A Wallachian bandit, named Nico, practising his trade near Salonica,
has captured Colonel Synge, an English officer employed by the Embassy at Constantinople to distribute a relief fund, and his wife, a lady, it is said, of Greek extraction. They are held to ransom, in a sum variously represented at from 28,000 to £15,000. Sir Henry Layard on hearing of the occurrence, of course bethought him of the Fleet, and a gunboat was sent to Salonica ; but as bandits do not live on shore, Nice was not much alarmed by that "demonstration," and indeed, according to Reuter, raised his terms. Consul Blunt is now negotiating with him, and RO serious is Colonel Synge's danger, that the Ministry deprecate inquiries in the House of Commons. The outrage has been com- mitted by Turkish subjects on Turkish territory, and there is, therefore, a strong tendency manifest among Conservatives to abuse the Government of Athens, which has suppressed brigandage.
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