vices in advance. From the same cause no army, or military force, has ever been kept together for any length of time, and the notorious chief, Colocotroni, who really had more influence over the Greeks than any other commander, seems to have been a mere passive spectator of events during the last twelve mouths. On the other hand, the resources of the Grand Seignior and of the Viceroy of Egypt, have enabled them constantly to send fresh armaments to Greece; and so late as the 9th of September last, a large fleet reached Navarin from Alexandria, where reinforcements of troops and supplies of provisions, ammunition, and money, were safely landed. It cannot therefore be reasonably doubted that, ere long, the Insurgent force remaining in arms would have been compelled to submit, and to make the best terms they could with the Porte; for it would be preposterous to suppose that Lord Cochrane, with a single vessel, and without funds, should make head against the combined Ottoman forces. Such being the real state of affairs, a Treaty was signed in London, on the 6th of July last, (see Appendix) by which England, France, and Russia bind themselves to undertake the pacification of Greece, notwithstanding the refusal of the Porte to admit Foreign interference on the subject, as communicated in an official note, dated in the preceding June. It is well known that the Ambassadors of those Powers, residing at Constantinople, had for some time previous been endeavouring to induce the Porte to grant certain terms to the Insurgents, but they were uniformly answered, that the Sultan could admit of no interference in the internal management of his dominions. The treaty signed in London was presented to the Porte on the 16th of August, and the time therein stipulated allowed for an answer. The declared interference of the Allies having been backed by the appearance in the Archipelago of a fleet belonging to the three Powers, the Divan became alarmed, and the last accounts received from Constantinople announce the important fact, that the Sultan has expressed his willingness to treat with the Allies on the subject of Greece. Without entering into any discussion as to the justice or policy of Foreign interference on this occasion, at a time when the situation of the Insurgents was such as to render proposals direct from themselves probable;-without raising the question whether the Pacification of Greece will be thus attained, let us congratulate ourselves on the now probable termination of a contest, which, from its very commencement, has been one of murder, rapine, and extermination. Let us hope also, that immediate measures will be taken by the Allies effectually to put an end to the horrible piracies which are still committed in the Archipelago, where the numerous rocky islands affording shelter and secure lurking places to the pirates, they are ena bled at once to distinguish vessels of war from merchantmen, and easily avoiding the former, are always in readiness to chase and board the latter. To put an effectual stop to such proceedings, it may therefore be expedient to require every Greek vessel to be furnished with a regular register or pass, from proper authorities named by the Greek Government, who should be made responsible for their acts, and any vessel found sailing without papers, should be immediately seized and sent to Malta, to abide the sentence of the Vice-Admiralty Court of that island. Finally, whatever may be the result, as far as Greece is concerned, of the interference of the three Allied Powers, let us hope that each of them may have been actuated solely by the humane desire of putting an end to this protracted contest, and that ultimately such arrangements will be made, as may preserve the general peace and tranquillity of Eu rope. |