Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XV.djvu/426

 410 STRALSUND STRASBURG STRALSFXD, a strongly fortified seaport town of Prussia, in Pomerania, capital of a district of its own name, on the strait which separates the island of Rugen from the mainland, 126 m. N. by W. of Berlin ; pop. in 1871, 26,731. The town is situated on an insular site, sur- rounded by the strait and several ponds, and can only be approached by bridges which con- nect it with its three suburbs on the mainland. It has a gloomy appearance, but is clean and well paveol. The churches of St. Nicholas and St. Mary are fine specimens of the pointed style of architecture. The gymnasium has both a museum and a library. The manufac- tures include linen and woollen goods, starch, sugar, tobacco, soap, and leather. The town owns nearly 300 vessels, of about 70,000 tons. The chief exports are wheat, malt, timber, wool, and linen. The harbor is large, but shoals prevent vessels drawing more than 15 ft. from entering it. Stralsund was built by Jaromar I., prince of Rugen, about 1209, and in the 14th century was one of the most im- portant Hanse towns. It successfully resisted a memorable siege by Wallenstein in 1628. The Swedes gained possession of it by the peace of Westphalia, and Frederick William, elector of Brandenburg, captured it from them in 1678, but restored it in 1679. Stral- sund surrendered to the Prussian, Danish, and Saxon forces in 1715, but was restored to Sweden in 1720. In 1807 it surrendered to the French, who destroyed part of the forti- fications. By the treaty of Kiel in 1814 it was ceded to Denmark, and in 1815 Denmark surrendered it to Prussia. STRAMONIUM. See DATURA. STRANGE, Sir Robert, an English engraver, born in Pomona, one of the Orkney isles, July 14, 1721, died in London, July 5, 1792. While an apprentice in Edinburgh he joined the forces of the young pretender, and after the battle of Culloden took refuge in the high- lands. He studied abroad for some years, and in 1751 settled in London as a historical en- graver. During a visit to the continent in 1760 he executed many plates after the old masters. He was also a picture dealer, amassed a fortune, and was knighted in 1787. He wrote a u History of the Progress of Engra- ving," never published. There is a memoir of him by James Dennistoun of Dennistoun (2 rols. 8vo, 1855). f STRASBCRG, or Strassbnrg (Fr. Strasbourg), a city of Germany, capital of Alsace-Lorraine, formerly of the French department of Bas- Rhin, on the 111, a tributary of the Rhine, about a mile from the latter river, 90 m. S. S. W. of Frankfort, and 250 m. E. by S. of Paris; pop. in 1876, 94,000, two fifths Prot- estants. It stands on level ground, is nearly 6 m. in circuit, and is defended by a wall with bastions, ditches, and outworks, and a strong citadel constructed by Vauban. It is entered by seven gates, and the Rhine is crossed by a bridge of boats opposite Kehl. The 111 flows through the town in a N. E. direction, has many branches, and is crossed by several wooden bridges. The streets are generally crooked and narrow, but the principal ones are broad, and there are several fine squares. The houses are well built and rather lofty, with steep roofs. The cathedral, one of the finest Gothic buildings in Europe (see CATHE- DRAL), was much damaged during the siege of 1870, but soon restored. It has a famous astronomical clock, constructed by Isaac Ha- brecht about 1570, one of the greatest works of its kind. Of the other churches the most in- teresting are those of St. Stephen, St. Thomas, the Temple Neuf, and St. Pierre le Jeune ; and there is a fine synagogue. The city library, dating from 1531, was burned in 1870, du- ring the war, with its 200,000 volumes; but Strasburg Cathedral. it has since been restored, and in 1874 con- tained 300,000 and in 1875 350,000 volumes. The university, founded in 1621, was reopened May 1, 1872, by the Germans, and in 1875 had more than 700 students. The military estab- lishments are on an extensive scale. The man- ufactures include woollen, linen, and cotton goods, sail cloth, jewelry, clocks and watches, cutlery, hardware and cast-iron articles, porce- lain, earthenware, soap, leather, straw goods, hosiery, paper, and cards. There are numer- ous bleach fields, dye works, sugar refineries, breweries, and printing offices ; and the town is celebrated for its pates de Foie gras. The trade of Strasburg is extensive, and is greatly facilitated by the navigation of the Rhine. Strasburg occupies the site of the ancient AT-