Malta, containing 2300 inhabitants. Pome-. granates are raised in the neighbourhood in quantities. SIEGERSDORF, a neat village in Lower Austria, near Vienna, with linen manufactures. SIEGHARDS, a small town of Lower Austria, 6 miles E. of Waidhofen, and 61 W. N. W. of Vienna. Population 1500. SIEMIATYCE, a small town of Russian Poland, 7 miles S. S. W. of Belcz, and 51 S. by W. of Bialystok. Population 2800. Here is a college, or large central school, where a number of young men are educated gratis; also a castle, with a collection of objects of natural history, formed by prince Jablonowski, but now belonging to the government. SIENIAWA, a small town of Austrian Poland, on the river San, 20 miles S. E. of Krzeszow. SIENNA, TERRITORIO DI SIENNA, or SIENNESE, a province of the grand duchy of Tuscany, bounded by the Florentine and the territory of Pisa. It is 62 miles in length, and of nearly an equal breadth; its superficial extent is about 3100 square miles. It is divided into two districts, called Upper and Lower; the former enjoying, from its elevation, a pure and healthy atmosphere, the latter marshy, and affected with the mal aria. This province contains level tracks of great fertility, and several of its mountains contain mineral products. Its population is estimated at 190,000. SIENNA, or SIENA, an ancient and considerable city of Tuscany, the capital of the province of Sienna, situated in a pleasant and healthy district. Its population amounts to 24,000. The approach to it from the southern road is through a fine avenue planted with trees, and affording, from a distance, a view of the town too favourable to be realized on entering it. Sienna being built on three eminences, the streets are extremely uneven, winding, and narrow, so that the chief part of the town is impassable for carriages. The houses are in general of brick, and the streets are paved with the same material. The only handsome public square is that in which is the town-house, and which contains a beautiful fountain. The piazza here is one of the principal attractions for strangers: it is a large space, well laid out with walks, and planted with statues. In the evening, the time for walking in Italy, it may be called a miniature of Hyde Park. The esplanade is a fine shady avenue leading to the citadel, the ramparts of which, planted with trees, and laid out in the form of terraces, afford several interesting points of view. The cathedral of Sienna is a magnificent marble structure in the Gothic style, and accounted inferior to none in Italy, except St Peter's at Rome. Its nave is supported by rows of beautiful columns; its pavement is embellished with mosaics, and with delineations of subjects in sacred history. Several of the chapels and altars of this stately edifice are deserving of attention, being decorated with beautiful paintings and statues. The town-house is a large building, also in the Gothic style, and surrounded with porticos. Adjoining is the theatre, rebuilt since 1750. There are in Sienna several family mansions, or, as they are termed, palaces, but none of remark able architecture. The manufactures of Sienna comprise woollen, leather, paper, and hats, but all on a small scale. Some traffic is carried on in corn; and the valuable marble of the environs might be made an object of ex port, did this part of the country possess water conveyance. This town is the seat of a university, founded so long ago as 1321, and still reckoning so many as 60 professors; but their charges are in a great measure nominal, and the seminary is of little repute. Here are several academies, among which those of physics and natural history have acquired some note from their published memoirs. The Siennese having comparatively little trade, and reck oning among their number a large proportion of gentry and literati, lay claim to a reputation for politeness, and to a taste in learning and the arts, in particular for speaking Italian with great purity. This town has, from first to last, supplied seven occupants of the papal chair, but it gave birth also to Socinus, the founder of sect which may be termed almost deistical. Sienna lays claim to great antiquity, its origin being almost as ancient as that of Rome. It was long, however, a petty place. Augustus sent thither a colony, and Pliny mentions the town under the name of Colonia Senensis. Its prosperity, like that of Pisa, was greatest during the middle ages, when it enjoyed an extensive com merce, and is said to have been much more populous than at present. It long maintained itself as an independent republic; but intestine divisions favouring the designs of foreign powers, it became successively subject to French and Spanish invaders, and, in the latter part of the 16th century, was ceded along with its territory to Florence, by Philip II. of Spain. Since then it has had no separate government. It is the see of an archbishop, and is situated 30 miles S. by E. of Florence. Long. 11. 10..15. E. Lat. 43. 22. N. SIENNE, a small river of France, in Nor mandy, which falls into the English channel near Havre. SIENNICA, a small town in the northeast of Poland, 28 miles E. by S. of War saw. SIENNO, a small town in the interior of Poland, 30 miles N. by W. of Sendomir, and 25 S. by E. of Radom. SIEN-YEOU, a town of China, of the third rank, in Fokien. SIEOU, a city of China, of the second rank, in Kiangnan. Long. 117. 32. E. Lat. 33. 45. N. SIEOU-GIN, a town of China, of the third rank, in Quangsee. SIEOV-OU, a town of China, of the third rank, in Honan. SIEOU-YUEN-HOTUN, a port of Chinese Tartary. Long. 122. 51. E. Lat. 40. 18. N. SIERADZ, a small town in the west of Poland, on the Warths, 29 miles E. S. E. of Kalisch, and 108 W. S. W. of Warsaw. It is said to have been at one time a considerable place, but its population is now only 1600. SIERAKOW, Or CZIRKE, a small town of Prussian Poland, on the Wartha, with 1300 inhabitants. 40 miles N. W. of Posen. SIEREK, a small town in the north-east of France, department of the Moselle, and situated on that river. Population 1000. 25 miles N. by E. of Metz. SIERPZ, a small town in the north-west of Poland, 22 miles N. of Plock, with 1300 inhabitants. SIERRA, the eastern part of New Castile, so called from its mountains. The word Sierra is a general name for mountain in Spain, and those distinctive appellations are often given from the neighbouring towns. SIERRA DE CANATAGUA, a chain of mountains in America, which runs across the extremities of the two provinces of Veragua and Panama, in about Long. 80. 50. W., and which divides the northern from the southern continent of America. SIERRA DE LAS GRULLAS, a chain of the Andes, which commences at the northern extremity of Mexico. SIERRA DE GUADALUPE. See Guadalupe. SIERRA LEONE, a country of Western Africa, situated on the Atlantic, and distinguished for the colony formed there by the British nation, rather from motives of generosity and philanthropy, than from those of political and commercial advantage. This country is traversed by a considerable river, derived from an unknown source in the interior, called the Mitomba or Sierra Leone. The extent to which this last name may be applied, either to the north or south of the river, or in the interior, is very inde finite; indeed there seems in the country itself to be scarcely any principle of unity, being occupied by a number of small independent tribes. The name is derived from a long ridge of mountains, which rises at no great distance from the southern bank of the river, that on the northern bank being low and flat. From these mountains descend many streams or torrents, a number of which unite in a place called the bay of France, into a large bason, which affords the best watering place in all Guinea, and where a ship may fill a thousand casks in the day. This is described as a most delightful spot, being shadowed by tall trees, mingled with rocks, which make a most picturesque appearance. This country fully equals, in point of fertility and populousness, any other in this part of Africa. Cultivation, however, has made a very slender progress, unless so far as it has been introduced by Europeans. It consists generally of one vast, almost impenetrable forest, only particular spots of which have been cleared and cultivated. Even at a few steps from the shores and villages, the ground becomes so encumbered with trees and shrubs, as to be impassable, unless by narrow paths formed by the natives to their lugars or cleared fields. The houses are low, little huts, built with wooden posts fastened in the ground, of a round or square form, and thatched with straw. The villages consist of thirty or forty of such huts, and are moved without the least difficulty from place to place, as convenience or fancy direct. Rice is raised wherever the ground is sufficiently watered for its production, and forms the constant food of the rich; but the poor content themselves with millet, yams, and plantains. There is great abundance of the most delicate fruits. The pine-apple is pre-eminent; to which are added oranges, lemous, limes, and a fruit resembling a melon. The palm tree yields a liquor which is eagerly drank, and possesses intoxicating qualities. The elephant's teeth brought to the coast here are valued above any other on the same coast, being remarkably clean, white, and free from specks, though they occur elsewhere of larger size. A considerable quantity of civet is brought to market, the produce of a peculiar species of cat. The woods and mountains are considerably infested with wild animals, particularly lions, from the multitude of which the country appears to have derived its name. Apes move about in vast bodies, and would destroy the plantations, were they not carefully guarded. The exuberance of life in a tropical climate, gives rise also to numerous and troublesome swarms of insects, flies, mosquitoes, and particular ly ants, the white species of which commit extraordinary devastation. The same cause multiplies the serpent species to a remarkable degree. The rivers, besides yielding an ample supply of fish for food, contain large alligators, and a species called the ma natea or sea cow. The natives of this country are not of so deep black a complexion as those of Cape Verd, nor have they the flat nose of the negro race to such a degree. The character of the different tribes varies greatly. Some of them are considered superior in point of intelligence and regular conduct to most of those on the coast; while others have the reputation of extreme, ferocity, and are even charged with cannibalism, though this is probably a false and exaggerated charge. The office of the king consists chiefly in administering justice, which he does with the advice of the Solatesquis or great men, being placed on an elevated seat, in a sort of gallery in front of his palace, which consists merely of a collection of round huts. Polygamy is admitted to any extent that great men may find convenient, though the first wife has many honours that are denied to the others. As usual among savage tribes, the women are obliged to perform all the laborious tasks; tilling the ground, making palm oil, and spinning cotton: nay, if they have any leisure from these, the husband will employ them in braiding his hair, or otherwise embellishing his person. Gross idolatry prevails, but without any fixed regulations or priesthood. Every one, according to his fancy, chooses his idol or fetiche; a crab's claw, a nail, a flint, a snail's shell, a bird's head, or a root. To these they look for prosperity in all their undertakings, and make daily offerings to propitiate their favour. They are very difficult to convert to Christianity, though not quite so much so as the Moors or Mahome tans. The Portuguese were the first who discovered and formed settlements in the river of Sierra Leone; but afterwards all the nations of Europe found their way thither. The English established their factory upon Bance island, situated in the middle of the river, being merely a rock ascended by steps, and possessing no advantage except that of security. The fort was substantially built of stone and lime, defended by 10 or 12 guns, and garrisoned by about 20 whites, and 30 Grumettas or free negroes. The main object of this, as of every other establishment on the same coast, was that which it has since been made so active an instrument in overthrowing, the slave trade; and the supply here afforded, of these unfortunate victims of European cupidity, was very considerable. It was not till towards the close of the 18th century, that the British nation be gan to turn their views towards Sierra Leone, with a view to colonization. The idea was suggested by Dr Smeathman in 1783, and supported in the following year by the reverend Mr Ramsay, but vehemently opposed by the West India planters, who saw in such a measure the probable depreciation of their staple commodities. In 1785, the essays of Mr Clarkson, called forth by the question proposed by the university of Cambridge, began to excite a strong interest throughout the nation, on the subject of the slave trade. Then it was that Wilberforce began that series of persevering efforts, which were at last crowned with merited success. An import ant instrument for this purpose appeared to be the already suggested plan of an African colony, the execution of which was hastened by accidental circumstances. The streets of London happened to be infested by a number of negroes recently dismissed from the army and navy, into which, by different means, they had found their way during the American war. A committee was formed for the relief of the black poor, the affairs of which were chiefly conducted by those excellent men, Jonas Hanway, Granville Sharp, and Dr Smeathman. The latter drew up and published the plan of a settlement, in consequence of which were collected above 400 blacks, with about 60 whites, the latter of whom, however, were by no means of the best description. These were embarked on board transports furnished by government, provided with arms, provisions, and agricultural implements, and conveyed to Sierra Leone, where they arrived on the 9th of May 1787. In con sequence of Dr Smeathman's death, the formation of the colony devolved on captain Thomson of the Nautilus. The purchase of a piece of ground about 20 miles square, was effected from king Naimbanna, and his vassal chiefs. A proper site for a town was immediately chosen, on a rising ground fronting the sea, and a distribution of land was made among the colonists. Unfort nately their habits and character very ill qualified them for the arduous situation in which they were now placed. Their indo lence prevented them, not only from the requisite cultivation of the ground, but even from the erecting huts to secure them against the rainy season. A dreadful mor. tality was the consequence, which soon re duced their numbers to 276. Lastly, in November 1789, the town was plundered by an African chief, the colony dispersed, and its inhabitants obliged to seek refuge in Bance island. Such, however, zeal felt at home for the civilisation of Was the Africa, that in the beginning of 1791, Mr Falconbridge was sent out with a supply of stores, to collect the dispersed colonists, and form them anew into a regular settlement. That gentleman found the colonists extremely willing to resume their former situation; and the only difficulty was with the native chiefs, who, however, were at length persuaded to cede afresh the former territory. A new site was chosen at Granville town. Meantime, the original association for the improvement of Africa, was incorporated by act of parliament, and under the title of the Sierra Leone company, received a charter for 31 years, commencing 1st July 1791. Besides sending out immediately five vessels with stores, articles of trade, and some new settlers, their activity discovered a new mode of recruiting the numbers. In consequence of the American revolution, a number of free negroes, who adhered to the loyal standard, were obliged to take shelter in Nova Scotia. Here they were destitute of property or means of subsistence, while the white society refused to treat them as on a footing with themselves. They most cheerfully agreed, therefore, to the offer made of be ing transported to Sierra Leone; and 1200 were embarked by lieutenant Clarkson, and arrived in March 1792. Operations were now carried on with increased vigour; Freetown, the original position, was again made the capital of the colony; Nordenskiold and Afzelius, two able botanists, were sent into the interior to search after plants which might be useful for culture and trade. This prosperity was interrupted by many disasters and discontents, especially after the departure of Mr Clarkson. The Nova Scotians at one time presented a formal petition to the court of directors, complaining of the promises inade to them not having been fulfilled, of the low wages of labour, and the high rate of the company's goods. After these discontents had been appeased, the colony was exposed to a dreadful external disaster. In September 1794, the town was plundered and entirely destroyed by a French squadron, this causing at once an immense loss of property, and throwing the colonists into the most destitute condition. Even this disaster was repaired by the active exertions of the company; the settlement resumed its prosperity, extended its survey over the neighbouring coasts, and received embassies even from remote African states. The company, however, exhausted by its losses, and by that profusion to which such establishments are liable, finally found it expedient to make an arrangement with government, by which Sierra Leone was placed under its immediate jurisdiction, like other colonies. About the same time, the African Institution was set on foot by a number of excellent and distinguished individuals, for the purpose of devoting their efforts to the general improvement of this great continent. Sierra Leone appeared the most advantageous centre from which their efforts might emanate; and it was therefore placed under their entire management. The character of the members was a sufficient pledge for the purity of that zeal with which they would pursue every object tending to the improvement of the colony, and the general benefit of Africa. This is, moreover, fully evinced in the successive reports which they have published on the subject. Yet in these they candidly admit the obstacles which have obstructed the full accomplishment of the objects in view. The volatile and turbulent disposition of the native powers renders them always prompt to take offence, and to embark in hostilities; and this unfriendly disposition is increased by the abolition of the slave trade, to which they were accustomed to look as the chief means of purchasing European luxuries. It has thus been found impossible to avoid repeated ruptures, the effects of which were always pernicious to the interests of the colony. One mode of recruiting its numbers was derived from the negroes captured on their way to the West Indies, by the vessels destined to put a stop to the slave trade; but the disposal of these was attended with considerable difficulty. The first plan was to make them purchase their liberty by a temporary bondage, under the name of indenture; but it was naturally objected, that this was running into the very evil which the colony was established to prevent; and the practice has been properly discontinued. Still, to preserve the requisite order and propriety among such a motley population left at full liberty, has not been found an easy task. The introduction of the forms of English law, a measure in itself so salutary, seems to have produced rather injurious effects upon this African race. It has inspired them with an unbounded rage for litigation, and called forth innumerable petty suits for assault and defamation, in which it appears that the female sex are usually in the proportion of four to one. Lastly, the distance from Britain, the unhealthy nature of the settlement, and the very moderate amount of the salaries, render it very difficult to procure respectable and duly qualified persons to fill the differ ent official situations. Notwithstanding all these disadvantages, a gradual but decided improvement has taken place, and is becoming more sensible, as experience teaches the best modes of administering such an establishment. Within the last three or four years, both the extension and improvement of the colony have been particularly remarkable. With the efforts of the institution have been combined those of the church missionary society, who have introduced, with great advantage, the British system of education. Its first establishment was in the country schools; and in Freetown, where a different method had been originally employed, there occurred considerable obstacles to its introduction, from the murmurs of the parents, and the disinclination of the children. At length, however, the plan was completely successful, and the schools contain now 350 boys and girls, and 180 adults. In consequence of the great increase of population from disbanded soldiers, and still more from captured negroes, a number of new towns have been founded in different parts of the territory. The principal of these is Regent's town, which was found in 1816, by Mr Johnson, the missionary teacher, in a state of the utmost barbarisın. It contained 1100 captured negroes, belonging to 22 nations in all different parts of the continent, without any tie to each other, and many of them separated by deadly enmity. Some would live in the woods, apart from society; others, particularly those of the Eho nation, subsisted chiefly by thieving and plunder, stealing fowls, and eating them raw. One of them having stolen a litter of nine pigs, was traced by the owner, who found that the animals had been all thrown alive, into a pot of boiling water. Another having lost a dog and pot, discovered the thief, and found the dog boiling in the pot for dinner. It was some time before any impression could be made on this savage population; but at length the labours of the excellent missionary, seconded by those of some intelligent negroes, produced the happiest effects. In the course of the few years which have since elapsed, an entirely new scene has arisen. The town itself is laid out with regularity; 19 new streets are formed and levelled, with good roads round the place; a large stone church rises in the midst of the habitations; a governmenthouse, a parsonage-house, school-houses, store-houses, a bridge of several archies, some native dwellings, and other buildings, all of stone, are either finished, or on the point of being so. The state of cultivation farther manifests the industry of the people: all are farmers; gardens fenced in are attached to every house; all the land in the immediate neighbourhood is under cultivation; and there are fields even to the distance of three miles; vegetables and fruits are raised in abundance; and there is a good supply of domestic animals. Many of them, besides the cultivation of the ground, carry on trades; fifty are masons and bricklayers, forty carpenters, thirty sawyers, thirty shingle makers, twenty tailors, four blacksmiths, and two butchers. In these various ways, upwards of 600 of the negroes provide for their own maintenance. The appearance and manners of the people have improved in an equal degree. They are all now decently clothed: almost all the females have learned to make their own clothing; about 400 couple are mar ried; the attendance on public worship is regular and large, comprising on an average not less then 1200 or 1300 negroes, while Mr Johnson's first congregation amounted only to nine; and the schools, which opened with 140 children, and 60 adults, now contain upwards of 500 scholars. In the more immediate vicinity of Freetown, there are also the townships of Charlotte, Leopold, Gloucester, and Wilberforce. These, with Freetown, contain upwards of 2000 scholars, adults and children, in a course of regular instruction. Within the last two years, in consequence of the accessions to the popu lation, four new and more distant stations have been formed; Waterloo, bordering on the Timmances, and containing already 700 inhabitants; Wellington, near to Kis sey; and Hastings, not yet risen to any portance. These are on the eastern side of the colony, while on the south-western s York, bordering on the Sherbros, where & settlement called Kent had already been formed. Connected also with the colony, a settlement has been formed called Ba thurst, at St Mary's, on the Gambia. The population is increasing. The climate is said to be healthy, and provisions much cheaper than at Sierra Leone'; and the opportunity afforded of communicating with the popu lous countries on that river, renders it extremely valuable. im The following is the distribution and amount of the population of Sierra Leone, according to a census taken on the 8th July 1820; Freetown and suburbs, Bathurst, Gloucester, Regent and vicinity, 4785 469 268 469 563 1218 1033 409 296 353 195 456 Kissey and neighbourhood, |