an arrondissement in the Pas de Calais, in France, extending over 552 square miles, or 353,280 acres. It is divided into nine cantons, and these into 218 communes, containing 143,615 inhabitants. The chief city of the arrondissement has the same name. It is situated at the influx of the Erinchon into the navigable river Scarpe. It is regularly fortified with a citadel, built by Vauban, with bomb-proof casemates. The city is well built, with regular and lofty houses. The cathedral is a sumptuous Gothic edifice, besides which there are twelve parish churches, the Abbey of St Wast, now the barracks, and some other fine public edifices. The inhabitants, 19,498 in number, are generally very industrious, and carry on extensive manufactories of fine linen and of lace, besides which there are establishments for refining sugar, for making soap, salt, starch, several breweries, and mills for spinning cotton. The manufactories have, however, declined considerably since the peace. It is the birthplace of the as-