FRANCE. 
Statistics. produce of a range of vineyards rocky, on a ri 
—— of hills to the south of Cahors, ail ie enlled Vin de 
Grave, because growing on a gravelly soil. The wine 
of Condrieaux, a small town in the Lyonnois, on the - 
banks of the Rhone, about seven leagues from Lyons, is 
very much esteemed. The original plants from which 
this wine is made, were, to tradition, brought 
from Dalmatia, by order of the Emperor Probus. 
Luscious wines and liqueurs are common in 
of France, as well as Provence, of which those of 
> and St Laurent are the most esteemed. Frontig- 
niac, a town in the department of the Herault, is re- 
markable for its ane S95 tot wine jee are 
the most perfect, an best ada’ or keeping. 
Lunel, an old town in the meer ped Gand, i 
another place, in the vicinity of which muscat grapes 
are cultivated in great quantities, the soil being peculi- 
arly suited to them. The muscadine of Lunel is of a 
more delicate flavour than Frontigniac, but it will not 
keep so well. The muscat grapes grown here are also 
dried, and are sent all over Europe. They are called 
in the country passerilles. Aubagne, between Mar- 
seilles and Toulon, uces also muscadine wine. The 
Malvoisie d’ A , as itis called, is particularly ce- 
lebrated. The muscadine of Rivesaltes, a town in the 
of the Eastern Pyrenees, is richer than ei- 
 aapemaietincetie and comes very near the Cape 
wine, is of a quality inferior to Rivesaltes, 
Frontigniac, and Lunel. Liqueurs of various sorts are 
made in different parts.of France. Those of Montpel- 
lier are most esteemed. In the beginning of the 
, France exported, upon an average of five years, 
from the year 1720 to 1725, annually wine to the amount 
of 20,880,200 livres ; in 1778, the ion amount- 
- ed-to 24,570,170; in 1788, to 33,032,100. The Revo- 
shil 
lution nearly ted the exportation of French 
wines. 
The brandies made in ne Pe esteemed a 
best in Europe. They are distilled in every o! 
the kingdom where vines are 3 and in de dis. 
tillation, not only wines of an inferior, but also those 
uality, are used. The brandies most cele- 
brated, or made in the tities, are those of 
Bourdeaux, Rochelle, Ne en harente, Isle of Rhe, 
Orleans, the country of B: is, Poitou, Tourraine, An- 
Nantes, Burgundy, Cham , &e. Brandy is al- 
Scante atkatuianes at Montpellier. It A of a 
milder quality than most of the brandies of the south of 
France, and therefore better adapted for making the li- 
for which Montpellier is so celebrated. Of all the 
French brandies, those of Nantes, Cognac, and Poitou, 
which are nearly of the same quality; are the most es- 
teemed, because have a finer taste, and are strong- 
er. The English, 
ee ne ee e 
brandies of Anjou, Tourraine, Orleans, which are not of 
so good a as those of Nantes, &c. are most com- 
monly sent to Paris, and into Flanders. In the begin- 
ning of the Jast century, the value of the brandy ex- 
ported, amounted annually to 5,852,900 livres ; in 1778, 
to 4,660,221; in 1784, to 11,360,200; in 1787, to 
14,689,600 ; and in 1788, to 14,657,300. 
Vinegar is made in Provence, Guienne, the Orlean- 
nois, Anjou, Aunis, Brittany, &c. The Orleans vine- 
gar is esteemed the best. flavour of the vinegar 
made in Provence is also good, but cee A Fg 
lour, from the hue of the grapes from which it is pro- 
duced, it has a singular a’ to a person unused 
to it, The exportation of vinegar in the beginning of 
utch, Flemish, and Ham ers) 
715 
the last century, amounted annually to 34,400 livres; Statistics. 
in 1778, to 141,893 ; in 1784, to 124,400 ; in 1787, to 
130,900; and in 1788, to 201,700. 
Cider is made in most of those provinces, the climate Cider. 
of which is not favourable to the grape. Normandy is 
particularly celebrated for this liquor, where they also 
make brandy of it. 
We shall conclude this Chapter with a few words re« yyorticy). 
The fruit gardens at ture. 
specting French horticulture. 
Montreuil are a curious instance of the aceumulation 
of capital in a small space: ‘These gardens are said to 
be worth £400 sterling an acre. All the occupiers 
are proprietors. The environs of Lyons are celebrated 
for their excellent artichokes: They are carefully con~ 
veyed in great quantities to the tables of the rich all - 
‘over the kingdom. Vegetables for the table are also 
cultivated in great ection in Provence, and parti« 
cularly about Aix. The country for some distance with~ 
out the town, especi on the south side, is a conti« 
nued scene of kitchen garden. The vegetable for which 
they are_most famous, is what they called cardes: a 
plant very. much resembling the artichoke, but not 
growing to a head in the same way. The roots always 
make part of a Christmas dinner. Aix is so famous 
for them, that at this season presents are sent of them 
from thence all over the country. The salads of Aix 
also, particularly in winter, are esteemed uncommonly 
The tomato or. love apple, the aubergine or 
it of the purple egg plant, gourds, and capsicums, | 
are likewise much cultivated in the gardens of Pro« 
vence. The inhabitants of Roscoff; a town on the 
northernmost point of the department of Finisterre, par« 
ticularly apply themselves to the raising vegetables for 
the table ; and in this they are so eminently successful, 
that Brest, Morlaix, rer § several other towns, draw 
their supplies almost entirely from them ; and they are 
sometimes sent.as far as L’Orient and Quimper, in the 
southernmost districts of the department. Cauliflowers, 
brocoli, cabbages, turnips, asparagus, and artichokes, 
are ially produced here in amazing abundance, 
and of an excellent quality. 
But though France has made great advances in the » 
useful branch of horticulture, she is far behind in the 
ornamental: The strait avenue, the terrace, and: the 
parterre, with formal basons, and jets-d’eau, are still : 
the only objects which, in the opinion of the generali- 
ty of Frenchmen, can constitute real grandeur and . 
- beauty in a garden, ; 
CHAP. V. 
Manufactures of France—Historical notices of then + 
—their Situation and State previously to the Revo- 
lution—Effects produced on them by that event. 
Tue consideration of the agriculture of France -haS 
detained us long. The account of the manufactures 
and commerce of that kingdom will not occupy nearly 
so much space ; for France always has been, and pro~ 
bably always will be, more distinguished by the pro- 
ductions of her soil, than by the productions, of her 
manufacturing and commercial industry. : 
In considering her manufactures and commerce, We Manuface 
shall, in the first place, present some historical notices tures, 
respecting them,—pointing out their origin and their 
principal eras, so far as they can be ascertained. In 
the. second plage, we shall give an account of their 
state and condition previously to the Revolution : And, 
lastly, we shall notice, in most cases briefly and gene< 
