SMOLENSKO, a large and strong city of Russia, and capital of a government of the same name, with a castle seated on a mountain, and a bishop's see. It is strong by its situation. 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 was taken by the French in their irruption into Russia in 1812. 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.