In surveying the continent of Europe, one of its most striking and important features, is the number and ex tent of its inland seas ; which have been justly regardea as one oh the chief causes of its industry and civilization, and consequent superiority to the other grand divisions of the globe. Amongst these, the Mediterranean is ob viously pre-eminent. From its shores, their first seats, both in ancient and modern times, knowledge and civili zation have been diffused over the other countries of Eu rope. From the Pi,lars of Hercules, on the west, where it communicates with the Atlantic, it penetrates between the continents of Europe and Africa, as far east as Syria in Asia, a length of 2000 miles, by a breadth of between 400 and 500. On the European side, open two large in lets, the Gulph of Venice and the Archipelago, which still further extend the advantages of inland navigation, which the Mediterranean so eminently affords. The wide expanse of this sea is beautifully sprinkled with islands, and environed with opulent coasts, abounding with the most sublime and picturesque features of na ture. In the Mediterranean there are no tides, except in the narrowest straights ; but a current sets along the Italian shore from west to cast, and towards the African in an opposite direction. This sea abounds in fish. The chief fisheries are those of the tunny, of the sword-fish, of the sea-dog, and of the anchovy. To the north of eastern part of this sea, which is denominated the Le vant, but distant from it some hundreds of miles, lies the Black Sea, with which it communicates by two narrow straits, and the small sea of Marmora, which is situated between them. This extensive sea, of which the western parts only belong to Europe, is said to have derived its name from its black rocks, or dangerous navigation. To the north of the Black Sea, and connected with it by the short and narrow strait of Can, is the sea of Azof, the utmost maritime limit of Europe in this quarter. It is shallow, and polluted with mud, whence its ancient name of Palua Meotia.
Amongst the inland seas of Europe, the Baltic holds the second place. This extensive inlet opens from the German Sea by a gulf, in the direction of N. E. called the Skager Rack, and afterwards turns to the south, in what is called the Cattrgat. The Baltic then spreads widely to the N. E. and is divided into two extensive branches, called the Gulfs of Bothnia and Finland, both covered with ice during four or five months of the win ter. The greatest depth of this sea does not exceed 50 fathoms; and the Swedish naturalists say that it loses about four feet in extent in the course of .1 century. Its waters do not contain above 1 30th part of salt, whereas other sea-water often holds a tenth. There are no tides, and the fish are few.
The only other great inland sea of Europe is that call ed the While Sca, wnich is an extensive inlet or gulf of the Arctic Ocean, penetrating the northern provinces of Russia in the direction of the Baltic. Tnis sea was bet ter known before the commerce of Archangel was sup planted by that of St Petersburgh.
The numerous and extensive inland seas and gulfs of Europe, give rise to several celebrated straits. Of besides those already mentioned, the most important are, the Straits of Gibraltar, which connect the Mediterra nean with the Atlantic Ocean ; the Straits of Messina, between Italy and Sicily ; the Dardanelles, between the Grecian Archipelago and the Sea of Marmora ; and the Hellespont, between the Sea of Marmora and the Black Sea ; the Straits of Down which connect the English Channel with the German Sea, and the narrowest dis tance between the English and Frcnch coasts ; and, in the Baltic, the celebrated Strait of the Sound, between the Island of Zealand and the coast of Sweden, where the king of Denmark levies a toll on all ships passing up and down the Baltic ; the Great Belt, between Zealand and Funen ; and the Little Belt, between Funen and the pe ninsula of Jutland.
Europe contains few or no lakes of any great extent. The most considerable are, the lakes of Constance, 45 miles in length, and 15 in breadth ; and of Geneva, 40 miles long, and nine at its greatest breadth, both situated in Switzerland. The lakes, Wenner, 80 miles in length,
and 50 in breadth ; Wetter, about 80 miles long, and 12 broad ; and Mceler, 60 miles by 18, in Sweden. And Lake Oncga, which is about 150 miles in length, by a medial breadth of about 30 ; and the Ladoga, 130 miles long by 70 in breadth, in the western divisions of the Russian empire.
The more limited extent of Europe admits not the ac cumulation of such mighty bodies of water as the Asiatic and American continents roll to the ocean. The largest and most important of the European rivers, are, the Vol ga, the greater part of which belongs to this division of the globe. This largest of the European rivers takes its rise in the mountains of Valday, between Petersburgh and Moscow, and, after running in a south-easterly di rection, a course of upwards of 1700 miles, falls into the Caspian at Astracan. This noble river, having no cata racts, and few shoals, is navigable even as high as Tver. Its chief tributary streams are, Kama on the east, and Oka on the west.
Next to Volga is the Danube, whose magnificent stream rises in Swabia, and passing through Bavaria, Austria, Hungary, and Turkey, falls into the Black Sea, after a circuit of 1300 miles. The Danube, though oc casionally impeded by small falls and whirlpools, is yet navigable through an immense extent of its course. The Dnieper, or ancient Borysthenes, rises in the govern ment of Smolensk, about 150 miles to the south of the source of the Volga, and after a course of about 1000 miles through fertile provinces, falls into the Euxine Sca. The Rhine rises in the mountains of Switzerland, and falls into the German Sea, by several mouths, on the coast of Holland. This noble river, whose banks are celebrated for their grand and striking scenery, forms the great barrier between France and Germany, and its course may be computed at 600 British miles. It re ceives, near Mentz, the tributary stream of the Mayne. The Elbe rises in the Sudetic mountains of Silesia, and, running through the north of Germany a course of 500 miles, discharges itself into the sea near Cuxhaven. The Don rises from a lake in the government of Tulan, and falls into the sea of Azof, after a course of about 800 miles. The Dniester forms the boundary between Eu ropean Turkey and Russia, derives its source from the north side of the Carpathian mountains, and falls into the Euxine at Akerman, after a course of about 600 miles. The Dvina and Pelchora direct their course to the Arc tic Ocean. The course of the former, which falls into the White Sea, is about 500 miles ; and that of the latter 450. The Dvina rises in the province of Smolensk in Russia, and falls into the Baltic at Riga, after running 500 miles. The Vistula rises in the Carpathian moun tains, passes Warsaw, and joins the sea near Dantzic, after a course of 450 miles. The Oder has its source in the mountains of Moravia, and, after watering Silesia, Brandenberg, and Pomerania, joins the Baltic, after a course of 380 miles. The Rhone springs from the Gla cier of Furca, and, flowing through the Lake of Geneva, bends its course to the south, and enters the Mediterra nean ; its course is 400 miles. The Loire rises in Lan guedoc, and after running 500 miles, enters the ocean be yond Nantes. The beautiful stream of the Seine, on. which the city of Paris is built, falls into the English Channel at Havre de Grace, after a course of 250 miles. The Ebro rises in the mountains of Asturias in Spain, and after a south-easterly course or 350 miles, falls into the Mediterranean Sea. The Tagus has its source in the west of Arragon, and holding a course of 450 miles, falls into the Atlantic at Lisbon. Nor in enumerating the rivers of Europe, ought we to forget the Thames, which, though one of the smallest, is one of the most ce lebrated ; the seat of British empire, and the grand re sort of the commerce of the world.