village in Lower Canada, situated on the river St Lawrence. It contains about 100 houses, and a church. Through this place the communication is carried on between Montreal and St John's, and the commerce also between the United States and Lower Canada. Long. 73. 15. W. Lat. 45. 32. N. PRAIRIE DU ROCHER, a French village of the United States, in Randolph county, Illinois territory, 5 miles from the Mississippi, and 12 N. of Kaskaskia. Population about 400.

PRALBOINO, a town of Austrian Italy, delegation of Brescia, on the Mella. Population 2500.

PRAM PRAM, a seaport on the Gold coast of Africa, where there was a small British fort, an appendage to Accra. Here is placed the head Fetish, an object of worship on this part of the coast, to which the superstitious habits of the natives make them pay the most implicit deference, and which thus gives the place a considerable importance. 30 miles E. S. E, of Accra.

PRAROMON, a large village in the west of Switzerland, near Friburg.

PRASLIN, a town of France, in the department of the Aube, 9 miles S. W. of Bar ́sur Seine.

PRASLIN, an island in the Indian sca, one of the group called the Sechelles. The name signifies the country of the sea cocoanut, for the sake of which fruit it is resorted to from Mauritius. It contains an excellent harbour, well sheltered by small islands from every wind. The interior is lofty, mountainous, and covered with trees. The French, in 1768, took formal possession of it, by erecting a flag-staff on a rock, and placing, in a small building of brick and mortar, the arms of the king of France, cut on a sheet of lead. They did not, however, erect any fortress, or form any settlement. Captain Lewis, in one of the Company's cruizers, touched here in 1771, when he did not see the least appearance of huts or inhabitants; but Bory de St Vincent, at a later period, states the population at 261. Long. 55. 47. E. Lat. 4. 19. S.

PRAŠOMISI, a small island in the north of Greece, near the entrance of the gulf of Salonica, 16 miles S. E. of the island of Scopelos.

PRASSOUDE, a small island of Greece, at the entrance of the gulf of Salonica, about 8 miles from the coast of Magnesia.

PRASTO, a small town of Greece, in the Morea, province of Laconia, situated to the west of the gulf of Napoli, at the foot of a hill, where formerly stood the town of Prasig. 16 miles N. by E. of Misitra.

PRATAS, a cluster of islets and rocks in the Chinese sea, about 300 miles S. S. E. of Canton. The entire group is about 60

miles in circumference. The principal island, called Prata, is surrounded by a very extensive shoal, along which captain King sailed 18 miles from north to south, but was unable to ascertain its limits from east to west. Long. 116. 43. E. Lat. 19. 32. N.

PRATO, a considerable town of Italy, in the grand duchy of Tuscany, district of Florence. It is situated in a pleasant district, on the Bisenzio, and is surrounded with a wall and ditch. Its streets are regular, and the houses in general good. It has several squares, of which the best is the Piazza Mercatale; but the chief ornament of the town is the cathedral, a fine edifice of white marble. The other churches are nowise interesting; they are no less than 12 in number; and there are also two poor-houses, four hospitals, and an hospital for foundlings. Prato has manufactures of silks, woollens, hats, and soap: also some iron and copper works, and in the neighbourhood are quarries of stone. Its territory is fertile in wheat and maize. Population 10,500. 6 miles S. E. of Pistoja, and 9 N. N. W. of Florence.

PRATO, a large village of the south of Switzerland, in the canton of the Ticino, 21 miles S. by W. of Locarno.

PRATO VECCHIO, a small town of Italy, in the grand duchy of Tuscany, 23 miles E. of Florence.

PRATS DE MOLO, a town of France, department of the Eastern Pyrenees. It is irregularly fortified; and in the neighbourhood are mines of lead and silver, and mineral springs. Population 3000. 14 miles W. S. W. of Ceret.

PRATTELN, OF BRATTELN, a village and castle in the north of Switzerland, near Bale. An obstinate battle was fought here between the French and Swiss, in 1444.

PRATZ DEL REY, a small town of the north-east of Spain, in the province of Catalonia, district of Cervera. 9 miles N. cf Manresa.

PRATZEN, a village of the Austrian states, in Moravia, 3 miles W. of Austerlitz.

PRAVA, a small town of European Turkey, in Macedon, near the coast, in a district fruitful in tobacco.

PRAUSNITZ, a village of Prussian Silesia, in the circle of Jauer, with 1000 inhabitants.

PRAUSSKA, OF PRASSKA, a town of Poland, on the Prosna. Population 800. 50 miles S. by E. of Kalisch.

PRAUSSNITZ, a town of Prussian Silesia. Population 1800. 18 miles N. of Breslau.

PRAUSSNITZ, a small town of Prussian Silesia, to the west of Breslau, ncar Jauer. Population 900,

PRAUSZKA, or PRASZKA, a small town in the east of Poland, 50 miles S. by E. of Kalisch. Population 800.

PRAVA, a seaport town and capital of the island of Tercera, one of the Azores. It is beautifully situated on a plain, with high mountains behind. It contains a church, four convents, three hospitals, and about 3000 inhabitants. All the trade of the island is conducted from this port.

PRAYA, a small seaport of the island of Gratiosa, one of the Azores.

PRAYA, a town in the kingdom of Ardra, on the Slave coast of Africa. It is situated on the sea coast, at the bottom of a bay, 30 miles N. E. of Grand Popo.

PRAYA, PORTO, capital of St Jago, one of the Cape de Verd islands, off the coast of Africa. It is situated on a table plain at the top of a rock, perpendicular on all sides towards the sea, the descent to which is by two steep roads cut in the rock. The bay is of easy access, and the anchorage safe. A fort placed on the summit of a hill, commands the harbour, and, if properly mounted and garrisoned, would be of great strength. The houses, except those of the principal officers, are built of stone, one story high, and covered with branches of the cocoa-nut tree. Porto Praya is the residence of the governor-general of the Portuguese settlements, both in the Cape de Verd islands, and at Cape Verde on the coast of Africa. Its only trade consists in supplying provisions and refreshments to the outward bound Guinea and East Indiamen, not only Portuguese, but of all the nations of Europe: few of them call on their return. On the arrival of a vessel, the natives come down in such crowds, that the whole coast resembles a fair. Every place is filled with hogs, bullocks, fowls, goats, pigs, plantains, and cocoa-nuts, which they exchange for shirts, drawers, handkerchiefs, and various species of cloths and apparel. The police is rigid, and no one is permitted to wear arms of any description. In watering here, the health of the soldiers is in danger of suffering from the extreme heat of the climate, as well as from the immoderate use of rum.

PRAYAG, the Hindoo name of the celebrated fortress of Allahabad. It signifies a holy place of ablution, situated at the confluence of two rivers.

PREBLE COUNTY, a county of the United States, in the west part of Ohio. Population 3304. The chief town is Eaton.

PREBLE, a township of the United States, in Courtland county, New York, 150 miles W. of Albany. Population 1080.

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PRECHAC, a town of France, department of the Gironde. Population 2709. miles S. S. E. of Bourdeaux,

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PRECIGNE, a town of France, department of the Sarthe, with 2100 inhabitants. miles S. of Sable, and 14 W. by N. of La Fleche.

PRECOPIA, PROKOPIA, ORKUB, or URKUP, a considerable town of European Turkey, sandgiacat of Aladschahissar, situated on a branch of the Morava. It has 6000 inhabitants, and is the seat of two archbishops, one of the Rascian, the other of the Latin church. 16 miles W. of Nissa. Long. 21. 20. E. Lat. 43. 30. N.

PRECZ, a town of Denmark, in Holstein, 9 miles N. E. of Kiel. Population 3100. Here is a Lutheran convent, and a public library.

PRE ST DIDIER, a village of Italy, in Piedmont, province of Aosta, on the Sesia, with 1000 inhabitants, and some iron-works. PREDOM. See Pridemost.

PRELS, a parish of England, in Salop, 4 miles N. E. from Wem. Population 2846.

PREGEL, a considerable river of East Prussia, formed by the junction of the Angerap and the Pissa, which falls into the Frische Haff, below Konigsberg. Near that city it is above 300 feet in width, and of sufficient depth to admit large vessels, were they not prevented entering by a bar at its mouth.

PREGUISAS, a river of Brazil, which runs into the Atlantic, Long. 44. 26. W. Lat. 2. 26. S.

PRELUKA, a seaport of Austrian Illyria, in Istria, on the Adriatic, near the small town of Castua. Its trade is chiefly in wine.

PREMERY, a town of France, situated on the river Nievre, and containing 1300 inhabitants. In the neighbourhood are some iron-works, and extensive forests. 14 miles E. of La Charite, and 17 N. E. of Nevers. PREMISLAU. See Przemysl.

PREMNAY, a parish of Scotland, in Aberdeenshire, about four miles long and one broad. Population 534.

PRENDERGAST, a parish of Wales, in Pembrokeshire, 1 mile from Haverford West. Population 967.

PRENN, a town of Poland, 23 miles E. N. E. of Marianpol. Population 1300. Long. 23. 59. 35. E.` Lat. 53. 37. 23. N.

PRENZLOW, a town of the Prussian states, the chief place of the district of Brandenburg called the Ucker Mark. It is situated in a fruitful plain on the lake and river Ucker, is divided into old and new, and is, on the whole, tolerably built, containing a pleasant square, and a beautiful public walk. Here are four Lutheran, two Calvinist, and one Catholic church, several schools and hospitals, and 8000 inhabitants. The town has several breweries, and a conşiderable trade in corn; but the chief em

ansion of the palatine of the county, the barracks, the corn-market, and the townhouse. Presburg is the usual residence of the archbishop of Gran, and has an academy, a school for the children of nobility, two or three monasteries, a Cathole and a Lutheran gymnasium, the latter one of the principal in Hungary. The manufactures, though on a small scale, are various; comprising woollens, sik, oil, tobacco, and snuff. The trade of the place is in a great measure transit, particularly in corn and linen. It was here that a treaty was concluded between Franee and Austria, after the short but eventful campaign of 1805. It bore date 26th December 1805. 38 miles E. by S. of Vienna, and 107 W. N. W. of Pesth. Long. 17. 10. 45. E. Lat. 48. 8. 7. N.

PRESCOT, a market town of England, in the county of Lancaster, situated on the great road from London to Liverpool, by Warrington. It stands on an eminence, and consists chiefly of one long straggling street. The church is a large and spacious building; and its lofty steeple, 52 yards high, forms a conspicuous object from the surrounding country for many miles. Here is, besides, a meeting-house for dissenters; also a free school and several alms-houses. The cotton manufacture has been partially introduced here; but the chief trade of the town consists in the making of watch tools, for which the town has been long celebrated, and of watch movements. The drawing of pinion wire originated at Preset; and here are made small files of very superior quality. The manufacture of sailcloth and earthenware is also carried on to a considerable extent. At St Helen's, near this town, is an extensive manufactory of plate-glass, where cast plate-glass, concave and convex mirrors, are now made, of sizes and qualities equal, if not superior, to any imported from the continent. In these extensive works, which cover an inclosed area of nearly 30 acres, upwards of 300 persons are constantly employed in the various processes of melting, casting, blowing, polishing, &c. Near this manufactory is one for smelting and refining copper ore. Market on Tuesday. Population 3675 inhabitants, and 770 houses. 8 miles E. of Liverpool, and 198 N. N. W. of London. Long. 2. 48. W. Lat. 53. 26. N.

PRESCOTT, the name of a county in Upper Canada.

PRESHUTE, a parish of England, in Wiltshire, in the vicinity of Marlborough. Po pulation 583.

PRESIDII, STATO DI, the former name of a district in Italy, consisting of several forts, with their dependencies, retained by Philip II. of Spain, when he ceded the Sciennese

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to Cosmo I. duke of Florence, in 1557. It now belongs wholly to Tuscany, and contains on the mainland a population of 45,000.

PRESNOFSKAIA, a fort of the district of Kourgane, in the government of Tobolsk, forming part of the fortified line constructed for the defence of that province. There is a village attached to it, containing a church and a hundred houses.

PRESNOGORFSKAIA, a fort also in the district of Kourgane, and government of Tobolsk.-There is likewise a redoubt of this name belonging to the same military line.

PRESQUE ISLAND, an island near the north coast of Lake Ontario. Long. 78. W. Lat. 43. 52. N.

PRESQUE ISLE, an island in Lake Huron. Long. 83. 40. W. Lat. 45. 4. N.

PRESQUE ISLE HARBOUR, is situated on the south shore of Lake Erie, in North America, opposite to the North Foreland, or Long Point. It is formed by the sandy beach or narrow peninsula of Presque Isle, which covers it from the lake. Its breadth is about a mile and a half, but it runs inward nearly three miles. The entrance is not more than half a mile wide, with a bar across it, over which there is in general not more than six or seven feet water.

PRESQUIS, POINT DE LA, a cape on the north-west coast of Hispaniola. Long. 74. 4. W. Lat. 19. 52. N.

PRESSAS, OF PRAISSAS, a town of France, department of the Lot and Garonne. Population 1600. 9 miles N. W. of Agen.

PRESSATH, a market town of Bavaria, on the Haidnab, 21 miles N. of Amberg. Population 1500.

PRESSIGNY LE GRAND, a town of France, department of the Indre and Loire, near the river Claisse. It has a castle and 1000 inhabitants. 33 miles S. of Tours. Pressigny le Petit is about 3 miles distant.

PRESSLEY'S CREEK, a river of Virginia, which runs into the Potomac, Long. 76. 32. W. Lat. 38. 2. N.

PRESSNITZ, OF BRZEZNICZE, a town of Bohemia, on the borders of Saxony, in a country of mines. Population 2300. 22

miles W. N. W. of Saatz.

PRESTBURY, a parish of England, in Cheshire, 3 miles N. N. W. from Macclesfield. Population 415.-2d, A parish in the county of Gloucester, 1 mile E. by N. from Cheltenham. Population 667.

PRESTEIGNE, or, in Welsh, LLAN ANDROS, a market and borough town of Wales, in the county of Radnor. It is situated near the south bank of the river Lug, where it enters Herefordshire, and in the centre of a fertile and well cultivated valley. It was formerly an inconsiderable village, but is now the handsomest and best built town

in the county, and seems also still improving in respectability and population. The streets are clean, neat, well formed, and well paved; and there is a pleasant walk round the eminence on which stood its ancient castle. The church is very ancient; and here is a free school, founded in the reign of Elizabeth, by John Beddoes, Esq. The great and quarter sessions are held here, and the county courts alternately here and at Radnor. Market on Saturday, a good one for corn; and a noted fair on St Andrew's day, old style. Population 1114. 30 miles W. N. W. of Worcester, and 151 N. W. of London, by Hereford. Long. 2. 59. W. Lat. 52. 16. N.

PRESTON, a decayed village of Scotland, in Kirkcudbrightshire.-There is another decayed village of the same name in Haddingtonshire, 8 miles E. of Edinburgh, formerly noted for a great fair.

PRESTON, a borough town in Lancashire, pleasantly situated on a gentle elevation above the Ribble, about 15 miles from the confluence of that river with the Irish sea, and in the centre of a country abounding in rich and varied landscapes. The town rose into existence on the decay of the ancient city of Ribchester, a city which is now reduced to the humble condition of a village, about 11 miles distant from Preston. A priory was anciently established here, for the relief of the Grey Friars. The building which formed the seat of the institution was, subsequently to the destruction of religious foundations, converted into a house of correction, and is now occupied in distinct private dwellings of the lowest description. The town was incorporated by Henry II. in 1160. By a subsequent charter, granted in the reign of Henry III. the officers of the burgh were authorised to -hold a guild merchant for the renewal of freedom to the burgesses, and for other purposes. This privilege is made the occasion of great festivity. For a long time after their first institution, the guilds were held at irregular periods; but they have now for more than a century been uniformly celebrated every twentieth year, commencing on the Monday next after the decollation of St John, which generally happens in the last week of August. The last was held in 1802. The amusements, which are of great variety and interest, continue for a fortnight; but for civic purposes, the guild books are open for an entire month. The body corporate consists of a mayor, recorder, 7 aldermen, and 17 capital burgesses, who together form the common council of the borough. The mayor, and a town's bailiff and serjeant, are elected annually, by a jury of 24 guild burgesses. The members of the council, with the exception of the

mayor, retain their seats for life, or during the pleasure of a majority; and vacancie are supplied by the remaining members The town sends two representatives to par liament, and affords a practical example o universal suffrage, every male inhabitant whether housekeeper or lodger, who ha resided six months in the town, and wh has not been chargeable to any township a a pauper for 12 months, having a right to vote for two candidates at elections. Thi principle was established by a decision o the house of cominons, on an appeal in the year 1766, and has ever since been acte upon. During the greater part of the las century, the town was much resorted to as an agreeable retirement by old and respectabl families, of slender incomes; but having du ring the last 20 or 30 years become th seat of very extensive manufacturing esta blishments, the character of the inhabitant has undergone a consequent change. Thi change was in a great measure brough about through the spirited exertions of single individual, the late Mr John Hor rocks, who, in the year 1791, commenced nearly without capital, a small manufactur of muslin; and taking advantage of th important improvements then introduce in the art of cotton spinning, he forme several establishments in this branch c business, and in the course of a very fev years became the master or principal owne of no less than six large factories, and ob tained interest sufficient to secure his re turn to parliament without opposition, a the general election in 1802. The popula tion of the town had been nearly stationar for a full century previous to the year 1790and generally estimated at 6000 persons In 1801 the number was 11,887; i 1811, 17,065; and in July 1819, the num ber of inhabited houses was found to 1546; uninhabited, including new build ings, 170; and inhabitants, 21,958. Th streets are generally broad and well paved the houses are almost entirely built of re brick, and slated; but the town canno boast much in respect to public buildings The proportion of Roman Catholics is per haps greater here than in any other tow in England. This body of Christians pos sesses two large chapels; one of them is sait to be the largest in the kingdom, and both of them are generally well filled. Methodists have also a large meeting-house and there are slender congregations of l dependents, Quakers, and Unitarians. Mos of the public offices belonging to the county palatine and duchy of Lancaster, as well the county court, are kept in this town The quarter sessions for the hundreds Amounderness, Blackburn, and Leyland are also held here; and there is a house

The