a town of France, in the department of Nièvre, and situated in E. Long. 3° 14' N. Lat. 46° 59', on the river Loire, which here receives the rivulet Nièvre, from which this city derives its name. It is a place of great antiquity, supposed to be Caesar's Noviodunum in Æduis, where he erected magazines for his armies. Francis I. made it a duchy and peerage in 1521, in favour of Francis of Céves, to whom it came by marriage. It devolved afterwards to the house of Mantua, and then to the Palatine family, who in 1651 sold it to Cardinal Mazarine. The cardinal obtained a title of duke and peer for his nephew Philip Mancini, in whose family it continued till the late revolution. The town is fortified with walls, defended with many high towers and deep ditches, and is the seat of a bishopric, suffragan of Sens, as likewise of a bailiwick and chamber of accounts. There is a stone bridge on the Loire, with 20 arches, a draw-bridge on each side, and towers to defend them. This town is famous for its manufacture of glass and earthenware, and is said to contain about 8000 inhabitants. In the centre of Nevers, on the summit of a hill, is built the palace of the ancient dukes. It appears to have been constructed in the fifteenth century, and exhibits a model of the beauty and delicacy of Gothic architecture. The apartments are hung with tapestry of 200 years old, which have an air of grotesque and rude magnificence.

NEUCHATTEL, a town of Switzerland, capital of a county of the same name. There are several ancient ruins near it, which show its former extent; and there are two large churches, besides a castle where the governor resides. The town contains about 3000 inhabitants. It is situated partly on a small plain, between Mount Jura and the lake of Neuchatel, which is 17 miles long and five broad; the side of the harbour is the usual walk of the inhabitants. Part of it too is built upon the side of the mountain; whence some of its streets are very steep. In this small place several public works have lately been executed, which Mr Coxe thinks are far beyond the revenues, or even the wants, of such a little state. Among these he inflates a superb causeway and a town-house "built (says he) of such solid materials, as if it was intended to survive to the most distant posterity, and to rival the duration of the much-famed Roman capitol." At the beginning of the 18th century, commerce was very little followed in this town, owing to an absurd opinion which prevailed among the inhabitants of its being disgraceful; but this prejudice is now extinguished, and the town in a much more flourishing situation than before. The chief article of exportation is wine, which is much esteemed; and manufactures of printed linens and cottons have been established with considerable success. The flourishing state of Neuchatel is principally owing to the benefactions of Mr David Pury, late banker of the court at Lisbon. He was born at Neuchatel in 1700; but having received his education there, he quitted it in great poverty, and repaired to Geneva, where he served his apprenticeship, but in what line is not mentioned. From Geneva he went to London, where he acted as clerk to a dealer in precious stones, and acquired great reputation by estimating the value of diamonds at sight. After a long residence in England he went to Lisbon, where he carried on a very extensive commerce: and having been appointed court-banker, his fortune rapidly increased. His generosity, however, kept pace with his wealth; and he not only remitted large sums to Neuchatel while living, but left his country his heir when he died. His contributions in all are estimated by Mr Coxe at 200,000l.; a considerable part of which has been employed in constructing the public works already mentioned. Neuchatel has a grand and little council: the first is composed of 40 persons, with two matters of the keys; the little council consists of 24 members, comprehending the mayor, who is president. These two councils assemble regularly every month. The ecclesiastics likewise assemble every month, to consult on affairs belonging to the church, and to fill up the places of ministers that die. They choose a dean every year, who is president of the general assemblies, which are called clôtures; and sometimes he is confirmed in this dignity. E. Long. 7° 10' N. Lat. 47° 5'.

Neuchatel, a sovereign county of Switzerland, bounded on the west by the Franche Comté, on the north by the bishopric of Bâle, and on the east and south by the canton of Vaud.

(a) We have given this detail in Mr Coxe's own words, as it appears to us to deserve attention on account of the greatness of the project, which would have excited admiration had it been attempted by one enlightened by science and liberal arts, much more when it comes through the humble medium of a Russian peasant. It was never executed, as we are just informed by a gentleman who left St Peterburgh about the beginning of June 1793; but the model remains, and is still shown. The same gentleman (we quote his own words) adds, "that every mechanic thinks it practicable; and that the general belief is, that the empress would have built it, had she not found use for all her money in carrying on her warlike and diplomatic transactions with other courts." Neuchattel south by the cantons of Berne and Friburg. This principality of Neuchattel and Vallengin extend from the lake of Neuchattel to the borders of Franche Compte, being in length about 12 leagues, and fix in breadth. The plain with the lower part of the mountains is occupied by the district of Neuchattel, but Vallengin is totally enclosed by Jura. Parallel chains of these mountains run from east to west, forming several valleys in the most elevated parts. The lower grounds of this chain consist of arable lands and vineyards; the higher of large tracts of forest, which in many parts have been cleared and converted into pasture grounds, interspersed with fields of barley and oats. The inhabitants are numerous, and remarkable for their genius, politeness, and active industry. It contains three cities, one town, 95 villages, and about 300 houses dispersed in the mountains. The inhabitants are all Protestants, except two Roman catholic villages; and in 1529 they entered into a strict alliance with the cantons of Berne, Friburg, Soleure, and Lucern. The air is healthy and temperate, but the soil not everywhere equally fertile; however, there are large vineyards, which produce white and red wine, which last is excellent. The pastures on the mountains feed a great number of cattle; there are plenty of deer in the forests; the lakes and rivers abound with fish. The mildness of the government, and agreeable situation of the inhabitants in general in these districts, is evident from the great increase of population in the space of 32 years. In 1752 they contained only 28,017 subjects and 4318 aliens; but in 1784 the number was augmented to 31,576 subjects and 9704 aliens; being an increase of near a fourth part in that time. The facility with which the burghership of Neuchattel is acquired, may also be accounted one of the means of augmenting its population; for between the years 1760 and 1770, the magistrates admitted 41 persons to this privilege; from 1770 to 1780, 46; from 1780 to 1785, 51; in all 138; many of whom had children before they purchased their burghership, and 38 of them were foreigners, either German, French, or Dutch. This country has experienced similar changes with the rest of Switzerland during the usurpation of the French.