a large, populous, and very strong town of Germany, capital of a duchy of the same name, with an archbishop's see, secularized in favour of the Swedes, but now belongs to the elector of Hanover. The river Wefer runs through the middle, and divides it into the old and new town. In September 1739, while the inhabitants were asleep, the magazine of powder was set on fire by lightning; and all the houses were shook, as if there had been a violent earthquake, which threw them into a terrible consternation. This town is divided into four quarters, each of which has a burgomaster; and in the middle there is a large market-place, with the statue of Rolando. Bremen drives a very large trade for iron, flax, hemp, and linen, with France, England, Spain, and Portugal, and in return takes back other provisions, with which it supplies Westphalia and the countries about Hanover. It also gets a great deal by its fisheries; the trade for blubber with the south of Germany is very considerable. E. Long. 8° 45'. N. Lat. 53° 40'.

duchy of Germany, in the province of Lower Saxony, lying between the rivers Wefer and the Elbe; of which the former separates it from the duchy of Oldenburg, and the other from that of Holstein. The air is cold; but the country is fertile, and well peopled. It formerly belonged to the Swedes, but was afterwards sold to the king of Great Britain, as elector of Hanover, in 1716. In the winter it is subject to inundations. In 1617, on Christmas-day, several thousand cattle were drowned, besides several hundred of men; and the country was so covered with water, that it has cost immense sums to repair the dykes. Bremen is the capital town.

Bremen-Veer, a town of Germany, in the circle of lower Saxony, and duchy of Bremen. It is an open town, seated on the river Oost, and was formerly the place of residence of the archbishop. E. Long. 8° 35'. N. Lat. 53° 58'.