Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1871.djvu/209

 GERMANY — SCHWARZBCKG-RUDOLSTADT. I 73

on May 17, 1850, sold a part of his territory, the Lippstadt, to Prussia, for a life-rent of 9,000 thaler, or about 1,300/.

Constitution, Revenue, and Population.

A charter was granted to Lippe-Detmold by decree of July 6, 1836. It includes a representative organisation ; but nearly the whole legislative as well as executive power remains in the hands of the Prince. The Chamber of Deputies consists of fourteen members, one- half of which are elected by the territorial nobility, and the other half by the inhabitants of towns and rural districts. The discussions are kept secret. To the Chamber belongs the right of voting, in part, the supplies ; otherwise its functions are consultative. The Prince governs through one irresponsible minister.

The public revenue for the year 1866 amounted to 299,271 thaler, or 44,890/., and the expenditure to 277,818 thaler, or 41,673/., leaving a surplus of 21,453 thaler, or 3,217/. The public debt, on December 31, 1866, was 347,755 thaler, or 52,063/.

The population, by the census of 1867, amounted to 111,352 souls, living on an area of 445 English square miles. The surface is partly covered by the Teutoburger-Wald, where Hermann, or Arminius, exterminated the Romans under Varus.

XVIII. SCHWARZBURG-RUDOLSTADT.

(FiJRSTENTHUM SCHWARZBURG-RUDOLSTADT.)

Reigning Sovereign.

Albert, Prince of Schwarzburg-Eudoktadt, born April 30, 1798; succeeded to the throne at the death of his brother, Prince Giinther, June 28, 1867 ; married July 26, 1827, to Princess Augusta of Solms-Braunfels, who died Oct, 8, 1865. Offspring of the union

are : 1. Princess Elisabeth, born Oct. 1, 1833; married, April 17,

1852, to Prince Leopold II. of Lippe-Detmold. 2. Prince Georg, heir-apparent, born Nov. 23, 1838, captain in the service of Prussia.

The Schwarzburg-Eudolstadt line is a younger branch of the house of Schwarzburg, being descended from Johann Giinther, who died in the middle of the seventeenth century. The present sovereign has a civil list of 145,300 florins, or 12,108/., exclusive of the revenue of the State domains, property of the reigning family.

Constitution, Revenue, and Population.

The fundamental law of the principality is the constitution of