HAVRE DE GRACE is a seaport town of France, in the department of the Lower Seine. It is situated at the mouth of the river Seine, in a marshy soil, intersect ed with creeks and ditches. It is defended by lofty walls, and ditches furnished with sluices, and has a citadel with bastions, which is one of the most regular in the kingdom. It contains two churches, an hospital, poors-house, arsenal, magazines, and storehouses, for the construction and man ning of ships. There are no fewer than forty streets, adorned with six fine fountains. Four of these streets terminate in the great square. The harbour, which has a long pier connected with it, is capable of containing from 600 to 700 vessels. It has a depth of water sufficient to hold ships of war of 60 guns. There is here a fine dock yard, several rope-works, and manufactories for tobacco, lace, starch, vitriol, earthen ware, paper, tiles, and bricks. The tobacco manufactory was established by the French East India Company, and at one time there were 60 tables furnished with a wheel, and attended by seven persons. Each of these made 90 pounds of tobacco in a day, and, including Caudebec, Harfleur, and Fecamp, the annual value of this manufacture was 170,000 francs. It has, however, greatly declined, but still employs about 400 workmen. The rope-works were lately eight in number.
There is here also a refinery of sugar, and another of oil, both for burning and painting.
In time of peace, Havre carries on a great trade with the United States of America and the West Indies, and takes a great share in the herring and whale fisheries. About 600 vessels used to return loaded with the mer chandise of other countries ; viz. 60 from Martinique, 18 from Ni wfoundlandland, 40 from Marseilles, 65 from the coast of France from Bayonne to St Malo, 10 from St Maurice, 15 from Lisbon, 20 from Holland, 260 from Eng land, and more than 60 from other countries of the north.
Havre was founded in 1509 by Louis XII. ; and, after the battle of Marignon, Francis I built a hat ge tower to defend the harbour, and gave it the name of Franciscopolis. The walls of the harbour were scarcely begun, when an irruption of the sea destroyed about two-thirds of the town, and almost all the inhabitants, on the 15th January 1525. Twenty-eight fishing boats were carried into the ditches of the castle of Graville. Population 19,500. East Long. 6' 38" ; North Lat. 49° 29' 14".