posed of German and English officers and Greek soldiers.

Lord Byron has received a letter from Capt. Hastings, in which he recommends a steam-vessel. He would build it here, and have the engine sent out from England. It should carry two thirty-two pounders and two large carronades of sixty-eight, from which he would fire the newly-invented shells, which I believe act as both shot and shell. The crew to consist of sixty Englishmen. With such a ship, Captain H. thinks he could sail into the Dardanelles and destroy the Turkish fleet. For my own part I do not calculate on wonders: I do, however, think that, with such a vessel, the Turkish fleet now in the Gulf of Lepanto might be destroyed. At my request Count Gamba, who is a good and sensible person, has made an extract from the letter, and will forward it to the general government for consideration. Prince Mavrocordato told me that the islands would lend one of their vessels if required. Perhaps you could fit out a large boat with a powerful steam apparatus to tow a ship that would answer the purpose, be more applicable, and less expensive. I shall propose to the government to devote a part of the loan, provided they obtain one, to this object.

We have just heard that Parry has arrived at Corfu, and we expect him here immediately. Every thing is preparing for him.-A house, an artillery and rocket corps, and an expedition against Lepanto. One week after his arrival I hope to be in the Morea; and, I think, Lord Byron will start about the same time, with his 500 brave Suliots, for Lepanto.

Lepanto is a place of no strength. The garrison

consists of about 500 Turks. They have a free communication with Patras, and cannot be starved out while they are masters of that place and of the Gulf. The fortress might, I think, be taken by surprise, by escalading it, a little before dawn, in half a dozen places at once. The success of any one of the divisions would secure the capture. As for taking Lepanto, with the Greek troops, by siege or by shells and rockets, such an event is extremely improbable. All would depend on the conduct of its defenders. Asiatics, behind walls, behave frequently like heroes, and sometimes like dastards. With them no one can calculate on results.

The press which you sent out has been made over to Dr. J. J. Meyer, of Missolonghi. He had previously only the use of a press, but this being but an indifferent one, and belonging to the printer who refused to publish Mr. Bentham's remarks in the prospectus, I thought it desirable to secure the freedom of writing and publishing by placing our press in the hands of a bold, honest, and intelligent Swiss.

Yours, &c.

L. S.

LETTER XXVII.

TO THE SAME.

Missolonghi, 18th January, 1824.

My dear Sir,

I HAVE just read a letter from a person at Lepanto. He says that the soldiers in all the fortresses

are clamorous for their pay. In the absence of other intelligence of temporary interest, I will endeavour to give you an idea of the present state of Greece, as regards the administration of justice.

Greece is divided into cantons and sub-cantons. These are under the immediate government of prefects and sub-prefects. Each community elects a president, who is under the primate of the district, and both are directed by the sub-prefect. In every canton and subcanton there is a court of justice. The prefect communicates with the minister of the home-department. In each canton there is a secretary-general, a finance-minister, a war-minister, a naval-minister and captain of the port where required, and a minister of police. The sub-cantons have analogous establishments. Each community elects three persons, who represent the government, and act under the sub-prefect.

There is a justice of the peace in each canton. In each sub-canton there is a court consisting of three judges for commercial, political, and criminal affairs. These courts are provisional. In each canton there is a tribunal of five, called Tribunal des Armes. The justice of the peace decides all matters not exceeding one hundred piastres; those under fifty piastres are not appealable. He also judges all petty cases of assault, and all questions concerning irrigation. He cannot sentence to more than three months' imprisonment, and has the power of changing bodily punishment into a fine, which must not exceed 150 piastres. From these judgments there is no appeal. Each justice of the peace has a secretary and a registrar. No prosecution can take place without a written statement. All sentences must

be given in public and in writing. If the parties are not satisfied with the sentence, they must immediately write down their intention to appeal on the brief.

The first tribunals decide political, commercial, and eriminal affairs; and, also, cases of appeal from the justices of the peace.

In these courts all pleas and answers must be in writing: their sentences are not definitive, but are liable to revision by the Tribunals of Appeal.

The Tribunals of Appeal judge all cases of appeal from the first tribunals. The sentences of these courts, on commercial and political affairs, not exceeding 4,000 piastres, are final; but, when they exceed that sum, an appeal lies to the General Tribunal of Greece. In criminal cases the sentences of the Tribunals of Appeal are not appealable, except sentence of decapitation be awarded, in which case, reference may be made to the General Tribunal.

Each community has a notary, who must be approved by the government. All money-contracts must be made in his presence, and both parties must come before him for that purpose. He must, also, attend those who wish to make their wills, and notify the physical and moral state of the testators.

The most important measure to impress on the public mind in Greece is publicity. To this end, I have caused many articles on the subject, from Bentham, Dumont, and others, to be translated for insertion in the Greek Chronicle. To give additional weight to their writings with the ignorant, I have written on the subject of their characters. The following is an example:-" We understand that Mr. Bentham has directed Colonel

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We

Stanhope to send to England two Greek boys, to "whom he will give the best possible education. "trust that Colonel S. will be extremely careful in his "selection. He should consult the wisest men on this "subject. He should endeavour to obtain the offspring "of parents who have been prominent in rescuing "Greece from the Satanical rule of the Turks, and "have been firm in promoting her liberties; also, chil"dren of ingenuous disposition, of healthy frames, "of superior natural talents, and who are likely here"after to have an influence in the state. We felicitate

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our countrymen on having such a friend as Bentham. "From the commencement of our struggle, he has “taken a deep and active interest in our salvation; and "he has lately, we hear, written a commentary on our "excellent constitution. These acts acquire additional "lustre from Mr. Bentham's character. He is the

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greatest civilian of this, or, perhaps, of any age, and "is renowned all over the world as a great public "benefactor."

We had a riot here last night. Some Suliots insisted upon taking up their quarters in the house of a burgher. Resistance was made, and several persons were wounded. The fray over, a townsman went to Prince Mavrocordato to demand redress. Presently after, a corps of Suliots went to him, for the same purpose. I met them on my road home from Dr. Meyer's. The burgher on his way was questioned by Dr. Meyer. He was narrating the events of the fray, when a Suliot passed, and shot him dead. The Prince assembled the military chiefs, and insisted on their delivering up the malefactors to justice. They shuffled, argued, and,