a large and strong city of Russia, and capital of a palatinate of the same name, with a castle seated on a mountain, and a bishop's see. It is strong by its situation, being in the middle of a wood, and surrounded by almost inaccessible mountains. It has been taken and retaken several times by the Poles and Russians; but these last have had possession of it ever since the year 1687. It is seated on the river Nieper, near the frontiers of Lithuania, 188 miles south-west of Moscow. E. Long. 31. 22. N. Lat. 54. 30.

a duchy and palatinate of Russia, bounded on the north by Biela, on the east by the duchy of Moscow, on the south by that of Severia and the palatinate of Meilswa, and on the west by the same palatinate and by that of Witepsk. It is full of forests and mountains; and the capital is of the same name.