Peter Parley's Universal history, on the basis of geography

CHAPTER CXXXI. EUROPE continued.-Brief notices of several Kingdoms and States.

1. THERE are several countries of Europe, of which my limits will not permit me to give a separate history. Some of them have been spoken of in connexion with other kingdoms, and the rest must be briefly noticed in one chapter.

2. If I had time, I could tell a long story about Holland, a country once covered by the sea, which is now walled out by a vast dyke. The people of Holland are called Dutch, and are known all the world over as great smokers. They are, however, an industrious people, and I know of nothing more comfortable than the inside of a thrifty Dutchman's house in his own country. Amsterdam, the capital, contains two hundred thousand inhabitants.

3. In Belgium, the people, strange as it may seem, have a mixture of Dutch and French manners. They smoke a great deal of tobacco, yet speak the French language. The country is pleasant, some parts are very beautiful, and many of the cities are highly interesting.

The principal are Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, and Liege; Bruges is one of the most important towns.

4. The Netherlands, now divided into the kingdoms of Holland and Belgium, were formerly one country. The whole territory is bounded on the north by the North Sea, east by Germany, south by France, and west by the British Channel and the North Sea. These countries had formerly princes of their own, but in the sixteenth century they belonged to Spain.

5. In 1581, the seven northern provinces revolted against Philip of Spain, and formed themselves into a republic, which was then called Holland. During the seventeenth century it was a very powerful nation, especially by sea, and second only to England.

6. The remaining provinces of the Netherlands were long under the government of Austria. In 1810, the whole of the Netherlands were united to France, but in 1814 were formed into a separate kingdom. In 1830 there was a revolution, the union was dissolved, and the southern provinces now compose the kingdom of Belgium, of which Prince Leopold, uncle of Queen Victoria, is the sovereign.

7. Poland was once a nation of Europe, but it is now no longer so. It was bounded north and east by the Russian dominions, south by Austria and Turkey, and west by Prussia. The crown was elective, which gave rise to civil wars, and in 1772, the sovereigns of Russia, Prussia, and Austria, seized upon Poland, and divided the greater part of its territories among themselves; in 1795 they seized the remainder. The inhabitants of the Russian portion have since struggled bravely to regain their freedom, but in vain. The country has been laid waste by the fierce armies of Russia; the progress of civilization, and the arts of peace, have been arrested by internal wars, and a semi-barbarous character has been thereby imparted to the unhappy natives of this ill-fated land. Many of the noblest and the best among them have been slain in war,

or have fallen victims to the vengeance of an enraged conqueror; others have fled into voluntary exile, and of these a great number have taken shelter in our own country, where they have been bountifully relieved both by the government and the people.

8. I have already given you a short account of the states of Italy; but it may be well, however, to repeat a few things here. The republic of Venice, as you may recollect, was founded in the fifth century. It at first comprehended only some marshy islands, at the head of the Gulf of Venice, but afterwards, a considerable tract of territory on the mainland was annexed to its government. It carried on an extensive commerce; and, in the thirteenth century, was a very powerful state. It was customary for the Doge of Venice, who was the chief ruler, to espouse the sea as a wife, with pompous ceremonies. Venice has long been going to decay, and is now under the government of Austria. The city of Venice is, however, the admiration of all travellers.

10. Genoa, on the north-western coast of Italy, formerly

resembled Venice in its government, although it never was so powerful; in 1815 it was annexed to the kingdom of Sardinia. Sardinia is an island in the Mediterranean Sea, and has been a kingdom since the year 1720. Besides Genoa, it possesses Piedmont and Savoy, in Italy.

11. The kingdom of Naples is generally called the kingdom of the Two Sicilies. Its territories comprise all the south of Italy, besides the islands of Sicily, and some small islands in the neighbourhood. The sovereigns of Naples are a branch of the royal family of Spain.

12. In 1808, the emperor Napoleon gave the kingdom of Naples to one of his most distinguished generals, Joachim Murat. King Joachim was expelled in 1815, and the Two Sicilies were restored to the old king, Ferdinand; the next year, Murat was taken prisoner and shot, while attempting to regain the kingdom.

QUESTIONS. 2. What of Holland? The people? What is the population of Amsterdam ?- 3. What of the people of Belgium? The country? The cities?- 4. What of Holland and Belgium? How is the territory bounded? To whom has it belonged at different times?- -5. What took place in 1581? When was Holland very powerful ?-6. What of the remaining provinces of the Netherlands? What took place in 1810? In 1830 ?7. What of Poland? Its boundaries? What took place in 1772 ? In 1795? What of the Poles?- -8. What of Venice ?- -9. When was it powerful? What was an annual ceremony? What of Venice now? -10. What of Genoa? Sardinia? Since when has it been a kingdom? What territories belonged to it ?—11. What is the kingdom of Naples generally called? What of its territories?-12. What of Napoleon? King Joachim? King Ferdinand?

CHAPTER CXXXII. EUROPE continued.-Chronology of Russia, Sweden, Lapland, Norway, Denmark, Holland, Belgium, &c.