ther information on the subject to the following | another; and the chorus then taking it up, adaccount of a grand festival of the Aïsaoua, dressed a prayer to God, in accordance with written by an officer who was an eye-witness of the scenes he so graphically describes.

"In the court of a small Moorish house in the Rue de l'Empereur, Algiers, about sixty Arabs and Moors were assembled. Frou standards-one red and yellow, and the other three red and green-were suspended from the columns of the court, over the heads of the chiefs of the sect. These were the standards of the Marabout, Mohammed-ben-Aïssa. In the middle, a long wax taper, placed in an old

the favor demanded. Incense was every now and then thrown on a brazier of live coals, and the chorus repeated in a loud voice, Es-salah! Es-salah! They then all seated themselves in a circle, leaving a vacant space in the centre of the court. The Mokaddam and his chief assistants took their places opposite to ine, and at their side a dozen Aïsaoua arranged themselves, each armed with an enormous tambourine, which they beat in cadence, while the chorus vociferated a song in honor of Ben

black chandelier, alone afforded light to the Aïssa. There was in these songs an undefinaassembly, and cast its uncertain, glimmering ble spirit of frantic rage, which produced in rays into the gloomy corners of the building. me a certain impression of terror. I saw some The upper gallery was filled with women, of these fanatics roll enormous serpents in the

covered with their white veils, leaving visible only their black eyes and their eyebrows, stained with henna. Bou-Chama, by whose invitation I attended the festival, remained by my side, and explained the origin of the religious sect to which he belonged, in nearly the following terms:- Four or five hundred years ago a celebrated Marabout lived in the province of Oran. His name was MohammedBen-Aïssa, and having succeeded in gathering together a certain number of disciples, he wandered with them over the face of the land,

hollow of their tambourines, while livid adders reared their hideous heads from the hoods of their bernous, and, dropping to the floor, glided over the marble as cold as themselves. In spite of the horror which I felt at this sight, curiosity got the better of my disgust, and I remained. I must confess, however, that my heart beat violently; the dim obscurity, the infernal music, the women, shrouded in their white veils, appearing like phantoms risen from the grave, all prepared my imagination for the horrid spectacle of a festival of the

sometimes in the 'Tell, and at other times Aïsaoua. At the sound of this barbarous

plunging into the wilds of the Sahara. One day during his wanderings he lost his way in the desert. The provisions were exhausted, and his faithful followers, sinking from weakness, were on the point of perishing with hunger, when Ben-Aïssa, stretching his hands towards heaven, implored the mercy of the God of Mohammed. Lord,' cried he, 'thou alone art able to save us. Take pity upon us, and cause whatsoever we may touch, to change for us into wholesome food. At these words, seized with sudden inspiration, his disciples gathered stones, serpents, scorpions, &c., satisfied their hunger, and suffered no harm. 'We,' continued Bou-Chama, followers of this illustrious Marabout, have inherited the same privilege; and it is in commemoration of this miracle, and to perpetuate it, that we have now assembled together. By our prayers we obtain the cure of the sick, and draw down the mercies of heaven upon our newly-born children.' After these words, Bou-Chama left me and joined his brethren; the rites were commencing. The prescribed ablutions having been performed, the Aïsaoua, standing in meditative postures, recited eight times the Mussulman profession of faith-I bear witness that there is none other god than God, and that Mohammed is his prophet.' In their voices their was someting grave and solemn, which was most impressive. The Mokaddam, or chief of the sect, then chanted a prayer for all Mussulmen, and called down upon them the benedictions of the prophet. At the end of each prayer the Mokaddam stopped, and the Aïsaoua, lifting up their voices in turn, asked health for one, or the blessing of maternity for

music, one of the party rushed into the circle with a frightful cry and extended arms, as if possessed by the evil one. He made the round several times, roaring hoarsely and savagely, then, as if compelled by a supernatural power, he began to dance to the sound of the tambourines and drums. He was then clothed in a white bernous, and his 'shasheah' (red woollen cap) being taken off, the long hair left on the top of an Arab's head fell over his shoulders. He then commenced his 'zeekr.? The zeekr is a species of religious dance, which consists in jerking the head from right to left, so that it touches the shoulders alternately. The whole body of the Aïsaoua was in motion, his eyes soon became red and bloodshot, and the veins of his neck blue and distended; nevertheless, he continued his terrific dance. On a sudden two others rose up, and with savage yells, joined the first. The three, excited by each other, redoubled their stampings and the motion of their heads, working themselves up into a state of frenzy impossible to describe. Now calling for red-hot iron, small shovels, the broad part the size of the hand, with long iron handles, were given to them. Seizing each one, these enthusiasts, placing one knee on the ground, applied their hands, and even tongues, to the red-hot metal. One of them, more madly excited than his companions, placed the brightest portion of the instrument between his teeth, and held it in that position for upwards of thirty seconds. Let not the reader think that I exaggerate; I witnessed all that I relate; and, in order to impress the scene stronger upon my memory, the performer of this last act placed himself directly opposite to me with a lighted taper in | burnt brightly, and sent forth a thousand sparks.

Without having been there, it is impossible to realize the terrific sight I had before my eyes. Opposite me, within two paces, was the negro, whose glowing mouth displayed itself in a black and hideous face; his head, with its single lock of crisp woolly hair, vibrating rapidly from side to side; and around me the hellish music, the convulsive stampings, and the frightful cries of the dancers. The negro was now in a state of the most furious excitement. Swallowing the still burning contents of his mouth, he seized a large scorpion, full of life and venom; placing it on his arm, he irritated the reptile in every possible manner, pinching it, putting it near the taper, and burning one of its claws. The enraged animal darted his sting into the offered hand; the negro smiled, and, raising the scorpion to his mouth, I heard it crack between his teeth; and, as he swallowed it, I turned my head aside in horror. The reader, perhaps, supposes that the scorpion was deprived of his sting; but I had ocular demonstration to the contrary; nay, more, I might have brought one from the Boudjareeah myself, and given it with my own hand, as many have done who have been admitted to

his hand. It is impossible for me to give a
reason for what I saw, but I cannot disbelieve
it; I smelt the stench of the burnt flesh, and
when 1 afterwards touched their hands and
feet, I found only a fresh and uninjured skin.
The sight of one old man, nearly sixty-five
years of age, gave me great pain; he grasped
the red-hot iron, and placing it on his leg, al-
lowed it to remain there until a whitish smoke
arose, which filled the whole house with its
poisonous odor. These dances lasted in this
manner for the space of an hour. Notwith-
standing the noise produced by the songs and
the tambourines, the painful rattle in the
throats of these mad fanatics could be distin-
guished amidst the din; at last, exhausted by
fatigue, they fell backwards, one after the
other, and lay senseless and motionless on the
ground; the songs ceased, and nothing broke
the solemn silence but the sound of their heavy
breathings. A man, whose task it was to at-
tend the half-dead wretches, now advanced,
and placing his foot successively on the pit of
their stomachs, pressed their sides strongly,
kneaded their limbs, and caused them to re-
vive. The dance recommenced; four fresh
Aïsaoua rushed into the circle, aud were so0日 these Hadrah.'

in the same state of frenzy as their predeces-
sors, striking their heads with red-hot shovels,
and stamping upon them with their naked feet.
Then, in their delirium, imagining that they
were transformed into camels and lions, they
uttered the cries of the animals they represent-
ed, and feigned a combat between them; their
months foamed and their eyes sparkled with
rage. The Mokaddam now presented to them
a leaf of cactus, of which the thorns, an inch
in length, and sharp as a needle, made me
tremble. At this sight the combat ceased; the
Aïsaoua threw themselves upon the cactus,
they tore and ground it between their teeth,
making the air resound with a hoarse noise
resembling the horrid cries of an enraged
camel. At this moment the women, placed in
the upper gallery, raised their dismal cry of
lu-lu, tu-lu, lu-lu.

"This frightful scene was only the prelude to all the horrors I was about to witness. Towards eleven o'clock the songs ceased, and coffee and couscousoo were brought in, of which I found it impossible to partake. The repast over, they recited a prayer before recommencing their dance; and on the musicians beginning to strike their enormous tambourines, seven or eight of the disciples rose, howling dreadfully, and, dressed in white, like their predecessors, began to perform the zeekr. My acquaintance, Bou-Chama, was of this party; and taking a bundle of small wax tapers, he placed first his hand, and then his arm, face, and neck, in the flames. His features, when thus lit up, as they appeared from one moment to another through the varying flames, had quite a demoniacal appearance. In the mean tine a negro had amused himself by placing live coals in his mouth, which, as he breathed,

"A yatagan was now brought, the point wrapped in a handkerchief, and two men held it horizontally about three feet from the ground. On seeing this, a man rose from his seat and commenced his zeekr; then, uncovering his breast, he sprang with all his weight on the naked blade: it seemed as if his body would have been cut in two by such a blow. He remained, however, with his bare breast on the sharp edge of the sabre, balancing himself with his feet, in a horizontal position, and tranquilly continuing his zeekr. Meanwhile the four other Aïsaoua continued their furious dance, beating their heads with the iron shovels brought to a red heat. To these, three others soon joined themselves, grasping in each hand a living adder, with which they struck their bodies. As they danced, the serpents wound themselves about their limbs, hissing horribly. Then seizing them, some placed them in their mouths, so as only to permit the head of the reptile to escape: one even forced the adder to bite his tongue, and, leaving it thus suspended, continued his dance. Others squeezed them between their teeth, to increase their rage; and the irritated reptiles, in their desperate struggles to escape, twined around their necks, and, hissing, reared themselves above the heads of their tormentors. Excited by the spectacle before their eyes, and by the increasing noise of the music, the Aïsaoua rose in a body, and rushed to take a part in the dance. Then commenced a scene which words cannot describe. Twenty Aïsaoua, clothed in white bernous, with dishevelled hair and haggard eyes, mad with excitement and fanaticism, bathed in sweat, and grasping serpents in their hands, stamping, dancing, and convulsively shaking their heads, each starting vein swollen and distended with blood. The evidence afforded by seals is material in such an

women, like phantoms, assisting in this scene, lit only by a pale and solitary taper, uttered in a piercing tone their shrill cries of lu-lu, lu-lu, bu-lu. This, mixed with strange songs, hoarse sounds, and the hollow rattle in the throat of each Aïsaoua, as he fell exhausted and senseless, formed altogether a scene so totally repulsive to human nature, that it seemed, in truth, a feast of hell. Such dreadful exertions could not, however, last long: by degrees the number of dancers diminished, as one after another they sank under the fatigue, and their panting bodies strewed the marble pavement of the court. The feast of the Aïsaoua was over."

With this long specimen we finish our notice. The return of the travellers to Algiers, their visit to Bona and Tunis, the historical account of the Kabiles or Berbers, and other matters treated of, not furnishing us with aught which we could consider to be of sufficient novelty or importance to occupy our pages. From what we have done, we think it will be seen that the publication is exactly what we have pictured; viz. the frank exposition of a light, slight, and pleasant excursion, over a country from which the latest intelligence must, from the nature of the case, be generally acceptable.

PRINCE OF WALES' FEATHERS. - In the Society of Antiquaries, the Secretary resumed the reading of the Inquiry into the Origin of the device of the Triple Plume of Feathers, and the Mottoes used by the Black Prince,' by Sir Harris Nicolas, commenced at the previous meeting. The popular account of the adoption of the badge of feathers at Cressy, as stated by Sandford, rests en no contemporary authority: the tradition that the Black Prince wore the feathers at Poictiers not at Cressy, is first mentioned by Camden, and the tale of their being stripped from the helm of the King of Bohenna is given by no higher authorities than Sandford and Randle Holme.

inquiry; the ostrich feathers do not appear on the Great Seals of Edward III. or his consort; they occur on Prince Edward's seal for Aquitaine, and some others used by him; and they appear to have been borne with a slight difference by other sons of Edward III., by Richard II., and succeeding sovereigns, by the sons of Henry IV., and also by the house of York. The badge does not appear to have been considered as appropriate to the eldest son of the sovereign, until the reign of Henry VIII, and in subsequent times, from ignorance of its real character it has been converted into the crest of the Prince of Wales.

From the British Quarterly Review:

THE NEWSPAPER PRESS OF FRANCE.

(1.) Le Moniteur.- (2.) Le Messager.-
(3.) Le Journal des Débats.-(4.) Le
Constitutionnel.-(5.) Le Siècle. (6.)
La Presse.-(7.) Le National.-(8.)
La Gazette de France.-(9.) La Quoti-
dienne.-(10.) Le Globe. (11.) Le Cor-
saire Satan.-(12.) Le Charivari.-
(13.) L'Esprit Public.-(14.) La Ré-
forme. - (15.) La Démocratie Pacifique.
Paris, 1845, 1846.

(16.) Histoire Edifiante du Journal des
Débats. Paris: Baudry.
(17.) Venalité des Journaux, Révélations
accompagnées de Preuves.
Par CON-
STANT HILBEY. Ouvrier, Tailleur. Paris,
chez tous les Libraires. Septembre,
1845.

(18.) L'Ecole des Journalistes, Comedic en
5 Actes. Par MDE. EMILE DE GIRAR-
DIN; suivie d'une Lettre de M. JULES
JANIN; et d'une Réponse de M. GRANIER
CASSAGNAC. Troisième Edition,
Paris, 1840.

DE

Ir were a curious and instructive study

Sir Harris having carefully examined the Ward- to trace the progress of the Newspaper

robe Accounts, whilst preparing a history of the Order of the Garter, ascertained that the first mention of the feathers in any record, is in a list of the Queen's plate; the date of the document is lost, but it must have been after 43 Edward III., 1369. The facts thus supplied lead to the inference that the ostrich feathers in a sable field belonged to Queen Philippa, either as a family badge, or as arms borne in right of some territories appertaining to her house. The most remarkable notices of them occur in the will of the Black Prince; he directed these badges to be placed among the decorations of his tomb, with the motto Hormort, which, in a singular docu

ment preserved in the Tower, is used by him as a signature " De par Homout-Ich Dien." The

Press of France, from the earliest times down to our own day; -to record the history of the ancient Gazetier and the modern Journalist ;-of the old Gazette of times long gone by, as well as of the modern Journal. In the French of the 17th century, the Gazetier signified the Editor of a periodical publication, as well as the Publisher; but the word is not now used in this latter sense, and generally bears an ill signification.

Though any frivolous inquiry into the origin of words, in the present age of facts and realities, be for the most part idle, yet it may be permitted to us to state, that the word Gazetier is derived from Gazette, a denomination which the earliest journal received from the piece of Venetian coin, 'Gazetta,' which the reader paid for each number in the Piazza de St. Marco, in the seventeenth century. The first regular Journal which modern times has known, however, appeared in England in 1588. It bore the title of the 'English Mercury,' and probably suggested to the French nation the idea of the 'Mercure Français, ou Suite de l'Histoiré de la Paix.' This publication commenced in 1605, the Septennaire of D. Cayer, and extended to the year 1644, forming altogether a collection of 25 vols. The curious compilation was, till 1635, edited by John Richer, and continued by Theophile Renaudot.

Without entering upon the early history of Journalism in France, or enumerating the journals and newspapers of the Revolution, it will best accord with our design to begin our sketch with the mention of the only one which sprung out of this great cri

tin de l'Assemblie Nationale,' agreed to in corporate his paper with the 'Moniteur,'* and soon after became the first rédacteur en chef of the latter journal. As Maret was an admirable short-hand writer, the paper became, to use the words of his biographer, a tableau en relief. It was not merely fidelity of expression that was transmitted, but the spirit of the debate was embodied, and the gesture and demeanor of the orator described. Something more, however, than mere reports were needed; and a series of articles were determined on, comparing the parliamentary system springing from the Revolution, with the system that prevailed anteriorly. The exact and conscientious Peuchet undertook this difficult task. His articles, under the title of an introduction, form the first volume of the collection of the 'Moniteur.'

From this period the principal and the most precious recommendation of the 'Moniteur' was, and is, that it is a repertory of all the important facts connected with the annals of modern France. The 'Moniteur,' indeed, is the only pure well of undefiled historical

sis which has survived that stormy and truth, though occasionally dashed and

brewed with lies, more especially in the Napoleonic time, from which a thorough knowledge may be obtained of the parties and history of France. Tables compiled with diligence, method, and clearness, and published for each year, facilitate the researches of the student, and conduct him

terrific epoch, and which has lived to see many great changes even in our own day. We allude to the Moniteur Universel,' the official journal of the French Government. Born of the first Revolution, and a witness of all the political revolutions which have succeeded it, the 'Moniteur' has had the rare advantage of surviving times of trouble through the immense labyrinth of facts

and civil strife, without losing any portion which have been accumulated during half of its high consideration, and without a century. Men of extraordinary merit changing either its character or its lan- have occasionally co-operated, either as guage. men of letters, or as philosophical writers, or as publicists, in the editing of this remark

The founder of the 'Moniteur' was a great and enterprising bookseller, of the able journal. We have already cited the name of Charles Joseph Panckoucke, fa- Duke of Bassano, who was rédacteur en ther of Madame Suard, and celebrated by chef, to the end of the Constituent Assemthe publication of the 'Encyclopédie Mé- bly. Berquin, the author of 'L'Amie des thodique.' Panckoucke had, in a journey Enfans,' succeeded him at a time when to England, been struck with the immense Rabaut de St. Etienne, La Harpe; Laya, size of the London journals. He resolved the author of 'L'ami des Lois;' Framery; to introduce a larger form into France. Guinguené, author of a Literary History of This was the origin of the 'Moniteur Uni- Italy; Garat, who was minister and senator; versel,' which first saw the light on the Suard, of the Academy, of whom we have morning of the 24th of November, 1789. before spoken; Charles His, Gallois GranBut the 'Moniteur,' in its infancy, did not, ville, Marsilly, La Chapelle, and others,

as the reader may well suppose, possess its present organization. A very small space was alloted to the report of the proceedings of the National Assembly, and the debates were often incorrectly given. Shortly after this period, M. Maret, afterwards Duke of Bassano, and who was editor of the 'Bulle

enriched the very same pages with their united labors. Under the Convention and the Directory, M. Jourdan performed the duties of rédacteur en chef, and was assist

ed by Trouvé, Sauvo, and Gallois. Under France, but in every civilized country. It

the Consulate, Sauvo was placed at the head of the Moniteur,' and is, or lately was, editor in chief. It may be in the recollection of our readers, that during the crisis of the ministry of Polignac, that weak, foolish man sent for M. Sauvo, and handed him the famous ordonnances which produced the Revolution of July, with a view

is the best repertory of contemporaneous history, and complete copies of it are therefore very rare, and always fetch a high price.

During the emigration, Monsieur, afterwards Louis XVIII., had a species of Moniteur of his own, under the title of 'Journal de Monsieur,' in which the Abbés Ro

to their publication in the official journal, yon and Geoffroy, the latter afterwards so cewhen the courageous journalist remonstrat-lebrated as the feuilletonist of the Débats,' ed with the president of the council, and both wrote; but this paper necessarily expointed out to him the folly-the madness-pired the moment his majesty landed on the of his course.* The minister refused, even French soil. The Abbé Geoffroy, indeed, at the twelfth hour, to listen to the voice of played an important literary part after the wisdom, and our readers know the result. Restoration; but before we speak of him, it

During a period of nearly forty years, M. Sauvo has written in the 'Moniteur' the principal portion of the matter under the head Théâtres, and all parties most capable of judging of such matters admit the taste and the tact he has uniformly exhibited in

will be necessary that we should enter into the history of that journal, which he rendered so celebrated by his criticisms. In so doing, it is indispensable that we should speak somewhat at length of the very remarkable founders of the 'Journal des Dé

sent ambassador to Holland, and elevated to the Chamber of Peers.

this department of his labors, his criti- bats, the MM. Bertin. These two brothers, cisms being extended not merely to the François Bertin the elder, and Louis Berpieces, but to the actors and actresses. If tin, commonly called Bertin de Vaux, were these essays were published separately, they the men who first elevated journalism in would form no mean course of dramatic France into a power in the state, and made literature. Among the numerous collabo- of newspapers a great instrument, either for rateurs of M. Sauvo, from the Consulate good or for evil. François was the elder and Empire to our own day, we may men- brother of the two, and continued till the tion Peuchet; Tourlet; the learned Jomard; period of his death 'Rédacteur en chef and Champollion, of the Academy des Inscrip- Gérant' of the 'Journal des Débats.' Louis, tions et Belles Lettres; Amar: Tissot, of the other brother, after having been fifteen the Academy; Kératry; Petit Radel; Da-years a member of the Chamber of Depuvid, formerly consul-general in the East; ties was, soon after the Revolution of 1830, Aubert de Vitry, and Champagnac. The 'Moniteur' is the only journal, it should be observed, which reproduces exactly the debates of the Chambers, for other journals have recourse to analysis and abridgments. The only certain basis of an exact analysis would be the words of the 'Moniteur;' but this journal, contrary to its agreement, which imposes on it the obligation of furnishing proof sheets to all the journals on the evening of its publication, appears after the latter have been printed off, and cannot consequently be of the least use for an analysis of the debates. It were, perhaps, a piece of supererogatory information to state that the 'Moniteur,' which forms a collection of more than 100 volumes, is furnished to all the higher functionaries of the state, and is constantly referred to, not merely in

Bertin the elder was a man of large and liberal views, intelligent, instructed not merely in letters, but in politics and legislation, a man of the world, in the best sense, generous, indulgent, and great, not only in accomplishments of the mind, but what is rarer and better, in virtues of the heart.

Bertin de Vaux, his brother, was an active, indefatigable man of business, and at the same time a distinguished and spirited writer, and a scholar of no mean pretensions, especially in classical literature. Both these remarkable men were born at Paris, of a rich and respectable family. Their father, who was secretary to the Duke de Choiseul, Premier of France, died young. Their mother, a woman of sense and talent, afforded them the advantage of the best and most careful education. In the Revolution of 1789 they were both young, but the elder was old enough to have witnessed many of