BIDENS, a genus of plants of the class Synge nesia, and order Polygamia ../Equalis. See BOTANY. (to) BlENNE, a town of France in the department of the Higher Rhine, and formerly the capital of a district of the same name in Switzerland. It is si tuated at the foot of Mount Jura, near the northern extremity of the lake of Vienne. The town is built in the ancient style ; and is chiefly remarkable for its tanneries, its manufacture of printed cloths, and a fine inexhaustible source of water, which supplies the pipes of 60 public fountains. A large common be ' tween the towr and the lake, belonging to the burghers, is laid out in small kitchen gardens.
The lake of Bienne, which is of an oval form, is nine miles long and four broad. Its margin is deco rated with villages and castles, and affords many beau tiful and picturesque views.
The lake of Bienne is celebrated by the island of St Peter, which was the temporary residence of Rousseau when he withdrew from Moitier. The island of St Peter is about two miles in circumference ; on its southern side it slopes gently to the lake ; but in other directions it is steep and rocky. Large oak,
beech, and chesnut trees, decorate its gently undu lating surface, which is traversed by agreeable walks, terminating in a circular pavilion in the centre of de island. Parties from Bienne, Nidau, and the sur rounding country, resort in the time of the vintage to., this enchanting spot, which has been rendered classi cal by the short residence of Rousseau. This sin gular character lived in the farm house, the only one in the island, which belonged to the steward of the general hospital at Berne, to whom he paid 40 shil lings per month for his hoard and lodgings. He re mained here only two months, and the room that he occupied, from which there is a fine view of the gla ciers, is shown to strangers as an object of cusiosity. A full account .of the ancient district of Bienne, which is now included in the department of the Higher Rhine, and a more particular account of the lake, may be seen in Coxe's Travels in Switzerland, vol. i. p. 210, 211, &c. and vol. ii. p. 152. See also Diet. de la Suisse. (w)