SAXONY. 723 
and on the north by the Prussian states. Previous to 1814, 
it contained above 2,000,000 of inhabitants (exclusive of 
the part of Poland subject to this crown); but it was greatly 
reduced by the Congress of Vienna. At present, its divi¬ 
sions, extent, and population, are as follow:— 
Square miles. Population. 
Circle of Meissen. 
1600 
300,000 
Leipsic. 
1460 
207,000 
Erzgebirge. 
Vogtland. 
2175 
700 
460,000 
90,000 
Part of Merseburg...... 
73 
10,000 
Upper Lusatia .. 
1180 
170,000 
Total.... 
7188 
1,237,000 
Chief Towns. 
Population. 
Dresden, the capital.. 
.. 45,000 
Leipsic. 
.. 33,000 
Chemnitz.. 
.. 11,000 
Bautzen... 
.. 11,000 
Freyberg . 
.. 9,000 
Zittau ... 
.. 7,200 
Plauen .... 
Meissen. 
Ebersbach. 5,000 
Mittweyda. 5,000 
Schneeberg .’...*. 4,400 
Annaberg. 4,300 
Hennersdorf .. 4,300 
Eylau. 4,300 
Zwickau. 4,100 
Dobeln. 4,100 
Zschopau. 4,000 
Pima... 3,800 
Grimma .. 3,000 
Face of the Country, Soil, and Products .—This king¬ 
dom may be said to resemble a triangle, of which the longest 
side is the frontier on the side of Bohemia, formed by a 
range of mountains, extending in a long line from south¬ 
west to north-east. The length of Saxony is 140 miles, its 
greatest breadth about 75. The descent from these moun¬ 
tains, steep on the Bohemian territory, is gentle and undu¬ 
lating on that of Saxony; on the side of the latter, there are 
few naked peaks, and a number of the hills are green to their 
summits; for no part of Europe in the same latitude enjoys 
a milder climate. Towards the north-east of the frontier 
line, and in a quarter where the lofty range of the Erzgebirge 
is succeeded by a lower, called the Wohlische Kamm, the 
Elbe issues with a full stream from Bohemia, flowing in the 
bottom of a narrow valley, formed apparently by its waters. 
The other -considerable rivers are the two Elsters, the two 
Muldas, and the Queiss, all rising in the south of Saxony, 
and flowing northward, but all unfit for navigation, so long 
as they remain within the limits of this kingdom. The Elbe, 
on the other hand, is navigable, and by its course through 
the centre Of the country, affords much accommodation for 
the conveyance of merchandize. The mountainous districts 
in the south, contain extensive forests, which are -kept up 
with care, as the chief supply of fuel for the mines. Coal 
and turf, however, are used for domestic fuel in various parts 
of the country. In the southern and mountainous parts of 
Saxony, the valleys only are cultivated; but in the level dis¬ 
tricts in the north, particularly the circles of Meissen and 
Leipsic, tillage is general: the products are wheat, barley, 
oats, and other grain; also some tobacco and hops; and in 
a few situations of favourable exposure, vines. 
Of the domestic animals in this country, the chief care has 
been bestowed on the sheep, Merino rams'having been kn¬ 
otted about the year 1768, and the Saxon wool rendered, 
y continued good management, the best in Germany. The 
number of sheep is large; hogs also are numerous, and are 
fed in some districts in the. woods. 
Mineralogy .—Few countries equal Saxony in mineral 
riches, and in none has this department of natural history 
been more fully described. It was the rocks of the Erzge¬ 
birge that furnished Werner with the facts on which he 
founded a system of geology, confirmed by so many sub¬ 
sequent discoveries, and found to be almost as applicable to 
the Andes and Cordilleras, as to the less elevated mountains 
of Saxony. The basis of the Erzgebirge is granite, covered 
by gneiss, mica, and clay slate in succession. Between 
these are other strata, containing metallic ores. In particular 
spots there are rocks of serpentine and quartz, with strata of 
limestone, coal, and clay. The rocks, called in this country 
weiss-stein (white rock), contain a variety of heterogenous 
substances, such as feldt-spar, mica, garnet, and cyanite. 
Basalt is found in various parts, towering above the others in 
lofty and regular polygonal columns, forming, by their as¬ 
semblage, prisms, pyramids, and domes. The smaller mine¬ 
rals are very numerous: the topaz occurs frequently, and 
thei'e are found also chrysolites, amethysts, chalcedonies, cor¬ 
nelians, agates, jasper, garnets, and tourmalins; and among 
the coarser stones are serpentine, asbest, amianthus, barytes, 
and fluates of lime. The porcelain clay in the neighbour¬ 
hood of Meissen is well known; here are also fuller’s-earth, 
terra-sigillata, and other minerals with an argillaceous base: 
petrifactions are very common. 
Of the precious metals in the Saxon mountains, the quan¬ 
tity of gold is so small, that it has never been made the 
object of particular research; but there are a few silver 
mines. The lofty primitive mountains abound in iron; the 
secondary in copper and lead. Next to these are arsenic, 
cobalt, antimony, manganese, zinc, sulphur, alum, vitriol, 
and borax. The salt mines and springs of Saxony, are in¬ 
cluded in the districts ceded in 1815 to Prussia. 
Manufactures and Trade .—These are of greater extent 
than in most inland countries; and of the continent of 
Europe, Saxony may be considered that part which, after 
the Netherlands and the north of France, approaches most 
nearly to England. The weaving of linen is an employ¬ 
ment of old date; it is carried on in almost every village of 
the kingdom, but more particularly in Upper Lusatia', at 
Zittau, Bautzen, and Herrnhut. Woollens likewise are ma¬ 
nufactured in a number of towns. Cotton spinning and 
weaving, after being conducted on a small scale, so early as 
the 17th century, acquired a rapid extension towards the 
close of the 18th, and forms at present a great object of 
manufacturing industry at Chemnitz, Plauen, and other 
parts. The machinery used in Saxony, though inferior to 
the English, has of late years been much improved; labour 
also is cheap, but the conveyance of raw material, such 
as cotton, from a foreign country, is tedious and expensive. 
There are silk manufactures on a small scale at Leipsic, and 
in several smaller towns. Tanneries are more general, and 
the paper manufactories are not inconsiderable. Every town 
of consequence has breweries and distilleries. The cultiva¬ 
tion of silk was attempted towards the middle of the 18th 
century, but relinquished; the climate being too cold for the 
silk worm. 
The manufactures connected with the mines, are of con¬ 
siderable extent, particularly at Freyberg, which, being 
situated in the hilly district, may be termed the central and 
principal point for this kind of industry, as well for foundries 
of cannon and balls, as for separating the more valuable 
metals from their ores by amalgamation. At Dresden, also, 
there are foundries of cannon and balls; the navigation by 
the Elbe affording facilities for the transport of these very 
heavy commodities. Cobalt is made into smalts, and blue 
dye in several towns in the mining district, while other 
places are noted for the manufacture of verdigrease and green 
dye. 
For commercial intercourse, the position of Saxony is not 
favourable. The neighbouring countries are poor, and their 
sovereigns have, till of late, cramped the transport of the 
goods, by tolls and other dues paid at the barrier custom¬ 
houses. The deficiency of water conveyance, necessitates 
the 
