REVEL, the capital of the Russian government of Esthonia, is situated In 59' 26' 22" N. lat., 21' 39' 38" E. long., on the Gulf of Finland. It is very strongly fortified, and in 1824 the harbour, which is one of the beet in the Gulf of Finland, was made capable of receiving the Russian Baltic fleet.. It has narrow irregular streets, and dark old-fashioned houses. The best part of the pity is the part called the Dom, which is in fact a distinct portion, being surrounded with walla and towers in the old style, and further defended by a strong castle.
It Lieu an eminence called the Domberg, on the west side of the city, commanding an extensive view of the sea. Most of the houses of the nobility are in this part. There are likewise two extensive suburbs.
The principal public buildings are the cathedral, which has a very lofty and handsome steeple, the arsenal, the town-house, the admiralty, a gymnasium founded by Gustavus Adolphus in 1631, and the naval and military hospital The manufactures are cotton goods, hats, stockings, leather, powder, starch, pine, needles, earthenware, looking glasses, &c. There is also a cannon and bell foundry.
The trade of Revel formerly of considerable importance has, it is said, greatly declined of late years. Since the outbreak of war between Russia and the western European powers its foreign trade has been annihilated. The exports usually shipped at Revel are corn, hemp, flax, timber, spirits, tallow, &c.; the imports are composed of colonial produce, fruits, wine, salt, tobacco, manufactured goods, cheese, herrings, fie. The town was founded about 1218 by Valdemar 11. of Denmark. It soon became an important member of the Hanseatic League, and had an extensive commerce with Novgorod. The Swedes took Revel in 1561, when its trade began to languish. In 1710 it came into the hands of Peter the Great, who confirmed most of its commercial and municipal privileges. The population of Revel is about 20,000.