no sooner made known in Hydra, than the populace tumultuously assembled, forced open the prison doors, dragged forth the Turkish prisoners, and butchered them on the spot. Not content with these victims, they put to death every Turk they could find in the town, or on board their vessels, and the total number thus immolated in the space of a few hours is stated at a hundred and eighty to two hundred persons! The Primates did not attempt to interfere; indeed it is easy to imagine, from their known imbecility, and the character of the Hydriots, that their interference would have been unavailing.

LETTER XLIV.

Zante, 13th July, 1825.

THE Cause of the Greeks is fast declining, and from all appearances it will not be long ere their political existence ceases.

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The greater part of the troops sent by the Vice

of Egypt, I am informed by those who have seen them, are disciplined Arabs; that they go through their manœuvres in a regular manner, are perfectly obedient, and not deficient in courage. The cavalry is the terror of the Greeks, indeed they do not attempt to resist it.

After the occupation of the capital, Ibrahim Pasha, by a forced march proceeded to Argos, and even to the walls of Napoli di Romania, although he immediately afterwards retrograded to Tripolizza. His Majesty's frigate Seringapatam was lying at Napoli at the time the Egyptian Pasha appeared before the walls with an escort of only three hundred cavalry; and although there were upwards of five thousand armed Greeks within the fortress, they did not attempt to march out against him. There appears from circumstances which have since taken place, little doubt that Ibrahim must have had a secret understanding with some of

the Greek Chiefs at Napoli, and expected to gain by bribery that which he has little chance of acquiring by force of arms.

By a letter from Colocotroni, addressed to an old Hydriote, residing here, we learn that after the Pasha returned to Tripolizza, the Greeks had concerted a plan to lie in ambush for a foraging party who usually came outside the walls early in the morning accordingly Colocotroni's party arrived at day-break at their post, where they found the Egyptians already arrived, and met so hot a reception that had not another Greek party come up, Colocotroni himself would have been made prisoner. He admits that six of his captains were killed, besides many men, and several made pri

soners.

Mr. Humphreys* arrived at Zante from Napoli

* Mr. Humphreys has since published a Journal of his visit to Greece. A vague account is given of the attempted assassination of Mr. Trelawney, and Mavrocordato is charged with having conspired with Fenton to assassinate both Trelawney and Ulysses. Mr. Humphreys' chief aim appears to have been to vilify the character of Mavrocordato, who is held up to the public as devoid of all principle, not even hesitating to resort to assassination, to get rid of political opponents. As an attentive observer of the public conduct of Mavrocordato, in the trying and difficult situations in which he has been placed, and from the testimony of competent judges, I am convinced that he is not only incapable of having acted in the manner imputed to him, but that he has unquestionably rendered more real service to Greece than all her other self-styled Patriots put together. I am induced to give my unbiassed opinion on the subject, from a conviction that the

on the 9th instant, by the Rose sloop of war. He brings an account of the death of Ulysses (Odysseus), through the treachery of Gourra, formerly his own right hand man. Ulysses had been confined by the Government in a tower of the Acropolis of Athens, and wishing to effect his escape, concerted a plan for that purpose with Gourra and others, who apparently connived at it, and having let him down a precipice, cut the rope when he was half way, and their victim was killed upon the spot*. It further appears, that upon the discovery of the mangled remains early the next morning, a mock inquiry was instituted as to the cause of Ulysses' death, which was attributed to the accidental breaking of the rope, by which he had attempted to effect his escape.

Mr. Trelawney (who is brother-in-law to Ulysses,) has narrowly escaped being assassinated by Fenton and both Englishmen. There is no doubt that the attempt was premeditated, and that the hope of obtaining possession of the riches of Ulysses

character of Mavrocordato has been, on more than one occasion, unjustly aspersed; and I also think it right to add, that I am not even personally acquainted with him.

Mr. Humphreys only remained a short time in England, and then returned once more to Greece, where I regret to say he fell a victim, either to the climate or to party intrigue.

* Greek accounts state that Gourra himself afterwards met a violent death, during the siege of the Acropolis of Athens, by the Seraskier Reschid Pasha.

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was the chief inducement, at least as far as regards the former, but it will be difficult to arrive at the truth, because Trelawney's attendants, hearing the report of fire-arms, rushed out, and dispatched Fenton upon the spot. They would have inflicted similar summary punishment on his accomplice, had not Trelawney interfered, by whose orders he was merely placed in confinement. It appears that the attempted assassination was planned by Fenton, who proposed a trial of skill in pistol-shooting, during which the conspirators attempted to shoot Trelawney: Fenton's pistol missed fire, but — 's, loaded with two balls, took effect: one entering his back and passing out at his breast, shattered his right arm; whilst the second entered his neck, and injured his jaw-bone. This infamous affair occurred after the death of Ulysses, in the Cave on Mount Parnassus, from whence Humphreys proceeded to Napoli to procure medical assistance, and persuaded Mr. Tindal, an English surgeon, to visit the wounded man, but this latter, from what cause does not appear, altered his mind when half way, and turned back. In the meantime the Senate at Napoli arrested Humphreys, he being of Ulysses' party, and he only obtained his liberty through the opportune arrival of the Rose sloop of war. He inveighs bitterly against them all, and it is said has urged Captain Hamilton of the Cambrian to intercede with the Greek Government on behalf of