Gold is widely diffused through Europe, but ge nerally in such quantities as not to repay the ex Carpathians, working. It is wrought, however, in the 'tins, the Urals, the Dofrines, the Alps, and it is said, in Ireland. Anciently there were rich mines of gold in Spain and Greece.
Silver is more abundant than gold, though less widely distributed. There are productive mines of this metal in the Erzegebirge, the Carpathians, the Urals, the Norwegian Dofrines, and in Sardinia. It is found also in the Alps, the Vosges, and the Sierra Morrena.
Of coal the richest mines are found in the north and west of England. It abounds also on both sides of the south of Scotland; in Ireland, in the Nether lands, in one-fourth part of the French territory; and occurs more sparingly in Saxony, Hanover, Den mark, Sweden, Russia, Hungary, Bohemia, Mo ravia Silesia, Bavaria, Austria, Franconia, Westpha lia, iwabia, Catalonia, and some other parts of Spain, in Portugal, and in Serdinia. After Britain, France is the country in Europe best supplied with this mi. neral. The produce of the French coal mines has increased fourfold within the last twenty-five years. (Ann. Phil. VII. 814.) Salt is procured from the waters of the ocean, and, in the interior of Europe, from numerous salt mines and salt springs. The most productive salt mines in Europe are those in Poland, on the north side of the Carpathians ; and those in Salzburg, on the north side of the Alps, both of which belong to Austria. There are also extensive depositaries of mineral salt in Transylvania and Hungary ; in Valentia, Navarre, and Catalonia, in Spain ; in Cheshire, in England ; and in Bavaria and Switzerland. Salt springs are numerous along the sides of primitive mountains in most countries of Europe. The most extensive salt mines of Russia are in Asia.
Antimony, cobalt, zinc, manganese, sulphur, alum, and a great variety of other mineral productions, are found in Europe ; but it is unnecessary to specify their localities.
It is observed, that the Alps, Pyrenees, Carps: tluans, and other mountain chains which run east and west, are richest in metals on the south side ; while the Dofrines, Urals, and others which run north and south, are richest on the east side. Of the
mountain chains of Europe, the Apennines are the poorest in metals, the Carpathians probably the rich. est. (Pinkerton's Grog. Mentelle et Malte-Brun,) Grog.) The present population of Europe is sprung from a variety of tribes, but authors differ much as to the number and peculiar characters of the original races. It would serve little purpose to enumerate thocon tradictory hypothesis which have been advanced on this subject. We shall, therefore, rather confine ourselves to an account of those more obvious gene. ral characters, founded on language, manners, or physical constitution, which distinguish the different portions of the population of Europe at present.
The nations in the south-west of Europe, the French, Italians, and Spaniards, speak languages which the Latin idiom predominates. They have generally black hair and black eyes, are rather in ferior in stature to the Gothic nations, but gifted with more imagination, and a higher degree of or ganic sensibility ; they are more temperate, more inventive, but less persevering.
The Gothic race includes the English, Swedes, Norwegians, Danes, Dutch, and the various German nations inhabiting the country between the Rhine and the Oder, with the Swiss, Bavarians, and a part of the inhabitants of Bohemia, Moravia, and Austria. These nations are distinguished by fair hair, blue or grey eyes, and a clear complexion.
i They have less imagination than the southern na tions, are more addicted to pursuits that exercise the understanding, are more thoughtful and serious, and less temperate in drinking.
• The Sclavonic nations occupy the east of Europe generally, including Russia, Moldavia, Poland, an. client Prussia, with the greater part of Silesia, Hun gary, Moravia, Bohemia, Croatia, and Sclavonia. They are rather lower in stature than the Gothic race, the countenance is but more animated, and the hair black. The prevailing religion is the Greek Christian, and in the western parts the Ro man Catholic. They all speak dialects of the Scla vonic language, of which the Russian is one.