"A singular history, indeed," said I. "And! Where weary man may find do you mean to confirm the lady's words, and say Stopped for a while, and sighed to answer, “No.” that those circumstances really occurred?" Exactly as I have related them," said the stranger, with a smile and a bow, taking up his pipe which had gone out during the latter part of his story, and walking towards the house, to re-light it, as I supposed. I sat with my head leaning on my hand, musing on the extraordinary tale I had Behind And thou, serenest moon, That, with such holy face, Asleep to night's embrace; Hast thou not seen some spot Might find a happier lot? a cloud the moon withdrew in woe; just heard, and awaiting his return to question him And a voice, sweet but sad, responded, "No." "What gentleman?" asked the woman, with a stare. "The gentleman who was sitting with me in the arbor," replied I, impatient at her stupidity. "I have seen no gentleman," said she."What was he like?" "Pshaw! A stout gentleman, rather bald, who smokes a pipe with a head of Schiller painted on it." The woman stared again, as if she had never heard of Schiller or the stout gentleman. Then suddenly bursting into a laugh with a comical look. I pushed past her, angry at her trifling or stupidity, whichever it was. On reaching the door of the inn, I cast a hasty glance up and down the road, and towards the river, which flowed half a mile off, at the foot of some sloping meadows. Not a creature was to be seen, but I thought I perceived a puff of smoke rising from behind a hedge some distance off. "It is his pipe!" cried I, and hurried towards the spot, hatless as I was, and in momentary expectation of a coup-de-soleil. Neither pipe nor stranger was there, but a heap of weeds to which the peasants had set fire, and from which the smoke had proceeded. All my endeavors to find the stranger were in vain; the obstinate hostess persisted in knowing nothing about such a person, and from that day to this I have never seen him. My readers must, therefore, judge for themselves whether the story of the Unknown Singer be a true tale, or a Mystification. Tell me, my sacred soul, From sorrow, sin, and death? Where mortals may be blessed, And weariness a rest? Faith, Hope, and Love, best boons to mortals given, Wav'd their bright wings, and whispered, “Yes, ín heaven!" Banner of the Cross. From the Southern Churchman. "Der gnadige Herr hat wahrscheinlich geschlafen," said she. "You have, perhaps, been O BLESSED Jesus, when I see thee bending, sleeping, sir. The day is very warm," she added, Girt as a servant, at thy servant's feet; Love, lowliness, and might, in zeal all blending, To wash their dust away, and make them meet To share thy feast-I know not t'adore, Whether thy humbleness or glory more. Conscious thou art of that dread hour impending, When thou must hang in anguish on the tree; Yet, as in the beginning, to the ending of thy sad life, thine own are dear to theeAnd thou wilt prove to them ere thou dost part The untold love which fills thy faithful heart. The day too is at hand, when far ascending, Thy human brow the crown of God shall wear. Ten thousand saints and radiant ones attending, To do thy will and bow in homage there; But thou dost pledge to guard thy Church from ill, Or bless with good, thyself a servant still. Meek Jesus! to my soul thy spirit lending, Teach me to live, like thee, in lowly love; With humblest service all thy saints befriending, Until I serve before thy throne aboveYes, serving e'en my foes, for thou didst seek The feet of Judas in thy service meek. Daily, my pilgrimage, as homeward wending My weary way, and sadly stained with sin, Daily do thou, thy precious grace expending, Wash me all clean without, and clean within, And make me fit to have a part with thee And thine, at last in heaven's festivity. O blessed name of servant! comprehending Man's highest honor in his humblest name, For thou, God's Christ, that office recommending, The throne of mighty power didst truly claim; He who would rise like thee, like thee must owe His glory only to his stooping low. THE INQUIRY. TELL me, ye winged winds, The loud wind dwindled to a whisper low, Tell me, thou mighty deep, Philadelphia. G. W. B. From the United Service Magazine. a heavy burden on the French finances, and its abandonment soon came to be canvassed by the sober-minded in the Chambers; but the clamors of the republican and conquest-making party prevailed. It was asserted as a sine qua non, that Algiers could not be abandoned without France seeming to throw away a wreath of her laurels ; but assuredly there was not much glory to be gathered where a great military people, with vast means, had beaten down a horde of barbarians. Paris, however, was divided into two very unequal classes; the few who were worth listening to strongly advised the relinquishment of so onerous a prize, while the many-headed took a contrary It is now some thirteen or fourteen years since Marshal Bourmont, with an admirably appointed army of 42,000 men, escorted by a well-manned fleet of 11 sail of the line, 24 frigates, 15 corvettes, and 37 other vessels of war, under Admiral Duperré, besides 8 large steamers and a numerous fleet of transports, made a successful descent upon Algiers, overturned its regency, sacked the treasures of the Kasibba, and established a permanent settlement on the coast of Africa. To be sure there was, as we suspected and predicted, no little of the Gallic practice of looking one way and pull-view. ing another, and the said occupation was in the Meantime the occupation continued to be a face of repeated official professions, that the expe- source of cost and embarrassment, without any dition was not undertaken with any view whatever corresponding advantage. The intractable natives to territorial aggrandizement, and all that. After of the new possession, it was found, were not regreat coquetting upon this subject with our govern- ducible to method; and European colonists could ment, they affected to take it very hard that their not be induced to settle among them. At least promises as to their ultimate views should not be the French, who understand the sword better than literally received, and they even hinted that we the olive-branch, and parade more than utility, seemed to desire them to desist from redressing could make nothing of it. Nominally masters of their own wrongs. To this our minister pointedly the regency of Algiers, they actually only posreplied "The French government appear to mis-sessed those portions occupied by their garrisons, take the motives which have induced us to ask for explanations more precise and explicit than those which we have hitherto received respecting the expedition to Algiers. They appear, also, to have formed an erroneous estimate of the real situation of this country, and to have regarded as evidence of ill-will, of suspicion, and distrust, a conduct which has been dictated by a plain sense of duty. His Majesty's government are so far from entertaining these hostile feelings, that they have always been desirous of seeing the most ample reparation exacted from the state of Algiers." But, as any properly-garnished head could have foreseen, all the French protestations evaporated with the fall of Algiers, and moorings for a fulldue were laid down. This rich guerdon, however, was willingly awarded them by those well-meaning people who look rather to the end than the means, because there was a romantic hope, that the presence of highly-civilized conquerors must inevitably advance the claims of humanity throughout those benighted regions; hence Marshal Clauzel so confidently said "L'Europe entiere s'intéresse au succès de nôtre établissement sur cette côte si long-tems inhospitalière !" But these expectations have been grievously disappointed; except newly naming the streets and other localities of Algiers, furbishing up a square, the introduction of tables d'hôte and opera-dancers, and the publication of the Moniteur Algérien, little has yet been done. To be sure they advertised the Ferme modèle at Haoosh, as le noyau d'une vaste colonisation, but that was found too unhealthy, and was soon, says Sir G. Temple, a "ruined square in the midst of a desert." Indeed, the retention of the regency being at an expense of twenty times its revenue is nor are they much better off at the present moment. The neighboring Moors and Arabs gave them full occupation, making frequent attacks on the French posts, while the French sacked and burnt their towns and villages in retaliation. One of the most active and powerful chiefs arrayed against them is the celebrated Abd-al-Kadir, Emir of Mascara, a province lying along the foot of the lesser Atlas range of mountains. Instead of the obvious necessity of dealing with these people upon principles of conciliation, and nursing the infant colony with money, goods, credit, markets, and colonists, he conquerors assumed a policy similar to that which would do for the temporary occupation of a petty European state. In this spirit, irritated at the goadings which Abd-alKadir inflicted on them, the French boasted that they would destroy his army, and send him to Paris in a cage. They have not, however, yet caught him; and they continue to find the inhabitants of Barbary, as the voluminous John Ogilby said, sufficiently barbarous. In 1834, both sides appearing to desire repose, a treaty was concluded with Abd-al-Kadir, by which his authority over certain tribes, intervening between his territories and the French settlement, was recognized and confirmed. But the French commander shortly afterwards, upon grounds of which there is only a one-sided coloring, forbade him to interfere with these tribes, and called upon him to make himself tributary to France. African prince, complaining loudly of this breach of faith, rejected the terms with disdain, and imprisoned a chief who had sought protection under the invaders. The French troops under General Trezel, at Oran, forthwith marched towards Mas The aimed. Clauzel therefore returned to Oran, where he arrived on the 12th of February, 1836, having been closely followed and sorely galled during the first four days' march, by a large body of Arabs, whose impetuous attacks were only to be checked by the dreaded bouches à feu. cara, and, on the 26th of June, 1835, forced the | excellence of the French artillery. But no decidefile of Muley Ismael; but it was so obstinately sive blow could be aimed at the barbarians, nor defended, the loss was so considerable, and the was it Abd-al-Kadir's intention to allow it to be general appearances so threatening, that, after a delay of a couple of days in inactivity, it was resolved to return. On the 28th, the retreat, or retrograde movement as it was officially designated, commenced, and Abd-al-Kadir advanced. The desultory but spirited attacks of the Arabs threw the French into the utmost disorder, and In a very short time, the indefatigable Abd-alTrezel was compelled to precipitate his retreat, Kadir placed himself between Oran and Tlemezen, with the loss of his wagons, train and baggage, by which the communication between those posts and an acknowledged sacrifice of 570 officers and was interrupted. A new expedition was therefore men killed and wounded. The discomfited troops absolutely necessary in order to drive him back. reëntered Oran on the 4th of July, and the Arabs Several severe conflicts took place, and, according advanced into the neighborhood of Algiers, harass-to the French, always to their own advantage; ing the enemy by repeated skirmishes, but care- but as the emir published no bulletins, the statefully avoiding a general engagement. ments are all unilateral. A clear inference, howWhen tidings of this most unpalatable disaster ever, may be drawn, that the victories were not reached Paris, the rage against the emir was ve- very advantageous, since they neither secured the hement, and nothing but his destruction was to territory, nor placed the emir in the promised satisfy the wounded honor of the nation. There cage. Towards the close of this year, the French were already upwards of 30,000 troops at Algiers; resolved to reduce the eastern province of Algeria but a new expedition of 10,000 men was imme- to order by attacking their other dreaded enemy, diately ordered to reinforce Marshal Clauzel, and Achmet Bey, in his strong-hold of Constantine. the Duke of Orleans himself, the heir-apparent of The consequent expedition, and disastrous retreat, the crown, accompanied it, to retrieve the military are not within the province of this sketch, as our renown of the French name. By the end of object is rather to show the quid pro quo on the November the marshal, accompanied by the prince Morocco frontier; but we may remark, en passant, royal, marched against Mascara at the head of that the calamities of the return, as detailed to us 15,000 choice troops, and 26 pieces of artillery. by Captain George Mansel, of the Royal Navy, The Emir, too weak and too wary to meet so for- who accompanied the French in the arduous charmidable a force in the field, took up a strong posi-acter of soldat volontaire, were mournfully severe. tion on the banks of the river Sigg. Here the Having at last waded through a horrid country, French attacked him, and a severe contest ensued; his army, reduced by slaughter and starvation to a but the Arabs were unable to resist the well-served skeleton, and most of his artillery, ammunition, and murderous artillery of their skilful opponents, and baggage lost, the gallant Marshal commenced and were forced to abandon their camp. Abd-al- his dispatch. "The expedition against ConstanKadir awaited another attack between the Sigg tine has not had COMPLETE SUCCESS." Leaving and his capital, and being again discomfited, retired that fated city to the calamitous outrages it expeinto the fastnesses of the Atlas, expecting a turn rienced in the following campaign, we must return of the tide. Meantime the triumphant French to the western provinces. army entered Mascara, without resistance, on the In the summer of 1837, General Bugeaud had a 6th of December, razed the city to the ground, to personal conference with Abd-al-Kadir at the outchastise the emir, and immediately returned to the posts of the Arab army; and, in consequence, the coast. Hardly had they started, however, ere it treaty of Tafna was negotiated, and officially prowas found that the destruction of a Moorish town mulgated on the 18th of July. By its principal does not drain the resources of a persevering provisions, the emir recognized the sovereignty Nomade chief, for Abd-al-Kadir hung upon their of the French over the stipulated portions of the flanks during the whole march, and took posses- space since called Algeria, while the emir was to sion of the important town of Tlemezen on their retain the sovereignty of those portions of Oran, reëntering Oran. As this act was liable to jeop- Tittery, and the regency of Algiers, not included ardize the western stations of the French, Marshal within the French territory. One of the chief Clauzel was obliged to break from his winter can- points of this treaty of peace, was the establishtonments, and take the field to dislodge the Arabs; ment of commercial intercourse between the colobut the emir, with his usual prudence, evacuated nists and original inhabitants of the French conthe town, and withdrawing a few leagues into the quest, and the Moors and Arabs of the vicinity. interior, from thence watched the further move- The practical operation of this soon gave several ments of his opponents. Several skirmishes took" very pretty occasions," as Sir Lucius would place, in which the impetuosity of the emir's cav- have said, to quarrel, in the various infringements alry could only be deprived of advantage by the upon each other's lines. The French accused the emir of tyranny, treachery, perfidy, and all uncharitableness; while Abd-al-Kadir had a good deal to say in recrimination. the frontiers which have been acknowledged to be hers. Such a step would enable them to be efficiently on the defensive, and as to Moroquin incursion, why, they should in a measure “grin and bear it" for a while, until repeated repulses damp the ardor of the confederates. A war with Morocco may prove glorious; but it will inevitably be ruinously expensive in its nature, and may, perchance, end in catching a Tartar. The French have now, wear and tear included, to maintain one hundred thousand men in Algeria, and cannot compass the making of war upon such a state as Morocco, without a certain prospect of requiring at least as many more. Instead of regular campaigns and splendid battle-fields, their disciplined troops must move in heavy harness against wild and bigoted hordes of determined enemies, who will inflict upon them that desultory warfare so inimical to European tactics, so expensive to life and treasure, and so fruitless to the invader even On the 18th of November, 1839, the latter announced to Marshal Vallée, who then commanded the French army in Africa, that the Moslems had determined to wage war against the infidels, and that no alternative was left him, but to obey the law of his religion, and assume the command. Two days afterwards, he crossed the line of demarcation, and devastated the great plain of Mutijah. Clouds of Bedoweens surrounded the French outposts, and half a battalion was cut off and destroyed. The farms and villages of the few colonists who were tempted to Algeria were set on fire, and the suddenness of the attack struck the French with dismay. Henceforward a series of actions and skirmishes took place between the troops of Marshal Vallée and the emir's Arabs, in which various brilliant exploits were performed on both sides, but nothing decisive. France, howev-in victory. Above all, be it remembered, that er, was again and again called upon for money and reinforcements. even if the French succeed in ravaging Morocco, their active enemy has the interminable wastes of the Great Desert to retreat upon, where to follow him would be madness and destruction. Still the die appears to be cast, and preparations are actually made for a Moroquin war. Our government has received assurances of the moderate and even pacific intentions of Louis Philippe; but while these assurances are being retailed to our House of Commons, Prince de Joinville-a pitchforked admiral-has been appointed to the command of a squadron of three sail of the line, some frigates, and half a dozen large class steamers, for a visit to the shores of Morocco. Now, even if our experience of French protestations-monarchical, republican, imperial, or kingly-were less than it is, we should here have certain misgivings as to the ultimate objects of the Gallic cabinet. The strange circumstances of their occupation of Algiers, During these events, it has been seen that the emir, like another Antæus, rises with fresh vigor after each throw which he receives; and when the French would persuade all the world that he is at the last gasp, there he is at his post again in full vigor, and well fitted for another struggle. Sometimes they think they have fast hold of him; but, like an eel, he slips through their fingers, glides along almost unscotched, and rears his head in another direction. It was also perceived that, after reverses, he was wont to seek refuge within the dominions of Morocco, whence he always returned with fresh means of annoyance to the theatre of the baffled attempts of France at colonization. These measures have lately been screwed up to a crisis. Besides the late attack made on the division of General Lamoricière, there have been two or three severe skirmishes on the Moroquin fron-under pledges and affirmations that their only intier, in which, though the Moors generally sustained repulse and defeat, they were always the assailants. All this was sufficiently annoying to the French, who find their present conquest so expensive a bauble; yet they consider it sternly necessary to show front to the storm. It is uncertain how far these hostile acts have been authorized or countenanced by the Emperor of Morocco, or how much is due to the turbulence of the fanatical chiefs by whom he is surrounded; who naturally have a fellow-feeling for those unconquered tribes who regard the presence of the French as an insult to their religion, and an infraction of their rights. Indeed, though ungraduated in civil law, they all consider the infidels as occupants de facto and not de jure. Under these embarrassing circumstances, since France will not swallow the pill, and abandon Algeria, perhaps her best policy would be to increase her garrisons, and establish warlike colonists along tention was a belligerent attack, gives us some inquietude for the balance of maritime power in the Mediterranean, as well as for the ultimate integrity of Italy and distracted Spain. As the chosen Admiral's arrogance was displayed in an unpunished outrage on one of our West India packets, and his yearnings for war in a notorious pamphlet of which he is one of the authors, there is but little indication of the peace being kept by him. The admiralty, therefore, must keep their weather-eye open, and beware of leaving vanity and presumption without a check-mate. This precaution we think the more necessary, since the Barbary fleets having been crippled and "done up" by ourselves, it is evident that there is no suitable maritime opponent in North Africa to encounter such a force; and from the disposition hitherto evinced by this youthful seaman and pamphleteer, there is reason to apprehend he will twist his instructions to their fullest latitude. The paramount importance of the shores of Mo rocco, and the dependence of Gibraltar on supplies | so as might be expected from its geographical situ from thence, as well as the nautical balance of ation; the interior is cooled by the mountain winds, power above alluded to, render it impossible for and the margin experiences the alternations of land us to remain passive or indifferent spectators on and sea breezes, while the climate is at once mild such an occasion. Relying on the duration of and salubrious. The seasons are divided into the peace, our naval reductions have been made ac- dry and the wet, the latter generally being from cordingly; yet this unexpected armament is an | November till March. The soil, where cultivated, incident of that grave nature, that we presume is in the highest degree fertile; but there are the Mediterranean squadron will be forthwith reinforced. But let us see what kind of quarry France wishes to pounce upon. everywhere large tracts entirely uncultivated. Corn, dhurra, fruits, rice, maize, and pulse are extensively reared in most of the plain districts; The empire of Morocco, vernacularly designated and there are raised and collected oil, cotton, tobacMogh'-rib-al-akzù, the farthest west, is a remnant co, indigo, sesamum, gum, honey, wax, salt, saltof the great African monarchies formed by the petre, hemp, saffron, and madder roots; they have Saracens in Mauritania; and it was under the also manufactories of linen, scull-caps, morocco dynasty of the Edrisites, whose capital was Fez. | leather, barracans, shawls, carpets, soap, and It was dubbed empire from being formed by the hides. The declivities of the mountains are sprinunion of several small kingdoms, or rather large kled with forests, in which the cedar, cork, ilex, provinces, perpetually at variance among themselves, till at length they were subdued and united under one sovereign by the Scherifs. At first, it was recognized to consist of the kingdoms of Fez, Morocco, Suez, Tafilet, Tarudant, Mesquinez, Sugulmessa, and Tremezen; but they have all latterly merged into those of Morocco and Fez. Anarchy and intestine discords have reduced their boundaries; but the empire is still possessed of a surface at least equal to that of Spain; and the present ruler is of a family which has, despite of numerous revolutions, maintained itself in the musnud for about three hundred years. carubba, walnut, acacia, and olive trees are prominent; and though iron, copper, lead, and antimony, as well as gold and silver, have been produced to a certain extent, the mineral wealth of these mountains may be said to be as yet unknown. It is truly a luxuriant yet indigent country, favored by nature, but neglected by man. With soil and climate so excellent, if cultivated with tolerable skill and industry, Morocco would yield in quantities the products of most other parts of the globe: but this cannot be hoped for in a country groaning under the galling yoke of oppression. Still their agriculture, it seems, is equal to the wants of the people, those wants be The empire of Morocco is on the extreme west of North Africa, bounded on that side by the At-ing most blindly curbed down to mere animal delantic Ocean; on the east by the river Mubria, sires. The great dogma of the politico-economical which parts it from Algiers; on the north by the school, that "cheap corn is a blessing," meets its Mediterranean Sea; and on the south by the river full refutation in this country; where the cheaper Sus, beyond which is the Sahara, or Great Desert. the corn, the more are the people proportionably This extensive space is finely diversified with hills poor and wretched. Domestic animals are numeand valleys, a great part of which has never yet rous, among the foremost of which must be named been visited by Europeans; and there are various their horses, since they have ever been famed for rivers flowing from the great Atlas range of moun-rearing those animals, which, though inferior in tains, which traverses the empire in its greatest size, have for ages excelled in elegance of symmelength, at some distance from its southern and try, fleetness, hardihood, and peculiar docility. eastern boundary, and attains the height of nearly The sheep, which are considered as indigenous, twelve thousand feet. These rivers disembogue produce a wool of eminent staple and softness; into the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean, the and the oxen, cows, asses, mules, camels, and large ones forming bar harbors, which, though goats, are esteemed in their several kinds. Poulnow so neglected as to admit of small vessels only try, pigeons, partridges, and indeed game of all entering them, might readily be converted to good kinds, are everywhere plentiful; and the coasts stations for steamers. A ramification of the great have many varieties of fish. The woody and unmountain range turns to the north, and is there cultivated tracts abound with deer, antelopes, and known as the Lesser Atlas, of which Mount Abyla, wild boars; and the southern district with bears, or Ape's Hill, opposite Gibraltar, may be deemed panthers, hyænas, lions, wolves, monkeys, snakes, the northern scarp. The country generally rises storks, cranes, and ostriches. As might be exfrom the sea-shore, which in many places is rocky pected in such a climate, they are abundantly proand inaccessible, and extends in wide plains as-vided with mosquitoes, and all "the light militia cending like terraces one above the other, the east-of the lower sky." But the most dreaded of all ern being always some hundred feet higher than animated evils is a visit from the locusts, which that immediately west of it, until at the range of the Lesser Atlas they probably attain an elevation of four thousand feet. takes place ever and anon to the waste of whole provinces. These creatures are considered to come from the Great Desert, where their myriads Morocco is necessarily warm, but not so much are marshalled, and start on their northern incur |