a city of Italy, in the kingdom of Naples, with a bishop's see. It was almost ruined by an earthquake in 1664. It is, however, at present a pretty considerable place, extending a mile in length down the declivity of a hill, with ugly streets, but tolerable houses. The churches have nothing to recommend them, being crowded with monstrous ornaments, in a barbarous style, which the Neapolitans seem to have borrowed from the Spaniards. The cathedral is a poor building, in a wretched situation, with little to attract the eye. The good people here need not run to Naples to see the blood of St Januarius: for they have a statue of St Lawrence, with a phial of his blood, which for eight days in August entertains them with a similar miraculous liquefaction. Their only edifice of note is a public granary, of the Composite order, adorned with antique statues, and a very elegant bronze one of Charles II. of Spain, while a boy, cast by Cavalier Cosimo. The number of inhabitants amounts to 8000, some say 10,000. The bishop's revenue is about 6000 ducats (1125l.) a-year. The magistracy consists of a syndic and four eletti, all annual; which offices are engrossed by a certain number of families of some distinction, that neither intermarry nor associate with the rest of the burghers. There is a considerable manufacture of cloth here of various qualities and colours, but chiefly blue. Many wealthy merchants have a concern in this business, some with a capital of eighty thousand ducats (15,000l.). The poor women who spin the wool must work very hard to earn above four grana a-day. The second article of trade is maccaroni and pate of many kinds, which being of an excellent quality, are in high repute all over the country. Wooden chairs are also made and sold here in great quantities. Avellino abounds with provisions of every sort; each street is supplied with wholesome water; the wine is but indifferent. The soil of this district, which consists chiefly of volcanic substances, produces little corn, but fruit in abundance, of which the apple is deservedly held in great esteem. The most profitable, however, of all its fruit-trees is the hazel. Nut bushes cover the face of the valley, and in good Avellino good years bring in a profit of sixty thousand ducats (11,250l.). The nuts are mostly of the large round species of filbert, which we call Spani/b. These bushes were originally imported into Italy from Pontus, and known among the Romans by the appellation of Nux Pontica, which in process of time was changed into that of Nux Avellana, from the place where they had been propagated with the greatest success. The proprietors plant them in rows, and by dressing, form them into large bushes of many stems. Every year they refresh the roots with new earth, and prune off the straggling shoots with great attention.