a small but strong town in French Flanders, in the county of Hainault, seated on the river Thespis. It contains about 2,000 inhabitants; but the houses are wretchedly built, and the streets irregular. It was fortified by M. Vauban in a strong regular manner. About this place is a prodigious number of white stones proper for building, and used by sculptors for statues; they are known by the name of Stones of Avenes. E. Long. 3. 40. N. Lat. 50. 10.