These coins will be received at their old value until Jan. 1, 1875, when they will be superseded. According to the new law for the uniformity of the coinage throughout the empire, published in 1872, the gold coins of the empire will be in future the twenty-mark (69f to 1 lb. of fine gold), ten-mark, and live-mark; the silver coins, the five-mark (20 to 1 lb. of fine silver), two-mark, one-mark, 50 pfen-nige (200 to 1 lb. of fine silver), and 20 pfennige; the nickel coins, ten pfennige and five pfennige; the copper coins, two pfennige and one pfennig. The French metrical system of weights and measures has been adopted, and made compulsory from Jan. 1, 1872.-The railways of Germany belong to the "Association of German Railway Companies," which was established in 1846, and also embraces various railways of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy and of the Netherlands. The aggregate length of the German railways in connection with the association which were in operation on Jan. 1, 1873, was 13,643 m., of which 8,482 m. belonged to Prussia, 1,910 to Bavaria, 767 to Wurtemberg, 689 to Baden, 703 to Hesse, and 513 to Alsace-Lorraine. The constitution of the empire obliges the particular governments to make the railways of their states a uniform part of the general German railway system, and authorizes the central government to build new roads even without the consent of the particular government, whenever the defence of Germany or the interests of the common traffic require it.

The aggregate number of locomotives employed by the association in 1868 was 6,373; of tenders, 5,897. The total number of passengers carried was 117,000,000, and the aggregate earnings were $166,000,000. The administration of postal affairs and telegraphs (except those of Bavaria and Wurtemberg) also belongs to the central government; the surplus of receipts over expenditures flows into the imperial exchequer. The German-Austrian and Luxemburg postal union also embraces the Austro-Hungarian monarchy; the German-Austrian telegraph union, the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, and the Netherlands. The aggregate length of the telegraph lines of the empire (inclusive of Bavaria and Wurtemberg) in 1871 was 22.788 m.; that of telegraph wires, 73,813 m.; the number of stations, 3.726; the number of post offices, 6,896. Regular steamboat lines are established on the Rhine (since 1827), Danube (1833), Elbe, Oder, Vistula, Main, and Moselle. There are two transatlantic lines of steamers from Hamburg, one from Bremen, and one from Stettin.-Politically Germany is divided into 26 states, 22 of which have a monarchical and three a republican form of government. The constitution of one (Alsace-Lorraine) was in 1873 not yet decided.

The kingdom of Prussia embraces about two thirds of the area of Ger-many, and a majority of the population (24,-600,000 out of 41,000,000). Besides Prussia there are three kingdoms, Bavaria, Saxony, and Wurtemberg; six grand duchies, Baden, Hesse-Darmstadt, Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Mecklen-burg-Strelitz, Saxe-Weirnar, and Oldenburg; five duchies, Brunswick, Saxe-Meiningen, Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, Saxe-Altenburg, and Anhalt; seven principalities, Schwarzburg-Sondershau-sen, Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt, Lippe-Detniold, Schaumburg-Lippe, Waldeck, Reuss senior, and Reuss junior; three free cities, Liibeck, Bremen, and Hamburg; and the imperial territory of Alsace-Lorraine. The constitution of the German empire bears date April 10, 1871. At the head of the empire is the king of Prussia, who has the title of German Emperor." The emperor represents the empire internationally, declares war, concludes peace, and enters into alliance and treaties with foreign powers. For a declaration of war the consent of the federal council is required, unless an attack has been made upon German territory. The emperor is the commander-in-chief of the imperial army and navy.

He convokes, opens, adjourns, and closes the federal council and the Reichstag, but the former must be convoked whenever two thirds of its members demand it. The emperor promulgates the laws and superintends their execution. The legislative functions are vested in the federal council (Bundesrath) and the Reichstag. The members of the former are appointed by the governments of the states. It consisted in 1873 of 58 members: 17 for Prussia, 6 for Bavaria, 4 for Wurtemberg, 4 for Saxony, 3 for Baden, 3 for Hesse, 2 for Mecklenburg-Schwerin, 2 for Brunswick, and 1 for each of the others except Alsace-Lorraine. It has, according to the constitution, eight standing committees: 1, for the army and fortresses; 2, for the navy; 3, for tariff, excise, and taxes; 4, for trade and commerce; 5, for railways, posts, and telegraphs; 6, for civil and criminal law; 7, for financial accounts; 8, for foreign affairs. Since the annexation of Alsace-Lorraine, a 9th committee for that territory has been added. The committee for foreign affairs consists of the representatives of Bavaria, Saxony, and Wurtemberg, and those of two other states who are annually elected by the federal council, under the presidency of Bavaria. The emperor appoints the committees for the army and navy, except one member in the committee for the army, who is appointed by Bavaria; all the other committees are elected by the federal council.

The Reichstag is elected by universal direct suffrage and by ballot at the average rate of one deputy for every 100,000 inhabitants. It consisted in 1873 of 382 members: 230 for Prussia, 48 for Bavaria, 23 for Saxony, 17 for Wurtemberg, 14 for Baden, 9 for Hesse. 0 for Mecklenburg-Schwerin, 3 each for Oldenburg, Saxe-Weimar, Brunswick, and Hamburg, 2 each for Saxe-Meiningen, Anhalt, and Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, and 1 for each of the other states. The legislative period is three years. The Reichstag can be dissolved by a resolution of the federal council with the consent of the emperor. In case of a dissolution, the new election must take place within 6O days, and the convocation of the new Reichstag within 90 days. The Reichstag cannot be adjourned without its own consent for a period exceeding 30 days, and not oftener than once during one session. It elects its president, vice presidents, and secretaries. Its members receive no pay or indemnity, are during the exercise of their functions free from responsibility, and enjoy the usual constitutional immunity. For an imperial law (Reichsgesetz) the agreement of the majority of the federal council and the Reichstag is requisite and sufficient.