SMOLENSKO, a large and strong city of Russia, and capital of a palatinate of the same name, with a castle seated on a mountain, and a bishop's see. It is strong by its situation, being in the middle of a wood, and surrounded by almost inaccessible mountains. It has been taken and retaken several times by the Poles and Russians; but these last have had possession of it ever since the year 1687. It is seated on the river Nieper, near the frontiers of Lithuania, 188 miles south-west of Moscow. E. Long. 31. 22. N. Lat. 54. 50.