a city of Germany, capital of the duchy of Anhalt-Dessau, the residence of the duke, and the seat of the government. It is situated on the left bank of the Mulda, about 3 miles from its confluence with the Elbe; and 67 miles S.W. of Berlin, with which it is connected by railway. The town is walled on three sides, while on the fourth or eastern it is bounded by the river, which is here crossed by a handsome bridge. It consists of an old and new town, and four suburbs (one of which is on the right bank of the river), and in 1846 had 12,000 inhabitants, of whom 800 were Jews. The ducal palace, originally founded in 1841, is a handsome building, containing a picture gallery and collections of art, with a fine pleasure garden attached. Among the other buildings are the palace of the duchess-dowager, town-hall, theatre, Amelia asylum, and the city church. The new cemetery is elegantly laid out, and contains many fine monuments. The schools and literary and scientific institutions are numerous. Mendelssohn the philosopher was born here in 1729.