LETTER 550. TO MR. BARFF. "March 5. 1824. "If Sisseni1 is sincere, he will be treated The letter of Parruca, to which the foregoing alludes, contained a pressing invitation loponnesus, where, it was added, his influto Lord Byron to present himself in the Pewith, and well treated; if he is not, the sin and the shame may lie at his own door. One of all parties. So general, indeed, was the ence would be sure to bring about the union great object is to heal those internal dis- confidence placed in their noble ally, that, sensions for the future, without exacting by every Chief of every faction, he seems to too rigorous an account of the past. Prince have been regarded as the only rallying point Mavrocordato is of the same opinion, and round which there was the slightest chance whoever is disposed to act fairly will be fairly of their now split and jarring interests being dealt with. I have heard a good deal of Sis- united. A far more flattering, as well as more seni, but not a deal of good: however, I authorised, invitation soon after reached him, never judge from report, particularly in a Re-through an express envoy, from the Chiefvolution. Personally, I am rather obliged to him, for he has been very hospitable to all friends of mine who have passed through his district. You may therefore assure him that any overture for the advantage of Greece and its internal pacification will be readily and sincerely met here. I hardly think that he would have ventured a deceitful proposition to me through you, because he must be sure that in such a case it would eventually be exposed. At any rate, the healing of these dissensions is so important a point, that something must be risked to obtain it." : "I am extremely obliged by your offer of your country-house (as for all other kindness) in case that my health should require my removal; but I cannot quit Greece while there is a chance of my being of any (even supposed) utility:· there is a stake worth millions such as I am, and while I can stand at all, I must stand by the cause. When I say this, I am at the same time aware of the difficulties and dissensions and defects of the Greeks themselves; but allowance must be made for them by all reasonable people. "My chief, indeed nine tenths of my expenses here are solely in advances to or on behalf of the Greeks 2, and objects connected with their independence." 1 This Sisseni, who was the Capitano of the rich district about Gastouni, and had for some time held out against the General Government, was now, as appears by the above letter, making overtures, through Mr. Barff, of adhesion. As a proof of his sincerity, it was required by Lord Byron that he should surrender into the hands of the Government the fortress of Chiarenza. 2" At this time (February 14th)," says Mr. Parry, who kept the accounts of his Lordship's disbursements, "the expenses of Lord Byron in the cause of the Greeks did Council, where his Lordship, it was protain Colocotroni, recommending a National posed, should act as mediator, and pledging this Chief himself and his followers to abide by the result. To this application an an swer was returned similar to that which he sent to Parruca, and which was in terms as follows: : LETTER 552. Sir, TO SR. PARRUCA. "March 10. 1824. "I have the honour of answering your letter. My first wish has always been to bring the Greeks to agree amongst themselves. I came here by the invitation of the Greek Government, and I do not think that I ought to abandon Roumelia for the Peloponnesus until that Government shall desire it; and the more so, as this part is exposed in a greater degree to the enemy. Nevertheless, if my presence can really be of any assistance in uniting two or more parties, I am ready to go any where, either as a mediator, or, if necessary, as a hostage. In these affairs I have neither private views, nor private dislike of any individual, but the sincere wish of deserving the name of the friend of your country, and of her patriots. "I have the honour, &c." I have sent by Mr. J. M. Hodges a bill drawn on Signor C. Jerostatti for three not amount to less than two thousand dollars per week in rations alone." In another place this writer says, "The Greeks secmed to think he was a mine from which they could extract gold at their pleasure. One person represented that a supply of 20,000 dollars would save the island of Candia from falling into the hands of the Pacha of Egypt; and there not being that sum in hand, Lord Byron gave him authority to raise it if he could in the Islands, and he would guarantee its repayment. I believe this person did not succeed." [See BYRONIANA.] hundred and eighty-six pounds, on account of the Hon. the Greek Committee, for carrying on the service at this place. But Count Delladecima sent no more than two hundred dollars until he should receive instructions from C. Jerostatti. Therefore I am obliged to advance that sum to prevent a positive stop being put to the laboratory service at this place, &c. &c. "I beg you will mention this business to Count Delladecima, who has the draft and every account, and that Mr. Barff, in conjunction with yourself, will endeavour to arrange this money account, and, when received, forward the same to Missolonghi. “I am, Sir, yours very truly. "So far is written by Captain Parry; but I see that I must continue the letter myself. I understand little or nothing of the business, saving and except that, like most of the present affairs here, it will be at a stand-still if monies be not advanced, and there are few here so disposed; so that I must take the chance, as usual. "You will see what can be done with Delladecima and Jerostatti, and remit the sum, that we may have some quiet; for the Committee have somehow embroiled their matters, or chosen Greek correspondents more Grecian than ever the Greeks are wont to be. "P. S.-A thousand thanks to Muir for his cauliflower, the finest I ever saw or tasted, and, I believe, the largest that ever grew out of Paradise, or Scotland. I have written to quiet Dr. Kennedy about the newspaper (with which I have nothing to do as a writer, please to recollect and say). I told the fools of conductors that their motto would play the devil; but, like all mountebanks, they persisted. Gamba, who is any thing but lucky, had something to do with it; and, as usual, the moment he had, matters went wrong. It will be better, perhaps, in time. But I write in haste, and have only time to say, before the boat sails, that I am ever "Yours, N. BN. "P. S.-Mr. Findlay is here, and has received his money." but this is the land of liberty, where most people do as they please, and few as they '| ought. "I have not written, nor am inclined to write, for that or for any other paper, but have suggested to them, over and over, a change of the motto and style. However, I do not think that it will turn out either an irreligious or a levelling publication, and they promise due respect to both churches and things, i.e. the editors do. "If Bambas would write for the Greek Chronicle, he might have his own price for articles. "There is a slight demur about Hato's voyage, her mother wishing to go with her, which is quite natural, and I have not the heart to refuse it; for even Mahomet made child should never be separated from the a law, that in the division of captives, the mother. But this may make a difference in the arrangement, although the poor woman (who has lost half her family in the war) is, as I said, of good character, and of mature age, so as to render her respectability not liable to suspicion. She has heard, it seems, from Prevesa, that her husband is no longer there. I have consigned your Bibles to Dr. Meyer; and I hope that the said Doctor may justify your confidence; nevertheless, I shall keep an eye upon him. You may depend upon my giving the Society as fair play as Mr. Wilberforce himself would; and any other commission for the good of Greece will meet with the same attention on my part. "I am trying, with some hope of eventual success, to re-unite the Greeks, especially as the Turks are expected in force, and that shortly. We must meet them as we may, and fight it out as we can. "I rejoice to hear that your school prospers, and I assure you that your good wishes are reciprocal. The weather is so much finer, that I get a good deal of moderate excrcise in boats and on horseback, and am willing to hope that my health is not worse than when you kindly wrote to me. Dr. Bruno can tell you that I adhere to your regimen, and more, for I do not eat any meat, even fish. "Believe me ever, &c. "P. S.— The mechanics (six in number) were all pretty much of the same mind. Brownbill was but one. Perhaps they are less to blame than is imagined, since Colonel Stanhope is said to have told them, that he 1 He had a notion that Count Gamba was destined to to it to get rid of importunity, and, it may be, keep be unfortunate, that he was one of those ill-starred Gamba out of mischief. At any rate, he can mar persons with whom every thing goes wrong. In speaking nothing that is of less importance." [See BYRONIANA.] of this newspaper to Parry, he said, "I have subscribed could not positively say their lives were safe.' I should like to know where our life is safe, either here or any where else? With regard to a place of safety, at least such hermetically sealed safety as these persons appeared to desiderate, it is not to be found in Greece, at any rate; but Missolonghi was supposed to be the place where they would be useful, and their risk was no greater than that of others." LETTER 555. TO COLONEL STANHOPE, "My dear Stanhope, Missolonghi, March 19. 1824. "Prince Mavrocordato and myself will go to Salona to meet Ulysses, and you may be very sure that P. M. will accept any proposition for the advantage of Greece. Parry is to answer for himself on his own articles 1: if I were to interfere with him, it would only stop the whole progress of his exertion; and he is really doing all that can be done without more aid from the Government. “What can be spared will be sent; but I refer you to Captain Humphries's report, and to Count Gamba's letter for details upon all subjects. "In the hope of seeing you soon, and deferring much that will be said till then, "Believe me ever, &c. "P. S.-Your two letters (to me) are sent to Mr. Barff, as you desire. Pray remember me particularly to Trelawney, whom 1 shall be very much pleased to see again." LETTER 556. TO MR. BARFF. "March 19. "As Count Mercati is under some apprehensions of a direct answer to him personally on Greek affairs, I reply (as you authorised me) to you, who will have the goodness to communicate to him the enclosed. It is the joint answer of Prince Mavrocordato and of myself, to Signor Georgio Sisseni's propositions. You may also add, both to him and to Parruca, that I am perfectly sincere in desiring the most amicable termination of their internal dissensions, and that I believe P. Mavrocordato to be so also; otherwise I would not act with him, or any other, whether native or foreigner. "If Lord Guilford is at Zante, or, if he is not, if Signor Tricupi is there, you would oblige me by presenting my respects to one or both, and by telling them, that from the 1 Colonel Stanhope had, at the instance of the Chief Odysseus, written to request that some stores from the laboratory at Missolonghi might be sent to Athens. Neither Prince Mavrocordato, however, nor Lord Byron very first I foretold to Col. Stanhope and to P. Mavrocordato that a Greek newspaper (or indeed any other), in the present state of Greece, might and probably would tend to much mischief and misconstruction, unless under some restrictions; nor have I ever had any thing to do with either, as a writer or otherwise, except as a pecuniary contributor to their support in the outset, which I could not refuse to the earnest request of the projectors. Col. Stanhope and myself had considerable differences of opinion on this subject, and (what will appear laughable enough) to such a degree, that he charged me with despotic principles, and I him with ultra radicalism. "Dr. Meyer, the editor, with his unrestrained freedom of the press, and who has the freedom to exercise an unlimited discretion, not allowing any article but his own and those like them to appear, - and in declaiming against restrictions, cuts, carves, and restricts (as they tell me) at his own will and pleasure. He is the author of an article against Monarchy, of which he may have the advantage and fame- but they (the editors) will get themselves into a scrape, if they do not take care. "Of all petty tyrants, he is one of the pettiest, as are most demagogues, that ever I knew. He is a Swiss by birth, and a Greek by assumption, having married a wife and changed his religion. 'I shall be very glad, and am extremely anxious for some favourable result to the recent pacific overtures of the contending parties in the Peloponnese." LETTER 557. TO MR. BARFF. "March 23. "If the Greek deputies (as seems probable) have obtained the Loan, the sums I have advanced may perhaps be repaid; but it would make no great difference, as I should still spend that in the cause, and more to boot though I should hope to better purpose than paying off arrears of fleets that sail away, and Suliotes that won't march, which, they say, what has hitherto been advanced has been employed in. But that was not my affair, but of those who had the disposal of affairs, and I could not decently say to them, 'You shall do so and so, because, &c. &c. &c.' "In a few days P. Mavrocordato and myself, with a considerable escort, intend to considered it prudent, at this time, to weaken their means for defending Missolonghi, aud accordingly sent back by the messenger but a few barrels of powder. [See BYRONIANA.] proceed to Salona at the request of Ulysses remittance of the first advance of the Loan and the Chiefs of Eastern Greece, and take should not arrive immediately, the Greek measures offensive and defensive for the en- General Government mean to try to raise suing campaign. Mavrocordato is almost re- some thousand dollars in the islands in the called by the new Government to the Morea, interim, to be repaid from the earliest instal(to take the lead, I rather think,) and they ments on their arrival. What prospect of have written to propose to me to go either success they may have, or on what conditions, to the Morea with him, or to take the gene- you can tell better than I: I suppose, if ral direction of affairs in this quarter-with the Loan be confirmed, something might be General Londo, and any other I may choose, done by them, but subject of course to the to form a council. A. Londo is my old usual terms. You can let them and me know friend and acquaintance, since we were lads your opinion. There is an imperious necesin Greece together. It would be difficult to sity for some national fund, and that speedily, give a positive answer till the Salona meeting otherwise what is to be done? The auxiliis over; but I am willing to serve them in ary corps of about two hundred men, paid any capacity they please, either commanding by me, are, I believe, the sole regularly and or commanded-it is much the same to me, properly furnished with the money, due to as long as I can be of any presumed use to them weekly, and the officers monthly. It them. is true that the Greek Government give their rations; but we have had three mutinies, owing to the badness of the bread, which neither native nor stranger could masticate (nor dogs either), and there is still great difficulty in obtaining them even provisions of any kind. "Excuse haste; it is late, and I have been several hours on horseback in a country so miry after the rains, that every hundred yards brings you to a ditch, of whose depth, width, colour, and contents, both my horses and their riders have brought away many tokens." LETTER 558. TO MR. BARFF. “ March 26. "Since your intelligence with regard to the Greek loan, P. Mavrocordato has shown to me an extract from some correspondence of his, by which it would appear that three commissioners are to be named to see that the amount is placed in proper hands for the service of the country, and that my name is amongst the number. Of this, however, we have as yet only the report. This commission is apparently named by the Committee or the contracting parties in England. I am of opinion that such a commission will be necessary; but the office will be both delicate and difficult. The weather, which has lately been equinoctial, has flooded the country, and will probably retard our proceeding to Salona for some days, till the road becomes more practicable. "You were already apprised that P. Mavrocordato and myself had been invited to a conference by Ulysses and the Chiefs of Eastern Greece. I hear (and am indeed consulted on the subject) that in case the "There is a dissension among the Germans about the conduct of the agents of their Committee, and an examination amongst themselves instituted. What the result may be cannot be anticipated, except that it will end in a row, of course, as usual. "The English are all very amicable, as far as I know; we get on too with the Greeks very tolerably, always making allowance for circumstances; and we have no quarrels with the foreigners." During the month of March there occurred but little, besides what is mentioned in these letters, that requires to be dwelt upon at any length, or in detail. After the failure of his design against Lepanto, the two great objects of his daily thoughts were, the repairs of the fortifications of Missolonghi, and the formation of a brigade; - the one, with a view to such defensive measures as were alone likely to be called for during the present campaign; and the other in preparation for those more active enterprises, which he still fondly flattered himself he should undertake in the next. "He looked forward (says Mr. Parry), for the recovery of his health and 1 To this offer of the Government to appoint him Go-lowing statement:-"On reporting to Lord Byron what vernor-General of Greece, (that is, of the enfranchised part of the continent, with the exception of the Morea and the Islands,) his answer was, that "he was first going to Salona, and that afterwards he would be at their commands; that he could have no difficulty in accepting any office, provided he could persuade himself that any good would result from it." 2 The generous zeal with which he applied himself to this important object will be understood from the fol I thought might be done, he ordered me to draw up a plan for putting the fortifications in thorough repair, and to accompany it with an estimate of the expense. It was agreed that I should make the estimate only one third of what I thought would be the actual expense; and if that third could be procured from the magistrates, Lord Byron undertook secretly to pay the remainder." [See BYRONIANA.] Ær. 36. MISSOLONGHI spirits, to the return of the fine weather, and the commencement of the campaign, when he proposed to take the field at the head of his own brigade, and the troops which the Government of Greece were to place under his orders." With that thanklessness which too often waits on disinterested actions, it has been sometimes tauntingly remarked, and in quarters from whence a more generous judgment might be expected', that, after all, Lord Byron effected but little for Greece:-as if much could be effected by a single individual, and in so short a time, for a cause which, fought as it has been almost incessantly through the six years since his death, has re- | quired nothing less than the intervention of all the great Powers of Europe to give it a chance of success, and, even so, has not yet succeeded. That Byron himself was under no delusion as to the importance of his own solitary aid, that he knew, in a struggle like this, there must be the same prodigality of means towards one great end as is observable in the still grander operations of nature, where individuals are as nothing in the tide that such was his at once phiof events,losophic and melancholy view of his own sacrifices, I have, I trust, clearly shown. But that, during this short period of action, he did not do well and wisely all that man could achieve in the time, and under the circumstances, is an assertion which the noble facts here recorded fully and triumphantly disprove. He knew that, placed as he was, his measures, to be wise, must be prospective, and from the nature of the seeds thus sown by him, the benefits that were to be expected To reconcile the rude must be judged. chiefs to the Government and to each other; to infuse a spirit of humanity, by his ex-to prepare the ample, into their warfare; way for the employment of the expected Loan, in a manner most calculated to call to put forth the resources of the country ;— the fortifications of Missolonghi in such a state of repair as might, and eventually did, to render it proof against the besieger; prevent those infractions of neutrality, so tempting to the Greeks, which brought their Government in collision with the Ionian authorities, and to restrain all such license of the Press as might indispose the Courts of such were the imEurope to their cause : portant objects which he had proposed to 1 Articles in the Times newspaper, Foreign Quarterly Review, &c. 2 In a letter which he addressed to Lord Sidney Osborne enclosing one, on the subject of these infractions, from Prince Mavrocordato to Sir T. Maitland, Lord Byron says," You must all be persuaded how difficult himself to accomplish, and towards which, in - it From the period of his attack in February he had been. from time to time, indisposed; and, more than once, had complained of vertoxicated. He was also frequently affected tigos, which made him feel, he said, as if inwith nervous sensations, with shiverings and of excessive debility, he himself attributed to tremors, which, though apparently the effects fulness of habit. Proceeding upon this notion, he had, ever since his arrival in Greece, and ate of little else but dry toast, vegetables, abstained almost wholly from animal food, and cheese. With the same fear of becoming fat, which had in his young days haunted him, he almost every morning measured himself round the wrist and waist, and whenever took a strong dose of medicine. he found these parts, as he thought, enlarged, Exertions had, as we have seen, been made by his friends at Cephalonia, to induce 66 But him, without delay, to return to that island, and take measures, while there was yet time, these entreaties (says Count Gamba) profor the re-establishment of his health. duced just the contrary effect; for in proportion as Byron thought his position more In the midst of all this, perilous, he the more resolved upon remaining where he was." too, the natural flow of his spirits in society seldom deserted him; and whenever a trick His engineer, upon any of his attendants, or associates, suggested itself, he was as ready to play the mischief-loving boy as ever. Parry, having been much alarmed by the earthquake they had experienced, and still continuing in constant apprehension of its all sitting together one evening, to have some return, Lord Byron contrived, as they were barrels full of cannon-balls trundled through he would have done when a Harrow boy the room above them; and laughed heartily, as at the ludicrous effect which this decep it is, under existing circumstances, for the Greeks to keep up discipline, however they may be all disposed to do so. I am doing all I can to convince them of the necessity of the strictest observance of the regulations of the Islands, and, I trust, with some effect." |