FRANCE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 4, Issue 202, 2 August 1860, Page 3

FRANCE.

A French loan is talked of. Defensive works on extensive scales aro actively carried on the Brittany coast. A The standard height of the French army is reduced; the number of admirals is augmented. Some of the returning French regimentsare ordered to halt at Genoa.

It is rumoured that the" Emperor Napoleon’s architect will shortly proceed to Nice for the purpose of selecting a site for the erection of* a palace. It is thought not to bo improbable-that Nice will replace Biarritz is a sea bathing place for the Emperor and.

Empress. - ’ ~ Tiie Imperial Tour for IB6o.— TheEmperor Napoleon has given orders to prepare a programme for a visit to all the manufacturing towns of the empire. His Majesty intends to inspect the industrial establishments of France with a view of encouraging producers to improve and extend their machinery and trade. It is proposed, also, to hold exhibitions of manufacturing aud agricultural machinery.

The French Camp at Chalons.—Accounts from Chalons state that the regiments selected to form the cimo there have arrived, and taken up their former positions. The ground now enclosed for the camp is double extent to that occupied last year, aud extends to the right of the great Mourmoulen. Theartillery occupy a very large space this year. File cavalry are likewise more numerous. It is the largest camp yet established for military manoeuvres, containing 90,000 men, under the command of the Duke of Magenta. Armstrong Guns in France. The Berlin correspondent of the Daily - Telegraph sa y S ;— ;•* It is asserted in military circles that guns of the Armstrong pattern are at present being manufactured in French foundries, which, if true, will make the fourth reorganisation of the artillery of France since the year 1853. The 8-ponnders introduced having been found ineffective in the Crimean war, wr-rc changed for 12-pounders on the conclusion of peace. Three years afterwards the new gun was superseded by the rifled cannon, which are 4-pounders; and these again, regardless of expense, it seems, are now to give way to 6 pounders constructed on the Armstrong model.” French Wines and Brandies. —“ Since the conclusion of the Treaty of Commerce with England,” says the Journal du Havre , “ agents of London firms have been visiting our vineyards to purchase wines and brandies. In Provence and Languedoc alone purchases already exceed the sum. of 20,000,000 f., and at Cognac 15,000 hectolitres of brandies have been bought.” Fhe French in Abyssinia. —The French mission which had gone to Abyssinia—relying upon the promise of the descendant of Tasselas to give them a jovtin the Red Sea, and to support the Isthmus of Suez scheme with all the resources of the “mighty empire” in., which the Father of Waters has its source—were most grievously disappointed. They found, the country in a state of civil war, and after many hair-breadth escapes, were fain to take refuge at the English settlement of Aden. The Last Moments or Jullien.—Galignani says“ M. Jullien’s reason returned some hours previous to his decease, and after receiving the last sacraments, he passed away in perfect consciousness. Ilis last words re-. fated to a hymn which he had not long since composed, and called a Napoleonienne, from its being in honor of the Emperor of the French. ‘ Let it be sent,’ lie said, * to His Majesty. It will perhaps procure bread for my poor wife.’ M. Jullien lias left a widow ami

* two adopted; children, one of whom, a fine 3 oung man of two-and-twenty, engaged him* self some time back in a French lancer regi- ' meut, in order not to be a burden on M. Jullien in his misfortunes. The other, a girl, lives with Mine. Jullien, and is, like the widow, totally unprovided for.” The French in the Red Sea.—The persevering efforts of the French to establish their influence in the Red Sea is a subject of anxiety to the most forecasting minds in India. Egypt swarms with Frenchmen ; every branch of the administration is full of them ; and the Pacha, it is said, has yielded himself up wholly to French influence. A French squadron is talked of for Jeddah or Sonakin. A line of transport steamers for the Red Sea has long been building, and will be supported by heavy government contributions. France has lately obtained a pretended “ cession ” of territory, embracing Annesley Bay, otherwise called the Buy of .Ydulis ; and now the Bombay Gazette reports, obviously on sufficient authority, that a French mission is on its way to Gondar, to demand the independence of the defeated rebel, who bestowed on France that which was never his own. The mission, which is led by the Comte de Rous, is already in the Tigre country, and the slightest outrage would be sufficient excuse for active measures to secure the predominance of French influence.