OVERYSSEL, a province of the kingdom of Holland, situated between 52° 6' and 53' 52' N. lat, 5° 40' and 5' E. long., is bounded N. by Friesland and Drenthe, E. by Hanover and Westphalia, S. by Guelderland, and W. by Guelderland and tho Zuyder-Zee. The area is 1282 square miles ; the population at the census of December 31, 1853, amounted to 227,683. It is a low level country, containing a few bills, which the inhabitants call mountains. The soil is wet and marshy, especially iu the eastern part, whom aro the extensive peat moors of Echter and Hardenberg. There are likewise several sandy heaths, but near the Yssel there is some rich land which yielda rye, buckwheat, hemp, and fruits. The chief river is the Yssel, which runs along the frontier of Guelderland, and is 500 feet in breadth; it is joined at Deventer by the Schicpbeek, and falls into the Zuyder Zee below Kampen ; other rivers are the Zwarte-IVater, the Veehte, and the Linde. The Willemsvaert Canal unites the Yasel and the Zwarte-Water. The Yssel is navigated by steam-boats from Arnheitn to Kampen, and other steamers ply thence across the Zuyder-Zee to Amsterdam. The province contains several small lakes. Tho climate is moist, and rather unhealthy. The products are some corn, Hex, rape-seed, pulse, potatoes, garden fruits, plums in great abundance, and some wood, especially oak and alder. There are great numbers of wild gesso, full, and bees. The inhabitants derive their chief subsistence by cattle breeding and by digging peat for exportation. The pastures are very rich, especially in the western parts of the province, and great number' of oxen, sheep, and horses are bred.
Considerable profit is derived from the breeding of bees and the fisheries The manufacture. are linen, woollens, cotton, paper, wicker ware, and mats : there are ironworks at Deveuter.
Tvwss.—Zrolle, the capital of the province, is a well-built town on the Zwarte-Water, between the Yawl and the Vechto. It is defended by a rampart. which is planted with avenues of trees, and by very strong outworks. It has three gates, leading to as many suburbs, eight churches, a house of correction, and a Latin school. The inhabitants number about 17,000, and carry on a considerable trade in grain, seeds, cattle, wool, skins, &c. Besides the ordinary handicrafts there are tauyards, sugar and salt refineries; and woollen, cotton, and linen factories. DEVENTER. Almelo, on the As, a feeder of the Regge, which is a tributary of the Vechte, has about 3500 iuliabitants, who manufacture woollens and linen. Kampen, is a fortified seaport town near the mouth of the Vessel, with a population of about 9000, who manufacture woollen-cloth. It is a place of considerable trade ; steam-boats ply regularly up the Yssel to Arnhem on the Rhine, and :screen the Zuyder-Zee to Amsterdam. ilosselt, on the Zwarto-Water, N. of Zwolle, is a fortified town, with about 2000 inhabitants. Among the other towea are the followiog :—Enschedo, 3000 inhabitants, Ommen, 2000 inhabitants ; Raabe, 5000 inhabitants in the commune; and Steenwyck, 3500 inhabitants.