BLOIS, a town of France, the capital of Blaisois, in Orléanais, is seated on the banks of the river Loire, partly on a plain, and partly on an eminence, in the midst of one of the most agreeable countries of France. The castle is the ornament of this city. At the first view, it seems to be two distinct buildings; but it is joined by a passage cut out of the rock. Joining to this, on the west-side, is the tower of Chateau Regnaud, so called because that lordship may be discovered from hence, though 20 miles distant. At the east-end of this is another small tower, which is partly ancient and partly modern. That part of the castle which was built by the Duke of Orleans, in the room of that which he demolished in 1632, is a superb edifice, but unfinished. The court, before it, where the church of St Saviour is built, is very large, and was formerly used for tournaments. The most remarkable thing in this castle is a fine long gallery, adorned with many curious and uncommon pieces; it is in the midst of two gardens, one of which is full of fruit-trees, and the other of parterres, fountains, cascades, and marble statues brought from Italy. Beyond these, there is a large park, where there is game in abundance. On all the gates of the city there is the image of the Virgin Mary, who they believe freed them from the plague in 1631. There are several parish-churches, chapters, and religious houses for both sexes. The church of St Solenne is the cathedral, and is the handsomest in the city. The front of the Jesuits church is decorated with three orders of architecture, the Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian; but there is only the Doric on the inside. The town-house is a tolerable building, and stands in a street which terminates at the quay, where there is a public walk that has a fine prospect on the Loire, over which there is a bridge that leads to the suburbs of Vienna. There are a few houses on the bridge, and a tower at each end to guard the entrance. About three quarters of a mile from the city, the water runs down the clefts of a rock into a large aqueduct, by which it is conveyed to a reservoir near the walls, and from hence distributed by leaden pipes to the several parts of the city. The country about Blois produces corn, wine, cattle, and game of every kind, and the waters a great quantity of fish. The meadows are so rich and fertile, that the cows yield excellent milk, good in consumptive cases, and which affords the best cream in the kingdom. About a league from Blois, there are mineral springs, which have the same virtues as those of Forges. The trade of Blois is chiefly in wine and brandy; but they also make some serges and stuffs at this place. Several kings have kept their courts at Blois; for which reason they speak the French language in perfection, and the inhabitants are accounted witty and polite. E. Long. 1° 30' N. Lat. 47° 35'.