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

ALt;kitlA.

The following interesting narrative of the exchange
of prisoners near Oran appeared lately in the Toulonnais,
and is part of a letter from an eye-wetness :
" On the 15th of June, the day fixed for the Inters
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 Den
Yacoub, a personage of importance, and formerly the
age of the Garabas ; they had been taken in one of the
razias which so brilliantly distinguished the commence
merit of General Lamoricicre'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 belie‘e
those by whom she was carried off, who, more fortu-
nate than ourselves, were enabled dining 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 enjoineJ
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 in egulari:ies 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
count-yrnen could no longer be doubted, and as they
advanced our impatience became greater and greater.
Tue Arab prisoners betrayed no lees 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 hill. 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 sheald remain distinct behind them. This mas
nceuvre had not the effect of persuading the goum to
advance ; a few detached herkillen only came forward
and rushed aloft g the plain with a headiseg rapidity
which those alone can conceive who have seen these
Modern Numidians, holding a bleeding head in one hand,
scour this very battle-field, whero 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 fat 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 ether 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 Abdeel-Itader 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 queereets 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 &el Mohtard and Hadji Ben Kaddour, are
laden with chains.' It was indeed so. These two
chiefs, one formerly an age, the ether one of the old
cadis of Imelas, who had been overwhelmed with bene-
fits by the French, and one of whom had received the
croir d'honnetir, having been surprised im flogrante
delicto of desertion, had been arrested and tarown
into our prisons. The Christians,' continued. the ex-
hortation, also keep in the condition of slaves certain
negroes and negresset whom I do not see here,'
" The old Jackal! was right again ; a negress and
two little neeroes 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-
came, as every one, he alone excepted, was perfectly
contented with the arrangement which was about to he
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 hying ove; 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, dnd 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 hail 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 had lasted two hours, and at last
several officers having requested permission to go into
the midst of the goum, and ascertain the feeling of the
Arabs, the Colone, who sow that it was the only way of
terminating the affair, singled out for this mission M.
Houssaie and M. Agcma de Montgrav:er. These offi-
cers immediately set out, and had the satisfaction of
being the first to embrace Captain Morrisot, and to
bring a few words of hope to the other prisoce•rs.
" 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 hest in him. The
exchange must take place at the Figuier, as has been
agreed ; he has chosen an officer to deliver thee up the
Mussulmans and receive the Christians from thy hands.
Follow me then, for thou must be anxious to release
then..' 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 he would advance a,one
towards the Figuier, provided we would remain as hos-
t iges. 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 Moragravier should conduct this Arab to the Grnt-
Indnder.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 articl,3 fill into conversation with an old Turk
who had been present at this anim3ted scene, without
however appearing to take any interest in it. • What
think 3ou of this?' said Ito BAha-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.'"

On Tuesday the 12th half-yearly meeting of the
Proprietors of the London and Croydon Railway Com-
pany took place at the London Tavern, Mr W. A. Wil-
kinson in the Chair. The Report congratulated the
Proprietors on the partial opening of the Brighton line,
and the immediate prospect of its entire completion. A
great diminution in the expenditure of the half-year had
taken place, but there was also a decrease of receipts from
passengers, which was attributable to the high toll pay-
able to the Greenwich Company. On that part of the
railway, independent of the Greenwich toll—namely,
between Croydon and New Cross, the Directors
have reduced the fares ; the result has been
that the number of passengers between those stations
has been doubled, as compared with July, 1840. The
accession of the Brighton Railway encouraged the
Directors to hope that at the next general meeting. they
would be able to recommend a dividend, while the ex-
. petted opening of the south-eastern line would not fail
to improve much further the prospects of the Company
'the total capital received by the Company to the 31st
of July, 1841, was 631,8151. 14s. 64d. The coaching
and carrying account for the Walt' year realized
17,5451. Gs. 60., and the expenditure was 15,449/. 18s 7d.,
leaving a balance of 2,0951. 75. 1 lid., to which add a
former balance of 7,956f.95. 2d., making, 10,0511. 17s. lid.
The number of passengers during the half year was
51,569 first class, 168,627 second class, 24,511 third
class ; total, 244,707 passengers. The toll paid by the
Brighton Company to the Croydon Company, since the
opening of the Brighton line, was 1,3301
T
having been adopted, a long controversy tookhpelaßceepober-t
tween Mr. Maubert, Mr. Ricardo, Mr. Knight, and some
other proprietors, which. ended rather amicably, and a
vote of thanks was passed to the Directors, and the meet-
ing adjourned,

STEAM NAVIGATION TO INDIA.

In looking over a file of Indian papers, it is particularly
I interesting to observe the growing attention which is
paid to steam navigation in India, and the expectations
which ate Indnletd t;:1 to. the advantages to be derived
from this source. From the monthly packets that tire
to start froth Calcutta, and proceed by Madras and
Ceylon to Suez, the inhabitants of India anticipate a
large influx of visitors from England,and frequent deputa-
tions from the East India House to watch the state of
itiraifB; India; It 15 6Nlitattl; hill he!,,ttme a new resort
for travellers for pleasure, to whom every deitifilry In
Europe has grown stale. In 45 days, it is calculated,
they will reach Calcutta from England, then embark on
a river steamer and visit the most remarkable places on
the banks, proceed to Ferozepore. take the Indus steamer
dtliVil to Refachee, and thence fake llottilitty en their re-
turn home. The Indian commercial men, on the other
hand, will, it is supposed, pay frequent visits to Eng-
land, as well as natives, who, finding the difficulties sit
travelling removed, will gradually throw off the restric-
tlollA caste. England will be selected by the officers
of the Government when seeking the restoration of
health in preference to the Cape or 'Van Dieman's-land.
While on the subject of steam navigation, all con-
cerning which is in the Indian journals brought under
the wile head of " Steam matters," the energies of the
Peninsular and Oriental Company are advantageously
contrasted with the inertness of the " Comprehensives."
The constant delay of the latter in commencing opera-
tions is considered to have been their fatal error, and it
is thought that an early commencement of operations
would have led the Peninsular Company to have en-
tered into a joint concern. To show the deep interest
that is taken in the question of the merits of these Com-
panies, it may be remarked that there is scarcely a
month's file of' papers in which lung articles of discussion
on the subject do not appear.
Among' the objects to be effected by the application of
steam navigation, one most desired is the formation of a
complete ferry system at Calcutta. The papers contain an
account of the meeting of the Steam-ferry Company, which
is said to have been mach injured by over exertion. The
capital is two lacs of rupees. A small tuggirg steamer
of 12-horse power had been sent out at a cost of 12,000
rupees, and the London agent had -signed a contract for
two vessels at a cost of 185,500. Sundry expenses had
increased this amount of expenditure to 210,000, and
altogether it was calculated that 00,000 rupees above
the capital would be required. To help the Company
out of its dilemma four plans were offered at the
meeting ; it was proposed an additional 60,00e1 should
be raised, and the undertaking, with two boats completed,-
or that only one boat should be received, and the other
thrown upon the hands of the contractors, on the ground
that the vessels had not been completed in time, or that
the contract should be completed, but one of the
boats be sold ; or, finally, that both the boats should be
sold, and the Association wound up. The Company adopted
the third plan, namely, the sale of one boat at a loss of
ten percent.; an act which appears to have been considered
as very discreditable, and as showing agreat want of
public spirit. The monthly income is supposed to be so
far exceeding the 60,000 rupees, that it should have been
subscribed at once. The establishment of a steam4erry
at Calcutta would, it is supposed, draw to it all the land-
carriage of the provinces on the right bank of the Ganges,
so that Calcutta itself might be the terminus of the Be-
nares road.- —rinzes City Article.

COMMISSION OF LUNACY UPON
AN INMATE OF THE COUNTY PAUPER
LUNATIC ASYLUM.
Yesterday a Commission of Lunacy was issued before
Mr. Commissioner C. K. Murray, at the Duke of York
Tavern, Hanwell, to inquire into the state of mind of
Salomon Cohen, formerly of Whitecross-street, and now
an inmate of the County Pauper Lunatic Asylum, at
Hanwell.
The circumstances which gave rise to this proceeding
were of a novel character, and it was stated to be the
first inquiry of the kind that had occurred in this county.
The C3rnmission was taken out at the instance of the
parish authorities of St. Luke's, to which parish Mr.
Cohen was chargeable, upon their discovering that a
share of 1,6631. 3s. 4d. Three per Cent. Consolidated
Bank Annuities had been bequeathed him by the late
Mr. Lewis Cohen, of Great Prescott-street, Goodman's-
fields.

From the evidence of several witnesses it appeared
that in the month of September, 1828, the alleged lunatic
used to disturb his mother and other members of his fa-
mily by laughing loudly during the night, and upon one
occasion he threatened to put his eldest sister's child
upon the fire, and it was with great difficulty he was pre-
vented from carrying his threat into execution, On
anottrer occasion, when the black fast is annually ob-
served by the. Jews took place, and which commences
upon the beginning of their new year in September, he
rinsed his mouth with some water, which was so serious
a departure from their religious observances that his fa-
mily looked upon it as the first positive indication of his
insanity, He subsequently repeatedly talked incoherently
about the Rabbi and a female to whom he became suddenly
attached, and who disappointed his affections. He also
threatened to murder his mother and sister, and he, was
removed to Miles's Lunatic Asylum at Hoxton, where he
remained about three weeks, and then returned home,
but was again obliged to be placed under the care of the
parochial authorities, and after remaining some time in
the workhouse he was admitted into St. Luke's Hospital,
and after a lengthened confinement he was discharged as
incurable, and then he became an inmate of the Pauper
Lunatic Asylum at Hanwell, where he had since re-
mained. During the time he was in St. Luke's
workhouse he . fractured one of his legs in at-
tempting to escape ; but since he had been
at Hanwell he had been harmless, and had not
been subjected to coercion or restraint. He laboured
under general paralysis, arising, in the opinion of the
medical gentleman, from the softening of the brain. His
recovery was said to be quite hopeless, his case being
characterised as one of a'imentia or fatuity. Mr. Cohen
was stated by all the witnesses to be totally incapable
of managing himself or his property. In the course of
Dr. Bogby's (one of the surgeons of Hanwell Asylum)
examination, he produced a book, called the Day-book,
which contained a short history of each patient's case, and
where the particulars could be obtained. The following
is a copy of the entry in reference to Mr. Cohen :
" Solomon Cohen, aged 34, single, was admitted on the
22d of September, 1838. His brother-in-law states—
Nine years ago the patient met at -a wedding party a
young woman, with whom he fell in love on the spot.
He saw her home that night, and called upon her two
days afterwards. Her parents asked him his intentions?
'He said he should call again next day, and declare them,
but being ill he was not able to keep his promise. The
young woman called at the house of Cohen's mother• in-
law on the day Thllowing, and left a message for him that
he need not come to her again. Cohen, on being in-
formed of this, fretted very much, and walked up and
down the street opposite to her door. He sent her let-
ters, but not receiving any answer he became very dis-
consolate. In a fortnight after, unequivocal symptoms
of a deranged mind had manifested themselves. He was
sent as a private patient to Huston, by the advice of a
Jewish medical man. His friends not being able to bear
the expense, he was removed from Hoxton in three
weeks, and afterwards sent to St. Luke's Hospital, from
which he was discharged incurable, and came from that
establishment to the County Lunatic Asylum. In the
workhouse he was mischievous ; he used to beat the
nurses, porters, and aged paupers. On one occasion he
attempted to escape fram the workhouse, and broke his
leg. His father died at the age of seventy• nine, and
was sane and healthy. His mother, who is still living,
is eighty-two years of age, and in the enjoyment of good
health. He has four sisters, all healthy and of sane
mind. Sarah Cohen, his sister, attributed his insanity
to the girl not returning his affections, and uniting her-
self to a pawnbroker inFarringdon-street."
The Jury proceeded' to the Asylum, and had a short
interview with the unfortunate man, who returned no
answer to their questions, and seemed utterly deprived
of his reason. On their return to the tavern, they found
that Solomon Cohen was now of unsound mind, and in-
capable of managing himself or his property, and that
he had been so since the Ist of November, 1828.

COMPARATIVE INCREASE OF THE POPU-
LATION OF THE NORTH AND SOUTH.—The 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 ampuntcd 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
mdenselyore ro room
meopLed thethan
expansiont e twooformer,
population.an d o u gAh
5t
at
ion
,havethe
free States and territories of the north-west,,6 in 183. 0,
contained 1,470,018 souls ; in 1840 about 9
(n)featrhle.y
westlo2 pera4d cent. While
south-west, ieleoßltrthie-111 I 7,364l;d•ing-
tsireihnolBl3no,
2,237,281, had increased in 1840 to about 3,460,142; an
cSrteaateses
increase of only 64 per cent.—Boston Notion.
DREADFUL SUICIDE AT HORNSEY WOOD.
—On Tuesday a coroner's inquest was taken before Mr.
-
Wakley, M.P., at lionise) -Wood House Tavern, Horn-
sey, on view of the body
of. Mr. Jonathan Ogden, aged
24, a hatter, who was found with his throat cut in
Hornsey-wood. The finding of the body having been
proved, policeman Sands, N 369, stated that he snrched
the pockets of the ieceased. From one of them he took
a letter, which led to the discovery of the deceased's re-
lations. The letter, which was addressed to Mr. 'Wm.
Ogden, Laurence Pountney-lane, his cousin, was as fol.-
lows:—" Dear cousin—Please to send word that I am
dead and no mistake. Give my love to my mother and all
the rest. It is now about three o'clock. Excuse writing so
bad, but I have done my best. Give my respects to Ed-
ward Cook's wife, and God bless them. I may be no
more as soon as dark. Give my respects to brother John.
God bless all. Give my love to ail. JoN.A.TrrArt OGDEN."
The Coroner inquired whether there was any further
evidence ? Crouch, the summoning officer, said that
the deceased's relations had promised to attend, but that
they had not arrived. He had seen the cousin, who in-
ormed him that for some time past the deceased had
threatened to destroy his life. He had been married 18
months, and had no family. For the last few months he
had appeared dsjected. On Thursday last he was with a
friend, when, on leaving him, he observed that he could
not attend to business, and he stated to him that he was
then going to take a walk in the fields, after which he
would sit down and die. He showed a letter to his cousin
who said that it was in the deceased's handwriting.
Verdict, " Temporary insanity.''
CAUTION TO FARMERS.—Mr. Honey, of
Hollingbourne, having last week applied some arsenic
and soft soap to the backs of his sheep and lambs, it was
afterwards discovered that some mistake had been' made
as to the -relative proportions which should have been
used, in consequence of which 119 died within two days.
—Dover Chronicle. • • • • • • '