“ The nobility and the city population, and the higher classes generally, are of German descent, numbering about 77,000, while the peasantry and the lower classes are chiefly of Lettish origin. A provincial diet, composed exclusively of nobles, meets annually at Mitau.—Courland, having been together with Livonia Christianized and for centuries ruled by the knights sword-bearers, became a temporal hereditary duchy under Ketteler, the last grand master, about 1560, as a dependency of the Polish crown. ”

“ The soil is not rich, but when properly tilled is productive. The principal products are wheat, rye, barley, oats, peas, beans, hemp, flax, and linseed. Clay, iron, lime, and gypsum are found, and are wrought to some extent. The manufactures are unimportant. The province is formed of the old duchies of Courland and Semgallia, united with the ancient bishopric of Pilten and the district of Polangen, which once formed part of the duchy of Lithuania. ”

“ There are about 18,000 members of the Greek church and 55,335 Roman Catholics, who together possess but 19 churches, and are subject respectively to the bishops of Pskov and Samogitia. There are 35,841 Jews, and many Poles, Russians, and residents of various other nationalities, among whom are the Krevins, a race of Finnish descent. ”