3. In the third arrondissement the chief town is Meaux, which occupies the site of the ancient /rains" capital of the Meldi, whose name it afterwards took. It is situated in 48° 57'40' N.lat., 2°52'54' E. long., 25 miles by railroad E.N.E. from Paris, and has tribunals of first instance and of commerce, ecclesiastical and communal colleges, and 8356 inhabitants in the commune. It is built on the Marne, and near the Ourcq Canal. The town is well but irregularly built The cathedral of St.-Etienne, founded in the Ilth century, although un completed, is considered a masterpiece. It consists of nave, transept, aisles, choir, and sanctuary. Only one of the towers of the façade is finished. In the choir I. a white marble monument of Boasuet, who was bishop of Meaux, and of whom some memorials are still preserved in the episcopal residence. In 1854 his tomb was opened, and the body of the great orator was found almost in a perfect state of pre servation; his face was still recognisable from his portrait Meaux has a public library of 13,000 volume*, a town-hall, cavalry barracks, two beapital. And a theatre. Cotton fabrics, pottery, flour, leather, saltpetre, and glue are the chief Industrial products. There are im portant market. for corn and cheese, wool, cattle, and poultry. The of the town are planted with trees, and form agreeable public Among the other towns sre—Le-Fcrit-sous-Joraree: population 4105 lo the commune. It is pleasantly situated on the Marne, in which river there is a small island dose to the town, 12 miles by railroad E. from ]deans. Round the town are a number of country seats and houses, and near it, on the right bank of the Marne, Is the castle of Barre, flanked with towers, and commanding a beautiful prospect There is an hospital. The chief trade Is in tho excellent millstones which are quarried near the town, and which are deemed the best in Europe. About 1200 pairs of these millstones are exported yearly, some of them to England and America. Woolcombers' cards, leather, iron, woollen-yarn, tiles, and pottery are manufactured; and boats are built for the navigation of the river. There are lime- and plaster-kilns and nursery-grounds near the town. Trade la carried on in corn, wood, and charcoal for the supply of Paris; and in cattle, sheep, and wool. On a bill above the town is the village of with a population of 2722. Lagny, population 2212, on the Marne, is pleasantly situated on the left bank of the Marne, over which there is a bridge, amid vine covered hills and green pastures, 10 miles S.W. from Meaux, on the ParieStrasbourg railway. There are a handsome fountain, an hospital, and several flour-mill. Considerable trade is carried on in corn, flour, wood, hemp, cattle, and cheese. Damerartin, population about 1800, a pretty little town on the road from Paris to Soissons, 12 miles N.W. from Meaux, stands on the slope of a hill which commands an exten sive prospect. There are some pleasant shady walks, occupying the site of the former castle of the counts of Dammartin. There is a gothic church, built by Antoine do Chabannes, lord of Dammartin and minister of Charles VII. He is buried in the choir. There is an hospital. Lace is made here, and trade is carried on in corn, wino, and cattle. Dammartin has a good corn-market and important sheep fairs.
4. In the fourth arrondissement the chief town, Coulommiers, an ill-built place. is situated in a pretty country, on the Grand-Morin, 27 miles N.N.E. from Melun, and has 4151 inhabitants in the com mune. It has a tribunal of first instance, flour- and tan-mills, tan yards, and some commerce in corn, wool, hides, cattle, and cheese.
Among the other towns are—La-Fent-Gaucker, which is agreeably situated on the Grand Morin, 10 miles E. from doulommiers, and has an hospital, tan-yards, a tan-mill, and manufactures of serge and paper. In the are tile-yards and lime-kilns : population 2100. Reboil, a small place north of Conlommiers, which was formerly famous for its Benedictine abbey, founded by St.-Ouen A.D. 634, and demolished at the time of the first French revolution : population, 1100. Rosoy, 11 miles S. by W. from Coulommiers, is a walled town, with about 1600 inhabitants. The walls are flanked with towers, and planted with fine trees. It has a parish church remarkable for the rich and delicate architecture of the interior, and SR hospital.
5. In the fifth arroudissement the chief town, Provins, is 29 miles E. from Melun, and has tribunals of first instance and of commerce, it college, and 6958 inhabitants. It is a town of considerable antiquity. In the middle ages this was one of the principal manufacturing and trading towns In France; the chief manufactures were woollen-cloth and leather. Provins occupies an extensive area, part of which consists of gardens, vineyards, and fields, and is divided into two parts, the Upper Town on the west bide, surrounded by walls, of which the greater part are standing; and the Lower Town, which is also sur rounded by walls, except where it is contiguous to the Upper Town. Two small streams, the Vouzie and the Durtein (which unite to form a feeder of the Seine), pass through the town. The Upper Town has streets narrow and winding, and houses ill-built and decayed from age. There are several remarkable ruins, among which are those of the old fort, the citadel, the old castle, the chapel of St.-Thibaut, the palace of the counts of Brie-Champagnaise, now occupied by the college, and the tower and church of St.-Quiriace. The church of fit-Quiriace, now the parish church of the Upper Town, is remarkable for its size and the beauty of its architecture: the choir has the same dimensions as that of the cathedral of Notre-Dame at Paris. It was begun in the 12th century, but has never been completed. The Lower Town, which is well laid out and well built, contains two churches, a general hospital, and cavalry barracks. Besides these buildings Provins has a civil and military hospital, a school of mutual instruction, a large corn-market, and several fountains. The manufactures are drugeta and linsey-woolsey, earthenware, and conserve of roses. The Proving roses, from which the conserve is made, were brought from the East in the 13th century by Thibaut, count of Champagne, on his return from the crusade. There are chalybeate springs which are well freqnented in the season. Among the other towns, all of which are small, are 11 miles S. from Provins, on the left bank of the Seine, which is here crossed by a stone bridge of 22 arches; population, 1800: and Nangis, a well-built market-town of 2200 in habitants, 14 mules W. from Provins, with a gothic church of solid architecture; and two towers, the remains of the ancient castle of the marquises of Neagh': the park attached to the castle still remains.
This department constitutes the diocese of Meaux. It is included in the jurisdiction of the High Court, and within the limits of the University-Academy of Paris ; and is in the 1st Military Division, the head-quarters of which are iu Paris. It returns three memben to the Legislative Chamber of the French empire.