The Press.
London, England, 1856-06-07 00:00:00

jortign ad talonial)ftittligtute.

FRANCE.
The terrible inundations at Orleans and Lyons
have caused such a lamentable destruction of pro-
perty, and in some cases of life, as almost to absorb
the attention of the Parisians. The Emperor, on
receiving intelligence on Sunday night 01 the seri-
ous nature of the calamity, took al the money he
could find at St. Cloud, some 300,000 francs, and
started in a few hours for Lyons, arriving there in
the course of Monday morning. His Majesty at
once proceeded to visit the inundated localities, and
to distribute alms on all sides. On his return to the
hotel the Emperor conferred with the authorities
upon the necessary measures to be taken, not only
for affording present relief, but for preventing any
future repetition of this catastrophe. In Lyons it is
estimated that upwards of 25,000 persons have been
rendered liouseless. From Lyons the Emperor pro-
ceeded to Valence and thence to Avigno t, which be
entered by a boat, distributed large sums at each place,
made every arrangement fur the full relief of the
sufferers, and returned to Paris on hursday morn-
ing. On Friday the Emperor had arranged to start
on a visit to Orleans and the valley of the Loire,
which was completely flooded. Subscriptions were
being raised in Paris, and all over France, for the
benefit of the sufferers, and a credit of 10,000,000
francs had, on the Emperor's return, been deman.ied
13f the Senate fur the same purpose.
The heavy rains whic ceased on Monday bad set
in again on Thursday, and the accounts from the
provinces of the Loire were distressing. Both the
Orleans and Lyons lines of railway were brrken
up, and all traffic beyond a certain distance was
stopped :

In approaching Chalons-sur-Sosne (writes a correspon-
dent from Lyons) the country had the appearance of an
inland lake; but after passing Chalons. as far as the eye
could reach, nothing but water was to be seen, dotted with
tops of houses and bushy green willows, with long tows of
poplars, looking like herons watching for 6sh. It was im-
possible to say where was the course of the river. Not a
boat was to be seen excei.t those landing furniture from
the ricer. All the tea-gardens and &Imlay restaurants had
many feet of water round them. At Tournus the destruc-
tion of property was immense, and still as far as the eye
could reach nothing was to be seen hut water, besprinkled
with roofs of houses and trees. Around Macon was a
complete sea; and. as the ricer became narrower on ap•
proaching Lyons, the body of rushing water was tremen-
dous, overthrowing walls, houses, or whatever ureaumed to
stop its progress, and so near the road or the chain bridges,
that one expected to see a❑ carried away. From Ville-
flanche to Lyons the red flag of danger was hoisted all
along the railway; in some places the sleepers of the way
being loosened by the rain, while in other places there had
been avalanches of earth and turf, which the workmen had
much difficulty in clearing away.
So great has been the distress and suffering caused
by these floods that the funds set aside for the fetes
at the baptism of the Imperial Prince will be devoted
to the relief of the inondes, and the fetes deferred.

The opening of the Agricultural Exhibition in
Paris has been attended with tvery success. The
apiculture.' growth of every European country is
fairly represented, while the exposition of cattle is
remarkably fine.
The arrival of the Cardinal Legate from Rome was
daily expected. Great ceremony and state would
he adopted towards the Cardinal Patrizzi during his
visit to Paris.


The baptism of the Imperial Prince is fixed for
the 14th.
AUSTRIA.
Count Buol has addressed a circular to the Aus-
trian diplomatic agents abroad upon the affairs of
Italy. The Austrian Government admits that refl,rms
are much needed, but attributes the present
c; itical state of Italy to a secret and wide-spread
conspiracy, which Sardinia excites and enccurages.
Count Buol then throws back upon the Sardinian