The Sun.
London, England, 1853-06-23 00:00:00

TURKEY.

A private telegraphic dispatch from Trieste,
dated yesterday, announces the arrival, on the 13th,
of the British and French fleets in the Bay of
Besika. At Constantinople the armaments con-
tinued. . - -

The late events at Constantinople have produced
a profound sensation throughout Arabia. The
numbers of pilgrims that are assembled at Mecca,
and all the native tribes, wait but the signal to
commence the war. Religious fanaticism has
reached the highest point.
The prices of grain have risen, owing to extensive
purchases which have been made for the Russian
fleet and army.
On the evening of the 6th the Mussulman fast
of the Ramadan commenced, during which time, as
it is well known, all good Mussulmans abstain from
eatino, drinking, or smoking, from sunrise to sun-
set, after which they make up for their abstinence
by feasting and merrymaking. This fast, most
painful to the lower orders, who keep it strictly,
and have to labour in the sun besides, sits lightly
on those of higher rank, who sleep during the
greater part of the day, and do but little business
during the rest. The important city of Smyrna, the
second port of the Ottoman Empire, has now been
nearly four years practically in a state of siege. The
inhabitants cannot go, as formerly, to spend the
hot months of the summer in the neighbouring vil-
lages, nor can any one with safety walk half au
hour beyond the walls. The besieging army consists
of about a score of clever desperadoes, headed by a
certain " Yani Katurgi," or John the Muleteer, a
sort of Rob Roy, who levies black mail on the neigh-
bouring villages, and from the mountain heights
watches the movements of the caravan or rich tra-
veller. Muleteer John has a well-organised band
of spies in the city, and when any wealthy mer-
chant or banker strays somewhat out of bounds he
is pounced upon and carried to the hills, where he
has to remain ill-fed and lodged, and otherwise un-
comfortable until terms of ransom are agreed upon.
This accident happened about a year ago to the
Dutch Vice-Consul, who was seized in his own gar-
den, and carried off, nor was he restored to his
family until a large sam had been paid as ransom.
The Sultan refunded him the mil:ley, but others
who can less afford to lose their cash have been

obliged to raise the ransom on their own resources
A few days ago a new exploit was recorded of this
bold freebooter. The. General Assembly of the
Island of Samos sent a. deputation of three of the
principal inhabitants of the island to Constantinople
with the annual tribute, amounting to 1,0001. The
deputation landed on the coast of Asia, and pro-
ceeded on their road to Smyrna. When near the
village of Ghiaourkeni, five men, armed with double-
barrelled guns, pounced upon them, seized and tied
their hands behind them, after which they pro-
ceeded to the boat, of which they took possession,
having secured the sailors. Towards the close of
the day they disembarked with the prisoners, sailed
to a desert point of the Island of Samos, and sent
one of the deputies to his friends to say that if
1,0001. were not paid at a certain place within three
days, the other prisoners would be put to death.
We have not yet heard of the result of this affair,
but if the poor Greeks escape without paying ran-
som they will be the first who have done so. The
exploits of Yani Katurgi's band would make a very
interesting addition to the lives of freebooters, but
the moral of the story is comprised m the fact that
for years a small band of robbers can perform, un-
molested, feats of this kind, and hold the second
city of the Empire in a state of blockade.
Some of the Paris journals of yesterday did not
publish the circular of Count Nesselrode, but pro-
mise to give it. The journals, which do give it,
abstain, with one exception, from comment. The
exception to which we allude is the Constitutionnel,
but we are not able to judge from the little that is
said by this journal, what view the French Govern-
ment takes generally of the document. For the
present, the Constittaionnel confines itself to reply-
ing to a reproach against France of having been
the first to disturb the good understanding between
Russia and Turkey, by demanding and obtaining
from the latter concessions and privileges on the
subject of the Holy Places, which were at variance
with the principles on what that question had be-
fore been treated. The Constitutionnel denies
that the charge against France is well founded.
There may, perhaps, be more foundation than
the Constitutionnel admits for the argument
of Count Nesselrode as regards the question
of the Holy Places. We remember well that,
even at the moment when some of the Minis-
, terial journals were boasting of the influence of
1 France at Constantinople on this subject, it was