or more correctly LEIPZIG, one of the four circles into which Saxony is divided, comprises the N.W. part of that kingdom, and is bounded on the N. and W. by Prussia, S. by Saxe-Altenburg and the circle of Zwickau, and E. by the circle of Dresden. Area, 1336 square miles. The country is generally level, and lies lower than any other part of Saxony. It is most elevated in the S., where some offsets of the Erzgebirge appear, but do not attain any great height. Leipzig belongs to the basin of the Elbe, and is principally drained by its tributaries the Elster and Mulda. The soil is fertile, and in general well cultivated. The principal crop is corn. The rearing of cattle, and especially of sheep of a superior breed, is much attended to. Tobacco is extensively grown. There are no metals; but limestone, marble, potters' clay, fullers' earth, and peat are abundant in various parts. The manufactures in this circle are flourishing, and include woollen, cotton, and linen goods, and earthenware. Pop. (1855) 454,262.

or Leipzig, the capital of the above circle, and the second city in the kingdom, is situate in an extensive and fertile plain, on the White Elster, here joined by the Pleisse and Parde, 72 miles W.N.W. of Dresden by railway. The fortifications which formerly surrounded the town have been converted into beautiful walks and gardens. The houses are chiefly old-fashioned stately buildings, frequently six storeys in height, besides three or four additional ones in the pyramidal roof, and exhibiting much carved masonry. The streets are narrow, and from the height of the houses, have rather a dingy appearance, but are well paved and clean. The suburbs, however, of which there are four, are of recent date, and more regularly built. In the centre of the town is the great market-place or square, which has a very picturesque appearance from the quaint architecture of buildings which surround it. One of these is the town-house, built in 1556, where the allied sovereigns met to congratulate each other after the battle of Leipzig. Here, too, is the Königshaus, formerly a residence of the electors and kings of Saxony, and occupied by Napoleon during the battle of Leipzig. Near this is Auerbach's Cellar, Leiria, a spirit-vault said to have been frequented by Dr Faust, and here Goethe has laid a scene of his celebrated tragedy. The poet, not less than his hero, is said to have frequented this place when a student. The old castle of Pleissenburg, which, during the Thirty Years' War, withstood the attacks of Tilly for several weeks after the town had surrendered, stands in the S.E. part of the town. The lower part of it is now used as a wool warehouse, and the tower as an observatory. Several of the churches are handsome buildings, as those of St Nicholas, St Thomas, and St Paul. Among the other public buildings are the university, cloth hall, booksellers' exchange, post-office, and theatre. The University of Leipsic, founded in 1409, is one of the first in Germany. In 1853-4 it had 113 professors and teachers, and 807 students. Besides faculties of theology, law, medicine, and philosophy, it has a library of 150,000 volumes, and 2000 MSS., an anatomical theatre, clinical institution, botanical garden, observatory, chemical laboratory, museums, &c. The Augusteum, a very elegant building connected with the university, was erected in 1836, and named after King Frederick Augustus. It is three storeys in height, and contains the library, lecture-rooms, &c. In the Paulinum, another elegant building, are the museums of natural history and anatomy. This university is rich in endowments for stipends to scholars. Leipsic is well supplied with other educational and literary institutions. It is connected by railways with Dresden, Magdeburg, Berlin, and Altenburg; and is the centre of a very extensive trade. The celebrated Leipsic fairs are held here twice a year,—on the 1st of January, at Easter, and at Michaelmas. They usually last for three weeks, and are attended by merchants from all parts of Germany, England, France, America, Russia, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Persia, &c. The goods comprise all kinds of woollen, linen, and cotton stuffs, silks, lace, hardware, jewellery, watches, toys, paper, books, leather, &c. The value of the goods brought to these fairs in 1855 was estimated at about £1,000,000 sterling. On these occasions the town presents the greatest bustle and confusion—the streets and squares are occupied by temporary booths in addition to the ordinary shops, while the population of the town is nearly doubled. The Easter and Michaelmas fairs, particularly the former, are famous for the vast number of new publications brought there for sale. The Easter fair is attended by booksellers from all parts of Germany, and even from other countries, sometimes to the number of 600. Prospectuses and specimens of new publications are brought here for circulation, annual accounts are settled, and purchases made. In the Easter fair catalogue for 1856 the number of new works announced as published in Germany during the preceding year was 9540, as forthcoming 1171. Leipsic is also of considerable importance as a manufacturing town. It has large type-foundries, oil-mills, paper-mills, and manufactories of silken goods, stockings, leather, hats, hardware, musical, optical, and mathematical instruments. There are about 150 publishing establishments in the town; and in 1853 there were 36 printing offices, with 58 steam, and 164 hand presses. Leipsic was the scene of a tremendous conflict on the 16th, 17th, and 18th of October 1813, between the allies under Prince Schwarzenberg, and the French under Napoleon, in which the latter were totally defeated. See History of France. Pop. (1855) 69,986.