 the offensive with a force evidently much larger 

 than they ever before had in the field in that 

 part of Central Asia, to make war against the 

 principality of Khokand. The campaign was 



brought to a successful close with surprising 

 vigor. Fort after fort was stormed in rapid 

 succession, and, according to the latest advices, 

 Khokand itself was taken, and the Khan, after 

 making submission to the conquerors, was re- 

 placed on his throne, as a vassal of Russia. 

 Thus Russia has already subjugated two of the 

 states of Turkistan, Khiva and Khokand ; and 

 of the other two, Bokhara and the Affghan 

 principality of Balkh ; the former is governed 

 by a king who is the chosen ally or friend of 

 the Russians. Russia is now the most for- 

 midable military and political power of Central 

 Asia, and only one independent state separates 

 her dominions from those of the Government 

 of British India. (See RUSSIA.) 



France, after some hesitation respecting the 

 policy she should pursue with the provinces 

 ceded to her in Cochin China, concluded to 

 keep them. The King of Cambodia appears to 

 be entirely devoted to the French. He paid a 

 visit to the capital of the French provinces at 

 Saigon, and was received with all the honors 

 which are usually shown to royalty in Europe. 



The king of Siam has appointed consuls at 

 Rangoon and Mauhnain, and has given other 

 signs of his desire to establish friendly relations 

 with the civilized nations, an example which 

 is, thus far, not followed by the king of Ava, 

 who steadily opposes progress, and is remark- 

 able only for being a gigantic monopolist. 



AUSTRIA, an Empire of Europe. The reign - 

 ing sovereign is Francis Joseph I., Emperor of 

 Austria and King of Bohemia and Hungary. 

 The Emperor has only one son, Rudolph, Arch- 

 duke of Austria and heir apparent, Imperial 

 Prince of Hungary and Bohemia, born August 

 21, 1858. 



Austria has been a constitutional monarchy 

 since 1849. The first constitution of March 4, 

 which was of a very democratic character, was 

 repealed by an imperial decree Dec. 31, 1851. 

 The present constitution was established by an 

 imperial diploma, dated Oct. 20, 1860, followed 

 by adecree or " Patent " of Feb. 26, 1851. The 

 main feature of the present constitution is a tri- 

 partite Legislature, consisting 1. Of the Pro- 

 vincial Diets, of which there are eighteen, viz. : 

 Hungary, Bohemia, Lombardo-Yenice, Dalma- 

 tia, Croatia and Slavonia, Galicia, Upper Aus- 

 tria, Lower Austria, Salzburg, Styria, Carinthia, 

 Carniola, Bukowina, Moravia, Silesia, Tyrol, and 

 Vorarlberg, Transylvania, Istria, and Trieste; 

 2. A Central Diet, called the JZeichsrath, or 

 Council of the Empire, consisting of two Houses; 

 and 3. The Enger Reichzrath, or Partial Coun- 

 cil of the Empire, which is formed by the full 

 Iteichsrath, leaving out in both Houses the 

 representatives of Hungary and of Croatia. To 

 these provinces a larger share of self-govern- 

 ment is given than to the remaining ones. Tho 

 Lower House is composed of 343 members, 

 elected by the eighteen Provincial Diets in the 

 following proportions : Hungary, 85 ; Bohemia, 

 54 ; Lombardo- Venice, 20 ; Dalmatia, 5 ; Croa- 

 tia and Slavonia, 9 ; Galicia, 38 ; Upper Aus- 



