Carniola was known so early as the 8th century, by the same name which it still bears. Its more ancient name appears to have been Crania. It was at the period allud ed to, that the Christian religion was introduced into the country. It was endeavoured, in the 16th century, to communicate to the inhabitants the benefits of the Re formation. The success, however, appears not to have been considerable, as even at present the prevailing sys tem in that quarter is the Roman Catholic. A few Wa lachians, or Uskokes, who have their residence here, are of the Greek church.
There is a material difference observable between the different parts of this country, in respect of manners, dress, and language. In Upper and Lower Carniola long beards are worn. There are two distinct langua ges spoken in the country, the Sclavoniati, to wit, or AVendish, and the German, corresponding, it may be ob served, to the diversity, in point of origin, by which this people are distinguished, of whom the commonalty, it is understood, are chiefly of Sciavonic extraction, the no bility of German. The Slaves, or Wends, are said to have taken possession of this country after the year 548. In the time of Charlemagne and his posterity, it was governed by the dukes of Friuli, and afterwards by those of Carinthia. Under Otto II. it became a distinct mar graviate. It finally was vested in the Ilouse of Austria ; and from a marquisate, which it had long been, it was, in 1231, raised to the rank of a duchy. It participated with
other provinces in the effect of the division of the Aus trian States, from 1395 to 1496. Otherwise, it has, with little interruption, ever since its first accession to them, continued to form a part of the Austrian dominions. To. wards the maintenance of the military power of that state, it contributes annually 363,171 florins. The forces usually quartered in it, are only two regiments of foot.
The following particulars, relative to this duchy, are extracted from a statistical account of the Austrian mo na•chy, published by Messrs Raymond and Roth, 1809 : The population, in 1783, of the circle of Laybach, 133,239 ; of Neustadt, ; of Adelsberg, 133,085 ; and or the whole duchy, 433,000. Number of marria ges, in 1791, including Friuli and Trieste, 5533 ; of births, 23,723 ; and of deaths, 17,930, The principal towns in Carniola, are Laybacb, which, in 1798, contained 1300 houses, and 20,000 inhabitants ; and Ydria, which contained 312 houses, and 3500 inhabi tants. See Tableau Statist. de la Alonarchie Autrich. 17c. par Raymond and Roth ; Annales des Voyages, de la Geogr. et de l' Hist. Publices, par M. Mahe. Brun ; Die tionnaire Universel de la Geogr. Commerfante, par J. Peuchet ; and Runner's Travels. (a)