The Sun.
London, England, 1861-01-25 00:00:00

made at the first shot. This bullet was on the principle of
the Archimedian screw. Then we had an anecdote in re-
ference to this screw bullet. Minie took this ingenious
bullet and a tube to the Tuileries, and submitted his new
projectile to the Emperor. A few days afterwards the chef
paid a second visit to his sovereign, and found that his
Majesty had riddled the richly ornamented walls of his
cabinet with the new projectile."
Next follows a chapter on the foreign legions of
France, in which the author gives a sketch of the
various Free Companies of all nations which from
time to time have taken service under the old
regime. The essay upon the Zouaves follows next.
The corps originally consisted of Arabs :
"These corps received the name of Zouaves from the
Arabic Zouaoua—the Zouaoua being a tribe, or rather a
confederation of tribes, that inhabits the most distant passes
of the Jurjura. These Zouaoua were famous in Algiers for
their intrepidity, their pride, and their industry. They
had never yielded more than a nominal submission to the
Turks. Known as the best infantry of the regency, their
name was given to troops destined to carry its reputation
for courage to the walls of Sebastopol. The new levies in-
cluded natives of any race, mountaineers, or men of the
valley; Arabs, Kabyles, or Coulouglis. French officers
were appointed to drill ;his jumble of races to the perfect
movements of French infantry."
But although these levies proved to be excellent
soldiers, it was found imprudent to leave the
French officers unsupported with such a heteroge-
neous regiment. Therefore—
" The first Volunteers of the Charter, whom the Govern-
ment sent to Africa, were accordingly added to these native
battalions. Then foreigners from various nations flocked
under the Zouave banners, till they became so numerous
that they were divided from the native corps into a separate
foreign legion. The Zouaves, therefore, originally con-
sisted of Parisians and natives of the country surround-
ing Algiers. They soon began their experiences ; for they
had not been enrolled more than six weeks when the Gene-
ral in command included them in the first expedition to
Medeah. They received their ' baptismal fire' in the defile
of Mouzaia, a spot they were destined to redden with their
blood, and make memorable by their valour. In this ex-
pedition they showed all the qualities which have since
won for them a world-wide reputation."
Gradually the regiment became more French, and
although it still retained its oriental uniform, but
few of the Arabs remained in its ranks ; neverthe-
less the dare-devil spirit which characterised the
first recruits remained with it, and is likely to
remain. It is natural for a Zouave not only to be
foremost in the breach, but likewise foremost in
the sack, and to entertain peculiar notions of the
rights of ?neunt and teum, as the following extract
will show:—
" Other regiments arrived in Africa, and after a glorious
apprenticeship went back to France with a goodly sprig of
laurels ; but the Zouaves remained always in the theatre of
war. They personified all the glories of the French armies
of Africa. They could cite 30 brilliant engagements in
which they had borne an honourable part, for every five, or
at most ten, that any other regiment could tell off. Then,
their reputation led old soldiers constantly to their ranks,
so that they had seldom any raw recruits to instruct. Their
officers were generally chosen with great care, for services
performed in Africa, or for military qualities of a high
order; because, with all their courage and their
cheerfulness under privations, the Zouaves were
not men easily governed. They were as vigorous
at the pillage as at the storming. They might be
seen—the face still black with powder, the mus•
ket on the shoulder and a sack at the back, exerting a
scrutinising eye from which nothing escaped. Clothes,
fowls, . provisions of all kinds, fig-cakes, jars of oil, all
things were carried off to their bivouac, and turned to ac-
count. Even the property of the Government was not
always respected. One day, after one of the first razzing
executed under Marshal Bugeaud's orders, the commander
went out to examine the fine flock of sheep which had fallen
into his hands. Shortly afterwards, while reposing in his
tent, significant bleating sounds reached his ear. He
rushed out in great haste, and found the Zouaves in the
midst of the sheep, helping themselves, in defiance of the
guard. The Marshal could not restrain his anger. He
rushed, sword in hand and undressed, into the midst of the
tumult, which he contrived to quell. The Zouaves, of
course, retired obediently, but with their prey in their
possession. An inquiry, instituted at their bivouac, had no
result whatever. Nobody was missing at the call—no-
body had seen any sheep. Pere Bugeaud could only laugh
at the affair."
The Chasseurs de Vincennes form a contrast to this
wild regiment, consisting as they do of the elite of
French army. We find an interesting biography
of Marshal de St. Arnaud, in which the various
fortunes of the gallant old general are given in
detail. The volume concludes with chapters on
French officers and French soldiers. Blanchard
Jerrold has contrived to combine valuable informa-
tion with interesting anecdote; and, although the
subject is not new, there are few who will not
derive pleasure and information from its perusal.

According to present arrangements, the Empress
of Austria will leave Madeira about the middle of April,
and reach Vienna in May.

The Hon. George Waldegrave and the Countess
of Rothes arrived at the Pavilion Hotel, Folkestone, on
Tuesday last, en route for the Continent.

The new India loan of .£3,000,000 is expected to
be announced on Monday. This sum is about to be raised
under the authority granted by Parliament last Session, for
the express purpose of meeting any deficiency in the funds
obtained by the Indian railway companies in England.

THE STRANDED STEAMSHIP QUEEN VICTORIA.
—On Saturday or Sunday next, when the tides range
high, an attempt will he made to float the Queen Vic-
toria at Plymouth, by Capt. Daniel Russ©l from Lloyd's,
a gentleman who has had much experience in operations of
the kind. Harris, the diver, has examined her, and reports
that a smooth rock, 25 to 35 feet long, is right under her
mainmast and pushes up the keel ; the after part of the
ship, which was buoyant some time after grounding, has
now sunk down on the beach. The Queen Victoria
is divided into three compartments, and it is proposed to
draw the water from the forward compartment "with one of
Gwynne's pumps, worked by an engine of 10-horse power,
and capable of lifting 1,000 gallons per minute. The after
compartment is provided with another pump, worked by a
6-horse engine, which lifts 500 gallons per minute. When
these compartments are empty (the cable being landed), it
is hoped that she will float sufficiently to be taken into the
large graving dock in the Plymouth Great Western DoCks.
The cable is believed to have received no material injury,
and tests very well. It is intended to rejoin the wire and
thoroughly test the whole,

THE COMING CRISIS.—On the European Conti-
nent the face of the heavens is covered up by thick banks
of cloud from the steppes of Russia to the sunny plains off
Italy. Garibaldi does not conceal the fact that he is matur-
ing in Caprera a campaign which Will deluge the earth with
blood. He believes it his mission to rescue oppressed nation-
alities,
and the instincts of millions point to him as the
man of destiny—the unselfish and accomplished liberator,
who has a noble heart, and therefore will never want a de-
voted army about his standards. His emergence from
Caprera will wake up and arm expectant millions who
have everything to gain by success and nothing to lose but •
life by defeat. France looks across the channel armed to the
teeth. He must be a traitor or a fool who does not expect
the cloud that hangs above the Tuileries to burst some-
where. Behind commercial treaties is an army of up-
wards of hall a million. The imperial skater on the Bois
do Boulogne does not for one moment forget he has "an
empire to found and a defeat to avenge." His feet are
on his skates, but his hand grasps his sword-hilt.
Ho talks persAfge to ladies, while ho arranges campaigns
—decrees the cessation of passports, and casts rifled cannon
—glorifies the English alliance, and under the covering
prestige it gives him, builds iron plated ships, and calls
out the reserve of the empire.—. From " Gathering Clouds,"
in the London Review.

THE EDUCATIONAL CONGRESS AT BIRMING..
HAM.—The important :congress to aid the movement in
favour of securing Government assistance in the extension
of Ragged Schools terminated on Wednesday evening. The
proceedings were most enthusiastic and encouraging. Dr.
Guthrie delivered an excellent address, after which the
meeting paid a very high compliment upon the indefati-
gable efforts of the untiring and energetic hon. secretary of
the Conference—Mr. Charles Ratcliff—a gentleman who
has for a long time past devoted both his time and purse
towards the education and improvement of the poor in
Birmingham.
THE TESTIMONIAL TO SIR W. HATTER, M.P.—
The testimonial which is to be presented to Sir William
Hayter, M.P., next month, at a dinner, over which Lord
Palmerston will preside, contains 1,100 ounces of silver. In
plan, at the bottom, the work is a square of 25 inches. The
square base has projections at each'of its extreme angles, in
front of which aro shells in silver beautifully chased. Over
these projected portions there are tazzi adapted for the re-
ception of natural or artificial flowers. The central portion
of the work over the base assumes the abacus form, in the
centre of which is a pedestal of bright silver, whereon
stands a statue of Britannia, with her attendant lion.
Around this pedestal are four clothed female figures, seve-
rally emblematic of Fidelity, Loyalty, Industry, and
Justice. On the front of the work, on a bright silver
ground, is the following inscription :—" This testimonial
was presented to the Right Hon. Sir Wm. Goodenough
Hayter, Bart., M.P., by 335 members of the House of Com-
mons, in remembrance of the courtesy and efficiency with
which he performed the duties of Political Secretary to the
Treasury, between the years 1551 and 1859."
THREE MEN BURIED IN A MlNE.—Great con-
sternation was created at Calver Sough, near Bakewell,
Derbyshire, on Tuesday last, by the fear that three men,
named. Thomas Edeson, and Joseph and John Purch (two
brothers), had been killed in a mine. Tho most arduous
and
anxious exertions were commenced to dig them out,
morning the men employed succeeded
Two were found alive—viz., Joseph
ianndrioanchltin'esdnte,hsedm. ay
it ad John Burch, though greatly exhausted. They were
at once removed, and, being carefully treated, are in a fair
way of recovery. Not so Thomas Edeson; he was found
dead, crushed. The survivors
lid E
I,ull'aylen they were instantly
hemmede
s i i
men ded
hads
nichayil 'abslarge
remainedius hgotf
massrfig
irhnetdof earth displaced by the shot.
These
the mine from Monday, having
had no food, and their feelings can be better imagined than
described. A telegram was sent to the coroner, Mr. F. G.
Bennett, at Glossop, to hold an inquest, and a strict in-
quiry will be made into the cause of this accident and
death.

The Vienna Cabinet has again put into vigour the
decree prohibiting the axport of arms to the
rrivipalities, Danubian