a city and port-town of Germany, in the circle of Lower Saxony and duchy of Holstein, in E. Long. 10. 35. N. Lat. 54. 20. It stands at the conflux of several rivers, the largest of which is the Trave, 12 miles from the Baltic, where it has a fine harbour, and 40 north-east of Hamburgh. By the Steckenitz, another of those rivers, it has a communication with the Elbe, and consequently with the German ocean. The city lies on the side of a hill, with the Trave, increased by the Steckenitz on the one side, and the Wakenitz on the other; and is strongly fortified with bastions, moats, walls, and ramparts; the last of which are planted with trees, and form an agreeable walk. Lubec being formerly the chief of the Hanse towns, was very powerful in consequence of the vast trade it carried on; but a great part of that trade is now transferred to Hamburgh; however, it is still said to employ 150 of its own ships, and has a great share of the Baltic trade. It is about two miles in length, and more than one in breadth. The houses are all of stone, but old fashioned. Several of the streets have on each side rows of lime trees, with canals in the middle, like those of Holland. The public structures consist of the ancient cathedral of the bishopric of Lubec, and several other Lutheran churches; a nunnery for 22 ladies, with an abbes and priorets; a poor-house, an alms-house, and house of correction; an orphan-house; an hospital dedicated to the Holy Ghost; a house in which poor travellers are entertained three days, and then sent forward with a pass; but such as happen to be sick, are provided with all necessaries till they recover or die; the city armoury, a grammar-school of seven classes, the Calvinist church, and the Popish chapel. The deputies of the Hanse towns used to meet here formerly in the townhouse.

An alliance still subsists between Lubec, Hamburgh, and Bremen; and these cities, under the name of Hanse Towns, negotiate treaties with foreign powers. Here are divers manufactures, and the city's territory is about 60 miles in compass. In the diet of the empire Lubec is possessed of the third seat among the Rhenish imperial cities; and among those of the circle, has the first. In the matricula, its assessment is 480 florins, and to the chamber of Wetzlar it pays 557 rix-dollars and 88 kruitzers. The city is a republic within itself, and both makes and executes laws in regard to civil and criminal matters, &c. A father and son, or two brothers, cannot be in the regency at the same time. The famous league of the Hanse-towns was begun here in 1164. This city had its charter of privileges from the emperor Frederic II. Formerly it carried on wars, both offensive and defensive, for several years, not only against the dukes of Mecklenburg, but against the kings of Sweden and Denmark; particularly in 1428, when it fitted out 250 ships of force against Eric X. King of Denmark. There are about 20 churches in Lubec, with lofty steeples or spires. The Trave brings ships of burden into the very heart of the city; but the largest unload at Travemunde, i.e. the mouth of the Trave, eight or ten miles distant. Formerly it is said to have employed no less than 600 ships. In the famous cellar here, it is said, there is wine 200 years old. The church of St Mary's, a noble lofty pile, is supported by tall pillars, all of one stone each, and has a high spire, covered with gilt lead. The town's garrison consists of about 700 or 800 men. The revenue of its Lutheran bishop, though he is a prince of the empire, is said not to exceed 3000l. Lubec fell into the hands of the French in 1806, when Bonaparte overran the Prussian dominions; and many of the inhabitants were cruelly massacred and plundered.