a city of Italy, in the territory of the pope, capital of a duchy of the same name. It is seated in an agreeable and fertile plain; watered by the river Po, which is a defence on one side; and on the other is encompassed by a strong wall and deep broad ditches full of water, as well as by a good citadel, finished by pope Paul. In the middle of the city is a magnificent castle, which was formerly the palace of the dukes, and is now the least ornament of Ferrara. It is quite surrounded with water; and the arsenal, which is near it, deserves the observation of travellers. Over against the palace is the duke's garden; with a park, called Belvedere on account of its beauty. Behind the garden there is a palace, built with white marble, called the *palace of diamonds*, because all the stones are cut diamond fashion.

Ferrara had formerly a considerable trade; but it is now almost deserted, being very poor, inasmuch that there is hardly a person to be seen in the streets. This is owing to the exactions of the popes. The fortifications are now neglected, and the ancient university is dwindled into a wretched college of the Jesuits. However, in 1735, it was advanced to an archbishopric by pope Clement XII. The country about it is so marshy, that a shower or two of rain renders the roads almost impassable. It is 24 miles north-east of Bologna, 38 north-west of Ravenna, 70 north-by-west of Florence, and 190 north of Rome. E. Long. 12. 14. N. Lat. 44. 36.

the duchy of; a province in the pope's territory, bounded on the north by the state of Venice, on the west by the duchies of Mantua and Mirandola, on the south by the Boulogne and by Romania, of which it was formerly a part, and on the east by the Gulf of Venice. It is 50 miles in length, and 45 in breadth along the coast; but grows narrower and narrower towards the Mantuan. This country is almost surrounded by the branches of the Po, which often overflow the country, and form the great marshes of Comacchio, which has a bad effect on the air. It is thin of people, and indifferently cultivated, though fit for corn, pulse, and hemp. The Po and the lake of Comacchio yield a large quantity of fish. Ferrara is the capital town; besides which there are Arano, Comacchio, Magnavacca, Belriguardo, Cento, Buendeno, and Ficcherola. This duchy was formerly possessed by the house of Este. But the pope took possession of it in 1598, after the death of Alfonso II., duke of Ferrara, it being a fief of the church.