COMPOSTELLA, or ST JAG() DE COMI•nSTELLA, the Brigantium of the ancients, a city of Spain, and the capital of Gallicia, is situated on a hill upon the banks of the little river Soria. The streets are handsome but ill paved, and the largest of the four squares is tolerably elegant. The cathedral is a fine Gothic building, and has its interior fitted up with peculiar magnificence. It contains 23 chapels, of which that of St James is lighted only from the cupola, which is very lofty. It is adorned with the statue of St James, made of massive gold, and two feet high. The front of the altar, be longing to the chapel of the relics, and the frame-work above it and the tabernacle, arc all of massive silver ; but the shrines for the relics are made of silver, gilt and adorned with a profusion of diamonds, precious stones, and pearls, and resting by silver supporters upon small slabs. On the right and left of the altar are two columns which support a canopy, the whole of which is covered with plates of silver. A thousand wax candles are lighted here every night ; the effect of which is inexpressibly magnificent. The treasury of this ca thedral is very rich. The hospital for the reception of poor pilgrims is well endowed, and consists of two long square courts, surrounded with piazzas of freestone, supported by solid freestone pillars, and in the middle are beautiful fountains constantly playing.
The other ecclesiastical buildings arc large and im posing ; but the most interesting of them is the convent of St Martin, which is remarkable for its library, its clois ter, and its regular architecture, which is of the Doric order. There are four parish churches in the town, and eight in the suburbs, besides six convents. There is also an university founded in 1522, four colleges, four hospitals, and an elegant asylum for young orphans. There are eight large mercantile houses in Compostella, which carry on a considerable trade. There is here a manufactory of silk stockings, three hat manufactories, one of paper, and three tan-yards. Compostella is the scat of an archbishop, and the principal place of resi dence of the famous order of the knights of St James, who possess 87 commanderies, and a revenue of upwards of 200,000 ducats of gold. The revenue of the archbi shopric is about 25,0001. Population 11,900. (o-)