The Express.
London, England, 1856-11-04 00:00:00

SMYRNA, 0cr..26.

Every poet from the South brings a fresh tale of
the melancholy results of the earthquake of the 12th
of this month. The island of Crete has suffered ter-
ribly. 800 persons have found their graves among
the ruins of the town, and several small villages on
the island have been utterly destroyed; the victims
in Campos and Scarpento number upwards of 200, and
I expect a like sad tale from the coast of Caramania;
where the villages of Marmaritza and Dallisni have
been terribly shattered; u yet, however, I have been
unable to obtain any very reliable information as to
the number of lives lost. In the interior they have
escaped as happily as we have here. Frightful as all
this appear., the Smyrna people take it very quietly :
an earthquake comes—a few houses fall down,
perhaps a minaret, with a live mollah in
the top, topples over, to the destruction of
the onuezeim, and the disfigurement of the mosque.
For a few seconds the town is terror-struck, they
" shriek the timid and stand still the brave," the ladies
get sea sick and there 's an end of it ; they thank
Providence, Mahomet, or their stars, that it was no
worse, and go on as if nothing had happened. I
confess I cannot take it so philosophically; I know
what a typhoon is in the China seas—a cyclone on
the Malabar coot—or a hurricane off the Mauritius.

I have been in all ; but the earthquake is far more
appalling than either ; underhand and invidious, it
does its worst in silence, without any of that grand
fury that attends the atmospheric phenomena, and
lends a charm to their greatest terrors.
The topic of the day is the Bank, and who is to be
the successful competitor. Ido not think the Turks
have the least appreciation of the advantages the
country will reap from a genuine currency; on the
contrary, they would rather that affairs went on as
they are at present. The confusion of half a dozen
currencies—Medjidies, Calmed, and Beschlika ; Tche-
rook money, Tariff money, and Bill money—affords
opportunities for an occasional financial coup on the
part of government thnt gives the Sultan a few
millions of piastres, and decks the shores of the Bos-
phorus with a new palace. But the bank is to grant
a loan—that is enough to recommend it to the Turk
—only on condition, however, that the base coin and
paper money is recalled. The Turk groans at the
idea of order, but he must have the loan, and he
submits. As to endeavouring to make the country
repay this and other loans by developing its resources,
the Turk perspires at the ides. It will be done
som►how. Bacallum ! . _

How are the railway people progressing in Eng-
land ? We hope a few weeks may bring tidings of
the establishment of a company with some good
names to it. The Sultan guarantees 6 per cent.; but
there is a better guarantee than that in the absolute
necessity that exies for finding some means of
transporting to the cosat the rich and abundant pro-
ductions of the provinces of Anatolia and Caramania.

AN ADVENTURER IN THE MEDITERRANEAN)

The Malta Times, after giving its readers an ac-
count of Mr. Robson's deliegnencies and doings, thus al-
ludes to a visit to, and precipitate flight from, that island
for the Continent:
"Characters somewhat of the above description have at
different times visited Malta ; and but very recently en in-
dividual of this genus honoured our little island with his
presence. Assuming an sir of consequence he induced many
to believe he was especial correepondeet of a London papa
sent to this island by the especial desire of Lord Palmer-
ston. He elaimed his Royal Rightism the Doke of Cam-
bridge as Lis particular friend ; hinted at certain
private claims that made the Date anions to serve
him ; he exhibited an alleged private note from his
royal highness to corroSsrate his statement. He not
only stated he wee also in the Duke of Buckieeham's
confidence, was acquainted with his secrets, and was hie
guide and director, bat affirmed be had 7001 per annum
from ►is grace, as a consideration for money he had ad-
vanced him some years ago, to the amount of 10.0001. ; and
he actually furnished • house in the vicinity of Valetta,
which he pretended to be very anxious ts have arranged In
the best order, as the duke was coming to stay the winter
with him in Malts. His great political folluerce, and his
friendship with his Hoyal Highness the Duke of Cambridge
and his Grace the Duke of Buckingham, aided by his con-
anion with the Eoglith press, bad induced, he said, the
Earl of Clarendon to offer him, la a private letter, • oath-
late in the Black Bea, or any otter office in his gilt. He
introduced everywhere a young tempos he oath/A i.. wile;
and had the audacity to put himself forward as a candidate
for an elected member of the email of government. In
mem' instances he borrowed money under false {intone's,
which he forget to return; and incurred debts wh
he could obtaia credit; some of which he psid in worthless
cheques. Amongst other ingenious tricks, he invited a
party to dine with him on • particular day, inclodieg some
high officials, but as he took care to embark for Marseilles
on the day preceding, they were cteattel of their repast no
leas than of his choice company, and that, by a clever rum,
he effected without suspicion his departure from the Wand,
which, it appears, bast M come toe warm for him. His dis-
honest dealings did not end hers ; fr, taking passage in a
government transport, he paid for his food on board with a
bill which was diebonoured. Biros his departure, it has
come to light that he came to this island to 'sold the conse-
quences of a most diarrpotable bankruptcy In England;
aria that the lady he paraded as his wile had no right to
that title. Many in Melta have cause to regret having ban
deceived by his special pleadings. It is to be hoped that
this will prove • waning to the community at large, and
will pat perp:e on their guard as to toe credence and credit
to he given to individuals who so largely trumpet forth their
own importance, means, and copse:ions."