The Sun.
London, England, 1853-02-22 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

Military Life in Algeria. By the Count P. de
Castellane. 2 vols. Hurst and Blackett.
These volumes contain a very interesting account
of military life and adventures in Algeria, at the
time of the general insurrection of the tribes against
the French rule. It commences in the:year 1813,-
when the narrator and his companions took the
road to Blidah, the residence of General Chan-
garnier. The work narrates the history of the sup-
pression of the revolt, describes the country and
natives, and concludes with the narrative of an ex-
pedition against the Kabyles, in the summer of
1851. The first volume commences with the fol-
lowing description of Algiers :
" Arriving by sea, Algiers gives one the idea of a
city lying asleep on ahill side—calm and careless, amidst
the fresh fields which surround it ; but on drawing
nearer, and penetrating within its whitened walls, you
soon discover that beneath this apparent listlessness
there is a stir and life altogether European. The die is
cast, and in Algiers the Mussulman is daily fading away
to make room for the French city. From the terrace of
a house in which we had been received with 'warm-
hearted hospitality, we were never weary of gazing at
the bustling crowd, not an individual of whom was seen
walking—everybody ran. A strange medley of many
various faces and costumes ; here a European just landed,
and bewildered amidst the mob ; now and then the
Biskris passing at a rapid and measured pace, and
carrying a heavy burden banging to a long pole ; anon
the Arab in his burnous, the Turk under his cumbrous
turban, the Jew with sombre garments and wily glance,
or the oil carrier with his goat-skin vessels ; and
through the thick of the route, legions of donkeys with
their negro drivers, light cars drawn by two or three
horses, baggage mules in a long string, bearing provi-
sions for the military stores, equestrians galloping in
spite of police regulations ; a colonist, with white broad-
brimmed hat, or perhaps an officer in brilliant uniform,
believing himself privileged to do anything in the town
which he protects. In short, the scene presented all
the disorder, the confusion, the bustle of an anthill ; all
around were signs of activity, energy, and hope, that
just and productive hope which accompanies labour.
" While the lower city is thus delivered over to
French fury, the silence and repose, the calmness and
and gravity of the Mussulman have taken refuge in the
upper quarters. I should advise no one to venture
alone through those narrow crooked streets, through
which it is difficult for two people to walk abreast, He
would infallibly lose his way in this labyrinth, which
seems peopled only by shadows. From time to time a
white phantom glides by your side, a door opens noise-
lessly, you turn your head, and the mysterious appari-
tion has vanished.. One would imagine that, froin the
summit of the Casbah, the memory of the Deys still
spread terror among their subjects of yore, though it is
long since the flag of France first waved over these
walls."

The eager desire of the soldiers for war, notwith-
standing all the hardships they have to endure, is
constantly expressed. They had, however, at
length their reward in success. Several histories
of the African tribes are given, and the style is very
lively and entertaining. The description of the
encounters are also full of interest, and many
legends and customs of the country are given.

Sharpe's New Gazetteer of the British Isles. Long-
man, Brown, and Co,
This useful and practical gazetteer is steadily
proceeding towards its completion. We give the
following extract as a fair specimen of the contents
of the work :

" The port of London reaches from the Bridge (where
is 11 to 2 fathoms at low water) about 80 m. down the
Thames, past the Nore (8 fath.) to its mouth within a
line from N. Foreland,. Kent, to the Naze, Essex (8 to
12 fath.) ; but ships are first boarded, and they clear out
at Gravesend. The actual port, called the Pool, is 2.}
in. long to Limehouse, and is in the charge of 4 harbour
masters, under the corporation. whose jurisdiction as
conservators of the fisheries, ,soil, etc. to the highest
watermark and up creeks where the tide flows, extends
(about 85 m.) from above Staines down to the Crow-
stone below Leigh, Essex, and Yantlet creek, Kent ; the
Trinity Board regulate the pilotage, beacons, ballast, &c.
The Upper Pool, the first bend, or reach,' of the river,
from the Bridge to Wapping old stairs,' near the Tunnel
and Execution Dock, is 11 m. long by 250 to 300 yards
broad, with 12 to 16 feet water (or 29 to 33 at high