one of the governments of the Prussian province of Posen, is bounded N. by West Prussia, E. by Poland, S. by the government of Posen, and W. by the province of Brandenburg. Area 4547 square miles. It comprehends 9 circles, 54 towns, and 1302 villages, with (in 1849) 454,675 inhabitants, of whom 251,432 are Catholics, and the remainder Protestants of various sects, with 24,428 Jews. The soil is generally a light sand. The face of the country is level, and a great portion of it is covered with woods. The agricultural productions are insignificant, being scarcely sufficient for the subsistence of the inhabitants.

capital of the above government, and also of a circle of the same name, stands on the river Brabe, 70 miles north of Posen. It has manufactures of linen and woollen stuffs, leather, tobacco, sugar, chicory, Prussian blue, &c., and an active transit trade. The canal of Bromberg connects the Brabe with the Netz, and thus establishes communication between the Vistula, the Oder, and the Elbe. Pop. (1849), including the military, 12,852.