morality. But what is most important is the character of the people. They are said to possess many of the vices of Asiatic nations; but they are sensible, shrewd, discriminating, anxious to acquire knowledge, and attached to the legislative body. M. Paraidi, Mavrocordato's secretary, called on me yesterday. He told me that Colocotroni had filled Napoli di Romania with his friends; that the legislative assembly had, in consequence, quitted it, and had settled at Argos. The executive body adhered to Colocotroni. I told the secretary that, while the government remained in this state of anarchy, they could expect no loan. He said that their hopes were fixed on Mavrocordato, and the expedition he was about to undertake. He was first to proceed with some ships and men to raise the blockade of Missolonghi, and then to make a descent opposite to Corfu, on the coast of Albania, where he calculated on a general rising.

Having received this intelligence, I proposed to 'Lord Byron, before M. Paraidi, to address the executive and legislative bodies, to represent to them the grief he felt at these calamitous dissensions, which must thwart all the exertions that had been made to obtain a loan for the Greeks; and the anxious hope he entertained that, for the safety and happiness of Greece, they would make a generous effort toward reconciliation. The object of the proposed measure was to force a reconciliation between the parties, or else to attach to the executive body the disgrace of having thwarted the loan, and thereby to render them odious to the people, and, consequently, powerless.

We have this moment received good news. The

Greek fleet has arrived at Calamatra. Troops will thence be embarked for raising the blockade of Missolonghi, and will then proceed to Albania. Petrombey is with the fleet, and Mavrocordato left Hydra seventeen days back to join it. You are aware, I presume, that Lord Byron has generously advanced £4,000 towards the payment of the armament. This money is placed in the hands of three commissioners. The Turkish army before Missolonghi are said to be moving off by hundreds. I quite rejoice to tell you that Mr. Green's bills, to the amount of £2,000, have not been accepted at Constantinople. You are aware that Patras, the castle of the Morea, and Lepanto, have hitherto been supplied through this source, and that from these fortresses the army before Missolonghi also drew its supplies. Hence we may conclude that the Porte has no money; that the Turkish troops must speedily abandon the siege of Missolonghi; and that the fortresses above mentioned, being nearly exhausted by the supplies they have afforded, and having no English Consul to give them further succour, must soon fall.

Patras, as well as the Castle of Morea and that of Romelia, which are the gates of the Gulf of Lepanto, may be taken without much difficulty; so also may Lepanto, though stronger than the others.

You were wise in not sending the Anne to Napoli. I have written to Corfu, to desire Parry to proceed with the stores of the Hope and Anne to Cefalonia, there to remain till further orders. Should Missolonghi be in security, that will probably become our head-quarters for the present.

I have been seriously ill. I am now well, and pro

D

pose, after seeing Mavrocordato and Petrombey, to proceed to Napoli and Argos, there to endeavour, with silky words and appalling facts to conciliate the executive and legislative bodies. After this, call it vain, attempt, I shall return to Missolonghi, there to labour under Lord Byron, in the arrangement of all your views. The Deputies are detained at Corfu, in quarantine, and when released will proceed immediately to England. I think you should be silent and suspend operations relative to the loan, till you receive further authentic intelligence from Greece. I have a plan in my mind for the establishment of a post. Without the means of conveying ideas, neither military, nor commercial, nor political affairs can prosper. I also wish to establish hospitals and a dispensary. What is most wanted in Greece is a press, cautiously directed. Cautiously, on account of ears, noses, and heads. However, it is fair to say that the Greeks have not been guilty of enormities towards their Christian brethren. Towards the Jews, indeed, they have not displayed much milky kindness. Colocotroni, after Corinth had surrendered to other chiefs, despatched his followers thither for the purpose of plundering. The friends of good government pretend that he has no great qualities. He was only brave the day before he became wealthy. They report, too, that he and his adherents are most unpopular. 28th November. The following account of a naval victory may be relied on. The Greek fleet, consisting of nine vessels, commanded by Miaulis, attacked eleven Turkish ships, near the Island of Skiatho. They fought for six hours. The result was glorious to the Greeks, who took one corvette of twenty-four guns,

three brigs, and one transport. Two of the remaining ships they burnt, four they drove on shore, and one only escaped.

I am grieved to say that the executive has refused to allow Mavrocordato to command the expedition, and he is still at Hydra. The Primates of Carnea and Missolonghi solicited the senate to send him to their aid, and the people of the latter addressed that body to the same effect. The Hydriots and Spezziots are also much attached to Mavrocordato. In short, the whole nation seem to look up to him as their friend. The garrison of Corinth, consisting of 500 men, was, according to capitulation, safely transported to Thessalonica. The place is now in possession of the Captains Stiako and Niketas. These persons are not in alliance. There is a Mr. Brown here, whom you will shortly see. He lost his situation at Corfu in consequence of having communicated to Lord A. Hamilton some intelligence respecting Parga. This gentleman has lately visited the Morea, and will be able to give you the best information on all points connected with its interests. I have been much puzzled where to send the articles brought out by the Hope and Anne. My thoughts turned on Missolonghi, on Athens, on Ægina, but at last we decided on sending them to Spetzia. The situation is good and secure, the people are friendly, and fuel, &c. are there to be obtained.

I am going immediately to Napoli and Argos, with a letter from Lord Byron to the general government of Greece. The object is to reconcile the factions, and if we fail in this, to throw the odium of having thwarted

the loan on the offending party. This will cause a useful sensation at the ensuing elections. I will have the letter printed at Hydra, and spread it far.

Ho l'onore d' includere nella presente diverse lettere per vostra Eccellenza, da queste rileverete che sono inviato del Comitato Greco d' Inghilterra per agire in compagnia di Lord Byron, e far avanzare le viste di questo a favore della Grecia. Per arrivare a questo scopo credo che sia necessario di non attaccarmi a qualchesia partito ; ma in ogni caso d' agire in concerto col governo per l'avanzamento del maggior bene del maggior numero del popolo Greco. Il Signor Basili, mio secretario, conosce bene tutti i miei sentimenti e vi mettera a giorno di tutto francamente e publicamente.

Il mio desiderio è grande d' avere l' onore di fare la conoscenza di vostra Eccellenza, e di explicarvi tutti gli oggetti della mia missione in dettalio; per questa ragione desidero molto che vostra Eccellenza mi conceda un colloquio a questi parti prima di rendermi alla sede del

governo.