ANHALT, a German principality in the circle of Upper Saxony, lying chiefly between the rivers Elbe and Saal. It is about 65 miles long, and 8 bread; and bounded on the north by the duchy of Magdeburg, and the principality of Halberstadt; on the north-east by the marche of Brandenburg; on the east by the electorate of Saxony; on the south by the margravate of Missen, and the county of Mansfield. The houso of Anhalt, which derives its name from an old castle, now in decay, and from which the electors of Saxony and Branden burg are said to have been descended, is.one of the most ancient and illustrious in Germany, and is divided into four branches, which derive their name from the respective capitals of their district, viz. Anhalt Dessau, Anhalt Bernburg, Anhalt Ccethen, and Anhalt Zerbst. These four branches have one voice at the diet, and this vote is given by the eldest. The soil of this
principality is fertile, and produces corn, lint, and va rious kinds of fruit. Rye, oats, and hops, succeed much better in the districts of Dessau and Zerbst, than in those of Bernhurg and Ccethen, where the land is bet ter fitted for corn and wheat. The mines produce sil ver, copper, lead, iron, coals, sulphur, alum, vitriol, saltpetre, and other minerals. The principality con tains 19 towns, and 2 burghs; and is watered by the rivers Elbe, Saal, Mulde, Wipper, Scike, Bude, Futine, Zitau, Nuke, and Roszlan, from which there is an abun dant supply of fish. The air is salubrious, though cold. The revenues of the principality amount to nearly 600,000 rix-dollars. The Roman maid) is 188 florins, and the chamber-tax 243 rix-dollars, and 47 kreutzins. Population 100,000. (0)