a department in the north of France, taking its name from the river Aisne which flows through it. The surface is uneven, but not hilly; and it produces corn of all kinds, excellent flax, legumes, and wine of a pretty good quality. There are manufactures of woollens, linens, yarn, leather, &c.; but the most considerable are those of cambric and lawn. Its extent is 379 square leagues, or 749,183 hectares; and the population in 1817 was 432,989. Laon is the chief town.