Capture of Baron Stackelberg by Robbers in the Gulf of Volo-Measures taken for his Release and their success-Manners of these Robbers-Extracts from Mr. Cockerell's Account of his Discoveries at Egina-Excursion to the Piraus, Munichia, and Phalerum-Excursion upon the Borders of the Ilissus-Stadium-Altar of the Fates-Curious Anathema-Excursion to the Site of the Academy-Gardens of the Cephissus-Plato-Colonos-Timon's Tower-Grecian Damsel returning from the Fountain-Mount Anchesmus-Inscriptions decyphered— Statue of Anchesmian Jupiter-Author attends the School of Athens to hear Homer expounded-Greek Composition as now taught-Literary Society established at Athens-Ascent up Mount Hymettus-Excursion to the great fortified Pass between the Thriasian and Acharnensian Plains-Tour through Part of Attica-Arrival of Tatars from Ioannina and Constantinople-Vaivode's Government renewed, &c. -Intended Tour in the Morea prevented-Robbery by our Ser

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CAPTURE OF BARON STACKELBERG BY ROBBERS.

vant Giovanni-Method pursued in the Affair and Discovery-Author attacked by an Ague-Arrival of General Davies-Accompany him to see the religious Ceremonies of the Dervishes in the Tower of Andronicus-Monument of Lysicrates-Court of Judicature held by the Archbishop, &c.—Power of the Turkish Officers and Vaivode-Patriarchal Power of the Turks over their own Families-Remarkable Instance of its Exertion-Departure from Athens-Albanian Cottage of Kassià at the Foot of Parnes.

WE had not long been resident in Athens before a most distressing event occurred which created very general sensations of anxiety and sorrow throughout the place. A letter received by Baron Haller from his friend the Baron Stackelberg, an accomplished young nobleman who had rendered himself an universal favourite by his talents and engaging manners, stated that the writer had been taken by pirates as he was crossing the Gulf of Volo on his return from Constantinople after a tour in Asia Minor. He had been cruelly treated by these savages who tore to pieces before his face a number of his most beautiful drawings, plundered him of all his clothes, hurried him along with them in their detestable enterprises, forced him to sleep in the open air, and at last displayed the most horrid instruments of torture for the purpose of terrifying him into the promise of a larger ransom. This they at length set at 60,000 piasters, and for it they dispatched a messenger with the Baron's letter to Athens.

A consultation was immediately held by his friends Baron Haller, Mr. Cockerell, and some others, at the house of the French consul, where various expedients likely to be of service were proposed and taken into consideration. This enormous ransom demanded by the robbers was far too great to be raised, or for an individual to pay, and to be resisted upon every principle of policy towards others as well as the captive himself, as far as it was consistent with his safety. The case therefore required great delicacy of management, and it appeared

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to the party met in consultation that there was but one person who possessed all the qualifications requisite to conduct it happily. This was an Armenian merchant settled in Athens, named Acob, a man who had travelled over greatest part of the old world, whose information in the languages, manners, and customs of different nations was unbounded, and whose honesty was unsuspected. Unfortunately this person was now absent upon commercial speculations in Boeotia or Phocis, and was not expected to return in less than a month. This obstacle however did not long remain. After it had been unanimously agreed that 12,000 piasters should be offered to the banditti for the liberation of their prisoner, and this sum was raised, Baron Haller, that most faithful of friends, took charge of it and set out immediately in quest of Acob. iu

This excellent man rested but little either day or night till he found the Armenian and proceeded with him at once towards the haunts of the banditti. For no reward could they induce any person of the neighbourhood to undertake the office of mediator, such terror had these wretches inspired throughout the country. They determined therefore to venture themselves into the presence of the horde; and having by means of some scouts obtained a knowledge of their present station, they boldly advanced to the interview. The reader may imagine the joy of the poor captive, who was extremely feeble from the effects of bad food, bad air, and a fever brought on by his sufferings, at finding himself in the embrace of his best and most faithful friend. The conference was opened by Acob with singular address; he represented himself as the captain of a privateer in those seas, assured the pirates that they were mistaken in supposing their prisoner was a man of for tune since he was merely an artist labouring for his bread whose prospects they had already seriously injured by the destruction of his drawings; that if they rejected the offers he now made he should depart satisfied with having done his duty, and finally he represented to them that a Turkish man of war was on the coast, as really was the case, to the commander of which, if they continued obstinate, he

should leave their punishment. The robbers were somewhat abashed by the eloquence, the confidence, and tone of authority which he used, but suffered him to depart without coming to any conclusion, as they could not prevail upon themselves to reduce their demand of 60,000 piasters to 10,000, which was all that Acob was determined to pay.

Firmness was now of the utmost necessity; this Acob saw and persevered in spite of the pain which it might give both to the prisoner and to Baron Haller: that generous man however unable to bear the anxiety which he suffered on account of his friend, stept forward and urged the captain of the gang by every entreaty to release the prisoner and accept himself as an hostage in his stead until the other should recover. This noble offer was made in perfect sincerity of heartthe risk was great-the pirates were irritated-in all probability they would torture their prisoner for the purpose of succeeding better in their terms of ransom-and if they should chance to be pursued by the Turkish frigate, they would inevitably put all their captives to death and throw them overboard. This proposal therefore of Baron Haller was a very strong indication of a soul capable of any sacrifice which duty and affection might call upon him to make.

The disappointed negotiators returned to sleep at the nearest village; where about midnight they were awakened by one of the banditti who came to propose 20,000 piasters for the ransom, which he gradually reduced to 15,000 as the ultimatum. Acob however conjecturing that they were in some alarm remained steady to his former determination, which in the course of an hour brought the chief himself to their lodging, where the bargain was at last concluded for 10,000 piasters, with an additional present of one thousand to the captain. A shake by the hand was the seal of this negotiation, as sacred and as valid as the firman of the sultan.

On the following morning Baron Haller proceeded to the place appointed by the robbers, and being seated, like all the rest, cross-legged upon a carpet spread out on the rock, he counted out in their presence

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the 10,000 piasters. Baron Stackelberg was then shaved by one of the gang, a ceremony which they never omit on these occasions, and given over to his friends. They were all pressed very much to stay and partake of a roasted lamb and an entertainment about to be prepared, but they were too desirous of quitting such company, to accept their proffered hospitality. The robbers then wished them a good journey and expressed their hopes of capturing them again at some future time and pocketing some more of their cash.

The account which Baron Stackelberg gave of these wretches was curious. They were composed of outlaws and villains from every part of Greece, the very dregs of society in a country where humanity is not a virtue either generally admired or practised. They were mostly Turks but with the most imperfect knowledge of the mussulman faith in the hour of danger they had recourse to all kinds of superstition, but when secure they indulged in the most horrid blasphemies. In their bark a light was always kept burning before a picture of the virgin, and in storms they vowed the dedication of wax tapers to St. Nicholas, the Neptune of modern Greece, in a church dedicated to that saint upon an island which they sometimes visited; these vows they religiously performed. In the day-time they generally drew their bark ashore covering it with rushes, and at night they made their excursions. With regard to any prize they captured, if it were money, they divided it immediately among the gang, if goods which were portable, they put them up to sale amongst themselves. For this purpose poor Baron Stackelberg saw his trunks rifled and emptied: he was obliged to tell them the prime cost of every article, which was disposed of to the highest bidder. When they came to his firman and other writings, in the Turkish language, which however they could not read, they kissed them and applied them to their foreheads in token of submission to the grand Signor.

So great is the terror caused by these villains that they are seldom resisted the unfortunate vessels which fall in their way generally submit at once, or run ashore if they happen to be near the land, when