The Sun.
London, England, 1868-01-21 00:00:00

THE EVSUI?RECIIO.V IN CRETE.

The following letter, which has appeared in the
Levant herald, is said to be written by a very com-
petent and unprejudiced witness :

" CANEA, Jan. 1.
" Yuur readers and the public generally must
have so much difficulty in obtaining reliable infor-
mation from this part of the world that perhaps you
may like to publish the following items picked up
with some care on the spot :

" Ili the island of Crete there are four parties ;
the first I will refer to is that which is by far the
most troublesome to the Turkish Government—
namely, the party which insists on annexation with
Greece at any price. This party, though not very
numerous, is active, to a certain extent brave, and
entirely unscrupulous. Its members live in the moun-
tains, and have established a system of guerrilla war-
fare ; they prevent by threats and ill-usage the
peaceably-disposed from giving their adhesion to the
Government; they encourage blockade-running,
and they harass the Turkish army, who can never
meet them in open fight. They are seldom more
than 50 or 100 men of them together ; and this
party is wholly buoyed up with hopes from Russia
and Greece. Without the promise of aid from the
former, and all but open hostility of the latter, the
Cretan insurrection would soon be stamped out. A
second party consists of a considerable bo ly of
Cretans who,with great justice, demand concessions
from the Government—concessions which I am con-
vinced would be granted (in fact they have already
been offered) if the tranquillity of the island could
secured by such a step being taken ; but this party
again is much under the control of the first one.
A third section consists of people who are loyal to
the Government, who constantly apply for military
protection; but these unfortunate people are, as it
were, between two stools. When the troops are
with them they devour their means of subsistence,
and when they are absent the insurgents illuse them
for having shown sympathy with the troops. A
fourth party consists of the inhabitants of the sea-
port, and the extreme east of the island—mostly
Mussultnans—who are contented and quiet. It is
difficult to ascertain the exact number of armed in-
surgents, but to say 4,000 or 5,000 would, I believe,
be near the mark.

"And now as to the policy pursued by the Grand
Vizier (who is here in person) to put a stop to this
ruinous revolution. He continues up to the pre-
sent moment to pursue a system of conciliation.
Many persons are allowed to come in from the dis-
turbed districts and to return to the mountains with
provisions and money. A shot is rarely beard
throughout the whole length and breadth of the
island. Blockhouses are being constructed, between
which communications will be established by
movable field force. These blockhouses nearly sur-
round the disaffected districts. Deputations are
constantly arriving from the country with offers of
submission if protection be granted. Two new go-
vernors (Christians) have already commenced their
functions in what are supposed to be disturbed
districts, and report favourably—in fact, as be-
tween Turkey and her rebellious subjects, all seems
progressing favourably. Turkey is ready and
willing to yield most of the points asked from
her, and all might go well, but pressure from
without makes it an impossibility to put down the
revolution so long as that pressure lasts. While
Russian ships of war, in defiance of all law and
justice, weekly bring provisions, arms, clothing,
and—worse than all these—encouragement and
promise of assistance, the revolution will never be
put down ; while Russian ships of war embark and
disembark the chiefs of the rebels under salutes
from the guns of their ships, and pass in and out
through the blockade without showing lights—while
these things are allowed to go on, so long will
Crete be in revolt, and a precedent be established
in regard to foreign interference in the event Of
revolution that may come home to the very door
of more than ono of the great Powers. With
Greece Turkey could deal single-handed easily
enough ; and surely it would be better for Turkey
to be at open war than in her present state. The
exhaustive' policy of her great enemy is, beyond
all doubt, doing most ruinous work. Aali Pasha
feels all this bitterly, and has, I am told, at
last protested strongly against these proceed-
ings. The Turkish fleet is in fair condition, but
has harassing work in attending to the wants of
the troops, who are now distributed about the coasts.
The four ironclads are very fine ships, but the crews
want drilling and discipline. The blockade is on a
small scale, the ships being wanted for other work ;
besides which the Turks say that all that the in-
surgents require is being taken in by the Russians.
The French, Austrian, English, Prussian, and
Italian men-of-war now entirely desist from inter-
ference.

" P.S.---It would be well to ask some competent
authority if armed merchant steamers running the
blockade in Crete, or elsewhere, with the avowed
intention of resisting the cruisers, are not to all
intents and purposes piratical vessels. This is
what the Greeks do in Crete. What would the
Americans say to this ? -The fact of an armed
vessel lying in any port unquestioned (if she be
not a man-of-war) is unusual. This is what the
Greek blockade runners do in the Piraeus and
at Syra."

TUE CITY MEMBERS.—We are happy to state that
Mr. Iluddlestone, M.P., has returned from the Con-
tinent greatly improved in health, and that he has
promised to be present at the Music Hall, Canterbury,
on Monday, when both he and his colleague, Mr.
Butler-Johnstone, will address their constituents.—
Alaidstone Journal:
SERIOUS THEFT OF BANK NOTES.—On Friday night
Mr. John Hodgson,: manager of a cotton mill at
Accrington, was robbed of a large sum of money in
Salford. A woman spoke to him on Blackfriars-
bridge, when he was on his way to the New Bailey-
street Station, and he accompanied her into Salford.
In a few minutes he missed a pocket-book containing
£420 in bank notes and gold. Two men, who came
out of Gravel-lane, are 'said to have assisted in the
perpetration of the theft.

FATAL COLLIERY ACCIDENT NRAR DUDLEY.--A
gnocking accident is reported from Staffordshire.
Yesterday two men, named respectively John Davis
and John Spurn, were killed by a fall of coal in a
pit upon the colliery of Messrs. Simon, Bradley,
and Go., Tividale Hall, Tividale. A brother of
John Spurn was dangerously hurt, and but slight
hopes are entertained of his recovery. John Spurn's
body was completely cut in two parts by the falling
debris, and presented a sickening spectacle upon its
arrival at the bank. Davis had bis side crushed in,
and was otherwise injured.
FATAL DOMESTIC QUARREL: At Blaydon, near
Newcastle a family quarrel has terminated in a fatal
manner. In a part of the village called the Haughs
lived Peter Graham, a man fifty-four years of age,
employed at Pool's Glassworks ; William Graham, a
young man, his son, who is unmarried ; and Martha,
the daughter, who was married, about thirteen months
ago, to William Fulcher, about twenty-four years of
age, who was formerly a sailor, and belonged to
Wisbeach. It seems that about a quarter-past tell
o'clock on Friday night William Graham and Martha,
his sister, were at their brother John's house, in
that locality. In the course of conversation. a dispute
arose, it is alleged, as to William, who had been out
of work some time, not contributing any little money
that he earned by chance to pay for his board and
kalgings. The father, Peter Graham and William
Fulcher came from their work, and endeavoured to
make peace. Their efforts were unavailing, and the
disturbance increased, Fulcher being heard, it is said,
to remark that he would not see his wife struck.
There was a general conflict, and in about ten minutes
Fulcher fell on the floor insensible. He
was taken up and placed on a chair, and he grasped
his wife's hated twice, and expired. Sergeant Potter
having heard of the affair, deemed it advisable to take
Peter Graham, the father, and his son, Waal
Graham, into custody. An external examination .o,t
the body of Fulcher showed a bruise over the right
temporal bone. Whether that injury has arisen from
a fall or from a blow remains to be hereafter deter-
mined. In all probability a post-mortem examination
of the body will be wade.