denominational colleges; or else by means of state or private state-aided courses of instruction. The age of admission to this class of training is from 14 to 18, and the course is for four years In the last year practice in teaching is obtained at the primary “ practice ” school attached to each college, and students are also taught to make models explanatory of the various subjects of instruction after the manner of the Swedish Sloyd (Slojd) system. Assistant-teachers wishing to qualify as head-teachers must have had to years' practical experience. Pupil-teachers can only ive instruction under the supervision of a certificated teacher. [The minimum salary of teachers is determined by law. The teaching, which follows the so-called “ Heuristic " method, and the equipment of schools of every description, are admirable. Finance -The following statement shows the revenue and expenditure of the kingdom for the years 1889, 1900-1901 and 1905 .-

The total debt in 1905 amounted to £96,764,266, the annual interest amounted to £3,396,590. During the years 1850-1905, $27,416,651 has been devoted to the redem tion of the public debt. he total wealth of the kingdom is estimated) at 900 millions sterling. The xarious provinces and communes have separate budgets. The follovsing table gives a statement of the provincial and communal

Colonzes.-The Dutch colonies in the Malay Archipelago have an area of 600,000 sq m, with a population of 23,000,000, among which are 35,000 Europeans, 319,000 Chinese, 15,000 Arabs, and 10,000 other imnugrant Asiatics. The West Indian possessions of Holland include Dutch Guiana or the government of Surinam, and the Dutch Antilles or the government of Curacoa and its dependencies (St Eustatius, Saba, the southern half of St Martin, Curagoa, Bonaire and Aruba), a total area of 60,000 sq. m., with 90,000 inhabitants, of whom a small portion are Europeans, and the rest negroes and other people of colour, and Chlnese.

B1BL10GRAPHY.-The chief place is due to the following geographical publications -Dr H Blink, Nederland en zzjne Bewoners (Amsterdam, 1888-1892), containing a copious bibhography; Tegenwoordzge Staat “van Nederland (Amsterdam, 1897); R. Schuilmg, Aardrzjkskunde 'van Nederland (Zwolle, 1884), A. A. Beekman, De Strljd om het Bestaan (Zutphen, 1887), a manual on the characteristic hydrography of the Netherlands; and E Reclus Nouvelle géographte unwerselle (1879, vol. iv). The Gedenboek uttgeven ter gelegenhetd wan het jjfttg yartg bestaan “van het Konznklzjk Instztuut 'van Ingenzeurs, 1847*-1897 ('s Gravenhage, 1898), lo an excellent aid in studying technically the remarkable works on Dutch rivers, canals, sluices, railways and harbours, and drainage and irrigation works. The Aardrt]/eskundzg Woordenboek 'van Nederland, by P. H. Witkamp (Arnhem, 1895), is a complete gazetteer with historical notes, and N ormna Geographzca Neerlandzca, published by the Netherlands Geographical Society (Amsterdam, 1885, &c.), contains a history of geographical names. Geschzedenzs 'van den Boereastand en den landboufw tn Nederland, H. Blink (Groningen, 1902), and the report on agriculture, published at the Hague by the Royal Commission appointed in 1896, furnish special information in connexion with this subject. Of more general interest are: Eene halve Eeuw, 1848-1898, edited by Dr P. H. Ritter (Amsterdam, 1898), containing a series of articles on all sub]ects connected with the kingdom during the second half of the 19th century, written b specialists; and Les Pays Bas (Leiden, 1899), and La Hollanrg géographtque, ethnologtgue, polttzque, éfc. (Paris, 1900). both works of the same class as the preceding.

Books of travel include some of considerable to graphical as well as literary interest, from Lodovico Guicciardini gi 567) down to Edmondo de Amicis (Holland, translated from the Italian, London, 1883); H. Havard, Dead Cltzes of the Zuzder Zee, &1'c. (translated from the French, London 1876), and D. S. Meldrum, Holland and the Hollanders (London, 1899) in the 19th century. Mention may also be made of Old Dutch Towns and Villages of the Zutder Zee, by W I Tuyn (translated from the Dutch, London, 1901), Nleuwe Wanderlzngen door Nederland, by J. Craandqk and P. A Schipperns (Haarlem,1888); Frtesland Meres and through the Netherlands, by H. M. Doughty (London, 1887); On Dutch Waterways, b G. C. Davis (London, 1887); Hollande et hollandats, by H. Durand (Paris, 1893); and Holland and Belgzurn by Professor N. G van Kampen (translated from the Dutch, London, 1860), the last three being chiefly remarkable for their fine illustrations. Works of historical and antiquarian interest of a high order are M erkwaardige Kasteelen rn Nederland, by ]. van Lennep and W. ]. Hofdyk (Leiden, 1881-1884); Noord-Hollandsche Oudheden, by G. van Arkel and A. W. Weisman, published by the Royal Antiquarian Society (Amsterdam, 18 1); and Oud Holland, edited by A. D. de Vries and N. de Roever?Amsterdam, 1883-1886), containing miscellaneous contributions to the history of ancient Dutch art, crafts and letters. Natural history is covered by various periodical publications of the Royal Zoological Society " Natura Artis Magistra " at Amsterdam, and the Natuurll ke Hzstorze van Nederland (Haarlem, 1856-1863) written b specialists, and including ethnology and flora. Military and navalidefence may be studied in De vestzng Holland, by A L. W. Seijffardt (Utrecht, 1887), and the Handbook of the Dutch Army, by Major W. L. White, R.A. (London, 1896); ecclesiastical history in The Church tn the Netherlands, by P. H. Ditchheld (London, 1893); and education in vol. viii. of the Speczal Reports on Educattonal Subjects issued by the Board of Education, London. Statistics are furnished by the annual publication of the Society for Statistics in the Netherlands, Amsterdam.

finances.—

Revenue.

18891 1900. 1905. I

£ £ £

| Ffrovincial 722,583 445,333 718,199

L(ommunal 6,132,000 9,3II,666" 12,750,083 Expendzture.

1889. 1900. A 1905. A

£ £ £

Provincial 740,333 445,333 702.718

Communal 5,683,800 8,503,250 12,085,250 1 Including various miscellaneous items not specified in detail 2 Including, besides the ordinary budget, the outlays in payment Q annuities, in funding and discharging debt, in railway extension, C.

HISTORY FROM 1579 TO MODERN TIMES3

The political compact known as the Union of Utrecht from its immediate predecessors, the Pacificauon of Gh Union of Brussels and the Perpetual Edict, in its aiffeféd

ent, the

C s -

permanence. The confederacy of the northern pro- qzgnzeg vinces of the Netherlands which was effected (29th Of "lf of January 1579) by the exertions of John of Nassau, gg Q:;tf" was destined to be the beginning of a new national life. The foundation was laid on which the Republi c of the

3 For the history of the Netherlands previous to the Confederacy

of the northern provinces in 1579 see NETHERLL'~IDs