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 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: 1801 Department of Mont Blanc (four-fifths), Leman, Maritime Alps, 1810 Roman states and the Valais Holland, Bremen, Hamburg, Lubeck, part of Hanover, Oldenburg, Illyrian provinces, including Venetian Dalmatia 36,500 4,530,000 19,300 1,372,000 is 6030 kilometers, twenty-four kilometers being very nearly equal to seven square miles, or sixty to a degree. The principal town is Douay. 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. 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 2. The province of Artois forms the departassembly, by its decrees of the 15th of January, ment of the. Straits of Caluis, which contains and the 16th and 26th of February 1790, divided six districts, forty-three cantons, and 953 comFrance into eighty-three departments. As, how-munes; its territorial extent is 7042 kilometers: ever, the divisions as they existed before the its principal town is Arras. 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 corresponding 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 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-seven 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 kilo meters; 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 4534 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 76374 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 6182 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 89124 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 94824 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 74324 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 7047 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. 29. The province of Roussillon, forms the departiment of the Eastern Pyrenees, which contains three districts, seventeen cantons, and 249 communes; the territorial extent is 337 kilometers; its principal town is Perpignan. 30. The province of Languedoc is divided into the departments of the Tarn, the Higher Garonne, the Herault, the Aude, the Garde, the Ardeche, the Higher Loire, and the Lozere. The department of the Tarn contains four districts, thirty-five cantons, and 356 communes; its ter ritorial extent is 6080 kilometers; its principal town is Castres. The department of the Higher Garonne contains five districts, forty-two cantons, and 691 communes; its territorial extent is 8077 kilometers; its principal town is Toulouse. The department of the Herault contains four districts, thirty-six cantons, and 333 communes; its territorial extent is 65124 kilometers; its principal town is Montpellier. The department of the Aude contains four districts, thirtyone cantons, and 436 communes; its territorial extent is 6542 kilometers; its principal town is Carcassone. The department of the Garde contains four districts, thirty-eight cantons, 365 communes; its territorial extent is 6280 kilometers; its principal town is Nismes. The department of the Ardeche contains three districts, thirty-one cantons, and 335 communes; its territorial extent is 5710 kilometers; its principal town is Privas. The department of the Higher Loire contains three districts, twenty-eight cantons, and 272 communes; its territorial extent is 5282 kilometers; its principal town is Le Puy. The department of the Lozere contains three districts, twenty-four cantons, and 193 communes; its territorial extent is 5390 kilometers; its principal town is Mende. 31. The province of Dauphiny comprehends the departments of the Isere, the Drome, and the Higher Alps. The departments of the Isere contains four districts, forty-four cantons, and 558 communes; its territorial extent is 8940 kilometers; its princ.pal town is Grenoble. The department of the Drome contains four districts, twenty-eight cantons, and 360 communes; its territorial extent is 6927 kilometers; its principal town is Valence. The department of the Higher Alps contains three districts, twentythree cantons, and 185 communes; its territorial extent is 5650 kilometers; its principal town is Gap. 32. The province of Provence contains the departments of the Lower Alps, the Var, and the Mouths of the Rhone. The department of the Lower Alps contains five districts, twentyeight cantons, and 260 communes; its territorial extent is 74124 kilometers; and its principal town is Digne. The department of the Var contains four districts, thirty-two cantons, and 210 communes; its territorial extent is 7510 kilometers; its principal town Toulon. The department of the Mouths of the Rhone contains three districts, twenty-six cantons, and 108 communes; its territorial extent is 5315 kilometers; its principal town is Aix. Avignon and the adjoining territory, which belonged to the pope before the revolution, are now incorporated with France, and form the department of Vaucluse, which contains four districts, twenty-two cantons, and 150 communes; its territorial extent is 3700 kilometers; its principal town is Avignon. The island of Corsica is formed into the two departments of the Golo and the Liamone. The department of the Golo contains three districts, thirty-nine cantons, and 235 communes; its territorial extent is 3267 kilometers; its principal town is Bastia. The department of the Liamone contains three districts, twenty-one cantons, and 156 communes; its territorial extent is 2955 kilometers; its principal town is Ajaccio. France is divided into twenty-two military provinces, each containing a certain number of the civil departments. These are each under the command of a general, who is stationed at a central town, whence the division or province commonly derives its name, and are as follows: the departments included in each division, are, Departments in each Division. Seine, Seine and Oise, Aisne, Seine and Marne, Oise, Loiret, Eure and Loire. Moselle. 4. Nancy. 5. Strasburg. 6. Besançon . 7. Grenoble. 8. Marseilles. . 9. Montpellier. 10. Toulouse. Murthe, Vosges. Upper Rhine, Lower Rhine. Isere, Drôme, Upper Alps. Upper Saône, Doubs, Jura and Ain. Lower Alps, Vaucluse, Mouths of the Rhone, Var. Ardeche, Gard, Lozere, Herault, Tarn, Aveyron. Aude, Eastern Pyrenees, Ariege, Upper Garonne, Upper Pyrenees, Gers, Taru, and Garonne. 11. Bordeaux. Lower Pyrenees, Landes, Gironde. 12. Rochelle. 13. Rennes. 14. Caen. 15. Rouen. 16. Li le. 17. Dijon. 18. Lyons. 19. Per gueux. 20. Bourges. 21. Tours. 22. Bastia. Charente-Inferieure, Deux-Sevres, Vendée, Loire-Inferieure, Vienne. Ille and Villaine, Morbihan, Finisterre, Côtes du Nord. Manche, Calvados, Orne. Seine-Inferieure, Somme, Eure. Nord, Pas-de-Calais. Aube, Upper Marne, Yonne, Côte-d'Or, Saonne and Loire. Rhone, Loire, Cantal, Puy-de-Dome, Upper Loire. Correze, Lot, Lot and Garonne, Dordogne, Charente. Cher, Indre, Allier, Creuze, Nievre, Upper Vienne. Sarthe, Indre and Loire, Maine and Loire, Mayenne, Loir and Cher. |