a town of Bavaria, in the circle of Swabia, stands on the right bank of the Danube, 33 miles N.E. of Augsburg, and 45 N.N.W. of Munich. It is an old town, picturesquely situated on a wooded hill that rises from the river's side. Besides the town itself, which con- Neuchâtel, consists of an old and a new part, and is partly walled, there are two suburbs. The ancient castle, formerly the residence of the dukes-palatine of Neuburg, is surrounded by a fine garden, and contains a collection of portraits, old armour, tapestry, &c. There are in the town three churches, a convent, a college (which formerly belonged to the Jesuits), several schools, a public library, museum, town-hall, barracks, arsenal, infirmary, and orphan hospital. Beer, brandy, earthenware, cloth, and saltpetre are the principal articles manufactured here; and fishing is also carried on to some extent. On an island in the river are the ruins of the ancient castle of Altenburg; and in the neighbourhood of the town are two residences of the King of Bavaria. The Danube is here crossed by two bridges, under which steamers pass by lowering their funnels. Pop. 6350.

NEUCHÂTEL, or NEUFCHÂTEL (Germ. Neuenburg), a canton of Switzerland, lying on the N.W. shore of the lake of the same name, between N. Lat. 46° 50', and 47° 10', and E. Long. 6° 25' and 7° 5'. It is bounded on the N.E. and E. by the canton of Bern; S.E. by the Lake of Neuchâtel, which separates it from Fribourg and Vaud; S. by Vaud; W. and N.W. by France. Its length is about 30 miles, average breadth 11 miles; area 280 square miles. The surface of the canton is mountainous, being traversed through its whole length by the Jura Mountains. It consists of three different regions, distinct from each other in nature and appearance. The lowest part of the canton is that which extends along the shores of the lake, and is known by the name of Vignobles. This tract of country is for the most part planted with vines, and has an elevation of 1400 feet above the sea. The centre of the canton comprises a tract of land inclosed between two parallel ridges of the Jura, and is elevated from 2000 to 2400 feet above the sea. This region is known by the name of Vallon, and includes the Val de Travers and the Val de Ruz. Corn, pulse, grass, and fruits are grown here. That part of Neuchâtel which lies on the borders of France is called the Montagnes, and consists of the lofty ridges of the Jura and the high-lying valleys by which they are separated. These valleys are called La Chaux de Fond, Locle, La Chaux du Milieu, La Brevine, and La Sagne, respectively. The highest peak of the Jura within this canton is that of Chasseral, which has an elevation of 5285 feet. The canton contains numerous small streams, each of the valleys having at least one, to which it gives name; and, besides these, Neuchâtel is partly bounded by the Doubs on the French frontier, and by the Thielle, which joins the lakes of Biene and Neuchâtel on the frontier of Bern. The climate of the different parts varies very considerably—in the lower regions it is mild enough for the growth of the vine, but in the uplands it is very cold and bleak, the snow lying on some of the heights for seven or eight months in the year. The geological structure of the country is almost entirely calcareous, consisting of a kind of rock known by the name of Jura limestone. The only valuable mineral that is obtained in Neuchâtel is iron. The corn produced in the canton is not sufficient to supply the wants of the inhabitants, and a considerable amount has to be imported from the cantons of Bern and Basle. Potatoes are largely cultivated, even at great elevations among the mountains; and in the lower regions the cultivation of the vine is extensive, and the wines produced are highly esteemed. Of the whole surface of the canton, it has been calculated that about 42,700 acres are mountain pasture-land, 28,500 forests, 62,000 arable land, 37,000 meadows, and 2480 vineyards. The number of horned cattle in the canton in 1848 was 17,622; horses, 2589; sheep, 5113; goats, 2105; and swine, 4284. Bears and wolves, as well as deer and other kinds of game, are found in the forests; and the rivers and lakes abound in fish. The manufactures are of considerable importance; and among these that of watches occupies the first place, and has contributed most effectively to the Neuchâtel prosperity of the country. This branch of industry was first introduced here in 1665; and after it had been a century in operation, 12,000 gold and silver watches were annually produced. In 1848 the canton contained 9067 watchmakers, by whom upwards of 100,000 watches were yearly produced. The chief seats of this manufacture were the villages of Locle and Chaux de Fonds, in the bleak uplands of the Jura. The manufacture of lace is also carried on to a considerable extent, but it has declined considerably from its former importance. There were in 1848 only 1475 hands employed in this branch of industry, of which the chief seat is in the Val de Travers. Manufactures of linen, cotton, paper, &c., are also carried on. The trade of Neuchâtel is not very extensive, and consists principally in the export of the various articles manufactured here. The established religion is Protestant and Calvinistic, and this is professed by the majority of the people, the proportion of Protestants to Roman Catholics being nearly twelve to one. There are also a small number of Jews. The constitution of the canton is very anomalous; for though the King of Prussia claims the title of Prince of Neuchâtel, he has resigned all right of sovereignty over it; and the constitution, as established April 30, 1848, is entirely republican. The legislative body consists of 80 members, chosen by the people, one for every 500 inhabitants. Their term of office is for six years, and one-third of the number go out every two years. The executive power is confided to a council of seven, chosen by the members of the legislature, and presiding each over one of the seven departments of the canton. Neuchâtel sends four members to the National Council of Switzerland, and two members to the Council of States. The canton of Neuchâtel was formerly a part of the German empire, but afterwards was bestowed on the House of Châlons, with the title of Count of Neuchâtel. These counts were subject to the feudal rights of the princes of Orange. In 1398 Neuchâtel was admitted into the Swiss Confederation; and in 1579 the county of Valendis having been joined to that of Neuchâtel, the title of Count was exchanged for that of Prince of Neuchâtel. The line of Châlons having become extinct, it passed to William III. of Great Britain as Prince of Orange; and on his death in 1702, his nephew Frederic I. of Prussia took possession of the principality. In 1805 it was ceded by the treaty of Tilsit to France, and given by Napoleon to Marshal Berthier; but it was restored to Prussia in 1814, though still recognised as holding the twenty-first place in the Swiss confederacy. After this it continued under the government of Prussia, and a constitution was granted by Frederick William III.; but in 1848 this state of things came to an end; a republican constitution was established; and since that time the authority of the King of Prussia has been merely nominal. On the 2d of September 1856 an attempt was made by a party of royalists to re-establish the authority of the Prussian monarch in Neuchâtel; but this proved unsuccessful, and they were taken prisoners, and arraigned for high treason. The Prussian ambassador demanded that the prisoners should be released, and the rights of Prussia recognised. This demand was rejected by the Swiss government, and the King of Prussia refused to enter into any negotiations about the canton of Neuchâtel until the prisoners were released. At last it was settled by a treaty at Paris, May 26th 1857, that an amnesty should be granted to the insurgents of Neuchâtel, and that the King of Prussia should resign all claim of sovereignty over the canton, reserving only the right to bear the title of Prince of Neuchâtel. Pop. (1850) 70,753.

Neuchâtel, the capital of the above canton, stands at the mouth of the Seyon, partly on the level ground on the shore of the lake, and partly on the slope of the Neuchâtel. Jura Mountains. It is well built, and contains several handsome streets, some of which stand on the alluvial ground gained from the lake. The castle, which is situated on an eminence, is an ancient building of some size, and was formerly the residence of the princes of Neuchâtel, but is now occupied by the government offices. Near the castle stands the church, a Gothic edifice of the twelfth century, with some parts of still more ancient date. The town-hall, a handsome building in the Grecian style, stands in the lower part of the town. The town contains also a public school, with a museum of natural history, a ladies' school, and two hospitals. A considerable trade is carried on through Neuchâtel in the manufactures and agricultural produce of the canton. Pop. (1850) 7727.

Neuchâtel Lake, forms the S.E. boundary of the canton of the same name, and is about 24 miles in length by 4 in breadth. The surface is 1320 feet above the sea, and the greatest depth is 400 feet. It is fed by the Orbe from the S.W., by the rivers of Neuchâtel from the N.W., and by the Broye from Lake Morat; and it discharges its waters by the Thielle into the Lake of Biene, and thence into the Aar. The scenery of the lake is fine, but inferior in grandeur to that of some of the other Swiss lakes. A considerable trade is carried on this lake; and it is navigated by a steamer, which touches at the principal places on its banks.