a duchy of Germany, bounded by the German ocean on the west; the Baltic, or the gulf 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 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, dikes 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 pasturage; 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 a 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 Glückstadt 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, buck-wheat, pease, 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 Glückstadt. 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 the investiture was afterwards given by the emperor in person. The king of Denmark appoints a regency over his part of Holstein and the duchy of Sleswick, which has its office at Glückstadt. The seat of the great duke's privy council and regency-court, together with the chief consistory, which is united to it, is at Kiel: there are many inferior courts and consistories, 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 public 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 king usually keeps here some regiments of foot and one of horse. 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 heirs of Norway, dukes of Sleswick, Holstein, Stormar, and Ditmarsh, and counts of Oldenburg and Delmenhorst. 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 Glückstadt, Itzehoe, Rendsburg, and Ploen; and that part belonging to the great duke are Kiel, Oldenburg, Preetz, and Altena.

The king of Denmark had originally a seat in the German diet, in consequence of possessing this duchy; but he was deprived of this privilege when the Confederation of the Rhine was organized in 1806. In 1815, on the establishment of the new Germanic constitution, he was re-admitted into the diet; and was allowed for Holstein and Lauenburg three votes in the general assembly, and a place, the tenth in rank, at the ordinary diet. The population of Holstein, in 1818, amounted to 360,000. The Danish court has lately been endeavouring to make some improvements in the interior administration of the duchy.