the capital city of Hungary, called Ofen by the inhabitants, and Buden by the Turks. It is large, well fortified, and has a castle that is almost impregnable. The houses are tolerably handsome, being most of them built with square stone. It was a much finer place before the Turks had it in their possession; but they being masters of it 135 years, have suffered the finest buildings to fall to decay. The lower city, or Jews town, extends like suburbs from the upper city to the Danube. The upper town takes up all the declivity of a mountain; and is fortified with good walls, which have towers at certain distances. The castle, which is at the extremity of the hill, on the east side, and commands the greatest part of it, is surrounded with a very deep ditch, and defended by an old-fashioned tower, with the addition of new fortifications. There is also a suburb, inclosed with hedges, after the Hungarian manner. The most sumptuous structures now are the caravanseras, the molques, bridges, and baths. These last are the finest in Europe, for the magnificence of the building, and plenty of water. Some of the springs are used for bathing and drinking; and others are so hot, that they cannot be used without a mixture of cold water. The Danube is about three quarters of a mile in breadth; and there is a bridge of boats between this city and Pest, consisting of 63 large pontoons. The Jews have a synagogue near the castle-gardens. The adjacent country is fruitful and pleasant, producing rich wines; though in some places they have a sulphureous flavour.

This city was the residence of the Hungarian monarchs till the Turks took it in 1526. Ferdinand archduke of Austria recovered it the next year; but in 1529 the Turks became masters of it again. In 1684 the Christians laid siege to it; but they were obliged to raise it soon after, though they had an army of 80,000 men. Two years after, the Turks lost it again, it being taken by assault in the sight of a very numerous army. The booty that the Christians found there was almost incredible, because the rich inhabitants had lodged their treasury in this city as a place of safety. However, part of these riches were lost in the fire occasioned by the assault. This last siege cost the Christians a great deal of blood, because there were many in the camp who carried on a secret correspondence with the Turks. When the sultan saw the city on fire, and found he could not relieve it, he beat his head against the ground for anger. In 1687, this city had like to have fallen into the hands of the Turks again, by treachery. After this, the Christians augmented the fortifications of this place, to which the Pope contributed 100,000 crowns, for this is looked upon as the key of Christendom. It is seated on the Danube, 105 miles north-east of Vienna, 163 north by west of Belgrade, and 563 north-west of Constantinople. E. Long. 19. 22. N. Lat. 47. 20.

Buda (the beglerbeglie of), was one of the chief governments of the Turks in Europe. It included all the countries of Upper Hungary between the rivers Tisza and Danube, and between Agria and Novigrad all Lower Hungary, from Gran and Canifca, the eastern part of Slavonia, and almost all Servia; but a good part of this government now belongs to the queen of Hungary.