BRIECHE DE ROLAND, bresh de 'the breach of Roland,'" a defile in the Pyre nees, between France and Spain, which, accord ing to a well-known legend, was opened up by Roland, one of the paladins of Charlemagne, with one blow of his sword Durandal, in order to afford a passage to his army in the fight at Roncevalles. It is an immense gap between the walls of a mountain barrier rising to the height of 9,500 feet above the level of the sea, and from 300 to 600 feet above the bottom of the defile. The defile itself varies in width from 200 to 300 feet. It lies about 43 miles north of Huesca, from which it can at times be seen.
BRIeCHIN, breien, Scotland, a parlia mentary and municipal burgh in Forfarshire, romantically situated on the left bank of the South Esk, 12% miles northeast of Forfar, and eight west of Montrose. It is a very ancient royal burgh, and was formerly walled. The chief industry is the manufacture of linens; there are also distilleries, and the neighborhood exports a considerable quantity of grain. In
ancient times there was an abbey of Culdees in this place, and in 1150, when Brechin was constituted an episcopal see by David I, it is supposed that the site of this establishment was that chosen for the foundation of the cathedral. The cathedral church of Saint Ninians, which now forms the parish church, is situated on the north edge of a precipitous ravine, which separates the burgh-lands from those of Brechin Castle, the seat of the Earl of Dalhousie. The ancient round tower, which is the leading architectural feature of the town, stands at the southwest angle of the church. Such towers are common in Ireland, but are seldom seen in Scotland. The Mechan ics Institution is a handsome building, with a beautiful hall, and there is a valuable public library. Dr. Thomas Guthrie, the celebrated preacher, was a native. Pop. 8,439.