BETHUNE, a town of France, in Artois, containing upwards of 5000 inhabitants. There is an entrance into this city through four gates, and it is surrounded with walls and fortified. The city and the castle taken together are of a triangular figure, but the castle itself is a very irregular building. The houses are very indifferent, and the streets ill paved; however, there is a large handsome square, and several churches. In the marshy lands near the city there are several canals cut for the convenience of whitening linen. It is seated on a rock by the river Belte. E. Long. 2. 48. N. Lat. 50. 32.