CHAP. XIV.
The Length, Breadth, Boundaries, Inhabitants, New Divisions, Mountains, Rivers, Soil, Produce, Manufactories, Commerce, Religion, and Laws of France.
The kingdom of France is about six hundred and twenty-two miles in length from north to south, and six hundred and twenty in breadth from east to west: It is bounded—Easterly on Germany, Switzerland, Savoy, and Piedmont—Southerly on the Mediterranean sea, and the Pyrenean mountains, which separate it from Spain—Westerly on the Bay of Biscay—Northerly on the English channel—and North-easterly on the Spanish Netherlands. It contains near 26,9507/12 square leagues—25,000,000 of inhabitants—Eighteen arch-bishoprics—167,000 clergymen—28 universities—25 academies—750 great convents of monks—200 of nuns—10,000 of a smaller kind—and upwards of 200,000 of monks and nuns.
I understand that the National Assembly have divided the kingdom into eighty grand divisions, or counties, of eighteen leagues in length, and as many in breadth; and each grand division into nine commonalities, that are six leagues square; and also each commonality into nine cantons, of two leagues in length, and two in breadth.
Hence there are eighty grand divisions, seven hundred and twenty commonalities, and 6480 cantons in the kingdom.
The mountains in France are, the Alps—the Pyrenees—the Vague—Mount Jura—the Convennes—and Mount Dor.
The chief rivers are, the Rhone—the Garoune—the Loire—the Seine—the Somme—and the Ardour.
The climate is mild and healthy, as has already been observed; and the soil fruitful, though not equal to Great Britain for corn: but their fruits are more numerous, and of a higher flavour than ours, by reason of their growing in a more southern country. They have the largest plumbs I ever saw: but their beans, peas, and strawberries were small. In the northern provinces they have good cider and perry; and in the southern the best of wines. In the province of Languedoc they raise silk and olive oil.
France does not abound in coal, which obliges the people to raise and burn wood, and sometimes turf. There are many excellent forests between Paris and Calais, and some beds of turf. In Paris they have the largest magazines of wood that I ever saw.