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far as to say that the Piræean Gate and Dipylon were one and the same *. The fact too deserves some investigation; for it seems to be favoured by a passage in Polybius, where he says that Attalus coming from the Piræus with a great multitude of attendants, entered the city by the gate Dipylon, (¿coýeɩ KATà Tò Aíπvλov). Polyb. lib. xvi. c. 25. I should rather suppose however that the Piraean Gate was near to that of Dipylon, so that the Romans and the Athenian magistrates who accompanied Attalus from Piræus to the Piraean Gate, being close to Dipylon, chose that the pomp should proceed through the largest and most convenient entrance to the city. This very supposition is suggested by one of Mr. Hawkins himself, who, in that passage of Plutarch + where it is said that Sylla threw down and levelled the Athenian wall from the Piraean to the Sacred Gate, imagines that the Sacred Gate is another name for Dipylon: now it will never be supposed that in battering the mighty walls of Athens which at this very place, where I measured them, are thirteen feet in thickness, Sylla would have made such a breach as should have extended from Dipylon to the Museum-an extent of more than a mile, when twenty yards would have been sufficient. The great object therefore in future researches will be to trace more accurately the direction of the long walls, especially the northern one, and by that means to ascertain, if possible, the site of the Piraean Gate: for on this point depends the situation of the Ceramicus and in great measure the topography of Athens. After these few hints I leave the subject to those who are more capable and willing to investigate it, but I cannot do so without professing the most unbounded respect for the learning and talents of that gentleman whose opinions I have thus freely canvassed.

from his ignorance of the people and language, and debating with himself upon the expediency of an immediate return, introduces his countryman Toxaris opportunely meeting him (ồŋ év T kepaμɛių) in the (very) Ceramicus, i. e. the first place at which he would arrive.

*This Gate Dipylon was called according to Plutarch (in vit. Periclis) "The Thriasian Gate" Húλai Θριασίαι.

† Αυτὸς δὲ Σύλλας τὸ μεταξὺ τῆς πειραϊκῆς πύλης και τῆς ἱερὰς ΚΑΤΑΣΚΑΨΑΣ και ΣΥΝΟΜΑΛΥΝΑΣ, &c.

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 Kassid 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

MEASURES TAKEN FOR HIS RELEASE.

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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.

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 fortune 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