a town of France, in the province of Gascony and territory of Bearne, with a parliament, a mint, and a castle. "The city of Pau (says Wraxal) will be for ever memorable in history, since it was the birth-place of Henry IV. That immortal prince was born in the castle, then the usual residence of the kings of Navarre. It stands on one of the most romantic and singular spots I have ever seen, at the west end of the town, upon the brow of a rock which terminates perpendicularly. Below runs the Gave, a river or rather a torrent which rises in the Pyrenees, and empties itself into the Adour. On the other side, about two miles..." miles off, is a ridge of hills covered with vineyards, which produce the famous Vin de Forez, so much admired; and beyond all, at the distance of nine leagues, appear the Pyrenees themselves, covering the horizon from east to west, and bounding the prospect. The castle, though now in a state of decay, is still habitable; and the apartments are hung with tapestry, said to be the work of Jane queen of Navarre, and mother of Henry IV. Galon IV. Count de Foix, who married Leonora heiress of the crown of Navarre, began the edifice in 1464; but his successor Henry d'Albret completed and enlarged it about the year 1519, when he made choice of the city of Pau for his residence, and where, during the remainder of his reign, he held his little court. In a chamber, which by its size was formerly a room of state, is a fine whole length portrait of that Jane queen of Navarre whom I have just mentioned. Her dress is very splendid, and resembles those in which our Elizabeth is usually painted. Her head-dress is adorned with pearls; round her neck she wears a ruff; and her arms, which are likewise covered with pearls, are concealed by her habit white down to the wrist. At her waist hangs by a chain a miniature portrait. The fingers of her right hand play on the strings of a guitar; and in her left she holds an embroidered handkerchief. The painter has drawn her as young, yet not in the first bloom of youth. Her features are regular, her countenance thin, but rather inclining to long; the eyes hazel, and the eye-brows finely arched. Her nose is well-formed though large, and her mouth pretty. She was a great princess, of high spirit, and undaunted magnanimity. Her memory is not revered by the French historians, because she was the protector of the Huguenots and the friend of Cologni; but the actions of her life evince her distinguished merit.

"In one of the adjoining chambers, is another portrait of Henry IV. himself when a boy; and on the second floor is the apartment in which he was born. The particulars of his birth are in themselves so curious, and as relating to so great and good a prince, are so peculiarly interesting, that I doubt not you will forgive my enumerating them, even though you should have seen them elsewhere.—His mother Jane had already lost two sons, the duke de Beaumont and the count de Marle. Henry d'Albret, her father, anxious to see an heir to his dominions, enjoined her (when she accompanied her husband Anthony of Bourbon to the wars of Picardy against the Spaniards), if she proved with child, to return to Pau, and to lie there, as he would himself superintend the education of the infant from the moment of its birth. He threatened to disinherit her if she failed to comply with this injunction. The princess, in obedience to the king's command, being in the ninth month of her pregnancy, quitted Compiegne in the end of November, traversed all France in 15 days, and arrived at Pau, where she was delivered of a son on the 13th December 1553. She had always been desirous to see her father's will, which he kept in a golden box; and he promised to show it to her, provided she admitted of his being present at her delivery, and would during the pains of her labour sing a song in the Bearnais language. Jane had courage enough to perform this unusual request; and the king being called on the first news of her illness, she immediately sung a Bearnais song, beginning, 'Notre Dame du bout du pont, aidez moi en cette heure.'—As she finished it, Henry* was born. The king instantly performed his promise, by giving her IV. King of the box, together with a golden chain, which he tied France, about her neck; and taking the infant into his own apartment, bet'au by making him swallow some drops of wine, and rubbing his lips with a root of garlic. They still show a tortoise-shell which served him for a cradle, and is preserved on that account. Several of the ancient sovereigns of Navarre resided and died in the castle of Pau. François Phœbus, who ascended the throne in 1479, died here in 1483."

Pau is a handsome city, well built, and contains near 6000 inhabitants. It is a modern place, having owed its existence entirely to the castle, and to the residence of the kings of Navarre. W. Long. o. 4. N. Lat. 43° 15'.