Internal .Commerce.—But one great drawback to the development of Grecian resources, and the increase of a home-commerce, is the miserable state of the internal communica tion. Without a navigable river, with not a single canal, and with less than 100 m. of road fit for a donkey-cart in the whole extent of its territory, it is little wonder that the inland inhabitants are devoid of energy and enterprise, and that they consume but little of the imports from abroad. Mules, asses, horses, and men carry on their backs over rugged paths, and through mountain-passes, the scanty supplies of foreign luxuries mid necessaries for the Greek peasant of the interior. Even from Athens to Corinth there is -no carriage-road I Political Divisions.—In ancient times Greece was divided into a great number of petty states, each consisting of at least a city and some portion of surrounding territory. There was no king ruling over the whole country, no federal union which embraced all the states, no common council or government. Amphictyonic leagues did exist at one period, and in later times the Achfean and /Etolian leagues were formed with patriotic and national objects in view, but these applied only to a limited area, and were of only local operation; hence quarrels were of constant occurrence, and Greece wasted on internal struggles those energies and means, which, if properly husbanded, united, and directed, might have raised her to the very pinnacle of fame and of prosperity in every department of human industry and human exertion. It was only when some monster danger threatened universal destruction that all united for the common good, as in the Persian invasions, and even thenjealousies and selfish interests caused many to join with those who sought to ruin the fatherland. The divisions of ancient Greece, as laid down on maps, afford a very imperfect idea of the political condition of the country, singly or relatively; but as they have been so long known to the world under cerkuu names, it will be best to mention them as usually given. Starting at the s.e. we have the triangularly shaped Attica, separated from Bceotia on the n. by the range of Cithaeron and Panics, Bceotia, Phocis, Doris, Locris, 1Etolia, Acarnania, Epirus, Thessaly, and Enticea; and in the Peloponnese, Argolis, Laconia, Messenia, Elis, Achaia, and Arcadia, with Megaris, partly'on the isthmus of Corinth. By the existing arrangements, modern Greece is divided into 13 provinces or nomarchies, which are again subdivided into 59 eparchies, and these again into demarchies or cantons. Of the nomarchies there are in Hellas, or northern Greece, Attica and Bceotia, Phocis and Phthiotis; Acarnania and .,Etolia: in the Peloponnesus, Argolis and Corinthia, Achaia and Elis, Arcadia, Mes senia, Laconia: in the islands, Eubma, the Cyclades, Corfu, Zante, Cephalonia. See Avrirca, 13cEona., EmaccA, etc.; and for Cyclades, see section " Islands" at the end of this article.
Government.—In ancient Greece each state managed its own affairs, and governments were of different kinds. In Homeric times, monarchy seems to have prevailed to a con siderable extent, but in later years republics, aristocracies, and oligarchies almost entirely usurped the ruling power; factions were rife, and in many cases their contests led to a total disruption of the body-politic. The present constitution of Greece was arranged by an assembly elected in Dec., 1863, and adopted Oct. 29, 1864. The whole legislative power is-vested in the BouI6, or house of representatives, the members of which are elected by manhood suffrage for four years. The elections take place by ballot, and the chamber must meet annually for not less than three, nor more than six months. There must be an attendance of at least one-half of the members to give legality to the proceedings, and no bill can become law without the consent of an absolute majority of members. The assembly has no power to alter the constitution itself. The chamber of
deputies meets, on ordinary occasions, on Nov. 1 (0.S.) of every year. The number of members varies with the population, but in 18'75 it was 188. The executive is vested in the king and the ministers at the head of the departments. who are responsi ble for the acts of his majesty: ministry of the interior, finance, justice, education and ecclesiastical affairs, war, marine, and foreign affairs There is also a deliberative council of state, whose members are named by the crown, and hold office for two years. There must not he less than 15, nor more than 25. To this council must be sent all bills from the chamber of deputies...11nd returned with observations or amendments within 10 days; but this term may be prolonged for 15 days more. if 110 report is then made, the deputies may pass the law and send it up to the king. The education of the is undertaken at the public cost; offices of state and positions of distinction are open to all. (See articles on individual cites and states.) Administration of Justice. —The supreme court of justice is called, as in Athens of old, the Areopagus. Besides this, there are 4 courts of appeal, 16 courts of primary jurisdiction, the court of assizes, and 175 justice of-peace courts, with all the orthodox accompaniments of lawyers, juries, notaries, etc. There is a complete code of laws to meet all the cases which may arise between man and man. Capital punishment is exigible for certain offenses, the guillotine being the instrument of execution. The most numerous class of felons are brigands and assassins. The Greek judges enjoy a well-earned reputation for independence and Strict uprightness.
Army and Aravy.—Under a law promulgated in 186, the military forces of Greece are divided into four parts—the regular army, the regular reserve, the militia, and the militia reserve. All Greeks between 19 and 30 years of age, not serving in the regular army, are placed in the regular reserve; those from 31 to 40, in the militia; and those from 41 to 50. in the militia reserve. The whole strength of the army under the bill is estimated at 200,000, 120.000 of whom belong to the regular army and its reserve, 50,000 t a the militia, and 30,000 to the militia reserve. The number of the regular army is sisually about 15,000. At the commencement of 1875 the navy consisted of 1 ironclad, 6 screw steamers, 4 schooners, 2 cutters, and the royal yacht. It is useless as a defense from foreign powers, and serves only to repress piracy, and that iu au ineffective way. The naval station is Poros, at the entrance of the gulf of iEgina.
Money, Weights, and unit of the monetary system is the drachma (q.v.) 81d. English; the unit of weight is the oke = about 2 lbs. 11 oz. avoirdupois; the common measure of length is the pique = 27 inches. A stremma of land is about id of all English acre.
Finance.—The financial affairs of Greece seem to be in a state of hopeless bank ruptcy. The kingdom started on borrowed capital, the three great powers of England, France, and Russia having guaranteed a loan of 60 millions of francs (L240.000), partly to indemnify Turkey and other creditors of Greece, and partly to assist agriculture and mane factures in their early struggles. The expenses of the court and government, the carelessness of officials, and the non-receipt of the taxes, have added to the embarrass ment of the exchequer. so that at the present time the Greek treasury owes upwards of 483,000,000 dr. (L17.497,000) nearly a third of which is due to the three powers, and the remainder to capitalists, principally in England.