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.

ROUTE 66.

CALAIS TO BOULOGNE AND PARIS.

(For Route between London and Dover, see Route 62.

176

miles. Fares, first class, 36.20 francs; second, 27.15.

(The steamers on this route are small and, except in the finest weather, most uncomfortable. There are a few deck rooms for families on each of the steamers, where passengers may be tolerably comfortable. 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.)

This

EAVING Dover, we cross to CALAIS, by steamer (22 miles). (Hotels: Dessin, Station), population 13,250. ancient seaport town is situated in the Department of the Pasde-Calais, 19 miles from Boulogne and 22 from Dover. It is of great strength, possessing extensive ramparts, a citadel, and a fortified port. Its streets are for the most part broad and well paved, and its ramparts form pleasant promenades. The chief object of interest is the Church of Notre Dame, a Gothic edifice, which contains a fine picture of the "Assumption" by Vandyck.

The principal manufactures are tulle and hosiery. It has distilleries, carriage factories, and ship-building docks, and carries on a considerable trade in brandy, wine, and provisions. Leaving

Calais, a journey of 19 miles brings us to

BOULOGNE-SUR-MER (Hotels: see "HOTEL LIST").

The town consists of two parts, Upper and Lower. The upper town or Haute Ville, was in former times strongly fortified, its citadel was built by Vauban. Its ramparts have been converted into promenades, from which, in clear weather, Dover can be seen. The upper town contains the Hotel de Ville, the Cathedral, Castle, &c. The lower town, which is more properly the sea-port, is newer, finer, and more populous. It contains the barracks, the great Hospital, the Theatre, Halle aux Poissons, and several other fine buildings, including the Public Library. Steamers ply daily, direct to London, a passage of about hours, and twice a day to Folkestone in 12 hours.

The English community forms a large portion of the resident population of Boulogne, and numerous hotels and boardinghouses are provided for the accommodation of visitors. Paris is reached by railway from Boulogne in 4 hours. The harbour is too shallow for large ships; it was, however, considerably enlarged and improved by Napoleon I., and also more recently; so that at high water the largest merchant vessels can, without danger, pass out or in. From this point Napoleon contemplated the invasion of England, and here he encamped 180,000 men, and collected 2400 transports, but, after some months' watching, the war with Austria created other employment for them. A marble column 166 feet high, surmounted by a bronze statue of the emperor, was erected in commemoration of this camp.

Campbell, author of the "Pleasures of Hope," and Churchill the

poet died here. Here also died. Le Sage, the author of "Gil Blas.

Boulogne has numerons churches and educational institutions, and a gallery of paintings.

The CATHEDRAL of Notre Dame is a modern structure in the Italian style of architecture. Its dome, which is a conspicuous object from the sea, is 295 ft. in height. The church contains very little of interest. Underneath it are extensive and ancient crypts, by some thought to date as far back as the 12th century.

The MUSEUM in the Grande Rue, contains many objects of interest, as armour, weapons, &c., and contains some paintings worthy of notice. Access may always be had to the collections by paying a small fee to the concierge. The public library, containing 32,000 volumes, is in the same building.

The bathing establishment is one of the finest in France. The spacious building contains the usual reading, ball, and conversation rooms, baths, &c. It is surrounded by well laid out gardens, and near it is an enormous and very curious aquarium.

Near the fish-market is a statue of Jenner, the discoverer of vaccination.

The pier, which is nearly 2000 ft. in length, is the favourite promenade of the citizens, and is thronged during the bathing seasons by promenaders, presenting an animated appearance.

The depth of water in the harbour not being sufficient to admit large ships, the steamer service to the opposite shores of England is a tidal one, the steamers taking their departure only when the tides serve.

Passing Boulogne, we proceed by the bank of the Liane till we

pass Pont-de-Brique (22 miles), when, emerging from a tunnel cut through a hill, on and around which is the forest of Hardelot, we cross an expanse of sand, and arrive at Verton (431 miles). Beyond Noyelles we pass Blanquetaque, where the English army crossed the Somme before the battle of Crecy, and reach ABBEVILLE (59 miles) (Hotels: Tête de Bouf, de France). It is a chief town of the department of the Somme, and a fortress of the second class. Its principal object of interest is the church of St Wolfram, a good view of which may be had from the railway, on the left. The façade and portals are richly sculptured. It was commenced in the 15th century, and has never been finished. The Hotel de Ville has a belfry of the 13th century. There are many interesting old mansions in the town, one of which is called the house of Francis I. At Piquigny (86 miles), there is a ruined castle of the 15th century, and among the ruins those of a church. The cathedral of Amiens is seen on the left, before reaching AMIENS (951 miles) (Hotels: du Rhin, de France et d'Angleterre). Express trains stop 20 minutes.)

This city, formerly the chief town of Picardy, is the capital of the department of the Somme. It is the centre of a large general trade, and stands on the banks of the River Somme, distant 35 miles from the English Channel. The town is pleasantly situated and its streets are straight, broad, and well built. It contains a public library with 60,000 vols., a museum, a theatre, hotel-deville, and cavalry barracks. It is a bishop's see. Its chief manufactures are woollens. Besides these, there are important chemical works.

Its most celebrated building is

a GOTHIC CATHEDRAL, which is one of the finest in Europe. Although founded in the 12th it was not completed till the end of the 14th century. The interior is very imposing. Its length is 442 ft., and the greatest height is 140 feet-half as high again as that of Westminster. The head of St John the Baptist, which was brought from Constantinople, is among the relics of this cathedral.

Amiens owes its chief celebrity to the treaty called "The Peace of Amiens," signed here March 27, 1802, and intended to settle the disputed points between England, France, Spain, and Holland.

Amiens is the birth-place of Peter the Hermit, Gabrielle d'Estrées, Ducange, and the astronomer Delambre.

Leaving Amiens we proceed for several miles through a very uninteresting tract, passing, amongst other places, Clermont (136 miles), the ancient castle of which is now used as a Female Penitentiary. The next stoppage is at CREIL (145 miles), near which town, on a small island in the Oise, are the ruins of a castle in which Charles VI. was confined during his insanity. Express trains stop at no station between Creil and Paris. Chantilly (152‡ miles), is celebrated for its lace, and perhaps still more so for its races, which attract a large and fashionable concourse. The neighbourhood is very attractive. The railway passes for some distance through the forest, which contains many magnificent trees of great age.

At ST DENIS (172 miles), and visible from the railway, is the beautiful ABBEY CHURCH, the burial-place of the sovereigns of France. It is one of the most splendid Gothic structures in France. In five minutes after passing St Denis the train reaches

the great Northern Station at PARIS (1763 miles).

(For description of Paris, see Route 70.)

ROUTE 67.

CALAIS TO BRUSSELS.

By Lille.

WO express trains leave London every day for Brussels via Calais, one at 7.40 a.m., reaching Brussels at 4.55 the same afternoon, the other leaving London at 8.25 p.m., reaching Brussels at 6.15 next morning. Fares, London to Brussels, first class, £2, 10s. 9d.; second, £1, 17s. 9d.

Distance, Calais to Brussels 134 miles.

For that part of the route between London and Calais see Route 62. Ample time given between the arrival of the steamer at Calais and the departure of the train, for refreshment at the excellent buffet of the Calais station.

The first station of importance is LILLE (66 miles) (Hotels: See "HOTEL LIST"). This is an important manufacturing town and fortress, situated on the Deule, in a level, fertile district. The streets are wide; there are several fine squares, and the houses, mostly in the modern style, are well built. The principal buildings are the Medical School, the Lyceum, the Bourse, and the Palace of Richebourg, now the Hotel de Ville, in which is the school of art, with a collection of drawings by Raphael, Michael Angelo, Leonardo da

Vinci, and other masters. The churches are those of Saint Andre, Sainte Catherine, Sainte Magdaleine, Sainte Sauveur, and Saint Maurice. Lille is the headquarters of the third military division of France. The manufactures are numerous and extensive; the oldest and most important is that of linen thread for lace, tulle and gauze. It is also the seat of extensive engine works, foundries, &c. It has twice suffered severe sieges. On the first occasion, during the war of the Spanish succession, the garrison capitulated to the allies, after a bombardment of 120 days; on the last the Austrians after a terrific bombardment, were compelled to raise the siege.

Fifteen miles beyond Lille is TOURNAI, just before reaching which we enter Belgium. This is a large and thriving town, and its cathedral is one of the finest churches in Belgium. Passing Ath, and several other unimportant places we reach (134 miles from Calais) BRUSSELS, which is fully described in Route 73.

ROUTE 68. DOVER TO BRUSSELS,

By Ostend.

XPRESS trains leave London every day at 7.40 a.m., and 8.25 p.m., for Dover, connecting with mail steamers from Dover to Ostend, where trains are in waiting to convey passengers to Brussels. Fares, first class, London to Brussels, £2, 78.; second class, £1, 13s. 6d.

That part of the route from London to Dover is described in Route 62. The crossing is made from Dover to Ostend in 4 to 5 hours. The steamers are swift and well managed, but are no larger than those on the Dover and Calais route. Steamers go alongside the train at OSTEND. The last named city is described in Route 91. The distance from Ostend to Brussels is 78 miles, time by express train 2 hours. This interesting route, which passes the cities of Ghent and Bruges, is fully described in Route 91 of this Guide Book.

teresting from the fact that the inhabitants differ in language, nanners, and costume, from those of the rest of Upper Normandy, and are supposed to be descendants of those Saxons who settled on the French coast during the period of the Merovingian kings. The principal buildings are the parish Church of St Jacques, a fine Gothic edifice of the 15th century, the Church of St Remy, the Public Library, the Theatre, and a bathing establishment. As one of the principal wateringplaces of France, Dieppe has a great accession of visitors during the summer months, and a large number of huts for the accommodation of bathers-machines being dispensed with--line the shores.

The town has several squares, and is adorned by nearly seventy fountains, which derive their supply of water from an aqueduct about three miles long.

The manufactures are lace, fine linen and paper, and the carved articles of horn, bone, and ivory made here have long been famous. There are also ship-building yards and sugar refineries; and the fisheries both coast and New

foundland-are important, nearly the whole population of Pollet being engaged in them.

At Longueville (102 miles), on a hill to the left are the ruins of the castle of Longueville.

At Saint Victor (18 miles) William the Conqueror founded the abbey, of which the chapterhouse (converted into a store for timber) alone remains. Passing successively Cleres (26 miles), Monville (28 miles), Malaunay (32 miles), and Maromme (341 miles), we reach ROUEN (38 miles).

(For description of Rouen and the route thence to Paris, see Route 70.)