sovereign state in Germany, distinguished as a grand duchy, or rather composed of two duchies, which are not contiguous, but are separated by a part of Saxe-Gotha and a part of the Prussian province of Saxony being interposed between them. Some portions also of this dominion are separated from both parts, and surrounded by the territories of other princes. The whole of the grand duchy is 1436 square miles in extent, the duchy of Weimar being 985, and that of Eisenach 451. The population of the whole, which in 1817 amounted to 197,712, had in 1835 increased to 241,046 persons, of whom about one quarter live in the cities and towns, and the remainder in villages and on detached farms. About 220,000 are Lutherans, 10,000 Catholics, 6600 Calvinists, and the remainder are either Jews, or some of the smaller protestant sects. The number of births in 1831 was 7559, and of deaths 5280. The marriages in the same year were 1707. The whole of the dominion is rather hilly, some of the elevations reaching to 1900, and one of them to 2460 feet. Between these hills the valleys are extensive, and of considerable fertility. The most flourishing are those vales through which run the rivers Saale, Werra, and Ilmenau. The climate, like that of all Thuringia, is raw and cold, and the snow lies late in the summer on the hills; but it is considered as healthy. As the business of husbandry is mostly in the hands of small peasants, and the land cultivated on the common field system, it is, with a few exceptions, imperfectly conducted; but it yields, in the duchy of Weimar, a surplus equal to the deficiency which is annually experienced in the duchy of Eisenach; and in good seasons is enabled to furnish rye to the mining districts in the kingdom of Saxony. The chief subsistence of the lower orders is potatoes, the extension of which has kept pace with the growth of the population. Flax, hemp, rape, poppies, and hops are grown; and the sides of the hills, on the red soil, are well planted with plum, cherry, apple, and pear trees, that yield abundant fruit. The extensive forests supply a sufficiency of fuel and timber, and afford employment to large numbers, who manufacture a variety of articles from the wood. The country is most abundantly stocked with game, which, to the annoyance of the peasantry, was most sedulously preserved by the last grand duke. It is said that more than 20,000 hares and 1400 deer have been taken in one year, besides great numbers of wild boars, and some thousands of pheasants. The rivers are also well stocked with fish. The domesticated animals are not numerous, and, except sheep, whose wool has been improved in fineness, deserve no particular mention.

The chief manufactures are carried on at Eisenach and in its vicinity. They consist of woollen, linen, and cotton cloths, carpets, hosiery, earthenware, glass, leather, and seed-oil. There are mills for spinning cotton, and flax is spun by the peasants in every cottage. In each of the cities there are breweries and distilleries. Much trade arises from the passage of the goods and passengers on the great road through the state from Frankfort to Leipzig, especially at the time of the great fairs at those cities. This grand duchy has a constitution formed by the late sovereign. The states, consisting of twenty-nine members, meet at Weimar for legislative purposes; but their proceedings attract very little attention. The annual revenue, derived mostly from domains, but partly from direct taxes, amounts to L.130,285; and the expenditure, including the interest of the state debt, is L.120,460. The amount of the debt at present is about L.450,000, but it is diminishing yearly. The military force consists of one regiment of infantry and a small corps of hussars. The contingent to be furnished to the German Confederation is 2010 men. Education is sedulously attended to. There is a university at Iena of considerable celebrity, with 590 students and many able professors. There are two gymnasia, sixty-nine burgher schools, and 543 village schools. The cities containing more than 5000 inhabitants were (in 1835) Weimar, 11,005; Eisenach, 9270; and Iena, 5792.