'

'February 8th, 1824. 'Interrupted again by business yesterday, and it is time to conclude my letter. I drew sometime since ' on Mr. Barff for a thousand dollars, to complete some money wanted by the Government. The said Go'vernment got cash on that bill here and at a profit; but the very same fellow who gave it to them, after proposing to give me money for other bills on Barff to the amount of thirteen hundred dollars, either 'could not, or thought better of it. I had written to Barff advising him, but had afterwards to write to tell him of the fellow's having not come up to time. You must really send me the balance soon. I have 'the artillerists and my Suliotes to pay, and Heaven 'knows what besides, and as everything depends upon punctuality, all our operations will be at a standstill 'unless you use despatch. I shall send to Mr. Barff ' or to you further bills on England for three thou'sand pounds, to be negotiated as speedily as you can. 'I have already stated here and formerly the sums I 'can command at home within the year,-without 'including my credits, or the bills already negotiated or negotiating, as Corgialegno's balance of Mr. Webb's letter,-and my letters from my friends (received by Mr. Parry's vessel) confirm what I have already stated. How much I may require in 'the course of the year I can't tell, but I will take 'care that it shall not exceed the means to supply it. 'Yours, ever, N. B.

'P.S. I have had, by desire of a Mr. Jerostati, to 'draw on Demetrius Delladecima (is it our friend in 'ultima analise?) to pay the Committee expenses. 'I really do not understand what the Committe mean by some of their freedoms. Parry and I get on very

'well hitherto; how long this may last, Heaven 'knows, but I hope it will, for a good deal for the 'Greek service depends upon it, but he has already had some miffs with Col. S., and I do all I can to keep the peace amongst them. However, Parry is a fine fellow, extremely active, and of strong, sound, practical talents, by all accounts. Enclosed are bills 'for three thousand pounds, drawn in the mode directed (i. e. parcelled out in smaller bills). A good opportunity occurring for Cephalonia to send letters on, I avail myself of it. Remember me to Stevens ' and to all friends. Also my compliments and every thing kind to the colonels and officers.

February 9th, 1824.

P.S. 2d or 3d. I have reason to expect a person 'from England directed with papers (on business) for me to sign, somewhere in the Islands, by and by; if 'such should arrive, would you forward him to me by ' a safe conveyance, as the papers regard a transac'tion with regard to the adjustment of a lawsuit, and a sum of several thousand pounds, which I, or my 'bankers and trustees for me, may have to receive (in England) in consequence. The time of the probable ' arrival I cannot state, but the date of my letters is the 2d Nov., and I suppose that he ought to arrive 'soon.'

How strong were the hopes which even those who watched him most observingly conceived from the whole tenor of his conduct since his arrival at Missolonghi, will appear from the following words of Colonel Stanhope, in one of his letters to the Greek Committee.

'Lord Byron possesses all the means of playing a

great part in the glorious revolution of Greece. 'He has talent; he professes liberal principles; he has money, and is inspired with fervent and chivalrous feelings. He has commenced his career by two good measures: 1st, by recommending union, and declaring himself of no party; and, 2dly, by taking five hundred Suliotes into pay, and acting as 'their chief. These acts cannot fail to render his lordship universally popular, and proportionally powerful. Thus advantageously circumstanced, his lordship will have an opportunity of realizing all his professions.'

That the inspirer, however, of these hopes was himself far from participating in them is a fact manifest from all he said and wrote on the subject, and but adds painfully to the interest which his position at this moment excites. Too well, indeed, did he both understand and feel the difficulties into which he was plunged to deceive himself into any such sanguine delusions. In one only of the objects to which he had looked forward with any hope,-that of endeavouring to humanize, by his example, the system of warfare on both sides,-had he yet been able to gratify himself. Not many days after his arrival an opportunity, as we have seen, had been afforded him of rescuing an unfortunate Turk out of the hands of some Greek sailors; and, towards the end of the month, having learned that there were a few Turkish. prisoners in confinement at Missolonghi, he requested of the Government to place them at his disposal, that he might send them to Yussuff Pacha. In performing this act of humane policy, he transmitted with the rescued captives the following letter.

C

LETTER 541. TO HIS HIGHNESS YUSSUFF PACHA.

⚫ Highness!

* Missolonghi, 23d January, 1824,

A vessel, in which a friend and some domestics of mine were embarked, was detained a few days ago, and released by order of your Highness. I have now ' to thank you; not for liberating the vessel, which, as 'carrying a neutral flag, and being under British pro'tection, no one had a right to detain; but for having ' treated my friends with so much kindness while they 'were in your hands.

In the hope, therefore, that it may not be alto'gether displeasing to your Highness, I have requested the governor of this place to release four Turkish prisoners, and he has humanely consented to do so. I lose no time, therefore, in sending them 'back, in order to make as early a return as I could 'for your courtesy on the late occasion. These pri'soners are liberated without any conditions: but, should the circumstance find a place in your recollection, I venture to beg, that your Highness will 'treat such Greeks as may henceforth fall into your 'hands with humanity; more especially since the 'horrors of war are sufficiently great in themselves, without being aggravated by wanton cruelties on either side. C NOEL BYRON.'

Another favourite and, as it appeared for some time, practicable object, on which he had most ardently set his heart, was the intended attack upon Lepanto a fortified town* which, from its command of the navigation of the Gulf of Corinth, is a position

*The ancient Naupactus, called Epacto by the modern Greeks, and Lepanto by the Italians.