Cerro de Pasco, a town of Peru, capital of the department of Junin, stands in an irregular hollow in the elevated plain of Bonbon, 140 miles N.E. of Lima. It is meanly and irregularly built on uneven ground, the houses being for the most part low and wretched, and generally thatched. The ground on which it is built abounds in silver ore, and is almost honeycombed by the mines, many of which open in the interior of the houses. These silver mines occupy a space about 15 miles broad, from E. to W.; but it is only the most valuable of them that are now worked. Coal is also found in the vicinity. As the surrounding country is very barren, most of the provisions have to be brought to Pasco from a distance. This town is the highest permanently-inhabited spot in America, and probably also in the whole world. Its elevation is stated at 14,280 feet above the level of the sea. The population varies at different periods from 7000 to 18,000, according to the season of the year and the state of the mines.

Pascuaro, or Patzcuaro, a town of Mexico, state of Michoacan, stands on the S.E. shore of the Lake of Pascuaro, 30 miles S.W. of Valladolid. In the neighbourhood are copper mines; and at some distance the best sugar plantations in the state. Pop. 6000.

Pas-de-Calais, a department of France, lying between 50. and 51. N. Lat., 1. 35. and 3. 10. E. Long. It is bounded on the N. by the Strait of Dover, N.E.-and E. by the department of Nord, S. by that of Somme, and W. by the English Channel; length, from N.W. to S.E., about 86 miles; average breadth, 33 miles; area, 2561 square miles. The country is traversed from N.W. to S.E. by a low chain of hills, from which the ground slopes gradually down on either side. The highest elevation of these hills does not exceed 327 feet; and the two slopes are scarcely to be distinguished from each other. These heights form the watershed of the rivers of the department—the Lys, the Scarpe, the Sensée, and the Aa, flowing down the N.E. slope,—the first three into the Escart, and the last into the sea; while the Authie, the Canche, the Liane, and the Slack traverse the S.W. slope, and fall into the English Channel. The valleys of these rivers are separated by small spurs diverging from the main ridge of hills. Most of the streams are navigable for some distance, either naturally or by means of canals. Those on the north flow sluggishly through an almost flat region; and during the whole of the winter they form extensive marshes, which deposit a large quantity of alluvial soil, and increase the fertility of the country. The only promontory on the coast is Cape Grizene, between Calais and Boulogne, where the range of hills terminates in a series of chalk cliffs similar to those of Dover, on the opposite side of the Channel, and extending several miles on each side of the cape. The rest of the coast is in general low, and bordered by sandy and barren downs, having an average breadth of about two miles, and an entire area of 44,000 acres, and presenting a very bleak aspect. Along the coast-line, which is about 90 miles in length, the only good harbours are those of Calais and Boulogne. These are formed by artificial piers, and are capable of receiving large vessels; while the others can only be approached by fishing-boats. The constant accumulation of sand has destroyed several harbours that formerly existed here; and even those that still exist are in some danger of being likewise filled up.

In geological structure, the country for the most part belongs to the chalk formation. Iron and coal are found in small quantities, and several mines are wrought. Marble, limestone, quartz, rock-crystal, and other minerals, are also obtained. There are several Artesian wells in the department. These were first sunk here upwards of a century ago, and derived their name from the old province of Artois, to which this country then belonged. Richness, rather than picturesque beauty, is the prevailing aspect of the country; tracts of well-cultivated ground alternate with extensive meadows and pasturages. The country is marshy in many places; and towards the north, the low and flat ground near the coast has, as in Holland, to be defended by dykes from the incursions of the sea. The soil is very fertile, especially for corn; the farms are large, and agriculture is in an advanced state. In its variable climate, Pas-de-Calais resembles the south-western parts of England. The winters are long and rainy, and the climate in general cold, damp, and in some places not very healthy. Corn, pulse, potatoes, beet-root, hops, flax, and hemp are the principal crops raised; and a small part of the country is occupied by woods and orchards. The live stock reared here are generally of inferior breeds; but there are estimated to be in the department 80,000 horses, 180,000 horned cattle, 300,000 sheep, 7000 goats, 140,000 pigs, &c. The sea near the coast abounds in fish; and hence affords employment to a large number of the inhabitants. Manufacturing industry is actively and extensively carried on. It is cal-

frankness of his nature,—I was asked if I repented of having written Les Pensées? I reply that, far from having repented, if I had to write them now, I would write yet more strongly.... I was asked why I had employed a pleasant, jocose, and diverting style. I reply that, if I had written in a didactic style, it would have been only the learned who would have read, and they would have had no necessity to do it, being at least as well able to read without any object as myself; thus I thought it a duty to write so as to be comprehended by women and men of the world, that they might know the danger of those maxims and propositions which were then universally propagated, and of which they permitted themselves to be so easily persuaded. I was asked, lastly, if I had myself read all the books I have cited. I answer, No; for in that case it would have been necessary to have passed my life in reading very bad books; but I had read through the whole of Esclarb twice, and, for the others, I caused them to be read by my friends. But I have never used a single passage without having myself read it in the book cited, or without having examined the subject on which it is adduced, or without having read both what precedes and what follows it, in order that I might not run the risk of quoting what was, in fact, an objection, for a reply to it, which would have been censurable and unjust." culated that there are 700 manufactories, employing 25,000 hands, and producing annually goods to the value of L1,920,000. The most important of the articles manufactured are—beet-root sugar, soap, oils, cotton and woollen fabrics, linen, hosiery, and lace. Paper-mills, foundries, glass-works, potteries, tanneries, distilleries, and breweries are also in operation. The chief articles of export are—corn, flour, sugar, oils, marble, building-stone, timber, and manufactured articles. There is a considerable coasting trade in corn and other rural produce; and the foreign commerce is chiefly carried on with England. Communication is kept up by steamers between the ports of this department and London, Dover, and Folkestone; and there is a submarine telegraph cable between Dover and Calais.

The means of internal communication are furnished by three railways, extending over 88 miles, besides numerous roads, rivers, and canals. Pas-de-Calais contains a school of medicine at Arras, an academy, four colleges, a normal school, and 1220 elementary schools. It forms the diocese of Arras; and contains 6 primary courts and 4 courts of commerce. The capital is Arras; and the department is divided into arrondissements as follows:

| Canton | Communes | Pop. (1850) | |--------|----------|------------| | Arras | 10 | 211 | 169,123 | | Bethune| 8 | 142 | 139,844 | | Saint-Omer| 7 | 118 | 109,624 | | Saint-Pol| 6 | 193 | 79,928 | | Boulogne| 6 | 100 | 138,557 | | Montreuil| 6 | 139 | 75,770 | | Total | 43 | 903 | 712,846 |