or Livland, a maritime government of Russia, on the Baltic, bounded N. by Esthonia, W. by the Gulf of Riga (which contains the island of Oesel, belonging to this government), S. by Courland and Vitebsk, and E. by Pakov and the Peipus Lake, between N. Lat. 56.30 and 59.6, and E. Long. 23.10 and 27.35. It is 170 miles in length from N. to S., by 110 miles in breadth, and contains an area of 18,146 square miles, with a population, in 1851, of 821,457 persons. The general surface of the country is flat, and in some places marshy. Undulations, however, occur here and there; and near Venden an elevation called the Mesenberg rises to the height of 1200 feet. Lakes cover a large part of the surface, and are mostly extensive sheets of water. The largest is the Peipus See, which separates Livland from the government of St. Petersburg, and is connected by a narrow channel with Lake Pskov to the S. It is 50 miles long from N. to S., by 27 broad, contains several islands, the largest of which is Porka, and is well stocked with fish. The shores of the lake are low and marshy; and its waters, though sufficiently deep for small craft, are subject to frequent squalls. Lake Virtzerve, occupying a central position in the government, is next in size to the Peipus, and communicates with it by means of the Embach. The chief river is the Dwina, which for some miles separates this government from Courland, and afterwards flows through Livland to its mouth near Riga. The other important streams are the Aa, Salis, and Pernan, all of which take their rise in the government, and fall into the Gulf of Riga. Livonia suffers from extreme and protracted cold in winter, and great heat in summer. The former, however, is advantageous for the conveyance of goods from the interior to the seaports, by means of sledges, enabling vessels to start from Riga and elsewhere immediately on the return of spring. Agriculture and cattle-rearing form the great occupations of the Livonians. The soil is for the most part sandy, with here and there districts of clay and loam. Grain and potatoes form the principal agricultural products, while from the extensive forests the inhabitants are supplied with abundance of fuel and excellent timber. Among its other productions, the chief are flax, hemp, linseed, and hops. Livestock receives a considerable amount of attention, especially from the large proprietors, who vie with each other in improving their breeds of cattle and horses. Livonia. The following table shows the area of the cultivated and waste lands of Livland, according to the government commission of 1849:

| Arable land | 1,749 | | Meadow | 2,281 | | Private domains | 2,251 | | Wood | 4,026 | | Waste | 7,847 |

Total: 18,146

In the same year 449,484 qrs. of grain seed produced 2,033,904 qrs. of grain; and 131,605 qrs. of potato seed produced 244,509 qrs. of potatoes. Of live stock belonging to this government in 1849, there were 120,654 horses, 350,999 cattle, 315,195 sheep, and 148,945 swine.

Fishing and seal-taking are the occupations of the inhabitants of the sea and lake coasts. Manufacture may be said to be deficient, and in a rude state, being mostly confined to the home-spinning of wool and flax. Large quantities of grain and timber are yearly sent from this government by Riga to Western Europe, in return for coal, iron, salt, wine, &c. Game is plentiful, from the extent of the waste land. Bears, wolves, and foxes exist,—the latter in considerable numbers; while beavers, lynxes, squirrels, and martins, are hunted for their valuable furs. Aquatic birds frequent the lakes and marshes in great flocks.

Livonia, for administrative purposes, is divided into five circles, named after their respective chief towns, viz., Arensburg, Dorpat, Perman, Riga, and Venden. The revenue of the government in 1849 amounted to Ls.86,444.

The population is a mixed race, composed of Livonians, Esthonians, Germans, Swedes, Russians, and Jews. The first, who occupy the southern portion of the country, are remarkable for their want of enterprise and great love of home. They are, however, of good disposition, and exhibit great mechanical ingenuity. Most of the trade is in the hands of the Russians and Germans, especially the former. Lutheranism is the dominant religion, while the Greek Catholics consist only of the few Russian residents. Riga, the capital, had in 1849 a population of 57,906 persons.

The history of Livland commences in 1158, when it was visited by some Bremen merchants, who established a trading post at the mouth of the Dwina, where Riga now stands. They found the inhabitants in an uncivilized and heathen condition; and in order to convert them to Christianity, instituted an order of religious knighthood, called the "Schwertbrüder," or Brothers of the Sword. These spread the gospel by force of arms, and claimed the Livonians as subjects as well as converts. In 1237 the "Schwertbrüder" united themselves with the order of German knights; retaining, however, their own grand-master as head of the band. From that year till the sixteenth century, Livland and Esthonia were under their control. But the Lutheran Reformation had then spread into the adjoining states, and both Livonia and Esthonia ultimately declared for the new faith. But at the time when Protestantism was struggling with the old religion, the Russians took advantage of the civil commotions that arose, and frequently invaded the land, receiving but slight resistance from the "Schwertbrüder," who had become too weak to protect their own territories. Gotthard Kettler, last grand-master of the order, abdicated his power over the province in favour of the King of Poland, and afterwards retired to Courland, which he received as a dukedom in return. But Poland did not enjoy her acquisition in peace, for the Swedes and Russians, as possessors of Esthonia, laid claim to Livonia, and soon appealed to arms in support of their demands. They were successful, and by the treaty signed at Oliva in 1660, Poland surrendered her possession to Sweden. In the next century, however, after Peter the Great had defeated Charles XII. of Sweden, Livonia was finally given over to Russia, according to the treaty of Neustadt, in 1721.