XII.-Algeria and Tunis in 1845. By CAPTAIN J. Clarke Kennedy, 18th (Royal Irish) Regiment. An Account of a Journey made through the two Regencies. By VISCOUNT FEILDING and CAPTAIN KENNEDY. London: Henry Colburn, 1846.

THIS is a most amusing work, exactly the unprejudiced, hopeful, lively account we are glad to have of Algeria, under its new conquerors; we have been so disgusted and horror-struck by the desolating warfare carried on by the French, varied by acts of savage atrocity, that we were beginning to lose sight of the great blessings we have a right to expect, and which eventually must surely arise, from the establishment of a Christian nation in the stronghold of Mahomedanism. Certainly in many respects Captain Kennedy gives us a pleasing picture of the prosperity of Algeria; in spite of the "razzias" which we read of day after day, he can still describe such scenes as these within a few miles of Algiers at Deli Ibrahim:

"The soil in the neighbourhood is excellent, producing the grain, fruits, and vegetables of Europe of a quality equal, and often superior. The extent of land at present under tillage is not great, owing partly to the scarcity of labour, and partly to the unsettled state of the country until within the last two or three years, during which period the agricultural colonists have made more progress than in the preceding ten. Comfortable farm-houses, with stables and offices, have been erected, gardens and fields enclosed, and roads made, connecting the farms with the highway: European ploughs and implements are seen in the fields, with carts and waggons, made after the national pattern of the French, German, or Spanish proprietor. Herds of cattle, and numerous flocks of sheep, grazing on the hill-sides, are pleasing evidences of present prosperity.

"Were it not for an occasional party of Arabs going to market with the country produce, or returning from the city, it would be difficult to imagine from the surrounding scene, that you are travelling in another quarter of the globe; the languages of Europe are heard on every side, at each turn familiar faces meet the eye, the peasant of the Midi, the discharged soldier, the clumsy Alsacian, and the unmistakeable air of the Parisian badaud, the Spaniard, at home so idle and lazy, here an industrious colonist, who, in leaving his native land, has seemingly shaken off the hereditary sloth which forms so prominent a feature in the Spanish character, the Maltese, travelling from village to village with his little stock of merchandize, the Pole, and the Italian, are each known at once; and who is there that would not recognize at a glance the group at the door of yonder farm? the mother, stout, homely, and neatly dressed, knitting in the doorway, every now and then restoring order with a sharp word, accompanied by a smile, that almost cancels it, among a happy noisy crowd of little ones, whose flaxen hair, light blue eyes, and round fair cheeks, so delicately white, would teach you to despise the power of an African sun, were it not for a second look at the bronzed features of the mother."-Pp. 44-46.

There are many such descriptions, many such indications that the colony will eventually flourish, steeped as its infancy has been in blood; but it is a drawback upon our hopes for the inhabitants of this most unhappy continent, that wherever these occur, we find also that the natives are disappearing and ceding the territory to their European masters. The French have certainly much to learn, even in their attempts to profit by our experience; thus the welldevised project for raising a body of native troops seems likely to

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fail, from want of tact in understanding the national character and position in respect to their conquerors.

"The Zouaves were intended by Marshal Clausel, who raised the corps in 1830, to act the same part in Africa that our Sepoys play in Asia, and were accordingly at first composed entirely of natives, taking their name from a warlike tribe in the vicinity of Constantine. In a short time, however, the enlistment of Frenchmen into the force was encouraged, and at the present time there are but few natives, and their numbers are reducing every year."-Pp. 49, 50.

But it was by no means our intention in so brief a notice as this, to enter upon any serious subject; we wished our readers to share in the pleasure we received from the bright and pleasing view Captain Kennedy has given us of this celebrated land, and in many respects of its inhabitants; take for instance the following trait in the character of the people of Tunis :

"During the morning the sooks are densely crowded, for in addition to the aristocracy of the bazaars, who occupy the dens on either side, smaller traders erect temporary stalls, and the space is filled with a throng of men, women, and children-buyers, sellers, and idlers. A boy driving a laden donkey, or a horseman forcing a passage through the crowd, shouting "balek, balek," at the top of his voice, to clear the way, creates a momentary commotion; but, with this exception, the people are remarkably orderly, and, what is more, they are honest; robberies from the person, or from the open shops, are almost unknown, notwithstanding the apparent facilities, and the absence of any sort of police. Inside the shops there is a much more tempting collection of merchandize than in those of Algiers. Silk shawls, scarfs, and handkerchiefs, of rich and tastefully arranged patterns, of brilliant colours, interwoven with gold; bernous, haicks, and shawls, from the Jereed and the island of Gerbeh, of unrivalled texture and softness, some entirely of wool, and others with an admixture of silk; weapons of all kinds, showily ornamented with silver, coral, and ivory, but of a very inferior description; the "shasheahs," or red caps, for which Tunis is famous through the Turkish empire, and the ottos of rose, jasmine, and other essential oils, which are prepared here, although very expensive, are of the best quality." -Pp. 13, 14.

"Great spirit is given to the sooks by the itinerant salesmen who wander up and down through the crowd, selling a most miscellaneous collection of goods by a species of auction, bawling out the articles they may have to dispose of, and mentioning the last price that has been offered by any of the lookers on a most enticing method of sale, as things you do not want, and would never go into a shop to ask for, are thus brought under notice, and you are seduced into bidding because they seem to be going for a trifle. One man we stopped had in his hands a pair of antique burners for perfumes, a silk scarf over one arm, and a second-hand Turkish carpet under the other. When the sale is effected, they receive a small per-centage from their employer; and among this class dishonesty is almost unknown, notwithstanding the many temptations thrown in their way to falsify the sale, or run off with the valuable property often entrusted to their care. More than once we saw a shabby ragged fellow walking about the streets, offering valuable jewellery for sale among the crowd, half a dozen chains around his neck, a ring on each finger, and his arms hung with bracelets, massive rings for the ancles, and various female ornaments; any bystander was at liberty to handle and examine them, and the idea of theft seemed as far away from the minds of those who stood about him, as from that of the man himself, who pushed with his precious burden unconcernedly through the mob."—Pp. 15, 16.

These people seem also to be most susceptible of kindness, capable of generous confidence and of unquestionable bravery ;—a more humane and civilized method of dealing with them, might abate the ferocity they have hitherto shown, and open their hearts to the

blessings of Christianity,-the Annals of the Propagation of the Faith, will show in how many instances this happy result has followed from the gentleness of our missionaries; may it please heaven to increase their numbers and success. Captain Kennedy and his fellow traveller seem to have been much influenced by the fear of giving offence to the French inhabitants, by whom they were often entertained with courteous hospitality; but the book is perhaps all the more amusing; for it is full of Eastern customs, lively scenes and pleasant descriptions, and we can most sincerely recommend it.

XIII.-An Outline of Ecclesiastical and Civil History, exhibiting in opposite pages and under corresponding dates, the principal Events which have occurred since the Death of Christ. By the REV. EDMUND WINSTANLEY. Vol. 1. London: T. Jones, 1846.

THIS work, which was originally undertaken, as the author tells us, for the immediate service of the English College of Lisbon, and is now printed under ecclesiastical authority, is, so far as a cursory examination will enable us to pronounce, very accurate. The first volume embraces the first three centuries, and is arranged on an excellent plan, the utility of which will, at a glance on the title page, be appreciated by every student of history. We think this work deserving of the attention of our Catholic colleges, where, we know, the students have been obliged to have recourse to Protestant works of this nature, though of inferior merit.

We are requested by Mr. Robertson, to call attention to an error in the Advertisement to the second edition of his translation of Schlegel's Philosophy of Rhetoric, page vii. line 9 from top-for "Windischmann, a papist, and others," read "Windischmann, Papst, and others."

INDEX TO VOLUME TWENTY.