The Sun.
London, England, 1844-06-08 00:00:00

Those who live in glans houses should never fling
stones, says the old adage, and, of all men in the world,
the Home Secretary is the very last who should have
taunted any one with vacillating or inconsistent con-
duct ; for he is himself the most perfect speci-
men that the present age can show of political
Jim Crowism—a peculiarity in his public cha-
racter to which Mr. Fox MAULE thus point-
edly alluded :—" The Right Honourable Baronet
had accused him of inconsistency. Now, he thought
he ought to have been the last person to make such a
charge. The man who wrote Corn and Currency,
and who now sat as the supporter of the agricultural
interest, ought to be very cautious in charging an-
other with inconsistency." Mr. Fox MAULE went
on to observe, by way of more effectually pointing
his sarcasm, " In a celebrated caricature publication
of the day, the Right Hon. Baronet was represented
as receiving a deputation from the distressed thimble-
riggers. One of these thimble-riggers was made to
ask him if ho had any objection to allow the game of
round-about ;to which he replied, Oh, no ; for I
have patronised round-about all my life.' " This was
a home-thrust, clear and dextrous as one of ANGELO'S
best lunges; and though Sir JAMES GRAHAM, like the
rest of the House, is represented as having laughed
heartily at it, yet his laugh, we suspect, was of that
bitter, vindictive character which has been called'
the rises sardonicus. But Mr. Fox MAuLE's pungent
sarcasm does not apply to the Netherbyßaronet alone.
It is far more comprehensive in its application. It is
a hit at the whole Conservative majority—to say no-
thing oftheirexpediency-lovingPremier who, like his il-
lustrious colleague, the Home Secretary, is notorious for
having "patronised round-about all his life." What
were the recent decisions on the Factory Bill in the
House of Commons but a game of round-about,
played by a set of Conservative political thimble-
riggers ? What is the conduct pursued by Sir
R. PEEL towards the monopolists and the free-
traders—now coquetting with the one, now with the
other party, and juggling both—but a game of round-
about, at which, however, no one is allowed to win
but himself? What is the system of policy pursued
towards Ireland—a policy that seems to have
neither beginning, middle, nor end; that is
bottomed on no broad, intelligible princi-
ples of action ; that neither retrogrades nor ad-
vances, but goes round and round the same dull,
hacknied course ;—what, we ask, is this system of
policy but a game of round-about, depending solely
on the doctrine of chances ? But, perhaps, we ought
not to allege it as a fault against Ministers,
that they are partial to the round-about scheme
of Government, for it is from this very vacil-
lation and inconsistency of their's that we derive
our chief hopes of extorting from them, one
day or other, all that we could desire. Were they
sternly and irrevocably wedded to principle—were
they the incorrigible slaves of prejudice, as were some
of the Tory bigots of the old school--faint and dis-
tant, indeed, would be the hopes of the Liberal party
of ever obtaining anything like substantial reform ;
still fainter and more distant the hopes of the Leaguers
of ever procuring the total abolition of the corn-laws.
But, thanks to the inconsistency of Ministers—to
their love of temporising, and their inordinate fancy
for the game of political round-about, our chances
of obtaining, one by one, all our demands in the
way of reform and free-trade, are by no means
few or remote. If we can expect nothing
from the good, wise, and correct principles of
the PEEL Cabinet, we may expect everything from
its apprehensions, and its quick, keen sense of ex-
pediency. It is no reason, because it declares against
the corn-laws to-day, that it should persist in that
declaration to-morrow. On the contrary, the pro-
bability is—that is to say, if the reasoning derived
from experience is to have any weight—that the
instant Ministers perceive that the country is ge-
nerally resolved on an entire abolition of the bread-
tax, that very instant they will give way, and "go
the whole hog" as Corn-law Repealers.

The Paris papers are filled with speculations on
the unfavourable aspect of affairs in Algiers. It has
been for some days known that the Emperor of
Alonocco had joined ABD-EL-KADER, and proclaimed
a kind of holy war against the French invaders; the
report is now confirmed officially. Marshal SOULT,
the President of the Council and Minister of War, in
the debate in the Chamber of Deputies on Wednes-
day, defended an item 00,000 f.) in the credits re-
quired to establish certain military posts in Algiers,
and in doing so made the following reference to the
state of affairs in that part of the world:—
" The measures ordered by Marshal Bugeaud have been
approved by me, because I consider them not only useful, but
indispensable; they were the more expedient because the
holy war' has been proclaimed in Morocco. A considerable
concentration of troops, amounting to between 12,000 and
15,000 men, has taken place opposite our forts at Ouchda.
Now, on one of the points of the extreme limits of the Tell,
which is opposite to Ouchda, and in advance of Tlennen, for-
tifications have been commenced, and it is our anxious desire
that they be completed before the war breaks out. In that
situation, I ask the Chamber, in what point of view am I to
consider the reduction of 10,000 f. proposed by the committee?
When the army shall hear of this discussion—when those
who are now in presence of the forces of Morocco shall hear
of the proposed retrenchment of those 10,0001, what impres•
sion will it produce upon their minds? Will not that por-
tion of the army think that the devotion which it evinces by
confronting the dangers with which it is menaced, and that
the efforts it has made to cover itself by throwing up fortifi-
cations calculated to increase its strength, entitled it to better
feeling? I maintain that, in the province of Oran, as
well as at Tiaret, Saida, and Sebdon, our troops are in
presence of an enemy's army. The formation of that
army is easily accounted for. Driven from Algeria, Abd-el-
Kader sought refuge in that portion of the Desert which is
considered a neutral territory. Since then he has repaired
to Morocco, rallied to his standard several tribes of the em-
pire ever ready to disobey their Sovereign when it suits their
convenience, and who, blinded by religious fanaticism, were
easily fascinated by the exhortations of Abd-el-Kader, and
insomuch that the Emperor was unable to resist the impulse
communicated to him by his subjects, and was obliged to
proclaim ' the holy war.' rhis result might have been
expected, for Abd-el-Kader, being left without any re-
sources, and seeing the reluctance of the tribes of Algeria
to make common cause with him, directed his attention to-
wards Morocco, where either by threats or other means he
contrived to secure the acquiescence or co-operation of the
Emperor of Morocco. Thus this concentration of troops took
place at Ouchda, and the two armies are now in presence. I
hope, nevertheless, that no war will have ensued. I have
every reason to think that the sight of our troops, and the
measures taken by our Generals, will suffice to check the
warlike ardour of the hordes of Morocco. But I would not
wish, when our troops are so devoted—when the Generals
in command of them display so much ardour and adopt such
wise dispositions, that a manifestation from the Chamber
should induce a belief that their conduct is not sufficiently
appreciated."

The accounts from private sources are beginning to
assume a disastrous complexion. Galignartis Mes•

senger of Thursday contains the following from si
Toulon letter of the 3d inst.:—
" We have received most afflicting news from the province
of Constantina, dated the 26th ult. The Duke d'Aumale
had left at Biscara a very small garrison, composed only of
Lieutenant Pettigand, Commandant ; Sub-Lieutenant Cro-
chard, and Aide-Surgeon-Major Arcelin, with about 40 men,
from the battalion of the Constantina Fusiliers. This small
corps was intended to form the nucleus of a new battalion,
to be raised from among the tribes in the environs of Biscara.
Of all these, only a sergeant-major, named Pelisse, escaped.
The new recruits opened the gates of the Casbah during the
night to Mahommed Seghir, the Kalifat of Abd• el-Kader
and his followers, who surprised our men in their sleep, and
killed them all. Plunder became general, and 7,0001., left
with the Commandant to pay his men, and all the cannon
muskets, ammunition; and other stores, were carried off.'
This unfortunate affair is said to have encouraged the sur-
rounding tribes to take up arms. The fatal news having
reached the Prince while in the mountains of the Ouled
Sultan, he instantly marched to Biscara with a column of
3,000 men. He arrived on the 18th, but the Kalifat had left
on the preceding day. The third battalion of the African
Light Infantry marched from Constantina on the 24th, for
Biscara, to form its garrison."

The Journal des Debats has an account to the
same effect; and the Sleek is enabled to speak more
in detail as to the results of this affair :--
" On the 11th ult., at 2 o'clock A.M., a false attack was di-
rected against the Casbah, and immediately afterwards the
conspirators in the town rushed upon the remainder of the
garrison, composed of a few French and a number of natives,
and put every one of them to death. The number of victims
of that treason is estimated at 50, amongst whom were two
officers, a surgeon, several sub-offic,ers, a few workmen at-
tached to the army, and a number of Turks who had refused
to take part in the plot. The Kalifat carried of 60,000 ball-
cartridges, 80,000 francs, 300 muskets, 300 uniforms, and two
pieces of artillery."

The Opposition journals, so ready to denounce the
policy of the Government on all other occasions,

strongly support it in its determination to maintain
its ground in Africa at any cost, either of blood or
treasure, and advocate even an extension of conquests
in the territory, where it is with the utmost difficulty
that the army can keep what has been gained; the
warmth of their zeal seems, indeed, rather to increase
with every new disaster. The Government does not
seem indisposed to take advantage of the popular
feeling; great preparations are going on for the trans-
mission of additional troops t 3 Africa.

The Presse announces as certain that " his Majesty
the ICING of the FRENCH' will pay a visit to the
QUEEN of ENGLAND at her residence in the Isle of
Wight."

The Three per Cents. closed at 84f. 45c. ; the Five