was not in the nature of things that monarchs should encourage republics; he added, that, if England acted nobly and sided with Greece, no power could succeed against her. Here I remarked that, though I had a favourable opinion of Mr. Canning's feeling towards Greece, I could trust to the honesty of no government; my only confidence lay in the free and martial spirit of Greece. If she could enjoy two years of pure liberty, the enemy that invaded her would either waste to death in the attempt, or else, by a re-action, be herself revolutionized. (The Count highly approved of my wish to introduce the military system of Switzerland into Greece, He also thought it a matter of the very first importance that Lord Hastings, or some enlightened man, should be sent to the Ionian Isles. "If," said he, "your Committee can effect this object, and obtain a loan, they may prove themselves the saviours of Greece. You should not, however, forget that if England can have her Committees, so also may Russia." After this I made my bow to the Count, and he expressed a wish to have another conference with me at Geneva.

I promised to introduce Capo D'Istria to Lord Hastings, but I have since learnt that his Lordship has left Geneva. They will meet at Rome, where the Count is going on account of his health. His health may be the cause, but Rome is nearer to Greece than Geneva. I am, truly, &c. &c.

L. S.

P.S.-All our measures have been carried with the Swiss and German Committees. They have appointed a joint committee to act in Greece, of which M. Reinecke is the Swiss, and M. Deutsch the German,

member. They could not have selected better persons. They have agreed to place their troops in Greece at the disposal of the Committee, and to use their influence to promote the loan. I found the Committees very much irritated against the Capitani and the people of Greece. It was my business to show them that a people long enslaved could not be all virtuous; that the warriors and chiefs whose heroic conduct had saved their country could not be expected to have yet limited their ambition; and that a government so situated must bend to circumstances, however noble its intentions. I then traced all the favourable feeling that had been excited to the Swiss and Geneva Committees, who had first roused the people of England to useful exertion. In short, the despondency which prevailed is changed into hope and zeal, which will beget fresh efforts.-L. S.

LETTER V.

TO THE SAME.

Geneva, 18th October, 1823.

Dear Bowring,

I HAVE been detained here in collecting books of, and information from, eminent men.

Following the spirit of Mr. Hume's instructions, I have obtained the Geneva budgets of the four last years. The principles of economy pursued by that government are calculated to benefit the society under its influence, and are especially applicable to the state of Greece. No less applicable to Greece is the military system of

Switzerland. The Count Capo D'Istria, Colonel Dufour, who defended Corfu, and M. Dumont, all agreed with me on this point. A new military code and organization is to be the work of the next sessions at Geneva, and M. Dumont defers going to England in consequence. Surely it is matter of vast importance to make their military organization generally known, as connected with the cheap defence and liberties of nations. I consider that even the Landwehr of Prussia is a power that may one day overthrow despotism in that quarter.

I have had another instructive conference with Capo D'Istria. It will be gratifying to the Committee to learn that all his ideas are in coincidence with their own. I regret to hear from him that the Prince Mavrocordato is living in one of the Isles, and that (Lord Byron is still at Cefalonia.) This looks as if all were not sound in Denmark. The Count told me that he considered the conquest of Candia of immense importance. I asked if the Turkish commandants in the forts could be bribed. He was of opinion that they could not, because their government had selected them on account of their being great landed proprietors. He considers Mavrocordato a man of great probity and finesse-qualities that are rarely found together, but very essential in his situation.

Monsieur Lütscher, President of the Greek Committee at Geneva, solicits, in a letter to me, of which I enclose an extract, the aid of the friends of Greece in England. (Vide Appendix, No. 6.)

I have purchased several works on legislation for Greece. At Geneva, great progress is making in this

most useful branch of political science. Le Recueil des Loix de Genève is the nearest approximation to the system of Bentham that has as yet been accomplished. It works well; and even the old, so prone to prejudice, approve it highly.

I am yours,

L. S.

LETTER VI.

TO THE SAME.

My dear Bowring,

Milan, 25th October, 1823.

I ARRIVED here yesterday. Mr. Schinas's friend, the Chevalier Mustoxidi, is honest and intelligent. I have endeavoured to obtain from him information about Greece.

The Chevalier thinks that Russia wishes to confer benefits on Greece; to gain over, by generous acts, some of the principal families; and then, when occasion offers, slily to assist Greece in the management of her concerns, and in the protection of that strong bond of union -their common faith. Austria he considers in a state of perplexity. She dreads the spread of liberal principles in the neighbourhood of Italy and her own frontier, and still more the aggrandisement of Russia. England, he says, has changed her conduct with the change of circumstances. So long as Greece could be retained in a state of thraldom and insignificance she was content: but finding that the Greeks had started from their

chains,--that they must either become a substantive state of importance, or a dependent one to swell the pride and power of an already preponderating empire, she now wishes to model her into a monarchy of federa states. To generalize all these interests, the Chevalier. thought that these three powers would endeavour to place the son of the late King of Sweden on the throne of Greece. In that event, he must commence his course by changing his faith (if he has any):—the Mogul, circumcised and then baptized, might be quite as acceptable to the commonwealth. Nothing, he imagined, was more likely to thwart interference in the affairs of Greece, than a treaty between the belligerents, on the basis of the acknowledgement by the Porte of the independence of Greece, on condition of the latter paying an annual tribute.

The Chevalier is of opinion, that quiet steps should be taken to gain over the Servians from Russian, Turkish, and Austrian interests: this effected, the course of Greece would be more secure. To this end he recommends that some competent person should proceed thither to probe the state of feeling in that quarter, preparatory to the adoption of more decisive measures. Mons. M. thinks a negotiation should be entered into with the Pacha of Egypt, to render him independent. This might spread, and could not fail to prove a powerful diversion. Mons. M. at my suggestion, has agreed to write a short historical pamphlet on the conduct of our government in the Ionian Isles. I have recommended him to select a number of strong facts, and to state them in so soft a tone that even the sensitive nerves of delicate politicians may not shrink from their

C