one of the 13 cantons of Switzerland. It holds the third place among the 13; and is the head of the Catholic cantons. Though less than Zurich, and consequently much less than Berne, it is, however, far more extensive than any of the rest, being 15 or 16 leagues long, and eight broad. The population is estimated at 100,000. Even the mountainous part is not barren, but abundant in wood and pasture, furnishing cattle, hides, cheese, and butter, for exportation. All the north part is fertile in grain, fruit, and hay; supplying sufficient for the consumption of the inhabitants; but as the mountaineers of the little cantons come to their market for corn, the people of Lucerne purchase this commodity from other parts of Switzerland, but especially from Alsace and Swabia. Their manufactures are very considerable; consisting only in a little silk and cotton thread.

The government is oligarchical. The councils are chosen from among 500 citizens only. The great council of 64 members is the nominal sovereign; but in fact the power resides in the senate, or little council of 36, having for their chiefs the two Avoyers.

The whole canton professes the Roman Catholic religion. The pope's nuncio, with the title of legate a latere, usually resides at Lucerne. They threw off the Austrian yoke in 1352, and by entering into a perpetual alliance with the three ancient cantons, they gave such weight to the confederacy, as to enable it in 1386 to repulse all the efforts of the enemy at the bloody battle of Sempach.

The town of Lucerne is situated at the extremity of a most beautiful lake of the same name, where the river Reuss issues from it. The buildings are ancient, and the streets narrow; nor is Lucerne populous in proportion to its extent, the inhabitants being only between 3 and 4000. Since this is the great passage to Italy by Mount St Gothard, and the merchandise which passes the Alps on mules, and is to be transported by the rivers Reuss, Aar, and Rhine, is all deposited here, it might have a flourishing trade if arts and manufactures were attended to. The Reuss separates the town into two unequal parts, which are connected by three bridges; one wide for carriages; and two narrow covered ones for foot passengers: besides these, there is a fourth over an arm of the lake, to pass to the cathedral. Three of these bridges have old bad paintings of the Dance of Death, and the History of the Bible, and of Switzerland. They make a commodious dry walk for the inhabitants. Of religious edifices, the principal are the cathedral, or collegiate church of St Leger; the convent of Cordeliers; the college of the Jesuits; the convent of Capuchins; and two convents of nuns. Of the secular buildings, the hotel de Ville is the principal. The arsenal is well furnished. The water tower is remarkable only for its position and antiquity; it is said to have been a pharos or lighthouse. What greatly attracts most the notice of strangers is, a plan in relief of part of the cantons of Lucerne, Zug, and Berne, and the whole of Schweitz, Uri, and Unterwald, executed by General Pfiffer on a large scale. He has completed about 66 square leagues; the plan is 12 feet long, and nine and a half broad: every mountain is accurately measured; and every object distinctly placed.

The Lake of Lucerne exhibits greater variety and more picturesque scenery than any other of the Swiss lakes. It is seven leagues long in a right line, and three wide about Kufnacht; but the shape is very irregular. The whole south side is bordered by high mountains; but the north exhibits hills of no great height. The narrow gulph that extends towards the west, is bordered on the north and north-west by mount Pilat, which is a single mountain rising boldly more than 6000 feet above the lake; and, on the south by mount Burgenberg. Stanz-Stadt, belonging to the canton of Unterwald, is on this side; and hereabouts the lake is deepest. Kufnacht is on the point of the other gulph, which extends towards the east, and is wider than the former. All the country to the west of these gulphs, and part of it to the north of the latter, belongs to the canton of Lucerne; but that which is to the south and north-east is dependant on the canton of Zug. All the mountains on the left shore of the lake belong to the canton of Unterwald; those on the right, partly to the canton of Uri, partly to that of Schweitz, partly to the little republic of Gersau, but principally to the canton of Lucerne.

botany. See Medicago.—For the culture of this plant, see Agriculture, no. 183.