The established religion in Denmark is Lutheranism. The government is a monarchy, very absolute in its form, but ordinarily administered with mildness. The foreign possessions of Denmark are Iceland, West Greenland, the Faroe isles, together with the West India islands, St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. Johns, and Zanguebar and Serampore, in Asia.

QUESTIONS.

Of what does Denmark consist? How is the peninula of Jutland bounded? What channel separates it from Norway? What sound from Sweden? What are the extent and population of Denmark? What kind of a region is it? What of the streams? Climate and soil? Leading pursuits of the people? What of agriculture? Of the lands on the south? Of manufactures? Commerce and navigation? Character of the Danes? Literature and schools? Universities? What is the capital? Where is Copenhagen and how described 2 Altona? Elsinore? What of the religion? The government? What foreign possessions has Denmark?

Extent, 170,000 sq. ms.-Pop. 2,750,000-16 per sq. m. Sweden is a very extensive, but thinly populated region. Its three general divisions are Gothland, Sweden Proper and Nouland, which embrace 26 governments, called lans.

It

The surface of Sweden on the west, is rough and mountainous, but toward the eastern and southern borders, generally level. abounds in lakes and rivers, is chiefly covered with forests, and is, to a great extent, of a barren and unproductive soil. Of the

whole territory, not more than 6,000 square miles are capable of cultivation. Here and there are found very fruitful valleys, and well cultivated fields. But the products of the soil, and also of the manufactures, are insufficient to supply the wants of the people.

The winters in this climate are steadily and severely cold, yet the atmosphere is serene and healthful. The heat of summer sets in abruptly, vegetation is rapid, and the fertile spots are suddenly clothed with verdure and adorned with flowers. It is said, that at times, the sun burns so intensely as to set fire to the forests. The woods of Sweden abound in pine and other valuable timber, together with pitch, turpentine and tar. There are also rich mines of silver, lead, copper, and especially of iron, which is an important article of export and the principal source of wealth.

This country possesses a vast range of sea coast, and the commerce is extensive and flourishing. Learning and education are amply provided for, schools are numerous, and the people at large are intelligent and well informed. The peasantry and common people are strong and hardy, industrious and honest, plain in dress and manners, and contented with a comfortable subsistence, for themselves and their families. The women, as in many other European countries, take part in the business of husbandry and in all the laborious occupations. The nobility and gentry are ostentatious, and fond of affecting the French fashions and manners. Lutheranism is the prevailing religion among the Swedes, and they are remarkable for their settled aversion to popery.

The government is an hereditary monarchy, but mild and salutary in its operations. The king's power is very limited. The legislative congress is styled the Diet, or States General. The metropolis is Stockholm, on the eastern coast, near the junction of the lake Malar with the Baltic. Its situation on several small islands, or peninsulas, is very picturesque. Its harbor is safe, and convenient for 1000 ships. This is the grand emporium ef commerce, for the more central parts of Sweden. Pop. 80,000. Gottenburg is south-west from Stockholm, and ranks next to it, in population and commercial importance, being finely situated for foreign trade. Pop. 24,000. Carlscrona on the Baltic, is the principal naval station. Its harbor is capable of accommodating 100 men of war. Dannemora is distinguished for its iron mines; Fahlun for its mines of copper; Upsal and Lund, for their universities. At Tornea considerable trade is carried on with the Laplanders. The Swedish government extends over Norway, as well as to certain islands in the Baltic and the island of St. Bartholomew in the West Indies. Next to Russia, it is the most extensive European sovereignty. A spacious canal has recently

been completed extending from Gottenburg across to the Baltic. It was 20 years in the construction and cost 10 millions of dollars.

QUESTIONS.

What are the extent, population and boundaries of Sweden? What mountains separate it from Norway? Ans. Dofrafield. What sound divides it from Denmark? What sea and gulf, from Russia? What lakes? What rivers and where do they empty? What of the surface? Soil? How much of the land is capable of cultivation? What of the products and manufactures ? What of the winters ? Of the heat of summer? What of the woods? Of the mines? Of the sea coast and commerce? Of learning and schools? Of the common people? Of the women? Of the nobility? The religion? The government? What is the metropolis and how described? Gottenburg? Carlescrona? Dannemora and how distinguished? Fahlun and for what noted? Upsal and Lund, and how celebrated? Where are Formea, Umea and Gefle ? Where are Christianstadt and Carlstadt? To what other country and what islands does the Swedish government extend?

Extent, 120,000 sq. ms.-Pop. 1,000,000-8 per sq. m.

The climate of Norway on the sea coast is moist, and remarkably temperate for the latitudes. And although in general it is severely cold, it is highly conducive to the health and longevity of the inhabitants, who, in many instances, arrive to extreme old age even to a hundred years, and are tired of life.

Norway is one of the most mountainous countries in the world. The mountains are lofty and extensive, and often impassable, be

ing broken up into awful precipices and chasms, and intersected by torrents and catararacts of impetuous fury. So extensively rugged is the surface, that not more than one hundredth part of it is capable of being tilled, and but little grain is produced. Still there are valleys abundant in pasturage and cattle; and the immense forests of fir and pine afford vast quantities of excellent timber; and the mines of copper and iron are exceedingly productive and valuable. The fisheries also are extensive and yield much profit. So that the people at large have the means of supplying themselves from abroad with those necessaries of life which are not furnished at home. In some instances however, the poor have been very much straitened.

The Norwegians are hardy and brave, and there is an honest simplicity and hospitality in their manners. Among the peasantry, almost every man is his own tradesman, and supplies his family with clothing, furniture, &c. of his own manufacture. And almost every one is taught to read and write, and may enjoy the privileges of a common education. The atmosphere in these northern regions is so clear, and the light of the moon and the Aurora Borealis is so brilliant, that the inhabitants can often see at midnight to read and to engage in various occupations under the open sky.

The religion of the people in Norway is Lutheran. The gov ernment, since the year 1815, has been dependent on the crown of Sweden. The legislative body consists of two houses, and is called the Storthing. Bergenis named as the capital, but Christiana is a more flourishing and important town, with a population of 20,000. The other principal places are Drontheim, Konsburg, Christiansand and Frederickstadt. Near the coast of Norway, on the north-west, is that noted whirlpool, the Malstrom, which is of so great extent and force, that at times, ships and whales, and various animals, have been swallowed up in its awful abyss.

QUESTIONS.

What are the boundaries, extent and population of Norway? What channe separates it from Denmark? What mountains, from Sweden? What islands and whirlpool are on the north-west ? What is the climate of Norway? How is, the surface generally described? The mountains? What proportion of the country is capable of being tilled? What is said of the valleys? The forests? The mines? The fisheries? What of the character of the Norwegians? Of the peasantry? Of their education? Their religion? Government? What of Bergen and Christiana, and where are they situated? What other places are named and where situated? Which is the greatest literary institution in Norway? Ans. The university of Christiana, containing 17 professors, 650 students and a library of 130,000 volumes.

Extent 150,000 sq. ms. Pop. 60,000.

Lapland is the most northern portion of Europe, and the most cold, dreary and inhospitable. It lies on both sides of the Arctic circle, having the Arctic ocean on the N., the White sea on the E., Sweden and the gulf of Bothnia on the S. and Norway and the Atlantic on the W. It has three divisions, viz. Russian, Swedish, and Norwegian Lapland. The eastern part belongs to Russia; the southern, which is the most valuable, to Sweden; and the western, to Norway.

The winters are long and intensely severe; the sun being then invisible for weeks and months, affording but little light or heat. The day, when there is any, is extremely short, for the sun soon passes below the horizon. The great length however of the twilight, and the peculiar brightness of the moon and stars, and northern lights, in a good measure supply to the inhabitants the want of the sun's rays, in this nightly season of winter. The summer is very brief, and is attended for several weeks with a perpetual shining of the sun, which often produces excessive heat. Then the snow and ice, in a degree, are disengaged from the mountains, and the torrents and cataracts rush down with inconceivable grandeur. But vegetation is scanty, and grain is rarely produced; the summers being too short to bring it to maturity. The country round the head of the gulf of Bothnia, is an immense