when he arrived with others, Mehemet Ali gave them a sound bastinadoing, and sent them back. The Greeks used to run alongside the transports and hollo out for them to sheer off, for they were going to set fire to the frigates; by this means they separated the transports from the armed ships, and took several of them. Full one-third of the troops embarked in this expedition died from privations and from being crowded on board. A great mortality took place among the horses, which could not be wondered at, as I myself saw some which had not been on land for seven months.

LETTER XXXIX.

Zante, 30th December, 1824.

You may probably have been surprised at my long silence on political affairs in this quarter, but the fact is, that comparatively speaking, nothing of importance has taken place since I last addressed you. The Greek government has sent a division of eight vessels to blockade the Gulf of Lepanto, which has been recognized by the Ionian Government, as a legal blockade. The Capoudan Pasha has returned with his fleet to Constantinople, satisfied, as it would appear, with his achievements this year. The Egyptian expedition fitted out by the Viceroy, after losing much time at Rhodes and other places, has at length reached Candia, and is certainly destined to invade the Morea, although the Greeks do not appear to be taking any measures to prevent a landing.

The garrison of Patrass has made some sorties from that place, and even approached Gastouni, but always retreated, after devastating the country.

In short, during the last six months the Turks have effected no military or naval operation. The Greeks have been sufficiently occupied by intestine dissensions, and the printing of newspapers, that contain any thing but the truth.

LETTER XL.

Zante, 12th March, 1825.

To divert our attention from passing events on the opposite coast, about the middle of last month we experienced several severe earthquakes, which, although they have occasioned but trivial damage in Zante, have completely destroyed the town of Santa Maura, and great part of Prevesa. The senate of Corfu has taken prompt and effectual measures for the relief of the sufferers at Santa Maura, having sent them timber, clothing, provisions, and other necessaries.

During the last two months we have heard of little else than great preparations making by the Greeks to attack Patrass, which fortress is now rather in want of provisions, owing to the blockade by sea. I do not, however, see much probability of success; the less so, as I cannot ascertain the positive existence of any Greek army near the place.

You will probably be surprised to learn the arrival of the Egyptian fleet at Modon, on the 25th ultimo, from Suda in Candia, and of the disembarkation of eight thousand men, under the command of Ibrahim Pasha, son of Mehemet Ali, Vice

roy of Egypt. It appears that this expedition only composes the first division of an army collected in Candia, which island has also been made the depôt of immense quantities of ammunition and provisions of all kinds. The fleet, which is represented to consist of nearly one hundred sail of vessels of war and transports, has already returned to Suda for other troops.

This new enemy will find the Morea still the scene of civil dissensions: Theodore Colocotroni, Sessini, and others, who were proscribed by the Senate, as traitors and anti-patriots, have been seized and sent in arrest to Hydra. Their property has been plundered, and the whole proceeding has given such offence to their families and connexions, who are very numerous, that the Senate will have some trouble in putting them down.

LETTER XLI.

Zante, 25th April, 1825.

In my last I informed you that the Egyptian expedition had effected a landing at Modon. The fleet immediately returned to Suda for other troops, and on the 20th ultimo, safely effected a second landing at Modon of seven thousand men, including two thousand cavalry. Most of the infantry are Arabs, who have been disciplined under foreign officers in Egypt, and are formed into regular regiments. The fleet has again returned to Suda, to embark more troops and stores.

It is rather an extraordinary circumstance, that the Greeks have not endeavoured to prevent either the first or second landing of the Egyptian army, especially as they had been long acquainted with the fact of its formation at Suda-but they have no fleet at sea.

During the interval between the arrival of the first and second divisions, Ibrahim Pasha made some sorties from Modon, in the direction of Calamata, and burned several villages. Immediately after the junction of the second division, the Pasha invested the fortress of Navarin, and is now bombarding that place: breaches have been effected in the walls, but as the besieged have declared their