SAXE-WEI MAR-EI SENACH, the largest of the minor Saxon states, is a grand-duchy, consisting of Weimer, which lies between Prussia, Altenburg, and stadt, and contains (inclusive of Allstildt, on the tinstrut, within Prussia, 45 English sq.m., and Ilmenau, in the s.e. of Gotha, 32 English sq.m.) 683 English sq.m., with a pop. '71, of 151,379: EI:vtarc , time western portion, which lies to the n. of Mciningen and Bavaria, and contains (inclusive of Ostheini, in the filibmgebirge, in Bavaria, 2;:. English sq.m.) 471 English sq.m. with a pop. '71, of 84.298; and 2Veumidt, which lies on the western boundary of the idtigdom of Saxony, and contains 239 English sq.m., pop. '71, 60,506; total area, 1403 English sq tn.; pop. 286,183, of whom 275,492 are Protestants, 9,404 Roman Catholics, 53 Greek Catholics, 1120 Jews; the Jews and Catholics being chiefly in Eisemuth. Pop. 75, 292.933. The Eisenach portion is traversed in the 11. by the Thuringer-wald, and in the s. by the 11h5n•gehirge, the intermediate districts being also hilly and undulating, and watered by the Werra and its feeders, the Fulda, Ulster, and Orsel. The Neustadt division is traversed from sae. to 11.w, by several shoots of the Erz-gebirge, but most of the surface belongs to the plain of the Saale, and is watered by the Elster and Orla, affluents of that river. The Weimar portidu is also partly hilly and uneven, and partly belongs to the plain of the Saale. which, with its tributary, the Um, traverses it. The highest peak in the grand-duchy is Hinkelhahn (2,61)4 ft.), hi the detached territory of Ilinenau. The climate is somewhat inclement in tile high lands, more temperate in the plains, and particularly pleasant along the valley of the Saale. Of the whole surface, about 4. is arable, A is forest, and the rest is meadow-land, gardens, and vineyards. Agriculture is in an advanced condition, and is diligently prosecuted, there being frequently a surplus of grain over and above that required for home consumption, in spite of the occasional infertility of the soil; and potatoes, pulse, hemp, flax, hops, and (on the banks of the Stale) vines are also culti vated. Horse and cattle breeding is a common pursuit in Neustadt, and Eisenach, and sheep-breeding in Weimar, the sheep having the usual good reputation of the baxon breed. The mineral wealth comprises coal, iron, copper, cobalt, and marble. Eisenach
is the chief seat of the manufacturing iudustry, with the exceptiou of the woolen manu factures, which are principally carried on in Neustadt. The form of government is, according to the revised fundamental law of Oct. 15, 1850, a limited monarchy; the diet, or landtag, is composed of 31 deputies, 1 representing the landed nobility, 4 chosen by landed proprietors with incomes under 1000 thalers, 5 by those who possess the same income from other sources, and 21 by universal suffrage. The government is adminis tered by three heads of departments. As a member of the empire, Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach has one voice in the federal council, and elects three deputies to the imperial diet. The troops of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach form part of one of the Thuringian regiments in the 11th corps d'aroule of the empire. The budget for the financial period 1875-77 shows annual receipts amounting to ,C316,000, and an annual expenditure of £314,000, leaving a small balance in favor of the exchequer. The public debt amouuted in 1876 to a toted of £438,340. The grand-duke of Weimar is the chief of the Ernestine branch of the house of Saxony. The most celebrated of the Weimar family was duke Karl-August, the Maecenas of the art, literature, and science of Germany, who took the reins of gov ernment in 1775, and displayed extreme anxiety to favor the development of public prosperity and the progress of education. Under his fostering care, the university of Jena became a focus of intellect and knowledge to Germany; and the presence of Herder, Goethe, Schiller, and others, at his court well entitled it to be denominated Ili?. abode of the muses. He also elevated the theater of Weimar to its present position as the chief German school of dramatic art. In 180G he joined the confederation of the Rhine with the title of duke, and received from the congress of Vienna an accession of territory, and the title of grand-duke. In 1816 he granted a liberal representative con stitution to his subjects, expressly guaranteeing the liberty of the press, and died June 14, 1828. His successors have followed iu his footsteps. See GERMANY.