6B GEOGRAPHY. 



The population amounts to 4,400,000, of which one fourth belongs to 

 Norway. The Swedes and Norwegians, like the Danes and Icelanders, are 

 of Germanic descent. Among the population are to be distinguished the 

 Lapps (termed Finns in Norway), probably of Mongolian descent, and the 

 true Finns; Sweden includes 9000 Lapps, 7500 Finns, 2500 Germans, 1000 

 Jews ; while in Norway, where there are about 13,000 Lapps and 6000 

 Finns, no Jews whatever are suffered. The prevalent religion is the 

 Lutheran. The intellectual culture of the peninsula is on an elevated 

 stage. For instruction in the higher branches of scientific education, the 

 universities of Upsala and Lund in Sweden, and that of Christiania in 

 Norway, are well adapted. 



Sweden and Norway are two entirely independent kingdoms, governed, 

 since 1814 by one king, and since 1818 by the House of Bernadotte 

 (present ruler Oscar L). The Swedish constitution dates from 6th June, 

 1809, the Norwegian from 17th May, 1814. The Swedish diet consists of 

 four chambers (nobles, clergy, burghers, and peasants); the Norwegian 

 Storthing of two sections, Lagthing and Odelthing. The powers of the 

 Storthing are very great ; it can assemble without having been convened 

 by the king, who is obliged to accept any project which has been three 

 times presented by the Storthing. 



The revenues of Sweden amounted, from 1844-1847, to about five millions 

 and a half of dollars, the expenditures to over eight millions. The Swedish army 

 embraces over 34,000 men, with 95,000 as a reserve force ; the Norwegian 

 about 12,000. The Swedish navy counts twenty-one ships of the line, eight 

 frigates, eight smaller vessels, and 247 gun-boats ; the Norwegian, six small 

 vessels of war, and 117 gun-boats. 



Divisions. Sweden possesses about 3,250,000 inhabitants in eighty-eight 

 towns, and in respect to government, is divided into twenty-four Ian or 

 shires, and 117 fogderies or districts; politically, it is divided into three 

 principal parts, with twenty-three subdivisions, namely : 



I. Svealand or Sweden proper, Svea Rike, the central portion contains 

 eight lans or shires ; Stockholm (pop. 84,000), Upsala, Westeras, Nykoping, 

 Oerobro, Carlstad, Stora-Kopparberg, ,Gefleborg ; corresponding to the 

 ancient provinces of Upland, Sodermanland, Westmanland, Nerike, Warmer- 

 land, Dalarne or Dalecarlia, Gestrikland, and Helsingland. 



II. Gotaland, Gotland or Gothia, the southern part of the kingdom, 

 contains the lans of Linkoping, Calmar, Jonkoping, Kronenberg, Blekinge, 

 Skaraborg, Elfsborg, Gotheburg and Bohus, Halmstad, Christianstad, 

 Malmolus, Gottland; corresponding to the ancient provinces of Ostergoth- 

 land, Smaland, Bleckinge, Westergothland, Dasland, Halland, Skane, and 

 the islands of Gottland and Oeland. 



III. Norrland or Nordland contains the lans of Nordbotten, Westerbotten, 

 Westnorrland or Hermasand, Jamtland ; corresponding to the ancient 

 provinces of Wester Bothnia and Lapmark, Medelpada and Angermanland, 

 Jamtland and Herjealden. 



Norway has a population of about 1,150,000, and is divided into amts, 

 ander the following arrangement : 

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