The Turks are now going about in parties, breaking open and pillaging houses. They have decapitated two or three Greeks found in or near the town, and have thrown their bodies into the streets.

The Turks of Patrass had been shut up in the fortress eleven days, and must have suffered some privations, as water began to fail: the Greeks had also nearly completed a mine, with which they intended to blow up the place.

NOTE. This action was probably as daring as well could be conceived, and deserves, therefore, to be related at length. Two men escaped from the fort, under favour of night, and crawling through the vineyards, reached the Morea Castle in safety. They informed Isouf Pasha that their garrison was most critically situated; that they were suffering under great privations; that their enemies were about to spring a mine; and that, unless relieved, they must all inevitably perish. Isouf was most willing to afford all the assistance he could; but the difficulty was to find any body who would go to the fort and tell the garrison so. Patrass at this time, it must be remembered, was filled with Greeks, and probably there could not have been less than five thousand men armed to the teeth. To cut their way through these, and escape death, therefore, would be a miracle. However, five hundred piastres were offered as a reward to any one who would undertake to bear Isouf's message to the fort. Two men, at length, were found who agreed to run the risk: one of these, a fine fellow, whom I knew well, and who related the story to me

over and over again, was named Delhi Achmet, or Mad Achmet. He and his companion, well mounted, set out at day-light: they avoided the most frequented paths, and at length reached Patrass. There are two roads, both leading to the town one of these passes through it; the other merely traverses a portion, and then strikes off in a zig-zag way up the hill to the fort. When they came to the suburbs, Delhi Achmet's companion was loth to proceed; but it was too late: Delhi soon persuaded him to follow him; and goading their horses with their shovel-stirrups, they shouted their war-cry of " Allah il Allah,” and gallopped furiously up the streets. The Greeks, for one moment, were taken by surprise; but the next they fired uponth em from every house and corner. The Turks, on the other hand, were cheering them from the castle, as they rode. They made every preparation to facilitate their entrance, by letting down the draw-bridge. In the hurry of the thing, Achmet not only lost his turban, but was separated from his companion, who lagged behind. He however waited for him, in the midst of the fire, and then again they scampered up the hill, and gained the bridge in safety. At this moment a ball struck Achmet's horse, and both beast and rider were seen precipitated into the ditch, and every body believed he was killed: but here again fortune favoured him; for he was drawn up into the fort, unhurt. At the moment of his entering, there happened to be a Papa within the castle, and, as Delhi had no mind to lose his turban, he obliged him to go out and fetch it, knowing that the Greeks would not fire upon their own priest-And this he actually recovered.

LETTER VIII.

Patrass, 24th April, 1821.

On the 16th the Pasha gave orders to set fire to the houses of the Greek primates, who were suspected to be the instigators and leaders in the revolution: the wind was so high, and the houses composed of such combustible materials, that in the space of ten hours upwards of 700 houses were burnt, including the Russian, Dutch, and Swedish Consulates. When I found that the conflagration threatened destruction to the whole town, and approached very near the British Consulate, I sent to the Pasha, who came in person, and with myself, assisted by Captain Hunter and the crew of the Clifton, by directing the efforts of the Pasha's troops, succeeded in arresting the progress of the flames, which could only be effected by pulling down about a dozen houses.

The Russian, Prussian, and Swedish Consuls, (all Greeks by birth) were the first to quit Patrass, on the entry of the Turks: the fact is, that they had taken an open and active part with the Greek leaders, and prudently resolved not to expose themselves to the vengeance of the Turks.

Mr. Parnell, (an Englishman) the Dutch Consul, was absent. On the fire approaching his house, I proceeded there, and removed to my own residence the greater part of his papers and furniture.

The Turks have received both naval and military reinforcements lately, therefore I see no probability of the Greeks returning here for the present. The town has been completely sacked: excepting the English, French, and Spanish Consulates, I do not think any house has been respected.

It is impossible for me to give an adequate description of the horrid scenes that have taken place. About forty Greeks have been decapitated, and their bodies thrown into the streets: the women and children who fall into the hands of the Turks are retained as slaves.

I have interceded with Isouf Pasha, and procured free pardon for nine or ten unfortunate Greeks who were taken in arms in the environs of the town. One of these was a Zantiot; the order for his decapitation had been given, and at the moment it was to have been carried into effect, I succeeded in obtaining a remission of the sentence, on condition that I would engage to send the offender to his own island, accompanied by a statement of the

case.

I have at present in my house forty-one persons; at one time there were as many as sixty-two; but I am sending them over to the Islands as fast as I

can procure safe conveyances for them. Of the u nfortunate wounded men left in the hospital when the town was evacuated, and who were rescued by me, two are since dead; a musket ball had entered the head of one, the other received a ball in his shoulder, and died insane. The third patient still survives, although five balls entered his side and shattered his arm: this person is respectably connected the surgeon still attends him, and has hopes of saving his life.

I have been plundered by the very people I hired to protect the Consulate, besides my life having been in danger, as I have had certain information that the Greeks sent people the 17th instant to set on fire my house, to surround it, and prevent any one from quitting it. Indeed there is little room to doubt the correctness of the above information, as two attempts have actually been made to burn the Consulate for this purpose the house opposite was set on fire, and then another in the neighbourhood, but both have failed. I am at a loss to account for these attempts, and the enmity of the Greeks, unless indeed it is owing to my not having assisted them as others of my colleagues have done*. Most of the valuable property deposited

* In the selection of these Extracts it will be found that I have obtruded myself as seldom as possible on the notice of the reader, in order to preserve more completely a connected narrative of the events of the Revolution. It is impossible for me, however, in bringing myself thus before the public, not to allude