course of the Seine to Paris; thence by the great road to Moulins and on to Auvergne; thence to Vivers, on the Rhine, and along the course of that river to Aix, and from Aix to Italy. The provinces of Bretagne, Maine, and Angouleme have, in general, the appearance of deserts. Some parts of Touraine are rich and pleasing, but most of it is deficient in beauty. French Flanders and Artois are more rich than picturesque. Mr Young says that the Limousin possesses more natural beauty than any other province of France. Hill and dale, woods, lakes, streams, and scattered farms, are mingled everywhere through its whole extent in a thousand delicious pictures. The Vivarraise, along the Rhone, and the adjoining parts of Dauphine, are most romantic. The picturesque beauty of the hilly parts of France is heightened by the rich and luxuriant verdure of the chestnut trees, particularly in the Limousin and Auvergne. The most level tracts are the French Netherlands, as they are called, on the north. From the mouth of the Garonne to the borders of Spain the coast consists of a flat, sandy tract, called the Landes, producing only heath, broom, and a few junipers. The other parts of France are, for the most part agreeably diversified with gentle risings and depressions, and bear a considerable resemblance to the general scenery of England. The principal mountain chains are the Cévennes, the Vosges, the Jura, the Alps, and the Pyrenees. The grand chain of the Cévennes rises to the west of the Rhône, and seems to be the principal centre of the primitive district of France, extending into several branches. The low and rounded chain of the Vosgesthe Mons Vogesus of Cæsar rises a little to the north of Deuxponts and Keyserlautern, and runs thence in a southerly direction parallel to the course of the Rhine, separating the duchy of Deuxponts and the narrow region of Alsace from Lorraine and Franch-Comte. The Jura, a vanguard of the Alps, forms the boundary between France and Switzerland, and terminates a little to the north-west of Geneva. A chain of the Alps crosses the departments of the Maritime Alps, Lower and Upper Alps, and separates France from Italy and Switzerland as far as the neighbourhood of the Jura. In the department of Drome another Alpine ridge takes its rise, and crosses the departments of the Ardeche, Loire, Rhone, Saone-etLoire, and Cote-d'Or, as far as Dijon. The Pyrenees, in the south of France, stretch from Cape Creuz, on the Mediterranean, to the bay of Figueras, on the coast of Spain. This vast chain, known to geographers since the days of Herodotus, may be considered as equally belonging to France and Spain. The highest peaks in the Pyrenees, the Maladetta and Mont Perdu, attain an elevation of 10,886 ft. and 10,994 ft. respectively. The French portion of the Alps now includes several of the highest mountains and most elevated passes of the range; as Mont Blanc 15,774 ft.; Mont Iseran 13,272 ft.; Mont Cenis 11,457 ft.; and the pass of Little St Bernard 7190 ft.; that of Mont Cenis 6770 ft. above the level of the sea, &c. In Corsica the highest peak rises to an elevation somewhat above 9000 ft. France is everywhere intersected with rivers and streams. Of these, 300 are navigable, the principal being the Rhone, the Loire, the Garonne, and the Seine. The Loire is the longest, running a comparative course of 650 miles. The superficial area of France, including the new Savoy provinces, but exclusive of the isle of Corsica, is estimated at 201,578 square miles, and, as Corsica has an area of about 3350 square miles, the total is 204,928 square miles. France has a coast line, along the Mediterranean, of 360 miles, along the Atlantic of 585 miles, and along the North Sea and Channel of 525 miles, and possesses numerous gulfs, bays, and straits. The population at the last census was 37,620,500. Owing to its great extent of area, considerable diversities of temperature are to be met with in France, yet it may be regarded, on the whole, as perhaps more favourable to the sustenance and comfort of human life than that of any other region in Europe. In the northern districts the climate is hotter and more moist in summer than in the southwestern parts of England. central division possesses the best climate. In Touraine and the Limousin, snow and frost seldom occur; the air is pure, light, and elastic, and the spring a continuance of such weather as is usually enjoyed in England about the middle of May. In the north the rains are extremely heavy, and of longer duration than in England. In winter there are heavier snows and more severe frosts than occur in the south of England. The Francis II. Henry II. Charles IX. Henry III. Henry IV. The following table of the Sovereigns of France, with the dates of their accession, and commencing with the first monarch of the second or Carlovingian race, will be found useful: Louis XIII., Le Juste Republic and Convention Reign of Terror Napoleon, Emperor 2d Republic-L. Napoleon 1871 1873 1879 FRENCH MONEY. In France accounts are kept in francs and centimes, 100 centimes being equal to one franc. The gold coins in use are pieces of 100 francs, 50 francs, 25 francs, 20 francs (usually called Napoleons) 10 francs, and 5 francs. The silver coins are pieces of 20 centimes, 50 centimes, one franc, 2 francs, and 5 francs. For all practical purposes the franc may be estimated at tenpence in English, or 20 cents in United States money, though that rate is not the exact value, the pound sterling being sometimes available in France at 25 francs 10 to 20 centimes, and the dollar being available at 5 francs 5 to 15 centimes. It is the habit of Englishmen, in estimating their expenses, however, to count the pound sterling as equal to 25 francs, and Americans generally estimate the Napoleon at four dollars. FRENCH MEASURES. The French kilometre is equal to 4 furlongs, 213 yards, 1 foot and 11 inches. Five kilomètres are therefore nearly equal to 3 English miles. Eight kilometres are very nearly 5 English miles. (The steamers on this route are small, excepting the twin-ship "Calais-Douvres," which leaves Dover in connection with the early train from London every day except Sunday and Monday, and the new steamer "Invicta," which generally runs in connection with the 10 a.m. train from London. There are a few deck rooms for families on each of the other steamers. These rooms may be secured in advance by telegraphing or writing the day before the traveller leaves London to the stationmaster, Dover; or, for the journey from Calais to Dover, to the Captain of the Dover Steamer, Calais. The service between Folkestone and Boulogne is tidal. For departure of trains and steamers, see the SouthEastern Railway Co.'s timetables. With the exception of the two steamers above mentioned, the boats on this route are faster and much more comfortable than on the DoverCalais route. The sea passage is only a few minutes longer, and the uninteresting railway journey from Calais to Boulogne |