The Sun.
London, England, 1837-11-06 00:00:00

FALL OF CONSTANTINA.

(Fr 9m the Charte.)
LETTER FIIOIII LIEUT.-CEN. COUNT VArEE TO THE TRE•

SIDENT OF THE CO-VNCIL.
" COl.Statitinap Oct. 20.
" Count,—Since I had the honour to address you on the
16th inst., tranquillity has continued to prevail at Constan-
tine. The inhabitants, dejected by their defeat, have subs
snitted without difficulty to ail the measures which I Llave
theteeht proper to order, and a number of those who had
sought safety In flight have demanded permission to return
to their homes. I have commanded the gates to be opened
to all who have presented themselves ; but I have at the
same time given orders to prevent them from penetrating
into the place with arms; and I have extended a similar
pro-
nto the natives quitting the city. A number of
fhentl3l individuals have already returned to their houses,
and their presence has contributed to encourages the people.
" My anticipations with regard to the provisioning of the
markets have been realised. The Arabs already bring as
supplies to Bab-el-Oued, and the army can daily purchase
all that is necessary for its subsistence. Some negotiations
which have been opened have led to a still more important
result. A number of Scheiks have engaged to furnish the
cattle necessary for the distribution of meat ; one of thorn
has already supplied 180 oxen, and has promised to bring
more. I have judged it expedient totrccompense his de-
votion by presenting him with a bournous, and I shall hereafter
distribute some to the chiefs of the tribes who may join 125.
You are, no doubt, aware that the red or black bournous is the
token of satisfaction given by the chiefs in this country to their
adherents, and r am informed that Achmet has just distributed
some to all the chiefs who have followed his fortunes. I have
decided that the payment of the supplies for the army shall,
till further orders, be made by the city of Constantine. The
municipal authorities are entrusted with the task of distribut-
ing these expenses among the inhabitants, and the demands
for supplies are complied with only when made in due form
by the intendant of the army.
" The artillery continues its search after arms and. objects
in the city. Returns of the materiel found in the place
shall be drawn up and sent without loss of time to the Mi-
nister of War. Fearing that the roads may be rendered im-
practicable by bad weather, I have ordered the artillery to di-
rect upon Medjez.cl-Hamar the cannon with which we be-
sieged the place. This movement will be continued on Bona,
if permitted by the state of the road between that city and
Medjez-el. Hamar. I trust that this difficult operation may
be executed before the rainy weather shall have rendered
the passage through the mountains as dangerous as it gene-
sally is in winter. I attach great importance to my ability
to bring back to Bona the materiel confided to me by the
King. The expedition against Constantina will be com-
pletely terminated only when the besieging materiel shall be
in safety, and when France shall no longer have to dread the
less that would be occasioned by the necessity of abandoning
or destroying it.
" I have ordered the formation of a corps of occupation,
consisting of 2,500 men belonging to every description of
force. This garrison, which I shall leave in Constantine,
appears to me more than sufficient to maintain possession of
the city, and to establish our influence over the neighbouring
tribss. I have given instructions to the army intendant to lay
in a complete supply of provisions for this garrison for six
months. He is occupied in collecting the necessary supplies
with the utmost expedition, and I shall not quit the city before
the operation has been•cornpletely terminated.
" The fall of Constantine has produced a great sensation
in this part of Africa, and the reports which reach me from
nil quarters inform me, that till the last moment the Arabs
looked upon the capture of the place as impossible. The
event has completely stupified them, and led the tribes to
conceive an exalted idea of the power of France. You arc
aware of the influence which Constantine has always exer-
cised in the country. Situated at the distance of 40 leagues
from the sea, in the midst of a populous country, the city
has at once been the market and the military centre of the
province, and, though at present in the power of Christians,
the Arabs cannot resolve to break off their connection with
it. They can look upon no other city in the same light as
Constantine. The tribes in the surrounding neighbourhood
are less warlike and more agricultural than those of the rest
of the Regency. The country supplies corn in abundance,
and the market at which it is sold by the Arabs has, from
time immemorial, been at Constantine. Our position, con-
sequently, appears to me favourable in every respect. The
garrison which I shall leave at Constantine will permit the
King's Government to adopt the most suitable measures with
regard to that province, and should it be deemed advisable
to withdraw the garrison in the spring, it will meet with no
difficulty in reaching Bona in the fine weather.-1 have the
honour to be, &c., " Count VALE E,
" The Lieut.-General Commander-in-Chief of the
Expedition to Constantine."
LETTER FROM GENERAL VALEE TO THE MINISTER AT WAR.
" Constantina, Oct. 20.
" SIR,--I have the honour to inform you that I have to-
day sent elf the battering cannon to Bona, viz , four 24
pounders, four 16 pounders, two 8-inch howitzers, and three
mortars of the same calibre. A convoy of sick will proceed
with the sense column. The approach of the bad season, and
the unsettled state of the weather for some days past, have
induced me to take this measure, which will facilitate those I
am about to pursue with the local authorities for insuring the
support of the army. We are already in a satisfactory posi-
tion in this respect, as numerous herds of cattle are daily
lse:eight in by the Arabs. I suppose that' the garrison shall
consist of 2,500 men of all arms, and that the town shall be
provisioned for six months. I shall shortly have the honour
of transmitting to you a statement as to the composition of
this force. The condition in which Gen. Perregaux, the
'chief of the Staff, is placed by his health more than by his
wound, which, however, is somewhat serious, deprives me at
this moment of his assistance, and delays the preparation of
my general report upon the siege, as well- as my recommen-
dations for rewards, which I shall have to request you will lay
before the King, supporting them with all your benevolence.
I hope, however, to be shortly enabled to send you this state-
ment annexed to thc.general report.
" The disarmament is bsing continued. This is a tedious
and difficult operation. It is, however, drawing towards its
conclusion, and contributes much towards tranquilizirg the
town. I have the honour to address to sou a return of the
artillery stores hitherto di,cevesecl in the place. The
con-
sumption of ammunition by the enemy has been very con-
siderable. The inhabitants having been joined with the gar-
rison in the defence, caused a wide dissemination of the arms
and ammunition, and rendered their being agai.i collected very
difficult.
" I am taking measures for the return of the army to the
camp of Medjez-cl Hamar by the end of the month.
" Accept, &e.
" COUNT VALEE.

" P. S. Since our entrance into• Con,tanttna, I have en-
rudedto Major-General Alartinis de Caraman the commlud
)f the Artillery."
,tiTTER FROM GEN. TERREGAt,X, CHIEF OF THE STAFF, TO TILE

MINISTER OF WAR.
" Sir—l have the honour to send you an exact statement of
the losses of the army since its departure ffom Medjcz-cl- Ha-
mar. It ought to have adjoined to it a general report of the
operations, and of the siege, but the necessity of completing
some other documents obliging me to postpone that report for
two or three days,necord,ng to the orders of the Commander-
in.Chief, I trinsmit the annexed account.
• " I am, with respect, ece.
" Gen. I'EILiZEGAUX."

RETURNS

OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS KILLED, WOUNDED, OR DEAD OF
EBEASF., FROM OCT. IST TO OCT. 19111.—Killed neral
De Doinreniont ; Colonel Coombe ; Chefs de Bataillon, Do
Serigny, Mareebal ; Captains Sarzai, Demo; en, Du Portal!,
Dangel, Calioreau, B 'ram% Marland, Mat-lice, Rabier, Pokier,
Obacktt ; Lieutenant Capdepont ; Sub-Lieutonants, Sassy,
Delaeolle, Carpette—Total 19 ; Rank and File, killed 86,
dead of disease 43. Wounded : —General De Perregaux ;
Lieut.-Col. De la Morrie:len) ; Chefs de ButailliGn, Dc Fros-
sar'l, Vieux ; Chef d'Egeadron, Dumas; Stnff Captains,
D'Auziet4rt, De Villeneuve, Dc I\ll,•Alahon. flegnard, Do
Riebcpanse ; Captait.s, nepond, 'l-i7..ttler, De G,rdercns,
Fontauilhcs, Leflo, Itonawl, Guignard, Massiat, Meyratid,
Raindre ; Do Caurobest, Leblanc, Carette; Lieutenants, Sa-
mary, Thuiliur, Letellicr, 13lamillaia, L'Huillior, Gatlin',
Errocliot, Vivansorg, Tatin, De Bauniont, Renoux, Boni-
Vivier ; Sub-Lieutenants, Adam I3oissy ; Interpreter of -First
Class, Muller—Tutal, 33; Rank and File, 468. General
Totr,l:—ltilled and dead of diseas', 148; wcunded,
ssOt3;
I.orses killed, i 37.
(Signed) " General PERREGAUX.
" PRINcirAL OBJECTS CF ARTILLELY FOUND IN CN-
STANTINA.—Guns and mortars, 59; gun carriages, 53; bOalls
and sin lig, 3,500 ; muskets, pistols, sabres, &e., 1,400 ; pow-
der 1,3001b5. ; eartridger,, 20,050. •
,
(Sigi',e) " General FERREGAUX."

DUBLIN, Nov. 2,—Lord Morin th entcrtai; ed the
following Noblemen and Gentlemen at dinner on TOCS.
day :---- Lord Clements, Lord Cloncurry, Mr. Drummond,
Mr. Mallony, Mr. Purcell, Mr. O'Connell, Mr. Sullivan,
Mr. Curran, the Sulicitor-General, Mr. M'Donnell, Mr.
C. O'Dwyer, Mr. Blake, Mr. John O'Connell, Mr. Mor-
gan O'Connell, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Fitzsirnon, Mr. Serjeant
Ball, Mr. Pigot, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Close, Mr. Sausse,
Mr. Barron, Mr. Curry, Mr. Lisle, Mr. G. Lisle, and Mr.
[All these gentleman are of
l'l'Donaido---Dobfin Pvcr-
the Liberal party, ten
.of them Members of the House of
Commons, and nearly all rPembers of the lateTieneral As-
sociation of Ireland, w 'licit was. !that very afternoon aig
solved by a unanimous vote.)
The Nrifthern Liberator, a new Journal of New-
eastle-upou:ryne, has been transmitted to us. We per-
ceive it advocatcs Ultra-Democracy. Its style is spirited,
manly, argumentative, and wholly free from invective.
Although its opinions arc more Ultra than ours, we feel
pleasure in acknowledging the wit, ingenuity, temper, t'Ai
ability with which it is conducted.
• In Hungary there is a class of pauper nobles, who
earn their livelihood by labour, and whose qualification con,-
sists in pos,cising
" a house and four plum trees."
GREAT SU JIPI, lES OF NEW Boorcs.--It cannot
be tog generally- made known to Book Societies, families,
and to all reading classes throughout England, Scotland,
and Ireland, that they can be regularly supplied with all
Works, Magazines, &c., for perusal, upon Bull's New
System, and that full prCeulars of its advantages, includ-
ing a list of all the ve.luable New Publications, can be bad
grat;s. or' sent by pest as a single letter, on application to
Mr. Bull, the Librarian, 19, Bolles-street, four doors from
Cavendish-square.