The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-04-09 00:00:00

DREADFUL EART:!QUAXE AT ALGIERS.

EXTRACT OF A I.ETTER F:.'; 4 ALGIERS, DATED MARCH 7.
On Wednesday, the 2el this city and neighbourhood
was visited with a tremendous earthquake, which conti-
nued at intervals for the five following days. It has
thrown down several houses, and injured many ethers ; and
has totally destroyed the town of Blida, one day's journey
from this, burying in its ruins nearly all the inhabitants.
Out of a population of 15,000 souls, chiefly Moors, Jews.
and Arabs, about 300 only have been saved, and those in a
sadly mutilated state.
The first two shocks which occurred were at two minutes,
and at 42 minutes after ten, a.m., were extremely violent,
and the motion both circular and perpendicular. On the
same evening two more shocks occurred; on Thursday
evening three; on Friday two; on Saturday two; and on
Sunday, between the hours of one and three a.m., two
more, which, it is to be hoped, may prove the last.
To-morrow I purpose going to visit the ruins of that
ill-fated town, where I am told a horrible scene of de-
vastation presents itself; 7,000 dead bodies have been
already dug out. In one spot, supposed to be a Jewish
ereiniriary, the bodies of 2so children were found; and a
vast number of persons in the ruins of the mosques, where
the people had congregated, the earthquake having oc-
curred at the hour of rrayer (ten o'clock).
In the immediate neighbourhood of the town, the
earth has opened in large interstices of from eight to ten
feet wide, and as many deep ; and it is worthy of remark,
that the same phenomenon which generally precedes the
eruption of Etna and Vesuvius, occurred at Blida—namely,
all the wells and fountains in the neighbourhood became
perfectly dry.
The troops which the Government sent out to prevent
plunder have been attacked by vast hordes of the Cobails,
and have thus added to the work of death. The Cobails
are of a race totally distinct from the Turks, Moors, or
Arabs: they are the descendants of the ancient Numidians,
and inhabit the mountains of this part of Africa, are per-
fectly independent, and have never been subdued by the
Turks. As an act of grace, the Dey has manumitted all
the slaves, and has ordered a public thanksgiving for the
salvation of this city.
God knows whether we are to experience any more of
these horrible visitations. There is every appearance to
the contrary, if the weather be any indication. Your mo-
ther and all of us have, as you will easily believe, been
most dreadfully alarmed. We were afraid even of going
to our heels, and spent the greatest part of our time on the
roof of the house, which is a perfect flat: and there we
were safe, so far as regarded any thing from above, and,
had the house given way, we should have stood a hance
of being uppermost on the ruins.
There is one circumstance which I have omitted to men-
tion, that an excellent barometer I have, kept gradually
fallien, for some days before the earthquake, whilst the
weather indicated no change whatever, otherwise than that
on the day it happened my thermometer rose suddenly
from 58 to C2l degrees, which is a very extraordinary oc-
currence.

THAMES QUAY.
___......._
TO TIIE EDITOR OF TILE BRITISH PRESS.

Sia—l am but this moment apprised of the error into
which 1 have been led with regard to the non-publication
of the Resolutions of ' the Meeting at the Crown and
Anchor on the 30th March.
I was induced to believe that those Resolutions were not
put seriatim, but en masse, and my informant produced•
in my mind the impression made upon his own, " that it
was not thought advisable to publish the Resolutions
themselves." I now find that they were actually published
in the very same paper in which I read the proceedings of
the Meeting.
However, as to the nature of the objections, they are
nearly the sime as those referred to in the published
speeches, and 1 now address you to plead guilty to inat-
tention, and to claim your belief that 1 had no wish to
mistake. 1 have the honour to be, Sir,

A LOVER OF IMPROVLMENT.

THE ARMY.

A Brevet is expected to take place on the Sld instant,
The Head-quarters' D.vision of the Slit (Huntingdon-
shire) Regiment of Foot will embark forthwith from Chat-
ham, for India.
The Ist (the King's) Regiment of Dragoon Guards will,
on being replaced at Newcastle by the 3d (the King's
Own) Regiment of Light Dragoons, from Coventry, march
to Canterbury.

ST. PAUL'S CHAIM Y SCHOOLS DINNER.

(From the Dublip FrecTnan:r Journal of Tuesday.]

In consequence of Mr. O'Connell's absence, the annual dinner
of this Charitable establishment was postponed from the 14th of
February last to yesterday, when it took place, as usual, at the
Great Room in "Queen-street, opposite Blackhall-street. It was
numerously and respectably attended. Not fewer than 230 persons
sat down to table. Daniel O'Connell, Esq. presided, assisted by
F. W. Conway, Esq. as Vice-President.
After on Nobis Demise, which was very scientifically given by
a number of emu/ester,
O'Co N Pi ELL proposed the health of
" The Kii,g."
It is almost unnecessary to say that it was received with enthu-
siastic plaudits.
The Cum 31AN then gave—
" The Duke of York and the Army."
Ile passed sonic handsome encomiums on his Royal Highness,
particularly in allusion to his attention to the comforts of the great
army under his direction, and his impartiality as to rewarding
merit, without reference to any other feelings but those of indi-
vidual ability. This toast and panegyric being rather new on occa-
sions like the present, appeared to excite some surprise. It was,
nevertheless, drunk with cordiality, and even with warmth.
6' The Duke of Clarence and the Navy,"
MN next given, with some prefatory expressions of admiration by
Mr. O'Connell, en our brilliant successes on that element where
England has almost invariably triumphed, with the aid of Irish
bravery.
In proposing the Marquis Vellesley's health, Mr. O'Coir.
NELL observid, that although he had wine time put omitted it,
he thought it row due to say, that lie believed the Noble Lord at
the head of the Irish Government was mainly instrumental in
producing the happy change in the sentiments of those formerly
opposed to Catholic Emancipation.
This explanation was received with loud bursts of applause, and
with a marked sincerity of approbation. On a former occasion, we
had to remark, that the omission of the toast did not seem to accord
with the feelings i:f the company.
Mr. O'CossELL, in proposing the health of Frederic Con-
way, Esq. said, that lie could not help coupling it with the Ca.
tholic Association, to which Mr. Conway, as Secretary, had rem-
dered such etEcient service. lie observed, that that body, which
bail grown to such influence and power in a short spa= of time,
which had for its supporters the nobility, wealth, arid consequence
of almost every sect In these kingdoms, and which might drive
into the sea the united forces of Russia, France, and Austria,
united—this body was dissolved by the mere breath of Parliament,
thus proving incontestibly how strongly the people of Ireland re.
spected those laws, which it was more than insinuated they wished
to oppose. But the same spirit that brought the Association to.
getber still existed,and " I am no conjurer," said Mr. O'Connell,
" in predicting that it would again arise at my bidding."
Mr. CON WAY returned thanks.

Amongst many toasts, of which our space will not admit a par-
ticular notice, were " The Duke of Sussex," and " Sir Francis
Burdett," which were received with the must mattering marks o'.
approbation.

_ . .
LIVERPOOL, THURSDAY EVENING.

Wind S. to S.E.-11ighwater, 64 tn. p. 1.
Arrived the Edward Brothers, IPropert, from Dundalk ; James
Watt, Lindsay, from Glasgow ; William Black, —, front Dub.
lin ; Cognac, Barton, from Charente ; Traveller, —, from Lon-
don ; Jane, —, from Newry ; Richard, --, free Wexford;
Duke of Athol, Dawson, from the Isle of Man ; Agnes. Abram-
son, from Dram ; Elizabeth, Corlett, from Drogheda ; Richmond,
--, from Al'exford ; Lady elazwell, —, trout Dublin ; and
the Phenix, IVilliams, from ditto.
One ship and three brigs off at three-quarters past eve.
In consequence of the scarcity of Hoar in Spain, considerable
business has been done here in that article ; and about 4,000 brls.
have been taken In bond at 235. a 26a. per 1961 b.