The Sun.
London, England, 1842-05-24 00:00:00

FRENCH WAR IN AFRICA.

Despatches have been received by the French Govern-
ment from the Governor-General of Algeria, dated Oran,
the sth, and Mostaganem, the Bth instant, and inclosing
reports from other Generals of the proceedings of the
divisions under their orders. The accounts are, gene-
rally speaking, satisfactory, very little opposition being
offered to the French by any of the hostile tribes, except
those immediately under the' influence of Abd-el-Kader,
and a desire being manifested to submit to the French ;
but the only event of any importance in these despatches
is ci,ntained in a report from General Bedeau to General
Bugeaud, dated from the bivouac of Matila the 30th ult.
The General states, that on the 27th he received informa-
tion that for three days the town of Nedroma had been
blockaded by Abd el-Kader, with a force composed of his
regular troops, and about 1,900 horse and foot of the
tribes of the Kabyles, and of Souhalia and Trava ; and
as prompt succour was demanded, General Bedeau im-
mediately resolved on marching. After giving an ac-
count of his march to Bal el Taza, the General says :
" In the afternoon of the 20th. at one o'clock, I per-
ceived some horsemen on the Col de Bal el Taza, and
soon afterwards the heights on the right, which are very
steep and rocky, were covered with Kabyles, marching
with their standard. The number of horse on the Cot
increased, and we could easily distinguish the flag of
Abd-el-Kader among them. At this time the heat was
stifling, our men were somewhat fatigued, and our march
was slow. I formed my convoy into a mass, and en-
trusted it to the guard of Lieutenant-Colonel Boudhors
with two battalions of the 56th. The Zouaves, and Bth
battalion of Chasseurs were placed at the head of the co-
lumn, having taken off their knapsacks. The 10th bat-
talion of Chasseurs and 26th, the right column, under
Commandant M`Mahon, also deposited their knapsacks.
I ordered the Commandant to attack the heights on his
right, as soon as he saw the Zouaves reach the Col. I
told him that I should then, with the cavalry and
the Bth Chasseurs, make a rapid movement on the
right, so as to surround the Kabyles, and drive them
upon his column. These dispositions made, the offen
sive movement was commenced. The Col was weakly
defended. The Guum of the Beni Amers pursued th'e
cavalry of Abd-el-Kader on the left, white I proceeded
with twenty regulars of the Sidi Mohammeds, and. two
squadrons of Chasseurs, by difficult though practicable
paths, which led us on to the line of retreat of the Ka-
byles ; Commandant M‘Mahon executing with equal in-
teiligence and activity the directions I had given him,
our two columns were able to re-unite. At least 200
killed were left on the ground, and we took seventy pri-
soners. Our soldiers returned loaded with bournous and
muskets. The Goum of the Beni .Anvers rejoined the
column without having been able to reach the enemy, his
cavalry having fled without resistance. The cavalry of
the Gossels was engaged at the right of our Chasseurs.
The vivacity of the attack continued to the end of the
combat, and we have therefore had a slight loss, viz., five
killed and sixteen wounded. Our native allies had some
wounded. Ido not estimate the number of Kabyles on
the heights at less than 1,800. They thought themselves
safe there, on account of the difficulty of the roads, and
were therefore much astonished when they found our
cavalry at their heels. Their retreat then became a flight,"
'rho despatch concludes with a notice of the officers
and troops who most distinguished themselves, and
with an announcement that General Bedeau intended,
on the Ist instant, to encamp in the country of the Sou-
halias, where he hoped to .effect the submission of the
Travas.

The Governor-General, in his despatch from Mosta-
ganem, where he arrived on the Bth, states that be
would proceed with his column to carry on operations
on the Chelitf, as soon as the troops under General d'Ar-
bouville should have joined him. There is a long de;
spatch from General Changarnier, dated Blidah, the 6th
inst., giving the details of his late razzia, the main parts
of which we have already seen published. lie states the
number of prisoners taken at more than 400, the mini-
ber of cattle at 6,000, and about 200 camels, horses, and
beasts of burden. There is also a report from Algiers,
May 10, of a slight affair on the 7th, in the neighbour-
hood of Bouffarick, with about 200 Arabs, under Ben
Salem ; four of the enemy were killed, and about twenty
wounded. The French had only two men wounded.

A few days ago, as the baggage was being landed
from a packet in the port of Marseilles, a loaded fowling-piece,
which was amongst it, went off by accident, and not less than
twelve persons were wounded by its contents, but fortunately
the wounds were not serious,

131 PE I:1AL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS„ May 23.

The LORD CHANCELLOR took his scat on the Wool-
sack shortly before Five &Clock.
THE TARIFF.

The Duke of RICHMOND said, that having been
absent from the House for the last seven weeks, he
had been precluded from presenting a petition, which
had been entrusted to him, against certain parts of tbu
tariff, more particularly against the proposed low rate
of duty upon imported meat and cattle. The Noble
Duke supported the petition, which was from. a place
in Aberdeenshire.
After a few words from the LORD CHANCY.LLOR
and Lord BROUGHAM, the petition was ;aid on the
table.

A message from the Commons brought up the Bill
for amending the law relating to Fine and Recovery
in Chester and Wales, the Pentonville Prison Bill, the
Irish Spirit Duties Drawback'Bill, and a number of
other Bills, which were severally read a first time.
CHURCH: PATRONAGE" (SCOTLAND).
The Duke of ARGYLE presented several petitions
against the present system of Church Patronage in
Scotland. • _ _ _

Lord BROUGHAM presented a petition from the
Board of Guardians of the Poor-law Union of Dur •
ham, against the bastardy claUse in the New Poor-
law Bill. Also a petition from the London Me-
chanics' Institution, praying -for an exemption for
such institutions from all rates. and taxes. Also a
petition from the Mechanics' InStitution of Poplar to
the same effect. Also a petitioir,from Bath, complain-
ing of Catholic grievances in the army and navy.
Also a petition from the Merchants and Traders of
the City of London, in public meeting assembled, at
the King's Arms, Philip-lane, praying for the total
abolition of slavery.
LOCKING THE DOORS OF. RAILWAY CAR-
RIAGES.

Lord CAMPBELL said he wished to put a ques-
tion to the Noble and Learned Lord on the Woolsack,
as to whether it was the intentionof Govermnent
make any regulation on the subject of locking passen-
gers in railway carriages. , He need only refer to the
frightful accident which had lately occurred on the
railway in Paris to show the necessity of this.
The LORD CHANCELLOR said, he could give
no satisfactory answer on .the subject, as his Noble
Friend at the head of the Board of Trade, was not in
the House. He (the Lord 'Chancellor) had been
locked up in a railway carriage that morning, and he
found no inconvenience.--,(Latlghter.)
Earl FITZWILLIAM presented a petition from
the Young Men's Free Trade Association of Glas-
gow, in favour of free trade.
The House then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, May 23.
The SPEAKER took the chair a few minutes before
Four o'Clock.
Sir Stephen Glynn and Lord Hervey were intro-
duced by Lord Germaine and Col. Wyndham, and
took the oaths and their seats for Flintshire and
Brighton.
KINGSTON MARINERS' CHURCH.

The Kingston Mariners' Church Bill was read a
third time and passed.
CORK ELECTION.

Mr. HAYTER said, he had to inform the House,
that the Select Committee appointed to try the merits
of the petition, complaining of an undue election for
the County of Cork, had determined that Daniel
O'Connell, Esq., and E. B. Roche, Esq., were duly
elected Knights of the Shire to serve in the present
Parliament for the County. of Cork.
HOLY` ELL ROADS.

The Holywell Roads Bill was read a third time awl
passed.

COLLEGE OF MAYNOOTH.
Mr. CHRISTOPER presented a petition from
Waddington, in the county of . Lincoln, against any
further grant to the College of Maynooth.
THE TARIFF.

Mr. HOLFORD presented a petition from the
tanners and curriers of Leicester against any reduc-
tion in the duty on foreign leather. •
Mr. DUND AS presented a' petition against any
alteration in the duty on straw plait. •
Colonel T. WOOD presented a petition 'from the
Committee of Proprietors of Hungerford Market,
against any alteration in the duty on foreign onions.
Mr. H. }LINDE presented a petition from York
against any reduction in the duty on foieign hemp ;
also a petition, praying for a-limitation in the hours
of labour in factories.
NATIONAL EDUCATION IN IRELAND.
Mr. COLLIER presented a petition from a place
in Ireland, against the present system of national edu-
tion in Ireland.
CHURCH PATRONAGE.
Mr. BANNERMAN presented a petition from
Aberdeen against Church Patronage in Scotland.

CATHOLIC GRIEVANCES.
Mr. P. HOWARD presented a petition from
Weston Underwood, complaining of Catholic griev-
ances in the Army and Navy.
INCOME-TAX.

Mr. WALL presented a petition from a Building
Society in North Shields,praymg for exemption from
the Income-tax.
NEW POOR-LAW AMENDMENT BILL.
Mr. R. BERNAL presented a petition. from the
rate-payers of High Wycombe, against the re-enact-
ment of the new Poor-law Bill.
Mr. S. CRAWFORD presented a petition from an
individual in the county of Northampton, against the
present system of Church-rates.
Sir E. FILMER presented a petition from a place
in the county of Kent, against any reduction of the
duty upon hops.
Dr. BOWBING presented a petition from a place
in Leicestershire, praying for a removal of all restric-
tions upon the national industry, and especially for a
repeal of the Corn-laws.
Sir G. STRICKLAND preSented a petition from
Preston, in Lancashire, praying. the House to pass a
Ten Hours' Factory Bill.

DIE TARIFF.
Lord WORSLEY presented several petitions from
various parts of England against the new tariff, and
more particularly against that part of it which goes
to permit the importation of cattle.
IRISII FISHERIES.

Lord ELIOT presented a petition, numerously
signed, from a place in the county of Cork, in favour
of the Irish Fisheries Bill.
Sir D. NORREYS presented a petition from
Mallow in favour of the Irish Fisheries Bill.
Mr. WILLIAMS presented a petition from
Coventry, against the proposed reduction in the duty
on cordage and twine.
Lord MAHON said that he held in his hand a
petition from Mr. Sheridan Knowles, Mr. Douglas
Jerrold, and other dramatic authors, complaining of
the state of the law which affects the drama. He
could not consistently with the rules which regulate
the presentation of petitions attempt to state the
grievances complained of, but he would move to-
morrow that the petition be printed with the Votes,
and would take an opportunity Of calling the attention
of the House to the subject.
HEALTH OF THE METROPOLIS.
Mr. MACKINNON presented a petition from the
inhabitants of Old-street, Chiswell-street, and the
streets adjacent in the Metropolis, complaining of the
crowded state of those neighbourhoods, and praying
the House to adopt measures to improve the health of
the Metropolis.
LIGHTING THE METROPOLITAN ROADS.
Mr, BYNG presented a petition on the subject of
lighting the roads round London.
RAILWAY TRAVELLING ON THE
SABBATH.

Mr. MACLEAN presented a petition from Green-
wich against railway travelling on the Sabbath.
WAR IN INDIA.

111 i. HUME presented a petition from some . place
in file .county or Norfolk, against the wars in Aft=7
ghanistan and China.
NOTICES OF MOTIONS:-130EOUGH OF