BREMEN, a large, populous, and very strong town
of Germany, capital of a duchy of the same name, with
an archbishop's see, secularized in favour of the Swedes,
but now belongs to the elector of Hanover. The river
Wefer runs through the middle, and divides it into the
old and new town. In September 1739, while the inha-
bitants were asleep, the magazine of powder was set on
fire by lightning; and all the houses were shook, as if
there had been a violent earthquake, which threw them
into a terrible consternation. This town is divided into
four quarters, each of which has a burgomaster; and
in the middle there is a large market-place, with the
statue of Rolando. E. Long. 8. 45. N. Lat. 53. 40.