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No. 19.

TRANSLATED FROM THE GREEK.

PROVISIONAL Government of Greece.

The Executive Body to the Hon. Colonel Stanhope.

We have received your letter of the 20th Dec. 1823, [vide p. 58,] the contents of which clearly show your good and generous intentions towards Greece. The Hellenic government is not ignorant how useful in a state is the circulation of ideas by means of a post; but the circumstances which concur when a people take up arms to shake off the yoke of a horrible tyranny often oppose invincible obstacles to the execution of this desirable object.

The government will, however, take this so useful proposition into consideration, and will give you the necessary information on the subject.

(L.S.) GEORGE CONDURIOTTIS, the President of the Executive. GHICAS BOTASSI.

JOHN COLETTI.

P. G. ROIDI, the Provisional Secretary.

Cranidi, 17th January, 1824.

No. 20.

TRANSLATED FROM THE GREEK.

PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT of Greece.

The Executive Body to the Hon Colonel Stanhope.

THE government has learned from your letter of the 7th January, [vide p. 73,] that the Greek Committee of England has sent out a number of presses, with the good intention of spreading the intelligence of the nineteenth century over Greece, plunged as it is in igno

rance by the most barbarous of tyrannies. These are sentiments truly philanthropic! These are sentiments which are pleasing before God, and worthy of true Christians! The benevolent Committee already receives the sincere thanks of every Greek, and we beg of you, of you also to be the messenger of our gratitude.

Send us one of them, we intreat, as soon as possible, and have the goodness to lend it to the government of Greece, which, desiring the happiness of its people, will take care to establish it, and to put it in a state of useful activity. We have thought capable of conducting this enterprize, M. Theoclitus Farmachidi, now living in Cefalonia, who has the necessary talent and even practice to publish a Gazette.

We enclose a letter of invitation to him, which we beg of you to forward without delay.

(L.S.)

GEORGE CONDURIOTTIS, the President of the Executive.
GHICAS BOTASSI.

JOHN COLEtti.

P. G. ROIDI, the Provisional Secretary.

Cranidi, 17th Jan. 1824.

No. 21.

Capt. Parry's Plan for placing the Fortress of Missolonghi and the Harbour in a State of efficient Defence.

To effect this object, Captain Parry requires that the Prince Mavrocordato shall place one thousand dollars at his disposal, also a sufficient quantity of wood.

Capt. P. will then take into pay a corps of sappers, miners, and cannoneers. This shall consist of a quarter-master, four overseers, or sergeants, and fifty good workmen, chiefly sailors, &c. These men will be employed in the laboratory, in constructing the fortifications, &c. The quarter-master will receive 5 dollars, the sergeants, 4 dollars each, and the men, 3 dollars each.

Capt. P. will place the fortifications in a state of defence. He will make a traverse on every battery, and will place an ammunition-chest under each of them, which shall contain rounds of pow

der in cartridges for each gun, wads, &c. He will put all the guns and platforms in repair, and furnish rammers and caps for the guns.

Capt. P. will furnish 100 rounds of powder 'cartridges for each gun on the fortress; also 5000 rounds of ball-cartridges for small

arms.

When the forges are up he will run the old iron into shot and make grape shot.

Capt. P. will fit up two gun-boats, if the materials are furnished to him. He will make cannonade slides on them, arrange them for oars, and make a grate in one of them for heating shot.

Capt. P. will also complete the laboratory, and render it fit for manufacturing ammunition and materials for war.

Wood being provided, Capt. Parry will construct a safe powdermagazine. All these measures, Capt. Parry undertakes to effect at the trifling expense of 1000 dollars.

No. 21.*

From

Athens, 6th March, 1824.

Dear Sir,

I AM sorry to have occasion to trouble you with an account of a most unpleasant affair, that happened here a few days since.« The Hind,” Lord J. Churchill, arrived here, and he and his officers came up to visit the authorities. They were received by Ulysses with every demonstration of respect, and every facility was offered them. In return for his civility, Lord J. invited Ulysses on board, as well as Mr. Trelawny, Dr. Tindall, and myself, the three English Philhellenes here. The Greeks were shown the ship, after which they were invited to a repast, at which more wine was drank than accorded with discretion. Fearing some drunken quarrel, I got them on deck, and we retired to the after cabin for coffee. At this moment, the ship was got under weigh, and put to sea, I used all my endeavours, as well as did the first lieutenant and others, to prevent this rash act, but to no purpose; for I well knew that the impression it would make on the minds of the Greeks would be that they were going to carry

them off, and that they would even suspect me and the other two Englishmen as parties concerned in the supposed treachery: nay, I represented to him that, by such an act he was endangering our lives, as, it was possible, the first act of theirs on landing would be to shoot us; however, all to no purpose. Ulysses had about thirty-soldiers on board, who, armed as usual, remained near their chief, and, seeing the ship under sail, they put themselves in an attitude of defence, and I expected, every instant, to see them fire, for no attention was paid to the reiterated demand to be put on shore. Goorha cut the tiller ropes, in hopes of getting the ship on shore. At length, however, the Greeks scrambled, as well as they could, into the boats, and got on shore. In the hurry, some capotes, &c. were left on board the ship, and for the restoration of these, the "Hind's " boats were detained on shore by Ulysses. Thus all Lord J. Churchill obtained by this unwarrantable trick, was to have this insult placed upon the British flag. When we English landed we were not without apprehensions for our personal safety; however, I am happy to state, for the honour of the Greeks, that we passed exempt from all suspicions. You know the Greeks; therefore, I shall not mention, as an extraordinary circumstance, that all endeavours to persuade them that there was no intention to carry them off, are fruitless. The ship being from Smyrna, they insist she was employed by the Turks to carry off Ulysses. Thus, independent of the ill-timed folly of Lord J. in exposing our lives, he has created suspicions in the minds of the Greeks against the English, and that at a time when, of all others, it was the most to be avoided. I am aware that Lord J.'s intentions were good, but that is no excuse: in his situation his actions ought to reply to his intentions, or he is not fit to command a ship of war.

Ulysses has requested me to send to England a sketch of this event, as well as a copy of a letter he has caused to be written to Captain Clifford, the senior officer on this station, that they may both be inserted in the English newspapers. Well knowing your devotedness to the Greek cause, as well as your disposition to oblige me, I take the liberty of sending you these two documents: The Turks are said to be making great preparations for the ensuing campaign: two armies, of 40,000 men each, are to march, aided by a formidable fleet. I think the next campaign will prove what I have so long uselessly advanced, that the fate of Greece depends on the navy, and, accordingly, that a steam-vessel, armed as I propose, is

the only likely way of doing something decisive at sea, without which all efforts on shore must prove fruitless. I have already writteu to you on the subject, offering to contribute a thousand pounds towards an equipment, such as I explained to you when at Tripolitza, on condition that I may have the command of the same. If the Committee have not the means to furnish the remaining sum, I think it might be had in this way, either by a loan, or by a particular loan for that purpose, to be repaid out of a sum set apart from any prizes taken. At all events, shall be in England in about five months, when I shall see you on the subject, and use my utmost endeavours to execute this project. 'Tis almost the only way of saving Greece.

I remain

Yours, very truly,

No. 22.

TRANSLATED FROM THE GREEK.

From General Odysseus to Colonel Stanhope.

Vrissachia, 20th March, 1824.

Noble Sir,

I HAVE received your two letters, and request you will lose no time in the establishment of the printing-press, which will have the power of exposing and censuring the misconduct of every one.

In one word, every thing which you shall do for the benefit of Greece will have my fullest approbation. Do not ask my opinion upon any thing. I am not able to give you advice. You are much better acquainted with what is necessary than I am. Do not, therefore, delay to do every thing that you shall think desirable for Greece, or likely to advance her liberty.

I request that you will communicate to me any news you may have from Missolonghi, for I am now ready to depart for Salona.

I am, &c.

ODYSSEUS TRITZO.

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