FRIBOURG, or Fur nirlio, a town of Switzerland, and the capital or a canton of same ;,.me, is situated partly on a horizontal plane on the banks of the Saline or Saanc, and partly on the declivity of a ridge of rugged rocks, which form a singular contrast with the walls of the town and the towers of its convents and churches. When a stranger ascends the street of the Great Fountain, in corning from the Bains des trois Saisses, he can scarcely persuade himself that he is in the middle of a large town. The fortifications of Fribourg, consisting of lofty walls and towers, are about four miles in circumference, and inclose a large space, a great part of which is occupied with gar dens and orchaMs. The descent to the town is on all sides extremely steep, and the street of the Great Fountain forms the roofs of the houses of the Court-chemin. A communi cation is made between the two parts of the town by three bridges, from which there are very picturesque views. The most advantageous stations, from which an idea may be formed of the extraordinary situation of Fribourg, are the top of Schoncnbcrg ; the meadow situated beyond the crucifix, which is seen in going out by the gate of BOUI' guillon ; and the meadow which extends behind the Place &Armes, near the gate of Romont.
The houses of Fribourg, which are raised above each other in regular gradation, are built with a grey sandstone from an adjacent quarry, and are in general neat and well built, though the town has a dull appearance. In the mid dle of the principal square is the celebrated lime-tree, of great size and beauty, which is said to have been planted there on the 22d of June 1476, by a soldier, on his return from the battle of Mcrat. For some years, this venerable tree has been losing its vigour. The town-house is an an cient edifice, which was built on the spot where the palace of the Dukes of Zuhringul formerly stood. The cathedral church, dedicated to St Nicholas, was founded in 1283. Its
tower is 356 feet high, being the highest in Switzerland. The bells are reckoned the finest in the country. The ei-devant college of the Jesuits, situated in the highest part of the town, affords, from its lofty towers, some of the finest and most extensive views. The other objects of in terest at Fribourg arc, the gate of Bourgillon, situated be tween two precipices ; the principal altar of the church of the convent of Augustins ; the great reservoirs situated near the college of Jesuits ; the mill of Motto., opposite to the convent of Maigrange ; and the defile of Gotteron. The cabinet of natural history belonging to M. Fontaine; the library, pictures, minerals, and philosophical instru ments belonging to M. Joseph Praroman ; the collection of books and MSS. relative to the history of Switzerland, belonging to M. Ignace Gady; and the small botanic gar den of AI. Odet, arc worthy of the notice of traveller's.
There is at Fribourg a seminary of priests ; a gymna sium ; schools for young persons in the convents of the Ursulines, and the Visitandines, and other inferior schools kept by the Franciscans and the Capuchins. There arc 23 public fountains in Fribourg, of which the water is excel lent. The inhabitants of the lower town, however, were formerly much afflicted with the goitre necks, but the dis ease is now less general.
The line of demarcation between the German and French languages passes through Fribourg. The inhabitants of the lower parts of the town speak German, and those in the higher parts French, while the two languages arc con founded in the middle of the town.
The principal manufactures of Fribourg are hats, can dles, barer, earthenware, cotton cloths, &.c. The chief pro menades are in the square 'slanted with limes, and in the d'Armes. Population 6,0J0. East Long. 6° 48', and North Lat. 46° 50'.