a bishopric of Germany, situated in the centre of the circle of Westphalia, between the Weser and the Ems, having Minden on the east, Munster on the west, Diepholtz on the north-east, and Ravensburg on the south-west. It is about 45 miles long and 25 broad, producing some rye, several sorts of turf, coals, marble, and good pasturage. The inhabitants, who are a mixture of Protestants and Roman Catholics, breed a considerable number of cattle, especially hogs, of which they make excellent bacon and hams; but a great part of the country consists of heaths. By the treaty concluded here in 1648, the bishopric was to be an alternative between the Roman Catholics and Lutherans; and the Lutheran bishop was to be a younger prince of the house of Brunswick Lunenburg, or in failure thereof, of Brunswick Wolfenbuttle. In consequence of this settlement, it has been twice held by a British prince since the accession of the family of Hanover. In 1802 this bishopric was secularized and added to Hanover on certain conditions, and now forms a part of that kingdom. The bishopric had a population of about 130,000 souls. Of the peasants, 6000 go yearly to Holland, where they mow, till, cut turf, and do other work for hire. The meanest of them brings home twenty, and the best workmen seventy florins. Bishop Ernest established a salt-work at Dissen; and the same bishop opened a silver mine, but this undertaking was not prosecuted. The chief manufactures of the country are a coarse kind of linen cloth and yarn, which are said to bring into it annually about 1,000,000 of rixdollars. There are also some woollen manufactures in Osnaburg and Bramsche. The land estates of the bishopric were, the chapter, the knights, and the four towns. The diets were held at Osnaburg, when called together by the bishop. The count of Bar was hereditary seneschal or steward, and president of the college of knights. The bishop was a prince of the empire; and in the matricula is rated at six horse and 36 foot, or 216 florins monthly, in lieu of them. To the chamber of Osnaburg, the empire he contributed each term 81 rixdollars, 14 kruitzers and a half. The capital of this bishopric is Osnaburg, or Osnabruck. It was formerly an imperial city, and one of the Hanse towns. It has its name from a bridge over the river Hase, or Ose, which divides it into the Old and New Town, and stands 75 miles west of Hanover, and 30 northeast of Munster, being surrounded with walls and ditches, but commanded by a mountain within cannon shot. It stands in a fine plain, and is adorned with several good buildings, and on the mountain there is an abbey. The magistracy of this city, which is rechosen yearly on the 2d of January, is Lutheran; and the churches belong, some to the Lutherans, and some to the Papists. Both parties have the full and free exercise of their religion, whether the bishop be Protestant or Papist. The bishop's palace, called Petersburgh, was built by Bishop Ernest Augustus, brother to King George I. It is well fortified and separated from the town by a bridge. It is a hexagon, with a court in the middle, and at each corner a turret. In the town-house are still preserved the pictures of the plenipotentiaries that assisted at the conferences there for the famous treaty of Westphalia. In the treasury of the cathedral are still to be seen some ornaments given by Charlemagne, as also his crown, which is only of silver gilt, and his comb and baton, six feet in length, both of ivory; together with other curiosities. Charlemagne is said to have erected here a school for Latin and Greek, which the Jesuits in 1625 converted into an academy. They have the best bread and beer that is to be met with in all Westphalia, and have a pretty good trade in bacon and linen; as also by brewing a palatable thick sort of beer called buse. This city is noted for a treaty betwixt the emperor and the king of Sweden in 1648, wherein the affairs of the Protestants were regulated, which was a branch of the treaty of Westphalia. In 1613 the greatest part of it was destroyed by fire. In 1630 Bishop Francis William erected an academy here, consisting of thirteen seminaries, which were also confirmed by the emperor Ferdinand II., and Pope Urban VIII.; but the capture of the place by the Swedes in 1733 put an end to it. In 1634 the crown of Sweden created Count Gustavus Wasaburg lord of the bishopric of Osnaburg; but at the peace of Osnaburg he renounced all his right obtained over this place during the war, in consideration of receiving 80,000 rix dollars. The town toll was by the town, in the year 1431, given to the bishop, with a reserve of exemption from toll to the burghers, in order to get rid of the Jews, who were that year banished. The cathedral is in the hands of the Roman Catholics, with the church and monastery of the Dominicans in the old city, and the collegiate church of St John in the new. The Protestants are masters of the great parochial church of St Mary in the old city; and both religions have a voice in the election of the magistrates. The bishop's palace is fortified like a castle: here it was that George I. was born on the 28th of May 1660, his father Ernest Augustus being then bishop and prince of the place; and here also he died in the night of the 10th of June 1727, and, as some say, in the very room in which he was born. The inhabitants have considerable manufactures. Osnaburg manufactures of linen and a good breed of cattle; and of their hogs, for which they are remarkable, is made the best Westphalia bacon. Not far from this city are to be seen the ruins of an old church and castle called Beclen, which some say was built by King Witekind upon his conversion; and about two miles from it lies the monastery of Rulke, on the bank of a lake so deep, that report says it could never yet be fathomed. This was the first town in Westphalia which received the Lutheran doctrine.

Osnaburg Island, one of the islands in the South sea, discovered by Captain Wallis in 1767. It is a high, round island, not above a league in circuit; in some parts covered with trees, in others a naked rock. S. Lat. 22° 48'. W. Long. 14° 34'.