PENSA is an extesseivegneernment of Russia in Asia. It is bounded N. by Nischoei-Novgorod, E. by Simbink, S. by Sendoff, and S.W. and W. by Tambott It lies between 53' and 54' N. hit., 42' 20' and 45' 20' K long. The population in 1346 was 1,037,200, of whom nearly all are Russians of the Greek Church. The surface of the country is slightly undulating, and its general character is a It is watered by numerous rivers, but most of them are small and not navigable. The most important rivers are the Sours and the Mokchn. The Souza, which rises in Samtoff, enters Pence to the south of the chief town, traverses the eastern part of the government and enters Simbirsk. The Mokcha rises in the government itself, writers tho north-east part of it, and after running northward turns to the west, and enters the government of Tamboff. The government of Penes contains six small lakes. The climate is temperate and very agreeable in summer, but the winter is rather cold ; the sky is clear and the air very healthy.
The soil is extremely fertile, and the prodwie includes corn, hemp, flax, potatoes, and fruit. The forests are of vast extent. There are still wild-deer and a great quantity of game, but the fur-bearing animals have disappeared. The chief occupations of tho are grazing and agriculture. Bees are reared in considerable numbers. The fisheries are of little importance. The mineral kingdom furnishes a little iron, vitriol, sulphur, and millstones_ There are few extensive manefactnrest. But the country people manufacture coarse linen and woollen-cloth, and all kinds of articles for their own tae. There is a manufactory of blankets and carpets at the village of Jela. The distilling of brandy is carried on to a
very groat extent. The trade is chiefly carried on by land, especially with Nischnei-Norgorod. Annual fairs are held at Pence, Ninclinet Lomoff, and Saransk. The exports are corn, flour, brandy, soap, wax, honey, wool, sail-cloth, carpets, blankets, wooden-ware, &c.
ith respect to public instruction Pensa is under the university of Kaman, but the schools are few in number. The only printing-offtce belongs to the crown. There are in the government about 600 churches, of which 11 are cathedrals, 5 monks' convents, and 1 nunnery. The Tartar monines are to the number of 70, of which about 40 are of the first class.
Pewee, the capital of the government, is built on an eminence at the oonflnx of the Pens& and the Sours, in 53' 7' N. 1st., 44° 50' E. long., miles from Moscow. It was founded in 1666, and is a flourishing town, with manufactures of leather and soap. There is a brisk trade in corn. Pena; is a bishop's see, and ban a gymnasium, a seminary, two convents, to each of which two churches are attached; seven other churches and a cathedral. The houses are of wood. The population is about 11,000. At Nischnei.Lomoff (7000 Inhabitants) a great annual fair Is held from the 1st to the 16th of July ; the chief erodes sold are leather, furs, wax, drugs, and colonial produce. Saransk, at the conflux of the Saranga and the Imam, has nearly 9000 inhabitants', 9 churches, 2 cathedrals, and a convent of monks. It is a very thriving little town.