In the early part of the eighteenth century, Ger many consisted of about 300, Sovereign States, great and small, which were united into one empire by a very complicated constitution. From time to time some of the smaller principalities have been sup pressed and incorporated with the larger states ; but the first radical change in the composition of the Germanic body was made by the treaty of Luneville, 9th February 1801, when a vast number of bishop rics, abbeys, and free towns, were deprived of their rights of sovereignty, and given as indemnities to princes who had lost their possessions in Belgium and Italy by the French conquests. In 1806, the Emperor Francis formally renounced the dignity of head of the empire ; the ancient constitution of the empire was dissolved, and a new league formed with France at its head (see CONFEDERATION OF THE RHINE), comprehending the most considerable states in the south, to which those in the north were after wards added. This confederation fell to pieces- on the overthrow of the French power in 1813, but it has served as the foundation of the new constitution of the Germanic body. The number of states is now reduced to 39, including Austria, Prussia, Denmark, and the Netherlands ; but these four powers rank as members only for a part of their dominions. The ecclesiastical principalities are entirely abolished ; and the free towns, of which there were 47 or more in 1800 (Hoeck's Tables), are now reduced to four. The princes who have lost their sovereignty have been reduced to the rank of nobles, and no longer holding immediately of the empire, are said- to be mediatised. The titles of royalty conferred by Bo naparte upon Bavaria, Wirtemberg, and Saxony, have been confirmed, and Hanover has since been raised to the same rank. The common concerns of this confederacy are managed by a diet, consisting of deputies from thirty-eight states (Hesse Homberg having no vote), who meet at Frankfort. The pecu niary contributions, fixed in proportion to the popu lation of each state, are voted for a period of five years. The military contingents, which are regu lated on the same principle, amount to 120,000 men in time of peace, and 301,000, in time of war, the latter being at the rate of 1 in the 100 of the popu lation. The German states, including If ths of Aus tria, fths of Prussia, besides Holstein and Luxem burg, embrace an era of about 237,000 English square miles, with 30,095,050 inhabitants ; of whom about 15,500,000 are Catholics; 12,000,000 Lu therans; 2,100,000 Reformed ; 25,000 Moravians ; 14,000 Greeks ; and 182,000 Jews. The new Ger manic constitution, though less complicated than the old, can scarcely be expected to produce any of the effects of a solid union in such a heterogeneous mass. The states are too unequal in strength to have a proper reciprocal influence, and there is not weight enough in the minor members to control the rival interests and jealousies of Austria and Prussia. The
confederation may be considered as recognizing, and in some degree regulating, the influence which the greatest states must necessarily exercise indirectly over the smaller.
The following Table exhibits the result of the va rious changes since the commencement of the French Revolution, upon the principal members of the Con federation; but to enter into particulars would carry us beyond the proper limits of this article. Most of them (except Saxony) have been enriched by the breaking• up of the ecclesiastical principalities.
- - Bavaria, . 22,000 2,183,000 30,000 3,560,000 Saxony, . 14,806 2,104,000 7,200 1,200,000 Hanover, . 10,900 787,000 14,400 1,305,000 Wirtemberg, 3,200 608, • • 8,200 1,395,463 Baden, . 1,370 177,000 5,8 1,001,700 Hesse Cassel, 3,340 443,500 4,300 540,000 Hesse Darmstadt, 2,180 249,700 4,100 Oldenburgh, . 96 95,000 2,500 217,000 (Hoeck, Apercu.—Hasael, Europ. Slaats, 1816.) Since the Congress of Vienna, many political changes of much importance have taken place in Germany; and, from the state of the public mind, it is evident that many more are in progress ; but it does not belong to the objects of the present article to enter upon these subjects.
The most important details regarding the smaller small's states will be found in the subjoined Table, which States. exhibits a view of the extent, population, revenue, military force, and religion, of all the sovereign states of Europe.
With respect to the authorities for this Table we may mention generally, that the extent assigned to Russia was ascertained, by measurement, oh Arrow smith's Map, and the other numerical statements re specting that country are taken from Hassel and Crome. All those relating to Austria are taken from Lichtenstern ; those relating to Prussia from Demian and Hassel; those relating to France from Chaptal, Hassel, and public Journals ; those relating to Britain from Colquhoun, Sinclair, and Parliamen tary documents, except the amount of the population, which is calculated on the basis of the returns in 1801 and 1811. Most of the others are from Hassel and Crome ; except the statements of the population and military force of the small German States (No. 23), which are taken from a paper published by the Diet in 1818, fixing the military contingents of each state. These contingents are for a period of war, whereas the numbers given in the preceding part of the table represent the military peace establishments of the re spective states. But as most of the German States keep up a greater number of troops than required by the act of the Diet, the numbers given in the table will not actually exceed the military force of these states in time of peace.