REUSS la a principtdity In the interior of Germany, consisting of a part of the ancient Volgtland, which was governed by the ancestors of the princes and *mute of Rents. It it situated between 50° 20' and 51' N. Ise, and between 11' 40' and 12' 20' E. long. It is divided by the circle of Nenstaalt, which belongs to Saxe-Weimar, into two portions, of which the southern is much the largest ; the lordships of (hest', Burg, Schteltz, and Lobenttein„ with the bailiwick of Saalburg, term the southern portion, bounded N. and E. by Saxony and Saxe Weimer, S. by Bavaria, and W. by Saxe-Coburg and Schwarzhn'gg Nadel/lade The priucipslity of Gera, which is the northern part, is bounded N. by Prussia, S. by Saxony, and E. and W. by the different parte of Altenburg. The area and the population in 1853 may be thus stated Items-Greita, area 130 square miles, population 35,159 ; ReumeSchleitz, area 460 square miles, population 79,824; total area 590 square miler ; population 114,983.
The country Is mountainous, being traversed by the Erzgebirge and the Thitringerweld, here called the Frankenwald, in which the Sieglitaberg is 2300 feet, and the Culm 2260 feet in height. There arts many extensive well-cultivated valleys, of which the two great valleys watered by the Seale and the Elster are the most fruitful Then are fine forests of pine and other timber, and rich pastures. The natural productions are corn, garden vegetables, fruit, hops, flax, and timber; horned-cattle, sheep, game, and fish. The minerals are !roe, copper, lead, alum, gypsum, vitriol, and salt. The inhabitants are Industrious, and have manufactures of woollen, calico, stockings, Late, earthenware, china, tobacco, alum, and vitriol, besides breweries and trun-works. Cattle and timber are exported.
The capital, Gera, is noticed iu a separate article. [Gee's.] Ebers• 114, which lies N. from Lobenstein, has a population of about 1200. Grrit:, situated on the river Elater, is the residence of the sovereign prince, and contains about 7000 inhabitants. Besides the palace there
are here a park, a gymnasium, a seminary for the education of school muter', and another for the clergy. Woollen cloth, calico, and paper are manufactured. Loboutds, on the Lenauitz, a feeder of the Seale, contains about 3000 inhabitant., lad has a palace and a public library. In the vicinity are extensive ken-works. Schleitz, on the left bank of the Wiesenthal, a feeder of the Seale, has a population of about 5000. The town is neat, and contains a palace and a gymnasium. Broad cloth, cotton, and loather are manufactured, and there are breweries In the town. Zemlenroda, W. from Greitz, has a handsome church, manufactures of hosiery, woollen cloths, and beer. The population is about 4500.
The family of the princes and counts of Reuss may be traced back as princes to the 11th century. This family now consists of two lines, the elder and the younger, and some collateral lime. he elder line, that of Reusa-Oreitz, possesses the lordships of Omits and Burg, and part of the district of Iteichenfels. The possessions of the younger Boa, that of ReuseSchleitz, are considerably mote extensive than those of the elder, but this line being subdivided, the revenue and territory are also divided, though only the prince of R..usa$chleits ir considered as sovereign. All the subjects of both lines are Lutherans, except a few Rotarians and Jews. The govern ment is monarchical, with estates on the ancient German model. In 1513 both lines joined the German Confederation; Reuss, conjointly with five other small states, has one vote (ths 16th) in the diet of the Confederation ; in the full council each line has one vote. glie elder furnishes a contingent of 223 men, the younger of 522 men, to the army of the Confederation.