a market-town of England, partly in the county of Cambridge, and partly in that of Suffolk, is pleasantly situated at the foot, and on the gently sloping side of a valley, 13 miles E. by N. of Cambridge, and 61 N. by E. of London. There is one principal street, about three quarters of a mile long, only partially paved, but lined with good houses, most of them modern, and many very handsome. It has a market-house, two parish churches, one of which is a fine building, Independent and Methodist churches, a national and other schools, and a savings-bank. Malt and beer are the chief manufactures. The principal importance of Newmarket, however, is derived from horse-racing, for which it is the most famous place in the country. The race-course is about 3 miles to the west of the town, and is between 4 and 5 miles in length. There is also a training ground on the slope of a hill to the south of Newmarket, and the town contains no less than fifteen training establishments for horses. Races seem to have been established here as early as the end of the sixteenth century; and soon afterwards, in the reign of James I., they became a fashionable amusement. A house was erected at Newmarket for the accommodation of that monarch, which was destroyed during the civil war, and restored in the time of Charles II. Part of it still remains, but the rest has been pulled down. Seven races are held during the year, which attract a large number of visitors. Pop. (1851) 3356.

NEW ORKNEY, a group of islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, lying between 60. and 61. S. Lat., about 675 miles S.E. of Cape Horn. The principal island is called Mainland or Pomona, and another, called Sadelle Island, has a lofty mountain, known by the name of Noble's Peak, which is visible from a distance of nearly 70 miles. The islands are all covered with high and rugged hills; and there are found here large numbers of seals, and immense flocks of sea-fowl. This group forms a part of New South Shetland.

NEW ORLEANS, the commercial metropolis of Louisiana, and of the south-western states of the American Union, is situated on the left bank of the Mississippi River, at a distance, by the windings of the river, of about 100 miles from its mouth; Lat. 29. 58. N., Long. 90. 7. W. The position being one of commanding commercial importance, when viewed in connection with the immense area of navigable waters (the shore lines of which, including both banks, being estimated to be 35,000 miles in length) which find their outlet in this direction, the city has progressed in despite of many natural disadvantages. The country in its immediate vicinity has been reclaimed by the industry of man, and there is little or no land on the banks of the river within the state of Louisiana, with an considerable exception at Baton Rouge, which would not be covered by the waters of the Mississippi during a considerable portion of the year, were it not for the artificial embankment which, at vast labour and expense, has been erected. This embankment or levee is 15 feet above low-water mark at New Orleans, or 6 feet above the level of the city, towards which it slopes almost imperceptibly, form- ing a crescent-shaped quay, several miles in length, which has scarcely a parallel in any part of the world for the advantages it affords for the landing and shipment of produce. Along this line for 6 or 7 miles, during the season of active business, may be seen dense forests of masts of vessels of every nation moored three or four deep.

The city was originally laid out regularly in the form of a parallelogram, with a front of about half a mile on the river; but in its subsequent progress the same regularity has not been observed. In the modern portions, however, including the chief business parts, and what, until very lately, was known as Lafayette, the streets are generally wide, and the buildings large and commodious, displaying much taste and elegance. Within a few years numerous blocks of buildings for stores, four to six stories in height, have been erected; and private residences, in the upper portions of the city and in the suburbs, are every day advancing in number and style. Airy verandahs, large and beautiful gardens, groves of ornamental trees, among which the orange and the lemon scatter their fragrance and exhibit their mellowed fruit, and the magnolia spreads its luxuriant shades, adorn and beautify the town. There are many spacious public squares, laid out with taste, and shaded with beautiful trees. In one of these, originally known as the Place D'Armes, but now changed to Jackson Square, shrubbery and flowers abound; vases, statuettes, and busts crown the walks; and, in the centre, a bronze equestrian statue of the hero of New Orleans, the work of an American artist, rises to great height. Among the public buildings, the New Custom-House is most notable. It has been in course of construction about ten years, and will not be completed for two or three years more. It will cover an area greater than that of any public building in America, except perhaps the Federal Capitol, and will cost several millions of dollars. Among the finest buildings in the city are the Municipal Hall, Odd Fellows' Hall, Merchant Exchange, United States' Branch Mint, Charity Hospital, Mechanics' Institute, New School of Medicine, University Buildings, New Marine Hospital, and Widows' Home; the St Charles and St Louis Hotels, City Hotel, banks, and Arcade; and among the churches, the Cathedral, St Patrick's, the Presbyterian church in Lafayette Square, the Episcopal in Canal Street, and the Independent in Camp Street. The numerous cotton-presses and markets are also on the largest scale, possessing no inconsiderable interest. The St Charles' Hotel is one of the most imposing structures in America, and has been lately rebuilt upon the site of a similar building destroyed by fire. It is capable of accommodating 800 to 1000 guests, and is said to have been built at an expense of about £100,000. The public cemeteries are embellished and adorned in a style peculiar to the city.

The educational statistics of New Orleans show a larger proportion of children at the public schools than either Cincinnati, Baltimore, or New York. The system has been some years in operation, and is highly honourable to the city. Upwards of £40,000 are annually expended upon the public schools, and about 10,000 children are taught. The private schools are not so numerous as in other cities, and the means of acquiring an academical education are much circumscribed. A university has been located at New Orleans, with law, medical, and collegiate departments. The medical college has been in existence since 1835, and has matriculated over 2000 students, the number being, in 1856, 200. The law school was organized in 1847, and has an average of forty to fifty students. In the collegiate department little has yet been accomplished, there being no sufficient organization or endowment. A chair of commerce, founded by a merchant of New Orleans (Mansell White), is a somewhat novel feature introduced into this university. The subject of this university is again before the legislature of the state, and it is thought that efficient improvement will be the result. A new medical school, established during the last year, affords much promise of excellence, and numbers many students. The medical student has free and constant access to all the hospitals. Of these the Charity Hospital is the chief, and is the largest institution of the kind in America, and perhaps the most efficiently regulated. It is an immense building, admirably arranged and ventilated, with handsome grounds, and accommodation for 1000 patients at one time. Among the other hospitals are the Naval, on the opposite bank of the river, Stone's, the Franklin Infirmary, and a new military hospital in course of construction.

There are at New Orleans an academy of sciences, which meets regularly for discussion and reports; a lyceum connected with the public schools, where lectures and addresses from distinguished men are frequently delivered; and, connected with these schools, a library of 10,000 volumes, well selected, in all departments of literature and science. A free public library attached to the Mechanics' Institute was lately destroyed by fire. Newspapers are published in the French, Spanish, and German languages, as well as in English. Two monthly medical journals, of established reputation, are published; and De Bow's Monthly Review, a periodical devoted to the exposition of the industry of the southern and western states.

By the census of 1850 (but there have been many changes for the better since that time), it appeared there were 13 Roman Catholic, 1 Episcopal, 2 German Reformed, 1 Jewish, 5 Methodist, 4 Presbyterian, 1 Universalist, 1 Christian, and 2 other churches, with accommodation for 27,350 persons, or 23 per cent. of the population (Boston being capable of accommodating 56 per cent., and Charleston 67 per cent.). Total value of church property £323,703, which is now swelled to about £400,000.

In proportion to population and wealth, there is no city in America which produces so few manufactures as New Orleans. With the exception of a few foundries and machine shops, no efforts in establishing factories on a large scale have been successful. This is owing to the cost of labour, the climate, and (as much as to either) a deficiency of capital. In 1850 the capital invested in manufactures was reported at £618,675; hands employed, 3134; product, £931,422. Nine schooners and ten steamers were built in Louisiana in 1856, of which nearly all were at New Orleans.

It is the commerce of New Orleans which gives to the city its distinctive character, and extends its reputation throughout the world. This commerce has been gradually extending from the humblest beginnings; and so admirable is its position in this respect that, vast as is the present trade, it must continue to grow with the development and settlement of the great interior basin of which it is the mart. Railroads and canals may divert, as they are now diverting, large portions of her trade to the markets of the eastern states; but there will be left sufficient at all times to follow the natural channels, and add to the commercial opulence of New Orleans. Already is the city active in giving aid to such internal improvement schemes as will counteract the strokes of her enterprising rivals; and, in a few years she has appropriated many millions of dollars for this purpose.

At the time of the transfer of New Orleans to the Americans in 1803, its commerce was very inconsiderable. In 1817, 137,746 tons entered or cleared from New Orleans; and there also arrived in the year 1500 flat-bottomed boats and 1500 barges. The exports were £2,812,713; while in 1856 they amounted to £30,053,346. The imports through the custom-house, for the fiscal year ending 30th June 1856, amounted in value to £3,579,856. In the year ending 31st June 1856, the foreign exports of New Orleans reached £16,786,798; being larger than those of any American port except New York, and being about Newport, one-fourth of the whole exports of the Union. Excluding coin and bullion, New Orleans exports more largely of domestic goods than New York. The amount of cotton received at New Orleans, in the year 1855-6, amounted to 1,759,293 bales, or one-half of the whole crops of the United States, and was valued at L14,660,772. In 1856 the total tonnage which entered and cleared at New Orleans was 1,436,299. The total arrivals—ships, 874; bark, 376; brigs, 261; schooners, 399; steamers, 234; total, 2143; besides steam-boats, 2956. In 1854 there were 5 banks in New Orleans, with a capital of L3,306,348; 3 free banks, with a capital of L560,157; and 2 other banks in liquidation. In 1856 the banking capital of New Orleans had not increased, and is believed to be inadequate to the wants of its commerce. Under the general banking law lately adopted it is believed there will be an amelioration.

New Orleans was founded in 1717 by Bienville, the governor of the province of Louisiana under the French. In 1769 the colony was transferred to Spain. Its population in 1785 reached 4780. Napoleon I obtained it from Spain, and sold it to America in 1803, after it had been for many years the centre of intrigues and negotiations. On January 8, 1815, was fought the battle of New Orleans, a few miles below the city, between General Jackson, at the head of the American forces, and the British under General Pakenham, ending in the defeat of the latter with a loss in killed and wounded of nearly 3000 men. The American loss was but 13. The laws, manners, and institutions, of the French and Spanish inhabitants of New Orleans are blended happily with those of the American, and all distinctions and prejudices are being gradually obliterated. The population in 1788 reached 5331; in 1797, 8056; in 1810, 17,240; in 1820, 27,176; in 1830, 46,310; in 1840, 102,193; in 1850, 116,375; in 1856, about 125,000. Of the total population of 1850, 59,312 were white males, and 44,431 white females; 4104 free coloured males, and 6196 free coloured females; and 8012 male, and 11,595 female slaves. Of the same population (excluding slaves) 50,470 were born in foreign countries, and only 48,601 were born in the United States.

(J. D. B. N.)