Home1778 Edition

ALBI

Volume 1 · 263 words · 1778 Edition

a city of France, the capital of the Albigensis, in Languedoc, and the see of an archbishop. The cathedral is dedicated to St Cecilia, and has one of the finest choirs in the kingdom. Here is a very valuable silver shrine, of exquisite workmanship, of the Mosaic kind: it contains the relics of St Clair, the first bishop of this city. The chapel of this pretended saint is magnificent, and adorned with paintings. The Lice is a fine large walk without the city: what distinguishes this from all others, is a terras above a deep mall, which serves instead of a fosse; it is bordered with two rows of very fine trees, which are kept in excellent order. There are four gates, through which you may view all the beauties of a delightful plain. At one end of this is the convent of the Dominicans. The archbishop's palace is very beautiful. The river washes its walls, and serves both for an ornament and defense. This city is seated on the river Tarn, 35 miles north-by-west of Toulouse, and 250 south of Paris. E. Long. o. 52. N. Lat. 43. 56.

The Albigenses is a small territory about 27 miles in length, and 20 in breadth, abounding in corn, wood, grapes, saffron, plums, and sheep; and the inhabitants drive a great trade in dried prunes, grapes, a coarse sort of cloth, and wines of Gaillac. These wines are the only sorts hereabouts that are fit for exportation: they are carried down to Bourdeaux, and generally sold to the British. They have likewise several coal-mines.