the capital of the Orkneys, situated in the island of Pomona, in W. Long. o. 25. N. Lat. 58° 33'. It is built upon an inlet of the sea near the middle of the island, having a very safe road and harbour for shipping. It is a royal borough, governed by a provost, bailies, and common council. It was formerly possessed by the Norwegians, who bestowed upon it the name of Cruceviciaca. From King James III. of Scotland they obtained a new charter, empowering them to elect their own magistrates yearly, to hold borough courts, arrest, imprison, make laws and ordinances for the right government of the town; to have a weekly market, and three fairs annually at certain fixed terms: he moreover granted to them some lands adjoining to the town, with the customs and shore dues, the power of pit and gallows, and exempted them from the expense of sending commissioners to parliament. This charter has been confirmed by succeeding monarchs. At present Kirkwall is the seat of justice, where the steward, sheriff, and commissary, hold their several courts of jurisdiction: Here is likewise a public grammar school, endowed with a competent salary for the master. The town consists of one narrow street about a mile in length; the houses are chiefly covered with slate, though not at all remarkable for neatness and convenience.—The principal edifices are the cathedral church and the bishop's palace. The former, called St Magnus, from Magnus king of Norway, the supposed founder of the town, is a large Gothic structure: the roof is supported by 24 pillars on each side, and the spire is built upon four large columns. The gates are decorated with a kind of mosaic work, of red and white stones elegantly carved and flowered. By the ruins of the king's castle or citadel, it appears to have been a strong and stately fortress. At the north end of the town a fortification was built by the English in the time of Oliver Cromwell, but it is now in ruins. It was surrounded with a ditch and rampart; but it has been allowed to fall into ruins. The population in 1801 was 2627.

KIRSTENSIUS, Peter, professor of physic at Upsal, and physician extraordinary to the queen of Sweden, was born at Breslau in 1577. He studied Greek, Latin, Hebrew, Syriac, natural philosophy, anatomy, botany, and other sciences. Being told that a man could not distinguish himself in physic unless Kirstenius he understood Avicenna, he applied himself to the study of Arabic; and not only to read Avicenna, but also Mecue, Rhafas, Abenzoar, Abukafas, and Averroes. He visited Spain, Italy, England, and did not return home from his travels till after seven years. He was chosen by the magistrates of Breslau to have the direction of their college and of their schools. A fit of sickness having obliged him to resign that difficult employment, with which he was also much dis- gusted, he applied himself chiefly to the practice of physic, and went with his family into Prussia. Here he obtained the friendship and esteem of the chancellor Oxentien, whom he accompanied into Sweden; where he was made professor of physic in the university of Upsal, and physician to the queen. He died in 1640. It is said in his epitaph, that he understood 26 languages. He wrote many works; among which are, 1. Liber secundus Canonis Avicennae, typis Arabicis, ex MSS. editus, et ad verbum in Latinum transtulatus, in folio. 2. De vero usu et abusu Medicinae. 3. Gram- matica Arabica, folio. 4. Vitae quattuor Evangelista- rum, ex antiquissimo codice MSS. Arabico erutae, in folio. 5. Notae in Evangelium S. Matthaei, ex collatione textuum Arabicorum, Syriacorum, Egyptianorum, Graecorum, et Latinorum, in folio, &c.

He ought not to be confounded with George Kerstenius, another learned physician and naturalist, who was born at Stettin, and died in 1660; and is also the author of several works.