a department in the N.E. of France, lying between N. Lat. 47° 20', and 48° 24', E. Long. 2° 47' and 4° 20', bounded on the N. by the departments of Seine-et-Marne and Aube, E. by that of Côte d'Or, S. by that of Nièvre, and W. by that of Loiret. Length, from N.W. to S.E., 82 miles; breadth, 53; area, 2868 square miles. The face of the country is undulating, consisting of valleys extending between hills of moderate height. The greatest elevation is in the south-west, where the department is traversed by the low range of hills that separate the basin of the Seine on the north-east from that of the Loire on the south-west. These hills are here of very inconsiderable height, and form part of the chain which, farther to the south-east, is known by the names of the hills of Morvan and of Nivernais. With the exception of a small portion in the extreme south-west watered by the Veille, an affluent of the Loire, the whole department belongs to the basin of the Seine; and the principal river is that from which it takes its name. The Yonne rises at the foot of Mont Beuvray, one of the Morvan hills, in Nièvre, and flows north-west as far as Clamecy, near the borders of Yonne. It there turns to the north, and with many windings traverses the centre of the department generally in that direction. It leaves the department near Villeneuve, and enters that of Seine-et-Marne, where it joins the Seine at Montereau. Its whole length is 150 miles; and it is navigable as far as Auxerre, 64 miles above its confluence with the Seine. Its principal affluents in this department are, from the right, the Cure, Serein, Armançon, and Vannes; and from the left, the Tholon. The Loing, an affluent of the Seine, has its source and a small part of its course in Yonne. The geological structure of the country is for the most part oolitic and calcareous, except towards the south-east, where some granite occurs. The soil is on the whole fertile. In the south and east, it is somewhat stony; and in the west, it consists chiefly of clay, which is much covered with wood, and has many marshes and pools; but in the north there is a great deal of fine rich loam. The climate is mild, and the air pure and healthy, except in some of the marshy tracts. The chief occupation is agriculture; and the corn grown is more than sufficient to supply the wants of the inhabitants, so that much is exported, especially for the supply of Paris. In the east and south, the cultivation of the vine is the most profitable employment; and much excellent wine is made, especially in the districts adjoining Côte d'Or. The wines are those known as Lower Burgundy; and upwards of 19,000,000 gallons are made annually, of which a large part is exported. The extent of arable land in the department is 1,125,000 acres; of forests, 362,500 acres; of vineyards, 95,000 acres; and of meadows and pastures, 80,000 acres. Besides corn and wine, various kinds of vegetables, hemp, and flax, &c., are raised here. Fruit-trees are very abundant, and yield good crops, and chestnuts are exported. Notwithstanding the excellence of the pastures, comparatively little attention is paid to grazing; and the horses and cattle are of inferior breeds. The mineral riches of the country are not very great; but there are some iron mines and stone quarries, and potters' clay is also obtained here. The principal branches of industry are the working of the mines and quarries, the making of bricks and tiles, glass, pottery, beet-root sugar, coarse woollen cloth, and leather. A considerable trade is carried on, chiefly in the exportation of the produce of the country, including corn, wine, vinegar, wood, charcoal, cattle, wool, and iron. The internal means of communication are numerous. Besides many roads, the department is traversed by the railway from Paris to Lyons, which has a branch to Auxerre. The canal of Burgundy, which connects the Seine with the Rhone, lies partly in this department. This great work, which was projected by Henry IV., but not begun till 1775, joins the Yonne at its confluence with the Armançon, extends along the latter river, crosses the Côte d'Or Mountains, and joins the Saône in the de- York department of Côte d'Or. Its whole length is about 185 miles, of which 57 are in this department; and its total descent is 1070 feet, accomplished by 115 locks. A considerable part of the canal of Nivernais, which begins at Auxerre, on the Yonne, and extending southwards to the Loire, is in the department. Yonne forms the see of the archbishop of Sens; and contains 5 courts of law, 6 colleges, a normal seminary, 5 upper and 509 elementary schools. The capital is Auxerre; and the department is divided into 5 arrondissements, as follows:

| Arrondissements | Cantons | Communes | Pop. (1856) | |-----------------|---------|----------|------------| | Auxerre | 12 | 131 | 117,896 | | Avallon | 5 | 71 | 44,959 | | Joigny | 9 | 108 | 97,267 | | Sens | 5 | 80 | 65,628 | | Tonnerre | 5 | 82 | 43,090 | | Total | 36 | 482 | 368,901 |