The most important of German colonies are those in Africa, Togoland, Kamerun and German East, and Southwest. Africa. The first and last named of these possessions are governed by an imperial commissioner; the other two by an imperial governor. The possessions in the Pacific are more numerous and less extensive, amounting in all to 96,160 square miles. In Asia there is a German foothold of 200 square miles in Kiauchau Bay, over which presides an imperial governor, the other possessions having commissioners, with the exception of the Samoan Islands, governed under a foreign treaty by a civil governor. Kian-Chan, being a seizure from the Chinese Empire, is guarded about by many treaties, concessions and agreements with China and with European powers. It is of practical strategic and commercial importance because of its situation, its fine harbor and its nearness to vast coal fields. It is "leased" to the German Government for ninety-nine years.

Without exception the German colonies and dependencies are a dead weight, financially, on the hands of the government, the expenditures on them annually being far greater than the annual revenue.

The most important change in diplomatic circles in the German Empire was the resignation of the Hon. Andrew D. White from the post of United States Ambassador at Berlin, which post he held longer than any of his predecessors. He had made an ideal Ambassador, and Germany, to whom he had been, indeed, persona grata, expressed sincere regrets at his departure.

In foreign circles the only disturbance of importance was occasioned by the German pressure of her claims against the Venezuelan Government and the resulting strained feelings. The firing of the German gunboat Panther upon the Haitien gunboat Crete-a-Pierrot occasioned no trouble. The Haitien gunboat was practically in the hands of the Firmist revolutionists.

In interior affairs Poland is the one cause of worry. Poland is under the rule of three countries-Austria ruling one part, Russia another, Germany the third. The prevalent disquiet in the German province of Posen, where dreams of freedom have never been abandoned, is caused by the greater degree of freedom which the Austrian Prussians enjoy. Russia, too, is seemingly desirous of creating a pro-Russian feeling in Posen, and to this end is treating the Russian Poles better than formerly. Frequent articles in the Austrian press comparing their happier lot to that of the German Prussians keeps the feeling ripe, and incidentally tends to threaten the harmony brought about by the Triple Alliance. Emperor William during his visit to Posen in last August greatly decreased the dislike with which he is regarded in that city and lessended the anti-German feeling by his determination to protect Posen by a series of modern stone fortresses to take the place of the obsolete dirt embankments which have hitherto been Posen's sole defence and which cost over $50,000,000.

WURTEMBERG.

Capital:
STUTTGART.

By

Prior to the Peace of Pressburg, in 1805,
Wurtemberg was a duchy and electorate.
the decree of January 1, 1806, however, it be-
came a kingdom. The present ruler, Wilhelm
II., ascended the throne upon the death of King
Karl I., October 6, 1891. He was the son of
the late Prince Friedrich (cousin of the late
King) and the late Princess Katherine, the late
King's sister. He first married Princess Marie
of Waldeck Pyrmont, who died April 30, 1882.
On April 8, 1886, he married Princess Char-
lotte of Schaumburg-Lippe. By his first mar-
riage he had one daughter, Princess Pauline,
born December 19, 1877, and married October
29, 1898, to Prince Friedrich of Wied.

HEIR PRESUMPTIVE.-Duke Nicolaus of Wurtemberg, who was born March 1, 1833, and who married the late Duchess Wilhelmine of Wurtemberg May 8, 1868, is heir presumptive to the throne. MINISTERS OF STATE.-Dr. de Breitling, Dr. de Pischek, Herr de Zeyer, Baron de Soden, Dr. de Welzsacker and Herr de Schnurlen.

Wurtemberg, a constitutional hereditary monarchy, is one of the four kingdoms in the German Empire. Its constitution bears date 1819. The executive of the kingdom vests in a Ministry of State of six departments. The legislative authority is held by the Landstande, which is convened every three years, and comprises an upper and a lower chamber. Whenever the chambers are not sitting they are represented by a committee of three members from the upper and nine from the lower chamber, including their presidents.

Of the population (1900) 69 per cent are Protestants and 39 Catholic. The King is constitutionally the supreme director and guardian of the Evangelical Protestant Church. The Roman Catholics and Jews are under especial councils appointed by the King.

Wurtemberg has the imperial law of compulsory education. According to official returns there is no illiteracy in the kingdom above the age of ten. Enormous sums are spent on a perfect system of public education. The university is at Tubingen.

The estimated revenue for 1902-1903 was $18,229,658; estimated expenditure for same period being $17,771,119. Wurtemberg is an agricultural State, with 2,948,900 acres under cultivation.

BAVARIA.

Capital:
MUNICH.

The members of the reigning house of Bavaria are descended from the ancient Counts of Wittelsbach, who held a high position during the twelfth century. Duke Maxmilian I. of Bavaria, was made Elector of the Holy Roman Empire in the Thirty Years' War, and Elector Maximilian Joseph was elevated to the rank of king, in 1805, by Napoleon. According to the present Constitution, which was adopted in 1818, the crown is hereditary in the male line.

The present King, Otto, was born April 27, 1848, and succeeded his brother, Ludwig II., June 13, 1886, when that insane monarch committed suicide by drowning himself in the lake at Starnberg. Soon after his accession, Otto also developed indications of insanity, and

it was at last found necessary to confine him in one of the royal chateaux, and to establish a regency under Prince Luitpold, the King's uncle, and heir apparent to the throne.

Prince Luitpold was born March 12, 1821, and was married April 15, 1844, to Archduchess Augustine of Tuscany, who was born in 1825, and died in 1864. They had issue:

THE MINISTRY.-President and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Baron von Crailsheim: Mini. ter of Finance, Dr. Baron von Riedel; Minister of Interior, Baron von Feilitzech; Minister of Justice, Baro von Leonrod; Minister of War, Lieutenant-General Baron von Asch, and Minister of Instruction, Ritter von Landmann.

The Kingdom of Bavaria is in size and population the second kingdom in the German Empire; the government is a constitutional monarchy, the King having sole executive power, and exercising legislative functions jointly with a Parliament, which is divided into an Upper House, the Reichsrathe (a House of Lords), and a Lower House, a Chamber of Representatives with elected Deputies.

The Roman Catholic religion predominates, with (1895) 4,112,623; Protestants, about one and a half million, and Jews, about 53,000, rank next.

School attendance is compulsory between the ages of six and fourteen. Elementary schools are maintained in all parishes. Of the three universities, the two at Munich and Wurzburg are Roman Catholic, while that at Erlangen is Protestant.

Intervening between the Oberlandesgerichte in Bavaria and the imperial Reichsgericht, is the Appeal Court of Oberstes Landgericht. Under its jurisdiction are five Oberstandesgerichte and twenty-eight Landgerichte.

The largest items in the Bavarian budget (total for 1900-1901) $86,583,998, are the administration expenditure and the contribution to imperial expenditure. State railways, post, telegraph, mines, etc., are a source of great revenue.

The Bavarian army is a portion of the Imperial army, although in time of peace it has its own administration.

Bavarian forests are extensive, the soil highly productive of wheat, rye, oats, barley and tobacco, and, in portions, of hops and wine grapes. Manufactures are important. Exports, other than cereal, are wine, beer, timber, glass and leather.

SAXONY.

Capital:
DRESDEN.

Name.

1. Princess Mathilde.

The royal house of Saxony is one of the oldest reigning families in Europe, and while in its early days the house spread into numerous branches, all are still represented by such ducal families as Saxe-Altenburg, Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, Saxe-Weimer, and Saxe-Meiningen. The Albertine line, which is the younger branch, is now represented by the rulers of the Kingdom of Saxony.

On the death of King Albert, 1902, the throne passed to his brother, Prince George, who was born August 8, 1832, and was married to Infanta Maria Anne, daughter of King Ferdinand of Portugal, May 11, 1859. She died February 5, 1884. They had issue:

(3.) Prince Ernest Henry.

1896

(4.) Princess Marguerite..

1900]

(5.) Princess Marie Alice..

1901

3. Princess Marie...

1867

(1.) Archduke Charles Francis.

1887

(2.) Archduke Maximilian Eugene.

1895

4. Prince John Georg..

5. Prince Maximilian...

18701