LETTER DCX. / TO MR. CHARLES HANCOCK nor to pay the amount. I will take one hundred dollars worth; the rest may be sent back, and I will make the merchant an allowance of so much per cent.; or if that is not to be done, you must sell “ Misaolonghi, Jan. 17, 1824. the whole by auction at what price the things may "I have answered, at some length, your obliging fetch, for I would rather incur the dead loss of part, letter, and trust that you have received my reply by than be encumbered with a quantity of things, to means of Mr. Tindal. I will also thank you to re- me at present superfluous or useless. Why, I could mind Mr. Tindal that I would thank him to furnish have maintained three hundred men for a month for you, on my account, with an order of the committee the sum in Western Greece! for one hundred dollars, which I advanced to him on "When the dogs, and the dollars, and the negro, their account through Signor Corgialegno's agency and the horses, fell into the hands of the Turks, I at Zante on his arrival in October, as it is but fair acquiesced with patience, as you may have perthat the said committee should pay their own ex-ceived, because it was the work of the elements, of penses. An order will be sufficient, as the money war, or of Providence; but this is a piece of mere might be inconvenient for Mr. T. at present to dis- human knavery or folly, or both, and I neither can burse. nor will submit to it. I have occasion for every dol"I have also advanced to Mr. Blackett the sum lar I can muster to keep the Greeks together, and I of fifty dollars, which I will thank Mr. Stevens to do not grudge any expense for the cause; but to pay to you, on my account, from moneys of Mr. throw away as much as would equip, or at least Blackett, now in his hands. I have Mr. B.'s ac- maintain, a corps of excellent ragamuffins with knowledgment in writing. arms in their hands, to furnish Gamba and the "As the wants of the State here are still pressing, doctor with blank bills, (see list,) broadcloth, Hesand there seems very little specie stirring except sian boots, and horsewhips, (the latter I own that mine, I still stand paymaster, and must again re- they have richly earned,) is rather beyond my enquest you and Mr. Barff to forward by a safe chan-durance, though a pacific person, as all the world nel (if possible) all the dollars you can collect on knows, or at least my acquaintances. I pray you the bills now negotiating. I have also written to to try to help me out of this damnable commercial Corgialegno for two thousand dollars, being about speculation of Gamba's, for it is one of those pieces the balance of my separate letter from Messrs. of impudence or folly which I don't forgive him in Webb and Co., making the bills also payable at a hurry. I will, of course, see Stevens free of exRansom's in London. pense out of the transaction; -by-the-way, the "Things are going on better, if not well; there is Greek of a Corfiote has thought proper to draw a some order, and considerable preparation. I expect bill, and get it discounted at twenty-four dollars; to accompany the troops on an expedition shortly, if I had been there, it should have been protested which makes me particularly anxious for the remain- also. ing remittance, as money is the sinew of war,' and "Mr. Blackett is here ill, and will soon set out of peace, too, as far as I can see, for I am sure there for Cephalonia. He came to me for some pills, and would be no peace here without it. However, a I gave him some reserved for particular friends, and little does go a good way, which is a comfort. The which I never knew any body recover from under government of the Morea and of Candia have writ- several months; but he is no better, and what is ten to me for a further advance from my own peculium of twenty or thirty thousand dollars, to which I demur for the present, (having undertaken to pay the Suliotes as a free gift and other things already, besides the loan which I have already advanced,) till I receive letters from England, which I have reason to expect. odd, no worse; and as the doctors have had no better success with him than I, he goes to Argostoli, sick of the Greeks and of a constipation. "I must reiterate my request for specie, and that speedily, otherwise public affairs will be at a standstill here. I have undertaken to pay the Suliotes for a year, to advance in March three thousand dol"When the expected credits arrive, I hope that lars, besides, to the government for a balance due you will bear a hand, otherwise I must have recourse to the troops, and some other smaller matters for to Malta, which will be losing time and taking the Germans, and the press, &c., &c., &c.; so what trouble; but I do not wish you to do more than is with those, and the expenses of my suite which, perfectly agreeable to Mr. Barff and to yourself. I am very well, and have no reason to be dissatisfied with my personal treatment, or with the posture of public affairs-others must speak for themselves. "Yours ever and truly, &c. "P. S. Respects to Colonels Wright and Duffie, and the officers civil and military; also to my friends Muir and Stevens particularly, and the Delladecima." though not extravagant, is expensive with Gamba's d-d nonsense, I shall have occasion for all the moneys I can muster, and I have credits wherewithal to face the undertakings, if realized, and expect to have more soon. "Believe me ever and truly yours, &c." LETTER DCXI. TO MR. CHARLES HANCOCK. “ Missolonghi, Jan. 19, 1824. LETTER DCXII. ΤΟ “ Missolonghi, Jan. 31, 18. "The expedition of about two thousand men is planned for an attack on Lepanto; and for reasons "Since I wrote on the 17th, I have received a let-of policy with regard to the native Capitani, who ter from Mr. Stevens, enclosing an account from would rather be (nominally at least) under the comCorfu, which is so exaggerated in price and quan- mand of a foreigner, than one of their own body, tity, that I am at a loss whether most to admire the direction, it is said, is to be given to me. There Gamba's folly, or the merchant's knavery. All that is also another reason, which is, that if a capitulaI requested Gamba to order was red cloth, enough tion should take place, the Mussulmans might perto make a jacket, and some oil-skin for trousers, &c. haps, rather have Christian faith with a Frank than -the latter has not been sent-the whole could not with a Greek, and so be inclined to accede a point have amounted to fifty dollars. The account is six or two. These appear to be the most obvious mohundred and forty-five!!! I will guaranty Mr. Ste- tives for such an appointment, as far as I can con vens against any loss, of course, but I am not dis-jecture, unless there be one reason more, viz., that, posed to take the articles, (which I never ordered,) under present circumstances, no one else (not even Mavrocordato himself) seems disposed to accept tempt; and as for personal safety, besides that it such a nomination-and though my desires are as ought not to be a consideration, I take it that a far as my deserts upon this occasion, I do not de- man is on the whole as safe in one place as another; cline it, being willing to do as I am bidden; and as and, after all, he had better end with a bullet than I pay a considerable part of the clans, I may as well bark in his body. If we are not taken off with the see what they are likely to do for their money; be- sword, we are like to march off with an ague in this sides I am tired of hearing nothing but talk. mud-basket; and to conclude with a very bad pun, "I presume, from the retardment, that he is the to the ear rather than to the eye, better martially, zame Parry who attempted the North Pole, and is than marsh-ally-the_situation of Missolonghi is (it may be supposed) now essaying the South." not unknown to you. The dykes of Holland, when broken down, are the Deserts of Arabia for dryness, in comparison. LETTER DCXIII. TO MR. CHARLES HANCOCK. "And now for the sinews of war. I thank you and Mr. Barff for your ready answers, which, next to ready money, is a pleasant thing. Besides the assets, and balance, and the relics of the Corgialegno correspondence with Leghorn and Genoa, (I sold the dog flour, tell him, but not at his price,) I shall request and require, from the beginning of March ensuing, about five thousand dollars every two months, i. c., about twenty-five thousand within the current year, at regular intervals, independent of the sums now negotiating. I can show you docu * Miseolonghi, Feb. 5, 1824. "Dr. Muir's letter and yours of the 23d reached me some days ago. Tell Muir that I am glad of his promotion for his sake, and of his remaining near us for all our sakes: though I cannot but regret Dr. Kennedy's departure, which accounts for the pre- ments to prove that these are considerably within vious earthquakes and the present English weather my supplies for the year in more ways than one; in this climate. With all respect to my medical but I do not like to tell the Greeks exactly what I could or would advance on an emergency, because, pastor, I have to announce to him, that among other firebrands, our fire-master Parry (just landed) otherwise, they will double and triple their demands, has disembarked an elect blacksmith, entrusted with (a disposition that they have already sufficiently three hundred and twenty-two Greek Testaments. shown;) and though I am willing to do all I can I have given him all facilities in my power for his when necessary, yet I do not see why they should works spiritual and temporal, and if he can settle not help a little, for they are not quite so bare as matters as easily with the Greek Archbishop and they pretend to be by some accounts. hierachy, I trust that neither the heretic nor the supposed skeptic will be accused of intolerance. *Feb. 7, 1924. By-the-way, I met with the said Archbishop at "I have been interrupted by the arrival of Parry, Anatolico (where I went by invitation of the Pri- and afterward by the return of Hesketh, who has mate a few days ago, and was received with a not brought an answer to my epistles, which rather heavier cannonade than the Turks, probably) for surprises me. You will write soon I suppose. Parthe second time, (I had known him here before;) ry seems a fine rough subject, but will hardly be and he and P. Mavrocordato, and the Chiefs and ready for the field these three weeks; he and I will Primates and I, all dined together, and I thought (I think) be able to draw together at least I will the metropolitan the merriest of the party, and a not interfere with or contradict him in his own very good Christian for all that. But Gamba (we department. He complains grievously of the mergot wet through in our way back) has been ill with cantile and enthusymusy part of the committee, but a fever and colic; and Luke has been out of sorts greatly praises Gordon and Hume. Gordon would too, and so have some others of the people, and I have given three or four thousand pounds and come have been very well, except that I caught cold out himself, but Kennedy or somebody else disgustyesterday with swearing too much in the rain at the ed him, and thus they have spoiled part of their Greeks, who would not bear a hand in landing the subscription and cramped their operations. Parry committee stores, and nearly spoiled our combusti- says Bowring is a humbug, to which I say nothing. bles; but I turned out in person, and made such a He sorely laments the printing and civilizing ex row as set them in motion, blaspheming at them penses, and wishes that there was not a Sundayfrom the government downwards, till they actually school in the world, or any school here at present, did some part of what they ought to have done sev-save and except always an academy for artilleryeral days before, and this is esteemed, as it deserves ship. to be, a wonder. He complained also of the cold, a little to my "Tell Muir that, notwithstanding his remon- surprise; firstly, because, there being no chimneys, strances, which I receive thankfully, it is perhaps I have used myself to do without other warmth than best that I should advance with the troops; for if the animal heat and one's cloak, in these parts; we do not do something soon, we shall only have a and secondly, because I should as soon have exthird year of defensive operations and another siege, pected to hear a volcano sneeze, as a fire-master and all that. We hear that the Turks are coming (who is to burn a whole fleet) exclaim against the down in force, and sooner than usual; and as these atmosphere. I fully expected that his very ap fellows do mind me a little, it is the opinion that I proach would have scorched up the town like the should go,-firstly, because they will sooner listen burning-glasses of Archimedes. to a foreigner than one of their own people, out of "Well, it seems that I am to be Commander-in native jealousies; secondly, because the Turks will chief, and the post is by no means a sinecure, for sooner treat or capitualate (if such occasion should we are not what Major Sturgeon calls a set of the happen) with a Frank than a Greek; and, thirdly, most amicable officers. Whether we shall have a because nobody else seems disposed to take the boxing 'bout between Captain Sheer and the Colo responsibility-Mavrocordato being very busy here, nel,' I cannot tell; but, between Suliote chiefs, the foreign military men too young or not of author-German barons, English volunteers, and adven ity enough to be obeyed by the natives, and the turers of all nations, we are likely to form as chiefs (as aforesaid) inclined to obey any one ex- goodly an allied army as ever quarrelled beneath cept, or rather than, one of their own body. As for the same banner. I am willing to do what I am bidden, and to follow my instructions. I neither seek nor shun that nor any thing else they may wish me to at me, • Parry, who had been long expected with artillery, &c. ** Feb. 8, 1924. "Interrupted again by business yesterday, and it is time to conclude my letter. I drew some time since on Mr. Barff for a thousand dollars, to complete some money wanted by the government. The "I am as ever &c." LETTER DCXV. TO HIS HIGHNESS YUSSUFF PACHA. said government got cash on that bill here and at under your eyes, in the cause of Greece, will be to a profit; but the very same fellow who gave it to me one of the happiest events of my life. In the them, after proposing to give me money for other mean time, with the hope of our again meeting, 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 afterward 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 every thing depends upon punctuality, all our operations will be at a stand-still unless you use despatch.. I shall send to Mr. Barff or to you further bills on England for three thousand pounds, to "A vessel, in which a friend and some domestics be negotiated as speedily as you can. I have al- of mine were embarked, was destined a few days ready stated here and formerly the sums I can ago and released by order of your Highness. I have command at home within the year,-without in- now to thank you; not for liberating the vessel, cluding my credits, or the bills already negotiated which, as carrying a neutral flag, and being under or negotiating, as Corgialegno's balance of Mr. British protection, no one had a right to detain; Webb's letter, and my letters from my friends but for having treated my friends with so much (received by Mr. Parry's vessel), confirm what I kindness while they were in your hands. 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. for HIGHNESS! * Missolonghi, 231 Jan. 1934, "In the hope, therefore, that it may not be altogether 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 "P. S. I have had, by desire of a Mr. Jerostati, back, in order to make as early a return as I could to draw on Demetrius Delladecima (is it our friend your courtesy on the late occasion. These priin ultima analise?) to pay the committee expenses. should the circumstance find a place in your recolsoners are liberated without any conditions: but, I really do not understand, what the committee lection, I venture to beg that your Highness will mean by some of their freedoms. Parry and I get treat such Greeks as may henceforth fall into your on very well hitherto; how long this may last, hands with humanity; more especially since the Heaven knows, but I hope it will, for a good deal horrors of war are sufficiently great in themselves, for the Greek service depends upon it, but he has without being aggravated by wanton cruelties on already had some miffs with Col. S., and I do all I can to keep the peace among 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 9, 1824. either side. "NOEL BYRON " LETTER DCXVI. TO MR. BARFF. "Feb. 21. "I am a good deal better, though of course weakly; the leeches took too much blood from my temples the day after, and there was some difficulty in stopping it, but I have since been up daily, and out in boats or on horseback. To-day I have taken a warm bath, and live as temperately as can well be, without any liquid but water, and without animal food. "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, byand-by; if such should arrive, would you forward him to me by a safe conveyance, as the papers re- "Besides the four Turks sent to Patras, I have gard a transaction with regard to the adjustment of obtained the release of four-and-twenty women a lawsuit, and a sum of several thousand pounds, and children, and sent them at my own expense to which I, or my bankers and trustees for me, may Prevesa, that the English consul-general may conhave to receive (in England) in consequence. The sign them to their relations. I did this by their time of the probable arrival I cannot state, but the own desire. Matters here are a little embroiled date of my letters is the 2d Nov., and I suppose that with the Suliotes and foreigners, &c., but I still he ought to arrive soon." DEAR FRIEND, hope better things, and will stand by the cause as long as my health and circumstances will permit me to be supposed useful.* "I am obliged to support the government here for the present." [The prisoners mentioned in this letter as having been released by him and sent to Prevesa had been held in captivity at Missolonghi since the beginning of the Revolution. The following was the letter which he forwarded with them to the English Consul at Prevesa.] "The sight of your handwriting gave me the greatest pleasure. Greece has ever been for me, as it must be for all men of any feeling or education, the promised land of valor, of the arts, and of liberty; nor did the time I passed in my youth in travelling among her ruins at all chill my affection for the birth-place of heroes. In addition to this, I am bound to yourself by ties of friendship and grati-" SIR, tude for the hospitailty which I experienced from LETTER DCXVII. TO MR. MAYER. "Coming to Greece, one of my principal objects you during my stay in that country, of which you was to alleviate as much as possible the miseries in are now become one of the first defenders and ornaments. To see myself serving, by your side and • One of the Greek chiefs. In a letter to the same gentleman, dated January 27, he had already said, "I hope that things here will go on well some time or other. I wi stick by the cause as long as a cause exists-first or second.” cident to a warfare so cruel as the present. When do not quite understand the little discrepancies in the dictates of humanity are in question, I know no these countries, and are not used to see shooting difference between Turks and Greeks. It is enough and slashing in a domestic quiet way, or (as it that those who want assistance are men, in order to forms here) a part of housekeeping. claim the pity and protection of the meanest pre- "If they should want any thing during their tender to humane feelings. I have found here quarantine, you can advance them not more than a twenty-four Turks, including women and children, dollar a day (among them) for that period, to purwho have long pined in distress, far from the means chase them some little extras as comforts, (as they of support and the consolations of their home. are quite out of their element.) I cannot afford them The government has consigned them to me: I more at present." transmit them to Prevesa, whither they desire to be sent. I hope that you will not object to take care that they may be restored to a place of safety, and that the Governor of your town may accept of my present. The best recompense I can hope for would be to find that I had inspired the Ottoman commanders with the same sentiments towards those unhappy Greeks who may hereafter fall into their hands. "I beg you to believe me, &c." LETTER DCXVIII. TO THE HONORABLE DOUGLAS KINNAIRD. “ Missolonghi, Feb. 21, 1824. "I have received yours of the 2d of November. It is essential that the money should be paid, as I have drawn for it all, and more too, to help the Greeks. Parry is here, and he and I agree very well; and all is going on hopefully for the present, considering circumstances. LETTER DCXX. TO MR. MURRAY. « Missolonghi, Feb. 2, 1834, "I have heard from Mr. Douglas Kinnaird that you state a report of a satire on Mr. Gifford having arrrived from Italy, said to be written by me! but that you do not believe it.' I dare say you do not, nor any body else, I should think. Whoever asserts that I am the author or abettor of any thing of the kind on Gifford lies in his throat. If any such composition exists it is none of mine. You know as well as any body upon whom I have or have not written; and you also know whether they do or did not deserve that same. And so much for such matters. "You will perhaps be anxious to hear some news from this part of Greece, (which is the most liable to invasion;) but you will hear enough through public and private channels. I will, however, give you the events of a week, mingling my own private pe"We shall have work this year, for the Turks culiar with the public, for we are here a little jumare coming down in force; and, as for me, I must bled together at present. stand by the cause. I shall shortly march (accord- "On Sunday, (the 15th, I believe,) I had a strong ing to orders) against Lepanto, with two thousand and sudden convulsive attack, which left me speechmen. I have been here some time, after some nar- less, though not motionless-for some strong men row escapes from the Turks, and also from being could not hold me; but whether it was epilepsy, shipwrecked. We were twice upon the rocks, but catalepsy, cachexy, or apoplexy, or what other this you will have heard, truly or falsely, through exy or epsy, the doctors have not decided; or other channels, and I do not wish to bore you with whether it was spasmodic or nervous, &c.; but it a long story. was very unpleasant, and nearly carried me off, and "So far I have succeeded in supporting the Gov-all that. On Monday, they put leeches to my temernment of Western Greece, which would other-ples, no difficult matter, but the blood could not be wise have been dissolved. If you have received the stopped till eleven at night, (they had gone too eleven thousand and odd pounds, these, with what near the temporal artery for my temporal safety,) I have in hand, and my income for the current year, and neither styptic nor caustic would cauterize the to say nothing of contingencies, will, or might, orifice till after a hundred attempts. enable me to keep the sinews of war' properly "On Tuesday, a Turkish brig-of-war ran on shore. strung. If the deputies be honest fellows, and ob- On Wednesday, great preparations being made to tain the loan, they will repay the 40007. as agreed attack her, though protected by her consorts, the upon; and even then I shall save little, or indeed Turks burned her and retired to Patras. On Thursless than little, since I am maintaining nearly the day a quarrel ensued between the Suliotes and the whole machine-in this place, at least-at my own Frank guard at the arsenal: a Swedish officer was cost. But let the Greeks only succeed, and I don't killed, and a Suliote severely wounded, and a gen care for myself. eral fight expected, and with some difficulty pre"I have been very seriously unwell, but am get-vented. On Friday, the officer was buried; and ting better, and can ride about again; so pray quiet Captain Parry's English artificers mutinied, under our friends on that score. the pretence that their lives are in danger, and are "It is not true that I ever did, will, would, could, for quitting the country:-they may. or should write a satire against Gifford, or a hair of "On Saturday, we had the smartest shock of an his head. I always considered him as my literary earthquake which I remember, (and I have felt father, and myself as his prodigal son; and if I thirty, slight or smart, at different periods; they have allowed his 'fatted calf' to grow to an ox be- are in the Mediterranean,) and the whole army disfore he kills it on my return, it is only because I charged their arms, upon the same principle that prefer beef to veal. "Yours, &c." LETTER DCXIX. TO MR. BARFF. "February 23. the savages beat drums, or howl, during an eclipse of the moon:-it was a rare scene altogether-if you had but seen the English Johnnies, who had never been out of a workshop before!-or will again, if they can help it-and on Sunday, we heard that the Vizier is come down to Larissa, with one hundred and odd thousand men. "In coming here, I had two escapes, one from My health seems improving, especially from the Turks, (one of my vessels was taken, but afteriding and the warm bath. Six Englishmen will ward released,) and the other from shipwreck. We De soon in quarantine at Zante; they are artificers, drove twice on the rocks near the Scrophes (islands and have had enough of Greece in fourteen days. near the coast.) If you could recommend them to a passage home, I "I have obtained from the Greeks the release of would thank you; they are good men enough, but eight-and-twenty Turkish prisoners, men, women, |