LETTER XVIII.*

Zante, 14th February, 1821

I RETURNED here on the 4th, and found that the Vice-Consul had sailed two days previously for Patrass.

When I was at Corfu, on my way hither, I learned the desperate situation of Ali Pasha: he is closely besieged in the Citadel of Joannina by the Seraskier Chourschid Pasha, who has collected an army of twenty-three thousand men. The principal part of the adherents of Ali have deserted him, seeing no chance of his success: an Italian engineer was one of the last who quitted the rebel Pasha. He reports that not more than seventy men, chiefly Albanian Greeks, remain within the fortress' walls; and it is his opinion that it cannot hold out many days.

Chourschid Pasha has entered into an arrangement, through the mediation of the Anglo-Ionian Government, with the existing Greek Government, for the ransom of his Harem, and the officers taken prisoners at the surrender of Tripolizza. The sum stipulated and agreed upon was one hundred and

*This and eighteen following Letters, to No. XXXVI inclusive, are from the Consul.

ten thousand Spanish dollars, besides the liberation of certain Greeks, who had been taken prisoners in Albania. A brig and schooner of war, accompanied by an English transport, have been to Navarin, as previously arranged, to receive on board the Harem, and pay the ransom: but some misunderstanding appears to have taken place, as the vessels have just returned here without accomplishing their object. At the suggestion of Sir Thomas Maitland, this affair has been put under the direction of a Zantiot merchant and doctor, named Stefano.

Positive accounts have been received of the surrender of the Acropolis of Corinth, which has been besieged for some time very closely by the Greeks, and which, in a most unaccountable way, has been neglected and left destitute of provisions by the Capoudan Pasha.

Worn out by disease and famine, the garrison, which consisted of some Albanians, left there by the Kayah Bey, and of the Turkish inhabitants of Corinth, were reduced to about half their original number. The insurgents, knowing their situation, and that it was impossible for the citadel to hold out long, caused Chamil Bey to be brought to Corinth, from Tripolizza, and, by means of threats and promises, compelled him to use his exertions with the besieged, to induce them to surrender, but without effect.

Other means, more persuasive, were successfully used with the Albanian part of the garrison. These

men infamously consented to receive a bribe, and, following the traitorous example of their countrymen at Tripolizza, marched out of the citadel on the 22d January, a hundred and eighty in number, retaining their arms. They descended immediately to Port Lechæum, where they embarked on board boats, and passed over to the opposite coast.

Deserted by the Albanians, and seeing no chance of succour, the Turks, who formed the remainder of the garrison, consisting of four hundred men, surrendered on the 26th to Prince Demetrius Ipsilanti, Colocotroni, and the other Greek Chiefs, on condition that their lives should be spared, and that they should be embarked from Kekries for some Turkish port in Asia Minor. This Capitulation was, as in former instances, violated by the Greeks, who no sooner got the prisoners into their power, than they butchered upwards of a hundred and fifty, and carried away most of the women and children to slavery. The victors expected to have found immense treasures at Corinth, but were disappointed, which they partly attribute to the obstinacy of Chamil Bey, who will not disclose where his property has been secreted.

The seat of Government was removed to Corinth soon after its surrender.

My brother returned here on the 10th instant, and, although he has been placed in a dangerous and disagreeable situation, by the outrageous conduct of some pirate boats, I am happy to say he has

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not suffered personally in any respect. I send herewith a copy of the deposition made by him on his return, at the Health-Office, which contains every particular: copies have also been sent to the Lord High Commisioner and to our Ambassador at Constantinople, through whose interference I hope some satisfaction will be obtaine! for this unjustifiable outrage.

The Ottoman fleet, consisting of thirty-two vessels of war and thirty-six transports, is now off this harbour, bound for Patrass. It is said there are four thousand Asiatic troops on board, under the orders of Mehemet Pasha. The Egyptian part of the fleet is commanded by Ismaël Gibraltar.

* A copy of this document, as well as M. Pouqueville's account of the affair, will be found in the Appendix.

LETTER XIX.

Zante, 26th February, 1822.

ALI PASHA, tyrant of Albania, exists no longer. The following account of the events which immediately preceded and accompanied his death, I have reason to believe may be relied on as authentic.

In the last days of January, Ali was abandoned by all his adherents, with the exception of about twenty Albanians. Seeing that there was no possibility of holding out any longer, and no means of escape, owing to his bodily infirmities, and the vigilance of his besiegers, Ali demanded to treat, which was agreed to, when an arrangement was made that he should retire with his followers to the Castle, on the Lake of Joannina, until the Sultan's pardon could be obtained from Constantinople. Chourschid Pasha even promised to recommend an extension of the royal mercy, and held out every hope of a favourable issue.

Ali Pasha anxiously awaited an answer to the application, buoyed up by hope, although not without fear of treachery; and, being constantly on the watch, armed, and surrounded by his guard.

On the 5th February, it is generally supposed that Chourschid received a positive order and firman from the Porte, for the decapitation of Ali