AREA AND POPULATION.

337

Besides the ships enumerated in the above list, the navy of the Netherlands comprises several floating batteries for coast defence as well as upwards of 30 sailing vessels. The latter are gradually- withdrawn from service.

The navy was officered, at the commencement of June 1870, by 1 admiral, 2 'admiral-lieutenants,' 2 vice-admirals, 3 rear-admirals ('schouten-bij-nacht'), 20 captains, 40 commanders, 340 first and second lieutenants, 76 midshipmen ('adelborsten '), 123 adminis- trative and 104 medical officers. The marine infantry, at the same date, consisted of 52 officers and 2,119 non-commissioned officers and privates. Both sailors and marines are recruited by enlistment conscription being allowed, but not actually in force.

A gradual transformation of the old portion of the navy into an iron-clad fleet is taking place since the year 1865, when a law to this effect was passed by the States-General.

Area and Population.

The Netherlands, since the separation of Belgium, consists of eleven provinces, namely, Brabant, Guelderland, North and Soitth Holland, Zealand, Utrecht, Friesland, Overyssel, Groningen, Drenthe and Limburg. Connected with the kingdom in the person of the sovereign, though possessed of a separate administration, is the grand-duchy of Luxemburg, included from 1815 to 1866 in the dissolved Germanic Confederation. The area and population of the Netherland provinces, and of Luxemburg, are as follows according to an enumeration of Dec. 31, 1865 : —

Area

Average

Provinces

Geographical

Population

Population

square miles

per Geogr. sq. mile

Brabant ....

9338

423,421

4,546

Guelderland .

92-76

427,753

4,661

South Holland

55-32

672,367

12,154

North Holland

45-46

566,474

12,461

Zealand

3020

176,169

5,833

Utrecht

25-01

172,787

6,909

Friesland

59 61

288,949

4,832

Overyssel

61-54

250,358

4,036

Groningen

42-65

224,237

5,258

Drenthe

48-42

104,014

2,148

Limburg .

40-20

222,579

5,537

594-55

3,529,108

5,936

Grand duchy of Luxemburg

r

46-60

206,574

4,433

641-15

Total . . J

English square miles

3,735,682

5,827

L

13,464