This is the most important island of the western hemisphere. Its greatest length is 750 miles; its breadth varies from 130 to 25 miles, and its total area is 48,489 square miles, being nearly equal to the area of Belgium, Holland, Denmark, and Switzerland taken together. It has a soil of the utmost fertility, yielding many of the most precious articles of commerce; in the mineral kingdom its resources are considerable, its copper mines being among the most productive to be found in the western hemisphere. The island has now twenty-seven different lines of railway of a total length of over 800 miles, and the construction of these roads has been attended with an extraordinary extension of cultivation. The population of Cuba is rapidly increasing: it had, according to official returns, 170,370 inhabitants in 1775; 272,140 in 1791; 551,998 in 1817; 704,487 in 1827 (311,051 whites, 106,494 free colored, 286,942 slaves); in 1846, 898,752 (425,767 white, 149,226 free colored, 323,759 slaves); in 1862, 1,359,238 (764,750 white, 225,938 free colored, 368,550 slaves). From 1858 to 1862, 9,462 slaves obtained their liberty either by purchase or by gift of their masters. Many slaves besides were liberated every year by private document, and many children of slaves were registered as free, their liberty being obtained by gift of the masters or by payment of $25 before birth. A decree of the Provisional Government of Spain, in October 1868, provided that all children of slaves, born thereafter, should be free. Cuba is divided into three provinces. The Government is vested in a Captain-General who is the military commandant of the whole island, and the civil governor of one of the three provinces. The chief towns of Cuba are Havana, Santiago, Matanzas, Santa Clara, Santa Maria, and Trinidad. PORTO RICO is thus divided in population:-Pure whites, 300,430; free colored, 241,142; slaves, 41,736. The exports, in 1860, were valued at £1,100,000, and the imports at £1,500,000. Ceded by France to Sweden in 1784. Its shape is irregular; soil, fertile, though the island is generally destitute of fresh water. Products, sugar, tobacco, cotton and cocoa. II. EUROPE. 1. AREA-POPULATION-MOVEMENT AND DENSITY OF POPULATION-NATIONALITIES-THE GREAT POWERS-FORMS OF GOVERNMENT-CIVILIZATION. The total area of Europe is estimated at 3,781,280 square miles; the total population at 293,083,000. Among the large divisions of the world, Europe occupies the fourth place in point of area, being much inferior to Asia, America and Africa, and superior only to Australia and Polynesia. In point of population, it occupies the second place, being inferior only to Asia, and superior to Africa, America and Australia. The increase of population during the last century has been very rapid. In 1787 it was estimated at 150,000,000; at present it exceeds 293,000,000. It has therefore nearly doubled in 80 years, notwithstanding the devastating wars from 1793 to 1815, of 1854, 1859 and 1866. It ranks first among the large divisions of the world in density of population. The densest population is to be found in Belgium and the kingdom of Saxony; the thinnest in Russia, Sweden and Norway. In general, western Europe is more densely peopled than eastern Europe. Nearly the whole population of Europe belongs to the Caucasian race, using the Indo-European class of languages, and in particular, one of the three chief branches the Germanic, Greco-Latin, and Slavic. The former embraces the Germans, the Scandinavians and the Anglo-Saxons. The Greco-Latin branch comprises the Greeks, Rumanians, Italians, French, Spaniards, Portuguese, and Albanians. The Slavi, who occupy the whole of eastern Europe, embrace the Russians, Poles, Czechi, Moravians, Croats, Slavonians, Wends, Servians, Bulgarians. The population of Ireland, northern and middle Scotland, Wales, and the Bretagne (in France), is of Celtic origin; but the Celtic language has to a large extent disappeared, and politically the Celts have been absorbed by, or are at least subject to other races. The Magyars in Hungary, the Szeklers in Transylvania, the Finns in Finland, the Lapps, the Esthonians and a number of smaller tribes in European Russia belong to the Finnish branch of Indo-Europeans. The Basques in the Pyrenees are regarded as the descendants of the Iberians, the primitive inhabitants of Spain. Of the political divisions of Europe, Germany, Great Britain, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Holland and the great majority of the cantons of Switzerland are Germanic countries: in Austria, the Germanic nationality prevails in the provinces of Austria above the Ens, Austria below the Ens, Salzburg, Styria, Carinthia, the Tyrol, and Silesia; in Russia, the three Baltic provinces, Livonia, Esthonia and Courland, are under the predominant influence of the Germanic nationality, although the Germans do not constitute a majority of the population; in Belgium about four-sevenths are Germans. States in which the Greco-Latin languages prevail are France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Rumania (a dependency of Turkey), and the cantons of south-western Switzerland. To the same family belong three-sevenths of the Belgians and a part of the Tyrol. The only Slavic Empire is Russia; but the Slavi also prevail in Servia and Montenegro (Turkish dependencies), in the Turkish provinces of Bosnia and Bulgaria, and in the Austrian provinces of Bohemia, Moravia, Carniola, Goritz, Istria, Gallicia, Bukovina, Dalmatia, Croatia. In general, the Slavi constitute the majority of the population of European Turkey, and nearly one-half of the total population of Austria. In Hungary, Magyars are the dominant race, and in Turkey the Turks; but the Turks do not constitute a majority of the total population in European Turkey, nor are the Magyars a majority of population in the countries belonging to the Hungarian crown. With the exception of about three and a half millions of Jews, six and a half millions of Mohammedans, and about five hundred thousand pagans, the inhabitants of Europe belong to the Christian religion. (For details see the tables of Religious Statistics.) The countries of Europe have for many centuries been at the head of civilization, and no country outside of Europe, can compare with its leading powers in this particular, except the United States. No part of Europe is a dependency of a non-European power, while the whole of Australia, the larger portion of Asia, and a considerable part of America, Africa and Polynesia are possessions and dependencies of European powers. (See America, Asia, Africa, and Polynesia.) France, Great Britain, Austria, Russia and Prussia are commonly called the Great Powers, which from time to time meet in European Conferences for the pacific solution of great European complications. Of late Italy has commonly been admitted to these Conferences. There are in Europe four empires, (France, Austria, Russia, and Turkey); thirteen kingdoms (including Spain and counting Sweden and Norway as one); one ecclesiastical State, (the States of the Church); 7 Grand Duchies, 5 Duchies, 8 Principalities (not including Rumania and Servia, which are dependencies of Turkey); 6 Republics, (Switzerland, San Marino, Andorra, Bremen, Hamburg, and Lubeck). 2. THE STATES OF EUROPE. The following table gives a list of all the European States, their area and population, the name and title of the ruler of each, the year of his accession, and the form of government. 149 12,000 Two Syndics.. 1,026 197,041 Leopold, Duke. 74 Republic. 1817 Limited Monarchy. 1848 Constitutional Mon. 1852 Lim. Mon., 2 Cham. 1864 Lim. Mon., 2 Cham. 1865 Lim. Mon., 2 Cham. 1868 Free City. 1831 Lim. Mon., 1 Cham. Christian IX., King.... 1863 Lim. Mon., 2 Cham. 209,428 38,192,094 Napoleon III., Emperor.. 1852 Con. Mon., 2 Cham. 121,115 29,321,288 145 163,683 Victoria, Queen...... 18,347 1,096,810 George I., King................... 1,006 156 2.970 1837 Lim.Mon., 2 Houses. 1863 Lim. Mon., 1 Cham. 251,712 305,196 Dr. Sieveking, Burgo'ter. 1868 Free City. 823,138 Louis III., Grand Duke.. 1849 Lim. Mon., 2 Cham. 109,837 24,368,787 Victor Emanuel II., King. 1861 Lim. Mon., 2 Cham. 438 111,352 Leopold, Prince. 1851 Lim. Mon.. 1 Cham. 6 991 2,469 Year of Accession. Fora of Government. 31,186 Adolphus, Prince.... 1860 Lim. Mon., 1 Cham. 7,994 John II., Prince. 1858 Constitutional Mon. 48,538 Dr. Roeck, Burgomaster.. 1867 Free City. 560,618 Fred. Francis, G'nd Duke. 1842 Lim. Mon., 1 Cham. 98,770 Fred. Wm., Grand Duke.. 1860 Lim. Mon., 1 Cham., 1,887 Charles III., Prince.. 1856 Limited Monarchy. 3,552,665 William III., King...... 1849 Lim. Mon., 2 Cham. 199,958 315,622 Peter, Grand Duke. 36,494 3,987,861|| | Louis I., King.. 135,806 24,043,296 William I., King.. 145 320 43,889 Henry XXII., Prince. 88,097 Henry XIV., Prince.. 2,050,313 68,224,832 Alexander II., Czar... 5,779 Two Regents 22 5,779 2,423,401 John, King.. 510 1853 Lim. Mon., 2 Cham. 1861 Lim. Mon., 2 Cham. 1861 Lim. Mon., 2 Cham. 1859 Lim. Mon., 1 Cham. 1867 Lim. Mon., 1 Cham. 1859 Lim. Mon., 2 Cham. 1860 Limited Monarchy. 1845 Lim. Mon., 1 Cham. Capital, Vienna. Area, 240,381 square miles. Population, 35,553,000. History. Establishment of a Margravate of Austria by Charlemagne, 791; Leopold I, of Babenberg, appointed Margrave. 983; First Duke of Austria, Henry Jasomirgott, 1141–1177 ; extinction of the House of Babenberg with the death of Duke Frederic, 1246; Austria under the immediate administration of the Emperors ("Austrian Interregnum "), 1246-1282; accession of the House of Hapsburg, two sons of Rudolf of Hapsburg, Albrecht and Rudolf being appointed rulers of Austria, Styria, and Carinthia, 1282; Albrecht sole Duke of Austria, Styria, and Carniola, 1283; Carinthia united with Austria, 1335; the Tyrol united with Austria, 1963; Albrecht V. elected German Emperor, (under the name of Albrecht II.), 1438; the imperial crown subsequently remained with the rulers of Austria almost without interruption until the dissolution of the German Empire; Hungary and Bohemia united with Austria under Albrecht V. (died 1439), but again lost after the death of Ladislav, 1457; Austria made an Archduchy, 1453; the Netherlands united with Austria, 1477; Charles V. (1519-1556), inherited Spain, which however, was again separated from Austria on his death; his brother Ferdinand, who had been ruler of Hungary, Bohemia, Moravia, Silesia, and Lusatia from 1526, succeeding him in Austria, and his son Philip in Spain; division of the territory among the sons of Ferdinand on his death, 1564; re-united in 1665; Transylvania united with Austria, 1683; large possessions in Italy (Milan, Naples, Sardinia), united with Austria by the Peace of Utrecht, 1718; Loss of Silesia, 1742; Gallicia united with Austria, 1772; Emperor Francis II. assumed the name of Emperor of Austria, 1804; dissolution of the German Empire, 1806; by the treaty of Vienna, 1815, Austria received its present territory, and Lombardy and Venetia in Italy; Lombardy lost, 1859; Venetia lost, 1866; Great Revolution and convocation of a Constituent Assembly, 1848; Hungary declared herself independent, 1848; was conquered, 1849; a constitution proclaimed by the government for the whole empire, 1849; conclusion of the concordat, 1855; proclamation of a new constitution, Feb. 26, 1861; first session of the new Reichsrath (Parliament), May 1, 1861; reconstruction of Austria on the basis of dualism, 1867, the country being divided in point of administration into two parts, the one comprising the German and Slavic crownlands; the other Hungary and its dependencies. (See Government). Area. The total area of the Austrian Empire is 240,381 square miles. The area of the CisLeithanian Division is 115,925 square miles, of which Bohemia has 20,062, and Gallicia, 30,313. The area of the Trans-Leithanian Division is 124,456 square miles, viz: Hungary, 82,839; Croatia and Slavonia, 7,443; Transylvania, 21,289, and the Military Frontier, 12,955. The following statement shows the changes in the area of the Austrian empire since 1780: Population. The total population of Austria, according to the last official census, (1857), was 32,530,002. According to the "Statistisches Jahrbuch der Qestreich. Monarchie für 1866,” (Vienna, 1868), it was calculated at 35,553,000. Austria is separated into two administrations, each of which has its own Parliament. The former comprises the German and Slavic crownlands; the latter Hungary and the crownlands dependent upon the Hungarian crown. The former is called Cis-Leithania, (the provinces this side of the river Leitha); the second, TransLeithania, (the provinces on the other side of the river Leitha). The population of Austria belongs to four principal races: The Germans, the Slavi, the Rumanians, and the Magyars, (Hungarians). Their relative numbers according to the census of 1857, were as follows: Germans, 7,877,675; Slavi, 14,986,754; Rumanians, 3,196,079; Hungarians, 4,947,134; of other families, 1,209,949. The following cities have more than 50,000 inhabitants: Vienna, (1864), 578,525; Prague, (1857), 142.588; Pesth, (1857), 181,705; Triest, (1857), 104,707; Lemberg, (1857), 70,384; Gratz, (1857), 63,176; Szegedin, (1857), 62,700; Brünn, (1857,) 58,809; Maria-Theresienstadt, 53,499. Reigning Sovereign and Family. FRANCIS JOSEPH I. Emperor of Austria, and King of Hungary, born August 18, 1830; succeeded his uncle, Ferdinand I. as Emperor of Austria, December 2, 1848; crowned King of Hungary, June 8, 1867; married April 25, 1854, to Elizabeth, a Bavarian Princess, born 1837. Children-1. Gisela, born July 12, 1856; 2. Rudolph, heirapparent, born August 21, 1858. Emperor Ferdinand I., Uncle of the Emperor, born April 19, 1793, abdicated in favor of his nephew, the present Emperor, Dec. 2, 1848. His brother, Archduke Francis Charles, born Dec. 7, 1802, renounced the throne in favor of his son, the present Emperor Francis Joseph. Archduke Albert, born August 3, 1817, son of the late celebrated general, Archduke Charles; commander-in-chief of the army of the South in the war against Italy, 1866. The present reigning family descended from Count Rudolph of Hapsburg, elected Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire in 1273. Maria Theresa, the last descendant of this dynasty, married Duke Francis I. of Tuscany, of the House of Lorraine. Emperor Francis I. (1792-1835,) renounced the Imperial crown of Germany, and assumed the title of Emperor of Austria. The following is the list of the Sovereigns of Austria since the 16th century: Charles V. 1519; Ferdinand I. 1556; Maximilian II. 1564; Rudolph II. 1576; Matthias, 1611; Ferdinand II. 1619; Ferdinand III. 1637; Leopold I. 1657; Joseph I. 1705; Charles VI. 1711; Maria Theresa, 1740; Joseph II. 1780; Leopold II. 1790; Francis I. (as Emperor of Germany, Francis II., as Emperor of Austria, Francis I.) 1792; Ferdinand I. (the former Ferdinands being Emperors of Germany, not Emperors of Austria, he is called Ferdinand I.) 1835; Francis Joseph, 1848. Government. Austria, a constitutional country since 1849, and a bipartite state since 1867, consists of a German-Slavic monarchy, (Cis-Leithania,) and a Hungarian kingdom, (TransLeithania,) each having a separate legislature consisting of the Provincial Diets and a Central Diet. (See Area and Population.) There are in Austria proper, or Cis-Leithania, fourteen Provincial Diets, differing only in the number of deputies, and composed of the prelates of the church and the chancellors of the universities, of the representatives of great estates, of towns, of boards of commerce and trade-unions, and of rural communities. The Central Diet (Reichsrath), consists of an Upper and a Lower House. The Upper House is formed of the princes of the Imperial family, of a number of nobles, of the prelates of princely rank, and of any other life-members nominated by the Emperor. The Lower House is composed of 203 members, elected by the Provincial Diets. It is incumbent upon the head of the State to assemble the Reichsrath annually. The consent of this Parliament must be obtained to all laws regarding military duty; its co-operation is necessary in all legislation on trade and commerce, customs, banking, posting, telegraph and railway matters; in examination of the estimates of the income and expenditure of the State, of the bills on taxation, public loans and conversion |