The Sun.
London, England, 1855-06-27 00:00:00

WEST INDIA MAILS.

SOUTHAMPTON, JUNE 26.
The Royal Company's steam-ship Dee, Captain
Woolcott, arrived here at noon to-day from St.
Thomas's, with dates to the 9th inst., 4 passengers
—viz.—Lieut. Ballinghall, from her Majesty's
ship Trincomalee, stationed in the Pacific ; Dr.
Parkyn, medical inspector at Barbadoes ; Judge
Forster, and Mr. Rothe-17 live turtle. 24 cases
of copper ore, a few packages of sundries, but no
specie on freight.
The Dee has for some time past been engaged in
inter-colonial duties on the various routes per-
formed by the Royal Mail Company in the West
Indies, and, in consequence of a disarrangement
of her machinery, and the necessity for a general
renovation, has returned to England. The Dee
left England in January, 1852, and in August,
1853, was despatched to New York, where she was
lengthened by the addition of a new bow, and also
underwent a general repair. Since that time she
has been engaged in the duties-of the mail service,
and, although during her passage to Southampton
only three boilers were used, the voyage was com-
pleted in less than 17 days.
There is little additional news by this arrival to
that received per La Plata. The general health
of the West India islands continued good, but at
St. Thomas's no improvement had taken place, and
several cases of yellow fever existed, fortunately
however not reaching beyond the shipping. Owing
to the exertions and assiduity of the medical officers
of the Royal Mail Company's steam-ships at that
island, as well as the sanitary arrangements of the
commanders, none of the crew of either vessel had
at all suffered.
Her Majesty's ship Vestal, 26, Captain Thomp-
son, arrived at St. Thomas's on the 7th inst. from
Bermuda, for the purpose of taking the place of
the Calypso, which vessel was to leave on the 10th
inst. for Barbadoes. The Calypso was entirely free
from sickness. _ _

During the homeward voyage the Dee exchanged
signals with the bark Thischa, on the 19th inst.,
in lat. 41 22 N., long. 37 41 W., standing to the
westward ; also the ship Medway, on the 22d, in
lat. 46 2 N., long. 22 48 W., 91 days from Port
Philip, with 20,0001. value in gold, and some
passengers, who were reported all well.
The Dee brings a ship's letter bag from St.
Thomas's, which, it is presumed, contains most of
the missing mails from Santa Ortiz.

MARKET NEWS.—(THIS DAY.)
-0
CORN EXCHANGE.
A very limited supply of English wheat has arrived for
our market since Monday, consequently the-show of sam-
ples here to-day was small. Although the trade ruled by
no means active, prices were supported.
There was only a retail inquiry for foreign wheat, the
supply of which was good, yet importers generally were
firm in their demands. In floating cargoes very little was
doing. We had only a limited sale for barley and malt,
at Monday's currency.
We were fairly supplied with oats, and a fair average
business was transacted in most kinds at full currencies.
Beans, peas, and flour moved off slowly, at late rates.
♦RRIVALS THIS VIM.
Barley. I Malt. Oats. Flour
270 , 760 1,020
150
14,090 50 sks.

English ..
Irish •• • •
Foreign ..

Wheat.
480

11;71 ) 1,-680

BOROUGH HOP.
We have a moderate demand for all kinds of hops, and
prices are well supported.

WIHTECHAPEL.
The trade to-day ruled dull, at the following prices :
—Beef, 3s 2d to 4s Od ; mutton, 3s 6d to 4s 8d ; lamb,
48 10d to 5s 10d ; veal, 3s 10d to 4s 10d ; pork, 3s 4d to 4p
4d per 81bs. by the carcase. t

MEETING OF BANKERS.—At a general meeting of pri-
vate bankers held yesterday at the Clearing-house the
following resolution was adopted :—" That in conse
quence of a paragraph having appeared in the Times news-
paper to the effect that it would be thought improper if
any one demanded from hie bankers the examination of
securities deposited with them by him for safe custody,
the bankers unanimously declare their opinion that the
contrary is the case, and that they have always consi-
dered such examination as a most proper and business-
like proceeding."—A. W. ROBARTS, Chairman."
PRICE OF GOLD.—The quotation of gold at Paris is
about a: par (according to the last tariff), which, at the
English Mint price of 3/. 17s. 104 d. per ounce for stand-
ard gold, gives an exchange of 25.17 • and, the exchange
at Paris on London at short being 25421, it follows that
gold is about 0.18 per cent. dearer in Paris than in Lon-
don. By advices from Hamburg the price of gold is
4261- per mark, which, at the English Mint price of
3/. 17s. 101 d. per ounce for standard gold, gives an ex-
change of 13.58 ; and, the exchange at Hamburg on
London at short being 13•41, it follows that gold is 0.41
per cent. dearer in Hamburg than in London. The
course of exchange at New York on London for bills at
60 days' sight is 11n1 per cent. ; and, the par of ex-
change between England and America being 109 23-40
per cent., it follows that the exchange is nominally 0.67
per cent. in favour of England; and, after making allow-
ance for charges of transport and difference of interest,
the present rate leaves a small profit on the importation
of gold from the United States.

LIFE IN SMYRNA.

SMYRNA, JUNE 14.

The medical officers have but little duties to per-
form, for their patients are nearly all convalescent,
and there appears to be no immediate prospect of
the arrival of time. The deaths, few in number,
ensue from internal organic diseases of long stand-
ing, of which the commonest is consumption ; there
are very few cases of fever in the building. The
weather continues fine. Thermometer, 75 to 80
deg.; barometer, 30. It is now dangerous for any
one to take a ride or a walk without carrying a re-
volver, and it is better for four or five to go in
company, for bands of robbers have made their ap-
pearance close to the town, and have commenced
their campaign in earnest.

Last Sunday afternoon Mr. Macgraith, an Eng-
lish surgeon resident in Smyrna, was riding through
Bournabat, a pretty village four miles off, chiefly
occupied by the merchants, on his way to visit a
patient, when A gang of armed men sprang upon
him, tore him from his horse, and effected his cap-
ture in a masterly way. Ho told them that he was
an English doctor, to which the leader replied be
was just the man they wanted ; that they had
been, in fact, waiting for the very opportunity, add-
ing, " Your of a Queen has done our co-reli-
gionists much harm, and we shall make the English
colonel and the English doctors at the hospital pay
for your release." Seven or 8 other captures were
then made between 6 and 7 p.m., but the fellows
were content with robbinc, the several parties of
their arms, purses, and watches, and letting them
go. Two only were carried up the hills—n=4ly,
Mr. Macgraith and Mr. nruuk, for the release of
whom 3,0001. was demanded in a polite note
sent shortly after to Mr. Witthall, of Bour-
nabat, near to whose house these events had
taken place. Some English who happened to be
dining there proposed an immediate pursuit, but
a sufficient force could not be mustered ; Mr.
Goolden therefore rode over to Smyrna to report
to Colonel Storks, who instantly demanded an
audience of the Pacha, and insisted upon steps
being taken on the spot for the liberation of the
prisoners. About midnight a mounted party, con-
sisting of Colonel Storks, his aide-de-camp, and the
greater part of the medical officers, Hamet Bey,
chief of the police, some cavasses, and Turkish
soldiers, started for Bounarbashi, a small village
one mile from Bournabat, and at the foot of the
mountains. In this district the bandits have re-
mained in greater or less force up to the present
time ; but, although one or two encounters have
taken place, and some wounds inflicted, the unfor-
tunate Mr. Macgraith has not been set at liberty.
For nearly a week he has been dragged from one
mountain fastness to another, worn out in body
and anxious for his fate. .He has a wife and family
resident in Smyrna. It is said, but I know not
upon what authority, that Mr. Manuk has es-
caped. It is also reported that Mr. Macgraith
has been killed, but this is not believed. An
emissary has been despatched by the family to
offer 4001. for his release ; but a much larger sum
is forthcoming if necessary. This man has not yet
returned, and until his arrival nothing certain can
be known of either the robbers or their victim.
It is now ascertained that these ruffians are on
the look out for some of the officers of the civil
medical staff, from whom they expect to get a large
ransom. One or two of these gentlemen have re-
ceived private intimation that it will be wise for
them to avoid unnecessary exposure even so near
as the Castle-hill, for from that point to Budja
the whole country is occupied by these unscrupu-
lous ruffians. The medical officers ran a great risk
a few nights ago, when a ball was given at Budja
in the house of a Mr. Werreg. The robbers con-
templated coming in force into the village and
effecting a capture during the fete, but the inten-
tion was abandoned from a little want of organisa-
tion, and a few days afterwards their scene of action
was shifted from Budja to Bournabat, where the
country, more hilly and wooded, offers a ready
means of escape.

The medical officers have acted with much spirit.
Those who could he spared from duty turned out at
once under Colonel Storks' command, then rode
over at midnight to the district where these bri-
gands were known to be hiding. They were so
close upon the track that nothing except false in-
formation could have hindered success. They forced
their horses through brushwood and over rocks to
the summit of the mountain pointed out as the
thieves' retreat, and it is now believed that a deep
ravine alone separated them at one time from the
objects of their search.
SATURDAY, June 15.

The robbers have escaped, carrying with them
poor Mr. Macgraith, for whose fate the greatest
anxiety is felt. The shepherd sent by the family
with the ransom money has returned, after an un-
search, and it is not nown whether the
pursuit should be directed towards Nymfi or the
Two Brothers (mountains on the left of the Gulf of
Smyrna.) In the latter place, a favourite robber
haunt, there are caverns where a captive might be
imprisoned without a chance of being found for
years. The country is excessively wild, although
bold and interesting, and once a favourite spot for
sportsmen. lam sorry to say that Dr. Ranke has
been bruised, but not badly, by a fall from his
horse. He is staying at Bournabat, in the house
of Dr. Wood. The other gentlemen have returned
to Smyrna.
Many rumours are of course afloat, to some of
which lam unwilling to attach credence. It is,
however, stated that political feelings. have some-
thing to do with these disturbances: Parties of
low Greeks have been heard in the cabarets in high
glee, drinking success to the robbers, and there
have been of late, upon more than one occasion,
expressions of rudeness in the streets. These feel-
ings of disrespect and animosity are not lessened
by the news of the recent successes of the combined
fleets in the Sea of Azoff. Every victory produces
an increased amount of bitterness.

Respecting the hospital I have nothing further to
add. Between 200 and 300 beds are ready for the
immediate reception of patients, and much more
room could be made by the dismissal- of conva-
lescents. A considerable proportion of the medical
staff could be spared for duty elsewhere, and would,
I apprehend, volunteer to serve wherever they
were required by Government. Half the present
staff would be quite sufficient for the wants of the
Smyrna Hospital.
The following are the names of men who have
died in the Smyrna Hospital from the 9th to the
15th of June :
Privates Thomas Lee, 88th Regiment-, plithisis' June 10 ;
and William Godfrey, 19th Regiment, phthisis, Juno P.