FRIESLAND, Ets-r, a principality m the circle of Westphalia, is bounded on the north by West Filesland and the German Ocean, on the east by Oldenburg, and on the south by the bishopric of INIumter, and on the east by Groningen. It lies in 20' North Latitude, and 7° 2u' East Longitude, extending 40 miles from north to south, and nearly the same distance from west to cast. It con tains several towns, and about 103,000 inhabitants. The principal towns are, Aurich, in the centre of the country, defended by a castle, surrounded by a marshy territory, and by forests full of game, formerly the prince's residence, and containing 2000 inhabitants. Norden or Noorden, an old, unfortified town, near the north-west extremity of the country, about three miles from the coast, and 17 north of Embden, has a tolerable harbour and a little trade. Emb den, a flourishing sea-port, near the mouth of the Ems, and 28 miles east of Groningen, is the largest town of East Friesland, tolerably well built and fortified, situated in a fertile tract of country, and containing 8000 inhabitants. The harbour is excellent, and the trade of the place con siderable, especially in cheese, linens, and wines. Frede rick the Great of Prussia exerted himself anxiously for the extension of its commerce ; and, in 1750, established an East India company. But his forcing system did not com port with the republican spirit of the people; and many of his schemes were very ineffectual. The herring fishery, which he laboured to encourage, has succeeded well, and brings in great sums annually. Jengum, a wealthy town on the river Ems, about 11 miles south-east of Embden, is remarkable chiefly for having been the scene of several bat tles. Leer or Lehi, a well built manufacturing town on the Seda, above its confluence with the Ems, and 15 miles south-south-east of Embden, is situated in a marshy but fruitful country, and contains 4500 inhabitants, Strick hausen, a citadel built by the city of Hamburg, about 9 miles east of Leer on the river Seda, is 24 miles south-east of Embden. Friedburg, a fortress on the frontier of Olden
burg, 26 miles east of Embden, is situated in a healthy and marshy soil, and is now in a ruined state. Essens, on the sea-coast, 21 miles north-east of Embden, is a tolerably well built town, with an old citadel. Witmund, a small burgh and citadel in the north-east corner of the principa lity, between Essens and Friedburg. There are many small islands along the north coast, viz. Juyst, Norderney, Bahl-um, &c. The country of East Friesland is a low, flat, and generally marshy or sandy territory. The tracts along the coast, and on the banks of the rivers, have a bottom of clay or mud, and are extremely fertile, abounding in ex cellent pastures; but the inland parts are chiefly sandy, heathy, and marshy, in which great quantities of peat are dug for fuel. The climate is cold, the seasons late ; and the inhabitants have a stunted appearance ; small round fi gures, yellow complexions, and flaccid bodies. The fowls, cattle, sheep, and horses, on the contrary, are of a large breed; and numbers of the latter animals are exported for heavy cavalry and coaches, even to Russia and Italy. There are few corn fields in the country, and butter and cheese are the principal products of the farms. One third of the whole is uncultivated, and there is great abundance of game. The river Ems traverses the south-west district; and contributes essentially to the trade and prosperity of the country. The chief articles of commerce are horses, horned cattle, cheese, butter, oats, beans, rape-seed, and fine linen. The prevailing religion is Lutheran, but the Catholics, Moravians, Jews, &c. are freely tolerated. See Ricsbeck's Travels in Germany, vol. iii. ; and Piayfair's (q)