CALAIS, a sea-port town of France, and the chief place of a district in the department of the Pas de Calais, is situated in marshy ground, which, by means of sluices, may be overflowed at pleasure. It is nearly surrounded by a moat and a wall, which is used as a public prome nade. Calais is defended by a citadel on the north-west side, near the sea, and nearly as large as the town. Fort Nieulc, which is an oblong square, and was built in 1680, is supported by piles, and is connected with the citadel by a mole. The town has the form of a parallelo gram, with the long side towards the sea. The streets are strait, well paved, and tolerably clean, and the houses are well built. The principal public buildings are the arsenal, built by Cardinal Richelieu, several churches and monasteries, a tolerably good theatre, and the hotel at the Lion D'Argent, which resembles a small town in the middle of Calais. The harbour of Calais is formed by a small rivulet ; but is now in a great measure ob structed with sand. It commences at the gate of the town, where a large solid quay terminates in two long wooden piers, which stretch into the sea. It is dry at ebb tide, and with a common flow has three fathoms at high water. Nearly opposite to the head of the west pier, there is a bank on which are two fathoms ; but be tween the pier head and the bank is a channel, which has three fathoms at half flood. At spring tides, it is high water at 11 h. 30 min., and the flood sets in N. E. by E. Proposals have repeatedly been made to im prove and deepen the harbour of Calais ; but these have never been listened to, though the expence would not exceed 1,500,000 livres. At the beginning of the eighteenth century, this harbour admitted frigates of 40 guns. Vessels of 300 and 400 tons entered it at high
water, and vessels of 200 and 300 tons at all times ; and if it were properly deepened, it would still afford the same accommodation. The shore towards Dunkirk is full of sand banks ; and about a mile to the west of Ca lais, the chalk cliffs appear opposite to those in England, and high sand hills skirt the shores. The country be tween Calais and Gravelines is well cultivated, and houses, embosomed in woods, rich meadows, and corn fields, every where appear.
The principal manufactures of Calais are stockings and soap, and it possesses a very considerable coasting trade. Calais is the great mart for the salt and gin of Holland ; and the fishing of cod, herrings, and macke rel, is carried on to a very considerable extent. Two fairs are held annually here ; one on the 10th January, which continues for ten days, and another on the 1 1 th July, which continues nine days ; and the principal ar ticles of traffic are cattle, jewellery goods, and iron and copper ware. The trade of this place is much facili tated by the canals which communicate with Grave lines, Andres, St Omer, Dunkirk, and several other places in the north of France. In the time of peace, regular packet boats sail twice a week with the mail between Calais and Dover. Near Calais is a pillar, erected on the spot where the balloon of Blanchard de scended. Population, 7600. Long. 1° 1" East, Lat. 31" North. See Trotter's Memoirs of Mr Fox, p. 41, 48. (l-) CALAi\1INES. See PnILIPPINE Islands.