778 



DENMARK. 



ing a certain tax ; the Senate is chosen for the term of 8, and the House of Representatives 

 for 4 years. The population of Belgium is 4,500,000. 



15. History. The history of Belgium is connected with that of Holland till the revolt of 

 the latter country from the Spanish dominion. Belgium or the Low Countries remained in the 

 possession of the Spaniards after the independence of Holland. Early in the 18th century the 

 country passed into the hands of the Austrians, and was held by them till the breaking out of 

 the French revolution, when it was conquered by the French, and incorporated with France in 

 1795. After the overthrow of Napoleon, it was united to Holland, and formed a part of the 

 kingdom of the Netherlands. This union was the work of the Congress of Vienna, and never 

 obtained the cordial acquiescence of the Belgians. The two nations differed in character, 

 manners, institutions, religion, and language, and the policy of William of Orange, who occu- 

 pied the throne, was far from conciliatory. The Belgians were treated more as a conquered 

 people than as subjects on an equality with the Dutch ; few of them were appointed to impor- 

 tant offices ; the education of their children was taken out of their hands ; their language was 

 proscribed ; the liberty of the press was abolished, and many other burdens imposed upon 

 them. The revolution of Paris in 1830 set them the example of revolt, and in August of the 

 same year they rose in insurrection at Brussels, and on the 4th of October, 1830, declared the 

 independence of Belgium. Bloody combats with the Dutch armies followed at Brussels, Ant- 

 werp, and other places. The troops of the king were at length driven from the country, and 

 the independence of Belgium was acknowledged by the 5 great European powers. On the 4th 

 of June, 1831, the Belgian Congress made choice of Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg for 

 king, who immediately accepted the crown, and took his oath to the Constitution, at Brussels, 

 July 21st, 1831. 



CHAPTER CXIX. DENMARK. 



1. Boundaries and Extent. Denmark is a peninsula, divided on the north from Norway by 

 the Scagerac, and from Sweden on the east by the Sound ; it is bounded on the south by Ger- 

 many and the Baltic ; and the German sea divides it from Great Britain on the west. Includ- 

 ing the insular portion, it lies between 53^ 21' and 57° 42' north latitude, and 8° and 13° 30' 

 east longitude. Its length from north to south is nearly 300 miles, and its breadth 100. Area, 

 22,000 square miles. 



2. Rivers. The most considerable river is the Eyder, which, rising near the Baltic, runs 

 westward, and after a course of 56 miles, falls into the German sea at Tonningen. The 

 Gudensal has its source between Skanderborg and Randers, and enters the Baltic at Radbye. 

 The other rivers, or more properly, rivulets, are numerous ; but too inconsiderable to require 

 mention. 



3. Lakes. There are several lakes, but none of any magnitude. That of Ploen, in Hol- 

 stein, is one of the largest, and does not exceed 10 miles in circumference. Among the oth- 

 ers are those of .^rre, Esrom., and Sial., in Zealand ; the lake of Wyborg and the Long Lake 

 in Jutland ; and the lake of Ratzeb urg in Lauenburg. 



4. Islands. The islands in the Bahic are the most fertile and populous parts of the king- 

 dom, and of these Zealand is the largest. It is generally flat, and, except in a small part of 

 the coast, very Httle elevated above the level of the sea. It contains 3,000 square miles 

 Population, 360,000. Funen, the next in importance, is separated from Zealand by the strait, 

 called the Great Belt ; and is about 50 miles long and 40 broad. Odensee is the capital. The 

 island of Bornholm is surrounded by rocks highly dangerous to navigators, and contains 7 

 towns, and 21 parishes. The capital is Roenne., known for its potteries and watch and clock- 

 making. Population of the island, 20,000. The little isle of JJfoen, at the southern extremi- 

 ty of Zealand, contains 7,000 inhabitants. The island of Langeland, between Funen and 

 Laaland, contains 11,000 inhabitants. Laaland or Lolland is peopled by 4,000 souls, and has 

 a considerable trade in grain. The isle of Falster, to the east of Laaland, numbers 16,000 

 inhabitants. 



5. Bays, Straits, &c. The coasts of Denmark are indented by numerous branches of the 

 sea, called fiords, or firths, the principal of which is called the Lymfiord. The Sound, or 

 Oresund, one of the 3 straits which connect the Cattegat and Baltic, is the most frequented 

 strait in the world. Its depth is from 10 to 19 fathoms ; but close upin the coast, and round 

 some of the islands, it is only 4 fathoms. 



