Hamburg, the largest of the free cities, and, at one period, next to London, the greatest commercial city of Europe. Although it suffered most dreadful evils during the predominance of France, it has re covered in some degree from its depression, and is again a place of vast importance. The city con. tains 106,003 inhabitants ; the whole territory, some towns of which are very distant from it, 129,850. The constitution is an aristocracy, founded on pro perty ; but the Jews are excluded from power, and restricted to residence in particular parts of the city. The whole government is by management, rather than by law, vested in the Lutherans, who form a very great majority of the inhabitants. The dissi dents are 6000 Jews, 4000 Reformed, 2000 Catho lics, and SOO Mennonites and Moravians. The com merce of Hamburg consists in the export of the pro ductions of the various countries bordering on the Elbe, or the navigable streams that empty them selves into that river. Its imports comprise all those foreign luxuries which are furnished by the various countries of the globe, and which habit has rendered almost indispensable to many of the nations of Eu rope. It has some large public and private build ings, but all have a heaviness of appearance; and the streets are generally narrow and gloomy. In 1817, the number of ships that entered the port were 2320. The imports and exports are too various to be here enumerated. Vessels that draw more than fifteen feet water cannot come within the city, but must anchor in the stream. The whole extent of the territory, including .the site of the city and towns, is 83,840 acres ; that portion of the land that is not in gardens is sandy and poor. The revenue amounts to about L. 100,000 Sterling. The public debt was large, nearly L.6,000,0.0, incurred when under the French ; but a portion, since the peace of 1815, has been diminished by the contribution which France was compelled to pay. The regular military are 1450 men. The other towns are, Bergedorf with 2000, and RitzebUttel, with Cruxhaven, 1819 inha bitants.
Bremen, an ancient city, with a small territory round it. The city contains 36,630 inhabitants, the rest of the dominion 11,900. The constitution is of a democratic kind, and the magistrates are changed every six months. Its situation on the banks of the Weser is favourable for foreign trade, and for trans mitting and receiving productions that descend from the point at Minden, where that river ceases to be navigable. The greater part of the inhabitants are of the Reformed sect, and have four churches ; all the magistrates must be of that confession. The Lutherans have one church. The revenue is about L. 40,000 Sterling, and exceeds the expenditure. The surplus is applied to the liquidation of the state debt, the amount of which is not made public. The military force is only militia, the contingent 885 men. The other towns are Vegesack, with 1534, and Borgefeldt, with 1417. inhabitants.
Lubeck, a free city, with a small territory around it on the river Trave, which runs into the Baltic Sea. In former periods it was the head of Hanseatic League, and, in that capacity, with its powerful fleets, was enabled to give law to the powers on the shores of the Baltic. It is now much reduced, hav ing within the city only 29,060 inhabitants, and in the surrounding dependencies 11,590. The religion is Lutheran, but the Reformed have a church, though • without the walls. The Jews are forbidden to live
within the city, and reside at the village of lame's dorf. It has some trade, and possesses between eighty and ninety ships. The income of the state is about L.37,500 Sterling, and its debts are heavy. The only military are the militia. The extent of ter ritory is 96,000 acres. The other towns are Trave munde, with 941, and Genen with 609 inhabitants.
As the events which produced the deliverance of Germany from the yoke of France belong to the history of that country as much as to this, our no tices of it here must be brief. After the destruction of that vast army which penetrated into Russia, al most all the states of the north of Germany, with Prussia at their head, declared war against France. An army was quickly collected from the French conscription, and, with a wonderful celerity, Bona parte at its head, was enabled to penetrate into Sax ony, to threaten Prussia, and exhibit a force which he supposed would overawe Austria. The battles of Lutzen and Dresden, in 1813, produced an ar mistice, during whose continuance, negotiations for peace between Russia and Prussia on one side, and France on the other, were carried on under the me diation of the Emperor of Austria. As peace could not be concluded, Austria was induced to join the allies against France. During these periods, a spi rit had risen in Germany which animated all classes of its inhabitants, so that those powers which still clung to the interests of France, could place no re liance on the support of their subjects. Bonaparte, overpowered by numbers, with an army of raw troops from his own dominions, and with troops of doubtful fidelity from the dominions of his allies, was sur rounded, and, after being compelled to retreat from Dresden, fought the important battle of Leipsic against the armies of Russia, Austria, Prussia, and Sweden. The issue of that battle was not consider ed to be doubtful from its commencement, but, dur ing the contest, the Saxon division of the army marched from their station in the French line, and took up their position with the Prussians. The re sult of the battle was a hurried retreat from Leipsic to the frontier of France, which was then the river Rhine. On the retreat to the Rhine, the shattered remains of the French army were interrupted by the forces of Bavaria. A battle was fought at Hanau, about twelve miles from Frankfort, which, though gained by the French, tended only to hasten their flight, and to the loss of much that remained of their stores, arms, and ammunition.
By the end of the year 1818, the French were to tally expelled from every part of Germany, and the occupation of Paris by the allies, early in 1814, led to general tranquillity. The Congress of Vienna soon after met, and never was a body of plenipotenti aries plunged into such a labyrinth of difficulties. The great extent of country that had been delivered, and was without any government, the number of claims urged either from previous possession, or from active service in effecting the deliverance, were such as to perplex with difficulties that appear ed to be nearly insuperable, and, in whatever way they were terminated, must necessarily leave great dissatisfaction. They were, however, so settled as to leave Germany in the state described in the pre ceding pages, and whether they could have been adjusted with more regard to the principles of equi ty is not for us to decide.