PARTNEY. [Liscoressuttie.] l'AS-DE-CALAIS, n department in the north of France, is bounded E. and N.E. by the department of Nord, N.W. and W. by the Strait of Dover and the English Channel, and S. by the department of Somme. It extends between 50° 2' and 51° N. lat., 1° 33' and 3° 10' E. long.; from north-west to south-east it is 86 miles long, and its mean breadth is 33 miles. 'rho area is 2550{ square miles. The population in 1816 was 685,021; in 1851 it amounted to 692,994 ; which gives 27P70 inhabitants to the square mile, being 97'12 above the average per square mile for all France. The department is formed out of the greater part of the former province of Artois, and portious of Lower Picardie. In ancient times the territory of Pas-de-Calais was inhabited by the Ambiani, the Morini, and the Atrebates. The southern district between the Antbie and the Concha formed part of the territory of the Ambiani, whose capital was Santarobriva, now Amiens. The Morini dwelt along the sea coast; and the Atrabates inland to the south of the preceding. Nemetacum, now Arras, was the capital of the Atrebates. Taruenna, now Thdrouanne, was Ale chief town of the Morini; and Gesoriacum, afterwards called Bononia, now Boulogne, also belonged to them. Caesar's Itius Portus is Witsand, or 1Viassent, east of Cape Orinez, and the Itium Promontorium is Cape Grieco itself, which is now surmounted by a lighthouse.
The department takes its name from Passage, or by which the French sometimes designate the Strait of Dover. The surface consists of two inclined plains, which slope respectively towards the east and west, and lie on either side of a ridge of hills that creases the department from south-east to north-west, terminating in the latter direction in the high cliffs of Cape Grinez, between Calais and Boulogne. These cliffs, which extend for some miles on each side of the cape, are composed of chalk, and bear a close resemblance to those of Dover. Farther west the cliffs are composed of masses of slaty clay. In some parts the coast is low, and defended from the sea by a natural barrier of sandy downs. The coast-line, reckoning all its indentations. has a length of about 80 miles, but it presents no good natural harbours, the inlets being incumbered with sand or the debris of the cliffs. Calais and Boulogne are good artificial high-water harbours formed by piers. Besides the ridge of hills above mentioned, which sends out spurs that form the watersheds between rivers flowing throngh the valleys on either slope, there are some isolated high lands smith of Boulogne, and also between the Authie on the southern boundary and the Candle. The principal rivers on the eastern slope
are—the Scarpe, the Sense°, and the Lys, feeders of the Escaut; and the Aa, which forms the north-eastern boundary, and falls into the sea at Gravelines; most of these rivers are navigable, or are made so by canalisation. From the western slope flow the Lianne and the Canche into the Channel at Boulogne and Etaples respectively, and the Authie, which flows for some way in the department of Somme, and then north-west into the Channel, forming the boundary between Passle-Calais and Somme. By means of its rivers and several canals that connect the principal towns on the eastern slope with those of the department of Nord, Pas-de-Calais has an inland navigation of 124 miles. It is traversal by the Great Northern of France railvsay which passes throuFh Arras, and from which branches run to Boulogne from Annena, and to St.-Omer and Calais from Lille. Along all theme lines electro-telegraphic wires are laid down, and from Calais submarine electro-telegraphic cables cross the strait to Dover. Common highway accommodation is afforded by 13 imperial and 15 departmental roads.
The soil is In general fertile ; farms are large; a very great breadth of land is occupied with the growth of wheat, but other cereal grains, pubic, oleaginona seeds, and cider fruits are also grown. The low valleys, though generally very fertile and abounding with excellent pastures, are in many places marshy, and in a few places covered with peat bogs. Except in the arrondiasement of Bethune, and in the flat district. contiguous to the department of Nord, the fields are mostly =inclosed, and the country, NM near hamlets or farmhouses, is bare of trees. A great deal of land is laid out in meadow. and orchard,. Other crops besides those already named are barley, beet-root for making sugar, hemp, flax, and hops. The number of horses chiefly for draught, of horned-cattle, sheep, and swine is very great ; poultry is very abundant, good, and cheap; and fish is very plentiful, great numbers of boats being actively engaged in herring, cod, mackerel, and oyster fishing. The climate resembles that of the south-east of England, but is if possible more inconstant, the changes from heat to cold being sometimes marked by great rapidity ; the west and north west winds, charged with ma spray, are sometimes very annoying on the coast.