a maritime city of France, in the arrondissement of Pont l'Eveque and department of Calvados. It is an ill-built town, situated on the Seine, opposite to Harfleur. There are four churches, 1027 houses, and 9780 inhabitants, who subsist partly by the fishery, and carry on some manufactures of vitriol, of alum, and of lace. The herring fishery is the most extensive. Before the Revolution it was the principal place for the Newfoundland fishery and for the colonial commerce. Long. 0.3 E. Lat. 49. 17. N.

HONDSCHOOTE, a town of France, in the arrondissement of Dunkirk, in the department of the North. It stands on the canal leading from Bergues to Furnes, contains 539 houses, and 3168 inhabitants. It is remarkable on account of the battle fought there in 1793, when the Duke of York, with the combined armies, advanced to take possession of Dunkirk, and was defeated by the French under the command of General Houchard.

HONTON, a market-town of the hundred of Axminster, in the county of Devon, 159 miles from London. It consists of one long street, on the great road from the metropolis to Exeter. It has suffered by frequent fires, and good houses have been constructed instead of those which were burned. The parish church is half a mile from the town, but there is a chapel of ease within it. It is an ancient burgh, and still returns two members to parliament, who are chosen by about five hundred voters. It had formerly considerable trade in making serges, but that has of late years greatly declined. Some employment for females is provided, by making thread lace; and none is more highly esteemed than that which bears the name of this place. There is here a well-attended market on Saturday. The population amounted in 1801 to 2377, in 1811 to 2735, in 1821 to 3296, and in 1831 to 3509.