formerly a duchy of Germany, bounded to the east by the bishopric of Paderborn, and the territories of Waldeck and Hesse; to the south by the counties of Witgenstein and Nassau, and the duchy of Berg; to the north by the bishopric of Munster and the county of Lippe. It is about 40 miles in length and 30 in breadth. The lower part of it is very fruitful, yielding plenty of corn and cattle, and some salt springs. The higher affords iron ore, calamine, lead, copper, some silver and gold, fine woods, cattle, game, fish, with a little corn. The rivers, that either pass through the duchy or along its borders, are the Rahr, the Leine, the Bigge, the Dimel, and the Lippe. There are 28 towns in it, besides boroughs and cloisters. The provincial diets were held at Arensburg. In the year 1185, the emperor Frederic I. made a donation of this duchy to the archbishopric of Cologne, which was confirmed by succeeding emperors; and in 1638, the last duke of Arensburg ceded to it also the county of Arensburg.

one of the circles of Germany. Anciently the people inhabiting between the Weser and the Rhine, were called Westphalians; and hence that tract got the name of Westphalia: but the circle of that name is of a larger extent, being surrounded by the circle of Burgundy, or the Austrian Netherlands, the United Provinces, and the North sea, with the circles of the Upper and Lower Rhine, and comprising a great many different states.

With respect to religion, Westphalia is partly Protestant and partly Catholic; but the Protestants predominate, and are, at least the greater part of them, Calvinists. The air of this country is not reckoned very wholesome, and towards the north is extremely cold in winter. The soil in general is marshy and barren; yet there is some good corn and pasture land; but the fruit is chiefly used to feed hogs; and hence it is that their bacon and hams are so much valued and admired.

After the peace of Tilsit in 1807, the principalities of Hanover, Brunswick, Magdeburg, Old Mark, Hesse Cassel, with some other territories, were erected into the kingdom of Westphalia, which was governed by Jerome Bonaparte. This state disappeared on the overthrow of the French power in 1814, and the territories which composed it were restored to their former princes. Jerome Bonaparte's court was kept at Cassel, the capital of the principality of Hesse.