LAUSANNE, the Lausonium of the ancients, is a city of Switzerland, and the capital of the Canton de Vaud. It is built on three hills, and in the adjoining vailies, and is si tuated 432 feet above the lake of Geneva, from which it is distant about two miles. One of the principal public build ings in Lausanne is the cathedral. It is a large Gothic building, situated in the highest part of the town, and has a lofty square tower, terminating in a small pyramid, with lesser pyramids at each angle. The portal, or entrance on the south side, contains many finely sculptured figures. The interior of the church is very fine. The south win dow in the transept is circular, and filled with painted glass; and opposite the pulpit arc several seats of finely carved wood, for the members of the council. Within the cathedral are the tombs of Pope Felix I. the Countess Or loff, the Countess Walmoden, and several English. From the top of the tower, which is ascended by 250 steps, there is a fine view of the town, and the lake of Geneva, with the Savoy Alps towering above it. There are two other churches in Lausanne, namely, that of St. Francois, and St. Laurent, none of which are particularly handsome. On the north side of the cathedral, and very near it, is the col lege or academy, founded in 1537, and endowed front the secularised convents. The academical library, founded in 1549, is in the upper story of the college, and was enriched with the library of M. de Quiros, a Spanish gentleman, who settled in Lausanne in 1750. and was appointed professor of church history. The Maison de Ville is a large stone building, with an arcade below, two stories above, and a small spire in front.
On the north of the academy is the chateau, which the bailiffs inhabited. It was built at the beginning of the fifteenth century, by the bishop William de Challant. The chateau, in which the public offices are kept, has its upper part built of brick, and the lower part of stone, with four projecting bastions of brick at the angles. The hospital is a neat building, with two projecting wings. It consists
of three stories, and is ornamented with Tuscan pilasters. Besides these buildings there is a manege, and a charity school. A lyceum or school of design was founded by the cantonal government in 1808, and was directed by M. Ducroz, a celebrated painter, who spent 32 years at Rome, There is a good collection of natural history and mineralo gy at the house of Professor Struve, and another belong ing to M. L rrdy. The ornithological collection of the late Colonel Desruines is placed in the academical library. A society of emulation was established here in 1804, and has published several interesting memoirs, under the title of Notices d'utilite publique.
The ancient Lausonium was situated between the country houses of Vidi and Dongry, on the great road to Morges, about half a league front Lausanne. Parts of walls, bricks, Roman coins, and a group in bronze, representing a priest preparing a bull for the sacrifice, have been at different times found in this spot. The remains of a Roman road, which went from Vidi to Ouchv. and Vevay, have also been discovered. In February 18u7, there were found in the wood of VIDIX, not far from Vidi, a subterraneous apartment, filled with arms and medals, and containing four great amphorae, the remains of marble columns, iron and copper pens, silver and copper pins, a bronze statue of Diana, and other remains of antiquity.
The most interesting promenades at Lausanne, are that of Montbenon, at the gate of St. Frai c :is ; the Signal, si tuated on the top of a high eminence, north of the town, which commands a prcspect of all the adjacent country, and near which is a beautiful glen, finely wooded, and highly picturesque, through which runs a small stream. The views from the terrace of the cathedral, from the terrace of the house occupied by Gibbon, (now the banking-house of Rl. Dumolin,) are very much admired. The population of Lausanne is about 8000. East Long. 6° 45'30" North Lat. 46° 31' 5".