The present kingdom of Saxony lies between 50' 10' and 51' 23' N. lat., 11' 54' and 15' 5' E. long. It is bounded N.W., N.,and N.E.
by Prussia ; E. and S. by Bohemia ; S.W. by Bavaria ; and W. by Renee and Saxe-Altenburg. Its form is triangular, the base resting on the Riesengebirge and the Erzgebirge from the Neisse, on the border of Siam* to the Frankenwald, on the north boundary of Bavaria; and the vertex extending a little to the north of the city of Leipzig. The length of the base is about 150 miles, and the height of the triangle, from a little north of Leipzig to the point where the meridian of 13' E. long, crosses the Erzgebirge, is about 75 miles. The area is 5752 square mile., and the population in 1852 amounted to 1,937,832. The inhabitants are chiefly of German dement; about 40,000 are of the Slavonia race. All except about 30,000 Catholics and 1000 Jews are of the Lutheran religion. The Slavonians were the original inhabit ants, and their subjection was effected In the 10th century. They are now known under the name of Wends, and live apart from the Ger mans; they do not intermarry with them, though they inhabit the MD* towns or villages. Thus they have preserved their language and mescal peculiar custom'. They are only found in that part of Saxony which Is east of the Elbe, especially in Bautzen and in the vicinity of that town.
Bracer and river Elbe, traversing the kingdom from sonth-east to north-west, divides it into two unequal portions, between which a considerable difference exists also in wealth and productive powers.
The eastern and smaller portion, which comprehends the south western part of the country, formerly called Lusatia, is less favoured by nature. The most elevated part of the country lies contiguous to the boundary of Bohemia, and is known by the name of the Mountains of Lusatia. It does not however present a chain of mountains, but is an elevated fiat, which towards the south descends into Bohemia with a rather rapid slope, but towards the north forms extensive plains, which are nearly level, lowering with an almost imperceptible elope. On these plains rise several masses of rocks in the form of email table lands, and in some places there are numerous small conical hills. The
base of the rocks is granite or gneiss, but the more elevated parts consist of basalt. The most elevated summits, proceeding from east to west, are—Mount Oybin and the Hochwald near Zittau, which rise respectively to 1630 and 2520 feet ; Mount Lansche, which attains 2637 feet; the Schlossberg, near Stolpeo, which is 1146 feet high ; the Great Winterberg, on the right bank of the river Elbe, which is 1836 feet ; the Lilienstein, on the right bauk of the Elbe, opposite Kfinig stein, which is 1333 feet high ; Mount Catta, near Pirna, which attains 1176 feet; and the Porachberg, near Pillnitz, which has an elevation of 1182 feet above the sea-level. The western declivity of this region is intersected by numerous depressions, ravines, and valleys, and on account of its picturesque beauties is frequently resorted to by tra vellers. It im known by the name of the Saxon Switzerland, and extends along the Elbe from Pirna to the Winterberg, and from six to eight miles from the river. The northern boundary-line of this region may be indicated with tolerable exactness by a line drawn from Dresden eastward to Bautzen. It is in general a poor country, partly covered with forests of rather indifferent growth, and partly with heath, but there are tracts which make good aheep-walks. The sheer are noted for the quality of their fine wool. Agriculture is very limited ; potatoes and oats succeed best, and in some parts flax. There is however • large tract of 'superior fertility, which occupies the most eastern part of the kingdom, on both aides of the Neisse, and consti tutes a wide depression In the elevated region. The surface here is hilly, but in general it produces all kinds of grain, and nearly as much as is required for the consumption of the large and populous manu facturing villages which surround the town of Zittau on the east, north, and west. The plain of Bautzen, which lies along the northern base of the elevated region, is still more fertile, and supplies corn for the consumption of the manufacturing districts. Some coal and iron are found, especially in the neighbourhood of Zittau ; and along the river Elbe there are some quarries of sandstone, the produce of which is exported.