Black Sea was in the hands of the Greeks, and the inhabitants of Hydra and Spezzia became enormously rich. At the breaking out of the Revolution, this profitable trade ceased, and their vessels returned to their respective islands without delay. With the exception of four or five three-masted polaccas, and six or eight schooners, the whole of the vessels belonging to Hydra, Spezzia, and Psara, are rigged as polacca brigs, their size varying from a hundred and fifty to five hundred tons, being pierced for twelve to twenty guns. I am unable to state the exact number of vessels belonging to these three islands at the period above alluded to, but only forty or fifty were armed and equipped during the first months of the Revolution; and at no one period does it appear that the Greek naval force sent to sea, ever exceeded eighty vessels.

'The Greek vessels, with few exceptions, have been built from beautiful models, and sail remarkably fast : their crews have all the capabilities of good seamen, except that essential one-discipline. There are several Capitani on board, and each man has as much voice in the direction of the vessel as the Captain himself. This, therefore, gives rise to great confusion; but in the management of their vessels, they are infinitely superior to the Turks.

'Respecting the Greek marine, however, I conceive that an erro neous opinion generally exists in Europe, as, with the exception of the Hydriots and Spezziots, experience has taught me that the Greeks are far from being experienced sailors. Few even of the Captains of those two islands have studied navigation, and that to a very limited extent; their ignorance, in this respect, being obviated by the circumstance of their rarely navigating out of sight of land. During fine weather they manage their vessels and small coasting craft very well, and even expertly; but in a squall or gale of wind, especially during the night, they generally lose all self-possession, the greatest confusion prevails, incense is burnt, the Virgin invoked, and every endeavour made to run the vessel into the nearest port for shelter.'

In a letter, dated November 1, 1821, the surrender of Tripolizza is mentioned. The writer says:

'It is now ten days since we heard of the surrender of Tripolizza : the first tidings of this event were brought here by persons who quitted that place with the Albanian corps, and others have confirmed the fact, which cannot therefore be doubtful. I will endeavour to give you the best and most circumstantial detail of the horrible events which accompanied and followed the taking of the capital; events which are so revolting to human nature, that were there any doubts of their reality I should avoid putting them in writing.

In September last the Turkish garrison of Tripolizza, being destitute of provisions, closely besieged by the Greeks, and acquainted with the surrender of Arcadia, Malvasia, and Navarin, entered into

negociations for a capitulation, on condition that their lives and property should be spared. Before this treaty was concluded, the besieged heard of the arrival of the Ottoman fleet on the coast of the Morea this giving them hopes of speedy succour, the negociations were broken off, and hostilities resumed. No reinforcements or supplies having been sent to the capital, the Greeks pressed the siege more closely, and the Turks, exhausted by starvation, became remiss in their defence.

The Albanians, commanded by Elmas Bey, who formed part of the garrison, seeing no other chance of escape, secretly entered into negociations with some of the Greek chiefs, and agreed to remain inactive in any attack on the place, on condition that they were permitted to return to their own country, and supplied with provisions. The besiegers, thus encouraged, managed by stratagem to gain possession of the gates, poured their forces into the city, and attacked the Turks vigorously.

The first object of the Greeks was to secure and disarm their prisoners, who amounted to about six thousand men, and ten thousand women and children: exclusive of these, about fifteen hundred had been killed in the assault, and several hundreds had previously fallen victims to disease or starvation.

The plunder was immense, as the riches of many of the first families of the Morea had been transported to the capital.

'After two days devoted to plunder and excesses of the most revolting description, the prisoners were taken out of the town, and above twelve thousand men, women, and children, were put to death by their inhuman conquerors. Some were hanged, others impaled, many roasted alive by large fires; the women outraged in the first instance, and then ripped open, (many of them far advanced in pregnancy,) and dogs' heads put into them; upwards of two hundred Jews, who were inhabitants of the city, were put to death, some of them by crucifixion. In short, cruelties were practised which pass all imagination.

The chiefs, consisting of the Kayah Bey, Chamil Bey of Corinth, Mustafa Bey of Patrass, the Harem of Chourschid Pasha, and many other persons of distinction, were spared, in hopes of their being ransomed by their friends. Many women and children were likewise saved, being either retained to gratify the lust of their conquerors, or sold as slaves.'

A serious disturbance at Zante itself is then described: but this has been before detailed in the papers of the day. We pass on, therefore, to other equally painful, but less generally known transactions. One of these is thus adverted to in a letter, dated from Zante, November 9, 1821:

'I have still the painful task of recounting the particulars of an outrage committed by the inhabitants of Cerigo, the seventh of the

Ionian islands. It appears that a boat, containing about fifty women and children, and a few men, forming part of the Turkish population who surrendered at Napoli di Malvasia, arrived at Cerigo from that place, on their way to Candia. Having reached the back of the island, distant some miles from the town, the natives immediately formed a plan of putting them to death. They were suffered to land, and on pretence of conducting them to the capital, were enticed among the rocks, when they were fired on the men, and some of the women were killed; the rest were stripped naked, violated, then tied back to back and thrown into the sea. Not a man, woman, or child, was spared; and, indeed, so secretly does this diabolical plau seem to have been carried into effect, that the Resident did not discover it for some days afterwards, and then merely by accident. Several persons were arrested, and two executed; but it is supposed that the principals escaped to the neighbouring coast of Maina.'

Where so much of atrocity on both sides is presented at every page, it is difficult to make selections. Unfortunately, there are no redeeming traits; no striking acts of self-denial, of virtue, of generosity;-all is one uninterrupted tale of vindictive horror and unrelenting cruelty; and the character of the events may be judged from that of the persons engaged in their perpetration. Take the following as an example, from a letter dated at Zante, May 14,

1822:

'A native of Corfu, named Nano, has lately been put to death by order of Isouf Pasha. The circumstances which led to, and attended the execution of this person, are so monstrous in their nature, that I cannot refrain from briefly giving the particulars.

This Nano had resided many years in Patrass, with his family, and being an Ionian, enjoyed the British protection. Owing to his very irregular conduct, he was constantly involved in disputes, and, in short, was looked upon as a most dissolute character. At the commencement of the Revolution he joined the Greeks, but was soon afterwards taken in arms by the Turks, who, however, spared his life. After passing some months at Patrass, during which his conduct was of a most infamous nature, Nano again joined the insurgents at Missolongi, and apparently delighted in inventing the most cruel tortures and deaths for those Turks who fell into the hands of the Greeks: he even boasted of having assisted in binding six Turks, successively, to the cannon's mouth, and blown them to atoms. It so happened, however, that this atrocious monster again fell into the hands of the Turks of Patrass : he was immediately taken before Isouf Pasha, at the Morea Castle, and unable to deny the truth of the before-mentioned facts, which, indeed, would have been useless, as his conduct was notorious, he was condemned by the Pasha to be forced alive into, and fired out of, the largest mortar in the fortress; which sentence the Jews of the place were compelled to carry into execution!'

The following is a striking instance of the thirst for gain which may, and often does exist simultaneously with a thirst for blood:

Two cargoes of wheat from Constantinople, and three cargoes from Alexandria, the latter sent as a present by the Viceroy, were landed in September, at Corinth, for the use of the troops: since that time very limited supplies have been sent by Isouf Pasha, who prohibited their free importation into Corinth by European specu- * lators, on the plea that the provisions might be landed at intermediate Greek ports in the Gulf. This unjust and arbitrary proceeding naturally caused a great scarcity of provisions at Corinth, there being no other means of obtaining supplies. Isouf is even said to have retailed to the Ottoman troops the rice, biscuit, and flour, which he bought at Patrass of the Austrian traders, at six times the price at which they were contracted for by him. Without vouching for the truth of this assertion, suffice it to say, that famine has commenced dreadful ravages in the Ottoman camp: upwards of six thousand men have perished through starvation and disease up to the present time, and the mortality continues, increased by the heavy rains and want of shelter.'

Inferior as the Turks are admitted to be to the Greeks in naval skill, their bravery is undoubted. Take the following, as one among a thousand other examples that might be cited. It is from a letter, dated Zante, December 9, 1822:

On the 19th ultimo, six Greek insurgent vessels, and a fire-ship, passed Zante, on their way from Hydra to Missolongi: Isouf Pasha, who conducted the Turkish blockade in person, very narrowly escaped being captured.

'On the 20th, a severe action took place between the Greek squadron and a Turkish brig of war, which, unacquainted with the arrival of the former, was bound from Prevesa to Patrass. It was only when too late that the danger was discovered, by a general attack of the six Greek vessels, each of which mounted from sixteen to twenty guns, and were manned with from fifty to sixty men ; while the force of the Turkish brig consisted of sixteen guns, and a crew of ninety-seven men, all Turks, with the exception of one Greek sailor. The Turk sustained a close running fight for fourhours, when the Greeks sent the fire-ship on board her, which was lashed to her yards, and the train fired. In this emergency, the Turkish captain ordered the mainmast of his own vessel to be cut away, which had the desired effect of disengaging the vessels, the fire-ship drifting to leeward. Thus released, the Turkish vessel was steered before the wind towards Ithaca, the six Greek vessels still pursuing, and continually firing broadsides; they even prepared to board, but, on approaching for that purpose, were deterred by the declaration of the Turkish captain, that, sooner than surrender, or be taken, he should set fire to the powder-magazine, and blow up

his vessel. The Turkish brig at length reached the shores of Ithaca, and anchored near the town, almost in a sinking state, with the loss of twenty-eight killed, and eight wounded. The vessel was towed into the harbour of Vathi by boats, and every assistance rendered the wounded, by the British resident, Captain Knox.

'As soon as their adversary anchored off Ithaca, the Greek squadron returned to Missolongi: they state their loss as very trivial. 'Our naval commanders, and indeed the Ionians, speak in the highest terms of praise of the bravery of the Turkish captain, and allow it was impossible to have fought better against so very superior a force.'

In the meantime, the war having now trained men to the use of arms both by sea and land, and having inured them on both sides to the dangers of the ocean and the field, much courage was displayed by the Greeks as well as the Turks; and the impartiality of Mr. Green is seen in the acknowledgments made of this on all occasions which warrant his so doing. In a letter, dated January 15, 1823, he thus describes the evacuation by the Turks of Missolongi:

In reference to what I last wrote, concerning the siege of Missolongi, by Omer Pasha, I have now to state, that the whole of the Turkish forces have retired from before that place in a very sudden

manner.

'It appears that Omer Vrioni decided on making an assault on the town, as the only chance left of gaining possession of it, owing to the succours received by the Greeks, the want of provisions in the Ottoman camp, and the loss of many hundred men by sickness. Having consulted with the other commanders, Omer fixed on the 6th instant for a general assault on the place, knowing that it was the day of the celebration of Christmas, according to the ritual of the Greek Church. Every thing being prepared, the signal for the attack was given before day-break on the 6th; the advanced posts reached the walls unperceived, and under cover of a heavy fire from the whole Turkish line, attempted to scale the walls. It seems that Mavrocordato was aware of the intended attack, and had made excellent arrangements to repel it; the garrison were ready on the first alarm, and flew to their posts. Suffice it to say, that the Greeks behaved with such courage, and the Albanians were so little versed in military tactics, that the latter were completely repulsed by the besieged, in the space of two hours, with the loss of upwards of three hundred and fifty men killed, besides many wounded. It is asserted that the Greeks did not lose seventy men in this affair, which indubitably reflects the highest honour on Mavrocordato, Marco Bozzaris, and the other chiefs. A few days after his defeat, Omer Pasha commenced a precipitate retreat, abandoning his guns, tents, and baggage, which have fallen into the hands of the Greeks.