a principality in Germany, commonly distinguished by the name of Hesse-Cassel. It was formerly a landgraviate, but, by the extinction of the Germanic empire, it lost that title, and the sovereign is now only called the prince or crown prince (Kurfürst). It is comprehended between long. 8° 26' and 9° 26', east, and lat. 49° 56' and 52° 26' north. The boundaries are, on the north-west the Prussian province of Westphalia; on the north-east the kingdom of Hanover; on the east the Prussian province of Saxony, the duchy of Saxe-Weimar, and the kingdom of Bavaria; on the south-east Bavaria; on the west Hesse-Darmstadt and the territory of Frankfort; and on the south-west Darmstadt and Waldeck. It extends over 4556 square miles, and has been recently divided into four provinces.

| Provinces | Extent in Square Miles | Population | |---------------|------------------------|------------| | Lower Hesse | 2156 | 296,410 | | Upper Hesse | 902 | 106,942 | | Fulda | 904 | 121,957 | | Hanau | 594 | 104,600 | | | 4556 | 629,909 |

It contains 95 cities and towns, 1112 villages, and 95,666 houses. The largest cities and their populations are as follows:

- Cassel: 26,342 - Hanau: 13,792 - Fulda: 9,266 - Marburg: 7,640 - Hersfeld: 6,144

The reigning family profess the Reformed or Calvinistic religion, and the greater part of the inhabitants adhere to that sect. In 1812 they were found to be 330,000 Reformed, 140,000 Lutherans, 90,000 Catholic, and the remainder Jews, Mennonites, and Herrnhutters.

The institutions for education are inferior to those of any other state in Germany. There is a university at Marburg with no less than thirty-four professors, and only 200 students, and a lyceum at Cassel. There are grammar schools in some of the other cities, and a seminary for educating Catholic priests at Fulda. The whole of the territory is rather hilly, and towards the south may almost be described as mountainous; but it is watered by abundant streams, which flow in plains, the descent to which, from the hills, is very gradual, and thus forms extensive and moderately fruitful valleys. The several smaller rivers contribute their portion of waters to form the greater rivers; the Weser, which runs to the sea by Bremen; and the Maine and the Lahn, which fall into the Rhine.

The agriculture of the territory is far inferior to that of the adjoining provinces of Hanover, Brunswick, and Prussian Saxony. The number of cattle, and the consequent supply of manure, are in a low state, and recourse is had to fallows every third year. Though almost the whole population are occupied in cultivation, scarcely sufficient corn, though aided by potatoes, is grown for the inhabitants. Some wine is made in the province of Hanau, and in Isenburg. Hemp is raised in Hanau, and flax in a greater or less degree in each of the provinces.

These two articles, with the wood from the forests, form the chief articles of export, which also in part consist of Darmstadt honey and wax. There are some mines of copper, in which silver is found; some productive mines of cobalt and iron are also worked, and, by means of coal, which is likewise at hand, supply the necessary demand for utensils. The manufactures are very inconsiderable, except for domestic uses. Coarse linens, called Hessens, were formerly sent to England for packing cloths, but of late years that trade has ceased. In Cassel and Hanau there are workmen in gold, silver, and jewellery; in cutlery, paper, snuff, glass, pottery, and other branches of industry, but solely for internal consumption.

The prince is the sole executive governor, and promulgates the laws without the aid or assent of the states, who meet rather for form than for business. The annual revenues of Hesse-Cassel amount to £450,000 sterling, of which about £65,000 arises from the patrimonial estates of the sovereign. The expenditure is not accurately known, but it is estimated, including the interest of the debt, to be somewhat beyond the income. The amount of the national debt is about £200,000, but the several provinces have also their respective debts. There is a sinking fund for the gradual discharge of the debts.

The standing army, formerly of 30,000 men, is reduced to the following state: 7000 infantry, 1315 cavalry, 670 artillery, 200 invalids in garrisons. The contingent of the state to the confederation is 5679 men. The accessions to this state, since the peace of Luneville in 1801, have amounted, after the cessions made in exchange, to 720 square miles; and it is now of nearly double the extent which it contained when the house of Hesse was divided into the two branches of Cassel and Darmstadt in 1567.