AJUTAGE, is generally synonymous with the aper ture through which water issues from a vessel ; though it is most frequently employed to signify a small piece of metal, through which jet d' eaux are projected. Sc, HYDRODYNAMICS. (W) AIX, in geography, a city of France, and capital of the department of the Bouc/ics du Rhone, formerly Provence. This is one of the most ancient cities in France. It w;e the first place which the Romans occupied as a settle ment in that country ; and C. Sextus Calvinus, the con sul, is reported to have established a colony here, as early as the year 124 A. C. or 630 years after the build ing of Rome. From him, and from its medicinal springs, the town was called Aqum Sextix. But, notwithstand ing the antiquity of Aix, it is not distinguished by any conspicuous remains of former tunes. The ancient baths were discovered A. D. 1704; and several altars have been found in their vicinity, with inscriptions to the god Priapus, from whose peculiar and auspicious influence the waters were supposed to derive their re storative qualities. The modern city is rather populous
than large ; but its streets are elegant, and its public buildings handsome and spacious. Of these last, the town-hall, the hall of audience, the cathedral church, the church of the fathers of the oratory, and the chapel of the blue penitents, are most deserving of notice. In the church belonging to the convent of the preachers, there is a silver statue of the Virgin Mary, nearly as large as life: Another remarkable place within the city is the corse, or orbitelle, a walk 160 yards in length, surrounded with trees, and interspersed with fountains.
The chief trade of Aix consists in oil; hut this trade has been much diminished since the year 1788, owing to the destruction of the olive-trees, from the fruit of which the oil is extracted. Population 23,686, exclusive of the two cantons. It is 163 leagues distant from Paris, and five from Marseilles. E. Long. 26' 48". N. Lat. 43° 31' 47". (h)