a city of France, in the department of Vaucluse, the capital of the county of Venaissin, and seated on the banks of the Rhone. It was formerly an archbishop's see; and the residence of several popes at this place for 70 years has rendered it considerable. Near the Rhone there is a large rock, within the circumference of the walls, upon which is a platform, from whence may be had a prospect of the whole city and the places about it. This city is about three miles and two furlongs in circumference, and is in general ill built, irregular, and devoid of beauty. But it is surrounded by handsome battlemented walls and turrets, not unlike those of Rome; and its public edifices are large, solid, and grand as the taste of the fourteenth century could make them. Several popes and anti-popes, who, during their lives, shook the Romish church with violence and mutual altercation, repose quietly near each other in the various monasteries of the place. The church of the Cordeliers contains, in an obscure corner, the almost defaced tomb of Petrarch's Laura and her husband Hugh de Sade; and nearly opposite is the tomb of the brave Guillon, so well known for his invincible courage as well as for his inviolable attachment to his sovereign Henry IV. Many productions of Rene of Anjou are to be seen in the city. It contained 23,211 inhabitants in 1815, but the number was greater before the revolution. Avignon was at first included in the department of the Mouths of the Rhone, but is now the capital of the department of Vaucluse. It was annexed to France by a decree of the national assembly in 1791, but was not formally ceded by the pope till 1797.

The church of Notre Dame is ancient, but not large, and is one of the best adorned in the city. After having ascended about 50 steps, you come to a very ancient portico, which sustains a great tower; as you enter the church on the left hand, you see paintings which equal the finest in Italy. The great altar is very magnificent, and is adorned with a shrine that contains the relics of we know not how many saints. The treasure of the sacristy is worthy of the curiosity of the traveller. The little palace where the archbishop resided is formed of three bodies of lodgings, accompanied with courts and small pavilions. It overlooks the Rhone, the city, and the fields. These buildings and the mint adorn a large square, which is the common Avignon walk of the inhabitants.

In Avignon they reckon seven gates, seven palaces, seven colleges, seven hospitals, seven monasteries, seven nunneries, and seven popes who have lived there in 70 years. The steeples are numerous, and the bells are never at rest; one of silver is rung only on the death of a pope. The church of the Celestines is very magnificent, and full of fine monuments; and the rest are not without their curiosities. The university has four colleges; and the place where the Jews live is a distinct quarter, from whence the Jews, who pay tribute, dare not stir out without yellow hats, and the women must have something yellow about their heads, to distinguish them from the Christians. Their number is very considerable in a very confined place, where the only way of enlarging their abodes is by building their houses higher. Their synagogue is so dark, that they are obliged to light lamps. However, they are forced to hear a monk preach a sermon every week. Across the Rhone, here, extend the ruinous and decayed arches of that bridge against which Madame de Grignan was so near being lost, and of which Madame de Sevigne makes terrified mention. It was demolished in 1699 by one of the inundations common to the Rhone. When entire, it was not less than a quarter of a mile in length; but being so narrow, as not to permit two carriages to pass in any part, it had previously become almost useless; and motives of policy prevent the construction of a new bridge, while Avignon belongs to the papal see. The curious that travel this way go to see the fountain of Vaucluse, where the river Sorgues, which passes through this city, has its source; and whither Petrarch so often retired to indulge his grief and hopeless love. It is situated in a valley five miles distant from the city. The sides of the river are skirted by meadows of the most lively green; above which rise abrupt and lofty rocks, that seem designed to seclude it from human view. The valley becomes gradually narrower towards the extremity, and winding continually describes the figure of a horse-shoe. The view is at length terminated by an enormous mass of rock, forming a barrier across it, of a prodigious height, and absolutely perpendicular. Through its vast recesses run the streams which supply the fountain of Vaucluse, and at its foot appears a basin of water, several hundred feet in circumference, stretched like an expanse, silent and quiet. The sides are very steep, and it is said that in the middle no bottom can be discovered, though attempts have been often made for that purpose; a circumstance probably resulting from the violence with which the springs bubble up, which prevents any weight from descending beyond a certain depth. Though the fountain is clearer in itself than crystal, yet the incumbent rock casts a continual shade, approaching to black, over its surface. The water escaping from this state of inaction by a narrow passage, is immediately precipitated in a cascade down a rocky channel, where it foams over a number of vast detached stones, which intercept and impede its progress. They are covered with a deep green moss of many ages, and have probably tumbled from the mountain that overhangs the torrent. The rocks themselves, which surround and invest this romantic... mantic spot, are worn by time and the inclemency of the weather into a thousand extraordinary and fantastic forms, to which imagination gives shape and figure. On one of the pointed extremities, and in a situation which appears almost inaccessible, are seen the remains of an ancient castle, projecting over the water. The peasants call it *Il Castello di Petraro*; and add, with great simplicity, that Laura lived upon the opposite side of the river, under the bed of which was a subterranean passage by which the two lovers visited each other. Nothing is, however, more certain, than that these are the ruins of the chateau belonging to the lords or seigneurs of Avignon; and the bishop of Cavaillon resided in it during the frequent visits which he used to make to Petrarch.—The poet's dwelling was much lower down, and nearer to the bank of the Sorgues, as evidently appears from his minute description of it, and the relation he gives of his quarrel with the Naiads of the stream, who encroached during the winter on his little adjoining territory. No remains of it are now to be discerned. Below the bridge there is an island where the Sorgues joins the Rhone, in which are several pleasure-houses. E. Long. 4° 59'. N. Lat. 43° 57'.

**Avignon Berry**, the fruit of a species of lycium; growing plentifully near Avignon and in other parts of France. The berry is somewhat less than a pea; its colour is green, approaching towards a yellow; and it is of an astringent and bitter taste.—It is much used by the dyers, who stain a yellow colour with it; and by the painters, who also make a fine golden yellow of it.

**Avila**, a city of Old Castile, in Spain, seated on an eminence on the banks of the river Adaja, and in sight of the mountains of Pico. It is fortified both by nature and art, having a wall 9075 feet in circumference, adorned with 26 lofty towers, and 10 handsome gates. There are 17 principal streets, containing many good houses, but the town is now in a state of decay. It hath nine squares, 2000 houses, nine parishes, as many monasteries, seven nunneries, two colleges, nine hospitals, 18 chapels, and an allowance of 10,000 ducats yearly for the maintenance of orphans and other poor people. It has an university, and a considerable bishopric; besides a noble cathedral, which has eight dignitaries, 20 canons, and the same number of minor canons. It stands in the middle of a fine large plain surrounded with mountains, and covered with fruit-trees and vineyards. Its woollen manufactures have sunk. W. Long. 4° 13'. N. Lat. 40° 35'.

**Avis**, a small town of Alentejo in Portugal, seated on an eminence, with a castle near the river Avis. Hence the military order of the knights of Avis have their name. W. Long. 7° 0'. N. Lat. 38° 40'.

**Avis (Knights d'Avis)**, an order of knighthood in Portugal established about the year 1162. When the city of Evora was taken from the Moors, in the reign of the first king of Portugal, it was garrisoned by several persons who assumed the title of knights of St Mary of Evora, which was soon after changed for that of knights d'Avis, which the king gave them, and whither they removed from Evora. The badge of the order is a green cross flory, and they observe the rule of St Benedict.

**Aviso**, a term chiefly used in matters of commerce to denote an advertisement, an advice, or piece of intelligence.

**Avison, Charles**, organist of Newcastle, and a disciple of Geminiani, was the author of an essay on musical expression, published in the year 1752, in which are some judicious reflections on music in general, but his division of the modern authors into classes is rather fanciful than just. Throughout his book he celebrates Marcello and Geminiani; the latter frequently in prejudice to Mr Handel. In the year 1753 came out remarks on Mr Avison's essay on musical expression, the author whereof first points out sundry errors against the rules of composition in the works of Avison. In the same year Avison republished his essay, with a reply to the author of the remarks; and a letter, containing a number of loose particulars relating to music, collected in a course of various reading, unquestionably written by Dr Jortin. Avison promoted and assisted in the publication of Marcello's music to the psalms adapted to English words. Of his own composition there are extant five collections of concertos for violins, 44 in number; and two sets of sonatas for the harpsichord and two violins, a species of composition little known in England till his time. The music of Avison is light and elegant, but it wants originality; a necessary consequence of his too close attachment to the style of Geminiani, which in a few particulars only he was able to imitate.

**Auk**, in Ornithology. See Alca, Ornithology Index.

**Auckland**, Bishop's, a town in the bishopric of Durham in England, situated on the river Wear. It is a sanctuary for debtors; and here the bishop has a princely palace and a noble park. W. Long. 0° 75'. N. Lat. 54° 44'.

**Aula**, is used for a court baron by Spelman; by some old ecclesiastical writers, for the nave of a church, and sometimes for a court-yard.

**Aula Regia** or *Regis*, a court established by William the Conqueror in his own hall, composed of the king's great officers of state, who resided in his palace, and were usually attendant on his person. This court was regulated by the article which forms the eleventh chapter of Magna Charta, and established in Westminster-hall, where it hath ever since continued. See King's Bench.

**Aulcester**, a town of Warwickshire in England. W. Long. 1° 47'. N. Lat. 52° 15'.

**Aulettes**, in antiquity, denotes a flute-player. One of the Ptolemies, kings of Egypt, father of Cleopatra, bore the surname or denomination of Aulettes.

**Aulic**, an epithet given to certain officers of the empire, who compose a court which decides, without appeal, in all processes entered in it. Thus we say, *aulic council, aulic chamber, aulic counsellor*.

The aulic council is composed of a president, who is a catholic; of a vice chancellor, presented by the archbishop of Mentz; and of 18 counsellors, nine of whom are Protestants and nine Catholics. They are divided into a bench of lawyers, and always follow the emperor's court; for which reason they are called *justitium imperatoris*, the emperor's justice, and aulic council. The aulic court ceases at the death of the emperor; whereas the imperial chamber of Spire is perpetual, representing not only the deceased emperor. but the whole Germanic body, which is reputed never to die.