bands of Armatoli, from conceiving themselves wronged by the Turks, would retire to the mountains, and commence the life of Kleftes. There was something exceedingly wild, romantic, and enticing in the life and condition of the Kleft; he could not resist the Turks, but he would not bow his neck to the yoke; he sternly retired to nature's bulwark of liberty, to her mountain fastnesses; and from them carried on continual hostility against the enslaver of his country. The first weight that the arm of his infant was taught to raise, was that of the pistol; the first words that his lips pronounced, were those of liberty, and curses upon the Turks; and he knew no masters but his own will, or Chiefs of his own choosing. The Kleft wandered among the wildest, yet sublimest scenes of nature; he danced the Phyrric dance on the edge of the precipice: and he quaffed the wine cup presented to him on their knees by Turkish prisoners.* He was a robber, but a robber of mid-day-a robber of tyrants; glory, and not shame was attached to his profession; he was free, and brave; and freedom and courage did not fail to inspire him with noble and manly sentiments; " go," said he to his Turkish prisoners, after stripping them, "go, and get new arms and new equipments, that I may again rob you.' The history of the brave tribe of Suliote Greeks is too well known to need mention here; but we may remark, that beside the Kleftes and Armatoli of the North, there were in many parts of Greece, tribes of independent mountaineers, who lived with arms in their hands; sometimes tolerated by the Turks, but always distinct from them, and often at open variance; such were the Mainotes in the Morea, and the Sphaciotes in Candia. In contemplating the condition of Greece at this period, we might notice as proof of its improvement, the religious institutions on the Promontory of Athos, known by the general name of Ayiov Opos, Holy mountain; in every part of which, Convents were built; and which were inhabited by more than 4000 Greek monks, who lived however by their own industry; preserving their religion in the strictness of its forms; paying * We had stolen lambs, and they were roasting, with five Turkish Beys to turn the Spits."-Greek Song. only a slight tax to the Turks; governing themselves; and presenting the singular spectacle of a Confederation of Recluses. The learning and accomplishments of the Greeks of the Fanar, as well as their great influence in the Divan; the schools in various parts of the country; and the respectable collegiate Institutions at Athos, Constantinople, Yanina, Scio, Aivali, &c. might also be brought as farther proofs of this amelioration; but we shall trespass no farther upon the patience of the reader, than by briefly noticing the rapid growth of the Commerce of Greece. The condition of the mass of the Greek population has been so miserable for two thousand years, that the resources of their rich and fertile country have never been properly disclosed, and no evidence given of their real extent and variety; the people had no inducement to raise any more produce than barely enough to live upon; sure that an appearance of possessing wealth would only subject them to extortions, and put their lives in jeopardy. Hence Greece had nothing to export, no commerce to carry on with other nations; but her enterprising people were not deterred by this from attempting navigation; and a century ago, we find that Greek vessels of considerable size were cruising in every part of the Archipelago, and beginning to compete with the Europeans, for the carrying trade. The Hydriotes, a small colony of Albanian Greeks settled upon a barren rock in face of the Argolis, were among the most active and enterprising; but were nearly rivalled by the Spetziotes and the Ipsariotes. Soon after the treaty signed between Russia and the Porte at Kanairgi, another was made, in which, among other terms demanded by Russia in favour of the Greeks, was the right to sail under the protection of the Russian flag. This gave a wonderful spring to commerce; the Greeks with the Russian flag, no longer feared the oppressions and exorbitant exactions which were continually practised upon them in every Turkish port, by the Ottoman officers; and they immediately undertook the carrying trade of the Levant and the Black Sea. As they prospered in this, they built large and beautiful brigs, and schooners, with which they drove a profitable traffic to every part of the Mediterranean. Their vessels were every where remarked for the grace and beauty of their models, their lightness, and swiftness; and the Greek sailors were decidedly the most active and expert in manoeuvering, of any in the Mediterranean. Children were taken to sea by their fathers at a tender age, and as soon as they could lisp, were taught the names of the different parts of the vessel; they were afterwards brought on deck; they were taught to mark the points of the compass; to learn the names and position of stars; the appearance of the sea, the islands, and continent; and woe to the boy, who could not remember the name of any Cape or Promontory, when he saw it the second time. Still farther concessions were gained for the commercial Greeks, by their wily brethren of the Fanar, who had such a powerful influence in the Divan; and they were allowed the privilege of removing themselves completely from the influence of Turkish tyranny, and of an exemption from all taxes, by the payment of a certain sum to the Porte. The weakness and poverty of the Turkish Government was displayed strongly in this one, of a thousand acts of folly; it granted to its Christian subjects, Barats, or commissions, which exempted them from the Karatch, and allowed them to place themselves under the protection of any foreign ambassador. The Greeks failed not to improve all these advantages; an extensive and enterprising marine population soon made Hydra, Spetzia, Ipsara, Miconi, Cranidhi, Galaxhidi, and other places, but lately unknown, important ports; whence issued fine vessels, which competed with, and soon gained a complete ascendancy, over the European traders in the Levant; doing the carrying trade much cheaper than they could, and thus excluding them. They were in danger from the Algerine and other pirates, and hence they had an excuse for arming their vessels; they carried from six to sixteen cannon, and thus was formed the organ of the future regeneration of Greece. Each commercial island was obliged to supply a certain number of sailors for the Turkish fleet, and to pay them. Besides this, they paid their tribute to the Porte, which the Capitan Pashaw gathered from each island in his annual round with the squadron. But this was nothing; no weight of oppression cramped their exertions; no Turks lived in their islands; they were almost free, and they failed not to profit by it; the merchants amassed immense fortunes, the people were all flourishing; the islands assumed a better appearance; splendid houses were seen springing up, and the luxuries of Europe began to be introduced. The Greek became more enlightened; he moved with a prouder step, and a haughtier front, when he passed the Turks; and when bounding over the waves in his light ship, he felt himself free, and a match for his tyrant. These are some of the circumstances, which placed Greece at the commencement of the nineteenth century, in a situation to begin a struggle for independence, with a rational prospect of success, and with two millions of people to support it.* We would that our limits would allow us to go into a detail of some other circumstances, of the same nature, which are not generally known; but we must close, and we do so with observing, that the rank and power which Greece may one day claim among the nations of the earth, should not be calculated by he extent of her country, nor the number of her inhabitants; in ancient days, as well as Britain in modern times, she showed what power and sway can be exercised over the world, by a people confined in a small space. Her climate is delicious, without being enervating; there, the physical and mental faculties develop themselves in full perfection; her geographical situation is most admirable :-situated in a central position between Europe, Asia, and Africa; her coasts abounding with large and secure ports; her vegetable and mineral productions, various, and inexhaustible; her people enterprising and industrious; all give promise, that should she succeed in shaking off the iron load of oppression which has for ages kept her grovelling in the dust of servitude, she may again take a proud stand among the powers of the earth. That such may be the case, should be the prayer not of the Philhellene alone, but of every Philanthropist, of every Christian; for the independence of Greece is not to release her children alone from the thraldom of the Turks; but it will open the door for the advance of liberty, of civilization, and of Christianity into the East. * Only a part of the whole Greek population has been able to join in the revolt; it is difficult to ascertain the number of the actual insurgents; it certainly has never amounted to more than two millions. INDEX. BOOK FIRST. CHAP. 1. Causes of the Insurrection-Spread of knowledge among the Greeks-Com- CHAP. II. Page The Hetarists select Ipselanti to excite and head the Insurrection-He crosses CHAP. III. Extension of the Insurrection-Assembly at Calamata-Arrival of Demetrius CHAP. IV. Blockade of Tripolitza continued-State of the Army-Battle of Kaki Scarlar- no |