FRANCE, 



EXTENT AND SITUATION. 



Miles. 



Length 6 1 

 Breadth 560 





between 



42° and 51° North latitude, 

 5° West and 8° East longitude, 



France, before the revolution, contained, 161,810 square miles, with 

 172 inhabitants to each. 



Under Bonaparte, including all the conquered countries annexed 

 to its territories, it contained 244,270 square miles, with 178 inhabi- 

 tants to each. 



After the restoration it was again reduced to nearly its ancient limits. 



Name. ...France took its name from the Francs, or Freemen, a 

 German nation, restless and enterprising, who conquered the Gauls 3 

 the ancient inhabitants : and the Roman force not being able to repress 

 them, they were permitted to settle in the country by treaty. 



Boundaries. ...It is bounded by the English channel and Holland on 

 the north ; by Italy, Switzerland, and Germany, from which it is sepa- 

 rated by the Rhine, on the east ; by the Mediterranean and the Pyre- 

 nean mountains, which divide it from Spain, on the south ; and by the 

 bay of Biscay on the west. 



Divisions. ...The ancient provinces of France were divided by the 

 first national assembly into 83 departments, which were increased by 

 new acquisitions to 108, including the six departments into which 

 Piedmont afterwards was divided. The situation, names, extent in 

 square miles, and population of these departments, according to the 

 accounts lately published by the French government, are as follows : 



Ancient Provinces. 



Departments. 



Chief Towns. 



Square 

 Miles. 



Population. 



French Flanders Nord . . 



Lille . . 



. . 1758 



839,833 



Artois . . . 



Pas de Calais 



Arras . . 



. . 2054 



570,836 



Picardy . . 



Somme 



Amiens 



. . 1900 



465,034 





fLower Seine 



Rouen . . 



. . 1858 



642,773 





1 Calvados . 



Caen 



. . 1645 



480,317 



Normandy . . 



<! Manche 



Coutances 



. . 2009 



566,826 





Orne . . 

 LEure . . 



Alencon 



. . 1859 



425,920 





Evreux . . 



. . 1803 



415,574 





Seine . . 



™>\Zl 



4850 l 132 

 2 25 5 



631,531 



Isle of France . 



J Seine 8c Oise 

 j Oise . . 



Versailles . 



. . 1715 



429,523 





Beauvais . 



. . 1774 



369,086 





J Aisne . . 



Laon . . 



. . 2165 



430,628 





l_Seine & Marne 



Melun . . 



. . 1787 



298,815 



