a department of France, bounded on the N. by that of Orne, E. by those of Eure-et-Loir and Loir-et-Cher, S. by those of Indre-et-Loire and Maine-et-Loire, and W. by that of Mayenne. Its length from N. to S. is about 62 miles; greatest breadth, 58; area, 2395 square miles. It is very compact, and nearly circular in form. The surface is almost unbroken, sloping very gradually from the north-west, where the highest elevations in the department occur. It belongs entirely to the valley of the Loire, and the principal river is that from which the department takes its name. It enters the country from the north, forms for some distance the north-western boundary, and then flows generally southwards through the centre of the department. Its principal affluents here join it from the left, the Orne, Huise, and Loir watering the eastern portion of Sarthe. Of all these rivers only two, the Sarthe and the Loir, are navigable, the former up to Le Mans, and the latter to Château-du-Loir, giving a total length of 254 miles of river navigation within the department. Besides those mentioned, various smaller streams traverse the country; these, as well as the others, abounding in fish. The geological structure of the land exhibits a considerable variety; in the north-west, granite is the prevailing rock, as a portion of the department here belongs to the great primitive formation of Bretagne. As we proceed south-east, across the country, we come upon new red sandstone, and afterwards, in succession, the various formations between this and the chalk group; the extreme south-east of the department being entirely cretaceous. The mineral wealth of the country is very considerable. There are coal-pits in the western portion; iron is also obtained, as well as marble, slate, paving-stone, mill-stones, fuller's earth, potter's clay, &c. The department throughout is an agricultural country. Its plains and gentle slopes have a fertile soil, and are generally well cultivated; the waste land in the department is continually diminishing in extent. The quantity of corn produced is more than sufficient to supply the demand. Besides wheat, there is grown here, maize, buckwheat, potatoes, and pulse of various kinds; wine is produced, but of an inferior quality; fruit-trees are carefully Sarti cultivated; and much cider is made. Of the entire area of the department, about 804,150 acres are occupied by arable land; 145,000 by meadows; 25,000 by vineyards; 170,000 by wood; 112,500 by waste land. On the extensive and rich tracts of pasture land, both natural and artificial, large numbers of live stock are raised; the cattle are of good breed, the horses much esteemed for carriages; and a considerable amount of profit is derived from the sale of poultry. It is calculated that there are in the department 123,000 head of horned cattle, 129,000 sheep, 76,000 pigs, 20,000 goats, and 56,000 horses. Honey, chestnuts, dried and preserved fruit, form some of the articles of trade. There is not much manufacturing industry; cloth of various qualities is the principal article made; there are also bleachfields and manufactories of wax-candles. Some trade is carried on in the mineral and agricultural produce of the country. Internal communication is facilitated by the rivers, by numerous roads, and by four railways, diverging from Le Mans in different directions. The department forms, along with that of Mayenne, the diocese of Le Mans; it contains law courts, subordinate to the imperial court at Angers, 5 colleges, a normal school, 8 upper and 609 elementary schools. The capital is Le Mans; and the department is divided into four arrondissements, as follows:

| Arrondissement | Canton | Communes | Population | |----------------|--------|----------|------------| | Le Mans | 10 | 116 | 173,458 | | Mamers | 10 | 143 | 125,758 | | Saint-Calais | 6 | 56 | 65,850 | | La-Plèche | 7 | 80 | 101,127 | | Total | 33 | 395 | 467,193 |