The inundations in France have far exceeded in extent what
was at first supposed. The Centre and the West have suffered equally with the South. " Nul torrent revolutionnaire que le Loire," exclaimed Barre're sarcastically at the time of the Noy- ades and the hideous mariages republicains : the Loire has proved true to its old character, only the drowning is inflicted by natural causes, not by the hands of men. The Emperor has steadfastly pursued the course which he adopted at the outset— on horseback, by carriage, in boats, he has inspected the whole district, displaying his wonted perseverance in directing his own measures. Besides the constituted authorities, all France may be said to be earnest in efforts to alleviate the lot of the suffer- ers, so far as money can afford alleviation. Nor is the zeal con- fined to France : to swell the subscriptions, and still more to cheer with the substantial sign of sympathy, the Pope sends 15,000 francs ; the Sultan sends 40,000 ; and yesterday, at a Mansionhouse meeting, summoned by Lord Mayor Salomon, 5000/. was subscribed on the spot.
How different is the feeling now from what it was in 1840 ! Then, it is true, we seemed to be on the verge of a war with France about the Eastern question ; and a proposal by the Spec- tator to raise a subscription for the suffering Lyonese met with little response. Now we have concluded a -war on the Eastern question, and a proposal for a public subscription to aid France in her trouble rises spontaneously in the heart of London.
" Italy is in a state of ebullition, from Etna to Ticino," were the words of an Italian journal last week ; and many signs of the ebullition will be found in another page. Lord Clarendon's recent despatch hardly answers the question, what are the rela- tions of the British Government to its Italian ally ? It only conveys direct assurances on one point—the occupation of the Papal territory. Here, we are led to infer, France, England, and Sardinia, agree in holding that foreign occupations sanction misgovernment, excite discontent, and provoke revolution among the people. Sardinia could scarcely ask a wider admission ; but admissions are not always acts.
In Spain, Carlism proves its impotence by plots to assassinate the Queen ; and the Spanish house of Bourbon renews its an- cient relations with Bavaria, by giving one of its royal daughters to one of Bavaria's royal sons. Plots and royal marriages are nothing new in Spain ; but Espartero's Government has struck out rather a wonderful " nouveantk "—a war with Mexico ! Spain wants to be "done up" effectually, as Mawworm " likes to be despised," for the sake of the spiritual profits.
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