Hungarian and Bohemian Peasants.

1. I MUST now give you a very brief account of some of the dependencies of Austria.

2. Hungary is an extensive country, and includes everal provinces. Buda, the capital, is a fine city, situated upon the Danube. The climate of Hungary is pleasant, and the soil yields very fine grapes, of which some choice wines are made. The mountains afford considerable quantities of gold and silver. The nobles live in great splendour, but the great body of the people are little better than their slaves.

3. The original inhabitants of Hungary consisted of several fierce tribes, who appear to have come from Asia into Europe at a very early date, by crossing the Altai Mountains. They probably resembled those Tartar tribes called Turks, who destroyed the Saracen empire.

4. The most famous of the Hungarian tribes were the Huns. An army of these, you will recollect, was led into Italy by the fierce and bloody Attila, about 450. He had already fought many battles, and made the Greek empire tributary to him: he now crossed the Alps, and poured down upon the plains of Italy, spreading terror and desolation among the inhabitants. He approached the city of Rome, but was compelled to retire. He died in 451.

5. For many years, Hungary was the scene of perpetual wars. Its rulers did not acquire the title of king till the time of Stephen, who died in 1038, after a reign of fortyseven years. The country was often the scene of war with the Turks, and its brave inhabitants were called the bulwark of Christendom. In 1563, Hungary became a part of the Austrian empire, and continues so at the present day.

6. Bohemia is a country surrounded by mountains, containing about four millions of inhabitants. It is rich in mines of silver, tin, and precious stones. Many of the present inhabitants are Jews; but there are also a great many of those strange, wandering people, called Gipsies.

7. This country derives its name from a tribe of Celts from Asia, who settled there about 600 years before Christ. About 450 years after Christ, it appears that the Celts had been driven out, for the people at that time were Germans, under the government of a duke. Charlemagne rendered the country tributary, but it afterwards became a kingdom. In 1526, it was annexed to the house of Austria, and has continued so ever since.

8. There are many other provinces belonging to the Austrian empire, as Moravia, Transylvania, Dalmatia, Croatia; but there is nothing very remarkable to be said about them. I have already given you some account of Venice, and if I had room, I would tell you of the brave Tyrolese, who live in the mountains between Italy and

Germany; and of whose chief, the gallant Hofer, you have no doubt heard. But I must now proceed to the history of Prussia, the other great power of Germany.

QUESTIONS. 2. What of Hungary? Its capital? Climate and soil of Hungary? Mountains? Inhabitants? -3. What of the original inhabitants? Their origin? Whom did they probably resemble? -4. What of the Huns? What of Attila? When did he die ? -5. What of Hungary for many years? What of Stephen? What took place in 1563 ?- -6. What of Bohemia? Population? Mines? Inhabitants ? 7. What of a tribe of Celts? Who occupied the country in 450? What of Charlemagne? What took place in 1526 ?—8. Other provinces? Where do the Tyrolese live?

CHAPTER CXXII. EUROPE continued.

Prussia.

-About

1. THERE are five great powers in Europe: Great Britain, France, Russia, Austria, and Prussia. Of these Prussia is the least considerable, that is, it has the fewest people, the least wealth, the smallest number of soldiers, and therefore the least power. Yet it is still an extensive country, and has about twelve or thirteen millions of inhabitants.

2. The kingdom of Prussia consists of two separate tracts of territory. The larger of the two is bounded north by the Baltic, east by Russia, south by Austria, and west by Germany. The smaller portion is a part of Germany, lying along the river Rhine, and is bounded on the north and east by Holland and Belgium. In this part is situated the city of Cologne, famous for its cathedral, and its scented water called Eau de Cologne.

3. The capital of Prussia is Berlin, situated on the river Spree. The city is twelve miles in circumference, and is surrounded by a wall. It has a splendid palace where the king resides, a fine university where a great many young men are educated, and several places of public

amusement, and is, on the whole, one of the handsomest cities in Europe.

4. Beside Berlin, there are many other fine cities in

Prussia. Among these are Potsdam, where there is a royal palace; and Dantzic, a wealthy town, the chief seaport of Prussia, which is strongly fortified, and has a large garrison.

5. The inhabitants of Prussia are chiefly of German origin, and speak the German language. They are industrious, and, a multitude of schools having been established by the government among them, they are tolerably well educated; but the government is a despotism.

6. Beside the German population, Prussia has a great many Jews. There are also the remains of the Vandals, and other tribes that settled in the country long ago, who still speak their original languages; these people are generally very ignorant, and appear unwilling to be taught.

QUESTIONS. 1. What are the five great powers of Europe? Which is the least? What of it? Its inhabitants ?2. How is