MECHANICS 170 MECKLENBURG of engineering, established in 1880 to promote the arts connected with mechan- ical construction, and having offices in New York. The membership has five di- visions — honorary members, members practicing their profession for at least 10 years, associates connected with en- gineering science, associates not less than 27 years of age in active practice at least six years, and juniors of 21 years or over. It publishes numerous volumes on engineering topics and main- tains central library of nearly 70,000 volumes in New York. _ MECHANICS, that branch of prac- tical science which considers the laws of equilibrium and the motion of solid bodies; the forces by which bodies, whether animate or inanimate, may be made to act on one another; and the means by which these forces may be iri- creased so as to overcome those which are more powerful. MECHANICSVILLE, a town in Sara- toga CO., N. Y.. 19 miles N. of Albany, on Hudson river, and Boston and Maine rail- road. Has manufactures of sashes, blinds, paper boxes, fiber, knitted goods, shirts, mattresses, and metal goods. The public buildings are handsome. Commis- sion form of city government. Pop. (1910) 6,634; (1920) 8,166. MECHLIN. See Malines. MECKLENBURG (mek'len-bor'c), a territory of northern Germany, bounded on the N. by the Baltic, on the E. and S. by the Prussian dominions, and on the W. by Hanovei, Denmark, and Liibeck; area, 6,266 square miles. It is divided into: Mecklenburg-Schwerin (-shva-ren') , former Grand-duchyof; a state of north- ern Germany bounded on the N. by the Baltic, on the E. by Pomerania and Meck- lenburg- Strelitz, on the S. by the prov- mce of Brandenburg, and on the W. by Liineburg and Lauenburg, and part of Mecklenburg-Strelitz ; area 5,135 square miles; pop. about 650,000. The surface IS undulating and the soil generally fer- tile. The climate is mild and healthful. The principal rivers are the Rechnitz, Warnow, Stepnitz, the Elbe, a tributary of the Elbe, and others. Products, wheat, corn, hemp, flax, tobacco, etc. Manufactures, woolen and linen fabrics, cotton, paper, and glass; Mecklenburg- Schwenn is famous also for its distilla- tion of corn-spirits, and has an extensive trade m farm produce. With the excep- tion of between 3,000 and 4,000 Jews, the inhabitants are nearly all Lutherans. In 1872 the army was incorporated with that of Prussia. The only commercial towns and ports of consequence arej Schwerin, Rostock, Wismar, and Lud- wigslust. Schwerin is the political capi- tal, but Ludwigslust was the usual sum- mer residence of the former grand-duke. At Rostock is one of the oldest of the German universities (founded in 1419). The former grand-duchy became a re- public in November, 1918. Mecklenburg-Strelitz (stra'lits) , for- mer Grand-duchy of, a state of north- ern Germany, consisting of two sepa- rate territorial divisions: the first and largest, the former duchy of Star- gard, bounded on the W. by Mecklen- burg-Schwerin, and surrounded on all other sides by the Prussian territories; the second, the former principality of Ratzeburg; united area, 1,131 square miles; pop. about 105,000. The general features of the country are the same as those described in the above article. Its mean elevation is, however, somewhat less than that of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, though the Helpterburg, near Woldeyk, rises to 640 feet above the sea. The chief river in Stargard is the Havel, and in Ratzeburg the Stepnitz. The land was divided among the sovereign, the nobility, and the towns^ in the proportion of about seven-tenths to the first, two-tenths to the nobles, and one-tenth to the munici- palities. Nearly one-fourth of the former grand-ducal property consisted of forest lands. Agriculture and cattle breeding are the chief branches of industry here, as in Mecklenburg-Schwerin. The manu- factures are even more insignificant than in the latter grand-duchy. The govern- ment was a feudal monarchy, as in Mecklenburg-Schwerin. Justice was ad- ministered in eight courts of primary jurisdiction, the superior court of Ratze- burg, and the court of chancery in New Strelitz, from which appeal lay to the supreme tribunal at Parchim. Neu- Strelitz was the capital and residence of the former grand-duke. The other chief towns are Neu - Brandenburg, Friedland, and Old Strelitz. In 1872 the army was incorporated with that of Prussia. Mecklenburg-Strelitz was orig- inally peopled by the Heruli and the Van- dals, who were expelled by the Obotrites in 782. Charlemagne failed in his at- tempts to reduee this tribe to subjection; but in 1159 Henry the Lion subdued its chief, Niclot, and seized his territories. The two lines of Mecklenburg and Werle were founded by John the Theologian, and Niclot, on the death of their father, Henry Burwin II., in 1236. The latter became extinct in 1436. The entire duchy was conferred on Wallenstein by the em- , peror Ferdinand II., Mar. 4, 1628; but in 1631 it was again restored to Adolphus
