a government of European Russia, lying between N. Lat. 52° 40' and 55° 40', E. Long. 45° 30' and 50°; bounded on the N. by the government of Kazan, E. by that of Samara, S. by that of Saratov, and W. by those of Nijni Novgorod and Penza. Area, 17,760 square miles. Along the bank of the Volga, which forms the eastern frontier of the government, runs a range of hills about 400 feet high. The rest of the country consists of a gently undulating plain, watered by affluents of the Volga, the chief of which is the Sura, itself the recipient of several smaller streams. The lakes are very numerous, but almost all of small size. The climate is extreme both in heat and cold, the Volga being often frozen over for five months in the year. It is, however, generally salubrious. The soil is fertile, and well cultivated; producing rye, wheat, oats, barley, and other grain, in quantities more than sufficient for the domestic consumption. Hemp, flax, and tobacco, are also raised. The largest proportion of the area consists of arable land, which, in 1849, occupied 6,566,193 acres; the meadow land covered 2,494,488 acres; and the forests 5,478,286 acres. These last chiefly occur in the north of the government, and consist of birch, alder, and oak trees. The number of horses in the country in 1849 was 531,582; of horned cattle, 363,330; of sheep, 1,084,684; of swine, 152,386; and of goats 7,886. All, however, are of interior breeds; and the rearing of cattle is not much attended to, except among the Kalmyks. Although the country is not destitute of mineral resources, no important mining operations are carried on. Several branches of industry, however, are in vigorous exercise. In the year 1849 the government contained 113 manufactories, employing 5,684 hands. Among the former there were 28 tanneries, 18 manufactories of cloth, 16 of tallow and candles, and 13 of potash. A considerable trade is carried on by the Volga; corn, hemp, cattle, hides (raw and prepared), fish, and soap, being the chief articles exported. The inhabitants for the most part belong to the Greek Church; but there are also 133 Roman Catholics, 128 Protestants, 76,441 Mohammedans, and 1,291 Pagans. Simbirsk is divided into 8 circles, as follows:

| Circle | Population | |--------|------------| | Simbirsk | 143,243 | | Syzran | 146,332 | | Ardatov | 142,680 | | Karsun | 162,368 | | Alaty | 111,216 | | Balmas | 108,100 | | Kermych | 98,737 | | Sengibey | 111,566 |

Total pop. (1851): 1,024,242

But in 1856 the total population amounted to 1,118,605.

The capital of the government is Simbirsk, which stands on the Volga, about 100 miles S. of Kazan. Its houses are chiefly of wood, and its streets narrow and irregular. There are numerous churches and two convents; and these, as well as an elegant market-house, are built of stone. Simbirsk has also a monument to the historian Karamsin, who was a native of the government. There are here some tanneries, and manufactories of soap and candles. Many of the inhabitants are also employed in gardening and fishing. The trade of the place is considerable, and there is an active navigation on the Volga. A large market is held here annually. Pop. 35,474.

SIMEON of Durham, the contemporary of William of Malmesbury, must have been born late in the tenth century. He took great pains in collecting historical information, especially in the north of England, after the country had been ravaged by the Danes. From these he composed a history of the kings of England, from A.D. 616 to 1130, with some smaller historical pieces. Simeon both studied and taught the sciences, and particularly mathematics, at Oxford; and he became preceptor of the church at Durham, where he died, probably soon after the conclusion of his history, which was continued by John, prior of Hexham, to the year 1156. Simeon is supposed to have died shortly after 1130. His History is included in Twysden's work, and his History of Durham Cathedral was published in 1732.

Simeon, Charles, an eminently pious divine of the Church of England, was born at Reading in 1759. He was educated at Eton, and at King's College, Cambridge, where he received those deep impressions of religious truth which formed so marked a feature of his character throughout his whole life. The theological studies of the place formed for him the chief attraction. He was presented to the living of Trinity Church, Cambridge, in 1783, and continued to labour with an astonishing amount of assiduity among both poor and rich, learned and ignorant, for the next 33 years. In 1822, his sermons were published, forming 21 volumes, with upwards of 2000 skeleton sermons, which have had a large degree of popularity among the common run of preachers of Great Britain since his time. He was on terms of intimate friendship with nearly all the pious ministers of his day. None was more esteemed than the godly missionary Henry Martyn. Simeon died on the 13th November 1836, leaving behind him a name for piety and worth not likely soon to be forgotten. (See Memoirs of the Rev. Charles Simeon, by the Rev. W. Carus, 1847.)