a city of France, and capital of the department of the Lower Seine formerly capital of Normandy, with an archbishop's see, a college, and an academy. It is seven miles in circumference, and surrounded with six suburbs; and contained before the revolution 35 parishes, and 24 convents for men and women. The metropolitan church has a very handsome front, on which are two lofty steeples. The great bell is 13 feet high and 11 in diameter. The church of the Benedictine abbey is much admired by travellers. There is a great number of fountains. The number of the inhabitants in 1817 was 81,000. This is one of the most industrious towns in France. There are manufactures of cotton and woollen of a great variety of kinds, and some on an extensive scale. There are also manufactures of silk, wool cards, refined sugar, and chemical substances. It is seated on the river Seine; and the tide rises so high, that vessels of 200 tons may come up to the quay: but one of the greatest curiosities is the bridge, of 270 paces in length, supported by boats, and consequently is higher or lower according to the tide. It is paved, and there are ways for foot passengers on each side, with benches to sit upon; and coaches may pass over it at any hour of the day or night. It is often called Rouen by English historians; and is 50 miles south-west of Amiens, and 70 north-west of Paris.

Though large, and enriched by commerce, Rouen is not an elegant place. The streets are almost all narrow, crooked, and dirty; the buildings old and irregular. It was fortified by St Louis in 1253, but the walls are now demolished. The environs, more particularly the hills which overlook the Seine, are wonderfully agreeable, and covered with handsome villas. E. Long. 1. 10. N. Lat. 49. 26.