an ancient province of Spain in the kingdom of Old Castile, comprehending the modern provinces of Burgos, Logrono, and Santander, and covering an area of 7644 square miles. The modern province is bounded north by the province of Santander; east by Alava, Navarre, and Soria; west by Palencia and Valladolid; south by Segovia. The territory of Burgos is elevated and mountainous, being intersected by several sierras; the slopes of which, however, are well stocked with game, and afford pasture for large herds of black cattle, horses, mules, sheep, and goats. It abounds in spacious and well-watered valleys, in which wheat, barley, oats, maize, rye, flax, and hemp, are grown for home consumption. The cultivation of the vine is little attended to; but the facilities for rearing bees give rise to a considerable traffic in honey and wax. The climate of

Burgos is cold, damp, and variable, and the province from its elevation is exposed to severe storms from the N. and N.E. Pop. (1849) 234,022.

the capital of the above province, stands on the slope of a hill the base of which is skirted by the river Arlanzon, in Lat. 42° 21', N. Long. 3° 43', W. It is a considerable town, consisting of about 1400 houses, originally girt into the form of a segment of a circle by a wall, some portions of which still remain. On the opposite bank of the river, and connected with the more ancient part of the town by three stone bridges, are the suburbs (Barrio de la Vega), tastefully laid out in pleasure-grounds; whilst lower down in the midst of the stream is an island furnished with seats and walks as a public promenade. The streets and squares are exceedingly irregular, although spacious and well built. The principal square is the Plaza Mayor, or Plaza de la Constitucion, in the centre of which is a bronze statue of Charles II. The most important public building is the cathedral, begun in 1221, but not completed till 1567. It is built in an irregular florid Gothic style, and contains eight chapels, the most famous of which is the Capilla del Condestable, containing the tombs of several of the Velasco family, the hereditary constables of Castile. Besides the cathedral there is the Hotel de Ville, the Palace of Velasco, the church of St Paul, and a beautiful Doric arch erected in honour of Fernando Gonzalez. There is a fine approach to the city through the massive gate of Santa Maria, surmounted by a statue of the Virgin and Child, with figures of Fernando Gonzalez, Charles I., the Cid, and Diego Porcelos, in the niches. The hospitals of Burgos are seven in number, and well supported; they are the Hospital San Juan (founded in 1479), the Hospital de la Concepcion, San Julian, San Quirce, Del Rey, Militar, and the Hospicio y Casa de Epositos. The educational wants of the district are supplied by four primary schools, which are liberally endowed from the municipal funds, and afford gratuitous instruction to upwards of 200 pupils. There is also a normal school and a Seminario Conciliar, in which the higher branches are taught. But the most important educational establishment is the Instituto Superior Burgalez, which has a staff of 21 professors, and annually enrols about 250 students. The professors give lectures on language, science, and the fine arts. Burgos is the see of an archbishop, who has for his suffragans the bishops of Pamplona, Palencia, Santander, and Tudela. It has several monasteries, amongst which may be mentioned the Monasterio de Fredesval, San Agustin, &c. About two miles distant from the town stands the Carthusian Convent, de Miraflores, built as a royal burying-place; whilst a little below the promenade of the Isla stands the Real Monasterio de las Huelgas, founded by Alonzo VIII., the abess of which was invested with almost royal prerogatives, and held unlimited sway over more than 50 villages. Burgos is the official residence of a military staff, and is well provided with barracks and storehouses. The jurisdiction of its courts extends over the whole audiencia, including Alava, Guipuscoa, Logrono, Santander, Soria, and Vizcaya.

Besides furnishing a mart for the agricultural produce of the neighbouring districts, it carries on a considerable export trade in linen and woollen stuffs, made in imitation of English goods. The principal articles of manufacture are hats, stockings, and leather goods. Recently a paper-mill has been started, which gives employment to 120 operatives of both sexes. Pop. (1845) 14,790.

The history of Burgos cannot be carried back beyond the end of the ninth century. There is no trace of its existence during the occupation of Spain by the Romans. We find the nucleus of it existing in 884, when Diego Porcelos, at the command of Alfonso the Great, built a castle on the right bank of the Arlanzon to check the progress of the Moors. From that time forward we find it steadily increasing in importance, reaching the height of its prosperity in the fifteenth century, when alternately with Toledo it was occupied as a royal residence, but rapidly declining when the court was finally removed to Madrid. Being on one of the principal military roads of the kingdom, it suffered severely in the Peninsular War. It was unsuccessfully besieged by Wellington in 1812, but was surrendered to him in the opening of the campaign of the following year.