The Sun.
London, England, 1840-11-26 00:00:00

INUNDATIONS IN FRANCE.

The Committee for the relief of the sufferers from
the inundations at Lyons, and in the department of the
the Rhone, has remitted 100,000 francs to the Prefect,
requesting him to distribute the money immediately
among the most necessitous, without being impeded by
any of the usual administrative forms, including those
in the country as well as these in the towns. The
Prefect has acknowledged the receipt of this first suc-
cour, and announced that, assisted by the Relief Com
Enlace of Lyons, the Mayors, and the Local Com-
mittees, he has taken measures for employing this and
such other stuns us may subsequently he remitted for
the immediate relief of those whose distress is greatest.
and wants most urgent. The misery, according to eye-
witnesses, is perfectly appalling. The Relief Committee
for other departments has with promptitude sent 30,000
frant!s to the Prefects, recommending them to supply
bread, lodging, clothing, grain, and tools to those who
have been deprived of their all by the floods.
The Courrier de Lyons states that during the 27th
of October and four following days, there fell in that
city rain which measured by the regular gunge 32 cen
timetres, or rather more than 12 English inches—an
unusually large quantity : the average at Lyons per
annum being 5-1 centimetres, or 21 inches 1-10th.

A letter from Chalons-sur-Saone, of the 13th inst.
says—" Our roads are at, length relieved from the flood,
and are once more open, the mails running regularly,
and the markets supplied as usual. The country, how-
ever, is still under water to a considerable extent, and
the river is still very high. The retirement of the
water is impeded by the continuance of southerly and
south-westerly winds, and repeated heavy rains. Hap-
pily the principal cause of our disasters is at an end,
for the snow on the Jura and Vosges mountains Enos..
be entirely melted. We have no deaths to lament, but
the loss of property cannot but be immense—the
amount cannot be calculated until the surface is corn-
pletely cliared. Tire horrors of the calamity have
been increased by robbers, who have attacked isolated
houses by going to them in bats, nad even used ihree
to accomplish their depredations when oppesed."
Extract of a letter from a naturalist residing at Al.
guesmortes, near the mouth of the _Rhone Daring
the inundations we have seen on the banks of sr d
is the middle of the w iters near this place nu
inerou:i wiid bulls, horses, faxes, polecats, rabbits
rats, and other animals usually hostile to each other'
congregated together, without doing each other atiy
harm, and among them a great number of snakes. A
at in who had taken refuge in a tree found it impossible
to prevent severe( snakes from making themscives a
shelter under his clothes." .

Cherbourg .journal states that during the storms
of last week a great ouinhar of fish rarely seen in those
se is, as well as porpoises, and even five or six whales
called blower!, tiwc beet. seen off that coast, two or
three of the blowers having come within the pier. The
Pilote du Calvados mentions that. a species of whae,
the hyperodon, or double-toothed dolphin, was cast
shore a few nights since at Lsegrune, and was draw:,
out of the re.uth of the tide by two men belonging to the
Customs. It was 2G feet 3 inches in length, and 16
leet 5 itches at its largest girth.

'A Correspondent of the Cow-Tier Fralicais writes from
Perpignan, that while other departments arc ruined
.by
inundations, time drought is so great in the Pyrenees
Orientales, that the corn which has been sOirri does
not spring up, and that many fields still remain ti-).
sown, adding, that if these is not a speedy fail of rain,
the rivers will be partially dried up. The vintage was
got in during the finest weather, which continues, so as
to give all the feeling of summer.
NISMES, Nov. I I.—For the last hundred years the
Rhone has not been known to rise to such a height.
Beaucaire and Tarascon are under water.

The bridge of Avignoa has been damaged, and the
lower part of the city is inundated. The country around
is 11 covered with water.

Tne whole population of Nismes has repaired to
Beauk:aire to view that imposing and frightful spectacle.
As far as the sight can reach, the country presents one
immense sheet of water, above which rise the tops of
the trees and the roofs of the houses.

At Valabregue, an island of the Rhone, within a
league of Beaucaire, the people have hoisted a black
flag, and retired to the churchyard, which is situate upon
high ground. There are no less than 2,000 inhabitants
in this painful position.
During the last ten days rain has fallen in torrents.
Just as I am closing my letter I hear that the inunda-
tion is still increasing. Avignon can no longer receive
any provisions from the country. Fifty oxen have been
sent thither by an order of the Prefect.
The inundation covers an extent of 36 leagues in
length by 60 at least in width. The Rhone having
risen another metre, and its level being above that of
the plain, fresh disasters are to be apprehended, and,
but for the hills, we should here be under water.
Desolation is general among the landowners ; many
in the course of two days have lost their fortunes. Tue
people are making processions and addressing prayers
to Heaven to put an end to the calamity. Several
farmhouses have been entirely washed away. The losses
are estimated at 30,000,000 franes.—Courtier de Lyons.