176 GEOGRAPHY. 



king of Belgium is a member of the Germanic Diet. The largest 

 river in this country is the Maese, the ancient Mosa. The chief cities, 

 are Brussels, the capital; and Ghent, Antwerp, and Liege. Hol- 

 land, was included by the ancients as a part of Germany ; and is the 

 country of the ancient Frisii, and the modern Dutch. It was re- 

 cently separated from Belgium ; and the name Netherlands was then 

 superseded by its older one, now restored. The chief river of Hol- 

 land is the Rhine, the ancient Rhenus. Much of this country is 

 below the level of the sea, from which it is protected by dykes of 

 earth, flagged with wood, and stone. The chief cities of Holland, 

 are Hague, the capital ; Amsterdam, the largest city ; Rotterdam, 

 and Leyden. The Dutch are an industrious people, and still excel in 

 commerce. Switzerland, is the country of the ancient Helvetii ; 

 including the Lake of Geneva, the ancient Lemanus or Lcman, in 

 the west; and extending to the Lake of Constance, in the north-east. 

 It is bounded on the south by the Alps; of which the peak called 

 Mont Blanc, is the highest mountain in Europe ; being three miles 

 high. The chief cities of Switzerland, are Berne, the nominal capi- 

 tal ; Basle and Zurich, in the north-east ; and Geneva, in the south- 

 west. Switzerland is a confederated republic, composed of inde- 

 pendent cantons, united for national security, in a general diet. The 

 Swiss are a hardy and virtuous people ; and though no longer in 

 political connection with Germany, they mostly speak the German 

 language. 



Germany, the ancient Germania, extends from Switzerland, to 

 the German Sea, or Oceanus Germanicus, and to the Baltic Sea, 

 the ancient Sinus Codanus. The Rhine and the Danube were 

 anciently regarded as its boundaries ; and it was inhabited by the 

 Istevones, in the west, including the Cherusci, Frisii and Alemanni ; 

 the Hermiones, in the south, including the Marcomanni, Hermunduri, 

 and Boiohemi ; the Vendili, in the north-east, including the Longo- 

 bardi, Burgundiones,zi\& Gothones ; and the Chauci, in the north, 

 bordering on the German Sea. The chief rivers, were, besides the 

 Rhine and Danube, the Albis or Elbe ; the Viadrus or Oder ; and 

 the Vistula. The Erz Mountains are a part of the ancient Hercy- 

 nian ; this name now designating the more south-eastern range. 

 The Harz Mountains, in the north, are a detached group, famous 

 for their mines. Germany now forms a part of Belgium, Austria, 

 Prussia, and Denmark ; and contains, besides, thirty-one independent 

 states, and four free cities ; all united in the Germanic Confedera- 

 tion ; the affairs of which are regulated by a Diet of representatives, 

 for mutual safety and defence. 



The five principal states of Germany, next to those above men- 

 tioned, are the grand duchy of Baden, in the south-west; and the 

 kingdoms of JVirtemberg and Bavaria, east of it ; the kingdom of 

 Saxony, in the east; and that of Hanover, in the north. The chief 

 cities in these and the smaller states are Munich and Nuremberg, in 

 Bavaria ; Dresden and Leipzic, in Saxony ; Hanover, in Hanover ; 

 Stuttgard, in Wirtemberg ; Manheim, in Baden ; and Cassel in 

 the electorate of Hesse Cassel, between East and West Prussia. 

 The smaller states next in size to those already named, are Hesse 



