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NEUSIEDLER LAKE NEUSIEDLER LAKE (Hung. Ferto), after Ba- laton the largest lake of Hungary, situated near the Austrian frontier on the confines of the counties of Oedenburg and Wieselburg; length about 23 m., breadth 7 m., depth 9 to 13 ft. The reedy banks of the lake shelter innu- merable water fowl. The E. side is marshy, adjoining the extensive marshes of Hansag. In times of sudden inundations the overflow- ing waters are carried through an artificial canal into the river Rabnitz. The W. bank is surrounded by beautiful vine-clad hills, at the foot of which the town of Eust is situated. Other towns "W. of the lake are Oedenburg and Eisenstadt. The lake dried up in 1865, as it had in 1693 and 1738, and the archduke Al- brecht laid out a plantation there which he called Neu-Mexico. In September, 1870, the basin was again filled with water from the Raab and Rabnitz rivers, through the Hansag marsh, the draining of which had been under- taken in 1865, and the farms and buildings were all submerged. NEUSS, a fortified town of Rhenish Prussia, in the district of Dusseldorf, on the Erft, near its confluence with the Rhine, 21 m. N. W. of Cologne; pop. in 1871, 13,992. The Roman Catholic cathedral is a fine specimen of the architecture of the 13th century, and has been repeatedly restored. The town contains a Roman Catholic gymnasium and a Protes- tant church. It is a free port and the prin- cipal emporium of Rhenish Prussia in the corn trade, and produces more rape oil than any other town of Germany. There is also a large trade in coal, and the cattle fairs are largely attended. There are several manufac- tories of machinery and other articles. The Romans had a fort here (Novesium). Charles the Bold of Burgundy besieged Neuss in July, 1474, to assist Bishop Ruprecht of Cologne against his contumacious see. He withdrew after 11 months, having lost 10,000 men, on the appearance of the imperial army under Frederick III. NEU-STRELITZ, a town of Germany, capital of Mecklenberg-Strelitz, on the E. side of Lake Zierke, 57 m. N. N. W. of Berlin; pop. in 1871, 8,470. The streets are broad, and con- verge into the market square. The palace is surrounded by fine pleasure grounds. There are two churches, a gymnasium, a library of 70,000 volumes, and collections of German an- tiquities and coins. About 2 m. S. of Neu- Strelitz is Alt-Strelitz, the former capital. NEUSTRIA, the name of the western division of the Frankish empire under the Merovin- gians and Carlovingians, from the partition of the provinces by the sons of Clovis in 511 to the beginning of the 10th century. In the earlier part of that period Neustria extended from the Meuse, which formed its boundary toward Australia, the eastern division, to the ocean and the Loire, which separated it from Aquitania. The principal towns were Sois- sons, Paris, Orleans, and Tours. In later times NEUTRALITY 259 it was restricted to the territories lying be- tween the Seine and the Loire. The name disappeared when the maritime territory was ceded to the Normans (912), receiving the name of Normandy. (See FKANCE, vol. vii., p. 379.) NEUTERS, a tribe of American Indians for- merly living on both sides of the Niagara between the Hurons and Iroquois, to whom they were related, and remaining neutral in the war between those tribes, whence the name given them by the French. The Hurons called them Attiwandaronk. The Recollects in 1629, and subsequently the Jesuits, attempt- ed missions among them without success. They informed the Recollects of the existence of oil springs in that part of the country. After the overthrow of the Hurons in 1649, the Neuters were attacked by the Iroquois, who killed many and incorporated the rest among the Five Nations of their league. NEUTRA (Hung. Nyitra). I. A county of Hungary, bordering on Moravia and the coun- ties of Trentschin, Turocz, Bars, Comorn, and Presburg; area, 2,219 sq. m. ; pop. in 1870, 361,005, mostly Slovaks and Roman Catholics. It exceeds all other Hungarian counties in the production of sheep and cattle, and the com- merce with Moravia is very active. It is wa- tered by the "Waag, Neutra, and March, and most of the soil is very fertile. Much wine is produced, of which the best is the red Neustadt- ler. Woollen, cotton, and linen goods, and other articles, are manufactured. II. A town, capital of the county, on the river Neutra, 70 m. N. W. of Pesth; pop. in 1870, 10,683. It is the seat of a Roman Catholic bishop, and contains a cathedral, situated within a fortress on high ground, several convents, a theological seminary, and a gymnasium. In 1663 it was taken by the Turks, and in 1708 by the impe- rialists from the partisans of Rakoczy. NEUTRALITY, in international law, the in- different and impartial posture maintained by one nation with regard to others which are at war. "The neutral state," says Kluber, "is neither judge nor party." It may be the com- mon friend of both belligerents, but may not favor either. The character of neutrality is generally impressed upon a nation only by the event of war, while in time of peace it may conclude offensive and defensive alliances, and in all respects arrange at its pleasure its rela- tions with other states. Yet there may be what is called a permanent neutrality. Switz- erland and Belgium by the existing arrange- ments in Europe, established in the case of the former by the declaration of the allied powers in 1815, and of the latter by the negotiations which established its independence in 1831, are to remain always neutral and independent of any complications which may in the future arise among the other European powers. These states, it is evident, cannot even in peace enter into any compacts or engagements which would be inconsistent with complete neutrality in case of war. It is not a violation of neutral-