MUNICH, a town of Germany, capital of the whole duchy of Bavaria, and the residence of the elector. It stands on the Isar, 70 miles south of Ratibon and 214 west of Vienna, being one of the most pleasant and populous cities of Germany for its big-
ness. The number of the inhabitants is said to be about 40,000. Having been built at first on a spot of ground belonging to a convent, it had from thence in German the name of München, i. e. Monk's town, and a monk for its arms. The elector's palace here is a very grand structure, consisting of several courts, furnished and adorned in the most magnificent manner, with tapestry, gilding, sculpture, statues, and paintings. It contains an amazing collection of jewels, antiquities, and curiosities. The great hall is 118 feet long and 52 broad; and the staircase leading to it, from top to bottom of marble and gold. In the hall of antiquities are 354 busts and statues of jasper and porphyry, brass and marble. In this palace is a library, containing a vast collection of books, and many valuable manuscripts, in most languages, ancient and modern; and a chamber of rarities, among which is the picture of a bravo or assassin, who is said to have committed 345 murders with his own hand, and to have been accomplice in, or privy to, 400 more. The treasury in the chapel contains also a vast number of pictures, precious stones, medals, vessels of gold and silver, &c. Among other curiosities, here is a cherry stone with 140 heads distinctly engraved upon it. The gardens of the palace are also very fine, and it is said a secret passage leads from it to all the churches and convents in the town. There is a great number of other fine buildings in this city, public and private, particularly the riding house, town house, opera room, the Jesuits college, the large edifice for tournaments, the churches, convents, fountains, &c. Its manufactures are those of silk, particularly velvet, woollen cloths, and tapestry; and it has two annual fairs, at which great quantities of salt, wine, &c. are sold. The streets are broad and regular; and most of the houses well built, and painted on the outside. The market place is extremely beautiful. Not far from Munich are four other palaces, with fine gardens, belonging to the elector, viz. those of Schleim, Nymphenburg, Dauchau, and Starenberg. The first and last are about three leagues from the capital; the second about half a league; and the third about two, at a market town of the same name. It was unsuccessfully attacked by the French in 1796.