The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-12-19

islanders wero excited by the accounts
from the mainland. Napoleon was at that
time preparing for his Peninsular campaign,
and as the leader of the scientific expedition
was q Frenchman, they concluded that he
and his companions were emissaries of Bona
parte come to spy the land. Galatzo was in
stantly up in arms, and cries of treason and
death to the traitors were raised by the ex-
cited peasantry. Fortunately, M. Arago OBJ
tanned intelligence of these rumors in time
to send the report of his observations by a
faithful messenger to Palma, town in the
island of Majorca, with instructions to send
the expeditionsry vessel there to convey the
Instruments from the observatory in safety
to the mainland. This was effected, and M.
Arsgo himself managed to escape, and get on
board the vessel.
ARAGo IN CAPTIVITY.
Arrived at Algiers, M. Arago called upon
the French Consul, who received him with
great kindness, and soon found passage for
him in an Algerian trader bound for Mar
seilles. After a fair and quick passage, the
vessel came within sight of that port when
she was attacked by a Spanish privateer,
seized, and taken as prize into the port of
Rosas. Here NJ. Arago thought he could
easily escape across the Pyrenean frontier into
France, but he was again unfortunate. He
was entered on the list of passengers as a
German merchant, but, by an unlucky chance,
one of the privateersman recognized him as a
Frenohman; and thereupon M. Arago, toge-
ther with the crew and passengers, were
plunged into frightful captivity.
At this time Spain and Algiers were on
friendly terms; consequently this seizure of
an Algerian vessel by a Spanish cruiser was
contrary TO International law. AS soon as
the Dey of Algiers was informed of this insult
to-his hag he demanded instant reparation-
the restoration of the ship, cargo, crew, and
passengers; threatening, in case of refusal, to
declare war. This had the desired effect. M.
Arago and his fellow prisoners were released
and allowed to re-embark in their ship, to
complete its voyage to Marseilles.
After many ''hair-breadth scapes by food
and field, Arago returned to Paris, where he
received the reward of his genius and in
domitable perseverance in being appointed
Astronomer Royal, which post he filled to a
venerable age and obtained European repu-
tation. Though he encountered more of the
vicissitudes and dangers of travel than any
of his colleagues in the expedition, yet he
suffered less in health. One member,
M. Chalk, succumbed under tho fatigue
and died at the town of San Felipe, in
Spain, where he had retired to re-
cIuit his strength. NJ. Blot suffered also
from the exigencies of the expedition. His
exposure on the island of Formentera brought
on on attack of fever, which laid him PROSTATE
for twelve days After recovery, he embarked
in a small Algerine vessel at Iviza, to return
TO Spain. On the passage it was seized by a
privateer of Ragusa, on the Dalmatian coast,
sailing under the English flag with '1etters of
marquee The captors declared this lawful
prize, and would have taken the vessel into
The port of Oran, in Algeria; but on M. Blot
exhibiting his safe-conduct pass from the
British Government, and his scientific instru-
ments, he and his companions were allowed
to proceed on their voyage. He finally made
his way back to Paris.