I reached Missolonghi last night; and this morning made the acquaintance of Prince Mavrocor * TRANSLATION. To his Excellency Prince Alexander Mavrocordato, &c. Zante, 7th December, 1823. I have the honour to enclose to your Excellency a variety of letters, from which you will perceive that I have been deputed by the Greek Committee in England, to act in concert with Lord Byron, and to further his views in favour of Greece. For the attainment of this object, I think it necessary not to attach myself to any party whatever, but to act in every case in concert with the government, for the advancement of the greatest good of the greatest number of the Greek nation. Signior Basili, my secretary, is perfectly acquainted with all my sentiments, and will frankly and openly put you in possession of them. I am extremely desirous of the honour of becoming acquainted with your Excellency, and of explaining to you, in detail, all the objects of my mission, for which reason I am anxious that your dato. He was surrounded by military chiefs, primates, and others. After the ceremony of introduction was over, I desired my secretary to read Lord Erskine's letter aloud. The company seemed moved by it, and I took that opportunity of mentioning to them that what they had just heard was the unanimous sentiment of the people of England. [Vide Appendix, No. 10.] I then spoke of a constitutional force, and said that we had derived the great features of our military system from the Greeks and Romans; and I regretted that while they preserved the heroic spirit of their ancestors, they neglected to cultivate that system of close co-operation which distinguished their phalanxes, and gave them such a decided superiority over their foreign enemies. I then adverted to the establishment of a free press, of posts, of hospitals, of schools, &c. I endeavoured to represent the fatal effects of the disunion which prevails in the government, and which injures public credit, commerce, and all amicable connexions, and is calculated to excite the ambition and to promote the success of their enemies. I strongly urged the necessity of attacking Patras, the Castles, and Lepanto, the conquest of which would secure the Morea, deprive the enemy of the Gulph, and probably put the Turkish fleet in their possession. The Excellency should grant me a conference in these parts, previous to my departure for the seat of government. I have the honour to be, with the highest esteem and considera tion, Your Excellency's Most humble servant, means which I proposed for their adoption were these, namely, 1,000 irregulars, a corps of five German artillery-men, six twelve or eighteen pounders, two bombs, and Parry, with his infernal fires. The government have agreed to provision the artillerymen. I have written to Lord Byron to subscribe £300, towards paying them three dollars per month each, and have offered myself to subscribe £100. In three weeks I hope to have them from Napoli, and formed. The press will be at work in a fortnight. Parry has orders to come to Missolonghi, where the seraglio will be prepared for his reception. The German artillery-men may be employed to guard and work in the laboratory. Mavrocordato will assist in promoting the dispensary. Pray urge the Quakers to send their money to me, instead of employing it in Italy, &c. A school shall be established as soon as we can obtain a master. I beg of the Quakers to send out some one immediately to establish their system in all its purity. I am going on board the Greek fleet this night. You would do well not to send out any individuals or articles, but to send your money to me, or to some one in whom you repose your confidence. There is an excellent Swiss established here, named Dr. Meyer. He has the good qualities of his countrymen, and is intimately acquainted with the Greek character. I have recommended the Greeks to have the Swiss institutions always before their eyes, and their chiefs to have Washington before theirs. I shall shortly go to Napoli and Argos; then be present at the congress; then go to Candia, and return to Missolonghi. Mr. Bentham's works are well known to our prefect here, and to many others; they asked me about his Comments on the Greek Constitution. Pray send them to me, and, if possible, in Greek. LETTER XIII. TO THE SAME. L. S. My dear B. Missolonghi, 16th December, 1823. I SEND you, herewith, a copy of the minutes of the first sitting of the General Committee in Greece. [Vide Appendix, No. 11.] The government has given up the Seraglio, an excellent building, for the laboratory. I have solicited two Greeks of respectability, to act as Parry's assistants; and shall in all cases, and in all our establishments, endeavour to associate ourselves with the natives. By this means they will take a deep interest in troops, schools, hospitals, posts, &c. With respect to the artillery, I shall maintain it for three months, during which time, Patras, Lepanto, and the castles, might be captured through its instrumentality. After this period, if Lord Byron does not subscribe to its further maintainance, the German Committee have still the means of supporting it for six additional months. It is also my intention to add fifty Greeks to the corps. Parry's subordination will not be exacted, as he will be the inspector. The press will be at work immediately. The journal will be called the Greek Chronicle; and the motto decided on "The greatest good of the greatest number." Lord Erskine's and Lord Byron's letters will appear in it immediately. is, The hospital and dispensary will be immediately established. I have an idea that funds might be partly obtained by the sale of medicines to the rich, and afterwards by a grant of public lands. The post, Mavrocordato says, may be established, and will prove highly useful; and if no other person can be found to organize it, I shall undertake the task. I must settle this matter when at Argos. The primates of this quarter of Greece will assemble next week, to take into consideration an expedition against Patras, Lepanto, &c. the garrisons of which are said to be in low spirits. The Greek fleet blockades the Turkish fleet in the gulf of Lepanto, although the latter is double the force of the former. The Greek admiral, on being asked by me whether he meant to attempt the attack, said, "Yes; we did not come here for nothing." I think they will make an attempt with their fire-ships. I went on board the Spetziot admiral's ship with Mavrocordato, and afterwards, to prevent jealousy, visited the Hydriot admiral also. All their captains came on board, and, on my return, nearly all of them saluted, some with powder, some, according to their custom, with ball. Mavrocordato is a favourite with the islands, the people of Western Greece, and the legislative body. He is now president of that body, and is sent round here to settle affairs in this quarter. I find him good natured, clever, accommodating, and disposed to do good. He has |