The manufactures of Hanover are very numerous, but none of them extensive. Except linen, linen yarn, and domestic utensils, 'few of them afford a surplus beyond the home consumption. The linen is of four kinds : First, that called Hauseleinmand, or household linen, the making as well as use of which is to be met with in every family. Second, a coarse kind, that called the Lowentleinen. Third, the fine linen, which is only made in some of the cities to a small extent, and almost wholly consumed by the richer families of the kingdom. Fourth, sailcloth and hempen linen, which is principally made in East Friesland and the Duchy of Bremen, and which is mostly sold for foreign consumption. Be sides the linen yarn used in the home fabrics, a great quantity is spun for foreign trade. Spinning is, indeed, the constant operation of almost all the females in the villages during the long nights of winter. The spinning of coarse wool, and making it into cloth, either by itself or mixed with linen, occupies a considerable portion of the industry of the peasantry, and furnishes them with clothing from the produce of their own lands ; besides these, they spin cotton, and, mixing the yarn with that of linen, manufacture dresses for the females and the younger part of their families. The stockings they wear, whether of linen, cotton, or worsted, are usually made at home. In some parts of the coun try much oil is made from linseed. Coarse pottery ware is made in many parts. Paper-mills, which supply about 80,000 reams annually, are not suffi cient for the home consumption. In the cities, woollen cloths, silk goods, cotton of various kinds, hats, hosiery, soap, and leather, are manufactured. The principal branches that employ much capital, are the breweries of Hanover, Embeck, and Goslar. and the corn distilleries which are to be found in all the cities. The former of these are suffering a gradual declension, whilst the latter are as rapidly increasing.
The productions of the mines naturally follow those of agriculture and manufactures. These yield annually as follows : The prices at which the commodities are estimat ed are those which they are worth at the mines, be fore any expence of carriage has been incurred.
As may be supposed from the small quantity of surplus production, the trade of Hanover cannot be extensive. The principal port, Embden, has some export and import trade ; but from the state of the roads between that place and the more populous parts of the kingdom, more of its trade passes through Hamburg and Bremen than through that city. Be sides the more considerable articles made from flax, its honey, wax, feathers, and large quantities of tim ber, are sent to Hamburg and Bremen. Hops, rape-seed, oil-cake, fruit, hams, and sausages form also articles of export of small amount. .In very fruitful years some corn is exported, but in general the consumption is equal to the produce. The im ports consist principally of wine, coffee, tea, sugar, indigo, tobacco, and a few manufactured articles, which are consumed by the richer classes. As the roads to the great fairs of Leipsic and Frankfort pass through Hanover, the transit of goods by these create a pretty large commission trade, and give em ployment to many waggons, horses, and men, al; well as to the barge owners. The exports and im
ports nearly balance each other, and the amount of neither exceed L. 500,000 Sterling.
The government of Hamper is a monarchy, whose king is the possessor of the throne of Great Britain. Before it was erected into a kingdom in 1814, the dominions consisted of various portions, the succes sion to which was regulated by ancient and different usages ; but at that epoch the whole was made sub ject to the same law of succession, and the different parts cannot be henceforth divided. In case the present family should become extinct, the heir of the house of Brunswick is to succeed to the sove reignty. The monarch is deemed to be of age when 18 years old. During a minority, the states of the kingdom are guardians, unless the case is provided for by the predecessor. The king has the whole executive power,—the appointment of officers, ci vil, military, and judicial. The legislative power is enjoyed jointly with the assembly of the states. This assembly consists of 102 deputies, chosen for the three bodies of the clergy, the nobility, and the cities. Those who are supposed to represent the clergy are nominated by the chapters of the secularized religious foundations ; the nobility choose their deputies ; and the magistrates of the cities select theirs. In a country where scarcely any men of much information are to be found out of the privileged classes, it is not surprising that nearly all the deputies should be chosen from them. The ministry are supposed to have the nomination of the greater number of the members, and three-fourths of them have places under the crown. The deli berations are secret, and the result of them only known by the laws they promulgate. The mem bers, during their sittings, are allowed some pay. Those who reside in the city of Hanover have two, and those who come from other places have four, rix dollars daily subsistence money. The ad ministration of the executive part of the government is at present in the hands of a prince of the royal fa mily, with the title of Governor-General, and a sa lary of L. 5500 Sterling. He is assisted by various ministers, forming a cabinet-council, who admini ster, at the head of respective boards, the different branches of the public business.
The finances of the kingdom are not stated to the public, and therefore cannot be accurately known.
The revenue is estimated to amount to about one million Sterling, of which a little more than L.500,000 is derived from the patrimonial estates of the king, who is by far the largest land-owner in his domi nions ; the remainder is drawn by taxation. The taxes are—a land-tax, producing L.170,000 ; a tax on food consumed in towns and cities, L.20,000 ; a tax on brewing and distilling, L.67,000 ; on salt, L.20,000 ; on stamps, L.5000 ; on imported goods, L.88,000; and a property and personal tax, L.92,000. This can only be an approximation to accuracy; but it is certain that the taxes produce less than the do mains. The estates of the king and of the nobility were formerly exempt from many of these taxes, but now all are alike liable to them.