(Marquifate of), a large country of Germany, having Mecklenburgh and Pomerania on the north; Poland, on the east; Silesia, with the Lusatias, the electorate of Saxony, Anhalt, and duchy of Magdebourg, on the south; and part of the same duchy, and that of Lunenburg, on the west. Its greatest length is near 200 miles, and its greatest breadth near 100. Its northern situation makes it very cold for seven or eight months in winter. The soil in general is far from being fruitful, a great part of it consisting of sand: yet there are several fruitful spots in it; and the whole, under the last and present reign, has been greatly improved, and much better peopled. In some parts there is great plenty of potatoes and turnips; in others of buck-wheat, millet, and flax; in others of tobacco, wood, and other herbs for dyeing. All sorts of colour earths, together with alum, saltpetre, amber, iron, stone, and medicinal springs, are found in it. Abundance of cattle, especially sheep, are bred here; and the woods not only supply the inhabitants with fuel, but with timber, charcoal, tar, and wood-ashes, both for domestic uses and for exportation. The culture of silk also is carried on in this country with great success. The principal rivers by which it is watered are the Elbe, the Oder, the Prignitz, the Havel, the Warte, and the Spree. Some of the rivers and lakes abound in fish, and are united by canals, for the benefit of navigation. They reckon in the whole Mark 120 towns, above 2500 villages, and about 800,000 inhabitants. The states here consist of the nobility and towns, whose assembly-house is in the Spandau-street at Berlin, and who still enjoy some small remains of their ancient privileges. The hereditary officers of the marquifate are a marshal, chamberlain, cup-bearer, purveyor, sewer, treasurer, and ranger. The king of Prussia, who is also elector of Brandenburg, with his whole court, are Calvinists; but the religion of most of the inhabitants is Lutheranism. The churches of both perfusions are well endowed, and the laity jointly employed by the government. The Roman-catholics are also tolerated here. In short, every inhabitant enjoys full liberty of conscience. A great variety of manufactures, most of which were introduced by the French refugees, are carried on in the marquifate, especially at Berlin and Potsdam; where are also excellent painters, statuaries, and engravers. By means of these manufactures, fabrics, and arts, not only large sums are kept in the country, but also imported from other parts, to which considerable quantities of the manufactures, and natural productions, are exported. For the education of youth, and the advancement of learning, besides Latin schools in several places, and gymnasia, there is an university at Frankfort on the Oder, and an academy of sciences at Berlin. This marquifate, together with the arch-chamberlain's office, and the electoral dignity, was conferred, in 1415, hereditarily on Frederic V. or VI. burggrave of Nuremberg, in whose family it still remains, with the addition of many other territories and dignities. The present king of Prussia and elector of Brandenburg, Frederic III., is one of the greatest and most powerful princes of Europe, as well as one of the most detestable. He hath greatly enlarged his dominions, by the addition of all the lower, together with the greatest part of the upper Silesia, and the county of Glatz. In 1744, he also took possession of east Friesland; but in 1754, disposed of his share of the succession of the late king William, prince of Orange, to the present prince and fiefholder. The qualifications and talents of this prince are great, and he hath performed many singular actions; but his ambition would have proved his ruin, had he not been supported in the last war by the troops and treasures of Great Britain. It is hard to say, whether his subjects have been greater gainers by his encouraging and promoting commerce, manufactures, agriculture, population, order, and the regular distribution of justice; or sufferers by the wars in which his ambition hath involved them, and the prodigious standing army he keeps constantly on foot, to maintain his conquests, and extend them, as opportunity offers. Such an army must be a great burden, besides their labour being lost in a great measure to the country. Among the electors he possesses the seventh place. As arch-chamberlain, he carries the sceptre before the emperor at his coronation, and brings him water in a silver basin to wash with. In the college of princes of the empire, he has five voices. His affluence, as elector, is 60 horse and 277 foot, or 1828 florins in lieu of them. To the chamber of Wetzlar, his quota is 811 rix-dollars, 58 kreutzers, each term. As to the orders of the knights of the Black Eagle, and of Merit, it is sufficient here to observe, that the former was instituted by Frederic I. at his coronation, and the other by the present king. For the government of this country and the administration of justice, there are several supreme colleges and tribunals; particularly for the departments of war, foreign affairs, and the finances, there are distinct boards. Here is a supreme ecclesiastical council and consistory for the Lutherans; a supreme directory of the Calvinist church; a supreme medical college; a supreme mine-office; a college or board of trade, &c. Those of the French nation, settled in this country, are allowed particular courts of their own. The amount of the yearly revenues of the Mark, arising

a city of Germany, and capital of the marquisate of that name, situated on the river Havel, in E. Long. 13°. N. Lat. 52°. It is divided into the old and new town, and was anciently the see of a bishop. The mountain in the neighbourhood called Marienberg, is planted with vines. Here is a small colony of French Calvinists, with a manufacture of cloth, fustian, and canvas; and a pretty good trade is carried on by the Havel. The fort here looks like a suburb, and contains a riding-school, with the cathedral church. The greatest part also of the members of the chapter which fill subdials, and is composed of a Lutheran provost, dean, senior, subdean, and three other canons, reside in it. They are distinguished by a cross of gold enamelled with violet, terminating in eight points; and have a considerable estate. Near the town is a large lake.