Greek fleet has arrived at Calamatra. Troops will thence be embarked for raising the blockade of Missolonghi, and will then proceed to Albania. Petrobey is with the fleet, and Mavrocordato left Hydra seventeen days back to join it. You are aware, I presume, that Lord Byron has generously advanced £4000 towards the payment of the armament. This money is placed in the hands of three commissioners. The Turkish army before Missolonghi are said to be moving off by hundreds. I quite rejoice to tell you that Mr. Green's bills, to the amount of £2,000, have not been accepted at Constantinople. You are aware that Patras, the castle of the Morea, and Lepanto, have hitherto been supplied through this source, and that from these fortresses the army before Missolonghi also drew its supplies. Hence we may conclude that the Porte has no money; that the Turkish troops must speedily abandon the siege of Missolonghi; and that the fortresses above mentioned, being nearly exhausted by the supplies they have afforded, and having no English Consul to give them further succour, must soon fall.

Patras, as well as the Castle of Morea and that of Romelia, which are the gates of the Gulf of Lepanto, may be taken without much difficulty; so also may Lepanto, though stronger than the others.

You were wise in not sending the Ann to Napoli. I have written to Corfu, to desire Parry to proceed with the stores of the Hope and Ann to Cefalonia, there to remain till further orders. Should Missolonghi be in security, that will probably become our head-quarters for the present.

I have been seriously ill. I am now well, and pro

D

pose, after seeing Mavrocordato and Petrobey, to proceed to Napoli and Argos, there to endeavour, with silky words and appalling facts, to conciliate the executive and legislative bodies. After this, call it vain, attempt, I shall return to Missolonghi, there to labour under Lord Byron, in the arrangement of all your views. The Deputies are detained at Corfu, in quarantine, and when released will proceed immediately to England. I think you should be silent and suspend operations relative to the loan, till you receive further authentic intelligence from Greece. I have a plan in my mind for the establishment of a post. Without the means of conveying ideas, neither military, nor commercial, nor political affairs can prosper. I also wish to establish hospitals and a dispensary. What is most wanted in Greece is a press, cautiously directed. Cautiously, on account of ears, noses, and heads. However, it is fair to say that the Greeks have not been guilty of enormities towards their Christian brethren. Towards the Jews, indeed, they have not displayed much milky kindness. Colocotroni, after Corinth had surrendered to other chiefs, despatched his followers thither, for the purpose of plundering. The friends of good government pretend that he has no great qualities. He was only brave the day before he became wealthy. They report, too, that he and his adherents are most unpopular. 28th November. The following account of a naval victory may be relied on. The Greek fleet, consisting of nine vessels, commanded by Miaulis, attacked eleven Turkish ships, near the Island of Skiatho. They fought for six hours. The result was glorious to the Greeks, who took one corvette of twenty-four guns,

three brigs, and one transport. Two of the remaining ships they burnt, four they drove on shore, and one only escaped.

There is

I am grieved to say that the executive has refused to allow Mavrocordato to command the expedition, and he is still at Hydra. The Primates of Carnea and Missolonghi solicited the senate to send him to their aid, and the people of the latter addressed that body to the same effect. The Hydriots and Spetziots are also much attached to Mavrocordato. In short, the whole nation seem to look up to him as their friend. The garrison of Corinth, consisting of 500 men, was, according to capitulation, safely transported to Thessalouica. The place is now in possession of the Captains Stiako and Niketas. These persons are not in alliance. a Mr. Brown here, whom you will shortly see. his situation at Corfu in consequence of having communicated to Lord A. Hamilton some intelligence respecting Parga. This gentleman has lately visited the Morea, and will be able to give you the best information on all points connected with its interests. I have been much puzzled where to send the articles brought out by the Hope and Ann. My thoughts turned on Missolonghi, on Athens, on Ægina, but at last we decided on sending them to Spetzia. The situation is good and secure, the people are friendly, and fuel, &c. are there to be obtained.

He lost

I am going immediately to Napoli and Argos, with a letter from Lord Byron to the general government of Greece. The object is to reconcile the factions, and, if we fail in this, to throw the odium of having thwarted

the loan on the offending party. This will cause a useful sensation at the ensuing elections. I will have the letter printed at Hydra, and spread it far.

Ho l' onore d' includere nella presente diverse lettere per vostra Eccellenza, da queste rileverete che sono inviato del Comitato Greco d' Inghilterra per agire in compagnia di Lord Byron, e far avanzare le viste di questo a favore della Grecia. Per arrivare a questo scopo credo che sia necessario di non attaccarmi a qualchesia partito; ma in ogni caso d' agire in concerto col governo per l'avanzamento del maggior bene del maggior numero del popolo Greco. Il Signor Basili, mio secretario, conosce bene tutti i miei sentimenti e vi mettera a giorno di tutto francamente e publicamente.

Il mio desiderio è grande d'avere l' onore di fare la conoscenza di vostra Eccellenza, e di explicarvi tutti gli oggetti della mia missione in dettalio; per questa ragione desidero molto che vostra Eccellenza mi conceda un colloquio a questi parti prima di rendermi alla sede del governo.

Ho l'onore di essere con tutta stima e considera

zione,

Di vostra Eccellenza

Umilissimo Servo,

L. S.*

LETTER XII.

TO J. BOWRING, ESQ.

Missolonghi, 13th Dec. 1823.

My dear Bowring,

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 jetters, 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. Signor 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