DORPAT, or DEEPT (Russian, Gurley; Esthonian, Tartolin), a t. of Russia, in the government of Livonia, is situated on the Embach, here crossed by a fine granite bridge, 150 m. n.e. of Riga, and is built in the form of a semicircle. It consists of a town proper, with two suburbs. Its streets are straight and clean; its houses, which are mostly of one story, are built of brick or wood, have handsome fronts, and are often showily painted. It is the winter residence of the Livonian nobles and gentry. The Domberg hill, at the n.w. extremity of the town, is tastefully laid out in avenues and promenades; its summit, formerly the site of a cathedral, destroyed by fire in 1775, is now occupied by an observatory, the university library, schools of anatomy and natural history, museums, etc. The observatory—one of the most renowned in Europe, and long presided over by the celebrated Struve—possesses a great refracting telescope, presented by the emperor Alexander I. The university, founded
in 1632 by Gustavus Adolphus, suppressed in 1656 by the Muscovites, and re-estab lished by Alexander I. in 1802, is also famous. It supports a staff of about 70 professors and lecturers, and is attended by between 800 and 900 students, of every religious denomination, who are taught theology, ethics, law, medicine, natural philosophy, and natural history. German is employed, except for law. It is also the chief school of the Protestant clergy in Russia, and the Reformed synod of Wilna send their students hither. D. has a botanical garden, containing 18,000 plants, some of which cannot be obtained in any other botanical garden in Europe. D. was formerly a walled town, and the ramparts still exist, but have been converted into public walks. The chief employment of the people consists in supplying the wants of those connected with the university. Pop. '67, 20,780.