zo to Oink, at the foot of Mount Pangceus (a branch of Rhodope), 235 miles ; and it embraces an area of 57.750 square miles, exclusive of all its islands ex cept Eubcea. But, as our ideas of the extent of the country have always a reference to those ancient states which comprised but very minute portions of its surface, it is necessary that its dimensions should be described more in detail.
The country recognized as Greece before the rise of the Macedonian power, comprehended the Morea or Peloponnesus, Attica, Eubcea, Bceotia, Phocis, Doris, Etolia, Acarnania, Thessaly, and Magnesia ; and even several of the states included within these limits had little or no share in those splendid actions which have shed so much glory over the country. The surface of Peloponnesus, which included seven differ ent states, is about 8950 square English miles, in Danville's map; that of the countries int named, without the peninsula, including Eubcea, is 14,800 ; and both together amount to 28,750 square miles ; an extent of surface not exceeding two-fifths of Eng land, or one-fifth of the British isles. If to this we add 16,000 square miles for Albania or Epirus (in cluding the basin of the Drino), 18,000 for Macedo nia, and 1000 for the Cyclades, the whole surface of Greece and its islands will be 58,750 square miles. which is almost exactly the area of England. While Greece preserved its independence, however,all these territories were never united into one body politic, nor was their confederated force ever applied to the prosecution of any common enterprise. The com munities whose warlike achievements, and brilliant career in arts and philosophy, raised the Grecian name so high, occupied but very minute portions of these territories; as the following table, deduced from measurements on Danville's map, will show.
8q.
Attica, including Megaris and Salamis, but Miles.
small territory northward of the Gulf of Corinth, called also Hellas. Afterwards it included Attica, Eubcea, Peloponneaus, Epirus, and Thessaly ; and ul timately Macedonia and Crete. In the brilliant pe. riods of Grecian history, the extent of the country might be considered as coincident with the limits of those states which sent deputies to the Amphyctio nic Council ; this sense, Etolia and Acarna nia, as well as Epirus, Macedonia, and Crete, ought to be excluded.* But, though we shall notice these divisions, our object at present is rather to take the appellation in its most extensive sense, and to follow what may be considered the natural limits of The country ; because the territories included within these limits are associated by certain political rela tions ; and because many of the most interesting sub jects of inquiry and discussion relating to the ancient, and still more to the modern state of Greece, con nect themselves most naturally with this arrangement.
The Continent of Greece, including Albania and Macedonia, is nearly shut in on the north by a chain of mountains known abciently by the names of Rho dope, Scomius, and Orbelus it is bounded on the west by the Adriatic and Ionian Seas, on the south by the Mediterranean, and on the east by the JEgean Sea, or Archipelago. It extends from 36° 10' to 42° 40' of north latitude ; and from 19° 45' to 40' of east longitude from London. Its length; from Cape Matapan to Mount Orbelus, or Argentaro, is 450 English miles ; its greatest breadth, from Duraz often shook of their allegiance, and the parent state was obliged to rely on its own resources. Such was the energy of these small communities, that Attica, which scarcely supports, at present, a miserable po pulation of 2Q,000 souls, sent out sometimes colonies of 10,000 men at once (Diod. Sic. Lib. 2 ); and Sparta furnished 50,000 soldiers to fight the Persians at Plateea. The territories of Corinth, when she formed a separate state, were much smaller than any of these ; her wealth and power depending chiefly on commerce.