Army. ALGIERS, the capital of the above territory, is probably the ancient Icosium; by the Arabians called Algezar, or rather Al-Jezir or Al-Jezerah, i.e. the island, because there was an island before the city, to which it has since been joined by a mole. It is built of white stone, on the declivity of a hill fronting the sea, in the form of an amphitheatre; and from the sea resembles a ship under sail. The houses rise above each other in such a manner that each from its flat roof commands a view of the sea. The streets are so narrow as scarcely to admit two persons to walk abreast. But since the French conquest, about a fourth part of the old town has been superseded by new streets, lined with fine houses, shops, and hotels; and in the centre of the city is the Place du Gouvernement, a large and handsome square in the European style. The streets have all received French names; and in a population amounting in 1849 to 97,389, including the garrison, 72,393 were French or other Europeans, the rest Moors, Kabyles, Jews, &c. The town is the seat of a court of appeal and two courts of primary jurisdiction, has a public hospital, a chamber of commerce, library, and museum, a cathedral, and a Protestant church. Many shops have been opened by Europeans, but business is still mostly transacted in the bazaars; which, with barbers' shops and cafés, are the chief places of resort for the natives. Algiers is the residence of the governor-general of the French possessions in Africa, and of the principal functionaries, and courts of justice. It has been newly fortified, and is strongly garrisoned. It is well supplied with water: provisions are generally cheap, except bread, which is dear. Long. 3. 30. E. Lat. 36. 49. N. The harbour of Algiers, at the time of the capture, was rather small, and incapable of accommodating any vessel larger than a middle-sized frigate; but a plan was definitively adopted in 1848, which, when carried out, will render the harbour very capacious. It will be surrounded on the northern side by a breakwater 700 yards long, on the south by one 1200 yards long, and the entrance will be 350 yards wide. Each side of the entrance is to be defended by a strong battery. These improvements are now being effected, and experiments were recently made (1852) to ascertain how far they were satisfactory. Five men-of-war towed by steamers severally entered the port, and cast anchor at a cable's length from each other: a sixth man-of-war and several steamers also entered and anchored; and all these vessels did not encroach upon the space set apart for merchant vessels. It is said that three men-of-war and three
steam frigates in addition might have anchored there without inconvenience. It is calculated that the removal of a rock called "Roche sans nom," situated about the middle of the port, will allow a fleet of at least twelve men-of-war and as many frigates to anchor, in addition to the merchant vessels. Orders have been given to have this rock removed forthwith.