CHARENTE, Lower, a department of France, formed out of the ancient district of Annis and a part of Saintonge. It is bounded on the north by La Vendée, on the north-east by the Two Sèvres, on the east by the Charente, on the south by the departments of Dordogne and Gironde, and on the west by the Gironde and the ocean. The extent is 2866 square miles, or, according to the royal almanack, 716,814 hectares. The face of the country is an undulated plain. On the sea-coast the soil is marshy and rich; in the interior, but especially towards the east part, the land is either sandy or chalky. The climate is mild, and, except on the marshy sea shore, healthy. Agriculture is in a neglected state, and in years of average fertility barely produces corn sufficient for the consumption of half the inhabitants. On the meadows many cows are bred, and on the other parts are large flocks of sheep. The department produces both red and white wine beyond its own demand. One of the chief articles of commerce in the department is salt. This is made in the summer by natural evaporation; and the quantity furnished amounts, in warm seasons, to upwards of 30,000 tons. These operations are carried on in the arrondissements of Rochelle, Rochefort, and Marennes, and on the island of Oleron. The exports consist, besides salt, of wine, brandy, vinegar, fruit, hemp, flax-seed, and cattle. There are few manufactures, and these of coarse linen or woollen for domestic use. The inhabitants amount to 406,579. The capital is Rochelle.