ancient, rich, populous, and handsome town of Italy, capital of the duchy of the same name, with a citadel, a bishop's see, and an university. The number of inhabitants is about 36,000. It has a magnificent cathedral, and the largest opera house in Europe, which has seats for 8500 people; but as it required a vast number of candles, which occasioned great expense, they have contrived another which has room for 2000 spectators. The dome and the church of St John are painted by the famous Corregio, who was a native of

the duchy of, a province of Italy, bounded on the north by the Po; on the north-east by the Mantuan; on the east by the duchy of Modena; on the south by Tuscany; and on the west by the duchy of Placentia. The air is very wholesome, on which account the inhabitants live to a great age. The soil is very fertile in corn, wine, oil, and hemp; the pastures feed a great number of cattle, and the cheese is in very high esteem. Here are considerable mines of copper and silver.