MOSELLE

MOSELLE, a department of France, lying between 48. 54. and 49. 34. N. Lat., and 5. 25. and 7. 40. E. Long. It is bounded on the N. by Belgium, Dutch Luxembourg, and Rhenish Prussia, E. by the palatinate and the department of Lower Rhine, S. by that of Meurthe, and W. by that of Meuse. Its length is 102 miles; its breadth, which varies very much, is on an average about 25 miles; and its area is 2350 square miles. The surface of the department is in general undulating, with a gradual slope towards the N.; while the eastern part is occupied by branches of the Vosges Mountains, and the western part by those of the Ardennes. None of the hills, however, rise above 650 feet in height; and they are well wooded on the top with timber, which is used for ship-building, and on the sides with fruit trees. The country is watered by the Moselle, from which it derives its name, and by its affluents, flowing generally towards the north. The Moselle is navigable in this department for 49 miles, and the Sarre for 23. The Chiers, a tributary of the Meuse, also traverses the N.W. corner of Moselle. The climate is for the most part mild, but colder and more severe in the hilly regions. The mineral resources of the department are considerable, consisting of iron, which is found in great abundance, building stone, sandstone, potter's clay, marl, and plaster of Paris. The soil of the valleys and slopes of the hills is very rich, and well cultivated; and improvements are being gradually introduced in the implements and methods of agriculture used in the department. Of its whole extent it has been calculated that there are 741,343 acres of arable land, 111,200 of meadows, 222,402 of wood, and 14,826 of waste land. Corn is raised in sufficient quantities to leave a considerable amount for exportation; and the principal kinds are oats, rye, and wheat; the two former of which are more suitable to the soil than the last. Besides these, peas, beans, millet, vetches, lentils, potatoes, beet-root, rape, turnips, hemp, flax, &c., are grown; but although the vine is cultivated in the department, the wines of Moselle are of inferior quality, and are chiefly

used for the manufacture of what is called champagne, for sale in Germany and Russia. Gardens are extensively and well cultivated, and many kinds of fruit are raised of an excellent quality. The horses of the department, amounting in number to 65,000, are of small size; the horned cattle, about 110,000, of an inferior breed; the sheep, about 180,000, yield bad wool; and the only animals of good breed are the pigs, amounting to 108,000, to the rearing of which considerable attention is paid. There are also many bees, which produce a large supply of honey. Game of various kinds is plentiful in the forests, and fish in the rivers. The manufactures of Moselle are numerous, consisting principally of iron-works, in which sheet iron, nails, cutlery, &c., are fabricated. Next in extent and importance to these are the glass-works and potteries. There are also manufactures of linen, paper, beer, tobacco, beet-root sugar, leather, hosiery, &c. A considerable trade is carried on in the exportation of the produce of the manufacturing and agricultural industry of the department. The capital is Metz, where there is a court of appeal for the department. Moselle also contains 4 civil tribunals, an academy, 2 grammar schools, a normal school for the department, and 900 elementary schools; besides other educational institutions. It is divided into 4 arrondissements, as follows:—

The population of the department in 1856, however, was only 451,152.