a large and ancient town of Lower Saxony, and in the territory of Brunswick: it is a free imperial city, and it was here that gunpowder was first invented, by a monk as is generally supposed. It is a large place, but the buildings are in the ancient taste. In 1728, 280 houses, and St Stephen's fine church, were reduced to ashes. It is seated on a mountain, near the river Gose, and near it are rich mines of iron. The inhabitants are famous for brewing excellent beer. E. Long. 10. 26. N. Lat. 51. 55.