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other Themistocles, by the British hearth, and claim the tection of the British laws. The reply to this letter was an order to convey the illustrious suppliant to Saint Helena; and, almost immediately afterwards, he sailed-for the world's repose-towards the rock which was destined to be his retreat, his prison, and his tomb. Thus did this wonderful man disappear, for the second time, and for ever, from the political horizon; leaving behind him an immense void, within whose arena struggled those passions, whose shock sent frightful oscillations afar throughout Europe:-like some huge vessel, which, after having ridden triumphant over the sea, is suddenly engulfed by the waters, and, as it sinks into the dark abyss, continues long to agitate the surface of the foaming waves.

AFFAIR OF MAZAGRAN.

ROM the second to the sixth of February, 1840, the province of Oran was the theatre of one of the most splendid feats of arms that has ever been registered in military annals.

Mastaganem and Mazagran were, during these memorable days, the object of several attacks. Twelve thousand men, of whom four hundred were infantry, under the command of Mustapha-ben-Tamy, made strenuous exertions to become possessed of the intrenchments of Mazagran. The scantiness of the means of defence was such, that the inhabitants were not able to occupy the lower part of the town, and two or three hundred foot took possession of it, battered the houses, and directed a heavy fire against the intrenchments; whilst the horsemen attacked it on the other side. Added to this, two pieces of cannon, placed on an elevation of five or six hundred feet, battered the walls. In this critical position, the defenders of Mazagran, to the number of one hundred and twenty-three, were obliged to receive, for four hours, the most violent attacks. The enemy was several times on the point of entering, but the obstinacy and intrepidity of the troops prevented and repulsed them as often. The attack lasted five days. The whole force of the enemy, according to the most moderate calculations, was twelve thousand men. They had also two pieces of artillery.

The third of February, between ten and eleven o'clock in the morning, a strong column of eight hundred men, advanced to the attack of Mazagran, whose garrison, (as we have already stated) amounted to only one hundred and twentythree men, belonging to the 10th company of the first African battalion. The town, not being occupied, was immediately invested by the enemy. A heavy fire of musketry was kept

up on both sides. The enemy's artillery opened against the walls, and the combat was kept up until night.

On the fourth, the enemy more numerous than before, renewed the attack, which commenced at six o'clock in the morning, and lasted till six in the evening. The besiegers were finally repulsed with loss.

On the fifth a new attack was made, with the same result. The artillery of the Arabs having made a breach in the walls of Mazagran, the garrison took advantage of the night to repair the damages, relieve the wounded, and prepare for new combats. At last, on the sixth, the enemy made a desperate attempt to render themselves masters of the place. A body of two thousand foot commenced the attack. The enemy even succeeded in getting upon the walls; but the soldiers, grown desperate, repulsed them with the bayonet, grenades, and even with stones. This was their last effort. Totally discouraged, they abandoned the attack and retired. The brave captain Lelièvre commanded this little band of heroes.

His lieutenant, M. Magnan, had set out to go to Mastaganem; but he immediately returned when he perceived the Arabs. He arrived just as the gate was occupied by them; nevertheless he succeeded in getting into the fort, when he immediately ran to his post, which he never quitted during

the attack.

The Arabs were conducted by the beys of Flemcen and Mascara. The little handful of brave defenders, handling at one moment the trowel, and the next the musket, came victorious out of a struggle where the odds were so much against them.

Separated from Mazagran, by a body of from seven to eight hundred horsemen, who guarded all the passages, the lieutenant colonel Dubarail, tried every means to divide the forces of the enemy. The following account is derived from one of his troop:

"We heard distinctly," said he, "this lively cannonade,