Emmerich de, an eminent jurist; was the son of a protestant minister, and was born at Courte in the principality of Neuchâtel, in the month of April 1714. His academical studies he prosecuted at Basel and Geneva. During his early years, his favourite pursuit was philosophy; and having carefully examined the works of Leibnitz and Wolf, he exhibited a specimen of his talents for metaphysical investigation, by publishing a defence of Leibnitz's system against Crousaz. It was printed in 1741; and in the course of the same year, he repaired to Berlin in the hope of obtaining some public employment from the king; but this hope was so long deferred, that in 1743 he proceeded to Dresden with similar views, and experienced a very favourable reception from Count Brühl. Some private affairs required his presence in his native country; but he returned to the court of Saxony in 1746, and obtained from the elector, Augustus the Third, the title of counsellor of embassy, accompanied with a pension. He was sent to Berne in the capacity of the elector's minister to that republic; and as his diplomatic functions did not require constant re-

1 With respect to the allusion of Statius, see Vossius de Historici Latinis, p. 77. 2 De P. Terentii Varrocinii Atacini Vita et Scriptis Commentatio. 3 Ruhkenius Epistolae Criticae, ii. p. 286. Opuscula, tom. iii. p. 609. higher than from 2400 to 3000 feet. These mountains are all calcareous, and for the most part sterile; but the valleys between them have a soil, partly of sand or clay, covered with vegetable mould, which, when cultivated, is highly productive. The best soil is in the vicinity of the river Durance and of the Rhone, both of which streams deposit a rich muddy compost in their passage. The district between Carpentras and Avignon is almost covered with a mixture of pebbles.

The chief river is the Rhone, which enters the department from the Gard, and in it receives the waters of the Lizon, the Aigues, the Meyne, the Lorgues, and the Durance. The Durance, which flows from the Lower Alps, receives the waters of the Jabron and of the Cavallon before it joins the Rhone. The Rhone is the only stream that is navigable; but there are many small artificial canals, which, though chiefly designed for the purpose of irrigation, are made available for the transport of heavy goods.

The climate is mild and healthy, but subject to great changes. The trees in some seasons begin to blossom in February, but are often checked by severe cold and showers. The husbandry is in an imperfect state; green crops and even clover are not known, though lucerne is cultivated in some parts. The chief grains are wheat, barley, rye, buckwheat, and maize. The whole growth of these is annually about 600 quarters, which is not sufficient for the consumption of the inhabitants. The chief product for sale is wine. The olive trees yield some oil, which, with dried fruits and salt, forms the chief object with which are exchanged the foreign luxuries that are consumed. Silk worms are kept in some districts. The spinning and weaving of silk is the chief occupation of the inhabitants; and the weaving is said to employ 2500 looms. These goods form a part of the exports, to which may be added madder, which is raised and prepared for the dyers. Some springs of saline water furnish culinary salt. This department returns two members to the representative chamber. The capital is the city of Avignon, with a population, in 1835, amounting to 786.