an arrondissement of the department of the Oise, in France, extending over 530 square miles, divided into eight cantons and 178 communes, and containing 86,760 inhabitants. The city which gives its name to the arrondissement is in a picturesque situation, overlooking the river Bresche. It contains 495 houses, and 2072 inhabitants, who manufacture a considerable quantity of fine linen, and cambrics, and silk ribbons.

an arrondissement of the department of Puy de Dôme, in France, extending over 774 square miles. It is divided into fourteen cantons, and subdivided into 106 communes, containing 169,105 inhabitants. The capital, from which the arrondissement takes its name, is seated between the two small rivers Beda and Arlier. It contains, including the suburbs, which are extensive, 2167 houses and 31,509 inhabitants. There are an academy, a royal college, a botanic garden, and other institutions for scientific purposes. It is a place of great trade, partly as the entrepôt to the north and south of France, but in a great measure from the sale of its own products. There are in the city several medicinal natural springs, frequented by invalids. Long. 3° 0'. E. Lat. 45° 46'. N.