a sovereign duchy in Germany. The Duke of Coburg, by a family arrangement, attained in 1826 the duchy of Gotha, and added it to his former dominions. The whole is a compact territory, except that a part of Saxo-Weimar projects itself into the south-eastern portion of it, and it extends over 1049 square miles. It comprehends twenty-one towns and cities, and 525 villages, with 156,639 inhabitants, of whom 127,000 are Lutherans, 11,500 are Catholics, 2900 Calvinists, and 1200 Jews, the remainder not being ascertained. The revenue amounts to L.120,000, and the expenditure to about one tenth less, the residue being applied to diminish the state debts, amounting to L.300,000. The military force to be furnished to the German Confederation is 1366 men. The northern part, or the duchy of Gotha, is on the Thuringian Mountains, some of whose elevations are near 3000 feet above the level of the sea, but decline towards the east into an undulating district, which is drained by streams running into the Elbe or the Weser. The climate, though cold, is healthy. The soil is of moderate fertility, and being well cultivated, produces good crops of corn, and a great abundance of fruits and culinary vegetables, as well as large quantities of flax. The duchy of Coburg, or southern part, is an extensive plain, except in the province of Lichtenburg, where there are some ranges. of hills. Some of the streams run into the Elbe, some into the Weser, and others into the Rhine. The land is better calculated for pasture than for agriculture, and does not produce corn equal to the consumption, but receives supplies from Gothia. There are mines producing copper, others iron, and some coal. These afford some employment to the inhabitants; but the country is poor, and the means of obtaining subsistence are scanty. The villagers are generally occupied in spinning flax, or in making wood ware and potash from the forests. The cities are Gotha with 18,321, and Coburg with 9067 inhabitants.

Saxe-Meiningen-Hildburghausen, a sovereign duchy in Germany. It was two duchies, though now both united under one of the great branches of the Saxon Ernestine family. It extends over 896 square miles, and comprehends thirty-two cities or towns, and 381 villages, with 149,294 inhabitants, of whom 128,000 adhere to the Lutheran profession, and the remainder consists of Catholics and Calvinists, with some Jews. The income of the state amounts to L.110,000, and the expenditure to nearly the same; but in the latter is included the interest on the public debt, which is heavy when compared with that of the other Saxon duchies, being L.550,000. It is bound to furnish a force of 1150 men to the German Confederation. Meiningen is generally a mountainous country, though none of the hills are higher than 2700 feet, and few exceed 2000 feet. The valleys between these hills are tolerably fertile, and are drained by several small streams, all of which unite in the Werra in its progress to the ocean.

The agriculture is in a backward state, and, but for the great cultivation of potatoes, would not yield sufficient for the population. Flax is grown equal to the furnishing of employment for the females; but the chief product for sale beyond the limits of the duchy is timber, and there is also some trade in wool, which has been lately improved by the introduction of merino sheep. Some tobacco is raised; and a little inferior wine is made in the southernmost parts. The duchy of Hildburghausen is of nearly the same character, except that the soil is more sandy, and the forests of less extent. The meadows are better, and produce some well-fattened black cattle; and it has some manufactories of iron and glass ware. The only cities in these duchies are Meiningen with 4500 inhabitants, Saalfeld with 4500, and Hildburghausen and Posnec with 3500 each.