Bressumer

( Arch. ) A contraction of Breast -summer. See BEAM. Brest, a strongly fortified maritime town of France, dep. Finistère, on the N. side of a spacious bay, near the extremity of the peninsula of Britt any, 30 m. N.W. of Quimper, 310 m. W.S.W. of Paris by road; Lat. 48° 23′ 32" N., Lon. 4° 29′ 25′′ W. The greatest part of the town is built on a hill, and consists of narrow, steep, winding, and dirty streets; in the suburb of Recouvrance, however, these are broad and regular, and the houses very handsome. The harbor, situate between this suburb and the town, is in the form of a long canal, and is capable of containing 60 ships of the line. On a steep rock at the entrance stands the citadel, which is defended towards the land by strong outworks. Opposite to it is a stately tower, which serves, with the citadel and several batteries, to protect the harbor. The principal public buildings and objects of curiosity in the town are the barracks, rope-walks, cloth-manufactories, forges, and foundries; the immense naval arsenal and dockyard; the two quays which encompa the harbor; the house of correction, the hospital, theatre, two marine academies, and the fine walk called Le Cours. Its commerce is principally limited to the supplying of provisions to the town and port. Cardinal Richelieu was the first to take advantage of the situation of B. and convert it into a naval station. Vauban extended and improved its fortifications. It was at B. that Mary Queen of Scots landed, when on her way to St. Germain. In 1694 it was attacked by an English fleet under Admiral Berkeley; but the expedition failed. As a naval school Breton, (Cape,) in Lat. 45° 55′ N., Lon. 59° 40′ W., on and port of construction, it ranked both before Cher the E. coast of CAPE BRETON Island, q. v. bourg and Toulon, until the vast extensions and im- Brett, a river of England, in E ex, falling into the provements made by Napoleon III. at Cherbourg, placed the latter in advance of all the other ports of France. Pop . (1895), 75,864.