BREMEN, a duchy of Germany, in the province of
lower Saxony, lying between the rivers Wefer and the
Elbe; of which the former separates it from the duchy
of Oldenburg, and the other from that of Holstein.
The air is cold; but the country is fertile, and well
peopled. It formerly belonged to the Swedes, but was
afterwards sold to the king of Great Britain, as elec-
tor of Hanover, in 1716. In the winter it is subject
to inundations. In 1617, on Christmas-day, several
thousand cattle were drowned, besides several hundred
of men; and the country was so covered with water,
that it has cost immense sums to repair the dykes. Bre-
men is the capital town.