EUROPEAN INTELLIGENCE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume V, Issue 319, 21 November 1855, Page 8

EUROPEAN INTELLIGENCE.

TURKEY

Another ministerial change was expected at Constantinople on the 15th ult.

AM-el-Kurier has received permission to reside in Constantinople.

A loan of 100,000,000 francs will he contracted by the Porte tinder the guarantee of the Western Powers. Eleven thousand Turkish troops of the army of the Danuhe, have been applied for to form the English Legion. Advices from Trehizond announce the evacuation of. Batouin, and Chormik su. Hassif Pacha marched his iroops to Kars, which was subsequently attacked t>T the Russians ; after a grand reconnaissance, they were, however, repulsed The Porte has raised a small loan on the revenue from Smyrna.

The abduction of Dr. M'Craith, an English physician, resident at Smyrna, by a hand of hri-jands on the 9th uh., has caused a great deal of excitement amongst the English residents of that town. From time immemorial the whole of Asia Minor has been devastated by brigands, who, however, generally contented themselves with highway rohbery, varied occasionally by a murder. Within the last few years a hand sprung up under Yauni Kalergi, who practised the plan of kidnapping some of the wealthier residents, and demanding ransom for them, and sending in the head of the captive to his relations. To escape molestation seveial of the richer inhabitants, amongst whom some were English, payed a tax, or black mail. At last matters came to such a pitch, that n° one could venture a trile outside the town, and a place of 120,000 inhabitants was kept in a state of siege by some 30 robbers The' Pacha was at length roused to activity by the remonstrances of the French consul, and" sent a force against the robbers, who were dispersed, and their leader, Yanni Kalergi, captured and sent to Constantinople, where he now remains in bagnio. The temporary security which these rigorous measures infused into the people was rudely broken on the 9th ult, A band of some 30* robbers, armed to the teeth, established themselves about half a mile from Bournabat, on the loadside, and .waylaid a number of persons, whom they robbed of money, jewellery, &c. They also detained others for the purpose of obtaining ransom ; but let them ali escape with the exception of Dr. M'Craith, a M. Manuc, and M. Marcopoly, a son of a Greek merchant in Smyrna. It appears that two brothers Mareopoly, with two friends named Devris and Castor, were returning ou horseback into Bournabat, about 7 o'clock on Sunday evening, when they were stopped at the roadside close to a cemetery by 10 or 12 Greek robbers, armed with double-barrelled gnns s pistols, and yataghans. While ihev were detained in the cemetery, they saw Dr. M-Craith brought in by other robbers. He had also been stopped on the roadwhile on his way to attend a Mrs. F.sher, an English lady residing at the neighbouring village .if Hadjilar in her approaching confinement. All the party wei-c .threatened with immediate death if they did not keep quiet, nud when, on an omnibus passing, which plies io and from Bournabat Dr. M'Cra'uh attempted to call for assignee.he was stunned by the blow of a stock of a pistol. After some time the robbers appeared to think it useless to detain Messrs. Den-is, Castor, and G. Marcopoiy, but carried off Dr. M'Craith and H. Marcopoiy. After traversing two fields tusy fell in with four other robbers, who had under their care M. Manuc, and three other persons. The iatier were allowed to depart Dr M'Craith, M. Manuc, and M. H. Marco'p«,ly beiug carried oS across the plain some eiirhl nine* iv width to the mountains, where they arrived at midnight, ami sent M. H Marcopoiy back w'i:h letters from Dr. M'Craith ami M". .Mamie, saying that tiie robbers demanded £1000 each for ransom He fell iv at daylight with Colonel Storks, Hanvd J><", and a hir.-e body of arm«d police, in purbuii of the robbers, and oVliveierl bis letters,but i»r.--»Sutelv refused t.i act .-is a gui.ie, or to o-ive information as to the whereabouts of t |, e band unovr fr..r, |.ruh..l.ly, „f ,| ]eir menaces an I veii<re.mce, am! w'kmi forced to proceed, it is now believed that he led ih e pursuers intentionally on v wrong track. Nearly ali the members of the tneiiical staff armed and started at midnight also iv pursuit. A great part of Monday was spent by detached parties scouring the mountain-; in various directions, and one party came up with the robbers, hui aftpr receiving a volley, wbieb. wouuded one man, they threw down their

arms and fled. It now became a question whether a party of English soldiers, convalescents, should he engaged in the service. Col. Storks was quite ready to lend them, but the English and French consuls and the family of M'Craiih were opposed to any such measures. They argued that the first, object was to save the doctor's life, afterwards to pursue the robbers. It was accordingly arranged that the Turkish troops should be withdrawn on Tuesday, and the ransom sent to the robbers by a shepherd. By that time, however, they had shifted their quarters, and it is supposed that the ransom has mil yet reached them. On the 15th they were said to have been seen about seven hours'journey from hence, with Dr. M'Craith on a donkey, und his friends confidently anticipate that he will be restore! to them as soon as the ransom is received. They collected the money for ransom, and insisted that he should be secured before further steps were tiken. Of course Coi. Storks and the Pacha were obliged to yield to these remonstrances.

The advices brought from Constantinople by the Carmel state that the Turkish contingent for the English army is nearly complete. There were already in Constantinople and the environs about 10,000 men, almost all old soldiers of the Turkish regular army. The administration of the corps was almost organised, and considerable purchases of .supplier for its use had been made. It was to be encamped at Kila or Domus de-re, on the Bosphorus.

Russian reinforcements have he?n concentrated at Tiflis, to protect the surrounding country against the Circassians. On the other hand, the Turkish .fortifications at Erzeromn are completed. About 2,000 Turkish troops are gone to Biitoum.

From Damascus, to the 7th of June, we learn that the organisation of the English Legion is iroinir on. Greeks and catholics have been enlisted.