OSNABURG, or Osnabruck. It was formerly an imperial city, and one of the Hanse-towns; but is now subject to the bishop, though it still enjoys many privileges, and a revenue of about 8000 or 9000 rix-dollars. It has its name from a bridge over the river Hase, or Ose, which divides it into the Old and New Town, and stands 67 miles west of Hanover, and 30 north-east of Munster, being surrounded with walls and ditches, but commanded by a mountain within cannon-shot. The magistracy of this city, which is rechosen yearly on the second of January, is Lutheran; and the churches belong, some to the Lutherans, and some to the Papists. Both parties
have the full and free exercise of their religion, whether the bishop is Protestant or Papist. The bishop's palace was built by bishop Ernest-Augustus, brother to king George I. It is well fortified, and separated from the town by a bridge. In one of the apartments of it died king George I. in the arms of his brother, on the 11th of June 1722. This was the first town in Westphalia which received the Lutheran doctrine.