LETTER XLVIII. TO SIGNOR PAPPAS, AT HYDRA. Caro Signore, Attene, il 11 Marzo, 1824. Ho l' onore di mandarvi una lettera dal Signor Humphries, chi è andato con plichi di lettere bisognevoli dà quì in Missolonghi. Il Signor Humphries vi parla per il carattere di Attene e del suo Governatore Odyssea. Con ragione lode ambidue, per il suo governatore percio che egli è potente, bravo, amante della liberta, è il più grande nemico dei partiti. Nel governo regna la più grande tranquillità, e la più perfetta sicurezza. Mà la più bisognevole cosa è che il popolo gode di tutti i suoi dritti. Io parlo così perciochè conosco dal Comitato Greco d' Inghilterra che voi siete il più vero patrioto, e che voi avete acquistato molti mezzi. Io vi consiglio che veniate a qui per eseguire la bona causa della patria. Noi âbbiamo grande bisogno d' un stampatore, e se si trovi in Idra farebbe bene di venire a quì. L. S.* Dear Sir, * TRANSLATION. Athens, March 11, 1824. I HAVE the honour to transmit you a letter from Mr. Humphries, who is gone with a packet of important letters from hence to Missolonghi. Mr. Humphries speaks favourably to you of the character of Athens, and of its Governor, Odysseus, and justly praises them both. With respect to the Governor, he is powerful, LETTER XLIX. TO GENERAL ODYSSEUS. Dear General Odysseus, Athens, 15th March, 1824. I HAVE written to Anastatius Pappas, a rich patriot, at Hydra, and to General Borrel, a clever and efficient Frenchman, to proceed to Athens, and to devote their means to your service. We daily expect Mr. Finlay to return from Missolonghi. There can be no doubt that the authorities in Western Greece will hail your proposition for a congress at Salona, for the purpose of co-operating with Eastern Greece and the islands. I anticipate great results from this meeting. I know that you belong to no faction; neither to the foreign king, the Ipsilanti, the Mavrocordato, the Petrobey, nor the Colocotroni fac tion. What you wish to promote is the constitution, the laws, the security of person and property, and the liberties of the Greeks; and to drive from their soil the brave, a lover of liberty, and a decided enemy of faction. The greatest tranquillity and the most perfect security reigns in the government. But the most important circumstance is, that the people are in full possession of all their rights. I speak to you in these terms, because I know, from the Greek Committee in England, that you are a true patriot, and possessed of abundant means. I advise you to come hither to further the good cause of your country. We are in great want of a printer, and if there is one in Hydra, he would do well to come hither. Yours, &c. L. S. Turks. Persevere in this noble course and you will be hailed by all good citizens as the saviour of your country. Good government is the only safe course, it leads to power and to fame. Bad government also leads to power-power accompanied by extortion, poverty, insurrection, and blood, and followed by the curses of mankind. At the ensuing congress, I expect to see Odysseus taking the lead in every thing that is just, and proclaiming his sentiments loudly to his country and to the world. The first object of the congress should be to ensure co-operation between Eastern and Western Greece and the islands: the second should be to obtain money for the purposes of the state, by persuading all the chiefs to deposit the revenues of their districts in the public coffers: the third should be to concert military operations. The capture of Lepanto might be effected for the small sum of 20,000 dollars. The passes of Thermopylæ might be secured by four or five Martello Towers and 100 men. And Negroponte and Karisto, if assailed by sea with three or four gun-boats, and by land by your valiant soldiers, must soon fall. The fourth and grand object should be to put the laws and the constitution in force. To this end, good proclamations should be published; declaiming against disunion, faction, extortion, intrigue, and the neglect of all military exertion; and recommending well-concerted measures, the enforcement of a strong police and good laws, the appointment of able prefects, judges, &c. These proclamations should be dictated by yourself, and some very able and eloquent writer should accompany you to the meeting. I will endeavour to take thither a litho graphic press, to publish and to spread your noble thoughts. It is devoutly to be wished that all the other chiefs engaged at the congress should co-operate in these measures; but if they have not the virtue to act thus nobly, I am convinced that your strong mind will take its own bold course-a course that must lead to the downfall of the Turks, to the permanent establishment of the liberties of Greece, and of your power and fame. I am sorry to find in every quarter some men, and even some good men, in favour of a foreign king. They say "a limited monarch would give us security and freedom." As for a limited monarch, that could not be. A king that could put down this armed and martial people must have unlimited power-must be a tyrant. The first thing that such a monster would do, would be to establish a disciplined force, and the next would be to crush those warriors and heroes who had rescued their country from the Turks. How avoid these evils? I know of no safe course but that of establishing a strong and just government. All extortion-all extravagance lead to poverty, to tumult, and to assassinations. If there be any Greek with a vast mind, and possessing great power, who has the nobleness of soul to pursue the public good, that man will soar above all his contemporaries: he will save his country from Turks and faction, and entail on millions for ages to come the blessings of liberty. I am, your friend, L. S. LETTER L. TO THE SAME. Dear General Odysseus, Athens, March 16, 1824. I AM desirous of obtaining your sanction to the formation of a utilitarian society in Athens. I propose to select its members from the most virtuous and able of her citizens. The end proposed is the formation of schools, museums, dispensaries, agricultural and horticultural societies-in short, of all establishments connected with the advancement of useful knowledge. When this utilitarian society is formed I shall endeavour to promote similar institutions at Napoli, Tripolitza, and Missolonghi, and to put them in communication with all those societies which profess the same principles in other quarters of the world. In consequence of the enlightened sentiments which you have expressed to me in favour of a free press, I have written to Napoli to have a press sent to Athens. I have also offered Professor Psylas £50 a-year to conduct and write for it. Your noble conduct towards the Athenians, in promoting public meetings, proves that you consider publicity as the soul of justice. It should prevail in the senate, in the courts of law, and, above all, in spreading the people's thoughts. The examples of England, of America, and of Switzerland prove its efficacy in promoting order, virtue, and good government; and those of South America and of India show how safe and how useful a free press is in countries which have been doomed to ages of despotism, and |