safely, and I saw him conducted to the Seraskier, who rewarded this gallant action by presenting him with a purse of five thousand piastres. The failure of the attack on Missolongi must be attributed to the Albanians, who never take a place if it is likely to terminate the war, or even the campaign, too soon. They live by war, and their interest therefore it is to keep it up. They were in concert with the Greeks within the town, and it was well understood beforehand, that the attack must fail. The Ottomans have a custom of warning their enemies of any assault, and not only give notice of it, but even the very hour at which it is intended to take place. This had been done at Missolongi, and the Greeks, emboldened by the knowledge of the treachery of the Albanians, used to hollo from the walls, "why don't you come on? are you not ready?" &c. When the attack was made, about two hundred Cossacks, who were fishermen, brought from the banks of the Danube by the Capoudan Pasha, rushed in, expecting to be supported by the Albanians; but they, instead of aiding these brave fellows, left them to their fate, and would not advance one step towards the town, The Capoudan Pasha was much enraged at their conduct, but he dared not chastise any of them, for they would have left him to a man, as they did Isouf Pasha. Indeed, it was the capital blunder of employing Albanians to conquer the Morea, which has protracted the Greek Revolution. Very few Asiatic Turks ever appeared on the scene, and these shortly after re-embarked.

LETTER XLVI.

Zante, 27th September, 1825.

NOTWITHSTANDING that the Capoudan Pasha's fleet was forced to abandon the blockade of Missolongi, and the consequent relief of that place by the Greeks, the Seraskier continues to press the siege with vigour, and has lately made several assaults, which have been repulsed with great bravery by the garrison. The Turkish redoubts have been advanced to the very walls of the town, and one of the Greek batteries was taken by storm; indeed, the two parties are now within ten yards of each other, and are constantly fighting hand to hand. Great numbers of the houses within the walls have been destroyed by the shot and shells fired into the place by the Turks. This determined kind of warfare apparently does not suit the views of the Albanian mercenaries, who have already deserted the Ottoman standard in great numbers, and returned to their homes. The result of the assault on Missolongi, at this and other periods, is principally to be attributed to the conduct of the Albanian chiefs, whose interest it is, to prolong the contest to the utmost. In consequence, there is a general misunderstanding between them and the Osmanlis,

or Asiatic Turks, who wish to bring the war to a conclusion, but whose numbers are not sufficient to enable the Seraskier to carry on the operations without the assistance of the Albanians.

The Turkish blockade of Missolongi by sea, has not only been abandoned, but a Greek squadron is now off that place, and blockades the Gulf of Lepanto.

Isouf Pasha has returned to the Morea Castle, having had a very narrow escape from before Missolongi. Shortly after the flight of the Turkish fleet, on the 5th ultimo, the Greek vessels sent their boats, well manned and armed, within the island of Vasiladi, where the flotilla fitted out by Isouf Pasha still were, not having been able to effect their retreat to Patrass. The Greeks made a spirited attack, and the result was not long doubtful: five Turkish gun-boats were taken, and the remainder set fire to and abandoned by their crews, who with difficulty escaped to the Seraskier's camp.

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Ibrahim Pasha's late operations have been directed against the territory of Mistra, the capital of which he occupied and burned, as also several villages: the inhabitants do not appear to have offered any resistance, but retired to the mountains on the approach of the Egyptians. Ibrahim is now at Modon, waiting the arrival of reinforcements from Alexandria, where the Capoudan Pasha has formed a junction with the Egyptian fleet. Adivision of his army, consisting of three thousand

men, under the command of Soliman Bey, (better known as Colonel Seves, formerly in the French service), forms the garrison of Tripolizza. The Greeks state that Ibrahim has written in bravado, to the Primates of Pyrgos, to prepare quarters for his troops, as he intends paying them a visit as soon as the expected reinforcements arrive.

Mr. Trelawney is now in Cephalonia, but avoids as much as possible any allusion to the attempt made on his life by Fenton and ; he says it who fired at and wounded him, but that in consideration of his family, which is respectable, he set him at liberty, instead of bringing him to justice. Previous to his liberation, made

was

a full confession of his crime, in writing, which he gave Trelawney, and which I have perused, in which he states that he was instigated by Fenton, who worked him up to believe that he was committing a laudable act. Mr. Trelawney proposes remaining in Cephalonia for the present, as although he is in a convalescent state, he still suffers much from his wounds, and has not recovered the use of his arm. It appears Gourra permitted Trelawney to retire from the cave, owing to the humane intercession of Captain Hamilton, who sent a sloop of war to the Piræus, on board of which he embarked.

We learn by the London Newspapers received here, that Lord Cochrane has been induced to espouse the Greek cause, and is immediately to proceed to Greece to assume the chief naval com

mand. I am, however, inclined to doubt that his Lordship seriously intends joining the Greeks, or even supposing such to be the case, I cannot imagine that the British Government can permit such a proceeding. Any one acquainted with the Turks and their government, must be well aware of the difficulty of persuading them that it is not a national measure; and failing in this, a rupture would in all probability follow. But there is too much cause to fear that that would not be the only unpleasant result; as in the event of Lord Cochrane's joining the Greeks, accompanied by frigates and steam vessels, there can be little doubt of his obtaining great successes over the Turks, in which case an indiscriminate massacre would probably take place of British subjects residing at Constantinople and Smyrna.

The mere report of such a powerful acquisition has caused great joy among the Greeks, but if his Lordship's proposed assistance is to benefit them, he must not delay, as otherwise, it is more than probable, they will have little need of his services.