CRACOW (Pol. Krakoz), formerly the capital of a small Polish republic, and anciently the capital of the kingdom of Poland, is now an Austrian city, situated on the left bank of the Vistula, where it becomes a navigable river, in a beautiful plain surrounded by an amphitheater of gentle hills. Lat. 50° 4' n., long. 19°52' east. Pop. '69, 49,834, bf whom 14,000 are Jews. It contains 46 churches, 15 monasteries, 10 nunneries, and 7 Jewish synagogues. The ancient city of C. is a labyrinth of narrow, dark, and deserted streets, but contains many fine specimens of Gothic architecture in its churches and other edifices; and some handsome buildings are also to be seen in the more modern suburbs. The old walls have been converted into a promenade. In the midst of the houses rises the castle, a huge building of an imposing appearance. The cathedral con tains the tombs of many of the Polish kings, and of some of the greatest men of the Polish nation. The university was founded in 1364, by Casimir the great, whose design was carried into effect by Jagello and lledwig in 1401. It was long the center of light for Poland, but decayed under the influences of the Jesuits, till it ceased to exist. It was reorganized and reopened in 1817, and underwent important changes in 1833. It possesses a museum of natural history, a botanic garden, a library of more than 140,000 volumes, and many MSS. of great value in connection with Polish history. Its manu factures are trifling, and its trade, at one time extensive, became, for a period, very limited, but has of late years greatly revived, owing to the extension of its railway com munications, which connect it with Vienna,' Berlin, Warsaw, and Lemberg. Three miles "w. of the city is a vast tnmulus to the memory of Kosciusko. It is composed of
earth taken from all the patriotic battle-fields of Poland.
C. was founded by Krak, prince of Poland, from whom it derives its name, about the year 700, became the capital of Poland in 1320, and continued to be so till 1609, when that honor was transferred to Warsaw by Sigismund III. It was taken by the Bohemians in 1039, by the Mongols in 1241, by the Swedes in 1655 and 1702, and by the Russians in 1768. On the third partition of Poland, in 1795, it was assigned to Austria. From 1809 to 1815, it formed part of the duchy of Warsaw. The congress of Vienna established it as a republic, with a small territo containing about 140,000 ry inhabitants, under the protectorate of Russia, Prussia, and Austria. The territory bor dered with that of each of these great powers. Internal dissensions between the nobles .and the common people afforded a pretense for interference, and the sympathy shown by the inhabitants of C. for the cause of Polish independence in 1830 and following years was made the ground of which terminated in 1846 in the annexation of C. to the Austrian dominions, a measure alleged to be necessary for the security of the neighboring .stiftes, but against Willa Britain and Franco protested. C. now forms part of the Austrian crown-land of Galicia. An extensive line of fortifications has been constructed around it by the Austrians, with numerous detached forts, and one immense fortress on a height commanding the city, whose outworks extend over a space of about. five miles. These works are intended as a barrier against the the advance of Russia.