MANCHE, LA

MANCHE, LA, a department in the N. of France, forming part of the old province of Normandy, and lying between N. Lat. 48. 35. and 49. 40., W. Long. 0. 43. and 1. 50. It is bounded on the W., N., and N.E. by the Manche or English Channel, from which it derives its name; on the E. by the departments of Calvados and Orne; and on the S. by those of Ille-et-Vilaine and Mayenne. Length, 90 miles; average breadth, 27 miles; area, 2291 square miles. The department is traversed from S. to N. by a range of hills of small height called Cotentin, which branch off from the Armorican ridge, and slope gradually towards the sea on either side. The coast is in some parts rugged and precipitous; but in others there are large tracts of sandy beach. There are several pretty good harbours, of which Cherbourg, La Hougue, Granville, Regneville, Carteret, &c., are the chief. The coast is skirted with many islands, single and in groups, such as Mont St Michel, the Chaussey group, Pelée, Tatihou, and St Marcouf, most of which are fortified and garrisoned. The main island of the Chaussey group is remarkable for its granite quarries, and, except by

the workmen in these, it is uninhabited. There are no large rivers in this district, the most considerable being the Vire, which enters La Manche in the S.E., and, after flowing in a northerly direction for about 50 miles, falls into the channel at the boundary between this department and that of Calvados. The greater part of the rocks here are of primary formation; but towards the E., near the banks of the Vire, there are to be found deposits of a more recent origin, such as lss, sandstone, limestone, and slate. The country is in general undulating, the soil rich, and the climate moist and mild. La Manche is very extensively cultivated, and the produce of grain is more than sufficient to supply the wants of the inhabitants. Potatoes, hemp, flax, and fruits, are also among its productions, and more than 22,000,000 gallons of cider are made every year. A considerable portion of the land is laid out in pasturage, which is excellent; and fine breeds of horses and cattle are reared, the former being much prized for military purposes. The quantity of live stock is estimated at 92,000 horses, 210,000 head of horned cattle, 320,000 sheep, and 85,000 pigs. Game and fish also abound. Mining operations are carried on to a large extent in iron, lead, and coal; and there are, besides, quarries of granite, marble, slate, limestone, &c,

as well as extensive salt marshes along the coast, which are a source of much wealth. The principal manufacturing employments of this department are the working of iron, zinc, and copper, and the making of woollen and cotton stuffs, of cloth, lace, paper, glass, leather, &c. In many of the coast towns there is a good deal of ship-building; and the commerce with the channel is considerable in the agricultural produce of the country, as well as in the articles of manufacture. The department is divided into six arrondissements, and contains six tribunals of primary instance, and four of commerce; six colleges, one normal school, five superior, and 1225 elementary schools. It belongs to the sixteenth military division, and sends four members to the legislative body. The capital is St Lô. The population in 1851 of the various arrondissements was as follows:—