AIX-LA-CHAPELLE, (Urns 4,pien,cis, or Aquis p:ranum,) a free and imperial city of Germany, in the circle of Westphalia, and dutchy of Juliet's, and capi tal of the department of Roer. It is distinguished from Aix, the chief city of Provence, by the addition which appears at the end of its name, and which was derived from a chapel raised in this place by Charle magne, and dedicated by the same monarch to the holy Virgin. The latitude of Aix-la-Chapelle is 51° 55' north, and its longitude 5° 54' east. Its population is estimated by Tinseau at 23,412 souls. (Statist. new of France.) The city is very ancient. It was the usual residence of the emperor Ch all eniaglie, vv ho repaired and he ant i lied it, after it had been de5U•oyed by the Iluus, under Attila their leader, A. I). 15l. It was here too, that the king of the ltmuans was generally crow ncd ; and this city is still the depository of the sword of ('harle rnagne, the bell, the book of the gospels, and the jewels of the empire, all of which are used at the cercnioiiy of coronation. \\'hilt the Grrniauiie constitution existed, Aix-la-Chapelle occupied the sccoiul place on the Ithe ruish bend,, among the imperial cities which had a scat and a voice in the diets oI the circle of \Vestphalia; and it held the saute place fir the en!ege of the cities of the empire. The town stands in a ya hey, hut is not un wholesome•. It properly consists ul two towns, one en circling the otiu•r; of the, the inner, which is the most ancient, is llankcd by tern towers, and is above two miles in circumlereucc ; while tic outei, which was built A. D. 1172, extends in circuit about two leagues. This city is refreshed by 2u touutains, anti watered by many rivulets which run through it. The principal buildings are the stadthouse and the cathedral. Aix-la-Chapelle is not unknown in the history of Europe. Li the 9th and 10th centuries, councils were held iii this city, with a view to seitle religious disputes, and deterniine the Catholic faith ; and here, likewise, rival nations, and con tending powers, wearied with warfare, have met, and agreed upon articles of pacification. A treaty was con
cluded at this place, A. D. 1668, between France and Spain; and another between I"raiice, England, and the Allies, in 1748. llnsching, vol. iv. p. 560. 11I d. Un. !list, vol. xxxii. p. 273.
But the sulphureous waters of this city (Tin rune Iqui.sgruncnsrs) have contriLtin l most to its celebrity and opulence. Their reputation was high in the time of Charleniagne ; and they have si: ce attracted a great concourse of people, who iesort to lhcii vicinity, and often experience their salutary cliccts. 'Tie water rises with great cltiickness front the springs, and sends forth bubbles of air, w Bich explode with a slight noise, when they reach the surface. It emits also a large portion of steam, on ace mint of the iIiin1 nse quantity of sup! ,tuet tecl hydrogen gas, w Melt the fluid contains ; and it dif fuses, at the same time, a smell, vincb is perccptihle at a great distance. This sniell re' senibles that of the ilarrowgate water. The principal spring is enclosed in a cistern of stone, which is vaulted, and almost coni cal at the top ; and the parts of which arc cemented with the utmost care, in order to prevent the vapour trout is coping. On the surface of the stones, a large portion of uncomhined sulphur is to he found, which settles there by a natural process of sublimation. It is removed from time to time, and sold under the name of .di.r .su/Jihnr. The temperature of the watery .ries from to 143° of Fahrenheit ; that of the vapour does not appear to have been ascertained, The baths are so constructed, that either the whole body, or a part of it, may be ex posed to the stream. The water is enerallv drunk at the temperature of 1 1 2° ; for, when it is allowed to cool, it becomes tiiic k and milky, depositing a calcareous se diment, aid parting with a considerable portion of its 0ulphuretted liyclrogen gas. It is soft, and some what saponaccous to the touch, owing probably to t!,e quantity of carbonate of soda, which it holds in solu tion.