a great river rising in the country of the Grisons, in Switzerland, and, running north, continues its course till it forms the lake of Constance; from whence it turns west, and having visited Basel, runs north, dividing Swabia from Alsace; from thence it runs through the Palatinate, and receiving the Neckar, the Maine, and the Moselle, continues its course north by Mentz, &c. After entering the Netherlands at Skenkinchans, it is divided into several channels, the two largest whereof obtain the names of the Lech and the Waal, which running through the United Provinces discharge themselves into the German sea below Rotterdam.

RHINE lower circle consists of the Palatinate of the Rhine and the three ecclesiastical electorates, viz. those of Cologne, Mentz, and Triers.

RHINE upper circle consisted of the Landgraves of Alsace and Hesse, comprehending the Wetterau: but only Hesse can be accounted a part of Germany at present, France having united Alsace to that kingdom.