All united, they made but a feeble kingdom, for they did not equal, in extent of territory, several of the States of the American Union.

Each of these provinces had its independent government, and its local laws and customs.

They were held together by the simple bond of an arbitrary monarch, who claimed, and exercised as he could, supreme control over them all.

Under his wise and energetic administration, the affairs of the wide-spread empire were prosperous, and his own Austria advanced rapidly in order, civilization and power.

The numerous nobles, turbulent, unprincipled and essentially robbers, had been in the habit of issuing from their castles at the head of banditti bands, and ravaging the country with incessant incursions.