forrign Rut( (Colonial. -iraur f. — Two events have occurred in France;

a great and devasta- ting inundation, and an agricultural show.

The inundation is a national calamity. Nothing like it has been seen since 1840. Rain fell in almost incessant torrents throughout Friday and Saturday, laying whole departments under water. From Paris to Lyons and onwards to the sea, the streams, large and small, overflowed their banks. The country round Chalons Tourms, Macon, Lyons, looked like an inland sea. The valleys of the Loire, the Rhone, the Saone, the Isere, the Veoure, and their tributaries, were full of water. Here it spread out in vast sheets, dotted with the tops of houses, the bushy tops of willows, and the tall spires of the poplar; there it gathered up its strength and rushed along in a torrent carrying all before it. Roads and railways were rendered impassable. Human bodies, cattle, and furni- ture, were borne along by the .flood. The streets of many towns were only passable in boats. At Lyons, the extent of damage is prodigious. The embankments of the Rhone were broken down by the weight and force of the waters, and all the lower quarters of the town were inun- dated. In some places, people surprised in their sleep hurried out half- dressed, and had to wade to shelter. Troops were constantly on the move lending assistance, and cavalry were out giving warning. It is estimated that 20,000 persons are rendered homeless.

On Sunday, the Emperor resolved to visit the scene of the floods; and he sot out from St. Cloud, taking with him all the money ready to his hand, and a staff of engineer-officers. On Sunday night he slept at Dijon and next morning at seven he started for Lyons. Arrived there, he rode over the whole of the inundated portions of the town, cheered by the people, who were touched at this display of interest in their fate. From Lyons he extended his journey down the Rhone, stopping at the towns by the way. During his progress, he caused considerable sums, 300,000 francs in all, to be distributed to the immediate relief of the

sufferers. Everywhere he seems to have been received with a sincere welcome.

At the Monday sitting of the Legislative Body, 2,000,000 francs were Toted for the relief of the sufferers. The Empress set on foot a sub- scription in Paris, followed by the Bourse and the journals.

The Emperor returned to Paris on Thursday. At a Council of Minis-

tars, held within an hour of his arrival, it was proposed to apply a new credit of ten millions in relief of the sufferers by inundations. The wea- ther was again very bad at Paris, and rain had been falling for three- and-twenty hours.

The other incident, the agricultural show at Paris, is admitted to have been a perfect exhibition of its kind. The site of the show is the Palace- d'Industrie of last year. The flooring has been removed, and gravel and, grass substituted in its place. The parterres are gorgeous with flowers, interspersed with fountains and aviaries. The fountains aid in a dis-, play of the produce of "pisciculture," from spawn to grown fishes. Above, the galleries are decorated with streamers and flags, among which: the Russian flag finds a place. It is under these galleries that the cattle,. sheep, and pigs are displayed. A correspondent of the Guardian writes-- " The thousand and more oxen, bulls, and other large cattle, stationed. within the building itself, are arranged in inimitable order under the wide- galleries, in light open stalls, sixteen deep, of which there are twenty-six, rows down the length of the building, besides the space at either end. The stalls are kept like a first-rate .private stable, with water-courses laid down. in asphalte ; all manure is immediately. removed ; the beasts are clean washed, with coats like race-horses; and, in short, the most delicately-nosed lady may investigate all the wonders of breeding without requiring even the aid of her smelling-bottle. There are seven or eight of these rows, six- teen deep, of the Durham breed, besides Devons, Herefords, Alderneys, and a very large batch of Ayrshire. The crowds began to form early around the Durham stalls; and well they might, for :although French show good cattle, I saw nothing equal to the true in form and shape. The neat, small, triangular head and fine nostril, the back broad and straight as an arrow, developing prodigious beef- carrying powers, as evidenced by the great length from the hip-bone to the root of the tail, whereon ' rump ' would lie in a fashion to rejoice a butcher's or a grazier's heart ! But I have neither time nor space for agri- cultural details, even supposing a Parisian life had not disqualified one for the task of entering on them, and obliterated the little knowledge which. an early bias for rural mysteries had once, perhaps, imparted. Outside the Palace in the large space surrounded by railings, are arranged rows of spa- cious tents, or Bergones as they are called, covered with gay yellow-striped drapery, looped up in festoons during the day, but let down at night. At the entrance of each an escutcheon, surrounded by flags grouped together„ telling the nature of the produce, sheep, goats pigs, &c. and the name of the nation exhibiting. it. Some of these booths contain also more large cattle; one of them is of vast extent, but all exhibit the same order and. beauty of arrangement." The poultry-yard consists of "a spacious circle of cages, half as high as a house, bordered all round by flowers, with a glit- tering fountain in the middle throwing its waters into a basin from a cluster of metallic flowers and plants—a paradise of cocks and hens." This exhibition was opened on Sunday; and it gave, as well it might, complete satisfaction. The list of awards has not yet been published, but something is known of its contents.

"The breeds of English stock which make the principal show are shish- horns, or Durhams, Ayrshire, and polled Angus and GallOways. Of the Devon breed there are only seven specimens, and of the Hereford (now on of the beat breeds in England) only four. The first prize of 1000f. is taken. worthily by Mr. Townley's bull Master Butterfly; the second by Mr. Sad- ler's bull and the third by Lord Clancarty's bull Pro Bono Publico. Lord. Fevershain, who took the highest prize in this class last year, has been less. fortunate on this occasion, though we think the bull he shows this year has been placed below its merits. But the greatest dissatisfaction, we h.ear, has been expressed at the decision which excludes a:very fine cow of Mr. Douglas, of East Lothian breed, which, to an English eye, undoubtedly. deserved a better place. Mr. Fisher Hobbs takes a prize in the Herefords lib.. George

Turner as usual in the Devons, Mr. Hugh Kirkwood and Sir Herefords, Shaw Stewart in Ayrshires, Mr. Allan Pollok in several breeds and classes, and Mr. M'Combie m polled Angus. Mr. Jonas Webb is, we hear, successful in everything he has shown, both South Down sheep and short-horned cat- tle. His shadow never seems to get less, and his preiminence as a sheep- breeder commands the willing assent of all."

13tIgiam.—The Belgian Government appears to have given way to' French wishes on the question of the press. The plan is to assimilate the rule in Belgium to that in France. A bill is about to be laid before the Belgian Parliament providing for the imposition of a stamp, enact- ing that the author of an article shall sign it, and enabling the Govern- ment to institute proceedings without waiting for a demand from a foreign court.

Stalq.—Rome seems likely to be the theatre of some interesting dis- cussions on the Italian question. A number of diplomatists are now; there or on their way thither, comprising Count Colloredo, Count, Trapani, the Grand Duke of Tuscany, Count Walewski, the brother of the French Minister, M. de Rayneval, Senator Sclopis, and a son of Ad- miral Lyons, Attaché of the Florentine Embassy. There has been al- ready a sort of congress at Florence, composed of the Grand Duke, Coimt Trapani, Count Colloredo, and Cardinal Antonelli. In short, intrigue and negotiation seem to be in full activity in the Holy City. Some of the correspondents narrate that the Pope and the more bigoted Cardinals; notably Della Genga, talk of seeking refuge at Gaeta rather than submit to the secularization of the Papal States. In the mean time, the King of Naples is said to have addressed a paper, to the Austrian Government, vindicating himself from the charges of Count Cavour. The Vienna pa- pers state that Austria and France have addressed a warning " note " to the King, recommending him to adopt improvements in his govern- ment. The notes are nearly identical, but they terminate with a signi- ficant difference. The Austrian note contains a reservation against all intervention of a foreign power; the French note expresses an appre- hension "that incidents which might take place at Naples would disturb public tranquillity in Italy and Europe, and necessitate the employment of means which would not be desirable for any party concerned.' At the same time, in a professedly semi-official communication, the Journal of Frankfort states that France, Austria, and England, are in accord to a certain extent on all the great European questions, including, of course, an Italian question; and that none of those questions can henceforth be come a cause of serious conflict between the three Powers that have signed the treaty of April 15.

The same journal has sawed much annoyance at Vienna by publish-

ing what purports to be the substance of a circular addressed by Count Buol to the Austrian agents abroad, and "never intended to meet the public eye," throwing a strong light on the real views of Austria as re- :cards Sardinia. It is, like the Neapolitan memorandum, a reply to Count favour. 46 Like the Sardinian Plenipotentiaries, Count Buol starts from the prin- ciple that reforms in Italy are much needed ; but as to the means of those reforms, he comes to a conclusion diametrically opposed to Sardinian policy. While the memorandum of the 16th of April seeks the causes of the state of affairs in Italy in the measures which Austria, and the Italian sovereigns who have called in that power to their aid, have recourse to put down revo- lutionary- excitement in Italy the Austrian circular despatch considers such a state of things as the immediate consequence of a secret and wide-spread propaganda which continues to act in Italy. Sardinia, the only Italian state, according to Count Cavour, capable of opposing a firm barrier to the revolutionary spirit, is designated in Count Buol's note as the focus of this propaganda. The Vienna Cabinet hurls back at that of Turin the accusa- tions brought by the Sardinian Plenipotentiaries against Austria and the Italian states above mentioned. The circular observes that it is just pos- sible that Sardinia is working the revolutionary spirit with a view to her own territorial aggrandizement. It also points out that the barrier opposed to a revolutionary movement in Italy is not erected by Piedmont, but that it is based on the Austrian system and on foreign occupation ; and attri- butes the bitterness of Piedmont against Austria and the above-cited Italian stater' solely to the obstacles which this barrier opposes to the projects which Austria attributes to Sardinia."

The lisorgintento of Turin of the 30th, states the Mazzini has issued a circular to his agents, declaring his intention of withdrawing entirely from politics and leaving Landon for New-York, or some other city of the United States. His agent at Turin, Advocate Bettini, has been instructed to sell the property he possesses in Piedmont.

lussia.—The most important item in the news from Russia bears upon the Italian question. It is contained in a telegraphic despatch from St.-Petersburg.

"A steam squadron, consisting of one liner of 96 guns, two frigates, and two corvettes, is fitting out, and will leave Cronstadt almost immediately for Palermo, whither the Empress Dowager repairs for her health." [The health of the Empress-Mother is very convenient to the Emperor's Government. It was the pretext of the Emperor's visit to Berlin in com- pany with so many of his distinguished statesmen.] Some new arrangements of the personnel of the Russian Legations are reported.

Count Chroptowitch is to go as Ambassador to London. M. de Fenton is to succeed him at Brussels, or will perhaps be appointed to represent Russia with the Germapic Diet. M. de Budberg, Ambassador of Russia at Berlin, will be appointed to the Embassy at Vienna. He will be replaced at Berlin by M. de Brunnow, at present Russian Minister Extraordinary at Paris. Prince Dolgoroucki, formerly Minister at War, will be named to the Russian Embassy at Paris."

russia.—The visit of the Emperor Alexander to his uncle the King of Prussia terminated on Tuesday, when the Czar left Berlin for St. Petersburg. There have been parades " unter den Linden," but few ether public spectacles. The young Emperor is Colonel of a regiment of Prussian Lancers and when the troops defiled the Emperor led this regiment past. The list of the gathering of German notables at Berlin is portentous. There were the Crown Prince of Wurtemberg, the Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar, the Grand Duke of Oldenburg, the Grand Dukes of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Strelitz, the Duke of Nassau, Prince Friedrich or Hesse, and Prince Adalbert of Bavaria. The Emperor had with him quite a Cabinet of Russians, including Prince Gortschakoff, Count Nesselrode, and Prince Woronzoff. At the parade there was only one uniform absent—the Austrian.

This visit is said by some to be intended as a demonstration against the triple treaty of April 16 ; but others look upon it as simply a demon- stration against Austria. The small attention paid by Austria to the Emperor when for a moment he crossed Austrian territory on his way to Berlin, and the eagerness with which the semi-official journals of Vienna deny that there is any coolness betvreenthe Austrian and Russian Governments, favour the supposition.

General Williams was present at Berlin during the festivities ; and there he again met his old antagonist Mouravieff. The Emperor of Russia and the King of Prussia treated him with great distinction and the Prince of Prussia casually meeting him in a church, introduced ]iimself,- shook him by the hand, and entered into an animated con- versation.

IL flit fl illtr5.—The Atlantic arrived at Liverpool on Wednesday, -with advices from New York to the 24th May. It seems probable, from the tenour of the Journals, that Mr. Crampton has been dismissed. The Morning Post of Thursday made the statement without reserve. The Globe of the same day stated that it had "every -reason to disbelieve that so grave a circumstance had actually occurred.' The publication of Lord Clarendon's last despatch had produced a power- ful and beneficial effect upon the public mind. It was regarded as very • " conciliatory and apologetic," as "timely and welcome." Some Journals thought it would modify the policy of the Government ; but the 'balance of opinion was the other way. The New York Herald describes it as pervaded throughout with the "spirit of pacification." The Wash- ington correspondent of the same journal says- ' I am sufficiently well advised to announce the fact, that while our Go- vernment will reciprocate the friendly feeling which is expressed by Lord Clarendon in his despatch, it will be shown that the interest of both nations will be best promoted by the appointment of fi successor in the place of Mr. -Crampton, who no longer enjoys the confidence of this Government. The British Consuls implicated in the enlistment affair will be permitted to re- main, by way of compromise. It is supposed that England will take no ex- eeption to this procedure, as Mr. Cmmpton's dismissal will have been owing not alone to his complicity with the enlistment case."

The French Minister was actively engaged endeavouring to adjust the 'Crampton dispute. The Commercial List states that Lord Clarendon's apology was favourably received by the business community, and thinks war improbable. As our readers are aware, the President has recognized the de facto Go- vernment of Nicaragua. At the first blush of his success, Walker in- stalled one Don Patricio Rivas in the Presidential chair of Nicaragua, and sent a Colonel French to Washington. The Government declined to receive Colonel French, and directed the Minister of the Union to Central America to hold aloof from the new Government. Meanwhile, Walker held his own, until he was assailed and beaten by the Costs Ricans. The correspondence between the British Foreign Office and Consul Wallerstein relative to a supply of arms was intercepted at that time. The Eurydice, a British frigate stationed at San Juan, turned back an American ship with ii cargo of Filibusters. Walker sent a new Minister, the Padre Vigil, to Washington ; and he was recognized on the 15th of May.

On the 16th May, the President forwarded along message to the Senate, accompanied by voluminous documents, giving the reasons for and forming the justification of his Government in recognizing the Minister of the de facto Government of Nicaragua. The drift of this state paper is, that the Isthmus has become of " peculiar importance," and free transit of " para- mount importance" to the United States. Although solicited to extend its protecting power to Central America, the Government has persevered in a system of justice and respect for the interests of others." But the states of Central America are in so weak and unsettled a condition, that it would be as easy for America to extend her territory in that direction as it is for European states to extend theirs in Asia or Africa. From that extension the United States have abstained. The President has also sternly repressed all unlawful enterprises which would have vio- lated good faith with the Central American Governments. In Nicaragua, however, one party not strong enough to overcome another invited the assistance of a small body of American citizens' who quickly placed at the head of the government Don Patricio Rivas, by birth a distinguished citizen of the republic.

The message, in allusion to the established policy of the United States in relation to the recognition of Foreign Ministers, sets forth the following principles.

"We recognize all governments, without question as to their source or organizations or the means by which the governing powers attain their power, provided there be a government de facto, accepted by the people of the country.

" We do not go behind the fact of a foreign government exercising the actual power, to investigate questions of legitimacy. " We do not inquire into the causes which may have led to a change of government. To us it is indifferent whether a successful revolution has been aided by foreign intervention or not ; whether insurrection has over- thrown the existing government, and another been established in its place according to the preexisting forms or in a manner adopted for the occasion by those whom we may find in actualpossession of' power. "All these matters are left to the people and the public authorities of countries respectively. During the sixty-seven years of our existence under our present constitution, we have had occasion to recognize governments de facto, founded either by domestic revolution or by military invasion from abroad, in many of the governments of Europe. "The principle is vastly more important as applicable to the Central American States, where revolutions are constantly occurring. Therefore, when the Minister from Nicaragua presented himself some months since, bearing the commission of President Rivas, if the facts which are now pre- sented had existed ha must have been received.

"The various objections to him were stated. Another Minister now pre- sented himself, and had been received, satisfactory evidence appearing that he represents the Government de facto, and, so fur as such exists, the Go- vernment de jure of that republic." A commissioner has been sent to Panama to investigate the late out- rageslhere. If the constitutional powers at the disposal of the President are not sufficient to insure the security of the transit, he will apply to Congress for other powers.

The frigate Potomac, Commodore Paulding, has been ordered to San Juan de Nicaragua, to protect Americans from insult. In the course of a week there would be three war-steamers and a frigate on this station.

Th"American press is divided in its appreciation of the step taken by President Pierce in recognizing the Filibuster Government of Nicaragua. In many quarters the measure is looked upon as an electioneering dodge, to secure President Pierce from the rivalry of Mr. Douglas. Few if any of the journals appear to believe that war is likely to arise between England and America, and in commercial circles a rupture is looked upon as an absurdity amounting almost to an impossibility,. "War," says the New York Herald, "is perhaps out of the question; but there will be no satisfactory peace between England and the United States while Palmerston on the one side and this Pierce Administration on the other continue in power. The true policy of both nations is to set these two blustering Cabinets aside. Let them be superseded ; and then in ac- cepting England's offer of arbitration respecting Central America let our new Administration select Russia and abide by the result. . . . . We appre- hend that the ultimatum of my Lord Clarendon, and this late Padre Vijil coup d'etat of our warlike President, will result in a more voluminous diplo- matic correspondence than all that which has been inflicted upon us during the last twelve months. After the national Democratic Presidential nomi- nating convention, however, we are disposed to believe our Pierce's Ad- ministration will be prepared seriously and honestly to proceed to business in the settlement of our difficulties with England ; and this convention, fortunately, for the great financial and commercial interests of both countries, meets at Cincinnati on the 2d of the coming June."

The New York Courier and Inquirer is of opinion that "England and the United States will not go to war except upon the direst necessity that may arise ; but we cannot believe that it will. We shall see Mr. Cramp- ton leave us with much regret, but with little apprehension."

The New York papers give an account of a disgraceful outrage per- petrated in the Senate Chamber on the 22d of May. A short time pre- viously, Mr. Charles Sumner, one of the Senators for Massachusetts, had used language in debate which Colonel Preston S. Brooks of South Carolina thought insulting to the State of South Carolina and to one of his colleagues.

"Mr. Sumner was writing unsuspectingly and busily at his desk when attacked by Brooks. The Senate had adjourned early, on the an- nouncement of the death of Mr. Miller. Messrs. Brooks and Keitt ap- proached him each with a cane. Several persons had been about Mr., Sumner's desk after the adjournment, but at the time chosen for the attack he was alone. Mr. Wilson had just left him, on his way out passing Brooks, who was sitting in a back-seat. Brooks walked up in front of Mr. Sumner, and told him that he had read his speech twice, and that it was a libel on South Carolina, and a relative of his, Judge Butler. Without waiting for any reply or asking for any explanation, he immediately struck Mr. Sumner a violent blow over the head with his cane, while Mr. Sumner sat in his seat unable to extricate himself; cutting by the blow a gash four' inches in length on his head. The cane was of gutta perdu', an inch in diameter. Brooks followed this blow immediately with other blows, strik- ing from twelve to twenty in all. Mr. Sumner had no distinct con- sciousness after the first blow. He involuntarily strove to rise from ma

seat ; but being fastened by his position, tore up his desk from its fasten- ing in the attempt to extricate himself. He staggered under the blows, and fell senseless on the floor, being wholly stunned and blind from the first. "It is stated by a reporter who was present, that Keitt stood by and bran- dished his cane to keep off' others. Mr. Morgan and Mr. Murray, of the New York delegation, were in the front ante-room, and, hearing the noise, came in. Mr. Murray seized hold of Brooks, who had now broken his cane into several pieces; and Mr. Morgan went to the relief of Mr. Sumner, whom he found prostrate, and nearly unconscious. The persons present in the Senate were Mr. Sutton, one of the reporters ; the Assistant Sergeant- at-Arms, Mr. Simonton ; Senators Crittenden, Iverson, Bright, Toombs, Douglas, Pearce, and a few others. No one of the Senators seemed to offer M interfere but Mr. Crittenden, who pronounced it an inexcusable outrage. "Mr. Wilson rushed into the Senate Chamber, on hearing of the attack ; but found Mr. Sumner had been removed to the Vice-President's rooms, and that a surgeon was in attendance. He then helped to put his colleague into a carriage, and went with him to his lodgings. Mr. Sumner is badly in- jured, having two very severe cuts on the head. His condition is conaidered critical, and his physician allows no one to see him. His clothes were liter- ally covered with blood when he was removed."