a city of Provence in France, the capital of the county of Venaissin, and seated on the banks of the Rhone. It is an archbishop's see, and the residence of several popes at this place for 70 years has rendered it considerable. Its walls are built with stone, with several square towers, adorned with pinnacles. The ditches are not large, but are in proportion to the height of the walls, and are in some places full of water. This city belongs to the pope, who sends a vice-legate every three years, who in some sense is the governor. Near the Rhone there is a large rock, within the circumference of the walls, upon which is a platform, from whence may be had a prospect of the whole city and the places about it. This city is embellished with magnificent churches, a large square, beautiful buildings, and very agreeable gardens. The palace of the vice-legate is composed of several large square towers, and he gives audience in a great hall which is full of fine paintings, as is also the chapel and the apartments. The arsenal is near the palace.

The church of Notre Dame is ancient, but not large, and is one of the best adorned in the city. After having ascended about 50 steps, you come to a very ancient portico, which supports a great tower; as you enter the church on the left hand, you see paintings which equal the finest in Italy. The great altar is very magnificent, and is adorned with a shrine that contains the relics of we know not how many saints. The treasure of the sacristy is worthy of the curiosity of the traveller. The little palace where the archbishop resides is formed of three bodies of lodgings, accompanied with courts and small pavilions. It overlooks the Rhone, the city, and the fields. These buildings and the mint adorn a large square, which is the common walk of the inhabitants.

In Avignon they reckon seven gates, seven palaces, seven colleges, seven hospitals, seven monasteries, seven nunneries, and seven popes who have lived there in 70 years. The church of the Celestines is very magnificent, and full of fine monuments, and the rest are not without their curiosities. The university has four colleges; and the place where the Jews live is a distinct quarter, from whence the Jews who pay tribute dare not stir out without yellow hats, and the women must have something yellow about their heads, to distinguish them from the Christians. Their number is very considerable in a very confined place, where the only way of enlarging their abodes is by building their houses higher. Their synagogue is so dark, that they are obliged to light lamps. However, they are forced to hear a monk preach a sermon every week. There was a stone bridge over the Rhone, which is here very rapid; but the greatest part is carried away, and the vacancy supplied with wood. It had 20 arches, but it was narrow, though above a quarter of a mile long. The curious that travel this way go to see the fountain of Vaucluse, where the river Sorgues, which passes through this city, has its source. Below the bridge there is an island where the Sorgues joins the Rhone, in which are several houses of pleasure. E. Long. 4. 59. N. Lat. 43. 57.