220 



EUSSIA. IN EUROPE. 



town, doing a large export trade, especially in timber, cereals, flour, and receiving 

 in excharge manufactured goods, colonial produce, and raw cotton for the 

 spinning-mills of tlie interior. Abo was the seat of the National University from 

 1640 to 1827, and here Argelander composed, his valuable catalogue of the stars ; 

 but the scholastic buildings and a library of 40,000 volumes having been 

 destroyed by fire, the University was removed to Hehingfors. 



This city, birthplace of Nordenskjold, is at once the largest and finest town in 

 Finland. It has some handsome edifices, churches, promenades, a park, and a 



Fis:. 106. — Helsingfors. 



botanic garden, at present the northernmost on the globe, being a few miles 

 nearer to the pole than those of Christiania, Upsala, and. St. Petersburg. The 

 University is rich in documents relating to Finland, and has become the centre of 

 considerable scientific activity. But it is not so important as might be supposed 

 from the official returns, for hundreds inscribed on its registers reside outside the 

 town, and even abroad. Seawards the place is defended by the formidable works 



