Boundaries. On the north, Europe is bounded by the Fro zen Ocean; on the west by the Atlantic Ocean; on the south; by the Mediterranean Sea; on the east, by the continent of Asia.

Divisions. Europe is divided into several kingdoms and states, which may be thus arranged.

I. NORTHERN STATES. Russia, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark.

II. CENTRAL STATES. Prussia, Poland, Germany, Bobemia, Hungary, France, Switzerland, Belgium or the United Provinces (as they were formerly called;) but which, together with the Netherlands, are now united to France; and the British Islands.

III. SOUTHERN STATES. Spain, Portugal, Italy, and Turkey (in Europe.)

Mountains. The principal mountains of Europe, are the Krapac, or Carpathian mountains between Poland and Hungary; the Alps, which separate France, Switzerland, and Italy; the Appenines in Italy; the Pyrenees between France and Spain; and the extensive chain, called Daara-field, or Dofre-field, that separates Norway from Sweden.

Peninsulas. In the north, are Sweden and Norway, and part of Denmark, called Jutland. In the South, are Spain and Portugal, Italy, and the Morea (anciently called Peloponnesus ;) in the south of Greece: and in the east, the Crimea, which forms part of Little Tartary.

Capes. The principal capes of Europe, are Cape North, or the north of Lapland,-Cape Finisterre, on the north-west of Spain, -Cape St. Vincent, on the south-west of Portugal,-and Cape Matapan, on the south of the Morea.

Islands. The principal islands of Europe are,

1. In the Atlantic Ocean, the British Isles, comprising Great Britain, and Ireland, the Western Islands which lie on the west, and the Orkney Islands, which are situated on the north of Britain. To these may be added Iceland, which lies in the first meridian, and is almost under the Polar circle.

2. In the Mediterranean Sea, Ivica, Majorca, Minorca, Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily, Candia, and the islands of the Archipelago.

Gulfs and Inland Seas. In the NORTHERN PARTS of Europe we meet with the Icy Sea or Frozen Ocean, and with the White Sea, which last forms a gulf in the north of Russia ;-the Baltic Sea between Sweden Denmark, Russia, and Prussia ;-the Bay of Biscay between France and Spain.

In the NORTH EASTERN PARTS of Europe are the Euxine or Black Sea, and the sea of Azof, between Europe and Asia; and in the SOUTH of Europe the Mediterranean Sea presents

itself, forming numerous gulfs; as, the Gulf of Venice, or Adriatic sea, between Italy and Turkey; and the Archipelago or Grecian Sea between Europe and Asia; to these may be added the Sea of Marmora, between the Archipelago on the south-east, and the Black Sea on the north-west.

Straits. The principal Straits are, the Sound between Denmark and Sweden, at the entrance of the Baltic Sea ;-St. George's Channel between England and Ireland ;-the Straits of Dover, between England and France ;-the Straits of Gibraltar, between Spain and Africa, at the entrance of the Mediterranean Sea ;-the Straits of Sicily or the Faro of Messina, between" Sicily and the extremity of Italy;-the Strait, or Canal of Con1 stantinople, which forms the communication between the Archipelago and the Sea of Marmora ;-and the Straits of Cattor be=' tween the Black Sea and the Sea of Azof.

Lakes. The chief Lakes of Europe are, Onega and Ladoga in Russia ;-the lake of Geneva, between Savoy and Switzerland; the Lake of Constance between Switzerland and Germany;-Lake Maggiore, and some others, in the north of Italy.

Rivers. Europe is watered by numerous rivers, of which the following are the most remarkable, viz.

In England, the Thames and the Severn ;-in Scotland, the Tay;-in Ireland, the Shannon;-in France, the Seine, the Loire, the Rhone, and the Garronné;-in Spain, the Ebro, the Tagus, and the Douro;-in Portugal, the Guadiana, and the Guadalquiver;-in Germany, the Danube, the Rhine, the Oder, the Weser, the Elbe, and the Meuse ;-in Poland, the Vistula; -in Russia, the Volga, the Don, and the Dnieper;-and in Italy, the Tiber, and the Po.

Religion. The Christian Religion is professed throughout every part of Europe, except in Turkey. It is divided into three principal denominations: 1. The Greek, which prevails in Greece and Russia: 2. The Latin or Roman Catholic faith, which is professed in France, Italy, Spain, Portugal Poland, Hungary, in many of the German States, and in the low countries or Netherlands. And 3. The Protestant or Reformed Religion, which is divided into Lutheranism and Calvinism, and is thus called from the two celebrated reformers, Martin Luther and John Calvin. The Protestant religion is the prevailing Religion in the British Dominions, the northern parts of Germany, Holland, Sweden, and Denmark. The religion of the Turks is Islamism, or Mahommedism: the Turks are of the sect of Omar the first Caliph; while the Persians are followers of Ali, who laid claim to the Caliphate, without success.

The forms of Government, prevailing in this part of the world

are,

1. Monarchical, in which one person only is invested with the sovereign power. Such are the governments of France and Russia.

2. In Republics, many persons are joined together in the government of the state; if the nobles preponderate, it becomes an Aristocracy, and the government is then called Aristocratic. On the contrary, when the authority is in the hands of the people, it is called Democracy, and such government is Democratic. The United Provinces, Switzerland, and Venice, presented instances of the Republican form of government before they were destroyed by the insatiable ambition of the Desolator of Europe.

3. Where the sovereign power is counterbalanced by that of the laws, and by the assembly of the states, it then becomes a mixed government :--such is the mild and equitable government. by which Britain is ruled.

ASIA.

Next to America, Asia is the largest of the four divisions of the world its length, from the Hellespont to what is called the East Cape, is stated by Mr. Pinkerton to be about 6500 geographical miles, which are equivalent to about 7583 English statute miles. The breadth from the southern Cape of Malacca to Cape Cevero Vostochnoi on the Arctic Ocean is about 4500 geographical, or 5250 English miles.

Boundaries. On the north, Asia is bounded by the Arctic or Frozen Ocean; on the south, by the Indian Ocean; on the west, by Europe, (from which it is separated by the Uralian Mountains and the little river Karposka) by the Black Sea, the Archipelago, the Mediterranean Sea, the Isthmus of Suez, and by the Red Sea; and on the east, by Bering's Strait, which divides it from America, and by the North Pacific Ocean.

Mountains. The principal chains of Asiatic Mountains, beside the Uralian chain, already mentioned, are those of Armenia in the west (among which Mount Ararat is particularly distinguished ;)-The mountains of Tibet in the north-east of India; the eastern and western Gauts of Hindostan, and the celebrated Causasian Chain between the Black or Euxine and the Caspian Seas.

Capes. The principal capes of Asia are, Cape Ras-al-Hhad (usually called Ras-al-gat,) to the south-east of Arabia: Cape Comorin, on the south of the western peninsula of India, Cape Romaine, on the south of the peninsula of Malacca: and Cape Cevero Vostochnoi, in the north of Asia, projecting into the Arctic or Frozen Ocean,

Seas. The chief of these, beside those which have al

ready been noticed among the boundaries of Asia, arc, the Caspian Sea in the west, near the Euxine or Black Sea, the Sea or Lake Aral, about 100 miles to the east of the Caspian, and that called Baikal in Siberia, or Asiatic Russia.

Islands. In the Mediterranean Sea, Cyprus and Rhodes are the most conspicuous of the islands which are classed with Asia: the islands of Sunda or the Sumatran Chain, comprising Sumatra, Java, Balli, Lombok, Sumbava, Florez, and Timor, with several other islands of inferior note; Borneo; the Manillas, or Phillippine islands; the Celebes, and Molucca or Spice islands; Formosa, and Japan; all of which lie respectively in the Indian Ocean, the Great Southern Ocean, and the North Pacific Ocean.

To these must be added, 1. Australasia, comprising New Holland, New Guinea, New Britain and New Ireland with the Solomon Isles, New Caledonia and the New Hebrides, New Zealand, and the large island called Van Diemen's Land ;-and, 2. The vast cluster of islands in the southern Pacific Ocean, now known by the name of Polynesia: this division contains the Pelew Isles, the Ladrones, the Carolines, the Sandwich Isles, the Marquesas, the Society Isles, (thus named in honour of the Royal Society,) and the Friendly Isles.

Rivers. Asia is watered by numerous rivers, of very considerable extent. The principal are, the Kiang-Ru or Blue River, and the Hoang-ho or Yellow River in China;-the Lena, the Yenisey, and the Oby, in the Asiatic Russia and Siberia;-streams these, which rival in the length of their course any others in the globe. Next in consequence are the Amoor, or Black River, in Chinese Tartary, and the Makaung of Laos, the Sampoo or Burrampooter, and the Ganges; compared with which the Euphrates, Tigris, and the Indus, are but moderate streams.

Divisions. The limits of this work permit us only to notice the principal divisions: these are,-1. the north, Tartary, which is divided into Chinese, Independent, and Russian, and comprehends several nations ;-2. In the west, Turkey in Asia and Persia; -3. In the south-west, Arabia:-4. In the south, India or Hindostan, also called the empire of the great Mogul, whose power however is now almost annihilated; -5. In the east, the empire of China, comprising fifteen extensive provinces with a proportionate population;-6. The Asiatic Islands, which are divided into numerous petty kingdoms.

REMARKS.

1. The principal languages of Asia, are;-1. The Turkish, which is spoken in Asiatic Turkey;-2. The Arabic, in Arabia and Syria;-3. The Persian, in Persia; these three languages make use of the same character. 4. The Indian which is

5. The Chinese

divided into a great number of dialects. and Japanese, whose manner of writing is the same; although 6. The Tartar they attach different ideas to the letters. language prevails in Tartary, and 7. That of Russia spoken in Siberia.

II. Christianity, according to the Greek and Armenian rituals, is professed where there are Russians, Greeks, and ArmeMohamnians; namely, in Siberia, Georgia, and Armenia. medism, according to the sect of Omar, prevails in Turkey in Asia, Arabia, a considerable part of Tartary, and in the Mogul empire. Mohammedans, of the sect of Ali, are found only in Persia. The Gueres, or Parsees (who are the reputed descendants of the ancient Persians) follow the religion instituted by Zoroaster, and are fire worshippers: they are found in Persia and the Indies. Idolatry, more or less gross, and more or less absurd, predominates in the rest of Asia, in China, Japan, Tartary, and the Asiatic Islands.

III. Despotism (which seems to have had its origin in Asia,) continues to prevail there in various forms, more or less absolute. To trace all these different forms, would exceed the limits necesThe government of China apsarily assigned to this article. proaches most nearly to what we call monarchical; there being an emperor, and different boards that administer the affairs of state. The principal sovereigns in Asia are, in Tibet, the DaliaLama who unites in his own person the regal and pontifical dignities; three emperors, those of China, Japan, and the Mogul; in Tartary, a great Khan, who rules over all the idolatrous Tartars, considerable portions and to whom the other Khans (who govern of Tartary) yield the sovereign power. The grand Signior is the sovereign of Asiatic Turkey, and is considered as the protector of Arabia; in which capacity he was accustomed to send a magnificent present to the temple at Mecca, before the Wahabees destroyed that monument of Turkish superstition. Through the whole northern part of Asia, the autocrat or emperor of Russia extends, his dominion, from the confines of Europe to the easternmost extremity of this extensive portion of the old world.

AFRICA.

This division of the globe is less populous, and also less temperate than either Europe or Asia; it is of much greater extent than the former, and considerably less than the latter.

Boundaries. Africa is a peninsula of very great extent, joined to Asia by a neck of land about sixty miles in width, called the Isthmus of Suez; which is situate between the Red Sea, and the Mediterranean. Its length from north to south (from Cape