BOHE M I A. 



635 



Bohemia. m ia amounted to 78 ; which employed 1821 work- 

 * v * men. The value of the glass vessels annually ex- 

 ported to Spain, \merica, Russia, and the Levant, 

 is estimated at two millions and a half of florins. Be- 

 sides these works, there are six manufactures of 

 mirrors, in which are employed 282 workmen ; the 

 sale of the two manufactures at Pirnstein amounts 

 annually to ahout 60,000 florins. The composition 

 stones of Turnau employ 139 workmen, and bring 

 ip 40,600 florins a year. The two manufactures of 

 granates at Dlaskowetz and Swietla bring in only 

 3000 florins. The manufacture of white starch and 

 hair powder brings in 12^,680 florins. There are 

 fifty gold and silver smiths, the value of whose work- 

 manship does not exceed 1 40,000 florins. For cop- 

 per work there are eleven forges, and for brass there 

 is one forge and fifty-four workmen ; the value of 

 this manufacture amounts to about 140,000 florins. 

 The founderies which supply the whole empire with 

 artillery and bells, are in Bohemia and Lower Aus- 

 tria. The value of the tin manufacture may be esti- 

 mated at 56,100 florins annually. Of smalt there 

 are eight manufactures, which export to the value of 

 72,000 florins; there are likewise manufactures of 

 sulphuric acid, which bring in about 13,884 florins.. 

 Trade and There are few countries where the balance of trade 

 commerce. j s more favourable than in Bohemia, for its commerce 

 consists almost entirely of exportation. Besides the 

 cheapness and excellent quality of its home manufac- 

 tures, the commerce of importation is extremely li- 

 mited in this country by the want of capital, and the 

 severe prohibition against the introduction of foreign 

 commodities, or the heavy duties to which they are 

 liable. There is one circumstance, however, extreme- 

 ly prejudicial to the interests of the natives ; and that 

 is, the disproportionate number of Jews, and, in some 

 districts, of Greeks and Armenians, who have en- 

 grossed almost all the trade of the country. " It is 

 a demonstrable and notorious fact," say Schreyer, in 

 his work on the commerce and manufactures of Bo- 

 hemia, " that in every town, and in every place 

 where the Jews are established, the Christian trades- 

 men are reduced to the most wretched condition, and 

 that the Jews have enriched themselves at their ex- 

 pense." The countries with which Bohemia carries 

 on the most extensive traffic, are Austria, Spain, 

 Portugal, Italy, and Turkey. Of the quantity and 

 value of its trade, some idea may be formed from the 

 statement which we have already given of its manu- 

 factures. The superior elegance which the Bohe- 

 mians have attained in cutting and polishing flint- 

 glass, occasions such a demand for their glass vessels, 

 that they are sent not only to most of the European 

 nations, but even to America. 



The administration of commerce in Bohemia is en- 

 trusted to a chamber of commerce, resident at Prague, 

 and subordinate to that of Vienna. This chamber 

 onsists of a president, who is, at the tame time, a 

 privy counsellor, of six counsellors, and some other 

 officers. Subordinate to them are eight inspectors 

 of the provinces, who make regular tours through 

 the districts assigned them, to examine the various 

 factories, and give in a report of them to the cham- 

 ber. In cases of importance, such as the advance of 

 funds, the nomination of commissaries and factors, 



Bohemia. 



granting new privileges, erecting new manufactures, 

 the interdiction of foreign commodities, the raising <r~~~ 



or lowering customs and imposts, &c. The cham- 

 ber of commerce can decree nothing without first 

 consulting the board at Vienna, and receiving its di- 

 rections. The exchequer 6f commerce has consider- 

 able revenues, and, in case of being exhausted, is 

 supplied by that of Vienna. The interior commerce 

 of Bohemia is much facilitated by the excellence of 

 the roads. Ten grand roads issue from Prague, anct 

 run through the whole country in an invariable line. 

 In many places they are supported by mason work J 

 and there are deep ditches on both sides, to facilitate 

 the flow of the waters. These roads were completed 

 at the expense of several millions of florins, though 

 the tenantry were obliged to give their labour with- 

 out hire. Two creutzers, equivalent to about Is. 1 Id, 

 are paid at every stage, for defraying the expense of 

 making and repairing them. The Empress and Queen 

 Maria Theresa, established, in 1749, a regular mail to 

 run from Vienna to Prague, and another from Prague 

 to Vienna, both to favour commerce, by the facility 

 of intercourse between the two capitals, and to fur- 

 nish travellers with proper accommodation. 



The name Bohemia is derived from the German History: 

 Boehman, which signifies the residence of the Boii. 

 The Boii were a branch of the Celts, who, under 

 the command of Sigovesus, passed over from Gaul 

 into Germany, about 600 years before the Christian 

 asra. Proceeding as far as the frontiers of the Quadi 

 and Sarmatians, they settled in that part of the Her- 

 cynian forest which then covered Bohemia. In the 

 reign of Augustus they were invaded by the Marco- 

 manni, who expelled them, and took possession of 

 their territory. Some of the conquered nation, how- 

 ever, still cantoned in Bohemia, though the greater 

 part of them took refuge in Noricum, the modern 

 Bavaria. The Marcomanni remained in possession of 

 Bohemia till the 6th century, when they were, in 

 their turn, attacked and dispossessed by the Sclavo- 

 nians, under the command of Czechow. This leader 

 governed with such clemency and moderation, that his 

 name is still cherished with reverence by the Bohe- 

 mians, who take particular pride in the appellation of 

 Czechs, or Czechowians. In those countries, indeed, 

 where the Sclavoniau language is spoken, they are 

 known by no other name. Czechow found the coun- 

 try almost in a state of nature, covered with wood, 

 and occupied by herds of wild cattle, which no owner 

 could claim. He taught the savage inhabitants to 

 cultivate the ground, and to rear crops of corn, and 

 thus rendered them acquainted with some of the com- 

 forts of life, and prepared them for the restrictions 

 and the advantages of regular government. We have 

 no means of ascertaining what particular form of go- 

 vernment was established by Czechow, or what title 

 he assumed ; but the title of duke was first adopted 

 in Bohemia by Premislaus, who flourished about the 

 commencement of the eighth century. Premislaus is 

 said to have founded the city of Prague, and to have 

 distributed his subjects into different ranks : the go- 

 vernment was transmitted to his descendants ; on? of 

 whom, named Borzivori, embraced the Christian re- 

 ligion about the close of the ninth century, and found 

 means, not without some violent struggles, to csta- 



