764 



BADEN. 



Mecklenburg-Schwerin, and Nassau, each 2, and the others, one each,* making 71 votes. 

 2. The ordinary Diet is the other form of the assembly ; in this there are but 17 votes, the 

 principal powers (the 11 first named above), having each one vote, and the others voting col- 

 lectively. This body discusses all questions, and proposes them for adootion to the plenum, 

 executes its decrees, and in general, manages the affairs of the confederacy. The general as- 

 sembly decides upon the propositions of the ordinary diet, makes war and peace, &c. 



24. Army. The army of the confederation consists of 300,000 men, each State furnishing 

 a contingent of troops, proportionate to its population. There are several cities considered as 

 federal fortresses ; these are Luxemburg, Mayence, Landau, Ulm, &c. 



25. History. Germany, in ancient times, was divided into a number of principahties, inde- 

 pendent of each other, though occasionally connected by a military union. The greater part 

 of the country was subjected by the Romans ; and in the beginning of the 8th century, Charle- 

 magne extended his authority over the whole empire. In the 10th century it became an elec- 

 tive monarchy, and princes of different families, according to the prevalence of their interests 

 and arms, were called to the throne. The houses of Saxony, Franconia, and Suabia, exer- 

 cised the imperial power successively, but in the 15th century it became hereditary in the 

 House of Austria. The German Empire was broken up in 1806 by Napoleon, who formed 

 several of the States into a union called the Rhenish Confederation. Upon the settlement of 

 the affairs of Europe at the Congress of Vienna, in 1814, the Empire was not reestablished, 

 but a new form of government was proposed, which resulted in the present act of confederation. 



CHAPTER XCVIL GRAND DUCHY OF BADEN. 



1. Boundaries and Population. The Grand Duchy of Baden is bounded on the N. by 

 ducal Hesse ; on the E. by Bavaria and Wirtemberg, and on the S. and W. by the Rhine, 

 which separates it from Switzerland and France. Area, 5,700 square miles ; population, 

 1,240,000. 



2. Face of the Country, Rivers, &c. Baden consists mostly of a fertile plain, containing 

 excellent corn.-fields and vineyards. On its eastern border extends the mountainous chain of 

 the Black Forest, in which rises the Danube. The J^eckar, a tributary of the Rhine, flows 

 through the northern part of the Duchy. The Rhine washes its western and southern border. 

 The lake of Constance forms a part of the southeastern boundary. The climate is mild and 

 genial. The soil is good, and vegetation luxuriant. There are mines of silver and iron, and 

 quarries of freestone and marble. Mineral springs and hot baths are very numerous. In the 

 city of Baden are above 300 hot baths, some of which are scalding hot ; all of them spring 

 out of rocks of alum, salt, and sulphur. The State takes its name, signifying baths, from this 

 circumstance. 



3. Industry. Its central position between the Swiss, French, and German territories, and 

 its situation upon the navigable waters of the Rhine, give Baden a considerable transit trade. 

 Its marrufactures are not extensive ; toys, trinkets, and wooden clocks are the principal arti- 

 cles ; these, with the products of its forests, vineyards, and pastures, are exported. 



4. Religion and Government. The majority of the inhabhants are Roman Catholics, but 

 the grand duke is himself a liUtheran. Liberal provision is made for the education of all 

 classes, by the maintenance of elementary and Latin schools, and gymnasia or higher schools. 

 There are universities at Heidelberg and Freyberg. The government is a constitutional mon- 

 archy, the legislative authority being vested in 2 houses or chambers. 



5. Divisions and Toicns. The grand duchy is divided into 6 circles, which are subdivided 

 into aemte or balliwics. 



Carlsruhe, the capital, is a handsome and regularly built city, near the Rhine, with 18,000 

 inhabitants. The 9 principal streets diverge in different directions from the ducal palace, and 

 are intersected at regular intervals by cross-streets, forming concentric circles. The ducal li- 

 brary contains 70,000 volumes, and there are fine gardens attached to the palace- In the vi- 

 cinity is Baden, with 3,500 inhabitants, celebrated for its mineral waters, which are annually 

 resorted to by upwards of 8,000 visiters. There are here 26 warm springs, in some of which 

 meat can be cooked. 



" Kniphausen, however, is joined with Oldenburg, and Reuss-Schleitz with Reuss-Lobenstein, in voting 



