a marquisate of Germany, in Upper Saxony; bounded to the east by Silesia, to the west by Münster, to the south by Bohemia, and to the north by the marquisate of Brandenburg. Till towards the middle of the 15th century, the Upper Lusatia was called the Mark, i.e. the marquisate or the land of Budissin and Gorlitz; and the Lower only Lusatia, which, it is said, in the Slavonic, signifies "a woody or marshy country." The air of the Upper Lusatia, which is hilly or mountainous, is better than that of the Lower, a great part of which is moorish and boggy. Both abound in wood, especially the Lower, and turf for fuel. The heathy and mountainous tracts are generally barren; but the lower champaign and marsh lands are tolerably fertile, producing pasture, wheat, rye, oats, barley, buck-wheat, peas, lentils, beans, and millet; together with flax, hops, tobacco, some white and red wine, and what is called manna. Of several of these articles, however, considerable quantities are imported. In this country are found also quarries of stone, medicinal springs, bastard diamonds, agates, and jaspers, earths and clays for tobacco-pipes and all sorts of earthen ware, alum, good iron, stone, vitriolic and copper water; nor is it destitute of cattle, fish, and venison. The rivers Spree, the Schwarze or Black Elster, and the Pulsnitz, have their sources in the Lusatias, which are also watered by the Neisse and Queis. The ancient inhabitants of this country were the Saxons, who were succeeded by the Vandals, and these by the Sober-Wends, a Scythian people. The present inhabitants, the descendants of the Wends, have an odd dress; and the language is so inarticulate and guttural, that it hath been said, it might be pronounced without lips, teeth, or tongue: but the towns are almost wholly peopled by Germans.

In the Upper Lusatia are six towns which appear at the land-diets, 16 smaller country-towns, and four market towns. In the Lower are four diet-towns, 13 country-towns, and two market ones. Both marquisates were formerly subject either to the kings of Bohemia, the archdukes of Austria, or electors of Brandenburg; but, in 1636, both were absolutely ceded to the elector of Saxony, in lieu of the 72 tons of gold which he expended in assailing the emperor Ferdinand II. against the Bohemians.

Christianity was first planted in Lusatia in the seventh century; but it was several centuries after that before Popery was fully established. In the 11th century many cloisters were erected in the country; but at the reformation such numbers embraced Lutheranism, that it became the predominant religion, and still continues, though there are still several Roman Catholic foundations, churches, market-towns, and villages. The enthusiastic sect of Hernhuters possesses a great influence and esteem here. There are considerable manufactures of woollen and linen stuffs in the Lusatias, especially the Upper. At Budissen, and in the adjacent country, prodigious quantities of stockings, spatterdashes, caps, and gloves are made. The linen manufactures also flourish here, chiefly in the Upper Lusatia, where all sorts of linen are made, printed, and dyed. Exclusive of these, there are considerable manufactures of hats, leather, paper, gunpowder, iron, glass, bleached wax, &c. Though the demand and exportation of these commodities, particularly linens and woollens, is not so great as formerly, yet it is still considerable, and more than overbalances their importations in wool, yarn, silk, wines, spices, corn, fresh and baked fruits, garden stuff, and hops. Disputes of many years standing have subsisted between the country-artificers and linen-manufacturers on the one side, and the diet-towns on the other; the latter unjustly seeking to exclude the former from any share in the linen trade. The natives of this country are said to have quick natural parts, but to be fordily penurious. We are told they observe the Saxon laws much better than they did the Bohemian. Learning hath been much esteemed and encouraged in both marquisates since the reformation. The schools in the six diet-towns of Upper Lusatia, particularly at Gorlitz, Budissen, and Zittau, greatly distinguish themselves, having handsome stipends. In Lower Lusatia also are some good schools, with stipends for the maintenance of students. Printing is said to be much followed, and brought to great perfection in this country.

In Upper Lusatia, the states consist, firstly, of those called state-lords; secondly, of the prelates; thirdly, of the gentry and commonalty, under which are comprehended the counts, barons, nobles, and burgesses, possessors of fees and fief-estates; and, fourthly, of the representatives of the six principal towns. Without the consent of these states no taxes can be imposed, nor any thing of importance, that regards the public, transacted. The diets are ordinary or extraordinary. The ordinary meet once in three years, and the extraordinary when summoned by the sovereign upon particular emergencies. As to ecclesiastical matters, the dean of Budissen and his consistory exercise all manner of episcopal jurisdiction; and, among the Protestants, the jurisdiction belongs either to the superior, the upper-office, or the patrons. The revenues arising to the superior or sovereign, from Upper Lusatia, consist partly of the subsidies granted by the states, among which, at present, are reckoned capitulation and estate-money; and partly of the beer-tax, excise, tolls, &c.

Upper Lusatia is divided into two great circles, viz. those of Budissen and Gorlitz, which are again divided into lesser circles.

The land-states of Lower Lusatia consist, like those of the Upper, of prelates, lords, and knights, and the representatives of the state towns, which are Luckau, Gubben-Lubbin, and Kalau. Two land diets are yearly held at Lubben, called voluntary-diets; but when the superior causes the states to be summoned together at his discretion, and propositions to be laid before them, by commissaries deputed for that purpose, such convention is called a great land-diet. The marquisate is divided into five circles, each of which holds a circle-assembly in its circle-town. The chief officers appointed either by the superior or the states, are, the president of the upper-office, the land-captain, and the land-judge. The principal tribunals are, the land-court, and the upper-office, to which lie appeals from the inferior judicatories. There are also officers for the several circles. Spiritual matters belong here to a consistory, erected in 1668. The ordinary taxes are paid into the chest of the circle; and from thence configned to the general chest, of which the upper tax-receiver is superintendent. By him an annual account of the receipts is made out, which is examined and passed by the deputies of the states.