a government of European Russia, lying between N. Lat. 48. and 53., E. Long. 42. 20. and 48.; bounded on the W. by the government of Voronetz and Tambov, N. by those of Pensa and Simbirsk, E. by that of Samara, S. by that of Astrakhan, and S.W. by the land of the Don Cossacks. Area 54,797 square miles. A chain of hills, pretty high in the southern portion, stretches from S. to N. through the western part of the country, and divides the waters of the Don from those of the Volga. From these heights eastward to the Volga, which flows southwards, and forms the eastern boundary of the government, the country is hilly and undulating. That river receives no important tributaries in the government, and a large portion of the country in the S. and W. is watered by affluents of the Don; the principal of which are the Choper and Medveditsa. The hills are composed of slate and limestone rocks; and the soil of the lower ground is for the most part fertile, especially in the N.W. portion, where no manure is needed to render the ground productive. Further south the soil is somewhat stony and barren. In the forests, which lie chiefly in the N.W. of the government, oaks, pines, poplars, and maple, are the principal growth. Agriculture is the chief occupation of the inhabitants. Saratov contained in 1849, 7,202,282 acres of arable land; 15,892,868 acres of meadows; 3,249,129 acres of wood; and 21,437,864 acres of waste land. The produce of corn in the same year was 55,276,896 bushels, and that of potatoes 896,290 bushels. These numbers, however, include part of what now forms the new government of Samara, which had not been constituted at that date. The number of horses within the old limits in 1849 was 861,008; of horned cattle, 839,526; of sheep, 1,756,450; of swine, 257,216; and of goats, 22,896. The principal crops raised are rye, wheat, oats, millet, hemp, and flax; tobacco and hops have been introduced; and in some places mulberries and even vines are cultivated. The fisheries on the Volga are productive. Iron, salt, and millstones, are the only important mineral productions. The manufactures are chiefly carried on by the foreign settlers, who were introduced into the country in great numbers from Germany and Switzerland by Catherine II. The number of establishments in 1849 was 140, employing 1449 hands. The most important factories were 37 tanneries, 25 tallow-houses, and 14 tile-works. The country is well situated for trade, communicating by means of the Volga with the west of Russia and the Caspian; and by the affluents of the Don with the Black Sea. Besides the foreign settlers, the population consists of Russians, Tartars, and Cossacks. The majority belong to the Greek Church; but there are 81,753 Protestants, 18,672 Roman Catholics, 42,571 Mohammedans, and 529 Pagans. Education is generally in a low condition in the country. For administrative purposes, Saratov is divided into ten circles, as follows:

| Circle | Population | |--------|------------| | Saratov | 204,339 | | Kamyshev | 159,166 | | Zartizin | 53,688 | | Atharsh | 180,149 | | Volsk | 122,047 | | Balashov | 185,253 | | Kuznetzk | 117,255 | | Chvalynsk | 125,005 | | Petrovsk | 157,287 | | Serdebek | 141,893 |

Total: 1,444,496

capital of the above government, on the right bank of the Volga, 386 miles N. of Astrakhan, and as far W. of Orenburg. It stands in a valley between the river and a wooded limestone hill, and is neither handsomely nor regularly built, for the most part only of wood. It contains several Greek churches, some of them built of stone; as well as others belonging to the Protestants and Roman Catholics, a mosque, and two monasteries. Saratov is the seat of a Greek archbishop, and of a Protestant consistory; it has also government offices, a college, and various schools, hospitals, &c. There are large salt magazines, a botanic garden, and a bazaar or market-place, where a large annual fair is held. The principal articles manufactured here are leather, sail-cloth, cotton stuffs, cordage and hats. An active trade is carried on by the Volga. Pop. 61,610.