a town of the United Provinces, in Holland, situated on the river Sparren, in E. Long. 4. 38. N. Lat. 52. 24. It is a large and populous city, and stands near a lake of the same name, with which it has a communication, as well as with Amsterdam and Leyden, by means of several canals. Schemes have been often formed for draining of this lake, but were never put into execution. To the south of the town lies a wood, cut into delightful walks and vistas. The town is famous for the siege which it held out against the Spaniards for ten months in 1573; the townsmen, before they capitulated, being reduced to eat the vilest animals, and even leather and grails. The inhabitants corresponded with the prince of Orange for a considerable time by means of carrier-pigeons. Harlem, as is well known, claims the invention of printing; and in fact, the first essays of the art are indubitably to be attributed to Laurentius, a magistrate of that city. [See Laurentius, and (History of) Printing.] Before the Reformation, Harlem was a bishop's see; and the Papists still greatly outnumber the Protestants. An academy of sciences was founded here in 1752. Vast quantities of linen and thread are bleached here; the waters of the lake having a peculiar quality, which renders them very fit for that purpose.—A sort of profanity with regard to flowers, particularly tulips, once prevailed here, in consequence of which the most beautiful sorts were bought and sold at an extravagant price.