whole, as we have seen, was wrested from the sovereign by the prevalence of the feudal system: and the gradual recovery of the various provinces under the Capetians we shall have hereafter to state. Neither need we further notice here the additions to and subtractions from the French territory, which took place during the wars that arose out of the late revolution, except to remark that the period of the greatest aggrandisement of France was between 1801 and 1810. In the former year the peace of Luneville extended the boundary of France eastward to the Rhine, and to the Adige between the Austrian territories in Italy, and the Cisalpine republic. By the peace of Tilsit, concluded on the 7th of July 1807, the Ionian Islands were assigned to France. Etru

Dates.

ria was incorporated with France on the 30th of the following May; the Papal territories on the 17th of May, 1809; and by the peace of Vienna, concluded on the 14th of October, of that year, the Illyrian provinces, on the right bank of the Save, were ceded by Austria. In 1810 the annexation of Holland to France took place, as well as of the Hanse towns of Hamburg, Lubeck, and Bremen, with the north-western district of Germany, within a line from Wesel on the Rhine, to Lauenbourg on the Elbe. The Valais was likewise united to France in November 1810. The following is a,summary view of the territory and population acquired by France, from the com mencement of the Revolution to the beginning of 1811:

France, before the revolution, was divided into thirty-two distinct governments, eighteen of which are in the circuit, and fourteen in the middle of the kingdom. The first national assembly, by its decrees of the 15th of January, and the 16th and 26th of February 1790, divided France into eighty-three departments. As, however, the divisions as they existed before the revolution are often referred to, and a knowledge of them is absolutely necessary to the right understanding of the history of France, we shall enumerate them in connexion with the correspond.ng departments. Each department, it is proper to premise, is subdivided into three, four, or five districts, called communes arrondissemens. These districts are again divided into cantons, and each canton is composed of a certain number of communes, that is to say, of towns and villages. A commune is sometimes a single town, and sometimes a union of several villages, possessing a mayor and communal municipality. All the cities of large size are divided into several communes.

1. The province of Flanders, or the territories which France possessed in the western part of the Netherlands before the revolution, and which she still retains This forms the department of the north, which contains six districts, sixty cantons, and 671 communes; its territorial extent

36,500 4,530,000

19,300 1,372,000

109,810 16,057,000 204,000 28,500,000

313,810 44,557,000

is 6030 kilometers, twenty-four kilometers being very nearly equal to seven square miles, or sixty to a degree. The principal town is Douay.

2. The province of Artois forms the department of the. Straits of Caluis, which contains six districts, forty-three cantons, and 953 communes; its territorial extent is 7042 kilometers: its principal town is Arras.

3. The principal part of Picardy forms the department of the Somme, which contains five districts, forty-one cantons, and 848 communes. Its territorial extent is 6512 kilometers: its principal town is Amiens.

4. Normandy is divided into the departments of the Lower Seine, the Eure, the Orme, Calvados, and the Channel. The Lower Seine contains three districts, twenty cantons, and seventy-nine communes; its territorial extent is 6372 kilometers: its principal town is Rouen. The department of the Eure contains five districts, thirty-six cantons, and 843 communes; its territorial extent is 6182 kilometers: its principal town is Evreaux. The department of the Orme contains four districts, thirty-eight cantons, and 627 communes; its territorial extent is 6375 kilometers; its principal town is Alençon. The department of Calvados contains six districts, thirty-sever cantons, and 896 communes; its territorial extent is 5640 kilometers its principal town is Caen.

The

department of the Channel contains five districts, forty-eight cantons, and 669 communes; its territorial extent is 6890 kilometers; its principal town is Coutances.

5. The province of the Isle of France is divided into the departments of the Aisne, the Oise, the Seine, the Seine and Marne, and the Seine and Oise. The department of the Aisne contains five districts, thirty-seven cantons, and 853 communes; its territorial extent is 7422 kilometers; its principal town is Laon. The department of the Oise contains four districts, thirty-five cantons, and 738 communes; its territorial extent is 6082 kilometers; its principal town is Beauvois. The department of the Seine contains three districts, twenty cantons, and seventy-nine communes; its territorial extent is 453 kilometers; its principal town is Paris. The department of the Seine and the Marne contains five districts, twenty-nine cantons, and 561 communes; its territorial extent is 6127 kilometers; its principal town is Melun. The department of the Seine and Oise contains five districts, thirty-six cantons, and 696 communes; its territorial extent is 5880 kilometers; its principal town is Versailles.

6. The province of Champagne contains the departments of the Ardennes, of the Marne, of the Higher Marne, of the Aube, and the Yonne. The department of the Ardennes contains five districts, thirty-four cantons, and 599 communes; its territorial extent is 6242 kilometers; its principal town is Mezieres. The department of the Marne contains five districts, thirty-two cantons, and 699 communes; its territorial extent is 8486 kilometers; its principal town is Chalons. The department of the Higher Marne contains three districts, twenty-eight cantons, and 552 communes; its territorial extent is 6540 kilometers; its principal town is Chaumont. The department of the Aube contains five districts, twenty-six cantons, and 423 communes; its territorial extent is 6242 kilometers; its principal town is Troyes. The department of the Yonne contains five districts, thirty-four cantons, and 484 communes; its territorial extent is 7740 kilometers; its principal town is Auxerre.

7. The province of Lorraine is divided into the departments of the Meuse, the Moselle, the Meurthe, and the Vosges. The department of the Meuse contains four districts, twenty-eight cantons, and 591 communes; its territorial extent is 6275 kilometers; its principal town is Bar-le-duc. The department of the Moselle contains four districts, thirty cantons, and 934 communes; its territorial extent is 6552 kilometers; its principal town is Metz. The department of the Meurthe contains five districts, twenty-nine cantons, and 718 communes; its territorial extent is 6430 kilometers; its principal town is Nancy. The department of Vosges contains five districts, thirty cantons, and 550 communes; its territorial extent is 6522 kilometers; its principal town is Epinal.

8. The province of Alsace is divided into the departments of the Lower and the Higher Rhine. The department of the Higher Rhine contains five districts, thirty-nine cantons, and 703 communes⚫ its territorial extent is 6030 kilometers;

its principal town is Colmar. The department of the Lower Rhine contains four districts, thirty-seven cantons, and 616 communes; its territorial extent is 5695 kilometers; its principal town is Strasburg.

9. The province of Brittany comprehends the departments of the Ille and Villaine, the Lower Loire, Morbihan, the North Coast, and Finisterre. The department of the Ille and Villaine contains six districts, forty-three cantons, and 352 communes; its territorial extent is 7185 kilometers; its principal town is Rennes. The department of the Lower Loire contains five districts, fortyfive cantons, and 209 communes; its territorial extent is 7660 kilometers; its principal town is Nantes. The department of Morbihan contains four districts, thirty-seven cantons, and 231 communes; its territorial extent is 7067} kilometers: its principal town is Vannes. The department of the North Coast contains five districts, fortyseven cantons, and 376 communes; its territorial extent is 7567 kilometers; its principal town is Saint Brieux. The department of Finisterre contains five districts, forty-three cantons, and 287 communes; its territorial extent is 7292} kilometers; its principal town is Quimper.

10. The province of Maine is divided into the department of the Maine and the Sarthe. The department of the Maine contains three districts, twenty-seven cantons, and 288 communes; its territorial extent is 54524 kilometers; its principal town is Laval. The department of the Sarthe contains four districts, thirty-three cantons, and 413 communes; its territorial extent is 6467 kilometers; its principal town is Leillans.

11. The province of Anjou forms the department of the Maine and Loire, which contains five districts, thirty-four cantons, and 385 communes; its territorial extent is 7637 kilometers; its principal town is Angers.

12. The province of Touraine forms the department of the Indre and Loire, which contains three districts, twenty-four cantons, and 311 communes; its territorial extent is 6452} kilometers; its principal town is Tours.

13. The province of Orleannois comprehends the departments of the Eure and Loire, the Loire and Cher, and the Loiret The departmet of the Eure and Loire contains five districts, thirty-six cantons, and 843 communes; its territorial extent is 61824 kilometers; its principal town is Chartres. The department of the Loire and Cher contains three districts, twenty-four cantons, and 309 communes; its territorial extent is 6717 kilometers; its principal town is Blois. The department of the Loiret contains four districts, thirty-one cantons, and 363 communes; its territorial extent is 7047 kilometers; its principal town is Orleans.

14. The province of Poitou comprehends the departments of Vievere, the Two Sevres, and La Vendée. The department of Vievere contains five districts, thirty-one cantons, and 344 communes; its territorial extent is 7340 kilometers; its principal town is Poitiers. The department of the Two Sevres contains four districts, thirtyone cantons, and 363 communes; its territorial extent is 6337 kilometers; its principal town is

Niort. The department of La Vendée contains three districts, twenty-nine cantons, and 324 communes; its territorial extent is 7242 kilometers; its principal town is Fontenay.

15. The province of Berry comprehends the departments of the Indre and the Cher. The department of the Indre contains four districts, twenty-three cantons, and 275 communes; its territorial extent is 7395 kilometers; its chief town is Chateauroux. The department of the Cher contains three districts, twenty-nine cantons, and 307 communes; its territorial extent is 7385 kilometers; its principal town is Bourges.

16. The Nivernois forms the department of the Nievre, which contains four districts, twentyfive cantons, and 330 communes; its territorial extent is 7365 kilometers; its principal town is Nevers.

17. The Bourbonnois forms the department of the Allier, which contains four districts, twenty-six cantons, and 350 communes; its territorial extent is 7427 kilometers; its principal town is Moulins.

18. The province of Burgundy forms the departments of the Côte d'Or, the Saone and Loire, and the Ain. The department of the Côte d'Or contains four districts, thirty-six cantons, and 733 communes: its territorial extent is 9192 kilometers; its principal town Dijon. The department of the Saone and Loire contains five districts, forty-eight cantons, and 609 communes: its territorial extent is 8912 kilometers; its principal town Macon. The department of the Ain contains four districts, thirty-two cantons. and 416 communes; its territorial extent is 5675 kilometers; its principal town is Bourg.

19. The province of Franche Compté comprehends the departments of the Higher Saone, the Doubs, and Jura. The department of the Higher Saone contains three districts, twentyseven cantons, and 640 communes; its territorial extent is 5582 kilometers; its principal town is Vesoul. The department of the Doubs contains four districts, twenty-five cantons, and 605 communes; its territorial extent is 5340 kilometers; its principal town is Besançon. The department of Jura contains four districts, thirty-two cantons, and 728 communes; its territorial extent is 5237 kilometers; its principal town is Lons-le-Saulnier.

20. The Pays d'Aunis forms the department of the Lower Charente, which contains six districts, thirty-seven cantons, and 506 communes; its territorial extent is 7247 kilometers; its principal town is Saintes.

21. The province of Saintonge forms the department of the Charente, which contains five districts, twenty-eight cantons, and 455 communes; its territorial extent is 6310 kilometers; its principal town is Angouleme

22. The province of Marche comprehends the departments of the Higher Vienne, and the Creuse. The department of the Higher Vienne contains four districts, twenty-six cantons, and 224 communes; its territorial extent is 6002 kilometers; its principal town is Limoges. The department of the Creuse contains four districts, twenty-five cantons, and 296 communes; its

territorial extent is 5902 kilometers; its principal town is Gueret.

23. The Limosin forms the department of Correge, which contains three districts, twentynine cantons, and 294 communes; its territorial extent is 5857 kilometers; its principal town is Tulles.

24. The province of Auvergne comprehends the departments of Puy de Dome and Cantal. The department of Puy de Dome contains three districts, fifty cantons, and 458 communes; its territorial extent is 8450 kilometers; its principal town Clermont. The department of Cantal contains four districts, twenty-three cantons, and 270 communes; its territorial extent is 5937 kilometers; and its principal town is Aurillac.

25. The province of Lyonnois is divided into the departments of the Rhone, and the Loire. The department of the Rhone contains two districts, twenty-five cantons, and 261 communes; its territorial extent is 2935 kilometers; its principal town is Lyons. The department of the Loire contains three districts, twenty-eight cantons, and 327 communes; its territorial extent is 5135 kilometers; its principal town is Monbrison.

26. The province of Guienne is divided into the departments of the Gironde, the Dordogne, the Lot and Garonne, the Lot, Aveyron, the Gers, the Higher Pyrenees, and the Landes. The department of the Gironde contains six districts, forty-eight cantons, and 580 communes; its territorial extent is 1170 kilometers; its principal town is Bourdeaux. The department of the Dordogne contains five districts, forty-seven cantons, and 642 communes; its territorial extent is 9482 kilometers; its principal_town is Perigueux. The department of the Lot and Garonne contains four districts, thirty-eight cantons, and 469 communes; its territorial extent is 6100 kilometers; its principal town is Agen. The department of the Lot contains four districts, forty-one cantons, and 440 communes; its territorial extent is 7432 kilometers; its principal town is Cahors. The department of Aveyron contains five districts, forty-three cantons, and 589 communes; its territorial extent is 9477 kilometers; and its principal town is Rhodez. The department of Gers contains five districts, thirty cantons, and 700 communes; its territorial extent is 70473 kilometers; and its principal town is Auch. The department of the Higher Pyrenees contains three districts, twentysix cantons, and 501 communes; its territorial extent is 4937 kilometers; and its principal town is Tarbes. The department of the Landes contains three districts, twenty-eight cantons, and 368 communes; its territorial extent is 9475 kilometers; its principal town is Mont de Marsan.

27. The province of Bearn forms the department of the Lower Pyrenees, which contains five districts, forty cantons, and 660 communes; its territorial extent is 80724 kilometers; its principa town is Pau.

28. The province of Foix forms the department of the Arriege, which contains three districts, twenty cantons, and 337 communes; its teritorial extent is 5050 kilometers; its principal town is Foix.

The articles of the definitive treaty between France and the allied powers relative to the boundaries of that kingdom, signed at Paris, 20th November, 1815, are so important, and so clearly mark the outline of her present territory, that we think proper to subjoin them.

Article I.-The frontiers of France shall be the same as they were in the year 1790, save and except the modifications on one side and on the other, which are detailed in the present article. First, on the northern frontiers, the line of demarcation shall remain as it was fixed by the treaty of Paris, as far as opposite to Quiverain; from thence it shall follow the ancient limits of the Belgian provinces, of the late bishopric of Liege, and of the duchy of Bouillon, as they existed in the year 1790, having the territories included (enclavés) within that line of Phillipeville and Marienbourg, with the fortresses so called, together with the whole of the duchy of Bouillon without the frontiers of France. From Villers near Orval upon the confines of the department Des Ardennes, and of the grand duchy of Luxembourg as far as Perle, upon the great road leading from Thionville to Treves, the line shall remain as it was laid down by the treaty of Paris. From Perle it shall pass by Lauensdorf, Walwich, Schardorff, Niederveiling, Pelweiler (all these places with their banlieus or dependencies remaining to France) to Houvre; and shall follow from thence the old limits of the district (Pays) of Sarrebruck, leaving Sarrelouis and the course of the Sarre, together with the places situated to the right of the line above described, and their banlieus or de

pendencies without the limits of France. From the limits of the district of Sarrebruck, the line of demarcation shall be the same which at present separates from Germany the departments of the Moselle and of the Lower Rhine, as far as to the Lauter, which river shall from thence serve as the frontier until it falls into the Rhine. All the territory on the left bank of the Lauter, including the fortress of Landau, shall form part of Germany. The town of Weissenbourg, however, through which that river runs, shall remain entirely to France, with a rayon on the left

bank, not exceeding 1000 toises, and which shall be more particularly determined by the commissioners who shall be charged with the approaching desig

nation of the boundaries.

II.-Leaving the mouth of the Lauter, and continuing along the departments of the Lower Rhine, the Upper Rhine, the Doubs, and the Jura, to the canton de Vaud, the frontiers shall remain as fixed by the treaty of Paris. The Thalweg of the Rhine shall form the boundary between France and the states of Germany, but the property of the islands shall remain in perpetuity, as it shall be fixed by a new survey of the course of that river, and continue, unchanged, whatever variation that course may undergo in the lapse of time. Commissioners shall be named on both sides by the high contracting parties, within the space of three months, to proceed upon the said survey. One-half of the bridge between Strasbourg and Kehl, shall belong to France, and the other half to the grand duchy of Baden.

III.-In order to establish a direct communication between the canton of Geneva and Switzerland, that part of the Pays de Gex, bounded on the east by the lake Leman; on the south, by the territory of the canton of Geneva; on the north, by that of the Can

ton de Vaud; on the west by the course of the Versoix, and by a line which comprehends the communes of Collex, Bossy, and Meyrin, leaving the commune of Ferney to France, shall be ceded to the Helvetic confederacy, in order to be united to the canton of Geneva. The line of the French custom-houses shall

be placed to the west of the Jura, so that the whole of the Pays de Gex, shall be without that line.

IV. From the frontiers of the canton of Geneva, as far as the Mediterranean, the line of demarcation

shall be that which, in the year 1790, separated France from Savoy, and from the county of Nice. The relations which the treaty of Paris of 1814 had re-established between France and the principality of Monaco, shall cease for ever, and the same relations shall exist between that principality and his majesty the king of Sardinia.

V. All the territories and districts included (enclavés) within the boundary of the French territory, as determined by the present article, shall remain united to France.

VI. The high contracting parties shall name, within three months after the signature of the present treaty, commissioners to regulate every thing relating to the designation of the boundaries of the respective countries, and as soon as the labors of the commissioners shall have terminated, maps shall be drawn, and land-marks shall be erected, which shall point out the respective limits.'

Such are the general and departmental outlines of this important part of Europe. The surface of France is in general flat; not rising into any elevations that can be called mountainous, except in the central and southern provinces, i. e. upwards of 300 miles south of Calais, where among the sources of the Meuse, the Moselle, the Seine and the Saône, we meet with the mountains of Auvergne. Hence the Cevennes, a long range of mountains, proceeds from north to south in a course at first parallel with that of the Saône and subsequently of the Rhone, until, on approaching the Mediterranean, it branches off to the south-west and joins the Pyrenees. The greatest height of this range is in Auvergne, about lat. 45°, where this chain, or more properly a branch of it, attains, at the mountains called Cantal and Puy de Dôme, an elevation of 6000 feet, and is covered in its higher parts with snow during a great part of the year. Another, deaux to the south-east, a distance of 150 miles, but a much less lofty range, extends from Boruntil it reaches the Pyrenees. The smaller "hains are numerous in the east and south-east of the kingdom, viz. in Lorraine, the Nivernois, Dauphiny, Provence; also in part of the interior, particularly the Limousin and Guienne. They are interspersed with extensive plains, but convert the whole of the south and south-east of France into rugged and elevated tracts. Down the eastern frontier, and nearly parallel to the course of the Rhine, run the Vosges, until they join Mount Jura, in the Alps, north of the lake of Geneva. The grandest range, however, for scenery is that portion of the Alps which separates France from Switzerland. Here is found the towering Mont Blanc, the highest point of Europe, and so much above the surrounding Alps as to be illuminated by the sun twenty minutes earlier and later. See our articles BLANC MOUNT, and EUROPE. Other remarkable peaks in this direction are Reculet and Dole,

which are 5660 feet above the level of the sea. On the south of France the chain of the Pyrenees stretches from the port of Vendres, on the coast of the Mediterranean, to the Atlantic Ocean on the coast of Spain. Its greatest breadth is forty leagues: