LETTER XVIII.

TO THE SAME.

My dear Bowring,

Missolonghi, 28th December, 1823.

THE following is a copy of my letter to the general government of Greece, relative to the establishment of a post across the Morea.

"Excellent Sirs,

"A COMMITTEE in England having sent me "here to promote the interests of Greece, I beg leave "to recommend to the General Government the esta"blishment of a post for the conveyance of letters and "parcels across the Morea. In all countries, the quick "circulation of ideas must be conducive to the public

good, but more especially so in a free and commer"cial state. Impressed with this conviction, if none "other will undertake the task, I offer to convey the

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mails, at my own risk and expense. The centre of the post will be at Tripolitza, having correspondents "at Gastouni, Napoli, and Corinth. From Gastouni "the correspondence with Western Greece, the Ionian

Isles, and Europe will be conducted; from Napoli, "it will extend to the Isles of the Archipelago; and "from Corinth, to Eastern Greece. The plan is as "follows:-The superintendent, or first clerk, of the "post, is to be placed at Tripolitza; one clerk is to be "stationed at Napoli, one at Corinth, and one at Gas"touni. The duties of the superintendent are the general direction of the department, the making up

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"of the accounts, the paying of the servants, and receiving of the revenue every month from the junior "clerks. All the clerks are to attend at their respective "offices for the reception and distribution of letters

and parcels, and to receive payment for them on "their delivery. They are to keep the accounts, of “which, at the end of every month, they are to convey "a statement, together with the money received, to "the superintendent, at Tripolitza. The letters and parcels are to be conveyed by runners. The runners are to go at the rate of five miles in each hour, and they are daily to perform about twenty miles. The "post is not to proceed on Sundays.

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"One post-day the runners are to proceed in the "direction of Corinth, and the following post-day in "the direction of Gastouni.

"Letters and parcels are to pay in proportion to "their weight, and the distance they are conveyed.

A single letter of two drams is to pay five paras "for four hours, and parcels at the same rate.

"The payment is to be made on the delivery of let"ters and parcels.

"The office does not guarantee any objects of value that may be despatched by the post.

"The superintendent is to receive five dollars per month, the clerks four dollars each, and the runners "three dollars each.

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"L. S."

31st December.

Missolonghi is placed in a state of difficulty. The neighbourhood has been ruined by two Turkish cam

paigns. Provisions are, consequently, very dear. The town is filled with the Primates, Capitani, and their followers, who have come here to attend the Congress assembled to consider the affairs of Western Greece. All are looking forward to Lord Byron's arrival as they would to the coming of a Messiah. Three ships have been successively despatched after him, and he promises that he is on the eve of departing; but two of these ships have, one after the other, been obliged to quit the harbour of Cefalonia without him. The third ship has not yet returned. Meanwhile the Greek soldiers and fleet murmur for pay. Mavrocordato tells them that he will pay them on receiving Lord Byron's loan. The loan comes not to hand, and I am called upon to give security for £100 borrowed from the German Committee. This I do under promise that seven ships are to remain here for two months. Three or four days after, the contract is broken, and only five remain. On the 29th December, the sailors of these remaining ships complain that they have no pay. They demand it, or threaten to quit the vessels. threat in execution; whether to return or not we are ignorant. During this eventful period, Usuff Pacha, the Commandant of Patras, is named Captain Pacha. He is a gallant fellow; and finding that the Greeks have only five ships here, persuades the Turkish fleet to venture out of the Gulf of Lepanto, and they are now blockading the port. Beyond these, again, are seen the Greek ships, and, among the rest, the one that was sent for Lord Byron. Whether he is on board or not

They have put their

is a question. You will allow that this is an eventful day, when I tell you that the Turkish fleet is come out;

that Lord Byron is expected; that the Congress is to meet; and that the prospectus has, at last, made its appearance. We conceive that the Turkish fleet will either return into the Gulf in a few days, or be off altogether. The latter supposition is founded on our knowledge that the fortresses and the fleet are in want of provisions.

Events change every moment. The Turkish fleet is retiring into port.

Since I last addressed you, I have had another hot fight in defence of the press. Dr. Meyer called on me to say that Bentham's remarks could not appear in the prospectus. I told him that they must, or I would retire from my connexion with him and his press. They have appeared. You will judge of the importance of the impression which this passage must make on men about to legislate on the measure, and on a people about to stare and wonder at something new.

The legislative body is settled at Cranidi, opposite to Spetzia. There they may deliberate safely. Ulysses has taken Karisto, in Negropont. No place of strength now remains there in the hands of the Turks but the capital.

Lord Byron's two servants have just arrived here, and have brought me a letter from his Lordship. [Vide Appendix, No. 16.] He and Count Gamba set off in two vessels from Cefalonia. They went to Zante, and thence proceeded for Missolonghi, with their bills of lading made out for Calamata. Just as they were coming into port, out came the Turkish fleet, Gamba was taken by a frigate, and conveyed to Patras. The Zante government will demand his restoration, and that of our press,

&c. Lord Byron had a narrow escape. He got into Scrofus, a little island, a few hours' sail from this. Thither I have sent two armed boats, and a company of Suliots, so that he may come by sea or land, as he pleases. He will be here to-morrow. If he had not come, we had need have prayed for fair weather: for both fleet and army are hungry and inactive.

Parry has not appeared. Should he also arrive tomorrow, all Missolonghi will go mad with pleasure.

Pray send us out matter for our press, in Italian, French, or German. What we want are short plain essays, on liberty, on law, on justice, on publicity, on elections, on education, &c. The labour of translating such things, and then watching their re-translation into Greek, is not in my power. I hope our press will not be detained at Patras. For want of Roman letters we cannot print the Chronicle in Italian.

The public meeting is put off till to-morrow. I have recommended Mavrocordato to endeavour to introduce discipline and system there, otherwise noise and riot will prevail, and no business will be done. I have, also, advised him to propose a number of the most enlightened and virtuous men to form committees, and to prepare reports for the approval of the General Assembly.

Yours, &c.

L. S.