New-York tribune., 1867-02-27

GREEK MINISTER 10 wAsnlNGrON-THE CHEAT
RIOT Ar ATHENS.
From Orr Special Correspondent
COSTA ASrtNOTrE, Jan. 3O 1861.
Smyrna is very near to Crete. 1t has a very large
Greek population and fanatical Mussulman pOpua-
ton II is now the month OF Ramazan, the menth
into which The Mu&sllman crowds more Of devotion
and fanaticsm than into all the rest of the year. Ii
has been generally believed that at hand be-
tween Greece and Turkey, and this has excited the
feelings Of the Greeks throughout Turkey. Under
th. combination of eircumstancest would he strange
if there were not collisions between the Greeks and
the Turks. Such collisions have been expected in
Smyrna and it has been generally believed among
the Greeks that the Turks would celebrate the end
of the month of Rama2an by attack upon the
Christian population. In view of this the Christians
have armed themselves and have pettioDed for for
eign aid. Foreign men-Of-war have actually been
ordered TO Smyrna by European Governments Still,
nothing really serious has occurred, until the other
day. a quarrel was commenced in the main street of
Smyrna between Turkish porter and two Italian
peddlclS. The Turks fast through the day in Rama
zan They do not even drink water or smoke, and
they are as savage other hungry beasts. SO they
at once collected 10 defend their cOregiOnist
Greeks gathered to aid the Italians and tho fight
was becoming serious when the Italians retEeahed
into Italian shop in a court belonging TO all En-
glishman. party OF Turkish soldiers, with an Off
at their head, joined the cIswd and attacked
the Italian shop IL was forced and two or three
persons, including a cayass of the Italian Consulate
carried off TO prison. number Of peSsons were
more OF less wounded but none killed. The excite
ment in the city was intense and general outbreak
would probably have followed but the Pasha, under
the pressure of Consular influence, acted with great
cnergy. The streets wae cleared and the Turks e
gagged were imprisoned. The officer whs interfered
was degraded, the soldiers put in irens, and
ample indemnity was paid at once to those who had
been injured. These prompt measures have queted
the city but there still nImors OF to
come off at the end of Ramazan
Constantinople has been in fever for a week.
Many dangerous, though not extensive riots have
taken place in different parts of the city, and
Der of persons have been killed and wounded.
These troubles have arisen from extraordinary
act of the Government such could only occur in
Turkey. A similar act in Paris would cost Napoleon
his throne. The common circulating medium, and
| the standard money in Constantinople is copper.
The coinage of Egypt bears the Sultans SEAL and il,
of coArse current here. The copper money both of
| Egypt and Of ConstantinOple is really worth much
less than its nominal value; but it 80 happens that in
Egypt the Turkish gold pound 400 piastersl is reck-
oncd in copper at 100 pasters while in COnstantlnope
il is reckOned in copper AT 19 piasters Taking gold 81
Egypt and exchanging it for coppeE would, of
course, give profit of 80 piasters eyery
| pound when the copper arrived here. SO the inn
portatiou Of copper from Egypt has long been for
hidden. although the circulation Of Egyptian copper
has been forbidden but in spite OF ths nomi-
Dal prohibition tho Government has allowed EQgD-