The Sun.
London, England, 1851-04-18 00:00:00

gWooldtl .iregard fellowship to
would
neigbhpolicy, ho thought, would restore the railway to a
;com-
parative state of prosperity.
object. They would do all they could
to make all the companies work harmoniously together;
tbhoeuirrinuglticmomatrni es, peace and
equitable terms would be offered to all, and he had no
doubt that eventually this line would be at pence with
all its neighbours and tributaries. Many shareholders
had addressed him on the subject of the East Anglian line.
He had been invited to open a negotiation with that
company, but how could he do that when they were
in the hands of the Great Northern? The Great
Northern, however, would be mistaken if they supposed
when they got that line into their possession the Eastern
Counties Company would be unable to compete with
them, for there would bo still the water communication
open to them. Still it was the anxious desire of
the directors to be at peace oven with
the Great Northern, and they hoped the Great Northern
line would see that their interest would be found more in
co-operating than in competing with the Eastern Counties,
who were open to offers from all. Having said thus much
he was anxious to state that the directors were ready
to grant tickets extending over periods of 21 yearm,
to all parties who were disposed to build villas on their
line. This was the policy which the directors intended
to pursue, and with the assistance and confidence of the
proprietors no doubt the line would once more become
profitable.—(Hear, hear.)
ANr a vote of thanks to the Chairman, the meeting
Separated.

LOUIS NAPOLEON and ABD-EL-KADER.

A very interesting correspondence between the Mar-
quis of Londonderry and the President of the French
Republic has been published in reference to the capti-
vity of Abd-el-Kader. The letters are accompanied by
one from the Marquis to the Earl of Glengall in this
country, describing the circumstances which gave rise to
them.

Feeling a high admiration for the character of the
unfortunate Arab chief, and a deep sympathy for him
in his captivity in the lonely old Chateau d'Amboise, ou
the banks of the Loire, Lord Londonderry, with much
trouble, obtained permission from tho French Minister of
War to pay his respects to the Emir. After obtaining
the rarely granted permission, he, with much difficulty,
gained the interior of the chateau. He thus describes
the interview:—

" We followed an Algerine slave, who led us through
the winding terraces of the garden, which are clothed
with tall cypress and other trees, to the most elevated
part of the chateau, when passing through an out-
ward ante-hall or guard-chamber we came to a door,
where all shoes, &c., were left. Upon this door
being thrown open the interesting old warrior stood
before us, his burnous as white as the driven snow,
his beard as black as jet, his projecting largF•
eyebrows of the same hue, with teeth like ivory, and
most expressive dark eyes, showing peculiarly the white
liquid tinge surrounding the pupils. His stature is tall
and commanding, his gesture, softness, and amiability
of expression almost inexplicable. Upon my approaching
him the Emir held out a very large, bony, and deep
brown hand to me, which when I grasped he turned to
lead me to the sofa and the seats prepared at the head of
the room."

The result of the interview was, that the old warrior
made interest with the Marquis, knowing that he had
been on terms of friendship with the President of the
Republic, to obtain an interview with Louis Napoleon;
and that the English soldier promised to " try." The
correspondence itself shows with what tact and good
feeling he made the attempt :

" Tours, March 8.
" Pardon me, my Prince, if I take the liberty to write
to you. Past time emboldens me; the present moment
inspires me with overpowering impulse. With the per-
mission of the Minister of War, I was admitted to an
audience with the interesting captive of France, the
brave Abd-el-Kader. The sympathy of every soldier who
has served during a long life always impels him to honour
illustrious chiefs, even when they are enemies; and I
cannot capress the sentiments of admiration and com-
iniseraiion I have felt in a rather long interview with the
ex-Emir.

" In addressing this petition to your Highness, I com-
mence by supplicating you not to accuse me of pre-
sumption, and to be well persuaded that I believe I
have no right to interfere in so grave an affair. I have
the conviction that the Government of the French
Republic and its President retai❑ the Emir prisoner
for th© interest of the civilized world. It is a
sufficiently remarkable circumstance that the person
who now presents himself before you to obtai❑ some
solace and consideration for this illustrious prisoner
is ho who addressed in favour of the President of
the Republic the same demand to the King Louis
Philippe, while the President was a prisoner at Ham.
My prayer is, that the painful and unfortunate life
of Abd•el-Bader should be taken into consideration. Can
it be believed that the liberty accorded to an old man,
bowed down by his misfortunes, his chagrins, and his
losses, can over injure in the slightest degree the great
and powerful nation that now keeps him captive in a
manner that wounds the hearts of those who honour the
warrior yet more in his adversity than in his prosperity?
Believe, my Prince, that I have the very positive con-
viction, that even if the slightest danger could result
from placing Abd-el-Kader in liberty, it would be more
than a thousand times compensated by the glory that
would be showered on the French nation by this act of
generosity.
At present, my Prince, I shall conclude by giving
you a summary of his position. On the summit of a
mountain on the borders of the Loire, the Cha-
teau d'Amboise offers to the Emir no facilities
for carriage or equestrian exercise ; the sadness
of the old edifice, the sole ►ociety of the com-
mandant and the guard, can offer him no resource; the
gardens and the ramparts form his sole promenades.
The prisoner offered me a small cup of tea; this offer-
ing ar.d his conversation were lull of an inexpressible
grace and grandeur. _ _

At lash I arrive at his demand—at the promise 1
havo made to him—and I hope from your goodness the
power to show him that I have not forgotten his com-
mission. He has prayed of me to demand of you,
in the name of the old friendship he knows you
have for me, to grant him an audience when it
will be possible for you. He has also expressed
the desire that I should accompany him to your pre-
sence. I have, my Prince, fulfilled the duty of an old
soldier of her Britannic Majesty. My aim is to serve
your glory in liberating a great warrior. If I succeed it
will be one of the greatest glories of my life ; if I do not
succeed, I shall have nothing with which to reproach
myself in having made the attempt.
" I have the honour to be, Monseigneur, your very
humble servant,

" VANE LONDONDERRY."
" Elpea National, March 29.

"My dear Marquis,—l have not sooaer replied to
your letter written to me from Tours, because I did not
know where to address my reply, and I hoped soon to
see you in Paris.
" That which you tell me of the Emir Abd-el-Kadcr
has greatly interested me ; and I find markedly, in
your solicitude for him, the same generous heart that
interceded some years since in favour of the prisoner of
Ham.

" I confess to you that from the first day of my elec-
tion the captivity of Abd-el-Bader has not ceased to
occupy me, and to weigh like a burden upon my heart.
I have also often been occupied in seeking for the means
that would permit me to place him at liberty, without
risking a compromise of the repose of Algeria and the
security of our soldiers and colonists.
" To-day, even, the new ambassador, who is about to
repair to Constantinople, is charged by me to study this
question; and believe me, my dear Marquis, no person
will be more happy thau I when it will be permitted to
me to render liberty to Abd-el-Kader.

" I shall be very glad to see the Emir, but I can only
see him to announce good news; I am therefore, until
that period arrives, deprived of the possibility of grant-
ing his request.
" Receive, my dear Marquis, the assurance of my in-
timate and high consideration and friendship.

" LOUIS NAPOLEON."
"Pau, April 1.
" Allow me, my dear Prince, to assure you that the
letter I have this instant received from your Highness,
from your own hand, has given me so lively a sentiment
of pleasure and gratitude that during all my life the im-
pression will remain ineffaceable. Your expressions
show the honour and uprightness of your character.
The same in prosperity as in adversity—frank, noble,
benevolent, chivalrous, magnanimous, and well resolved
to act according to the great principle of humanity,
Do unto others as you would they should do unto you.'
" The future of Abd-el-Kader is in your hands and in
those of the nations you govern. For the happy result
of my undertaking I repose in you an unlimited confi-
dence. May the fate of Abd-el-Kader become, through
you, as peaceable as your own will be glorious. Such is
the ardent wish of him who has the honour to assure
you still, as formerly, of his greatest and high considera-
tion, friendship, and personal devotion.
" VANE LONDONDERRY.
" To the President of the French Republic."

(From the Times.)
Lord Londonderry has just contributed another "nar-
rative" to the studies of the curious. On his passage
towards the south of France his Lordship was seized
with the benevolent desire of visiting Abd- el- Kader in
his prison, and of exerting in the captive's favour all
such interest as he might possibly command. Having
procured the necessary passports, be was introduced into
the Chateau d'Amboise, and received by the Moorish
chief with considerable dignity and evident satisfaction.
On quitting the old warrior be wrote immediately to the
President of the Republic, intreating his favourable in-
tervention in behalf of the prisoner. To this application
the President promptly replied, and the correspondence
between the two parties, together with the details of the
interview suggesting it, are now published for the edi-
fication of Englishmen at home.
The story is certainly a curious episode of the times,
and not c little characteristic of the parties concerned.
athlliyrdpiocnttrheseqsuues,p"etuhseion"
Our readers will recognise the practised tourist in the
description of the chateau and its approaches—the drive
along the banks of the Loire, "more grand than actu-
ptwrioncifipialee,,
, stonewith
otherbridges, t
rainkdi a
ga
objects,"ano..presented to the traveller's eye. At length, in
_.or Id_‘ French country town, consisting, as we are in-
t nied, 'of a collectionof house., with
narrow streets,"
the prison of the Arab f ch' le was descried, rising
abruptly from the right ban
bank of the river. The access
to this feudal stronghold
seems greatly to resemble that
by which foot passengersust
reach Windsor Castle insteadA of entering at the southern
steep and narrow lane led to
the summit of a terrace, where
his Lordship, after a
fashion which must have reminded
him
campaigning, was ushered into a
liof his Spanish
chapel to wait the
.arrival of the authorities. As yet t
no signs of Moorish life about the . ere bad appeared
place, when presently