portion of a large city. A great number of the cities and towns are surrounded with walls, and entered only by gates.

In the cities of the Catholic countries, especially in the south of Europe, pictures or images of saints are placed at the corner of the streets, and passengers frequently stop to offer their devotions before them. These cities are also distinguished for the great number of their churches and chapels, and for the costly paintings, statues and ornaments they contain. The cities of Southern Europe are usually furnished with water by aqueducts; and public fountains are erected in the streets and public squares, which add to their beauty, and produce a refreshing coolness in summer.

Most of the large cities are seaports, or connected with the sea. The capitals are usually distinguished as the residence of the sovereign and royal family. London, Paris, Petersburg, Moscow, Vienna, Berlin, Amsterdam, Dublin, Rome, Florence, and Dresden, are situated on rivers, which divide them into two portions connected by bridges. Rome, Madrid, Lisbon and Edinburgh, are built on several hills, which gives them a picturesque appearance. Naples, and most of the other cities lying on the Mediterranean, are situated on declivities, and the streets rise from the shore, like the seats of an amphitheatre.

London is the first city in the civilized world, in population, commerce and wealth. It also includes Westminster, the residence of the royal family and court, and Southwark, on the south side of the Thames. The streets are generally well paved, and furnished with good side walks. It is distinguished for the number and extent of its literary and charitable institutions.

Paris is the second city of Europe in population. It holds the first rank in the beauty of its public gardens, fountains, monuments and palaces, and in the extent and value of its libraries and literary institutions. It is especially distinguished for the gaiety and dissipation of the people, and the number and variety of its public amusements.

Constantinople presents a magnificent appearance from the sea, in the assemblage of mosques, towers and palaces, mingled with beautiful trees. But the streets are narrow, and the whole aspect within the city, is gloomy and disagreeable.

Naples is situated in the midst of a fine amphitheatre of hills. On one side is Mount Vesuvius; and a bay spreads before it, ornamented with fertile islands, which is scarcely equalled in beauty by any in the world.

Moscow, the ancient capital of Russia, was burned in the war of 1812, but is now in a great measure rebuilt. It presents a singular mixture of Asiatic huts, and temples, and mosques, with European palaces and churches.

St. Petersburgh is one of the most magnificent cities in Europe, and the seat of extensive commerce. It is built on a spot which was almost a marsh 100 years ago.

Madrid is situated on high ground, half a mile above the level of the sea, which renders it cool at all seasons. It is only important as the residence of the king and royal family.

Lisbon, at a distance, presents a magnificent appearance. It has a fine body of water before it, and beautiful cultivated bills in the rear. But the streets are irregular and filthy, and the houses are neither elegant nor convenient.

Vienna, the former capital of Germany, is now the chief city of the Austrian empire. It is the resort of merchants from various nations of Europe and Asia, and is distinguished for the beauty of its environs, and the luxury and dissipation of the nobility.

Amsterdam is built on oaken piles, in a marshy spot, and like most of the cities of Holland, is intersected by a great number of canals passing through its principal streets.

Dublin is the second city of the British Isles. It presents a grand appearance from the sea, and few cities have a greater proportion of magnificent and useful buildings.

Berlin, the residence of the king of Prussia, is a handsome, well built city, situated on both sides of the River Spree, a small branch of the Elbe.

Rome was once the capital of the known world, but is now decaying in population and wealth. A large part of it is laid out in fields and gardens, or covered with the ruins of the ancient city. Its churches are very splendid. St. Peter's is the grandest in the world.

Venice is a beautiful city, remarkable for its situation on islands. The people pass from one part to another in boats, on the canals, and horses and carriages are rarely seen.

Hamburgh is the greatest commercial city of Germany. Like the cities of Holland it is intersected by canals. Its streets are not pleasant or well built.

Copenhagen, situated on the island of Zealand, is a commercial city of considerable wealth and beauty.

Edinburgh is not a place of commerce or of manufactures, but it is distinguished for its literary institutions and its learned

men.

Stockholm has a singular and romantic appearance, from its situation on a number of rocky islands.

Florence, the capital of Tuscany, is a beautiful city, situated on both sides of the river Arno. Turin is a handsome, fortified town, the residence of the king of Sardinia. Dresden is one of the most elegant cities of Europe, distinguished for its manufactures of fine porcelain or china ware. Geneva, the chief city of Switzerland, has a beautiful situation on the lake of the same name. Genoa is a commercial city, the birth place of Columbus. Warsaw, the capital of Poland, is composed chiefly of mean, wooden hovels, with only a few fine buildings. Bergen has a fine harbour. Christiana is the principal place in Norway, and is admired for the beauty of its situation. The chief cities of Europe rank in population as follows:

1 London 2 Paris

" Moscow
5 Lisbon

3 Constanti- " Vienna

" Berlin

7 Venice

"Rome

"Genoa

"Turin

" Warsaw

311. Asia is the largest of the four great divisions of the globe, and has the greatest number of inhabitants..

It was in Asia that our first parents were created, and the human race preserved after the deluge; there the most important events recorded in scripture took place, and there the Saviour died to redeem mankind.

312. Asia and its islands extend from the Equator and the Torrid Zone on the south, beyond the Polar Circle on the north, each portion partaking of the peculiar character of its zone. (See map of the World, and the account of zones-87, 88-96, 97-102, 103.)

313. The northern and middle portions of Asia, like those of America, are generally colder than the countries of Europe in the same latitude.

314. The tea-plant and some of the finest perfumes and spices, including the nutmeg, cinnamon and clove, are productions of Asia which are not found, or very sparingly, in any other part of the world.

315. Asia abounds in the precious metals and gems, and was for a long time the only place where diamonds and pearlswere obtained.

316. The people in the west of Asia have light complexions, and belong to the European race; but those east of the Caspian Sea are generally of a deep yellow or brown, and belong to the Tartar and Malay races. CCCXVII. (For the Review.)

a. The people of the half-civilized countries are divided into various ranks or casts, and the son must take the rank and employment of his father.

b. In these countries many of the arts, as the working of metals and the manufacture of silk, woollen and porcelain, are found in a very perfect state.

c. The sciences are little understood in Asia; but in the halfcivilized countries, there are schools and seminaries to give the knowledge of writing and arithmetic, and of their laws and religion, to certain classes of the people.

d. The languages of Asia are far more numerous than those of Europe, and many books of religion, laws, history and poetry are found written in them.

e.The great mass of the Asiatics are in the most degraded state of ignorance, and are cruelly oppressed by despotic priests, nobles and emperors.

f. They generally practise fraud, robbery and the worst of crimes without shame, and often make vice a part of religious worship.

Questions.-I. On what continent, and in what part of it is Asia? (See map of the World.) How is Asia bounded on the N. E. S. and W? What is the size of Asia compared with other portions of the globe? What is its population? What are some of the most striking events which have occurred in Asia? What are some of the peculiar productions of Asia? What are its mineral productions? What is the complexion of the people in the western countries? What in the eastern and southern parts?

Questions on the map.-II. In what zones are the northern regions of Asia? In what the middle? The southern? Describe the climate of each part according to that of its zone. What can you say of the southern countries of Asia? What is the climate of the northern parts, compared with that of Europe?

How are the people divided in the half-civilized countries ? What is the state of the arts in these countries? What is that of the sciences, and what provision have they for education? What can you say of the languages of Asia? What is the state of the common people generally in Asia? What is the moral state of the Asiatics generally?

Questions on the Chart of the World.

Civilisation.-I. Are there any civilized countries in Asia? What countries are half-civilized, and in what part of Asia do they chiefly lie? What parts are barbarous? What are savage? Government.-II. What countries of Asia are governed by chiefs? What kind of government is there in the other countries of Asia? What parts are subject to Russia? What to China?

Religion.-II. Is there any Christian country in Asia? What parts are Mahometan? What are Pagan? Are there any missionary stations in Asia, and in what countries chiefly?

Population.-II. What country of Asia has the largest number of inhabitants? Which is next to China in population? What three countries have 14 or 18 millions? What three have 10 millions? Which is the largest country of Asia, and what is its population? (The population of Tartary and Thibet is very uncertain.) What tribes and where, in Siberia and Tartary?

Questions on the Map of Asia.

Seas, Gulfs, &c.-I. What seas are there on the west of Asia? Where is the Isthmus of Suez, which unites it to Africa? What straits lead to the Red Sea? What two seas are there E. of the Black Sea? What gulfs and bays in the south of Asia? What seas on the east? What gulf E. of Tartary?

Mountains-I. What chain of mountains in the middle of Asia? Describe its direction, length and height. (See XLVH. i. and q.) What name does it take at the N. E.? What chain south of the Altaian, running in the same direction? What chain unites them to the Altaian chain? What two chains in the west of Asia? What chain do you find in the south of Hindoostan? What chain in Arabia? Which is the longest chain in Asia? Which are the highest mountains in Asia? (See XLVII. b. and d.)

Lakes and Inland Seas.-I. What great inland seas are