a large river of Germany, famous both in ancient and modern history. It rises among the Alpes Lepontiae, or Grisons; and first traversing the Lacus Acrionis, divides the Rheti and Vindelici from the Helvetii, and then the Germans from the Gauls and Belgae; and running from south to north for the greatest part of its way, and at length bending its course west, it empties itself at several mouths (Cæsar); at three mouths into the German ocean, (Pliny); viz. the western, or Helius; the northern, or Fleuvus; and the middle between both these, which retains the original name, Rhenus; and in this Ptolemy agrees.—Mela and Tacitus mention two channels, and as many mouths, the right and left; the former running by Germany, and the latter by Gallia Belgica: and thus also Asinius Pollio, and Virgil; the cut or trench of Drusus not being made in their time, whereby the middle channel was much drained and reduced, and therefore overlooked by Tacitus and Mela; and which Pliny calls the Scanty. To account for Caesar's several mouths, is a matter of no small difficulty with the commentators; and they do it no otherwise than by admitting that the Rhine naturally formed small drains or rivulets from itself; the cut of Drusus being long posterior to him; in whose time Asinius Pollio, quoted by Strabo, who agrees with him therein, affirmed that there were but two mouths, finding fault with those who made them more: and he must mean the larger mouths, which emitted larger streams. The Romans, especially the poets, used the term Rhenus for Germany, (Martial).—At present, the river, after entering the Netherlands at Schenkinkaus, is divided into several channels, the two largest of which obtain the names of the Lech and the Waal, which running through the United Provinces, falls into the German ocean below Rotterdam.

Lower, a department in the east of France, consisting chiefly of the lower part of the ancient Alsace. It is extremely fertile, and produces corn of all kinds, maize, rapeseed, hemp, flax, tobacco, chestnuts, vines, excellent pasturage, and wood in abundance. Agriculture is more improved here than in most other parts of France. Fallows are now disused. Potatoes were introduced here earlier, and are cultivated more extensively, than in the other departments. The horses are good,—black cattle numerous,—but there are few sheep. There are mines of iron and coal, and quarries of building stone. The manufactures consist of fustians, tapestry, cutlery, &c. The extent of this department was 495,975 hectares, of which, about one-eighth part was cut off by the treaty of Paris in 1815. Its population in 1800 was 444,838; but in 1815, after the cessions, it was only 391,642. Its contributions in 1802 amounted to 3,609,442. Strasburg is the chief town.

Upper, a department in the east of France, consisting of the higher part of the ancient Alsace. The soil is unequal, and in many places poor. It produces wheat, barley, rye, flax, madder, wine, and legumes. There are mines of silver, copper, lead, iron, and coal. The manufactures are woollen and cotton cloths, hosiery, ribbons, cotton-yarn, iron and steel ware, powder, and watches. The extent of this department in 1800 was 549,607 hectares, and the population 382,285; but about one-fifth of its surface having been disjoined from it and annexed to Switzerland in 1815, its population in 1817 was only 318,577. Its contributions in 1802 amounted to 2,837,963 francs. Colmar is the chief town.

Lower Circle of the Rhine, consisted of the palatinate of the Rhine, and the three ecclesiastical electorates, viz. those of Cologne, Mentz, and Trier, now belonging to Prussia.

Upper Circle of the Rhine, consisted of the landgraviates of Alsace and Hesse, comprehending the Wete-