The Sun.
London, England, 1841-09-09 00:00:00

ALGERIA.

The following interesting narrative of the exchange
of prisoners rear Oran appeared lately in the Tjulonnais_
and is part of a letter from an eye-witness !
" On the 15th of June, the day fixed for the inter-
view, Colonel Montfregat left Oran, at the head or
part of the garrison, taking with him 56 Arab prisoners,
among them were 30 women and children. The prin-
cipal prisoners were two captains of the Red Cavalry
and three women belonging to the family of Ben
Yaconb, a personage of importance, and formerly the
aga of the Garabas ; they had been taken in one of the
razias which so brilliantly distinguished the commence
ment of General Lamoriciere's career in the province
of Oran. Conspicuous among the rest for her mag-
nificent figure was the daughter-in-law of this chief,
a young woman of great beauty, if we may believe
those by whom she was carried off, wbo, more fortu-
nate than ourselves, were enabled during the tumult to
catch a glimpse of those features which a thick and very
ungraceful veil concealed yesterday from our sight,
while we were accomplishing the pacific task enjoined
on us of protecting her by our cannon, that she might re-
join her husband in safety.
" The camp of the Figuier (fig-tree) is situated on
an immense plain at the extremity of the great lake,
and it, was on heights, standing at about three leagues
from this camp, that the Arabs, escorting our French,
were to show themselves ; our eyes were for a long
time fixed in that direction without perceiving the
slightest change in the monotony of the horizon. One
or two specks, however, appeared, and then as quickly
disappeared, as by turns they were hidden or discovered
by the irregularities of the country ; these finally took
the definite form of a goum (group), consisting of 50
or 100 horsemen and infantry ; that they were our
countrymen could no longer be doubted, and as they
advanced our impatience became greater and greater.
The Arab prisoners betrayed no less emotion, and in
spite of the air of resignation and dignity with which
their pride struggled to disguise their natural feelings,
it was evident that for the first time their hearts were
beating in unison with ours, under an influence common
to all humanity.
" When we were not more than a league distant
from each other, the goum made a halt and took up
its position on the slope of a bill. The Colonel im-
mediately gave orders that the Mussulman prisoners
should be placed in sight of their countrymen on a
slight elevation in front of the camp, and that the
troops should remain distinct behind them. This ma-
noeuvre had not the effect of persuading the goum to
advance ; a few detached horsemen only came forward
and rushed along the plain with a headlong rapidity
which those alone can conceive who have seen these
modern Numidians, holding a bleeding head in one hand,
scour this very battle-field, where a handful of Chas-
seurs sustained alone the shock of their attack, and
saved the infantry, overcome by the heat.
" These riders, sent out by the chief of the escort,
conveyed a billet, pencilled by the hand of Captain
Morissot, and couched in the following terms :—• Pray
send the Mussulman prisoners as far as here, for the
Arabs are obstinately determined not to proceed fur-
ther.' This want of confidence was found displeasing,
and a verbal answer was returned to the effect that, ac-
cording to agreement, the exchange was to take place
at the Figuier, and that they were bound to advance.
In other respects they were allowed to communicate
with the prisoners, and all was going on for the best,
when a curious incident threatened to compromise the
whole affair.

"An old marabout, who had been remaining some
time at the Figuier, where be had brought despatches
from Abd-el-Kader relative to this affair, got up from
his pallet, where he had hitherto challenged no remark
except for the size of his chaplet and the queerness of
his dress, and addressed the horseman as follows :
You are not fulfilling your duty ; all the conditions
laid down by the Sultan have not been adhered to ;
you give up all the Christians, and the Christian
do not deliver all the Mussulmans ; two of the faithful,
Mohamed Ben Mohtard and Hadji Ben Kaddour, are
laden with chains.' It was indeed so. These two
chiefs, one formerly an aga, the other one of the old
cadis of Imelas, who had been overwhelmed with bene-
fits by the French, and one of whom had received the
croix d'honneur, having been surprised in fiagrante
delicto of desertion, had been arrested and thrown
into our prisons. The Christians,' continued the ex-
hortation, also keep in the condition of slaves certain
negroes and negresses whom I do not see here.'

" The old jackall was right again ; a negress and
two little negroes had been stolen away by our allies,
the Arabs of Mustapha, and, not being considered in
the light of prisoners of war, were not included in the
list of exchanges; but the marabout was carefully
silent as to the fact that the negress was a woman still
sufficiently young and agreeable to tempt the robbers,
and that the two little negroes were her progeny. He
was the more obstinate in defending his position, be-
cause, as every one, he alone excepted, was perfectly
contented with the arrangement which was about to be
put in execution, it was very much to his interest that
he should break it up, in order to establish it on a new
basis. Treacherous insinuations, subtleties, menaces,
all was employed to bring over the horsemen to his
views, and he in part succeeded.
" The word of a marabout is so influential, and
submission to his orders so inveterate a habit, that the
horsemen shared his sentiments, and were beginning to
dispute with each other and then with Ali, the faithful
interpreter in our diplomatic relations. All this dis-
cussion was carried on on horseback, within a short
distance of the Arab prisoners, who thus saw their
fate again reduced to uncertainty by the cursed pil-
grim. As for him, he had taken care also to be
mounted, when he saw that the cards had been suffi-
ciently shuffled, according to his wishes ; after having
largely taken advantage of all the interest we had in
not offering him any violence, finding, however, that
the mountain air would prove more favourable to him
than the neighbourhood of our cannon, he pricked for-
ward towards the goum of Arabs to instil his poison
there also. All would have been broken off had he
been allowed to effect his project ; but one of us, per-
ceiving his movement, immediately warned the Colonel,
who sent him word that he desired to speak to him, and
had him guarded within sight.
" This discussion bad lasted two hours, and at last
several officers having requested permission to go into
the midst of the goum, and a'certain the feeling of the
Arabs, the Colonel, who saw that it was the only way of
terminating the affair, singled out for this mission M.
Houssaie and M. Agcma de Montgravier. These offi-
cers immediately set out, and had the satisfaction of
being the first to embrace Captain Alorrisot, and to
bring a few words of hope to the other prisoners.
" M. Azema de Montgravier, addressing himself to
the chief of the escort party, said—' The chief of the
French of Oran is at the Figuier ; he is hurt at the
want of the confidence which thou hast in him. The
exchange must take place at the Figuier, as has been
agreed ; he has chosen an officer to deliver thee up the
Nlussulmans and receive the Christians from thy hands.
Follow me then, for thou must be anxious to release
them.' The chief to whom these words were addressed
was a young man of five-and-twenty, a cousin to Kalif
Ben Tami. He replied that be would advance alone
towards the Figuier, provided we would remain as hos-
tiges. M. Houssaie told him that it would be sufficient '
that one alone should remain, while the other accom-
panied
the chief.

" This offer was accepted. It was agreed that M.
de Montgravier should conduct this Arab to the Com-
mander-in-Chief. The Colonel, on seeing the Arab,
said that, as there was no proof of the pretended death
of three Frenchmen who were not represented, he
would keep in hostage three Arabs of the tribe of Beni
Amer, in which it was supposed that the Frenchmen
had died. These conditions were equally acceded to.
Meanwhile the goum having, to our great satisfaction,
marched in our direction, the two lines of prisoners
were brought to very near quarters, and the exchange
was effected.

" In the evening, while returning to Oran, the author
of this article fell into conversation with an old Turk
who had been present at this animated scene, without
however appearing to take any interest in it. ' What
think you of this ?' said I to Baba-Ali. ' I think,' re-
plied he, ' that at the time when I was headsman to
the Bey, if any marabout had said only half the foolish
things this one said, the Bey would immediately hare
requested me to try my yataghan on his neck ; and if
it is really a holy one, the finest tempered yataghan
would not so much as have grazed his skin, and if he is
an impostor he would have received his due.' "

COMPARATIVE INCREASE OF THE POPU-
LATION OF THE NORTH AND SOUTH.--.ThC population
of the northern section of the Union increases much
faster than that of the southern, both in the old and new
settled districts. In 1830 the population of New Eng-
land was 1,954,717; in 1840 it amountEd to 2,234,822 ;
increase over 14 per cent. In 1830 the four middle
States contained 3,664,412; in 1840 about 4,604,345; in-
crease nearly 26 per cent., or over one-fourth.. While
in the five southern Atlantic States and the district of
Columbia, the increase is from 3,538,274, in 1834, to
about 3,791,950, or only a little over seven per cent.
And yet the latter section of the Union is far less
densely peopled than the two former, and ought to have
more room for the expansion of population. Again, the
free States and territories of the north-west, in 1830,
contained 1,470,018 souls ; in 1840 about 2,967,364; in-
crease nearly 102 per cent. While the slaveholding
States of the west and south-west, containing, in 1830,
2,237,281, had increased in 1840 to about 3,460,142; an
increase of only 64 per cent.—Boston Arotion.
FRIGHTFUL ACCIDENT.— A few nights ago,
a child belonging to a man named Hetherington, hav-
ing that day died in the port of this town, the neigh-
bours gathered to the wake, in the upper part of the
house, where the corpse lay ; the rooms were crowded
by persons who were amusing themselves with the usual
games practised on such occasions, when the loft fell,
carrying with it the corpse and sorrowing visitors ; a
large beam, which supported the loft, came down on
the mother of the corpse, who sat in the room on the
ground floor, and fractured her skull. A young man
was so severely injured that he died on the following
day, and 15 other persons were seriously injured, who
still remain in a very precarious state.—Ballyshunnon
Herula,

. ~ ...fir
_ , ,~

LAW INTELLIGENCE.
ADAIIRALTY COURT.

Wednesday being the default day after Trinity Term,
Sir J. Dodson sat for a short time, in the absence of 1)r.
Lushington, but no business of importancT came before
him. In the case of the Elizabeth and Jane, a motion,
by Dr. Baysford, for a monition (at the suit of one joint

owner of the ship against the other joint owner, who was
in possession, and who had mismanaged her), either to
give her up, or to navigate her on security for her safe
return, was directed to stand over.

COURT OF BANKRUPTCY.
(Before Mr. Commissioner HOLROYD.)

THE WHITECHAPEL DISTILLERY-IN THE MATTER OF

JAMES GOLDIE.

This was the day fixed for the final adjourned exami-
nation of the bankrupt, who was well known as the pro-
prietor of the Whitechapel Distillery. The fiat was
issued so far back as January last, and the hearings in
the case have been unusually numerous. The first
balance-sheet rendered by the bankrupt was found to be
very erroneous. A second was next made out, equally in-
correct, a third sheet was prepared, as containing the best
account which the bankrupt could offer. The debts and
liabilities are heavy, and the probable assets very trifling.
Mr. Commissioner HOLROYD asked whether the " pro-
perty" which he saw entered in the schedule at 9,0001.,
was soon likely to be realized ; and
The Solicitor to the fiat said he feared not, as the
concern was deeply mortgaged, and at every step taken
on behalf of the creditors they were met with increasing
difficulties.
Mr. Commissioner HOLROYD—Are the creditors' as-
signees satisfied with the bankrupt's accounts ?
One of the Assignees—The books were very badly
kept, but we impute no deception to the bankrupt, nor
do we think that he has withheld any property from his
creditors.

The bankrupt having been sworn to the truth of his
schedule, was declared to have passed his final exami-
nation.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

MANSION-HOUSE.
Boatswain Smith, who was on Tuesday charged before
Alderman Pixie, at Guildhall, with having caused an ob-
struction in Smithfield, appeared at the Justice-room
yesterday for the purpose of representing to the Lord
Mayor the " severe infliction" to which he had baen
subjected in the station-house, upon being locked up in
the den of confinement there, when apprehended for
preaching on Monday evening.
Alderman WILSON, who sat for the Lord Mayor, re•
cognised the old Billingsgate preacher at once, and re-
ceived him with kindness, expressing at the same time
regret that it had been found necessary to interfere with
his liberty,
Mr. Smith said that his principal object in waiting
upon the representative of the Lord Mayor was to return
thanks to his Lordship for having ordered his liberation
from the station-house, in which he had been locked up
for a considerable time, upon his own recgnizances to
appear to answer the charge. He had commenced his
proceedings (which those who know him were perfectly
aware did not correspond with the vile transactions of
the Fair, when Inspector Hodson, of the City police,
caused him to be dragged to the station-house like a
felon, and locked him up for four hours in a cold damp
cell, in which there was no bed or accommodation of any
kind, and in which he should have been detained if it
had not been for the humanity of the Lord Mayor.
Alderman Wu.soN—Was there no place in which to
lay down ?
Mr. Smith replied that there was neither bed nor
covering of any kind, and the want of that sort of com-
fort was very likely to be felt by a man of his advanced
period of life. He could answer for it, that confinement
in such a place was calculated to endanger life, and he
determined to represent the fact for the sake of others
who might be justly or unjustly deprived of their liberty
by the City police.
Inspector Brake, in answer to a question from Alder-
man Wilson, said there was no bed in the station-house
for the accommodation of those who were locked up.
Alderman WILSON—I should have thought that Mr.
Smith was sufficiently known to the City police
to be believed upon his promise to attend
before the Alderman to answer for any alleged violation
of the law, without being locked up in a cell. I must
bear my testimony to his conduct, of which I took par-
ticular notice during my mayoralty. I have heard him
frequently addressing crowds, and I am convinced that
everything he uttered was good. I have learned, too, that
he has done most extensive benefit through the king-
dom, for he will go into places where other preachers
will not attempt to show themselves. I am convinced
that the City Commissioner is a gentleman incapable of
issuing orders of such severity against an individual who
never has been known to say anything of an injurious or
even doubtful character, and I think that the circum-
stances ought to be represented in that quarter.
Inspector Brake (as we understood him) said that the
orders issued were of a general nature for the protection
of the peace, which was exceedingly liable to be broken
at such a place as Bartholomew Fair, and under such
circumstances.

Sir CHAPMAN MARSHALL stated that in his mayoralty
he had been obliged :to interdict holdings forth of all
kinds in Smithfield, on account of the previous political
matter which the Socialists and others used to pour out
there.

Mr. Smith begged leave to say that he was not con-
nected with any party political or theological, either at
Smithfield or at Billingsgate, and that his object was to
check as far as was in his power the moral atrocities
which he saw daily committed, and of which Bartholo-
mew Fair presented the most hideous instances upon
every occasion. The shows, at one time, were reduced,
but the extinction of the fair was the only way of reme-
dying the horrible evils, and when in the midst of the
children who are supported by the charity he advocated,
he addressed those who were disposed to listen to him,
he was seized and taken off to the station-house where
his pockets were turned out, he thought it was really
too hard.

Alderman WILSON.--I think so too, indeed, and I
advise you to go to the City Commissioner, who
never shuts his ears to complaints, to my knowledge. If,
however, you are not allowed to do good in the City, I
trust you will persevere elsewhere.
A young woman, named Mary Oliver, barmaid to
Mrs. Walters, of the King's Head public-house, Pud-
ding-lane, was charged with having committed several
paltry thefts in the house of her mistress. The com-
plainant and her daughters would in all probability have
discharged the prisoner without appearing against her,
if it had Not been for the fact that another servant had
been turned away from suspicion of having committed
the many robberies which the prisoner had been guilty
of ; and the prisoner was the person who awakened and
aggravated the suspicion. The most important article
missed was the wedding-ring of one of the young ladies,
a sort of memorial regarded with peculiar—indeed
amongst many of the sex—with superstitious veneration.
The ring was found in the prisoner's trunk, in a purse
which had been given by One of the ladies to the poor
girl who had been turned away ; and quantities of silver
were found amongst the prisoner's clothes, of which
money no doubt was entertained she had improperly pos-
sessed herself at the bar which she attended.

The prisoner declared that all the articles were her
own, with the exception of the wedding-ring, which she
found on the floor, and intended to give to the owner,
but her memory failed her.

The owner of the ring asked the prisoner where she
got the purse ?
The prisoner—The purse ! Why, the ring was in it
when I found it.

The owner of the ring declared that that was quite
impossible, and that the prisoner must have stolen the
purse from the girl whom they had described as a thief,
and to whom witness had given it some time before.
The prisoner impudently denied the truth of the state-
ments against her, and was remanded for further exami-
nation.