6. The principality of Grubenhagen, is bounded by Calenberg, Wolfenbuttel, Wernigerode, Blankenburg, Ho henstein, and Eichfeld. The greater part of this princi pality is mountainous, and covered with woods. It con tains, however, some fruitful plains, where considerable quantities of flax are raised. Grubenhagen contains a part of the famous -chain of the Hartz. The principal minerals which it contains, are slates, alabaster, marble, rock salt, calamine, sulphur, lead, copper, iron, silver, and gold. For an account of the produce of the mines, see p. 243. Grubenhagen contains 9 small towns, 44 pa rochial churches, and 7060 taxable hearths. The chief towns are Einbeck and Osterode, which are described in p. 245.
7. The county of Diepholtz is bounded on the north by Delmenhorst and Bremen, on the east by Hoya, on the south by :Minden, and on the west by Osnaburg and Mun ster. It is 25 miles long from north to south, and 10 to 14 from east to west. This county consists of heaths, moors, and pasture lands ; and the people are chiefly em ployed in breeding cattle, and manufacturing coarse linens. It contains ten parishes, and five towns, the principal of which are Diepholtz and Lemforde.
8. The county of lloya is bounded on the north by Delmenhorst, Bremen, and Verden, on the east by Lune burg and Calenburg, on the south by Minden, and on the west by Minden and Diepholtz. It is 25 to 30 miles from north to south, and 30 to 33 from west to east. The soil is chiefly sandy ; but there are some fruitful tracts, which produce wheat, barley, and flax. Some parts are heathy, and others fit for pasture. It contains 54 parishes, and 100 towns and villages, the chief of which are Hoya, Drakenburg, Nienburg, Liebenau, Suhlingen, Harp steadt, ace.
9. The principality of Osnaburg is hounded on the north and south by :Munster, on the east by Hoya, Minden, and Ravensberg, on the west by Techlenburg and Lingcn. It is about 43 miles long from north to south, and 32 from west to east. The river Ilase traverses it from north to south. Nearly one half of the county consists of heathy and barren land. Rye and flax are its chief produce. It contains seven towns, the principal of which are Osnaburg, Iburg, Furstenau, Quackcnbruck, Vordcn, and Wieden brut,k. See OSNABURG.
Hanover comprehends 107 bailiwicks. The country is intersected by a great number of rivers and streamlets, and is in generaLextremely marshy. The principal rivers are the Elbe towards the north, the Weser and the Leine on the west, and the Aller and the Ihncnau in the centre of the kingdom. The chief lakes are those of Diepholtz and Stinhuder. The Aller rises in the duchy of Magde burg ; and, after traversing the southern parts of Lune burg-Zell, it falls into the Weser below Verden. The Leine rises in Eichfcld, runs northward through the eastern part of Calenbu•g, and falls into the Aller. The Iake of Diepholtz is called the Drummer-see, and though very extensive is extremely shallow.
The climate is by no means good. The temperature is very variable. The winters are rigorous, and frosty days often intervene between the greatest heats of summer. A north-west wind commonly blows during the cold season, an cast wind in spring, and a south-west wind in summer. The common diseases are catarrhs, intermittent and nervous fevers, phthisis, apoplexy, and palsy. When July is very warm, dysenteries are peculiarly malignant. The epide mics are of a rheumatic nature, and consumptions are very fatal.
The Hartz mountains are the most considerable in the kingdom. See HARTZ. The mountains which separate the West and south of Hanover from the principality of Hesse are either of a calcareous or basaltic nature, and consist of large pyramidal blocks, which Furnish excel lent stones for mending the roads, and paving the streets.
Very little progress has been made in improving the heaths and the marshy grounds of Hanover. A few fer tile spots are occasionally seen in the midst of barren wastes, although, by a little judicious management, a great part of the soil might be brougtht under cultivation. Nearly one half of the land is covered with weeds ; a fifth part of the arable fields is employed in pasturage ; and of the parts from which grain is raised, a third is oc cupied by peas and beans, a fourth by wheat, rye, and buck wheat, a fifth by barley, and a sixth by oats. On the sandy lands good potatoes are produced. Notwithstanding the general sterility of the country, there are many fertile and populous willies on the banks of the Elbe and the Weser. The duchy of Saxe Lauenberg is completely cultivated, owing to a wise agreement between the seig neurs and the peasants to relinquish some mutual privi leges. The grain raised in Hanover is not sufficient Ur' the consumption of the inhabitants; but though the pas turage is not luxuriant, they export a considerabL; num ber of horses to France, Italy and Saxony. If the ope ration of draining were extensively carried ni, Hanover might supply Germany, Holland, and Frar•e, with a suf ficient number of horses, and black catile• The wool is of a very bad quality. It is used in velgium in the ma nufacture of coarse cloth, Hanoverians work it in to a tolerably good looking sttilt'. Several rams of the Merino breed have, however, ocen imported from Upper Saxony ; and the wool has thus been greatly ameliorated. The cows are neither large nor beautiful. They are ge nerally of a black and u kite, or a white and fawn colour. In order to improve the breed, bulls are brought from Hol land. The Hanoverian goats are very poor, and few in number. The oxen are of a middle size, and make excel lent beef, the pork is good, and the mountain mutton is highly esteemed. Flax is more abundant than hemp through out the kingdom, and it is the chief occupation of the fe males to spin it in the winter evenings.