HESSE-CAS'SEL, or ELECTORAL HESSE (Ger. Ilessen-Kassel), was formerly an elector ate of the Germanic confederation, consisting of one large and five smaller districts, including the couutship of Schaumburg and Schnialkald, a part of Henneberg and Barehfeld, with various townships, impacted within the territories of other states. In consequence of the occurrences of 1866, it was annexed to Prussia on Sept. 16 of that year, and subsequently (Dec., 1838) went to form a part of the new province of Hesse Nassau, which embraces, besides Hesse-Cassel, the greater part of Nassau (q.v.), part of Hesse-Homburg, and the Frankfort territory, being divided into the following two disrticts: Physical Character.—The country is generally hilly, and in some places even moun tainous, forming a part of the great central elevated plateau of Germany. The most considerable of the ranges are the Habichtswald, the Tharingerwald, of which the greatest elevation is the Inselberg (2,930 ft.), the Meissner (2,350 ft.), the Hundsrila, Kellerwald, and Itheinhardwald.
The principal rivers are the Werra, with its numerous small affluents, but which only belongs in part to Hesse-Nassau; the Fulda, whose course appertains almost exclu sively to the province; the Edder, Weser, Main, and Lahn. • ' Climate, Products.—The climate is generally mild, but in some of the mountain ous districts, as the Rhongebirge, it is at times very severe. The mean annual temper ature is 48*.5 Fahrenheit.
The soil is almost unexceptionally fruitful and well adapted to agriculture. Cereals of all kinds yield good returns. The most cultivated districts are in the s.w. of Hanau, where much fruit and some good wines are produced. Flax is grown in Schaumburg, and Lower Hesse, and tobacco in the valleys of the Werra. It is estimated that fur every hundred parts the land is distributed nearly in the following ratio: woods, 40; arable land, 37; meadow land, 11; miscellaneous, 12.
The mineral products comprise copper, lead, cobalt, vitriol, alum, clay, large quan tities of iron, coal, and salt, the last three of which are the property of the state. The mountain districts have many good mineral springs, the most important of winch are those at Schwalheim, Wilhelmsbad, Hofgeismar, Rodenberg, and Nemulorf.
Industry, Imports, and Exports—Trade.—ln addition to agriculture and the rearing of cattle and other animals, the chief branches of industry are the weaving of linen and yarn, which, although everywhere practiced, is prosecuted with most vigor about Fulda and Marburg. There are good steel and iron works at Schmalkald, and manil• factories of guns at Cassel. and porcelain, glass, paper, and gold and silver wire-works in Harem and other parts of the province. The exports consist principally of yarn and linens, iron and steel wares, fine clay, wood, leather, grain, dried fruits, and mineral waters. The transit-trade is considerable, and is principally conducted by way of Ca•lshafen, and Eschwege. The internal commerce and industry center more especially in Cassel, Hallam Frankfort-on-the-Main, Wiesbaden, Fulda, Gersfeld, Carls hafen, Dillenburg, and Limburg. There are many excellent public roads throughout the province, and upwards of 400 m. of railway, in addition to which it possesses great facilities for internal trade in its numerous navigable rivers.
Receipts, Expenditare.—According to the budget of 1864-06, the annual receipts of the electorate of Hesse-Cassel were about 5,108,310 thalers, and the expenditure 5.452. 980, an excess of expenditure over the income of 344,670 thalers. The national debt in 1861 represented a capital of 3,700,000 thalers, but this was exclusive of 8i million thalers, raised for the construction of railways, and lk million thalers extraordinary loans.
Army.—The army, prior to 1866, was kept at 12,000 men, of whom 5,000 were on the reserve list. Military service was compulsory between the ages of 20 and 27 years.
Education.—There are, besides numerous national schools, 10 gymnasia, 8 arts. and various polytechnic, theological, military, and other schools. Hesse-Nassau one university at Marburg, memorable as being the first which was founded (in 1527) after the reformation, and without papal authority.