SAXONY, KINGDOM OF. 



107 



Elsters, the Queiss, &c. Saxony is rich in minerals; 

 silver, cobalt, lead, iron, copper, zinc, arsenic and 

 quicksilver are among the metallic productions; 

 other minerals are topaz, chrysolites, amethysts, 

 agates, cornelians, garnet, cinnabar, porcelain-clay, 

 &c. The chief mining operations are carried on in 

 the Erzebirge, and are under excellent management. 

 (See Freyberg, and Mine.} The value of the raw 

 material produced is about 1,100,000 dollars, which, 

 by the processes of industry, acquires a value of 

 3,000,000 dollars; 10,000 men are employed in 

 mining, and 50,000 in the subsequent processes. 

 Of the domestic animals, the chief attention has 

 been bestowed on the sheep, which constitute one 

 of the chief sources of national wealth in Saxony. 

 The Merino breed was introduced into the country 

 in 1765, and the native breed has been improved to 

 a wonderful degree. The number of sheep in the 

 kingdom is estimated at two millions, yielding an- 

 nually upwards of 4,500,000 pounds of wool. Hogs 

 are numerous, but not sufficient for domestic con- 

 sumption. The inhabitants are, with the exception 

 of 2000 Jews and 34,000 Wends, of German origin, 

 and are distinguished for intelligence, industry and 

 honesty. The language is intermediate between 

 High and Low German (See German Language} ; 

 that of the inhabitants of Dresden is the best, 

 though it is an error to suppose that the purest 

 German is spoken there. Saxony was the cradle 

 of the reformation. The Lutherans are 1,348,100; 

 Roman Catholics, 48,000; Greek Catholics, 100; 

 Calvinists, 300; Herrnhutters, 1600. The royal 

 house has been Catholic since 1697. The nobility 

 enjoys exemptions from some taxes, tolls, &c., and 

 some leudal rights and privileges. The peasants 

 are some of them subject to feudal services, and in 

 some instances are serfs. The Saxon peasant is 

 loaded with taxes, and is not allowed to engage in 

 the trades, which are carried on by the citizens or 

 the inhabitants of the towns, who are not nobles. 

 Literary men, preachers, professors and teachers 

 likewise have particular privileges. In no country 

 of Europe is education more attended to than in 

 Saxony, and in no country, of equalextent, is the 

 number of printing and book establishments so 

 great. The university of Leipsic is the principal 

 institution for education. There are common 

 schools in all the parishes, and the lower classes 

 are, very generally, taught to read and write ; in 

 some of the larger towns, there are also free schools 

 for the poor. In addition to these, there are two 

 princely schools (Filrstenschulen), founded from the 

 revenues, of suppressed convents, for the higher 

 I) ranches of education, fifteen gymnasia, two teach- 

 ers' seminaries, one mining academy, one forest 

 academy, and three military schools. There are 

 also numerous public libraries, among which are 

 that of the university of Leipsic, and the royal 

 library at Dresden, with 220,000 printed books and 

 2700 manuscripts. The manufactures and trade 

 are of greater extent than in most inland countries. 

 The weaving of linen is an employment of old date, 

 and is carried on in almost every village : woollens 

 are also manufactured in a number of towns; but 

 both of these branches of industry have somewhat 

 declined. Cotton spinning and weaving increased, 

 to a great extent, towards the close of the last 

 century; but the conveyance of the raw material is 

 tedious and expensive. The manufactures con- 

 nected with the mines are extensive. There are 

 cannon founderies at Freyberg and Dresden ; cobalt 

 is made into smalt; blue-dye, verdigris and green- 



dye are among the articles of manufacturing indus- 

 try. The exports consist of wool and minerals, in 

 a raw state, and of linen, yarn, woollens and lace. 

 The imports are silk, flax, cotton, coffee, sugar, 

 wine, and sometimes corn. The revenue, which is 

 derived partly from taxes, and partly from the re- 

 galia and royal domains, amounts to 4,500,000 

 dollars; the debt is 12,800,000. The peace estab- 

 lishment of the army consists of 13, 300 men; the 

 contingent to the German confederacy of 12,000. 

 The government of Saxony is a monarchy, limited 

 by the privileges of the estates. The margraviate 

 of Upper Lusatia has separate estates. Those of 

 the hereditary lands consist of the prelates and 

 higher nobility, the gentry and the burgesses. The 

 estates have the power of laying taxes and advising 

 on subjects of public importance. The higher of- 

 fices of administration are intrusted to a privy cabi- 

 net, with three cabinet ministers, for foreign affairs, 

 for the home department, and for war; the privy 

 council, the board of finance, the military board, 

 the department of internal administration (Landes- 

 regierung}, the court of appeal for judicial questions, 

 the board of taxes, and the ecclesiastical council 

 and supreme consistory. In June, 1831, a new 

 constitution was promised. The king of Saxony 

 has the fourth vote in the German diet, and four 

 votes in the plenum. The present king, Anthony 

 I., born 1755, succeeded his brother in 1827. In 

 consequence of the commotions in Dresden and 

 Leipsic, in September, 1830, he associated his 

 nephew Frederic Augustus (born 1797) in the 

 government, as co-regent, the father of Frederic 

 resigning his claims to the succession in favour of 

 his son. His predecessor was Frederic Augustus, 

 his brother, created king of Saxony in 1806. There 

 are three Saxon orders ; that of the Saxon crown 

 (Rautenkrone), founded in 1807; that of St Henry 

 (1736), for military merit: and the civil order of 

 merit (1815). 



We have already given a sketch of the early his- 

 tory of the country in the preceding article : we 

 shall here continue the sketch from the foundation 

 of the Albertine line, which now occupies the 

 Saxon throne. Maurice, grandson of Albert, was 

 put in possession of the duchy of Saxony and the 

 dignity of elector by Charles V. His brother 

 Augustus (1553 86) made important accessions to 

 the Saxon territories, and introduced many useful 

 changes in the administration of the government. 

 John George, his grandson (1511 56), joined 

 Gustavus Adolphus in the thirty years' war ; and 

 the combined Swedish and Saxon forces defeated 

 the imperials, under Tilly, in the battle of Breiten- 

 feld (1631), and, under Wallenstein, in that of 

 Liitzen (1632). Misunderstandings between the 

 elector of Saxony and the chancellor Oxenstiern 

 (q. v.) threw the former into the arms of the em- 

 peror; and, by the treaty of Prague (May 30, 1635), 

 Saxony obtained from Austria a cession of the two 

 Lusatias, besides other advantages. Frederic 

 Augustus I. (16941733) embraced the Catholic 

 religion (1697), to obtain the crown of Poland. 

 But Charles XII. conquered Poland, and occupied 

 Saxony, subjecting it to heavy impositions; while, 

 by the peace with Sweden, the latter country re- 

 ceived no indemnification for its losses. (See 

 Northern War.) Frederic Augustus II. (1733 

 1763) also obtained the crown of Poland (as Augus- 

 tus III.), after a war with France, and took part 

 with Austria in the seven years' war. The peace 

 of 1763 left the country, which had suffered severely 



