a large and ancient town of Lower Saxony, and in the territory of Hildesheim. 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. It was formerly a free city, but was given to Prussia in 1802, and ceded by that power to Hanover in 1814. 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.