mitted by boats infesting the passage between Zante and Patrass, the Resident, Sir Frederick Stovin, determined to put a stop, if possible, to such practices. For this purpose he directed a detachment of the ninetieth regiment, under the command of Lieutenant Wilson, to embark on board a large boat (the same mentioned in my letter of the 14th February last,) which was well known to the Greeks, and which some of the pirates had declared they intended to attack and plunder the first opportunity. This boat returned here a few days since; the commanding officer reported, that the day after she sailed from Zante, being off Cape Papa, they fell in with a boat under very suspicious circumstances, which apparently had only three men on board. One of these hailed; and on being told the vessel was bound for Patrass, requested to be taken in tow, for the sake of protection, stating also that there was great danger of pirates: the boat approached to cast a rope on board the other, and the officer then clearly perceived it was intended to board. He instantly ordered her to keep off, and to surrender, as they were known; on which the man at her helm took up a pistol and discharged it at the Lieutenant, the ball passing through a sail about a foot above his head. Lieutenant Wilson then fired his pistol, which was a signal to the soldiers who were concealed below; they immediately jumped on deck, at the same time that about fifteen men discovered

themselves on board the pirate boat, having previously been concealed under cloaks. The soldiers fired two vollies; the man in the bow of the pirate boat was killed, and fell into the water; others were wounded, and all of them thrown into the greatest disorder. As both vessels were close to the land, the pirates were enabled to pull on shore, while there was not water enough for the other boat, and thus escaped; they were seen carrying their wounded up the beach. From persons who have since arrived from that part of the Morea, we learn that the crew of the boat consisted principally of Zantiots and Cephaloniots; the names of some have been given, as also of the man who was killed, who was a noted offender, and had escaped out of prison from Zante. I trust this example will be quite sufficient to deter others from committing similar acts, which have impeded navigation, and rendered these parts unsafe.

A native of Corfu, named Nano, has lately been put to death by order of Isouf Pasha. The circumstances which led to, and attended the execution of this person, are so monstrous in their nature, that I cannot refrain from briefly giving the particulars.

This Nano had resided many years at Patrass, with his family, and being an Ionian, enjoyed the British protection. Owing to his very irregular conduct, he was constantly involved in disputes, and, in short, was looked upon as a most dissolute character. At the commencement of the Revolu

tion he joined the Greeks, but was soon afterwards taken in arms by the Turks, who, however, spared his life. After passing some months at Patrass, during which his conduct was of a most infamous nature, Nano again joined the insurgents at Missolongi, and apparently delighted in inventing the most cruel tortures and deaths for those Turks who fell into the hands of the Greeks: he even boasted of having assisted in binding six Turks successively, to the cannon's mouth, and blown them to atoms. It so happened, however, that this atrocious monster again fell into the hands of the Turks of Patrass he was immediately taken before Isouf Pasha, at the Morea Castle, and unable to deny the truth of the before-mentioned facts, which, indeed, would have been useless, as his conduct was notorious, he was condemned by the Pasha to be forced alive into, and fired out of, the largest mortar in the fortress; which sentence the Jews of the place were compelled to carry into execution!

LETTER XXII.

Zante, 22d July, 1822.

PRINCE MAVROCORDATO arrived at Missolongi in the beginning of last month, commissioned by the Provisional Government to assume the chief command in Western Greece.

A corps of Cephaloniots, consisting of about five hundred men, had previously joined the Greek cause, as well as a considerable number of foreigners, composed chiefly of French, Italian, German, and Swiss officers. Many of the latter came to Greece, in consequence of the temptations held out to them of profitable employ in a popular cause, and which coincided with their own political opinions, and others were happy in the opportunity which presented itself of mending the desperate state of their finances.

Shortly after Mavrocordato's arrival, he determined on attempting a diversion in favour of the Souliots, then closely besieged by Omer Vrioni: for that purpose he quitted Missolongi with the troops he had collected, including the foreign auxiliaries, and marched into Acarnania. The expedition met with no obstacle until the arrival of the main body in the neighbourhood of Arta, at which

place the Turks had collected a considerable force, and no sooner learned the advance of the insurgents, than they made preparations for attacking them.

The main body of the Greeks, consisting of about eight hundred natives, five hundred Cephaloniots, and two hundred and fifty foreigners, chiefly officers, in all 1550 men, had taken up a position at the village of Peta, where they anxiously awaited the junction of the Commander-in-chief, Mavrocordato, who, with a small detachment, had been absent some days. This movement was prevented by a general attack made on the 16th instant, by the Turkish forces, consisting of about five thousand men, when a most obstinate battle appears to have taken place. The foreign auxiliaries fought with the greatest bravery, and for some hours were supported by the Greek bands. Although so inferior in numbers, victory appeared about to declare itself in their favour, when the native Greeks, being hard pressed by the Turks, threw down their arms and fled. The consternation became general : the auxiliaries, after performing prodigies of valour, and losing nearly three-fourths of their numbers, were unable to resist any longer, and were completely dispersed, leaving the Turks masters of the field. The disastrous result of this battle has been attributed to the defection of the native Greeks: their Commander is stated to have been in league with the Turks, and to have preconcerted his re