ZURICH, one of the Swiss cantons, is bounded N. by Schaffhausen and Baden, E: by Thurgau and St. Gall, S. by Schwyz and Zug, and W. by Aargau. The territory of Zurich lies in the basin of the Rhine, all its watercourses flowing northward into that river. The area is 684 square miles. The population in 1850 was 250,698, of . whom 6690 were Catholics and the rest were Protestants of different sects, the great majority being Calvinists. There are no high moun tains in the canton ; but several ridges of hills, some of which attain a height of 2700 feet, run from south-east to north-west, screening valleys through which flow the principal rivers of tho canton, the Thur, the Toss, the Glatt, and the Limmat. The Lake of Ziirich, the eastern extremity of which belongs to the cantons of Schwyz and St. Gall, is long and narrow ; it runs through the middle of the canton, extending for about 25 miles from south-east to north-west, with a breadth of one to two miles. The banks are strewn with thriving small towns and villages, and country-houses. The surrounding country, rising in gentle slopes on both sides, is planted with vineyards and orchards, intermixed with fields. The Limmat, a rapid clear stream, issues out of the lake at its north-west extremity, intersects the town of Zurich, and is joined by the Sall. a river coming from the south, which has its source in the canton of Schwyz.
Agriculture is diligently attended to The principal products are, corn, bad wino, fruit, and pulse. Horned cattle are numerous; sheep and goats are kept in small numbers. Considerable tracts of ground are covered with forests.
More than one-eighth of the population of the canton is occupied in manufactures. The cotton and silk manufactnros are by far the most important. [SwrrzEnLeND.] The canton of Zdrich carries on an active trade, especially with Italy. The Swiss-German is commonly spoken ; but the written language is the high German, which is also spoken by educated persons. The canton of Zurich is a representa tive democracy; all citizens who have attained 20 years of age enjoy the elective franchise, except bankrupts, paupers, and criminals. The Great Council or Legislature consists of 242 members, who must be at least 80 years of age, and of whom 33 are chosen by the Great Council itself to complete its number. The Council appoints the executive council, which consists of 19 members for six years, and is presided over by the burgmeister. The Great Council appoints also the members of the court of appeals, of the criminal court, and those of the ecclesiastical council. The canton returns 13 members to the National Council of Switzerland. [SwrrzEttLAND.] Zfirieh, the head town of the canton, is situated at the north-west extremity of the lake, and is divided by the river Limmat into two nearly equal parts; of which the one on the right bank is called the Grosse Stadt, and the other the Kleine Stadt. The Grosse Stadt is
built on the elope of a hill ; the Kleine Stadt lies on more even ground between the Limmat and the Sihl, just above the confluence of the two rivers. Both •towns are surrounded by ramparts and ditches, with 'bastions and ravelins. The streets are mostly narrow and irregular, the houses high, massive, and ancient looking, and the general appearance is that of a town of the middle ages. There are however several modern and handsome constructions, especially in the Kleine Stadt. The miinsterhof, or cathedral, is a fine old building of the 11th century. The other remarkable buildings of Zurich are— the frauenmibaster, once a nunnery, built in the 13th century; the Prediger church ; the church of St. Peter, with its handsome tower and clock ; the town-house; the orphan asylum ; the Wasserkirche, with the town library annexed to it ; the now university; the Casino, or assembly-rooms ; the Wellenberg tower and dungeon, in a small island in the middle of the river, where state prisoners were formerly confined ; the arsenal ; and the new police- and guard-house. The principal promenades are the Lindenhof, in the Grosse Stadt ; the Katzbastion, from which there is a splendid panoramic view ; Gess ner's avenue, at the confluence of the Sibl and the Limmat ; and the Hohe promenade on the ramparts of the Grosse Stadt. Zurich is the seat of a University, which has four faculties : divinity, medicine, law, and philosophy, with eight ordinary professors, besides super numeraries; and is attended by about 200 students. There is a botanical garden, a zoological cabinet, and several collections of mineralogy. Zurich has also a gymnasium, a school of industry, and a veterinary school, besides several private institutions for education. The town library contains 45,000 volumes.
Zurich is a thriving busy town, and one of the most commercial and industrions in all Switzerland. The population amounts to 17,040. Zurich was formerly one of the three cities in which the Swiss Diet assembled. Zurich lies 63 miles E.N.E. from Bern, 42 miles W. from St. Gall, and about 60 miles N. from St. Gothard, which is the most direct road from Zurich to Italy. A railway forming part of a line to Basel runs from Ziirich to Baden in Aargau. Winterthur, the only other town of importance in the canton, is situated in a plain 19 miles N.E. from Zilrich, and is one of the handsomest and neatest towns in all Switzerland. The population is 5341, who are occupied chiefly In manufactures and trade. In the town are several hand some buildinue, a public% library, and cabinets of medals and ornitho logy. The site of the ancient l'itodurom, where the Romans had a fortified encampment, is at Ober Winterthur, on the road to Frauen feld in Thurgau. Many remains of antiquity have been found on the spot.