a duchy of Germany, bounded by the German ocean on the west; the Baltic, or the gulph of Lubeck, on the east; the duchy of Mecklenburg on the south-east; that of Bremen, with the river Elbe, on the south-west; and Lauenburg, with the territory of Hamburg, on the south. Its greatest length length is about 80 miles, and its breadth 60. The diocese of Eutin, and the county of Ranzau, though they make a part of the duchy of Holstein, yet being lands belonging to the empire and circle, shall be described separately.

A great part of this country consists of rich marsh-land, which being much exposed to inundations both from the sea and rivers, dykes have been raised at a great expense to guard and defend them. The pastures in the marshes are so rich, that cattle are bred in vast numbers and fattened in them, and great quantities of excellent butter and cheese made of their milk. They are also very fruitful in wheat, barley, peas, beans, and rape-seed. In the more barren, sandy, and heathy parts of the country, large flocks of sheep are bred and fed; nor are orchards wanting, or woods, especially of oak and beech; nor turf, poultry, game, and wild-fowl. Here is a variety both of sea and river fish; and the beef, veal, mutton, and lamb, are very fat and palatable. Holstein is also noted for beautiful horses. The gentry usually farm the cows upon their estates to a Hollander, as he is called, who for every cow pays from six to ten rix-dollars; the owner providing pasture for them in summer, and straw and hay in winter. It is no uncommon thing here to drain the ponds and lakes once in three or four years, and sell the carp, lampreys, pikes, and perch, found in them; then sow them for several years after with oats, or use them for pasture; and after that lay them under water again, and breed fish in them. There are hardly any hills in the country; but several rivers, of which the principal are the Eyder, the Stor, and the Trave. The duchy contains about 30 towns great and small; most part of the peasants are under villainage, being obliged to work daily for their lords, and not even at liberty to quit their estates. The nobility and the proprietors of manors are possessed of the civil and criminal jurisdiction, with other privileges and exemptions. Formerly there were diets, but now they seem to be entirely laid aside: meetings, however, of the nobility are still held at Kiel. The predominant religion here is Lutheranism, with superintendencies as in other Lutheran countries. In several places the Jews are allowed the exercise of their religion. At Gluckstadt and Altena are both Calvinist and Popish churches; and at Kiel a Greek Russian chapel. Besides the Latin schools in the towns, at Altena is a gymnasium, and at Kiel an university. Notwithstanding this country's advantageous situation for commerce, there are few manufactures and little trade in it. Hamburg and Lubeck supply the inhabitants with what they want from abroad; from whence and Altena they export some grain, malt, groats, starch, buckwheat, peas, beans, rape-seed, butter, cheese, sheep, swine, horned cattle, horses, and fish. The manufactures of the duchy are chiefly carried on at Altena, Kiel, and Gluckstadt. The duchy of Holstein consists of the ancient provinces of Holstein, Stormar, Ditmarsh, and Wagria. It belongs partly to the king of Denmark and partly to the dukes of Holstein Gottorf and Ploen. Anciently the counts of Holstein were vassals of the dukes of Saxony; but afterwards they received the investiture of their territories from the emperor, or the bishops of Lubeck in the emperor's name, though now the investiture is given by the emperor in person. The Holstein king of Denmark appoints a regency over his part of Holstein and the duchy of Sleiwick, which has its office at Gluckstadt. The seat of the great duke's privy council and regency-court, together with the chief confistory, which is united to it, is at Kiel: there are many inferior courts and confistories, from which an appeal lies to the higher. In the duchy of Holstein, the government of the convents and nobility is alternately in the king and duke for a year, from Michaelmas to Michaelmas. The person in whom the government is lodged administers it by his regency. In some cases an appeal lies from this court to the Aulic council or chamber at Wetzlar: the convents, the nobility, and the proprietors of manors in the country, have a civil and criminal jurisdiction over their estates. The revenues of the sovereigns arise principally from their demesnes and regalia; besides which, there is a land and several other taxes and imposts. The duke's income, setting aside his ducal patrimony, has been estimated at 70,000 or 80,000 pounds. The king usually keeps here some regiments of foot and one of horse. With respect to the duke's military force, it amounts to about 800 men. The king, on account of his share in this country, styles himself duke of Holstein, Stormar, and Ditmarsh. The dukes both of the royal and princely house style themselves kings of Norway, dukes of Sleiwick, Holstein, Stormar, and Ditmarsh, and counts of Oldenburg and Delmenhorst. On account of Holstein, both the king of Denmark and the grand duke have a seat and voice in the college of the princes of the empire, and in that of the circle. Together with Mecklenburg they also nominate an affessor for this circle in the Aulic chamber. The matricular assessment of the whole duchy is 40 horse and 80 foot, or 800 florins; to the chamber of Wetzlar both princes pay 189 rix-dollars, 31 kruizers. In 1735, duke Charles Frederic of Holstein Gottorf founded an order of knighthood here, viz., that of St Anne, the ensign of which is a red cross, enamelled, and worn pendant at a red ribbon edged with yellow.—The principal places of that part of the duchy belonging to the king of Denmark and the duke of Ploen are Gluckstadt, Itzhoe, Rendsburg, and Ploen; and that part belonging to the great duke are Kiel, Oldenburg, Preetz, and Altena.