CHARENTE, a department of France, formed chiefly out of the old province of Angoumois, and situated in lat. 45" 10' to 46° 8' n., and long. 0° 50' e. to 0' 30' west. Area, about 2,200 sq. miles. Pop. '76, 373,950. It is generally hilly, and is watered by the river Charente, above noticed, and its tributaries, the Tardouere and the Bandiat, with the rivers Vienne and Dronne. The highest chain of hills in the n. of C. is a con tinuation of the heights of Limousin, forming the watershed towards the Loire. Remains of marine productions show that the basin of the C. was once filled by the ocean. The soil is mostly limestone, here and there interrupted by banks of clay and gravel. Only a portion of the arrondissement Confolens has a rich vegetable clay mold. The clay-soil is cool and moist, while the limestone district is dry and hot. The hills are in many places clad with chestnut forests. The climate is generally mild and healthy. The wines grown are spirituous and fiery in flavor, and are chiefly used in the manufacture of Cognac, which forms the most important of the exposts. Truffles grow abundantly in several parts. Industry is in rather a backward condition. C. is divided into the five arrondissements of Angouleme, Cognac, Ruffec, Barbezieux, and Confolens.
a maritime department of France, which includes the former province of Angoumois, with the greater part of Saintonge, and a small portion of Poitou. It lies in lat. 45° 5' to 46° 19' n. and long. 0° 7' e. to 1 13' west. The bay of Biscay washes its western boundary—the coast-line, which is very broken, measuring about 100 miles. Area, 2,740 sq. miles. Pop. '76, 465,628. It is watered on its
boundaries by the Sevre-Niortaise and the Gironde, and in the center by the navigable Charente and the coast-stream Sendre. The surface is level; and the soil—near the coast, intersected by ridges of rock and sand-banks, and protected from the sea by dikes— is mostly chalky and sandy, but very fertile, producing hemp, flax, saffron, and wine in great quantities. The commerce, facilitated by the structure of the coast, and by canals in the interior, is considerable, consisting chiefly of brandy and sea-salt, which is found in the department in great abundance. The oyster and pilchard fisheries are important. The chief harbors are those of Rochefort and La Rochelle, the latter of which is the chief town. C. is divided into the six arrondissements of La Rochelle, Rochefort, Mar ennes, Salutes, Jonzac, and St. Jean-d'Angely.
a t. of France, in the department of Seine, situated on the right bank of the Marne, 5 m. s.e. of Paris. The bridge over the river, which is impor tant from a military point of view, being considered one of the keys of the capital, and which has frequently been the scene of conflicts, is defended by two forts, forming a part of the fortifications of Paris. At the other side of the river is the national lunatic asylum, formerly called Charenton St. Maurice, and now St. Maurice simply. Pop. '76, 8,744.