Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-08-02
ALGIERS.
To The Ed6or of the Boston Courier.

d.cr;nii.n of tho country But the Interesting sit
nation Of Alyers, now threatened with DESTRUCTION
gives value to the little knowledge we 90 possess
and with your permission Mr.. Editor without dePar.
ting from good authority will endeavour to digest
the facts which have from time 10 time been publish
cd. Il
tho river hiaoois on the west to that OF Eaine, on
the east. at least these the limits until late e-
cnrsons into Tunis desoated the borders and render
cd the division line uncertain This plratcal state,
which occupies the site of the ancient Numidia and
Mauril ana, celebrated for their fertility and
populousness has OF nearly COO miles, and
average b-ua 9TH from Eorth to south OF l'o mics
not including the arid territory south OF Mount Atlas
double chain of mountains called the great and ut.
tie Atlas the sate from east To west, and give
rise to great many rivers and streams, which ferti-
I,c and refresh the land. Protected from the south
winds 10y these mountains, Ayers enjoys mild tenn
peralure and the greatest salubrity. Diseases are
and Europeans there never exposed to those
fatal epidcmics which ravnge the Antilles Even
The oph, halma, prevalent Egypt, is unknown IN
Agcrs
wandering and pastoral tribes who adopt this mode
of Life tn avoid the eyactlons and violence Of tyrant
meal government, this country might become de.i.h-
tul asylum to tho numerous emisrans who are con-
santy pouring into the United States It's proximity to
Europe would give it preference 1.-THE climate were
nv a sufcien, inncement Besides the fine wool, oils,
silk and wax, which il would furnish in great nbun
dance the state which might conquer It, great pnrt
Of tho DRY is suited to The cultivation oithe sugar
Atlas would feed innumerabe horses.
The population OF Algers must be neatly as fol-
lows:
Moors Arabs, cn,iva,ors and mechanics, ZOO 900
Independent Arabs, 100000
D.rhors settled m ,.iIJ:-cs 200 900
Jews, $4,000
rncT,l 10000
De- see d,n,s orthc litter, bu: in inferior
Glass, 10000
100000
The town Of AIri.rs. on tho land side, is IN cir
cui, less than n milo and half, and this side It
is sscep be OF any considerable defence. but 1t
is extremely strong towards the sea- where its mole,
and ramparts with bastIons are bristlng with hume
rous artillery. The curtain wall that connects
the basnns, and tho hastions themselves, are weak
and without covered ways, and the bitches not
yery wide OF deep. At the western angle, in the
most elevated part, The citadel called Cassaubah.
Tho southern and eastern angles are defended by
small forts and batteries. Two weak castles on
small emncnces, and furnished with artillery, alone
defend the access to the city, which is surrounded
by a great number Of steep hills that command the
town, and from which It could be easily cannona-
Ged.
The garrison is composed of from 5000 to e5Ce
Turks or ronagadocs. The Moors and others that
could bear arms, amount to from $500 to 05Co-
of these, or IS thousand, about one seventh arc
cavalry
The DEFY, who is chief Of the military aristocrncy,
which sMays The country. has under him three lieu
stantine, town more than 200 miles from Alrier rs
abou: so miles from the coast, and cnntaininn
about $4,000 inhabitants This Bey has under BIZ
command about 1000 Turkish soldiers, and couIc
muster about five sig thousand Arab and Moorish
cavalry upon occasion, but they without any
sort of discipline.
the Bey a the West resides Trcmcccn and yascar,
dctenceless far from the about $50 mile,
from Aigers His military force Turks and per
maps ir or i've thousand Moorish and Arab cavalry, bet
ter than ;ose of the other Bcy of sand sepa
Taie this Par OF Aors from Fec empire of 40
The southern BY has fixed dcnce. In fact, for long
hi. pr,ncps Officers al he head OF ISo6 %o sends one OF
butte from the Arabs and erbers whn nhab Mount Atlas an
the plans their base These soldiers without skill s conr
age are armed with bad mushei, peniard and ps
The towns in the interior Of little Importance @. .euq,b
the confines Of Tunis Near coast are 10 be seen The
depoPulaed Following from west To east we
find M roma; Dian, which has l2Os0 inhabitants Msap
Sercele whose vicinity orchards AIsss the
capital Bona good pom defended by snizares whence
OIL ss and wood exPorted Cullen Couboo exports
groves and defended by o JsnZ1 and m, ana orange
anp La Gallo, which belong to France
The most powerful Arab tribes which enjoy sort of Jade
Eendence are si ha! Of Berp Ammsr, Trenecen I'd
Three tribes Bsds the proyGcs wbc, thouoh
less numerous aud formidable do the oppose the pre-
6as they pay az; IS cold aG 80 Su s S oaS
Couces IN The nesh6orood OF Burga, numerous triet
the ey of Tremecen 9TH The Heneischas an almost rde
pendent tribe Of Berbe the of the Needa on
The bo ders Of Tuns There other camps of Arabs which
being incapable Of resistance pay the tribute Demanded
The revenues Of the regency consist
ist In the tribute paid by the Bsys;
I'd IN The tribute collected from Jews Eloors cutiya,o
mechanics;
81 Do from Arab camps and wandering Bsrbez
9TH. In the monopoly Of grain;
9TH la the proceeds Of duties expectation aud import a.
ton;
9Th In hnes and eztoon, incidental source Of reyeure
which the government 20 the utmost eS,ent
7th In tribute which, under the Of presents rece7
ed from christian nations :. ..-'
The whole revenue amounts 10 about million Spauiyh
dollars exclusive Of considerable emUuneits from the aZ
gabeTers and Beys before mentioned
The tyranny OF the government which nppTesseS Aaie
the Plague which RACES there every twelve fifteen wears m
sensly dinnis the population Two three centuries
il was probably double what IL is Civilization and indus
try hase made progress there of war the only
which the baT6aans attach any ynluc smans saonS
~, and IL as IL the 18Th century
The FIRST expedition undertaken against country by Fe
dnand Of Spain in 1903 consisted Of 1900 men OSu Ss
captuted bot feeble army could not penetrate INTO
the cOuntTy, Oran was abandoned
In 1910, expedition Of OJD foot and 1000 hors 70
TOOK OTan and captured BuRs
IN 1916, another Of 5000 laid siege to ASers and
amer losing two thirds Of ITS number the army returned 10
Spain.