are Queen's College, an edifice of brick and stone; the Presbyterian College; the Royal Academical Institution, founded in 1810; the Belfast Academy, and other national and private schools. The chief public buildings are the custom-house, commercial buildings, hotels, offices, reading and music halls, and the new house of correction. (See views of Belfast.)

YOUGHAL

Is a seaport town of Munster county, situated on the west side of the Blackwater. The town was formerly enclosed by walls, the ruins of which still remain. It contains a court house, custom house, hospital, barracks, and also the former residence of Sir Walter Raleigh. The culture of the potato in Ireland was first introduced at this place by Sir Walter Raleigh.

WALES.

Wales, a part of the British empire, joins England on the west. The surface is rugged and mountainous, particularly in the northern part. Snowden, the culminating point of South Britain, rises to the hight of three thousand five hundred and seventy feet. Among the chief cities are Merthyr Tydvil, the largest town, noted for its iron works, Swansea, the principal seat of the copper trade, and much resorted to for sea-bathing, and Conway, the seat of the Conway castle, founded by Edward I. It is in a good state of preservation, and one of the greatest feudal fortresses in the kingdom. (See views of Wales.)

THE ISLE OF WIGHT

Is south of England, in the English channel. It has an area of one hundred and thirty-six square miles. The center is much more elevated than the margin, the highest elevation being eight hundred and thirty feet above the sea. Newport is the capital. The principal towns are Yarmouth, Ryde, Ventnor, and Cowes. Near the latter is the Osborn house, a favorite summer residence of Queen Victoria. (See views of the Osborn house.)

CHAPTER II.

FRANCE.

This is one of the most populous and influential empires on the globe. It is situated in the south-western part of Europe, and covers an area of about ninety-seven thousand square miles. It includes under its dominion, a large number of small islands and colonies in various parts of the world. The population, including that of its possessions, is forty-one millions sixty-three thousand three hundred and forty-nine.

The surface of the country is somewhat broken by mountain ranges, though it contains only a few lofty summits. The principal ranges are the Pyrenes, on the south, separating it from Spain, and the Alps, on the south-east, separating it from Italy. Both these ranges are celebrated for their beautiful scenery. At their base and along their sides, are beautiful villages, sometimes occupying an elevation of several thousand feet. Luz and St. Sauveur in the Pyrenes, are celebrated for their mineral springs. (See views.) Mount Blanc, the culminating point of the Alps, and the highest mountain of Europe, is situated in the province of Savoy, which was ceded to France in 1860. The mountain is about fifteen thousand eight hundred feet in hight. It is situated at the dividing line between France, Switzerland and Italy. The limit of the snow line is about eight thousand feet above the level of the sea. It forms the terminus of the Grurain Alps, one of the divisions of the western Alps. Thirty-four glaciers are found in this range, occupying an area of about ninety-five square miles. The largest of these is the Mer de Glace, or "sea of ice." The lower part of this glacier is called the Glacier des Bois. These glaciers extend north-east into Switzerland. It is thought that the whole extent covered by these fields of ice, in the different Alpine ranges, is not less than one thousand five hundred square miles, and averaging

about one hundred feet in depth. The valley of the Chamouni, lying at the base of Mount Blanc, is remarkable for its beautiful scenery. The glaciers which descend into it are the grandest of the Alps. The valley contains three villages, Chamouni, lying at the foot of Mont Blanc, Argentine, and Ouches. (See views.)

The rivers of France are rapid in their course, and of but little value for navigable purposes.

PARIS,

The capital and principal city, is situated upon two islands formed by the river Seine, about one hundred and ten miles from its mouth. It is surrounded by a range of hills, the highest of which attains an elevation of about two hundred feet. Recently a line of fortifications has been built, enclosing the city and a large portion of the suburbs. The city proper is enclosed by an interior wall. Between this wall and the fortifications are what is called the outer Boulevards, making nearly the circuit of the town. The inner Boulevards, just within the interior wall, are a finely planted thoroughfare, bounded on either side by a double row of trees. These are a fashionable resort, and usually present a scene of gaiety and splendor.

The streets in the newer part of the town are regular, wide, and well paved, but in the older portions they are irregular, cutting each other at all kinds of angles, and in many places so narrow that carriages find difficulty in passing.

There are within the city several magnificent triumphal arches. The Arc de l'Etoile, surpasses anything of the kind ever erected, either in ancient or modern times. It is one hundred and sixtytwo feet high by one hundred and forty-seven feet long and seventy feet broad. In the Place du Carrousel is another beautiful arch, designed after that of Septimius Severus, at Rome. This arch is forty-five feet high by sixty feet long and twenty feet broad. The top is crowned by a triumphal car drawn by four bronze horses.

The public buildings of Paris equal, if not surpass, those of any other city on the globe. Among the many elegant churches, that of Notre Dame is the most celebrated. It is situated on the site formerly occupied by a Pagan temple, and afterwards by a Christian basilica. The present building, which was erected between the twelfth and fifteenth century, ranks among the noblest specimens of Gothic architecture. It is built in the shape of a cruciform, with an octagonal east and west end, surmounted by two towers and a new central spire, remarkable for its delicate tracery.

Among the most celebrated palaces are the Tuileries, the Palais Royal, and the Louvre. The Tuileries, situated on the right bank of the Seine, have continued for centuries to be the chief Parisian residence of the sovereigns. The Palais Royal is situated not far from the Tuileries. It is surrounded by beautiful gardens, and much resorted to by the people of Paris. The Louvre, situated east of the Tuileries, has ceased to be a state residence, and is now occupied as the great national repository of works of art.

A large sandy plain, near the Quai d' Orsay, in which reviews and other military displays are held, is called the Champ de Mars. Not far from it is the Ecole Militaire, which was founded in 1752, and is now used as a military training school for infantry and cavalry.

The year 1867 witnessed, in Paris, a grand display of the products of different nations, called the Paris Exposition. The grounds, situated on the Champ de Mars, cover an area of thirty-seven acres. The building is oval in form, and consists of twelve circles around a common center, having an open central garden. This exhibition was visited by the principal monarchs. of the world, and vast multitudes of people from all nations. (See views of Paris and Paris Exposition.)

LYONS,

The second city of France, is situated at the junction of two large rivers, the Saone, flowing from the north, and the Rhone,

flowing from the east. The city extends to the opposite banks of both rivers, communication being maintained by a large number of handsome and commodious bridges. The streets, in a large portion of the city, are narrow and irregular, and lined with ungainly buildings, crowded together in the smallest possible space. Some portions of the town, however, are well built with stately mansions, wide streets, and finely planted walks. The public buildings are more remarkable for their antiquity, than for the style of their architecture. Among the most interesting are the Cathedral, the Church of Notre Dame, the Church of St. Irenæus, the Palais de Justice, and the Abbey of Ainay.

As a manufacturing town it holds the first rank. Its silk manufactures are perhaps the most important in the world. It is admirably situated for commerce, and extensively engaged in trade. The population in 1862 was three hundred and eighteen thousand eight hundred and three. (See views of Lyons.)

VERSAILLES,

Situated ten miles south-west of Paris, is remarkable for the elegance and regularity of its construction. It is considered one of the handsomest towns in Europe. It contains a number of handsome public buildings, the most remarkable of which are the Palace of Versailles, the Church of St. Louis, the Prefecture, and the Chancery. The palace, built by Lous XIV., is now used as a historical museum. From 1672 to 1790 it was the residence of the kings of France. Connected with the palace are a chapel, a theatre, an orangery, large flower gardens, and a park, ornamented with numerous statues and fountains. The opening of the museum in 1837 did much to increase the prosperity of the city. In 1852 the population was thirtyfive thousand three hundred and sixty-seven. (See views of Versailles.)