France has been desolated by an inundation, and Paris fasol 7
nated by an agricultural show. The whole Southern basin Of France, speaking generally, has been laid under water ; involving some loss of life, severe and widespread hardship' and suffering, and an immense destruction of property. The cause of this ca- lamity was two days' heavy rain, changing streamlets into rivers, and rivers into lakes and torrents. Although the devastating flood covers an immense area, the peculiar site of Lyons and .of the towns 7011 the Rhone cause a concentration of horrors in that region. The conduct of the Emperor- on this occasion is emil nently characteristic. Instead of sending a deputy, some gene- ral offi-ftr, or Councillor of State, he dashed-off in person from St. Cloud on Sunday, and on -Monday ho wse in Lyons. There; and in other cities, he showed himself among the people, rode Cal horieback through the scenes of greatest disaster, and caused an- immediate distribution of money te the 'sufferers. Returning to Paris for a brief moment, he set off again yesterday to visit the valley Of the Loire. This energetic promptitude in actietn—t contrasting so favourably with the apathetic rOutine of oonimmi rulers-.--will no doubt insure an ample balance of advantage- ti the politic adventurer. --He may feel that -the real dangers be setting his power are involved in calamities like these. Man may conspire against him in vain so long as he commands five hundred thousand bayonets ; but five hundred thousand bayonets would avail but little in Warding Off-the effects of destructive in- undations, blighted harvests, and commercial bankrupt-43y. In a prompt show, of sympathy like this, Louis Napoleon knows that he is gathering "golden opinions," which will avail hiñt more than all his military array in a day Of national gloom.
• Theagrialltural show is ecliPsed by the inundation, but it is nevertheless a fortunate event for the Emperor: Perfect and complete in all its parts, it shows what may be done to make an exhibition of beasts a delightful spectacle. It is also important as one of the means of contributing to the amity of nations.
The other aspects of Europe, brought out by the week's news,
are not encouraging. The Belgian Government appears to have yielded to the force of those influences deployed at the Paris Conferences. The Belgian press, • so its Government purposes,, is to be placed under the yoke of a stamp ; authors are to sign their articles ; and the duty of prosecuting offences against fo-
reign powers is to be thrown upon the Belgian Government.
The last-named is a serious and embarrassing concession. -*Under the present law, foreign governments are at liberty to demand the prosecution of an offending journal—if they make no de- mand, they have no ground of complaint : but the new arrange- ment will lay the Belgian Government open to constant com- plaints for omissions to prosecute ; if it do not prosecute, it may incur the displeasure of foreign powers--if it prosecute, it may incur the displeasure_ of its own subjects. _ -
The Emperor of Russia, with a crowd of ministers, has been paying his respects to his uncle at . The quidnunes are at a loss to know what it all means ; and it- is variously con- sidered as a simple family gathering to promote matchmaking, as a demonstration against the treaty, of April 15, and as a demonstra- tion against Austria " pur et simple." It is probably something Of all this. Certainly the Anti-Austrian influence, Russian and German, was 'rely strongly represented. It is remarked also, that when the Emperor was at Warsaw, no Austrian Archduke rushed to greet him ; that when he crossed the Austrian territory he was only received by the ordinary officials ; and that at Ile great military parade in Berlin the only German uniform unre- presented was the uniform of Austria.
What about the Italian question ? Notes and diplomatic agents appear to be flying in all directions. Austria has sent a Colloredo, France a Walewski, Naples a Trapani, Sardinia a Sclopis, to the Holy City ; and the Grand Duke of Tuscany has gone in person. What are they all doing there ? Naples has been writing at Sardinia through Austria ; Austria has been writing at Sardinia through its agents abroad. Count Buol, in xlespateh "never intended to meet the public eye," seems to desire us to understand that Austria is anxious for reforms in Italy, but that she is thwarted by the revolutionary policy of Sardinia Count Buol wants us to believe that Sardinia is using revolutionary passions for the purpose of territorial aggrandize- ment. Austria, forsooth, is the sole barrier to the revolutionary movement. That is so, taken in a gross sense. Count Buol, how- ever, forgets that Austria is the sole cause that renders any revolu- tionary movement necessary. She creates a nuisance for her own profit, and then takes credit for preventing its removal. What position our own Government occupies in the Italian im- broglio, is by no means clear. We are assured by the "know- ing ones," that England, Austria, and France, are agreed upon the Italian question. If that be the ease, what is the relation of -England and France to Sardinia ?
