The Sun.
London, England, 1865-05-11 00:00:00

ALGERIA.

The following is the full text of the French Em-
peror's proclamation to the Arabs, of which a sum-
mary only has appeared. We translate it from the
Moniteur du Soir of this day (10th inst.) :
" When, 35 years ago, France placed her foot
upon the African soil, she did not come to destroy
the nationality of a people, but, on the contrary, to
enfranchise that people from a secular oppression ;
she has replaced the Turkish domination by a more
mild, just, and enlightened government. Neverthe-
less, during the first years, unwilling to submit to
any foreign supremacy, you fought your liberators.
" Far be the thought from me to stigmatize that
conduct as a crime—on the contrary, I honour the
sentiment of chivalrous dignity which induced you,
before you submitted, to invoke by arms the jUdg-
ment of God. But God has spoken ; admit, then,
the decrees of Providence, which in its mysterious
designs often leads us to welfare by deceiving our
hopes and thwarting our efforts.
" Like you, 20 centuries ago our ancestors also
courageously resisted a foreign invasion, and, never-
theless, their regeneration dates from their defeat.
The vanquished Gauls assimilated themselves with
the Roman conquerors, and from the forced union
between contrary virtues of two opposed civilisations
there sprang into life, in time, that French nation-
ality which, in its turn, has spread its ideas through-
out the universe. Who knows that the day may not
arrive when the Arab race, regenerated and amalga-
mated with the French race, may not recover a
powerful individuality similar to that which for cen-
turies made it master of the southern coasts of the
Mediterranean ?

' Accept these accomplished facts. Your Prophet
says—' God gives power to whom he pleases' (chap.
ii., verse 284). Now, the power which I hold from
Him, I wish to exercise in your interests and for
your welfare.
" You know my intentions. I have irrevocably
placed in your hands the right of property of the
lands which you possess ; I have honoured your
chiefs, respected your religion ; I wish to increase
your welfare, to make you participate more and
more in the administration of your country, as also
in the benefits of civilisation ; but it is on the con-
dition that, on your part, you will respect those who
represent my authority. Tell your misguided
brethren that to attempt new insurrections will be
fatal to them. Twelve millions of Arabs cannot re-
sist 40,000,000 Frenchmen. A struggle of one
against 20 is madness. Moreover, you have taken
the oath of allegiance to me and your conscience, as
well as your sacred book, commands you religiously
to observe your engagements. (Chap. 8, on repen-
tance, verse 4.)
" I thank the great majority of you, whose
fidelity has not been shaken by the perfidious coun-
sels of fanaticism and ignorance. You have under-
stood that, being your Sovereign, I am your pro-
tector ; all who live under our laws have an equal
right to my care. Already, great remembrances and
powerful interests unite youth the mother country ;
for 10 years you have shared the glory of our arms,
and your sons have fought bravely side by side with
us in the Crimea, in Italy, in China, in Mexico.
The bonds formedonthebattle-field are indissoluble,
and you have learnt to understand whom we esteem
as friend or foe.
our destinies y, as
" Have confidence, then, in
they are united to those of France, and admit, with
the Koran, that Ile whom God guides is well
guided.'--(Chap. 7, El-Araf, verse 177.)
" NAPOLEON.
cc Algiers, May 5, 1865."

TUE ROAD MURDER. It is considered probable
that the necessary steps will be taken to remove the trial
of Constance Kent from the Salisbury Assizes, to which it
had been appointed, to the Central Criminal Court. This
change of venue would probably take place under the pro-
visions of the statute known as " Palmer's Act." It is be-
lieved that criminal proceedings in respect of this crime
are about to be instituted against some persons other
than the prisoner, at present committed on her own con-
fession.

THE PUBLIC-HOUSE CLOSING ACT.—The follow-
ing amendments will be moved by Sir George Grey
committeein
where,t ,o on the Public-house Closing Act (1864)
Amendment Bill : Page 1, preamble, line 1, lekve out from
"be," in line 4, and insert "it is expedient
to amend the Public-house Closing Act, 1864." Clause 2,
line 14, after " market," leave out "or following any law-
ful trade or calling," and insert "in the pursuit of their
lawful occupation between the hours of two and four of
the clock in the morning." Page 2, clause 2, line '2, leave
out after " houseno "licence" inclusive, in line 6, and in-
sert " a licence allowing him to keep open his house for the
use of such persons during the whole or any part of the
said two hours, herein called special hours, or any days
specified in such licenc,e—provided, firstly, that tho house
shall be within the precincts of the market at which such
persons attend, or at a distance of not more than fifty yards
from such precincts ; secondly, that a printed notice
stating the days and special hours during which,
and the
class of persons for whom, the house is open under such
licence, shall be affixed in a conspicuous position outside
the house ; thirdly, that such persons only shall be ad-
mitted during special hours as belong to the class for
which tho house is licensed to be opened during those
hours." Lino 10, leave out., " days or times," and insert
"tea

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