the capital of the government of Orleanois. It was anciently called Genalam, or Cenatum; and afterwards denominated Aurelia, Aurelia, and Aurelianum, by the emperor Aurelian, who considerably enlarged it. In Julius Caesar's time it was the capital of the Carnutes. It stands about 20 leagues south of Paris, on the northern bank of the Loire; across which Mr Wraxall says there is an elegant bridge of nine arches, the entrance by which is exceedingly noble and striking; the street which leads from it being composed of most elegant modern buildings. In general, however, excepting this street, it is very meanly built; the streets are narrow, and the inhabitants in general poor. It is surrounded with walls, and fortified with 40 towers. The streets almost all terminate at the quay for the convenience of trade. It is a place of considerable magnitude; and before the revolution had several inferior courts of justice, and an university of no great repute. It was also a bishop's see; and the cathedral is a most superb Gothic structure, and had the finest steeple in France till it was damaged in the time of the civil wars. There were 27 parishes in it, and a great number of churches, some of which were collegiate, and religious houses. There is also a public walk, planted with several rows of trees; and there used to be some sugar bakers; a manufacture of stockings and sheep skins; a seminary in which divinity was taught; a great trade in brandy, wine, spices, and several manufactures, which, with many other commodities, used to be conveyed to Paris by means of the Loire, and the canal which takes its name from the city. The canal begins about two miles above the city; is near 18 leagues in length; and terminates on the Loing, which falls into the Seine. The environs of Orleans, more especially in the province of Sologne, to the south of the Loire, are very agreeable. It is in general a level country, covered with corn and vines. To the north of the city is a forest, the largest in the whole kingdom. Before the revolution it belonged to the Duke of Orleans; to whom the timber fell in it, one year with another, brought about 100,000 livres. Ever since the year 1344 this city has been a dukedom and peerage, and usually an appanage of some prince of the blood. The late duke, who has taken the name of Egalité, and who is still alive, seems to be one of the most detestable monsters which ever disgraced humanity. Louis XIV. gave the dukedom to his own brother Philip, who began, and finished the canal; which, by the duties paid by vessels going up and down, brought in, one year with another, 150,000 livres. The bishop was suffragan to the archbishop of Paris, and had a revenue of 24,000 livres, out of which his tax to Rome was 2000 florins. A new bishop, it is said, on the first day of his entering, had the privilege of releasing all the prisoners in it, except those committed for treason. In the street leading from the bridge stands the celebrated monument where Charles VII. and Joan of Arc the Maid of Orleans, are represented on their knees before the body of our Saviour, who lies extended on the lap of the Virgin. It was erected by order of that monarch in 1458, to perpetuate his victories over the English, and their expulsion from his dominions. All the figures are in iron. The king appears bareheaded, and by him lies his helmet surmounted with a crown. Opposite to him is the Maid herself, in the same attitude of grateful devotion to Heaven. It is a most precious and invaluable historical monument.

"In the Hotel de Ville (says Wraxall) is a portrait of the same immortal woman, which I studied long and attentively. Though it was not done till 1581, which was near 150 years after her decease, it is yet the oldest and best picture of her now existing. The painter seems undoubtedly to have drawn a flattering resemblance of her, and to have given his heroine imaginary charms. Her face, though long, is of exceeding beauty, heightened by an expression of intelligence and grandeur rarely united. Her hair falls loosely down her back, and she wears on her head a sort of bonnet enriched with pearls, and shaded with white plumes, tied under her chin with a string. About her neck is a little collar, and lower down, upon her bosom, a necklace composed of small links. Her dress, which is that of a woman, I find it difficult exactly to describe. It fits close to the body, and is cut or slashed at the arms and elbows. Round her waist is an embroidered girdle, and in her right hand she holds the sword with which she expelled the enemies of her sovereign and her country. I am not surprised at the animated and enthusiastic attachment which the French still cherish for her memory. The critical and desperate emergency in which she appeared; her sex, youth, and even the obscurity of her birth; the unparalleled success which crowned her enterprise; the cruel and detestable sentence by which she was put to death; the air of the marvellous spread over the whole narration, increased and strengthened by that veneration which time affixes to every great event—all these united causes conspire to place her above mortality. Rome and Athens would undoubtedly have ranked her among their tutelary deities, and have erected temples to her honour; nor can I help being amazed, that amidst the almost infinite numbe The number of modern saints who crowd and disgrace their churches, no altar has yet been dedicated to the Maid of Orleans." See France, p. 101.

The bridge was new built this century, and opened in 1760; and the French esteem it the finest in the world. E. Long. 1. 59. N. Lat. 47. 54.

Orleans (Peter Joseph), a French Jesuit, whom it is proper to mention, because he wrote an Histoire des Révolutions d'Angleterre, was born at Bourges in 1641. He taught the belles lettres for some time in his society, but afterwards devoted himself to the writing of history. This pursuit he continued till his death, which happened in 1698. He wrote also A History of the Revolutions of Spain; A History of Two conquering Tartars, Chunchi and Camhi; The Life of Father Coton, &c. His History of the Revolutions in England, under the Family of the Stuarts, from the Year 1663 to 1692, was translated into English, and published at London, 1711, in one vol. 8vo: to which is prefixed an Introduction, by Laurence Echard, M.A., who says, that "the great varieties and wonderful changes in these reigns are here judiciously comprised in a moderate volume with no less perspicuity than strictness; and with a beautiful mixture of short characters, nice reflections, and noble sentences, which render the whole agreeable and instructive. But while the reader is entertained with so much skill and fineness, we ought to caution him with relation to the education and religion of the author: for though he has great marks of a generous candour, and a laudable deference to all superiors; yet he is to be considered, in all places, as one in favour with the French king, and not only a true papist, but a complete jesuit."

Orlope, in the sea language, the uppermost space or deck in a great ship, reaching from the main to the mizen mast. In three-deck ships, the second and lowest decks are sometimes called orloper.