NEUFCHATEL, a sovereign county of Swis-
serland, bounded on the west by the Franche Comte,
on the north by the bishopric of Basle, and on the east
and south by the cantons of Berne and Friburg; it is
about 40 miles in length, and 20 in breadth. It had
its own counts for a long time; the last of whom dy-
ing in 1694 without issue, it came to Mary of Orleans,
duchess of Nemours, his only sister, who died without
issue in 1703: there were then 13 competitors; but,
at an assembly of the states in 1707, they unanimously
chose the king of Prussia for their sovereign, who has
placed a governor therein. It is well peopled; and
contains three cities, one town, 90 villages, and about
300 houses dispersed in the mountains. The inhabi-
tants are all Protestants, except two Roman Catholic
villages; and in 1529 they entered into a strict alli-
ance with the cantons of Berne, Friburg, Soleure, and
Lucern. The air is healthy and temperate, but the soil
not every where equally fertile; however, there are
large vineyards, which produce white and red wine,
which last is excellent. The pastures on the moun-
tains feed a great number of all sorts of cattle; and
there are plenty of deer in the forests; besides large
trouts, and other good fish, in the lakes and rivers. The
people are ingenious, polite, active, industrious, and
laborious.