A Swedish translation of the poem by Castren (Helsingfors, 1844) was speedily followed by a French translation by Leouzon le Due (2 vols. 8vo, Paris, 1845). and by a German translation by A. Schiefner (Helsingfors, 1852). Lonnrot has further collected about 600 ancient lyrical songs and 60 ballads (Kanteletar, Helsingfors, 1840); 7,077 proverbs (Suomen kansan sanal-shuja, 1842); and about 2,200 charades {Suomen Kansan orwoituksia, 2d ed., 1851); while Rudbak has edited a collection of legends and tales {Suomen kansan satuja, Helsingfors, 1854), and Salmelainen has edited Suomen kansan satuja ja tarinoita, a collection of prose tales and proverbs (4 vols., Helsingfors, 1854-'62). There are many poets in Finland of Swedish descent, and Swedish works are often translated into Finnish. The most popular modern Finnish poet is a peasant named Paavo Korho-nen. An edition of his songs was published at Helsingfors in 1848, under the auspices of Lonnrot. Next in rank is probably the poet Oksaselta, who published in 1800 Sakenia, kokous runoutta. The prose literature of Finland was formerly devoted almost exclusively to religious and moral subjects.

A Finnish translation of the New Testament by Michael Agricola appeared in 1548, and a portion of the Old Testament in 1552; but the whole Bible was not translated into Finnish until 1642. The literature of Finland has, however, passed through a remarkable development during the last few decades. There are now publications in the national tongue on almost every branch of scientific research. Works on linguistics have been published by Geitlin, Stjerncreutz and Rothman, Ahlman, and others; a translation of Tacitus's Germaniaby Blomstedt (1865), of the Poema del Cid by Estlander (1863), and of the Hindoo epos Ramayana, part Sitahara-nam, by Donner (1865). Prominent historical works are: Yrjo Koskinen's Nuija-sota, etc. (1857 et seq.) Blomstedt's Kapina Kauhajoella (1802), and putz's Yleisen historian oppikija (1865 et seq.). Krohn's Suomenkielinen runol-lisuus ruotsinvallan aikana (1862) is a valuable contribution toward a history of Finnish literature. Periodical literature is well represented by Maiden ya meren takaa (since 1804) and the Kirjallineii kuukaus leliti (since 1866). FInland, Gulf of, the eastern arm of the Baltic sea, extending from the S. W. extremity of Finland and Dago island eastwardly to the bay of Cronstadt and St. Petersburg, between Ion. 22° and 30° 18' E., and intersected by the 00th parallel of north latitude.

It is 250 m. long, with a mean breadth of 60 or 70 m. Its coasts are entirely Russian possessions; namely, Finland on the north, and the governments of Esthonia and St. Petersburg on the south. Its E. extremity is the bay of Cronstadt, which is almost encircled by the shores of the last named government. The waters of the great lakes Onega and Ladoga, N. E. of St. Petersburg, flow into the gulf of Finland, the first by the river Svir into Lake Ladoga, and the latter by the Neva into the bay of Cronstadt. The bed of the gulf is of calcareous rock, in some parts compact and naked, in others covered and filled with shells. Occasional points of granite are intermingled with this general character. The depth of water is nowhere great, and is least along the southern coast, of which the submerged descent is gradual. The northern shore is much hemmed in with islands and granite rocks. In its eastern parts, particularly between Cronstadt and St. Petersburg, are numerous sand banks and shallows. In addition to these the huge masses of ice which in spring and autumn block up the mouths of the rivers present a serious impediment to navigation. The water is very slightly salt, and is readily drunk by cattle.

The harbors of the gulf of Finland are closed by ice every year from early in December to the middle or end of April. It has several times happened that the waters of the gulf, driven by westerly gales, have submerged whole streets in St. Petersburg, even up to the first floor of houses; an event against which no provision for the future has appeared possible.