a canton of Switzerland, the 11th in rank in the Helvetic confederacy, into which it was admitted in the year 1481. It stretches partly through the plain, and partly along the chains of the Jura, about 35 miles square, and containing 50,000 inhabitants. The soil for the most part is exceedingly fertile in corn; and the districts within the Jura abound in excellent pastures. The trade of the town and canton is of little value, although they are commodiously situated for commerce. It is divided into 11 bailiwicks, the inhabitants of which are all Roman Catholics except those of the bailiwick of Buckeggberg, who profess the reformed religion. The sovereign power resides in the great council, which, comprising the senate or little council of 36, consists of 102 members, chosen by the senate in equal proportions from the 11 tribes or companies into which the ancient burghers are distributed.

A melancholy catastrophe took place in this canton on the 13th July 1813. The river Birle, swelled by the rains, overflowed its banks at Dornach, and undermined a house, which was thrown down and buried a number of persons in its ruins. An ancient tower, which was occupied as the prison, experienced a similar fate, fell on the bridge, broke it in the centre, and precipitated a great crowd of persons collected upon it into the torrent. By this accident 150 of the inhabitants lost their lives.

an ancient and extremely neat town of Switzerland, capital of the canton of the same name. It contains about 4000 inhabitants, and is pleasantly seated on the Aar, which here expands into a noble river. Among the most remarkable objects of curiosity in this town is the new church of St Urs, which was begun in 1762 and finished in 1772; a noble edifice of a whitish grey stone or coarse marble, which admits a polith. This building cost at least 80,000l. a considerable sum for such a small republic, whose revenue scarcely exceeds 12,000l. a-year. Soleure is surrounded by regular stone fortifications, and is 20 miles north-north-east of Bern, 27 south-south-west of Baffe, and 45 west of Zurich. E. Long. 7. 20. N. Lat. 47. 15.