a bishopric of Germany, situated in the centre of the circle of Westphalia between the Weser and the Ems, having Minden on the east, Münster on the west, Diepholtz on the north-east, and Ravensburg on the south-west. It is about 45 miles long and 25 broad, producing some rye, several sorts of turf, coals, marble, and good pasturage. The inhabitants, who are a mixture of Protestants and Roman-catholics, breed a considerable number of cattle, especially hogs, of which they make excellent bacon and hams; but a great part of the country consists of heaths. By the treaty concluded here in 1648, the bishopric was to be an alternative between the Roman-catholics and Lutherans; and the Lutheran bishop was to be a younger prince of the house of Brunswick-Lüneburg, or, on failure thereof, of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel. In consequence of this settlement, his Britannic majesty's second son is now bishop of Osnaburg. The bishop is able to raise 2500 men, his revenue being between 20,000 and 30,000 l. The chief manufactures of the country are a coarse kind of linen cloth and yarn, which are said to bring into it annually above 1,000,000 of rix-dollars. There are also some woollen manufactures in Osnaburg and Bramsche. The land-estates of the bishopric are the chapter, the knights, and the four towns. The diets are held at Osnaburg, when called together by the bishop. The count of Bar is hereditary seneschal or steward, and president of the college of knights. The bishop is a prince of the empire; and, in the matricula, is rated at 6 horse and 36 foot, or 216 florins monthly in lieu of them. To the chamber of the empire he contributes, each term, 81 rix-dollars, 14 kruiters and a half. The capital of this bishopric is

Osnabruck. It was formerly an imperial city, and one of the Hanse-towns; but is now subject to the bishop, though it still enjoys many privileges, and a revenue of about 8000 or 9000 rix-dollars. It has its name from a bridge over the river Hase, or Ose, which divides it into the Old and New Town, and stands 67 miles west of Hanover, and 30 north-east of Münster, being surrounded with walls and ditches, but commanded by a mountain within cannon-shot. The magistracy of this city, which is reelected yearly on the second of January, is Lutheran; and the churches belong, some to the Lutherans, and some to the Papists. Both parties have the full and free exercise of their religion, whether the bishop is Protestant or Papist. The bishop's palace was built by bishop Ernest-Augustus, brother to king George I. It is well fortified, and separated from the town by a bridge. In one of the apartments of it died king George I. in the arms of his brother, on the 11th of June 1722. This was the first town in Westphalia which received the Lutheran doctrine.

Osnaburg Island, one of the islands in the South Sea discovered by captain Wallis in 1767. It is a high, round island, not above a league in circuit; in some parts covered with trees, in others a naked rock. S. Lat. 22. 48. W. Long. 141. 34.