The French community celebrated the anniversary of the capture of the Bastille with their usual fervour yostorday. All the warships in port wore gaily dressed with flags, among which the tricolour was prominent. There were no ess than six French war-vessels off the French bund. The entrance to the French Settlement from the Bund was spanned by an immetise triumphal arch, decorated with evergreens and oscutcheons bearing the cipher, R..F. All down the French Bund, too, -poles had, been erected from which festoons of Janterns hung parallel with and across the thoroughfare, and shields bearing French mottoos were placed on most of the posts. As if in honour of so important a celebration, the sun burst through the barrier of clouds behind "which he has taken refuge for the last few "days.
'Both sides of the Rue. clu Consular-and Rue de Montauban were bright with flags and flowers, and there was another evergreen arch above' the entrance to the Consulate grounds.
'M. Ratard, the French' Consul-General, was' at home to -his na. tionals and friends at 11 am. and shortly after that hour a large crowd, including Consular, Naval, and Custom officials and two Roman Catholic Bishops, had assembled in the largo reception hall. M. -Ratard welcomed the guests upon their arrival, and' meunwhile the Town "Band gave selections upon the balcony.
'The -proceedings -wero opened' by M. Paul Brunat, who on behalf of his countrymen proposed the health of President Létibet anid' asked " the *Consul-General to telegraph congratulations to him.
M. "Retard replied ina masterly speech. "He touched upon all the important. events in the world's politics
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.