'Pray be as cheerful and tranquil as you can; and ' be assured that there is nothing here that can excite anything but a wish to be with you again,—though ' we are very kindly treated by the English here of all descriptions. Of the Greeks, I can't say much good hitherto, and I do not like to speak ill of them, though they do of one another.'

• October 29th.

'You may be sure that the moment I can join you again, will be as welcome to me as at any period of ' our recollection. There is nothing very attractive ' here to divide my attention; but I must attend to the 'Greek cause, both from honour and inclination. 'Messrs. B. and T. are both in the Morea, where they 'have been very well received, and both of them write ' in good spirits and hopes. I am anxious to hear how 'the Spanish cause will be arranged, as I think it may ' have an influence on the Greek contest. I wish that 'both were fairly and favourably settled, that I might return to Italy, and talk over with you our, or rather 'Pietro's adventures, some of which are rather amusing, as also some of the incidents of our voyages and 'travels. But I reserve them, in the hope that we may laugh over them together at no very distant period.'

LETTER 525.

TO MR. BOWRING.

'9bre 29th, 1823.

'This letter will be presented to you by Mr. Hamil'ton Browne, who precedes or accompanies the Greek deputies. He is both capable and desirous of rendering any service to the cause, and information to the Committee. He has already been of conside'rable advantage to both, of my own knowledge. Lord

'Archibald Hamilton, to whom he is related, will add

' a weightier recommendation than mine.

Corinth is taken, and a Turkish squadron said to be beaten in the Archipelago. The public progress of the Greeks is considerable, but their internal dis'sensions still continue. On arriving at the seat of Government, I shall endeavour to mitigate or extinguish them—though neither is an easy task. I have ' remained here till now, partly in expectation of the 'squadron in relief of Missolonghi, partly of Mr. Parry's detachment, and partly to receive from Malta 'or Zante the sum of four thousand pounds sterling, which I have advanced for the payment of the ex'pected squadron. The bills are negotiating, and will be cashed in a short time, as they would have 'been immediately in any other mart; but the mise'rable Ionian merchants have little money, and no 'great credit, and are besides politically shy on this 'occasion; for although I had letters of Messrs. Webb (one of the strongest houses of the Mediterranean), ' and also of Messrs. Ransom, there is no business to 'be done on fair terms except through English mer'chants. These, however, have proved both able and willing, and upright, as usual*.

'Colonel Stanhope has arrived, and will proceed immediately; he shall have my co-operation in all his ' endeavours; but from everything that I can learn, the formation of a brigade at present will be ex'tremely difficult, to say the least of it. With regard 'to the reception of foreigners, at least of foreign

The English merchants whom he thus so justly describes, are Messrs. Barff and Hancock, of Zante, whose conduct, not only in the instance of Lord Byron, but throughout the whole Greek struggle, has been uniformly most zealous and disinterested.

'Pray be as cheerful and tranquil as you can; and 'be assured that there is nothing here that can excite anything but a wish to be with you again,—though ' we are very kindly treated by the English here of all descriptions. Of the Greeks, I can't say much good 'hitherto, and I do not like to speak ill of them, though they do of one another.'

⚫ October 29th.

'You may be sure that the moment I can join you again, will be as welcome to me as at any period of ' our recollection. There is nothing very attractive 'here to divide my attention; but I must attend to the 'Greek cause, both from honour and inclination. 'Messrs. B. and T. are both in the Morea, where they ' have been very well received, and both of them write ' in good spirits and hopes. I am anxious to hear how 'the Spanish cause will be arranged, as I think it may ' have an influence on the Greek contest. I wish that 'both were fairly and favourably settled, that I might ' return to Italy, and talk over with you our, or rather 'Pietro's adventures, some of which are rather amusing, as also some of the incidents of our voyages and 'travels. But I reserve them, in the hope that we may laugh over them together at no very distant period.'

LETTER 525.

TO MR. BOWRING.

'9bre 29th, 1823.

This letter will be presented to you by Mr. Hamil'ton Browne, who precedes or accompanies the Greek 'deputies. He is both capable and desirous of ren

dering any service to the cause, and information to 'the Committee. He has already been of conside'rable advantage to both, of my own knowledge. Lord

was about to proceed to Napoli and Argos, was made the bearer of both. The wise and noble spirit that pervades these two papers must, of itself, without any further comment, be appreciated by all readers*.

LETTER 526.

TO THE GENERAL GOVERNMENT OF GREECE.

• Cephalonia, November 30th, 1823.

The affair of the Loan, the expectations so long ' and vainly indulged of the arrival of the Greek fleet, and the danger to which Missolonghi is still exposed, ' have detained me here, and will still detain me till some of them are removed. But when the money 'shall be advanced for the fleet, I will start for the Morea, not knowing, however, of what use my presence can be in the present state of things. We have heard some rumours of new dissensions, nay, of 'the existence of a civil war. With all my heart I pray that these reports may be false or exaggerated, 'for I can imagine no calamity more serious than 'this; and I must frankly confess, that unless union ' and order are established, all hopes of a Loan will be ' vain; and all the assistance which the Greeks could expect from abroad-an assistance neither trifling nor worthless-will be suspended or destroyed; and, 'what is worse, the great powers of Europe, of whom

no one was an enemy to Greece, but seemed to 'favour her establishment of an independent power, will be persuaded that the Greeks are unable to govern themselves, and will, perhaps, themselves undertake to settle your disorders in such a way as

* The originals of both are in Italian.

officers, I refer you to a passage in Prince Mavro'cordato's recent letter, a copy of which is enclosed in my packet sent to the Deputies. It is my intention 'to proceed by sea to Napoli di Romania as soon as Ì 'have arranged this business for the Greeks them'selves-I mean the advance of two hundred thou'sand piastres for their fleet.

My time here has not been entirely lost,—as you 'will perceive by some former documents that any advantage from my then proceeding to the Morea 'was doubtful. We have at last moved the Deputies, ' and I have made a strong remonstrance on their divi'sions to Mavrocordato, which, I understand, was for'warded by the Legislative to the Prince. With a loan they may do much, which is all that I, for parti'cular reasons, can say on the subject.

'I regret to hear from Colonel Stanhope that the 'Committee have exhausted their funds. Is it sup'posed that a brigade can be formed without them?

or that three thousand pounds would be sufficient? 'It is true that money will go farther in Greece than ' in most countries; but the regular force must be ren'dered a national concern, and paid from a national 'fund; and neither individuals nor committees, at least with the usual means of such as now exist, will 'find the experiment practicable.

'I beg once more to recommend my friend, Mr. 'Hamilton Browne, to whom I have also personal obli'gations for his exertions in the common cause, and ' have the honour to be 'Yours very truly.'

His remonstrance to Prince Mavrocordato, here mentioned, was accompanied by another, addressed to the existing Government; and Colonel Stanhope, who