The Express.
London, England, 1855-01-02 00:00:00

CONSTANTINOPLE, Dap: 18.

It is to be hoped that the authorities here will take
some means for the protection of our men-of-warsmen
while on shore, otherwise I fear something very fear-
ful will be the result. There are now a great many
vessels—in fact, I believe all the sailing vessels from
the fleet—lying here, or within a few miles. Occa-
sionally these men get leave of absence, and, when
on shore, scarcely a day passes without some serious
disturbance. Many of the men have been stabbed
by the Greeks, and I fear many More will share the
same fate unless something is done to cheek these
rows. There are a number of low drinking shops
kept by the Greeks in and about Gaeta, where
they sell the worst description of intoxicating beve-
rages. These fellows entice the sailors in, getting
them to drink till they become in a state of helpless
intoxication. They are then turned out into
the; street, these rascals having taken care
to clear their pockets first of all their
money. The consequence is that when they come to
their senses, they accuse the man of having robbed
them; this he indignantly denies; however Jack is
not to be pat off in that way, so away he goes and
rolled§ a number of his companions and they make
a cearfel assault upon the house, breaking the win-
dows and trying to force the doors. The Greeks
watch their opportunity and sally out in large num-
bers with clubs and knives, and make a furious attack
on the sailors. The consequence is that these men
being unprovided with any weapons are literally
mowed down, and when on the ground three or four
of these cowardly ruffians set upon one man : last
Sunday night there were three of these men killed
just oppoaite to the house in which I was. A repre-
sentation of the fact was made to the consul here by
some civilians ; but whether he has reported to the ad-
mind of the port I am not aware. There is scarcely. a
day passes without a similar disturbance. It is said,
and I believe with some truth, that these
fellows drug the drink in order to afford
them a better opportunity to rob their victims.
Another instance of this kind occurred on Saturday
lest. A sailor from the Britannia came on shore and
went into one of these low Greek houses. He was
a man described as being a most sober steady fellow.
After he had been there a short time and partaken of
two or three glasses of grog he fell down dead. His
companions arriving, sown* naturally arose that he
had been poisoned ; one of the officers of the ship
came, and the Greeks were taken into custody by
the Turkish police. Everybody thought under such
circumstances there would be a post neortem exami-
nation; but this morning I learntthat, instead of such
being the case, they merely buried the man without
any inquiry whatever. One very suspicious fact
wee that the man had received a months pay the
day before. and on marching his pickets not a shil-
ling was to be found. Vises or similar affairs are
almost of daily occurrence. If the men are to be
allowed leave there ought undoubtedly be some
means adopted for securing their safety from
these fellows while on shore. It may be said
that if a man gets intoxicated he must pay the
penalty of his folly; but one would imagine that it
would be very easy to have a patrol of half English
and half French in the streets to preserve order
when these men were on shore, and this would ope-
rate es a safeguard against the designs of these
harpies, and protect the men; as to
isplacing any
reliance on the Turkish police, thatout of the
question. If they were to take a man into custody
charged with any offence, no matter how serioss the
charges are, he would be at large in a few cloys. I
have beard several instances, from captains of miffing,
tran9orts, of the men, after having been on shore,
coming off to the vessels in a state of insensibility
evidently produced by drugging.

Tax FOIIIION LEGION.—The Swabian Memory
intro that is Baia, Holland, sad Hamburg, depots for
receiving volution for the Foreiga Loess whieh balsa&
is about to raise, are to be established ander the dined=
of loglish °Moan. Bach valuation, it adds, is to remiss
26h. oa entering sad 300 fr. wham he shall haw joined his
regiment. He is also, it rays, to receive lo nub tea.
1 liquor, 'to, so be likes.