SAX

SAXONY, the name of two, circles of the AXONY, the name of two circles of the Ger

1. SAXONY, DUCHY OF, or the ELECTORAL CIRCLE of SAXONY, is bounded by the circles of Meiten, Leipzig, and Thuringia, the principality of Anhalt, the marche of Brandenburg, and Lufith. The principality of Anhalt lies across it, and divides it into two parts. Its greatest length and breadth is computed at about 40 miles; but though is watered by the Elbe, the Black Elfter, and the Made, it is not very fruitful, the foil for the moft part confifting of fand. It contains 24 towns, 3 bo, betwixt 400 and 500 villages, 164 noblees eftates, 11 fuperintendencies, 3 infpections, aer one confiftory, and it prefecturates or diftrits. The prefent duchy of Saxony is not to be conronded with the old; for the latter was of a uch greater extent, and contained in it thofe large tracts, anciently called Eastphalia, Engern, and Walia, of which the electoral circle was no pan, bat was taken by Albert the Bear, margrave of Solzwedel, from the Vendi. His fon Bernard ng the dignity of duke of Saxony from the Frederic 1. the title of duchy was given ountry; and the electoral dignity having terwards annexed to the duchy, it acquir thereby alfo the name of the electoral circle. 1. SAXONY, ELECTORATE OF, OF SAXONY PRO***, conffts of the duchy, N° 1, the greatest part of the margravate of Meiffen, a part of the Vogt and, and the northern half of the landgravate of Thagia. The Lufatias alfo, and a part of the try of Henneberg, belong to it, but are no Part of this circle. The foil of the electoral doons lying in this circle is in general exceeding and fruitful, yielding corn, fruits, and pulte ndance, together with hops, flax, hemp, tobacco, anifeed, wild faffron, wood; and in fome faces woad, wine, coals, porcelain clay, terra gat, fullers earth, fine fhiver, various forts of utiful marble ferpentine ftone, and almoft all different fpecies of precious ftones. Sulphur, , vitriol, free-ftone, falt fprings, amber, turf, cabar, quickfilver, antimony, bifmuth, arfenic,

, and other minerals, are found in it: like Wife valuable mines of filver, copper, tin, lead, and iron; and abounds in many places with hornterte, theep, borfes, and venifon. The prinrivers are the Elbe, the Black Elfter, the Male, the Saale, the Unftrat, the White Elfter, the Paiffe. Thele rivers, as well as the lakes and rivulets, abound in fish; and in the White El

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fter are found beautiful pearls. This electorate is extremely well cultivated and inhabited, and includes about 250 great and finall towns, upwards of 5000 villages, 196 royal manors, and near as many royal caftles, befides private eftates, and commanderies. The provincial diets confist of 3 clafles. The firft is compofed of the prelates, the counts, and lords, and the two universities of Leipfic and Wittenberg. To the ad belong the nobility in general, immediate or mediate, that is, fuch as ftand immediately under the fief-chancery or the aulic judicatories, and fuch as are immedi ately under the jurifdiction of the amtman. The 3d clafs is formed of the towns in general. The general provincial diets are ordinarily held every fix years; but there are others, called felection diets, convened commonly every two years. Not only thefe diets, but thofe in moft of the other ftates of Germany, are at prefent extremely infignificant and unimportant, retaining little more than the fhadow of their former power and privileges ; yet even the petty princes, though they depend upon their more potent neighbours, and must be careful not to give them any unbrage, are almost as abfolute in their respective territories as the grand feignior himself. As to religion, it was in this country, that the reformation took its rife in the 16th century, to which it hath ever fince adhered, according to the doctrines of Luther. The two late electors, when they embraced Popery, to qualify themfelves to be elected kings of Poland, gave the most folemn affurances to their people, that they would inviolably mamtain the established religion and its profeffors in the full and free enjoyment of all their ecclefiaftical rights, privileges, and prerogatives whatfoever, in regard to churches, worthip, ceremonies, ufages, univerfities, fchools, benefices, incomes, profits, jurifdic tions, and immunities. The electoral families ftill continue Roman Catholics, though they have loft the crown of Poland, for which they at firft embraced Popery. As to ecclefiaftical matters, the country is divided into parithes, and there again into fpiritnal infpections and confiftories, all fubordinate to the ecclefiaftical council and upper confiftory of Drefden, in which city and Leipfic the Calvinists and Roman Catholics enjoy the free exer cife of their religion. Learning flourishes in this electorate in which, befides the free fchools and gymnafia in moft of the chief towns, are the two celebrated universities of Wittenberg and Leipzie; in the laft of which are alfo focieties for the liber

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