SEINE-INFÉRIEURE

SEINE-INFÉRIEURE, a department of France, lying between N. Lat. 49. 15. and 50. 4., E. Long. 0. 2. and 1. 49.; bounded on the N. and W. by the English Channel, S. by the department of Eure, and E. by those of Oise and Somme. Length from E. to W. 76 miles; greatest breadth, 45; area, 2326 square miles. A low branch of the Ardennes traverses the country from east to west, terminating on the sea at Cape La Hève, which is the most westerly point of the department, and the only considerable headland on its coast. This chain of hills separates the waters of the Seine from those that flow into the Channel; on either side of it are extensive plains, furrowed by valleys of no great depth, which are bordered with low sloping hills. The coast is almost entirely formed of chalk cliffs, interrupted only where the rivers fall into the sea. These cliffs attain their highest elevation, 700 feet above the sea, at Fécamp, nearly opposite Beachy Head, in Sussex. The principal river in the department is the Seine, which pursues its tortuous course along the southern boundary, and receives many small affluents from the north. The largest of these are the Epte and the Andelle, which have their sources, and the upper part of their streams, in Seine-Inférieure. Of the rivers that flow directly into the Channel, the principal are the Bresle, the Yères, and the Arques, with its affluents, the Eaulne and the Béthune. The country belongs entirely to the cretaceous formation. Many valuable minerals are obtained, such as marble, building-stone, marl, chalk, potter's-clay, sand for glass-works, peat, &c. There are mineral-springs in several places, but those of Forges alone are frequented. The climate is moist, and in general colder than that of the opposite coast of England. Although the department contains many very rich tracts of ground, yet as there are large portions of a very different character, it is on the whole not remarkable for fertility. But agriculture is in a flourishing state; improved modes of cultivation and manuring are employed; and the farms are in general distinguished by the neatness of their homesteads and gardens. Along the sea-shore there are many swampy and sandy tracts; among the hills much ground adapted only for pasture; and in the south of the department many large forests. The extent of arable land is 945,000 acres; of meadows, 70,000 acres; of forest, 170,000 acres; and of heaths, 45,000 acres. Wheat is the principal kind of corn raised. Pulse, turnips, rape, potatoes, hemp, and flax, are also among the crops grown. Much of the ground is laid out in gardens and orchards, which yield various kinds of fruit. The horses of the country are good for draught; the cattle and sheep are of inferior breeds. It is calculated that the department contains 90,000 horses, 150,000 head of cattle, 550,000 sheep, and 60,000 pigs. The Seine abounds in salmon, sturgeon, soles, and other fish; and there are also, along the coast, productive fisheries, which supply the Parisian market with herring, mackerel, and oysters. The department is celebrated for its manufacturing industry, which is actively carried on in every part, and especially in the large towns. There are a great number of bleach-fields, which give to cloth a superior whiteness above those of other parts of the kingdom. All sorts of cotton and woollen manufactures are also carried on, the former especially at Rouen; leather, silk, glass, pottery, bricks, sugar, and chemical substances are among the other goods manufactured. There are twelve ports in the department, the chief of which are Dieppe,

Fécamp, Havre, Harfleur, and Rouen. Through these a considerable trade is carried on with England and other countries; and by means of the Seine commercial intercourse is kept up with Paris. The department is traversed by two railways, from Paris to Havre, and from Rouen to Dieppe. Seine-Inférieure forms the diocese of Rouen, and contains several law-courts, subordinate to the Court of Appeal at Rouen. There are a lyceum, 5 colleges, a normal seminary, 4 upper and 1128 elementary schools. The chief town is Rouen, and the department is subdivided into 5 arrondissements, as follows:—