enticing; yet at one time its reputation as an agreeable resort drew many persons of rank hither, whose houses have lately disappeared. Some traces of the castle of the Couuts of Ponthieu are seen in the prison. It has a communal college, theatre, foundling hospital, &c., and a public library of 25,000 vols. At the latter, are busts of natives (Sanson, the geographer, Millevoye, the poet, Lesueur, the composer, &c.), and a copy of the Gospels, in gold letters, on purple vellum, which Charlemagne gave to St. Riquier's Abbey.

But the Gothic Cathedral of St. Wulfran is the most remarkable object. It has two towers, 171 feet high, in its noble west front, built by Cardinal d'Amboise, in the flamboyant style of the 16th cent., and decorated with niched figures of saints. The triple portal is enriched with carvings of the apostles, the Annunciation of the Virgin, &c. The arches of the nave are also good, but the rest of the building is inferior.

Manufactures of fine linen (at the Champ de Foire, or Fair Field), first established by Colbert, velvets, carpets, muslins, cordage, leather; and a brisk trade in grain, wine, cider, linen, and woollen goods, &c.

Diligences from Abbeville to Dieppe, at 11 morn. and 3 aft.; also coaches to Huxy-le-Château, Hesdin, Blangly, Neufchâtel, Crécy. Boat to St. Valery. [From Abbeville, along the road to Arras, we pass ST. RIQUIER (10 kil. east-north-east) and the remains of its abbey, founded by Dagobert, in the 7th cent.; enlarged by Charlemagne, and called Centule, from its hundred towers; now a college. The Church, partly restored, is worth notice for its beautiful front, full of niches and carvings, as well as for its carved stalls, iron gates, and curious frescoes (of the 16th cent.) in the treasury, including the Dance of the Three Dead and Three Living. An old belfry, and remains of the great town walls, are seen. From Abbeville, along the road to St. Omer, you pass near the field of

CRESCY or CRECY (16 kil. north-east), in a forest, where the Black Prince (1346) defeated the French, 30,000 being slain. The walls of the windmill, in which they say Edward III. stood to watch the battle, as related by Froissart, are crowded with names of Englishmen who have visited this memorable spot.

HESDIN (35 kil. from Abbeville, further on), in dopartment Pas-de-Calais, on the Canche, was founded (1544) by the Dukes of Savoy, in the midst of a beautiful country, flat, but well wooded and cultivated. The air is healthy, and

there is a good Hôtel de Ville. Abbé Prévost was a native. Pop., 3,500. Near it are traces of Old Hesdin, or Hidisnum. AGINCOURT, or AZINCOURT, 12 kil. beyond, in the old province of Picardy, a small village, with traces of a castle, 16 miles from Crescy, and equally memorable for a great victory gained by Henry V., 25th of October, 1415, with 9,000 men, against a French force of about 55,000, chiefly by means of his archers, with their clothyard shafts, stationed in a wood still here. Shakspere's Henry V. speaks of 8,400 "knights, esquires, and galiant gentlemen," who fell, be sides others. Fluellen, in that play, is the David Gam, or Squinting David, of Welsh history, who told the king on this occasion, after counting the enemy, that "there were enough to kill, enough to make prisoners, and enough to run away." This victory left Henry V. master of the best part of France, which was quickly overrun by the English, but as quickly lost in the next reign.

FRUGES, 5 kil, from this, under a slope, has a mineral water. At 31 kil. beyond, is St. Omer (see Route 1).]

The line ascends the Somme, after leaving Abbeville; the next station to which is

Remy, or Pont-Rémy (5 miles), which has a ruined castle; then

Longpre (5 miles); and

Hangest (4 miles), near which is the camp of l'Etoile, an old Roman fort. The next is

Picquigny (5 miles), and its old castle, best known for the treaty signed here between Edward IV. and Louis XI., in 1475.

Ailly (3 miles) belonged to a noble family of that name, two of whom (according to Voltaire', father and son, taking opposite sides, fought hand to hand, at the battle of Ivry. At 6 miles beyond this is Amiens, on the main line, as in Route 1.

ROUTE 3.

Dunkirk to Hazebrouck and Paris. Distance to Hazebrouck, 41 kil. or 25 miles. Four trains daily.

DUNKIRK, or Dunkerque,

222 miles from Paris, about 40 from Dover. HOTEL.-Chapeau Rouge, good and moderate. English Protestant chupel, in Rue-des-Sœurs Blanches, Rev. C. Cooke.

The British Consul, U. Kerr, Esq., will visé passports before embarking, as well as the Maire. Passen

Pop., 30,000. A sous-préfecture in department ord, a bustling port, and military post of the econd class, on the Belgian frontier. The cleanliness of Dunkirk, its cheap living, and the good character borne by the Flemish servants, have attracted anumber of English here. It grew out of a church founded in the seventh century, by St. Eloi, called the "Church of the Dunes," from the dunes, downs, or sandhillocks, which line this terribly flat coast. It has an anchorage lying at some distance, in the road, and is as noted for smugglers in peace, as for its privateering exploits during war. Its most special hero is Jean Bart, who was a native, and whose statue is in Place Royale. Jean Gauthier, Jean Lion, who styled himself Godts Vrient, i. e. God's Friend, Koster, and the Jacobsons, are almost equally celebrated personages here.

Canals run inland to Bergues, Ostend, Bruges, &c. White brick houses of two stories make up the neat broad streets, but there is a want of good water. Many of the people, workmen and others, live in cellars. The town is defended by ramparts, the citadel, Fort Risbau, &c.; and has two Basins, one of which was restored 1794, and frigates launched in it. There is a jetty at the quay, besides a long pier over the flats. A Light-tower, 194 feet high, stands near the basin for the chasse-marées, at the mouth of the canal which leads up to the Port.

Manufactures of ropes, sugar, candles, &c., and a good trade in eaux-de-vie, gin, soap, salt, tobacco, butter, fish, cheese, beer, grain, pottery, &c.

Conveyances, by rail, to Lille, Brussels, Paris, &c. By steamer to Havre, on Saturday (10 and 20 francs, in 20 hours), to Rotterdam (10 and 20 francs, in 12 hours), Hamburgh, Copenhagen; by canal-boat to Bourbourg (6 hours), Ostend, &c.; by packet to Ramsgate and London, Hull, Dundee, &c. (See Bradshaw's Continental Railway Guide).

[From Dunkirk, along the coast, you pass LAFRENOUCK (3 miles); then Laytcoote, near the Belgian border (6 miles from Dunkirk), across which, the first place you come to is Furnes, with its two churches.]

The first station from Dunkirk, towards Paris, is Bergues (5 miles), a small frontier post, on the Colme, and a canal, which brings vessels of 300 tons up from the sea. It stands among marshes, and has often suffered from war, having been taken or pillaged about sixteen times. It has an Hôtel de Ville, built 1664, with a good collection of pictures; a fine belfry, 164 feet high, shaped like St. George's new tower at Westminster; two towers of St. Winnoc's abbey, which serve for sea marks; and a good public library of 5,000 volumes. Cardinal Dubois was abbot of St. Winnoc's, which was destroyed in 1793.

The trade is in butter, cheese, grain (for which there

Esquelbecq (54 miles), is followed by
Arneeke (4 miles); then

Cassel (4) miles), an old town, once fortified, and having a parish church of the 13th cent., part of a Jesuits' convent, a Flemish mairie, two (out of six)

Its position has made it the scene of many contests. A castle was built by the Counts of Flanders, which the English burnt, 1388; they took the town, 1538, but gave it up to Spain the next year. The French

commands from the hill on which it stands (800 feet high), over the flat and populous country around. It was once a Roman station; and an anchor found here, 1815, about 12 feet down, and other signs, show that this flat was once covered by the sea. The view takes in part of the North Sea (even to Dover in clear weather), 32 fortified towns, and about 100 villages, including Dunkirk, Nieuport, Ostend, Bruges, Ypres, Courtray, Lille, Bethune, St. Omer, Calais, Haze

brouck, Gravelines, &c., extending above 30 miles every way. General Vandamme, who fought at Waterloo, was born here; and his house and gardens are shown.

ROUTE 4.

Brussels.

in 8 to 12 hours.

Douai, as in Route 1. The next station is

Montigny (53 miles); then

Somain (4) miles), where the junction of the branch from Busigny, on the St. Quentin line, takes place, by way of Cambrai and Bouchain. Between the latter (a small fortress and sous-préfecture) and Somain, there is, at Denain, a line to the coal mines of St. Anzin, near Valenciennes. At Denain, a pillar stands on the spot where Marshal Villars routed the Allies, 1712.

Wallers (5) miles), in a forest. Then

Raismes (3 miles) with its coal mines aud foundries: and 4 miles further is

VALENCIENNES,

173 miles from Paris. Travellers from Belgium are examined by the douaniers at the station. HOTEL.-The Hotel de Commerce is the only comfortable house suitable for an English traveller.

ACT OBJECTS OF NOTICE.-Rubens' pictures, at the Hôtel de Ville and St. Gery's Church-TheatreMuseum.

A sous-préfecture, in department Nord, a large strongly-fortified town, and second-class military station on the frontier, formerly the capital of Hainault, in the midst of a coal field and thriving manufactures. It is well built, and divided into two parts by the Esteaut, or Schelde, and has one of Vauban's eitadels. Pop. 23,300.

Among the best buildings are-St. Gery's Church, founded 1225, by Jeanne, daughter of Baldwin, emperor of Constantinople, 171 feet long, with two of Rubens' pictures; the half Gothic Hôtel de Ville, built 1612, with three pictures by the same master; public library of 18,000 vols. and MSS., and the Museum, containing minerals, armour, pictures, &c. Its tall clock tower, 180 feet high, built 1237, fell with a crash in 1843. An academy of painting, sculpture, and architecture was founded, 1782, by Baron Pujol, a native of this town. At the hospital, founded 1751, is a good chapel; the salle de spectacle (theatre), is by Pujol; and there is a mont de piété,

these articles, besides coal. The mines at Anzin employ 4,000 hands.

Coaches to Bavay, Berlaimont, St. Amand-lesEaux, Landrecies, Quesnoy, Condé, Bon-Secours, Solesmes, Le Cateau.

[ST. AMAND-LES-EAUX (10 kil. north-north-west) on the Scarpe, with a pop. of 9,500, who make lace, &c,, is known for its waters, its artesian wells, and its Clock tower, 318 feet high, which was the spire (built 1635-6), to the church of St. Amand's abbey, founded 634.

The mineral springs, near Croisette (2 kil.) are three, viz., Fontaine-de-Bouillon, Source de Pavillon, and Fontaine de Verité; temperature 779. They are useful in rheumatism, paralysis, ulcers, &c. Season, from June to August. There are bathinghouses and an assembly-room, &c. Bon-Secours hermitage is near.

CONDÉ (11 kil, north-east) on the Schelde, close to the Belgian frontier, is a fourth-class fortress (by Vauban), with a large arsenal and good Hôtel de Ville. It gave title of prince to the Bourbons, to whom it came in the 15th cent. The Spaniards at one time held it, and the Allies took it, 1793. Pop. 5,200. Nails, &c., are made. Mademoiselle Clairon, the actress, was a native. Near it is Ermitage, the seat of the Duc de Croi.]

After Valenciennes, the next station is Blanc Misseron (7 miles), near the Belgian frontier, with a douane. Then comes

Quievrain, mile further, the Belgian douane. Here change carriages. To Mons is 10 miles; and Brussels is 39 miles from this. See Brad shaw's Hand-Book to Belgium and the Rhine.

ROUTE 5.

Paris to Crell, St. Quentin, Charleroi, Brussels, and Cologne.

This is the direct route to Cologne. Distance, 316 miles. To Brussels (via Charleroi), 222 miles. Four trains daily to Cologne; express about 12 hours,

next station is

Pont-Ste-Maxence (7 miles), in a pleasant part of the Oise, under a wooded hill, which has, near the remains of an old one, a good three-arched bridge (pont), by Péronnet, on a level, resting on groups of open pillars, not solid piles. Some old houses are left, though it has suffered in past times. Much grain is sold. Moncel Abbey ruins are turned into a wine depôt.

Coaches to Gournay-sur-Aronde and Senlis (see Route 1.) The former (20 kil. north-east,) was the birth-place of Montaigne's adopted daughter, Mademoiselle de Gournay.

Before reaching the next station, you pass Sarron, on the Oise, near the château of Plessis-Villette which belonged to Voltaire's niece, Madame de Villette. They show, here, a statue of the poet, on a

pedestal, containing his heart, besides his desk, and

sofa, &c.

Verberie (6 miles), on a hill side, now much decayed (pop., 1,400), had once three bridges over the Oise, and a palace, in which Charles Martel died, 741. His son, Pepin, called a council here, and his grandson, Charlemagne, built a chapel. Charles the Bold held the synod of Soissons here, and gave his daughter to Ethelwolf of England. It was burnt by the Normans, and restored by Charles V.; but few traces of antiquity are left. In the time of Louis XIV., the walls were strengthened, and the town called Villeneuve (new town). Near it is the old church of Rhuys, with a Romanesque tower.

[At 18 kils. south-east is Crépy, or Crespy, founded

in the 10th cent., along with St. Arnould's Abbey. It was the capital of the Valois country, and a strong place, having a palace called Bouville. Only one (St. Denis, with a good choir,) of its five churches remains, with ruins of another. There are also a tower, and part of the château fort. The English took it in 1431, and the Leaguers, in 1588; but it is best known for the treaty of 1544, between Francis I. and Charles V.]

Compiegne (7 miles), 63 miles from Paris. A sous-préfecture of 10,800 souls, on a slant of the Oise, where the Aisne joins. It is a quiet place, except when frequented by the court, with narrow ill-built streets. Near its great Forest stood the Roman Compendium, with a small hunting seat of the time of Clovis and Charles the Bold, who built an abbey and château here. Louis le Bègue and Louis V. were buried in the abbey (which was pulled down at the Revolution); and it was held for Charles VII. by Jeanne d'Arc, when she was taken

The Château, as rebuilt by Louis XV., and finished by Napoleon (who first met his bride, Marie Louise, here), was the residence of Charles of Spain, in 1808. It is a favourite resort of the present Emperor Louis Napoleon, both for hunting and for the Reviews at the Camp, which was first formed by Louis XIV. The noble front, towards the forest, is 624 feet wide. In the grand gallery, of 100 feet, are Napoleon's victories, painted by Girodet. An avenue of nearly a mile leads from the château to the forest, which covers 29,600 acres (46 square miles) and is much finer than that at Fontainebleau, though less frequented. It is pierced with 275 leagues of road; one now called Brunehaut, was a Roman way leading to Soissons.

St. Corneille, or the Abbey Church, contains some old royal tombs, and had the organ (the first brought into Europe) which Constantine Copronymous, the Greek emperor, gave to Pepin, 755. Its tower is surmounted by a turret. St. André and St. Antoine are Gothic; St. Jacques partly in the Renaissance style. At the Carmelites' church is the tomb of the Count of Toulouse, by Lemoine. One of the best buildings is the picturesque, Gothic Hôtel de Ville, with its delicate carvings, high roof, carved spire turrets, and fine spire belfry. The three-arched Pont Neuf has a pyramid, 33 feet high, in the middle of it. There is a public library of 28,000 volumes, and a museum of autiquities. The walks around are extremely pleasant. Coaches to Soissons, Pierrefonds-les-Bains. SOISSONS (35 kil. east), a sous-préfecture of 9,500 souls (department Aisne), a fortified town, and seat of a diocese, in a fertile valley, on the Aisne, was the chief hold of the Suessones when Cæsar took it. Clovis made it the capital of the Franks (486), after routing its Roman governor Syagrius. Pepin deposed Childeric here, 752, and Charles the Simple was beaten, 922, by his competitor Robert. In 1315, it suffered from the Burgundians and Armagnacs; the Huguenots ravaged it, 1567; and it was taken and retaken twice over, 1814. It is well-built, and defended by ramparts.

The Gothic Cathedral of the 12th cent., on the site of that in which Pepin was crowned by St. Boniface, has a tower 160 feet high, and Rubens's "Adoration of the Shepherds," given, they say, by him to the Cordeliers here, in gratitude for their care of him when sick. St. Pierre is in the Lombard style, small and round, with buttresses and a dome; St. Leger, in that

of the Renaissance. Only the fine Gothic portal and spire are left of St. Jean-des-Vignes Abbey, on a hill, founded in the 11th cent. The old Château, on the site of the palace, is flanked by heavy round towers. Other buildings are, the Intendance, the college, Hôtel Dieu, house of correction, museum and library of 19,000 volumes, two barracks, theatre, &c. A bridge leads over to St. Vaast.

In the neighbourhood are some remains of St. Medard's Abbey, founded 1545, with the dungeon where Louis-le-Debonnaire was for a time confined by his rebellious sons. Clotaire, son of Clovis, king of Soissons (whose dominions took in all the north-east of France) was buried in it. Another spot is Braisne, which belonged to the Counts of Egmont, before the Revolution, under the name of Château de la Folie. Coucy Castle and Anizy, built by Francis I., may be visited from here.

Childeric I., Clotaire II., the Duke of Mayence (the chief of the League against Henry IV.), and Collot d'Herbois, the infamous terrorist, were natives of Soissons.

Linen and pottery are made; trade in grain, vegetables, cattle, &c.

Coaches to Laon (33 kil. further-Route 6), Rheims, Château-Thierry, &c. A railway is projected to run from Soissons direct to Paris. At 12 kil, south-east of Compiégne, near one end of its forest, are the picturesque walls and towers of Pierrefonds Castle, a vast ruin on a hill. It was so strong that a determined soldier, Rieux, in 1592, held out against three or four of Henry IV.'s commanders, and was at last only bought over with gold. In 1617, no fewer than 15,000 men invested it, and took it after six day's continual firing, when it was dismantled. It is one of the finest remains of antiquity in France. There is a sulphur spring here, called Pierrefonds-lesBains, now much frequented in summer, and beneficial in cases of weak lungs. Amusement is afforded by fishing in the lake, and excursions in the forest.] Thourotte (5 miles). Ribecourt (3 miles).

Ourscamps (2 miles). Here spinning is carried on in the remains of an abbey.

Noyon (4 miles), the Roman Noviadunum, became the seat of a bishop, 511, and was the place where Hugh Capet was elected king, 987. It stands on a hill side, among gardens, in the valley of Chaunay, on the Vorse, near the Oise; and is well built, having four gates, and the house in which (it

B

is said) John Cauvin, or Calvin, was born, 1509, his father being diocesan secretary. He went to the school of the Capettes here, and, through favour of the bishop, received a benefice when he was only twelve; two years after, to escape the plague, he was sent to Paris.

The cathedral Church is chiefly Romanesque, of the 13th cent. (an earlier one was begun by Pepin), 351 feet long, and 217 high at the west towers. The interior is very imposing. One of its bishops was Pope Innocent I.

Trade in grain, leather, linen, cottons, coal, &c. Pop., 6,400.

Hotel-Des Chevalets.

Coaches to Roye, Nesles, Guiscard, Ham. [ROYE (15 kil. north-west), a small old place, on the Avre, in department Somme (part of Picardy), is said to be the ancient Rodium, and has suffered from eleven sieges and three plagues. It has a church with excellent stained windows; a carved timber house on the Place; public baths, mineral springs, and manufactures of stockings, &c. Pop. 4,000. A sect of Guerinets, so called after their leader, Guerin, the cure here, were extirpated, 1626.

NESLES (10 kil. north-east of this), gave name to one of the earlier marquisates in France; and has an old church, in which nearly all its inhabitants were butchered by Charles the Bold, 1472. HAM (18 kil. north-north-east of Noyon), cn the Somme, is as old as 875, and known for its moated Château or state prison, built 1470, by the Constable St. Pôl. On the gate is his motto in Gothic letters, "Mon Mieux" (my best); the great round keep stands 108 feet high, 108 diameter, and 36 feet thick. A stone, which served as pillow to a monk, is pointed out, on which girls who wish to be married within the year come to kneel. Among persons confined here were Charles the Simple; Joan of Arc, after her capture at Compiègne; St. Pôl, its owner (before Louis XI. sent him to the block); Mirabeau; the ministers of Charles X.; Louis Napoleon, now emperor; Cabrera, the Carlist; and lastly, Cavaignac, Changarnier, &c., in 1848. Louis Napoleon was kept here six years, and then escaped to England. The church has a good choir, and carvings of scriptural subjects. General Foy was a native.]

Appilly (5 miles), in department Aisne.

Chauny (5 miles), a decayed fortified town, on the Oise, where the St. Quentin canal joins, in a fertile plain. Linens are made, and there are large works for polishing the plate glass made at the im