Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1831-03-19
Iile constitutional 5Nb5o.
FRANCE AND ALGiERS.

dated MAuoS. Dec 90, 1890.
My Dear Sir:-Of all places in the world, this
uerhnps, at this season of the year particularly,
the last Tor news, and is the only thing Edi-
tcr for, ought TO care for. J. however, drop
van line m compliance with my promise when
had the pleasure Of seeing you, and at the same time
10 remind you Of similar one your part.
We'll, the French have got Algiers; but the Ques-
tion is what they going do with it, Some say
they will colonise the country by Swiss and French
emigrants, aud they have got up scheme to that
effect. Offering for sale, moderate price, large
tracts Of land in the interior which they never saw
and will see, unless they ore more successful
than they have yet been, are likely 20 be. At
present they occupy nearly as far the guns from
their batteries will reach. and no further. 1t has
been recently said that General Clauscl marched
out and gave battle to the Arabs, and killed 1000,
with the loss ot only one man; that he pursued and
cleared tho country Of them 20 the distance of seven
leagues from hlgcrs, and then returncd-and so
did, no doubt the Arabs The loss only of man
he part of the French is incredible. Private
letters state their loss to be 1900.
II Is certain that what with those killed landing,
advancing, and attacking, the French have lost a
great many men, and the dysentery which prevailed
Lmong them made dreadful ravages. The hospitals
in thus place filed with their sick and wound.
cd; the number estimated varously, from 5000 10
$500. Their policy has been to make the most ia
vorable impression the minds of the people of
France therefore they not disposed TO let them
see the gloomy side of the picture. Their ships
have beene constantly employed In transporting to
France the treasure brass guns, and other articles
Frenchman permitted return home, until after
his cure al this place. where number Of French
surgeons stationed to receive and attend them.
have heard several intelligent French officers saw
that the expense of the expedition would far exceed
the amount of metallic wealth, and oIhcr articles,
found III the city, and that the tormcr did amount
20 more than 5000 900 dollars
The first thing Frenchnan does when he takes
city, is 10 make his mark upon 4 record OF his
having been there. This he does the shape of in
Provcmeni; that is, tearing down houses to widen
streets, and open squares This the French very
busily employed in az present in Agie:s, and giving
the French naincs-aiso IN numbering houses and
establishing police
The army N the city, shut up, is compos d
of 20 600 effective troops II the intention ut
one time, to reduce the number to 5000; but 1t Is
understood that the General demonstrated against
the measure as an unsafe one. On the establishment
of hospitals there BY him, of which they were before
destitute, and the consequent reduction the num-
Der OF deaths by disease, the abandoned
They talk of marching into the interior in the
spring. ! do not think they will be able to do so.
There cannot be doubt that there will be an army
Of from 100000 to 100000 Arabs to oppose them.
when the French landed with an army of % 900
fresh troops at Sid Feruch they never advanced one
foot OF the way to Aglers without forcing their
my, and they never cncamped without fortIfyinc
themselves. They were three days advancing about
twelve miles This may give you some idea OF whs
they have To expect If they attempt to 20 into the IN
terror, after the Arabs have had So much time To pr.
pare for their rec" ption.
They talk also OF extending their conuuests TO the
other Bnibary States and although look this as
mere boast am very much mistaken if they dc
not whether they wish 1t not find themselves m
volved in and very soon, with all the B1rbary
Powers united. Morocco has, 1t is stated now, al
ready set the example. Tuns and TroulI will soon
follow for France flushed with her success IN AL
gte-s has been most numerically oppressive towards
them.
She has forced upon them treaties, which they
cannot and will not fuil-dnd winch she has not
the power 10 enforce.
As 10 her extending her conoucsts byron, aIno,
the coast of AgIers, think quite out of her 20
or. She VIII have the whole male population op-
posed to her, excited by religious phrensy and in
tura;ed by supposed wrongs. The will be cur
ried on, as IT has been, withaut mercy from the
Arabs. IN Arab does not count his prisoners he
wants only the number of heads he lays tho feet of
his Chief and for which he is to receive &c tam
price.
Could Frcnchnlcn De in1lmcd by the same feel
Ing'. and humanity o. outraged by the same prac-
tlces on their part, then the war might b. continued
with some degree of equality. But until this is the
case, the advantage must be the side Of the Arab
who advances on his enemy with certainty of Pa
rhdlse lie Dies and Of course spared If taken prl-
sOncr, whereas the Frenchman advances without Tho
same hope of reward and with the certainly OF death
whether he be killed, wounded, or taken prisoner.
Nc soldiers can be long brave IN so unequal a con-
test and no nation can justify herself the world
b'r 40 exposi-G thcT when her views altogether
sordd.
1t was the Treasury ofAlgers which tempted
France TO capture that city and of that she was cheat
GU ny the cunning OF the Dey, who took II away with
him The same feelings induced her to exact
BOO 900 lvrcs from rripoIi, 900 900 of yres from
Iunis, and to secure TO herself monopoly of their
commerce, interfering with their internal and fiscal
arrangements, and breaking down their ancient uso
gps to enrich herself
She has done TO them what she would not have
done to others and, If sensible Of her Injustice
has endeavoured TO make her measures palatable TO
Christendom, by apparently identifying the interests
nf other nations with her own, whereas she alone
can be benefited by them.
Under the closk Of humanity, and taking adyan-
tag OF the prejudces Of the Christan world against
ahometants she has practIsed all sorts of nIquities
and violated all engagements with them. We hear
my OF her expIolts-from the Mahornetans we hear
h'ihing-'Lons are not Scup'ors"
The consequences Of her conduct arc vet to
.e igt by all nations possessing christianity. She
H,s lighted fame which is not to be easily auench-
"a, by which all Christians alike are to suffer She
'l1 un0er the pr|ed OF being the champion Of CHRIS
'cnhon induced the belief that III chrstnna oo
interested IN her SUCCESSES ADD that all are alike
emies to the Barbary powers The CONSEQUENCE q, III