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QUENTIN

Volume 18 · 139 words · 1842 Edition

Sr., an arrondissement of the department of the Aisne, in France. It extends over 480 square miles, comprising ten cantons, divided into 121 communes, with 91,200 inhabitants. The capital is a city of the same name, situated on a hill, at the foot of which flows the Somme, which is joined by two inland canals. It is strongly fortified, and has a fine old cathedral and good market-place, 1650 houses, and 10,740 inhabitants, who have been long celebrated for their fabrics of fine linens, especially cambrics and lawns, and thread-lace. These trades have, however, of late years declined, the manufactures of cotton have been substituted, and, now that spinning-mills have been at work, many muslins and fine calicoes are produced. Near this city was fought, in 1557, a great battle between the French and Spaniards. Long. 3.12.18.E. Lat. 49.50.51.N.