FRANCE.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IX, Issue 818, 4 June 1853, Page 4

FRANCE.

Prince Napoleon Bonaparte bad been appointed QJfterpor of Algiers, and had been promoted to tnejrank of General of Division. The French Emperor is causing to be built, twenty new ships of tbe line of the largest clais, to be fitted as screw steam ships, and an equal number of first class steam frigates. . A fleet of fifty-three screw steamers, of 10,000 horse power, wts about to be assembled at Cherbourg. It was estimated that they could carry with ease 106,000 troops. Tbe accounts of tbe floods in the Departments are deplorable. The town of Vendome has been completely flooded by the overflow of tbe Loire. Not only the low quarters of the town, but tbe

Placs d'Armes, are covered with water to the depth of three feet in some places. Sereral roads in the neighbourhood are rendered impassable. The bridge of Gilette, in the commune of Azay, on the road from Vendome to Mondoubleau, has been swept away. A letter from Quimper states that the rain, which coutinned to fall in torrents, bad filled the peasants with dismay. The crops of rye and oats tre completely destroyed, and the other crops are entirely washed away. Accounts from St. Calais, in the Santhe of the 15tb, state that the river Anille had again overflowed its banks. The entire valley on either side of the river was instantly filled with water, which not finding a passage through the town, filled the houses up to the first floor. The bridge at La Suze had been carried away, and a traveller saved his life by "sacrificing his horse and gig. None of the mails bad been able to reach Le Mans, in consequence of the floods.