PLAÜEN, a city of the kingdom of Saxony, in the circle of Voigtsland, and the capital of a bailiwick of the same name. It is situated in a beautiful valley upon the banks of the Elster, is surrounded with walls, and contains 608 houses, with 7200 inhabitants, more than one half of whom are employed in making muslins and other kinds of cotton goods of fine quality. Woollen cloths, paper, and hosiery, are also extensively fabricated.