morrow, if of that of Italy, the day after; but if she wishes to become truly Greece, free and independent, she must resolve to-day, or she will never again have the opportunity.

« I am, with all respect,

« Your Highness's obedient servant,

« N. B. «P.S.-Your Highness will already have known that I have sought to fulfil the wishes of the Greek government, as much as it lay in my power to do so; but I should wish that the fleet so long and so vainly expected were arrived, or, at least, that it were on the way; and especially that your Highness should approach these parts, either on board the fleet, with a public mission, or in some other manner. >>

LETTER DXXVIII.

- TO MR BOWRING.

« 10bre 7th, 1823.

<< I confirm the above; it is certainly my opinion that Mr Millingen is entitled to the same salary with Mr Tindall, and his service is likely to be harder.

1 He here alludes to a letter, forwarded with his own, from Mr Millingen, who was about to join, in his medical capacity, the Suliotes, near Patras, and requested of the Committee an increase of pay. This gentleman, having mentioned in his letter « that the retreat of the Turks from before Missolonghi had rendered unnecessary the appearance of the Greek fleet, Lord Byron, in a note on this passage, says, «By the special providence of the Deity, the Mussulmans were seized with a panic, and fled; but no thanks to the fleet, which ought to have been here months ago, and has no excuse to the contrary, lately—at least since I had the money ready to pay."

On another passage, in which Mr Millingen complains that his hope

:

<< I have written to you (as to Mr Hobhouse for your perusal) by various opportunities, mostly private; also by the Deputies, and by Mr Hamilton

Browne.

<< The public success of the Greeks has been considerable,-Corinth taken, Missolonghi nearly safe, and some ships in the Archipelago taken from the Turks; but there is not only dissension in the Morea, but civil war, by the latest accounts;1 to what extent we do not yet know, but hope trifling.

« For six weeks I have been expecting the fleet, which has not arrived, though I have, at the request of the Greek Government, advanced—that is, prepared, and have in hand two hundred thousand piastres (deducting the commission and bankers' charges) of my own monies to forward their projects. The Suliotes (now in Acarnania) are very anxious that I should take them under my directions, and go over and put things to rights in the Morea, which, without a force, seems impracticable; and really, though very reluctant (as my letters will have shown you) to take such a measure, there seems hardly any milder remedy. However, I will not do any thing rashly, and have only continued here so long in the hope of seeing things reconciled, and have done all in my power thereto. Had I gone sooner they would have

of any remuneration from the Greeks has « turned out perfectly chimerical,» Lord Byron remarks, in a note, «and will do so, till they obtain a Loan. They have not a rap, nor credit (in the islands) to raise one. A medical man may succeed better than others; but all these penniless officers had better have staid at home. Much money may not be required,

but some must."

The Legislative and Executive bodies having been for some time at variance, the latter had at length resorted to violence, and some skirmishes had already taken place between the factions.

forced me into one party or other, and I doubt as much

« Colonel Napier will present to you this letter. Of his military character it were superfluous to speak; of his personal, I can say, from my own knowledge, as well as from all public rumour, or private report, that it is as excellent as his military: in short, a better or a braver man is not easily to be found. He is our man to lead a regular force, or to organize a national one for the Greeks. Ask the army-ask any one. He is besides a personal friend of both Prince Mavrocordato, Colonel Stanhope, and myself, and in such concord with all three that we should all pull together-an indispensable, as well as a rare point, especially in Greece at pre

sent.

« To enable a regular force to be properly organized, it will be requisite for the loan-holders to set apart at least £50,000 sterling for that particular purpose-perhaps more—but by so doing they will guarantee their own monies, and make assurance doubly sure.' They can appoint commissioners to see that part properly expended-and I recommend a similar precaution for the whole.

<< I hope that the Deputies have arrived, as well as some of my various dispatches (chiefly addressed to Mr Hobhouse) for the Committee. Colonel Napier will tell you the recent special interposition of the gods in be

half of the Greeks who seem to have no enemies in heaven or on earth to be dreaded but their own tendency to discord amongst themselves. But these, too, it is to be hoped, will be mitigated, and then we can take the field on the offensive, instead of being reduced to the petite guerre of defending the same fortresses year after year, and taking a few ships, and starving out a castle, and making more fuss about them than Alexander in his cups, or Buonaparte in a bulletin. Our friends have done something in the way of the Spartans (though not one-tenth of what is told)—but have not yet inherited their style.

« Believe me yours, etc.»

LETTER DXXX.

TO MR BOWRING.

«< October 13th, 1823.

"Since I wrote to you on the 10th instant, the longdesired squadron has arrived in the waters of Missolonghi and intercepted two Turkish corvettes-ditto transports-destroying or taking all four-except some of the crews escaped on shore in Ithaca--and an unarmed vessel, with passengers, chased into a port on the opposite side of Cephalonia. The Greeks had fourteen sail, the Turks four-but the odds don't matter-the victory will make a very good puff, and be of some advantage besides. I expect momentarily advices from Prince Mavrocordato, who is on board, and has (I understand) dispatches from the Legislative for me; in consequence of which, after paying the squadron (for which I have prepared, and am preparing), I shall probably join him at sea or on shore.

"I add the above communication to

my letter by Col. Napier, who will inform the Committee of every thing in detail much better than I can do.

« The mathematical, medical, and musical preparations of the Committee have arrived, and in good condition, abating some damage from wet, and some ditto from a portion of the letter-press being spilt in landing— (I ought not to have omitted the press—but forgot it a moment-excuse the same)—they are excellent of their kind, but till we have an engineer and a trumpeter (we have chirurgeons already) mere 'pearls to swine,' as the Greeks are quite ignorant of mathematics, and have a bad ear for our music. The maps, etc. I will put into use for them, and take care that all (with proper caution) are turned to the intended uses of the Committee --but I refer you to Colonel Napier, who will tell you, that much of your really valuable supplies should be removed till proper persons arrive to adapt them to actual service.

« Believe me, my dear sir, to be, etc. «P.S.-Private.-I have written to our friend Douglas Kinnaird on my own matters, desiring him to send me out all the further credits I can command,—and I have a year's income, and the sale of a manor besides, he tells me, before me,—for till the Greeks get their Loan, it is probable that I shall have to stand partly paymaster —as far as I am 'good upon Change,' that is to say. I pray you to repeat as much to him, and say that I must in the interim draw on Messrs Ransom most formidably. To say the truth, I do not grudge it, now the fellows have begun to fight again—and still more welcome shall they be if they will go on. But they have had, or are to have, some four thousand pounds (besides some private extraordinaries for widows, orphans, re