whether real or affected I cannot say, that he never carried any about his person. He did not at all like to be summoned before his formidable enemies. I shall never forget his appearance on entering: he instantly burst into a passion of tears, and taking hold of the skirt of Thano's garment, he kissed it. The other very good-naturedly consoled him, and after having re-assured him, sent him with a guard to the sea-shore *.

After these had all been safely embarked, I quitted the house, of which the Greeks immediately took possession, together with the greater part of my effects. Scenes exactly similar to those which I have related, as occurring in the first siege of Patrass, were re-acted in this. My house, which the Turks had discovered to be the "Quartier Général" of the Greeks, became a mark for their cannon, and was soon absolutely riddled.

The Lalliotes, mentioned in this letter, were a set of Albanians, who came into the Morea during the revolution of 1770, and had settled at Lalla. They were neither Greek nor Mahommedan in religion, but kept the feasts and holidays of each sect indiscriminately. During this siege of Patrass, they, and their women and children, would go from the fortress, and fetch provisions and corn from the Morea Castle, a distance of five miles, and this in the face of all the armed Greeks: little or no opposition was made by the latter.

* Frango-Mustafà did not long survive the destruction of Patrass; he gave himself up to excessive drinking, and I here record his death, for the information of his friends, the numerous Milordi Inglese, who visited Greece, most of whom availed of Mustafa's services as Cicerone, &c.

LETTER XVII.

Zante, 10th December, 1821.

SHORTLY after I wrote my last letter of the 9th ultimo, I returned to the Morea Castle, which place had become the head-quarters of Isouf Pasha.

From the time that the Greeks first occupied the town of Patrass, in the beginning of November, they used every means in their power to reduce the fortress: several severe conflicts took place in the streets between the assailants and the besieged, who occasionally sent out skirmishing parties; nothing decisive, however, happened until the 4th instant, when Isouf Pasha resolved to attack the Greeks, and attempt the relief of the fortress. For this purpose, early in the morning of the before-mentioned day, the Pasha quitted the Morea Castle with a body of men, in number about three hundred, the greater part mounted on horseback: he arrived suddenly at Patrass, about eight o'clock in the morning, taking the insurgents completely by surprise. A general panic ensued, and a precipitate flight commenced towards the mountains, exactly as had taken place on a similar occasion in April last.

The Princes Mavrocordato and Caradjà had

taken up their abodes in the British Consulate: at the time of the Pasha's entry they were in bed, which they hastily quitted, and, almost in a state of nudity, escaped on horseback.

Some few Greeks attempted to defend themselves in the houses, but being unsupported by their countrymen, were soon compelled to retreat, as the Lalliot garrison marched out of the fortress, and joined the forces of the Pasha.

On this occasion very few lives were lost on either side: I was present at the attack, and fortunately was enabled to interfere and save the lives of two foreigners, both doctors, who had joined the Greeks, and who were on the point of being put to death by the Turks *.

The Pasha immediately ordered the destruction of all the remaining houses in the town; the British, French, and Austrian Consulates were among the number, notwithstanding all my entreaties to the contrary. The British Consulate was deliberately set on fire and destroyed in my presence, by order of the Turkish authorities: the only explanation given was, that such measures were necessary, and that when the Sultan should hereafter put down the rebellion of his Greek subjects, he would probably pay all damages and losses occasioned by his acts. In short, such has been the general destruction, that only ten or twelve houses remain

* See Note at the end of this Letter.

untouched, where formerly stood about four thousand. I have thus been compelled to seek an asylum in these islands, as I cannot live in the open air, and there is no fit residence at the Morea Castle.

Tranquillity has been restored in Zante. Sir Frederick Adam has returned to Corfu, and only the usual garrison, consisting of one regiment of the line, remains to perform the military duty of the island. Martial law is, however, still in full force.

NOTE. The two persons here alluded to were both doctors; the one a Smyrniote Greek, named Dandré; the other a Neapolitan, called Massari. They had hidden themselves behind some curtains at the entrance of the Turks, but were soon discovered by the rustling they made: a Turk hearing it, instantly turned round and discharged his musquet in the direction of the noise, and the whole of its contents were lodged in Dandré's knee. He was then dragged forth, and forced to march in the wretched condition he was in to the Morea Castle, a distance of five miles. The agony in which he was, may be conceived, when it is remembered that the Turks not only load their musquets with a ball, but cut another into four pieces, and add these to the charge; so that the poor doctor had a ball and four jagged slugs in his knee. If he expostulated, and stopped, which he often did, and declared his inability to walk further, the Turk, who conducted him, gave one uniform answer, with the usual gravity of the nation, and told him that his orders were to

bring his head to Isouf; and that if his own legs could not carry it, he must save them the trouble. Just as Dandré contrived to reach the castle, he saw Mr. Barric, a French merchant at Patrass, and called out to him to save him. Mr. Barric mentioned the matter to me, and we all went in a body to Isouf, to intercede for the Europeans, and we succeeded. I mention this anecdote merely because Monsieur Pouqueville represents himself as being the mediator on the occasion, although, at the time the affair happened, he was at Zante, recovering from the fright he experienced at Patrass.