smelting of iron is carried on to some extent. It
has some fertile valleys, and is watered by the
rivers Wye and Uske and other streams, and has
the advantage of a canal for barges of 25 tons bur-
then from the centre of the county to the Bristol
Channel at Newport. It has few or no manufac-
tures ; but, in addition to its iron, it produces a
surplus of grain, cattle, and butter, and some wool,
out of which a considerable rent and other taxes
are discharged, and a supply of manufactured,
colonial, and foreign productions obtained. The
four principal towns are Brecon, Builth, Crick-
howel, and Hay.

Brecknock, or Brecon, a borough and chief town
of the preceding county. It is an ancient place,
as appears by the Roman coins that are often dug
up ; and its once magnificent castle is now an in-
significant ruin. It contains three churches, one of
which is collegiate ; and in that part of the town,
called the Watton is a fine arsenal. To the east
of the town is a considerable lake, well stored with
fish, whence runs a rivulet into the Wye. It is
seated at the confluence of the Ilondey with the
Uske, which falls into the Bristol Channel and
with which it communicates by a canal to New-
port, near the mouth of the Uske, 34 m. N. W.
of Monmouth, and 171 W. by N. of London. Pop.
in 1821, 4,193.

Breda, a fortified city of Dutch Brabant, sur-
rounded on all sides by water and morasses. The
great church is a noble structure, with a lofty
spir.e 362 feet in height. In 1625 the Spaniards,
after a memorable siege of 10 months, reduced
this city; but, in 1637 the prince of Orange retook
it. In 1793 it surrendered to the French, after
a siege of only three days, but was retaken soon
after. It is seated on the river Merk, 25 m. N.
N. E. of Antwerp, and 60 S. of Amsterdam.

Bredon, a considerable village in Leicester-
shire, Eng. 5 m. N. N. E. of Ashby de la Zouch,
seated at the base of a high limestone rock, on
the summit of which the church stands, and com-
mands very extensive views. Pop. 1,044.

Bredstedt, a town of Denmark, in the duchy
of Sleswick, 21 m. W. N. W. of Sleswick. Pop.
about 1,500.

Breeds Hill, an eminence on the north side of
Charlestown, in Massachusetts, celebrated for the
stand made by the Americans against the Brit-
ish troops, at the commencement of hostilities
with the mother country. This action is usually
called the battle of Bunker Hill (another hill near
it.) See Bunker Hill.

Bregentz, or Bergens, a town of Germany, in
Tyrol, with a castle on an eminence; seated at
the mouth of a riverrof its name, on the east end
of the Lake of Constance, 6 m. S. E. of Lindau.
Pop. about 2,000.

Breglio, a town of the continental part of Sar-
dinia, 19 m. N. E. of Nice.

Brehar, the most mountainous of the Sicily
islands, 30 miles W. of the Land’s End. Long.

6. 47. W. lat. 50. 2. N.

Bredna, a town of the duchy of Saxony, 8 m.
Ni E. of Halle.

Breme, a town of Italy, in the Milanese near
the confluence of the Sessia with the Po, on the
frontiers of Montferrat, 23 m. W. of Pavia.

Bremen, a duchy and maritime district of Ger-
many, in the circle of Lower Saxony, lying be-
tween the Weser and the Elbe; the former of
which separates it from Oldenberg, and the other
from Holstein. The country is fertile and popu-
lous, but in winter is subject to inundations. It
formerly belonged to the Swedes, but was sold to
the elector of Hanover, in 1719. Stade, on the
south bank of the Elbe, is the seat of regency.' It
is about 2,100 square miles in extent, contains a
population of about 170,000, and now forms part
of the kingdom of Hanover.

Bremen, a freecitv, and capital of the duchy of
the same name. The Weser divides it into the
old and new town, both of which are fortified : the
former is the largest, and in it stands the cathedral.
It has a harbour, nine miles below the town, and
carries on a considerable trade, but which was
formerly much more extensive. In 1757 it was
taken b v the French, who were driven out in 1758
by the Hanoverians It is 22 m. E. of Oldenburg,
and 54 S. W. of Hamburgh. Pop. about 40,000.
Long. 8. 40. E. lat. 53. 5. N.

Bremenvord, a town in the duchy of Bremen,
defended by a castle. The chancery of the duchy
is kept here. It stands near the Oste, 32 m. N.
by E. of Bremen.

Bremgarten, a town of Switzerland, in the free
lower bailiwics, between the cantons of Zurich
and Bern. The inhabitants deal chiefly in paper;
and it is seated on the Reuss, 10 m. W.of Zurich.

Breno, a town of Italy, in Bresciano, seated on
the Oglio, 36 m. N. of Brescia. Pop. about 2,000.

Brenta, a river which rises in the principality of
Trent, passes by Bassano and Padua, and enters
the gulf of Venice, a little S. of Venice.

Brentford, an appendage to London, 7 m. from
Hyde Park corner, on the great western road. It
is seated on the north hank of the Thames, where
the grand junction canal originally communica-
ted with the river; but an extended line having
since been cut, skirting the whole of the north
side of London, to the vicinity of tho docks on
the east, and jetting in its course into the very cen-
tre of the city, Brentford derives but little compar-
ative advantage from that canal. It has however
some very extensive flour mills, distilleries, soap
works, pan, tile, and coarse pottery works, exten-
sive nursery grounds, and various other occupa-
tions dependent on the metropolis. It is a very
old town, as may be inferred from its name being
derived from the Saxon, implying a ford over
the little river Brent, which here falls into the
Thames; and in earlier times it was distinguish-
ed as having a market on Tuesday, whilst now,
from the continual intercourse with London, it
has every day the appearance of holding a great
fair. On the opposite bank of the river is a
Gothic edifice, built by George III. for an occa-
sional residence ; and at the west end of the town
is a magnificent edifice, called Sion House, form-
erly a monastery, now belonging to the dukedom
of Northumberland. The election of the two
members of parliament for the metropolitan coun-
ty of Middlesex is held here ; and during a contest,
the whole line of road from London and Brent-
ford itself, presents a scene of gaiety, animation,
and spirit, that must be seen to be understood;
for described correctly it cannot be. Being on
the confines of two or three parishes, the popula-
tion has not been specifically returned; but, in
1826, it may be stated at 9,000.

Brentwood, p.t. Rockingham Co. N. H. 20 m. fr.
Portsmouth. Pop. 891. Here are manufactories
of cotton.

Brentville, p.v. Prince William Co. Va.

Bresciano, a province in the north of Italy,
lying between the lat. of 45. 10. and 46. 20. N.,
and 10. 45. of E. long., bounded on the south by
Mantua and the Cremonese, west by Bergamasco,