The department is divided into three arrondiasemeute, which, with their subdivisions and population, are as follows :— 1. Of the first arroodimement, and of the whole department, the chief town is Penteetiate. bier, the ancient Illiteris, under the walls of which liennibal encamped on his way to Italy, formerly the seat of a bishop, and ooe of the strongest towns In Itousilion, stands on the slope and at the foot of a hill near the left bank of the Tech, 8 miles S.F. from Perpignan, and Las 2268 inhabitants. The emperor Con stantins was murdered in this town, and his tomb existed till about eiehtisyears ago in the church cloisters. Flue presents a wide ruin : its dewy was noosed by the continual sieges it stood from the French and Spaniards. The church, which was opened December 10, 1058, and consists of a nave, choir, and aisles, the whole surmounted by a lofty roof supported on lepers stone pillars, Is a very reumrkable structure. Millets, 10 miles W. from Perpignan, on the right bank of the Tot, has a population of 2095, who trade in corn, brandy, beans, and cattle. St-Paul-de-Penouillet, a small place on the left bank of the Gly, or Agly,and near its confluence with the Boulsaue, is built on a height surrounded by arid hills which are crowned with the ruins of many an ancient castle, 23 miles N.W. from Perpignan, and has 2000 inhabitants. Riresaltes, prettily situated ou the Agly, in a fertile plain environed by vine-clad slopes that yield muscatel wine of superior quality, has 3446 inhabitauts, who trade in wine, brandy, flour, wool, &c. The town is 5 miles N. from Perpignan, and still has remains of the turreted walls eructed for its defence by the kings of Aragon. Their, a walled town 8 miles S.W. from Perpignan, situated on a small stream, has potteries, tanyards, paper-mills, silk-throwing fac tories, and 2490 inhabitants. Tho Spaniards seized this town on Juno 6, 1793, and held it till September 25 of the same year, when the French drove them out of it.
2. In the second arrondissement the chief town, Ceret, Is situated at the foot of the Pyrenees, 17 miles S.S.W. from Perpignan, and has a tribunal of first instance, a college, and 3575 inhabitants. The town, which is surrounded by high tower-fianked walls, stands near the right bank of the Tech, which is passed by a very high bridge of a single arch. It is ill built, with narrow badly-paved streets. Corks, leather, and copper-ware are the chief industrial products. ArgeUs-sur-Mer, 10 miles E. from Cdret, and about 2 miles from the Mediterranean, has a population of 2136. South of Argeles is the small village of Eduse, and near this the strong fortress of Bellegarde, built on a high bill, and commanding the cols of Pertus and Pnuissae, by which com munication is kept up between France and Spain. Arles-sur-Tecli, situated W. of Ce'ret on the left bank of the Tech, is a well-frequented market-town with 2384 inhabitauts, who manufacture oak-staves, hoops, leather, and iron, and trade in wine and corn. Near Aries are the hot springs and baths of Am/lie-les-Rains. an ill-built town with a small harbour and 3476 inhabitants, is situated on a hill above the sea, 22 miles E. from Cdrct. The harbour, which admits small
craft only, Is defended by several forts. Cork-cutting and tunny and sardine fishing are the chief employment of the inhabitants, who also trade in wine, salt-fish, &a. Near Colliouro is Port-Vendres, the ancient Portus Veneris, a small fortified town with a tolerably good natural harbour, a lighthouse, and 1305 Inhabitants, who trade in corn, wine, and brandy. Pram de-if ollo, an Irregularly-built fortified town of 3710 inhabitants, is situated 20 miles S.W. from C6ret, on the left bank of the Toch, In a wild country surrounded by savage moun tains'. It is built on the slope of a bill which is surmounted by the principal church. The defences are old, and consist of a wall strength ened by gothic round towers and several baations. Broadcloth, swan skin, woollen hosiery, and whip-handlers aro the chief industrial products. Near this town are the sulphurous hot springs of Pratte.
3. Of the third arrondissement the chief town, Freda, is situated 25 miles S. by W. from Perpignan on the right bank of the Tot, and has a tribunal of first instance, a college, an ecclesiastical school, and 3192 inhabitants. The town stands in a visit plain surrounded by high hill's, at the foot and on the slopes of which are several villages ; It has a handsome church and a well-built hospital. Woollen cloth, brown paper, and leather are manufactured • and there is considerable commerce in corn, excellent fruits, wine, hemp, hides, fine wool, and cattle. 3font-Louis, a small regularly-built fortified town, was erected under Louis X1 V., on a rugged rock, comtnandiug the bridge over the Tet on the road into Spain by the Colsle-In-Pcrehe. The situation Is bleak and cold in the extreme. The town consists of eight straight streets of symmetrically-built houses; there are two squares, and good barracks; the whole is defended by parapets, bastions, glacis, do , and by a citadel. The population Is only 1034. Lichen abounds In the neighbourhood: the savage wildness, the waterfalls, mid the frightful chasms of the gorge through which the Tet hurries in its nosy course near this place, deserve to be Ineutioned. Oldie, 10 miles from Prades, situated in a gorge on the left bank of the Tet, where that river is joined by two torrents, has 1209 inhabitants. Vince, 5 miles E.N.E. from Prades, is situated In a fertile plain near the right bank of the Tot, and is a spot abounding with springs of the purest water. It retains still some remains of its old fortifications, consisting of walls and towers. The town, which is built, has two pretty suburbs, a college, and 2040 inhabitant's who trade iu hides, corn, fruits, flax, hemp, and cattle.
The department forms the see of the Bishop of Perpignan; it is comprised in the jurisdiction of the High Court and within the limits of the University-Academy of Montpellier; and belongs to the 11th Military Division, of which Perpignan is Ineekpinttcrs. It returns one member to the Legislative Assembly of the French empire.
(Diclionnaire de la Prance; Annuaire pour C A n 1853; A nnuaire de Commerce ; Official Papers.)