a city and port-town of Andalusia in Spain, situated on the north-west end of the island of Leon, or Lyon, opposite to Port St Mary on the continent, about 60 miles south-west of Seville, and 40 north-west of Gibraltar. W. Long. 6. 40. N. Lat. 36. 30.

The island it stands on is in length about 18 miles: the south-west end is about nine broad; but the other end, where the city stands, not above two. It has a communication with the continent by means of a bridge; and, with the opposite shore, forms a bay of 12 miles long and five broad. About the middle of this bay, there are two head-lands, or promontories, one on the continent, and the other on the island, which advance so near together, that the forts upon them, called the Puntal and Matagorda, command the passage; and within these forts is the harbour, which it is impossible for an enemy to enter till he has first taken the forts. This port is the station of the American fleet, and is al- ways well furnished with other ships. There were for- merly two wonderful springs at Cadiz, but they are now lost, as well as some Phoenician antiquities, as the temple of Hercules, and two brazen pillars, &c. There was likewise a small island in the bay, where the inha- bitants had houses of pleasure; but it is now swallowed up. In 1596, Cadiz was taken, pillaged, and burnt, by the English; but in 1702 it was attempted in con- junction with the Dutch, without success.