FEW, WILLIAM, 1748-1828; lived in North Carolina. Georgia, and New York. He was a member of the convention to frame the constitution for Georgia; a member of the state assembly, and of the council. He was a col. in the revolution, surveyor-gen., judge of a county court, and delegate to the continental congress. He assisted in framing the federal constitution, and in urging its adoption by his state. Subsequently, he was a member of the two constitutional (state) conventions, and United States senator.
FEZ (Ar. Fas), the chief and most northerly province of the empire of Morocco, occupies the country between the Atlas mountains and the Mediterranean. Its popula tion is estimated at about 3,200,000, consisting of Berbers, Moors, Arabs, negroes, Jews, and a few Europeans. The province is divided into 15 districts.—Fnz, the capital of the province, in lat. 34° 6' n., and long. about 5° 0' w., was founded by Muley Edris II., in th,e year 808 A.D., and was reckoned during the middle ages—when it was the capital of the kingdom of Marocco—one of the most magnificent and largest cities in the Mohammedan world. It is said to have contained about 90,000 dwelling-houses and about 700 mosques, and was celebrated for its splendid public buildings; schools, and scientific institutions. On the removal of the court to MorOcco, about the middle of the 16th c., F. gradually fell into decay. It is still, however, a place of considerable impor tance. The situation of F. is singular; it lies in a valley, formed by surrounding hills
into a sort of funnel, the higher parts of which are covered with trees, orange-groves, and orchards. It is divided into Old and New F. by one of the upper branches of the Seim, and has a population variously estimated at from 100,000 to nearly 150.000 souls. There are 100 mosques, of which the most important is that built by the sultan Muley Edris, which contains his monument, and is an inviolable refuge for criminals, how ever guilty. On account of its numerous mosques and relics, it is regarded as the holy city of the western Arabs. It has seven well-attended schools. The old palace of the sultan is large, but is now falling into decay. In other respects, the external aspect of F., with its numerous baths, caravanseras (of which there are about 200), and bazaars, resembles that of Mohammedan towns in general; the multitude of hotels and shops alone imparting to it a peculiar and more European character. A considerable trade is still carried on, by means of caravans, with the adjoining countries on the s. and e., extending as far as Timbuctoo. F. carries on manufactures of woolens, sashes, silk stuffs, girdles, slippers, fine carpets, etc. Its artisans are also skillful workers in gold and jewelry.