This afternoon the French corvette cruiser Le Champlain, Capt. Gourdon, which has been a familiar object in the porb for the last few weeks, left here for South America. She weighed anchor during the afternoon, and steamed out of port bound for Valpa raiso direct, under orders from the French naval authorities in Paris. She is pre sumably ordered to the Chilian coast bo protect bhe interests of "La Republique" during the presenb troublous times in that much - distressed country, as the war ships of other nations appear to be gathering in force on the South Ameri can station. The cruiser went away rather" hurriedly, '' as she was at first to have remained here until Saturday next. The Champlain, it may be remembered, arrived here in April last from Tahiti direco, for repairs, having injured her keel while cruising amongst the coral islands in the Eastern Pacific. She was placed in the Calliope Dock and lay there a month under going extensive repairs, which were very satisfactorily executed. She is now taking up her place again on the French naval •tation in the Eastern Pacific, having still nearly eighteen months to serve before she can be relieved and return to France. She is a rather unwieldy-looking, barque rigged iron vessel of 2,100 tons measure ment, by no means a beauty in appearance. She does a great deal of her cruising under canvas, but as her commander's object is to reach the Chilian coast as soon,as possible, ehe will probably steam most if not all the passage. From Valparaiso, after a stay in Chilian waters of uncertain duration, she will return to the Society Islands.
