VOIGTLAND, or VOGTLAND, is the land formerly possessed by the officers called Voigte (advocates) of the empire, the predecessors of the present' princes and counts of Reuss. Their country compre hended the present circle of Voigtland in the kingdom of Saxony, the bailiwick of Weyda in the grand-duchy of Saxe-Weimar, the possessions of the princes end counts of Reuss, the lordship of Hof (now belonging to Bavaria), and the bailiwick of ltonneburg in the duchy of Saxe Altenburg. The descendants of Henry the Elder, Voigt of Plauen, sold or mortgaged various portions of these possessions; and at length, In consequence of such a mortgage, the Elector Augustus of Saxony, who in 1500 had acquired by purchase the bailiwick of Weyda, Arne, baugk, and Ziegenrilck, purchased in 1569 the lordships of Plauen, Volgtsbcrg, and Pausa. They were formed into two circles : that of Neustadt, which was ceded to Prussia by the treaty between Prussia and Saxony concluded at Presburg, May 18, 2815 ; and the circle of Voigtland, which remained to Saxony, and forms the most western part of that kingdom. This circle has an area of 556 square miles. According to the natnro of the country, it is divided into two por tions, the Mountain and Forest Region, and the Land Region. The
first is the mountainous and thickly-wooded tract on both sides of the Mulda next the circle of tho Erzgebirge, which it greatly resem bles. The climate is cold and the soil stony ; the only kind of grain produced is oats, and the only vegetables are potatoes. In the other portion, called the Land Region, the surface of the ground is covered with • rich mould, the climate is milder, and the weather and temperature much less variable. The highest mountains are the Schneekensteln and the Ilammelsberg, on the frontiers of Bohemia: the principal rivers are the Eiger, the Mulda, and the Minh. In the valleys most agricultural products are successfully cultivated. Flax is a very Important crop. The circle has a very line breed of horned cattle and sheep. Game and fish abound, and pearls are found In the Slater. One of the chief productions is timber, of which largo quantities are exported. The minerals are copper, iron, alum, lime, and slate. The chief occupation of the inhabitants is the manufacture of linen, cotton, woollen-cloth, and muslin. The chief town of the Voigtland is PLAULN.