FERR ARA, a duchy situated in the eastern part of Upper Italy, and part of the pontifical domains. This tel ritory is nearly of a triangular shape ; one side stretches 25 miles along the shores of the Adriatic on the east, another about 58 miles to the north, and the third runs about 67 miles to the west and south, where it is bounded by the duchies of Mantua, Mirandola, and Modena, as also the provinces of Bologna and Romagna ; and else where by the Venetian states. The surface is in general level eastward from the river Po, which is here navigable. and divides in two branches, called Po di Volano, and Po di Primaro, both flowing into the Adriatic, and each having a harbour at its mouth. Besides these, it is fertilized by the streams Panaro, Reno, Tartaro, and numerous artificial canals. Only one of the preceding harbours belongs to Ferrara ; the other is a subject of frequent controversy between it and the neighbouring territories.
This duchy contains three cities ; Ferrara, the capital, which we shall afterwards describe more particularly ; Commacchio, and Cento. Commacchio occupies a situa tion ill the midst of a considerable extent of low marshy ground, called the Commacchian Marshes. defended by a high alluvial bulwark from the sea, but penetrated by a canal, at the extremity of which is Porta Magnavacca. These marshes are not less than between 70 and 80 miles in circuit, and communicate with a salt lagoon, celebrated for the quality of its fishes. Cento is surrounded by an earthen rampart and ditch. It was the place of the nativity of Guercino, a famous painter. Besides these cities, there are 18 towns with their own peculiar and exclusive jurisdiction, and 162 parochial villages. We are not acquaint ed with any recent census, but, 30 years ago, the total population of the Ferrarese territory amounted to 235,231 souls.
--The principal products of this duchy consist in grain, fruit, and wine ; abundance of flax and hemp ; some silk and wool ; and it is said that horses and cattle arc here of the best description. But there is no conspicuous activity in carrying on agricultural operations; nor any demonstra tions of commercial enterprize. In common with the other territories of an ecclesiastical government, the people arc passive and languid in their undertakings. Revenues,
nevertheless, arise from imports and exports ; from the fisheries of Commacchio, which are very profitable ; from salt-works, and other sources. There cannot be much trade in a territory of such extent, when an annual fair, in a town called Luga, is considered as a remarkable event.
Ferrara being part of the papal domain, is governed by a cardinal, who is sent to the chief city every three years as legate a latere ; and there is at the same time appointed a dignified prelate, with the title of vice-legate, who rules in his absence. The detail of civil and criminal matters, is committed to the cognizance of certain judges appoint ed by the Pope ; and there is besides a senate, or grand council of 100 persons, chosen from the nobles, merchants, and citizens, renewed every three years ; from which ten persons of each order are selected, to constitute an annual magistracy. In respect to its ecclesiastical state, the duchy is divided into nine dioceses, at the head of which is an archbishop, generally a cardinal, endowed with ample revenues, and possessing a jurisdiction over 135 parishes. There are sixty monasteries of different orders, containing 1350 monks and priests ; ten convents, containing about 620 nuns ; and three hospitals, in which 50 boys are main tamed, but it does not appear whether these are of a re ligious or a civil institution.
The duchy of Ferrara is said to have been recognised very anciently as an important territory. It was a sovereign and independent state under the dominion of its own dukes, of the family of Este, who began to govern in the year 1205, and subsisted several centuries. On the death of Alphonso the Second, in October 1597, Pope Clement V111. declared the duchy had devolved to the papal see, and he took possession of it in person. Along with the other Italian provinces, it became implicated in the con sequences of the French revolution. It was ceded by the Roman pontiff in 1797 to the government of France, and by it constituted the department of the Lower Po ; but by the recent restitution of the Pope, it has again be come an integral part of the territories of the apostolic chamber. (c)