CHERBOURG, a fortified seaport t. and arsenal of France in the department of Manche, is situated at the head of a deep bay on the northern extremity of the penin sula of Cotentin, on the English channel, and opposite the w. coast of the isle of Wight, in lat. 49° 40' n., and long. 1° 35' west. Napoleon I. began to build the great defenses of this northern stronghold of France. This nephew, Napoleon III., developed his plans, but not with the original view of an invasion of England. Occupying a prominent position on the French coast, only some 60 m. removed from the s. shore of England, the harbor-works have been extended, strengthened, fortified, and provi sioned with cannon—the dock-yards improved, and facilities of embarkation afforded, to a degree that, as it is unparalleled in ancient or modern times, not unnaturally excites the lively apprehension of Englishmen. A description of the stupendous breakwater of C., inclosing a space of nearly 2000 acres, will be found in the article BREAKWATER. In connection with its fortifications, this breakwater assumes an importance that attaches to no other work of the kind in existence. At the apex of the angle formed by the meeting of the two branches of the breakwater or digue, there is a center fort or battery, measuring 509 ft. on the inner line of the parapet, which forms a fiat semi-ellipse. The circular forts at the extremities of the breakwater are remarkably well placed for pur poses of defense. Behind the center battery there is to be an elliptical tower, measuring 225 ft. on the major, and 123 ft. on the minor axis. Altogether there are six large batter ies on the mole. The entrances to the harbor are round the ends of the mole; and the passages are further defended by the fortifications of the Ile Pelee, and by the batteries of La Roche Chavaignac and fort Querqueville. A series of coast redoubts, and the two large fortifications of Les Roches des Flamands and du Hornet, are situated behind this outer zone of defense. "The arsenal," says Mr. W. H. Russell, who visited C. dur ing the summer of 1860, "is inclosed by a continuous line of bastion and curtain of a very elevated profile, defended by outworks, wet and dry ditches, and by profuse bat teries of the heaviest guns, either in casement or en barbette. Wherever you look, you
fancy that on the spot you occupy are specially pointed dozens of the dull black eyes from their lids of stone." Altogether, besides the batteries on the mole, C. is defended by 'k regular forts and redoubts. The town itself is commanded by La Roule (an exceedingly strong fort) and fort d'Oeteville on the heights behind. The military port of C. consists of an outer harbor of 776 ft. in length by 663 ft. wide, its minimum depth being 58 ft., and the entrance to which is 206 ft. wide at its narrowest point. This harbor communicates by means of a lock with a floating basin, 957 ft. long by 712 wide. The outer harbor has four building-slips for 120-gun ships, besides some smaller slips, and a fine graving-dock. In Aug., 1858, an inner floating-harbor was inaugurated by the emperor of the French, in presence of the queen and many of the lords and com mons of Great Britain. This harbor, entirely cut out of the solid rock, has a length of about 930 yards, and a breadth of 437 yards, and is surrounded by beautiful building slips and capacious graving-docks. It is calculated that the roads of C. cannot, on account of the small depth of the greater portion, shelter more than 25 or 30 sail of the line, and about as many frigates, at one time. C. has a commercial port quite distinct from the other, situated on the s.e.; but it displays little activity, the principal exports being eggs, butter, and cattle. The town itself is insignificant, the streets being narrow and dirty; and there are no public buildings of note. There are some manufactures of hosiery, chemicals, lace, and leather, and sugar and salt refineries; but the industrial energies of the great bulk of the population are absorbed in the arsenal and dock-yards. C. is a very ancient place; in the 10th c. it was known under the name of Carusburg. In 1758, C. was taken by the English, who destroyed the naval and military works, and levied a contribution on the town. Pop., exclusive of naval and military forces (1876), 36,338.