MEUSE

MEUSE, a department of France, bounded on the N. by Belgium and the department of Ardennes, E. by those of Moselle and Meurthe, S. by those of Vosges and Haute-Marne, and W. by those of Marne and Ardennes; lies between 48. 25. and 49. 35. N. Lat., and between 4. 54. and 5. 50. E. Long.; having a length of 83 miles, a breadth of 40, and an area of 2436 square miles. The department is traversed by two ranges of mountains at no great distance from each other, which extend from the Faucilles in the S. to the hills of Ardennes in the N. The highest summit of these ranges does not exceed 1600 feet; and between the two lies the valley traversed by the Meuse, from which the department takes its name. The other parts of the department present a great variety of hills, valleys, and plains. Besides the Meuse, it is watered by the Aisne and its tributary the Aire; by the Ornain and the Saulx, which join the Marne; by the Madine and Orne, tributaries of the Moselle; and by the Chiers, which falls into the Meuse. The nature of the soil is as varied as that of the surface of the country; and in some parts, especially in the valleys, it is rich and fertile, but in the hills and plains it is in general thin and poor. Of the whole area, 875,000 acres consist of arable land; 325,000 of wood; 125,000 of meadow land; 35,000 of vineyards; &c. The

quantity of grain produced is more than enough for the supply of the inhabitants; potatoes, peas, beans, flax, &c., are also largely cultivated, and with great success. The fruits are excellent; gooseberries in particular are raised with much care; and the wines of Meuse, especially those of the valley of the Orain, are highly prized. The pasturage is very good; and the cattle are superior to those of the neighbouring country. The horses are weak and small; but the rearing of pigs is attended to with much care. It is computed that the department contains 60,000 horses, 96,000 cattle, 214,000 sheep, 98,000 pigs, &c. The principal minerals in the department are iron, good building stone, potters' clay, and slate. The inhabitants are employed to a great extent in iron mines, forges, lime-kilns, glassworks, potteries, cotton factories, paper-mills, &c.; and the trade consists of iron, timber, wines, cotton stuffs, salt provisions, &c. The railway from Paris to Strasbourg runs through this department for a distance of 42 miles. Meuse is divided into four arrondissements, as follows:—

In 1856 the total population was 305,727. The capital is Bar-le-Duc.