an ancient, rich, and very considerable town of France, in the department of Lower Loire, containing 73,879 inhabitants in 1800. It is situated on the north side of the Loire, about 40 miles from its mouth, at the confluence of the Erdre. It is the chief place of the department, the see of a bishop, and the seat of several tribunals. The atmosphere is pure, and the surrounding country is rich and beautiful. Nantes is a town of extensive trade. Vessels under 100 tons ascend to the city; those above that size discharge their cargoes at Paimboeuf, 25 miles below, and have them conveyed up in boats. The manufactures are cordage, canvas, linen, calico, leather, refined sugar, bottle-glass, &c. By the Loire, this town has an extensive communication with the interior of France; and supplies Orleans and other towns with foreign commodities. The Spaniards trade here in wine, fine wool, iron, silk, oil, oranges, and lemons; and they carry back cloth, stuffs, corn, and hard ware. The Dutch send salt fish, and all sorts of spices; and in return have wine and brandy. The Swedes bring copper; and the English, lead, tin, &c. It was in this place that Henry IV. promulgated the famous edict in 1598, called the Edict of Nantes, and which was revoked in 1685. Nantes was anciently, like almost every considerable city in Europe, very strongly fortified. Peter de Dreux, one of the dukes of Bretagne, surrounded it with walls, which have only been demolished within these few years. The bridge is an object of curiosity. It is near a mile and a half in length, being continued across all the little islands in the Loire, from north to south. W. Long. 1. 45. N. Lat. 47. 13.