Bologna has given birth to a great number of emi nent men, who have distinguished themselves in the various departments of literature and science. Azzo, Odofredus, Campeggi, Paleotti, and Ireneri, were among its distinguished lawyers. Mondini Achillini and Marcello Malpighi, were among its anatomists and physicians. Natural history was under obliga tions to Aldrovandi and Ferdinand Marsigli ; and Peter Crcscenzi was the first of the modern Italians who wrote a considerable work on the art of agricul ture. The mathematicians and natural philosophers were Ghedini, Manfredi, Zanotti, Beccari, Canterza ni, Monti, and Galvani.
A very considerable trade in damasks, sattins, taffe ties, silks, and velvets, has been carried on in this city since the year 1341. The silk mills are driven by the river Rheno, which also gives motion to a great quantity of machinery for various other purposes. The crapes and ganzei of Bologna are also in high estimation ; the works of the gold beaters is much admired ; and its manufactures of paper and playing cards were reckoned very superior. The crapes, gauzes, and cards of Bologna were exported to France and Germany, and its hemp and flax went to Venice, for the manufacture of sails and cordage. Artificial flowers of all kinds are made in great abun dance by the nuns ; and a great trade is carried on in hams, dried tongues, sausages, maccaroni, olives, per fumes, wash-balls, liqueurs, essences, and leather bottles.
The surrounding country is rich and fertile, and the neighbourhood of Bologna resembles an immense garden. The vineyards are divided by rows of elms and mulberry trees. The melons, olives, and tobacco are particularly celebrated ; and the hemp grows to the remarkable height of twelve and thirteen ,feet, and has been mistaken by travellers for plantations of young ash trees. The trade of Bologna has been much facilitated by the canal which joins the branch of the Rheno that runs through the city, with the lake of Valle di Marara, from which the merchandise of Bologna is sent to Ferrara, and other places situa ted on the Po.
In the time of the Roman republic, Bologna was but a small town, with two gates ; and it is only mentioned in Greek and Latin authors as deriving its name from the nation of the Boii. It would ap pear from Martial, (Ep. lix. lib. 1.) that, under the first emperors, the Bolognese were particularly po lished ; and we are expressly informed by that au thor, that one of the most lucrative trades in this place was that of a shoemaker. Though inferior to the surrounding cities, Bologna gradually rose in im portance. It acquired celebrity from the interview
between Octavius, Anthony, and Lepidus, in an island formed by the Rheno, and from several events during the civil war of these triumvirs. It was not, however, till the 12th and 13th centuries that it became a great and a learned city. It enjoyed a species of independence under the emperors of Germany till the year 1278, when it was given over to Pope Nicholas III. with the exception of some special privileges. The internal discord with which it was agitated, and the wars with neighbouring states, kept it in an un settled condition, till Julian II., taking advantage of the Venetian war, made himself absolute master of it, expelled the family of the Bentivoglio, and annexed it to the papal dominions. It was stipulated, how ever, that the Bolognese should have a nuncio at the court of Rome, and an auditor in the Rota ; that the town should not be overawed by a citadel ; and that the effects of the citizens should not be liable to confiscation. The ecclesiastical affairs were decided by the archbishop, while the civil affairs were under the direction of a cardinal legate from Rome, with a ' vice legate, and ther assistants. The police and re venue of the town were managed by a council of fifty senators, whose president was called the goilfaloniere, from his carrying the gonfalone, or standard of the republic. Each senator took this office by turns, and continued in it for two months. His authority, however, was merely nominal, as the cardinal legate influenced every decision.
In the year 1796, after this city was taken by the French; Bologna, Ferrara, Modeno, and Reggio, en tered into a treaty to form a republic under the name of Respublica Cispadona. Some time afterwards, however, these cities united with Lombardy to form the Cisalpine republic. Bologna now belongs to the kingdom of Italy. Population 70,000. East Long. 11° 21' 15", North Lat. 44° 29' 36". See Italy in its original Glory, Ruin, and Revival, by E. Warcupp, Loud. 1660. Keysler's Travels, vol. iii. p. 217-301. Drummond's Travels, letter ii. p. 55. Denina's Ta bleau Historique Statistique et Moral de la Haute Italie, sect. xvi. p. 289. Reichard's Guide des Voya geur en Europe, torn. i. p. 439. Marquis Angelette's Notizie Origine e Progressi dell' Institute delle Scienze, 1780. Travels from Paris through Switzerland and Italy, in 1801 and 1802, by a Na tive of Pennsylvania, in Philips' Colle&ion, &c. vol. ix. Stolberg's Travels, vol. i. p. 265. ; and Moore's View of Society, 4.c. in Italy, vol. i. p. 252. (a-)