CANNES

cannes, a seaport of france, in the department of the alpes maritimes, on the mediterranean, 19 m. s.w. of nice and 120 m. e. of marseilles by rail. pop.(1906) 24,531. it enjoys a southern exposure on a seaward slope, and is defended from the northern winds by ranges of hills. previous to 1831, when it first attracted the attention of lord brougham, it mainly consisted of the old quarter (named sucquet), and had little to show except an ancient castle, and a church on the top of mont chevalier, dedicated in 1603 to notre dame du mont esperance; but since that period it has become a large and important town, and is now one of the most fashionable winter resorts in the south of france, much frequented by english visitors, the americans preferring nice. the neighbourhood is thickly studded with magnificent villas, which are solidly built of a stone so soft that it is sawn and not hewn. there is an excellent quay, and a beautiful promenade runs along the beach; and numerous sheltered roads stretch up the valleys amidst groves of olive trees. on the north the modern town climbs up to le cannet (2 m.), while on the east it practically extends along the coast to golfe jouan (3-1/2 m.), where napoleon landed on the 1st of march 1815, on his return from elba. from cannes a railway runs north in 12-1/2 m. to grasse. on the top of the hill behind the town are a roman catholic and a protestant cemetery. in the most prominent part of the latter is the grave of lord brougham, distinguished by a massive stone cross standing on a double basement, with the simple inscription--"henricus brougham, natus