given them plainly to understand, that those who do not choose to be amenable to the laws of the country and service, may retire; but that in all that I have to do, I will see them obeyed by Foreigners or Natives. I wish something was heard of the arrival of part of the Loan, for there is a plentiful dearth of every thing at present. Yours ever, N. B. P.S.-The Weather has been, and is such that neither Mavrocordato nor anyone else could go to Salona. The roads are quite impassable and the rivers too. 1156.-To Samuel Barff. Missolonghi, April 6th, 1824. DEAR SIR,-Enclosed are some Bills of Mr. Millingen which I guarantee by request of the Committee, as far as I understand their directions. Since I wrote, we have had some tumult here with the citizens and Kariascachi's people, and all are under arms, our boys and all. They nearly fired on me and fifty of my lads,' by 1. A corps of fifty Suliots which Byron, almost ever since his arrival at Mesolonghi, kept about him as a body-guard. A large outer room of his house was appropriated to these troops; and their carbines were hung along the walls. "In this room," says Parry (Last Days, p. 74), "and among these rude soldiers, Lord Byron was accustomed to walk a great deal, particularly in wet weather, accompanied by his favourite dog, Lyon." 66 When he rode out, these fifty Suliots attended him on foot; and though they carried their carbines, they were always able to keep up with the horses at full speed. "The captain, and a certain number, "all on foot, preceded his Lordship. Then came Lord Byron on 'horseback, accompanied one side by Count Gamba, and on the "other by the Greek interpreter. Behind him rode two attendants; "generally these were his black groom, and Tita, both dressed "like the chasseurs usually seen behind the carriages of ambassadors, mistake, as we were taking our usual excursion into the country. To-day matters seem settled or subsiding; but, about an hour ago, the father-in-law of the landlord of the house where I am lodged (one of the Primates the said landlord is) was arrested for high treason. 1 They are in conclave still with Mavrocordato; and we have a number of new faces from the hills, come to assist, they say. Gunboats and batteries all ready, etc. The row has had one good effect-it has put them on the alert. What is to become of the father-in-law, I do not know: nor what he has done, exactly: but "'T is a very fine thing to be father-in-law To a very magnificent three-tail'd bashaw," as the man in Bluebeard says and sings. I wrote to you upon matters at length, some days ago; the letter, or letters, you will receive with this. We are desirous to hear more of the Loan; and it is some time since I have had any letters (at least of an interesting description) from England, excepting one of 4th February, from Bowring (of no great importance). My latest dates are of 9bre, or of the 6th 1obre, four months exactly. I hope you get on well in the Islands : here most of us are, or have been, more or less indisposed, "and another division of his guard closed the cavalcade."-Ibid., P. 76. 1. Constantine Volpiotti, the father-in-law of Byron's landlord, and lodging in the same house, was suspected of intriguing with Kolokotrones and Karaiskaki. Byron had him arrested and consigned to the custody of the town guard (Gamba's Narrative, pp. 241-243). 2. Bluebeard; or, Female Curiosity! by G. Colman the Younger, was represented, for the first time, at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, January 16, 1798. In act ii. sc. 3 Ibrahim sings a song, of which Byron quotes the refrain. natives as well as foreigners, Cap. Parry included; but the fine weather may bring them about again. Yours ever, N. B. 1157.-To Samuel Barff. April 7th, 1824. DEAR SIR, The Greeks here of the Government have been boring me for more money. As I have the Brigade to maintain, and the Campaign is apparently soon to open, and as I have already spent 59,000 dollars in three months upon them in one way or another, and more especially as their public Loan has succeeded, so that they ought not to draw from individuals at that rate, I have given them a refusal, and—as they would not take that,-another refusal in terms of considerable sincerity. They wish now to try in the Islands for a few Thousand Dollars on the ensuing Loan. If you can help them, perhaps you will, (in the way of information, at any rate,) and I will see that you have fair play; but still I do not advise you, except to act as you please. Almost every thing depends upon the arrival, and the speedy arrival, of a portion of the Loan to keep peace amongst themselves. If they can but have sense to do this, I think they will be a match, and better, for any force that can be brought against them for the present. We are all doing as well as we can. I am, yours very truly, N. B. 1158.-To Samuel Barff. April 9, 1824. DEAR SIR,-The above is a copy of a letter1 from Messrs. Ransom received this morning.-I have also to acknowledge yours and one from Mr. Barry of Genoa (Partner of Messrs. Webb and Co. of Genoa and Leghorn) who had forwarded the same to you for my address. I agree with you in opinion, and shall continue to draw directly on England as the safest (and perhaps least expensive method) instead of having dollars up from Genoa or Leghorn. This will be the preferable course as long as the exchange is fair in the Islands. Will you instruct me how to regulate myself about the order of firsts and seconds, etc., of Exchange as indicated in the second paragraph of the letter copied, as I am not very accurate or intelligent in technical matters of business of this sort and wish to be quite correct. 1. The following is the copy of the letter to which Byron refers : "London, 10th Febry., 1824. "MY LORD,-In compliance with your Lordship's directions "communicated to our Mr. Kinnaird by Mr. Barry of Genoa, a copy of whose letters we herewith annex, we this day open a "credit in your Lordship's favor for four thousand pounds sterling, "to which, we have no doubt, they will attend. 66 66 "We request your Lordship will be pleased henceforth in drawing 66 upon us one and the same date, to divide the Bills into sums of "different amounts, so that no two of such Bills may be for the same sum, or so number them that we may run no risk of accepting for 'more than your Lordship intends us to pay. We have already "accepted 3100 stg. part of your Lordship's Drafts upon us for £4000 stg. in favor of I. Hamilton Brown, Esqre., all dated 28 November last at 60 days, some firsts, some seconds, and some "thirds of Exchange, of which six are for £250 stg. each, 2 of £500 stg., 1 of £400, and 1 of £200 stg., but we have done this "at the risk of having accepted firsts and seconds of the same set of "Bills, not thinking it right to put your Lordship to the very heavy expense attending our refusing to accept. "We have the honor to be, etc., natives as well as foreigners, Cap. Parry included; but the fine weather may bring them about again. Yours ever, N. B. 1157.-To Samuel Barff. April 7th, 1824. DEAR SIR,-The Greeks here of the Government have been boring me for more money. As I have the Brigade to maintain, and the Campaign is apparently soon to open, and as I have already spent 59,000 dollars in three months upon them in one way or another, and more especially as their public Loan has succeeded, so that they ought not to draw from individuals at that rate, I have given them a refusal, and—as they would not take that,-another refusal in terms of considerable sincerity. They wish now to try in the Islands for a few Thousand Dollars on the ensuing Loan. If you can help them, perhaps you will, (in the way of information, at any rate,) and I will see that you have fair play; but still I do not advise you, except to act as you please. Almost every thing depends upon the arrival, and the speedy arrival, of a portion of the Loan to keep peace amongst themselves. If they can but have sense to do this, I think they will be a match, and better, for any force that can be brought against them for the present. We are all doing as well as we can. I am, yours very truly, N. B. |