887 also the remaining part of the Netherlands | tained the name of a kingdom of the Netherlands was annexed to the German empire. The Emper- or Holland, while the southern provinces are ors appointed dukes and earls governors of the united as a " Kingdom of Belgium." Netherlandish provinces; yet gradually they made their office inheritable and themselves independent so early as in the 10th century. In 1369 Margaret, the only heiress of Flanders entered into marriage with Philip the Bold, duke of Burgundy, who thus became possessed of that earldom. At the same time the line of the ancient dukes of Brabant had become extinct, and the only heiress, Johanna of Brabant, bequeathed the duchy to her grand-nephew, Anton of Burgundy, the son of Philip the Bold. In the course of time other parts of the Netherlands were annexed to these posses sions, and in the latter half of the 15th century, nearly the whole was under the sway of the duke of Burgundy. The last duke in the male line of this house, Charles the Bold, died in 1477, and his only daughter, Mary, inherited the Netherlands together with Burgundy proper. She was married to the Austrian archduke Maximilian; and their son Philip was married with Johanna of Castile. Philip's and Johanna's eldest son, the renowned emperor Charles V., inherited all these immense possessions, and bequeathed the Netherlands, together with Spain, etc., to his son Philip II. of Spain. The southern provinces continued to be annexed to Spain, until by the terms of the treaty, concluded at Rastadt on the 7th of March, 1714, they were ceded to Austria, which in 1797 ceded them to France. In 1814 they were restored to Austria, that however renounced them in favor of an arrangement, by which the northern and southern provinces were reunited under the name of the "Kingdom of the Netherlands." But the revolution in 1830 separated them again; and since that time the northern provinces have re HOLLAND. This kingdom lying on the N. of Belgium, contains an area of 13,230 sq. m., is for a large part below the level of the sea, to prevent the encroachments of which dykes are made usually 30 feet high and 70 feet wide, at the bottom, of rough clay, fenced on the inside with wood and stone, and on the outside with mats of flags and rushes, to high-water mark. The government is a Constitutional Monarchy Education.There are 3 universities, three other similar institutions on a smaller scale, styled Athenaca, 68 Latin schools, 9 seminaries, 70 secondary, 2,125 public schools. Force. The army contains about 60,000 men ; and the navy 20 large ships, and 30 frigates, and war steamers. AMSTERDAM is one of the finest cities in Europe; it is built on piles, fortified by a ditch and bastion intersected by canals, which form 90 islands, connected by 280 stone and wooden bridges. The new bridge has 36 arches, and is 606 feet in length. BELGIUM, is the most densely populated country in Europe, having over 400 inhabitants to a sq. m. The scenery is more romantic than that of Holland, and the soil very fertile. The government is a limited monarchy, the legislative power being vested in a King, Senate, and House of Representatives. Education, in the primary branches is common among all classes. The manufactures are principally linen, cloth, leather, fire-arms, cutlery, steamengines, and lace; long renowned as the finest in the world. A pound of the finest thread, for bonc-lace, costs about $1000. DENMARK. THIS ancient kingdom, which formed part of Scandinavia, now consists of the Danish islands in the Baltic, the peninsula of Jutland, the duchies of Sleswig, Holstein, and Lauenberg; and also of the island of Iceland, and the Feroe islands. Denmark is divided on the N. from Norway by the Skagerrack sea; on the E. from Sweden by the Cattegat and the Sound; on the S. by Germany and the Baltic; and on the W. by the North sea or German ocean, which separates it from Britain. Aspect. The country is a great plain; there are few eminences, the highest only 1200 ft. above the sea. A low sandy ridge stretches from the Skawe directly south to the river Elbe. The coast on the German ocean is low, sandy, and much indented by firths; on the shores of the Baltic the land is more elevated and fertile. History.-Denmark and the adjacent countries, originally known as Scandinavia, was probably peopled by migrating hordes who passed from the north to more fertile regions and warmer climates. The Jutlanders were known to the Romans as the Chersonesus Cambrica, and the Cimbri, or people of Sleswig, together with the Teutones, made incursions into the Roman provinces of Gallia. The Goths, under Odin, spread themselves over Scandinavia, and the first king of Denmark is said to have been Skiold, a son of Odin. Under the title of Danes, they ravaged England and Ireland; and under the designation of Northmen, or Normans, they swept along the coasts of France, Spain, Italy, Sicily, and even as far as Constantinople, everywhere influencing events by their bravery and talents, and leaving to the present day in the above-named countries the distinguishing traits of their character. Population. The population of Denmark, exclusive of Iceland and the Feroe islands, is nearly 2,000,000, which, on an area of 22,000 sq. m., is only 90 to each square mile. Government. Hereditary monarchy in the male and female line; a representative assembly, and a privy council for the management of the higher affairs of government. Education. Every town or village has a primary school; various high seminaries, civil and military, and many educationary establishments in every branch of art and science. The Army consists of 50,000 men. The Navy is small. COPENHAGEN, the capital of the Danish dominions, is situated on a low promontory on the east side of the island of Zealand, is a noble-looking city, five miles in circumference, and well-fortified. The buildings are of brick, stone, and Norwegian marble; and order, neatness, and elegance are manifest. Population 100,000. ICELAND is situated in the Atlantic occan, on the borders of the frigid zone, 160 m. from Greenland, and 700 m. from Norway. It contains 30,000 sq. m., and a population of 60,000. It was formerly much more fertile than at present, though still a good grazing country. Mt. Hecla, an active volcano on this island, has been in a state of eruption since A. D. 1106. History. A Norwegian pirate, named Naddok, is said to have discovered Iceland in 861, which, however, was already inhabited by tribes perhaps |