PFKOW, or PLESKOW, a government or stadtholderate of the empire of Russia. It is formed out of a part of what was formerly Great Russia, or rather of the grand principality of Novogorod. It extends in north latitude from 55. 55. to 58. 4., and in east longitude from 27. 15. to 32. 1., having a superficies of 22,990 square miles. It is divided into eight circles, and comprehends ten cities or towns, and four hundred and thirty-five parishes. The population amounts to about 800,000 persons. The climate is severely cold, and the soil not fertile. The surface is covered with gentle elevations, woods, rivers, lakes, morasses, and heaths. The chief products, beyond what domestic consumption requires, consist of pitch, tar, flax, hemp, planks, masts, and flax-seed, which are conveyed to St Petersburg. The capital is the city of the same name situated on the Welikaja, is the see of an archbishop, with a cathedral, and fifty-nine other churches. It contains 1480 houses, constructed for the most part of wood, and about 10,000 inhabitants, whose chief trade is making sail-cloth and linen, and dealing in the raw products of their district. Long. 29. 5. E. Lat. 57. 40. N.