WESTPHALIA, one of the circles of Germany, anciently the people inhabiting between the Weier and the Rhine, were called Westphalians; and hence that tract got the name of Westphalia: but the circle of that name is of a larger extent, being surrounded by the circle of Burgundy, or the Austrian Netherlands, the United Provinces, and the North sea, with the circles of the Upper and Lower Rhine, and comprising a great many different states.
The summoning princes and directors of the circle of Westphalia, were the bishops of Munster, alternately with the electors of Brandenburg and Palatine, as dukes of Cleve and Juliers. The archives belonging to it were before the war (1797) kept at Dusseldorf. Its quota of men and money is somewhat more than the ninth part of the whole sum granted by the empire. With respect to religion, it is partly Protestant and partly Catholic; but the Protestants predominate, and are, at least the greater part of them, Calvinists. The air of this country is not reckoned very wholesome, and towards the north is extremely cold in winter. The soil in general is marshy and barren; yet there is some good corn and pasture land; but the fruit is chiefly used to feed hogs; and hence it is that their bacon and hams are so much valued and admired.
Westphalia now forms one of the kingdoms established by Bonaparte.