3. In the third arrondissement the chief town Domfront, situated 30 miles W. by N. from AlenFon, has a tribunal of first instance, a college, and 2773 inhabitants in the commune. The town, built on a steep rock above the Varennes, a feeder of the Mayenne, is ill-built, with narrow, crooked, and steep streets. The ancient church of Notre Dame is the only important structure. In the neighbourhood there are iron-forges, glass-works, and paper-mills. Athis,15 miles N. from Domfront, has 4000 inhabitants, who manufacture broadcloth, casimirs, and other woollen stuffs. La-Ferte-Mace, E. of Domfront, has manufactures of cotton, tape, twist, combs, tobacco-boxes, brandy, leather, and tiles. The population of the commune is 6197. Flers, N. of Domfront on the road to Caen, is the centre of a large linen manufacture, and has 6113 inhabitants in the commune. The old castle of Flera, which was burned during the Chonan war, has been lately restored. Tinchebrai, in the north-west of the department near the source of the Noireau, has a commercial court and 3733 inhabit ants, who manufacture nails, hardware, ironmongery, cotton and woollen stuffs, paper and leather. Robert duke of Normandy was defeated and taken prisoner in a great battle before Tinchebrai, Sept. 27, 1105, by his brother Henry I. of England.
4. The fourth arrondissement is named from its chief town .3tortagne, which is situated on the sides and summit of a high hill, 20 miles E. by N. from Aleneon, and has a tribunal of first instance, a college, and 5012 inhabitants. Some of the streets are steep ; but most of them are wide, and the houses well built. The high-road from Paris to Brest winds round the hill and up to its very summit, where it traverses the Placeel'Armes, the principal square of the town. The court-house, the large prison, the markets, and the fountains, which are fed with water raised from a great depth by a steam-engine, aro the moat note-worthy objects in the town. Here also linen is the staple
manufacture ; pottery and leather are also manufactured ; and there is some trade in corn, hemp, sheep, pigs, horses, and cattle. Belleme is a well-built town, situated 11 miles S. from Mortagne, ou a hill near the forest of &name, and has 3143 inhabitants. It was formerly one of the chief towns of Perch°, and had strong fortifications, some of which remain. Calico, cotton yarn, linen, canvass, and paper, are the chief industrial products. V Aigle, prettily situated on the elopes of two bills, 17 miles N. from Mortague, is a well-built, clean, and improving town, with a commercial court, a consultative chamber of manufactures, and 5505 inhabitants. The town is traversed by the Rifle, nd still preserves some remains of its inclosing walla and ditches. The Castle, situated in the centre of the town, is a large brick build ing, more remarkable for the beautiful gardens and the magnificent lime-trees that surround it than for its architecture. The churches of St-Martin, St-Bartheldmy, and St-Jean, and the town-hall are among the chief buildings of the town. The largest pin-factory in France is in this town, which has also important manufactures of nails, needles, card-wire, ribands, woollen-yarn, leather, and hardware. In the neighbourhood there are several copper, tin, andiron-foundries. Longni, E. of Mortagne, has tan-yards, iron-smelting furnaces and foundries, and 2946 inhabitants.
The department forms the see of the Bishop of S.5ez • is included in the jurisdiction of the High Court, and within the limit of the University-Academy of Caen; and belongs to the 2nd Military Division of which Rouen is head-quartets. It returns 3 members to the Legislative Assembly of the French empire.
(Mt/NSA.