his appearance, was Lord Byron, whom inexorable death would not allow to be severed from the disasters of the regions to which he had previously directed his steps, in order that he might make himself known to the several nations, and who, having united himself to us, had begun to render himself of importance to the Grecian weal, and worthy of the exalted rank to which he was raised by the laws of his own country. He would not refuse to an entire people the benefit of his virtues: he condescended to display them wherever humanity beckoned him to her aid. This single object of devotion to the well-being of a people has raised himself to a distinguished pitch of glory among characters dignified by their virtues, of which the illustrious British nation can make so ample a display, and of whom Greece hopes to behold many co-operating in her regeneration. Having here paid the tribute of admiration due to the virtues of Lord Byron, eternal may his memory remain with me and with the world, and more especially associated with Grecian retrospections.”

Yours,

L. S.

LETTER LXXI..

TO COUNT GAMBA.

Salona, 3d May, 1824.

Dear Count Gamba,

GREECE mourns the loss of her friend, Lord Byron. Why deprive her of the consolation of having his remains left in the country where his muse pronounced her sweetest, finest lays, and where he has immortalized himself as the champion of her rising liberties? If my counsel can have weight with you, it is that his ashes should be deposited at Athens, in the Temple of Theseus, now a Christian church. Surely this wish is consonant with his former feelings, with those of his family, and of the people of Great Britain.

I am,

Your most devoted servant,

L. S.

LETTER LXXII.

TO JEREMY BENTHAM, ESQ.

My dear Mr. Bentham,

Salona, 4th May, 1824.

You desired me to write to you. Pardon my having so long delayed complying with your commands. I have presented your most valuable manuscript to the representatives of the Greek people. They received it with expressions of deepfelt gratitude, and promised me that they would consult it as their wisest oracle, and act accordingly. Monsieur Negris, who is the ablest man in Greece, and professes wise principles of government, is labouring at a code of laws. He says, that in order to make it palatable to the people, he must make them believe that it is framed after the model of the Byzantine code. I condemned this quackery, and told him to read Dumont. He then desired me to put him in correspondence with yourself. I promised to take this liberty, provided he would act up to your advice. He consented, and I

shall forward to you his letter. Were your code ready, it would, I think, be immediately adopted in Greece. Your works are known and admired here by the few who are educated.

The state of Greece is not easily conveyed to the mind of a foreigner. The society is formed, 1st, of the Primates, who lean to oligarchy, or Turkish principles of government; 2dly, of the captains, who profess democratical notions, but who are, in reality, for power and plunder; and lastly, of the people, who are irreproachable in character, and of course desire to have a proper weight in the constitution. The people of the Peloponnesus are much under the influence of the civil and military oligarchies. Those of Eastern and Western Greece are chiefly under the captains. Of these Odysseus is the most influential. His father never bowed to the Turkish yoke; he was a freeman and a robber. Odysseus himself was brought up by the famous tyrant Ali Pacha. He is shrewd and ambitious, and has played the tyrant, but is now persuaded that the road to fame and wealth is by pursuing good government. He, therefore, follows this course, and supports the people and the republic. Negris, who once signed his sentence of death, is now his minister. Of the islands, Hydra and Spetzia are under the influence of some rich

oligarchs, supported by the rabble, and Ipsara is purely democratic.

The parties may be said to be three: 1st, There is Mavrocordato, the oligarchs of the islands, and some of those of the Peloponnesus, and the legislative body. These are for order and a mild despotism, either under a foreign king, or otherwise. This faction stood high, but must now change its principles, or lose its power. 2dly, There is Colocotroni, and some of the captains, and some of the oligarchs of the Morea, who are for power and plunder. This party is going down hill at a gallop. And, 3dly, there is Ipsilanti, Odysseus, Negris, and the mass, who are now beginning to embrace republican notions, finding that they cannot otherwise maintain their power.

Now, the question is, which of these parties should an honest man embrace? All have stumbled by endeavouring to hug the best of these factions. I have pursued another course, cautiously avoiding them all. I have loudly rated all for their vices, and as loudly praised them for their good acts. This for one who has no genius for political intrigue, tactics, or what is called diplomacy, is the safest course. It places a man of a plain a level with and even above a high

mind on

VOL. II.

D