as decided for the cause as any German student of them all; but like men who have seen the country and human life, there and elsewhere, we must be permitted to view it in its truth, with its defects as well as beauties,-more especially as success will remove the former gradually. N. B. P.S.-As much of this letter as you please is for the Committee, the rest may be "entre nous." 1121.-To Thomas Moore. Cephalonia, December 27, 1823. I received a letter from you some time ago. I have been too much employed latterly to write as I could wish, and even now must write in haste. I embark for Missolonghi to join Mavrocordato in four-and-twenty hours. The state of parties (but it were a long story) has kept me here till now; but now that Mavrocordato (their Washington, or their Kosciusko) is employed again, I can act with a safe conscience. I carry money to pay the squadron, etc., and I have influence with the Suliotes, supposed sufficient to keep them in harmony with some of the dissentients;-for there are plenty of differences, but trifling. It is imagined that we shall attempt either Patras or the castles on the Straits; and it seems, by most accounts, that the Greeks, at any rate the Suliotes, who are in affinity with me of "bread and salt,"expect that I should march with them, and-be it even so! If any thing in the way of fever, fatigue, famine, or otherwise, should cut short the middle age of a brother warbler, -like Garcilasso de la Vega, Kleist, Korner,3 1 1. Garcilaso de la Vega, the "prince of Spanish poets," born at 4 Joukoffsky (a Russian nightingale - see Bowring's Anthology), or Thersander, or, or somebody else—but never mind-I pray you to remember me in your "smiles and wine." I have hopes that the cause will triumph; but whether it does or no, still "honour must be minded as "strictly as milk diet." I trust to observe both. Ever, etc. Toledo in 1503, served with distinction in Germany, Africa, and Provence. He was wounded near Fréjus in 1536, by a stone thrown from a tower, which fell upon his head as he was leading his men, and died at Nice. 2. Ewald Christian von Kleist (born 1715) lost his leg in fighting against the Russians at the battle of Kunnersdorff (August 12, 1759), and died twelve days later. 3. Karl Theodor Körner (1791-1813) joined Lützow's corps, and was killed in a skirmish with the French near Schwerin, August 26, 1813. His famous Schwert-lied was written a few hours before his death. 4. Vasili Andreevitch Zhukovsky (1783-1851) wrote his Minstrel in the Russian Camp just before the battle on the Tarutino. The Minstrel is translated by Bowring (Specimens of the Russian Poets, pt. ii. pp. 59-115), who speaks of the poem in his Introduction as "the most popular of modern poetical productions in Russia." Bowring wrote the second part of his book while in prison at Boulogne. 5. Thersander accompanied Agamemnon on the expedition against Troy, and was killed by Telephus. 6. In "The Legacy" (Irish Melodies) Moore has the lines "When in death I shall calmly recline, O bear my heart to my mistress dear! Of the brightest hue, while it lingered here." CHAPTER XXIX. MESOLONGHI, DECEMBER 29, 1823-APRIL 19, 1824. ADVENTUROUS VOYAGE FROM CEPHALONIA-ARRIVAL AT MESOLONGHI-RELEASE OF TURKISH PRISONERSSEVERE ILLNESS AND RECOVERY-DISSENSIONS AMONG GREEK LEADERS-MURDER OF LIEUT. SASS-SUPPOSED CONSPIRACY-DEMANDS FOR MONEY-MUTINOUS CONDUCT OF THE SULIOTS-THE GREEK LOAN-ILLNESS AND DEATH. 1122.-To Colonel the Hon. Leicester Stanhope.' Scrofer (or some such name), on board a MY DEAR STANHOPE,-We are just arrived here, that is, part of my people and I, with some things, etc., and which it may be as well not to specify in a letter (which 1. This letter was brought to Mesolonghi, as Stanhope writes to Bowring, December 31, 1823 (Greece, p. 61), by two of Byron's servants. In an earlier part of the same letter (ibid., p. 60) Stanhope says, "The town is filled with the Primates, Capitani, and their followers, who have come here to attend the Congress assembled "to consider the affairs of Western Greece. All are looking for. "ward to Lord Byron's arrival as they would to the coming of a "Messiah." 2. A mistico is a long sharp boat, "drawing little water, with "two large latine sails, and a jigger-mast astern; they may be "sailed or rowed swiftly, and carry a great number of men, and "one or more guns according to their dimensions."-Gordon, History of the Greek Revolution, vol. ii. p. 46, note. has a risk of being intercepted, perhaps);-but Gamba, and my horses, negro, steward, and the press, and all the Committee things, also some eight thousand dollars of mine, (but never mind, we have more left, do you understand?) are taken by the Turkish frigates, and my party and myself, in another boat, have had a narrow escape last night (being close under their stern and hailed, but we would not answer, and bore away), as well as this morning. Here we are, with the sun and clearing weather, within a pretty little port enough; but whether our Turkish friends may not send in their boats and take us out (for we have no arms except two carbines and some pistols, and I suspect, not more than four fighting people on board), is another question, especially if we remain long here, since we are blocked out of Messolonghi by the direct entrance. You had better send my friend George Drake (Draco), and a body of Suliotes, to escort us by land or by the canals, with all convenient speed. Gamba and our Bombard are taken into Patras, I suppose; and we must take a turn at the Turks to get them out: but where the devil is the fleet gone ?-the Greek, I mean; leaving us to get in without the least intimation to take heed that the Moslems were out again. Make my respects to Mavrocordato, and say that I am here at his disposal. I am uneasy at being here: not so much on my own account as on that of a Greek boy' with me, for you know what his fate would be; and I would sooner cut him in pieces, and myself too, than have him taken out by those barbarians. We are all very well. N. B. 1. A Greek boy named Luke, whom Byron was bringing with him from Cephalonia. The Bombard was twelve miles out when taken; at least, so it appeared to us (if taken she actually be, for it is not certain); and we had to escape from another vessel that stood right between us and the port. 1123-To Henry Muir. Dragomestri, January 2, 1824. MY DEAR MUIR,-I wish you many returns of the season, and happiness therewithal. Gamba and the Bombard (there is a strong reason to believe) are carried into Patras by a Turkish frigate, which we saw chase them at dawn on the 31st: we had been close under the stern in the night, believing her a Greek till within pistol shot, and only escaped by a miracle of all the Saints (our captain says), and truly I am of his opinion, for we should never have got away of ourselves. They were signalising their consort with lights, and had illuminated the ship between decks, and were shouting like a mob; -but then why did they not fire? Perhaps they took us for a Greek brûlot, and were afraid of kindling usthey had no colours flying even at dawn nor after. At daybreak my boat was on the coast, but the wind unfavourable for the port;-a large vessel with the wind in her favour standing between us and the Gulf, and another in chase of the Bombard about twelve miles off, or so. Soon after they stood (ie. the Bombard and frigate) apparently towards Patras, and, a Zantiote boat making signals to us from the shore to get away, away we went before the wind, and ran into a creek called Scrofes, I believe, where I landed Luke and another (as Luke's life was in most danger), with some money for themselves, and a letter for Stanhope, and sent them up the country to Messolonghi, where they would be in |