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ENGLISH PENSIONERS IN GREECE.

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decreed to them, by treaty. Moreover, these recipients are generally speaking young, and none of them are old men; and the obvious way to reward such services was to appoint them to similar situations in other parts of the world. For this, it was only necessary that ministers should have resolved to sacrifice a very trifling amount of their patronage for the honor of their country. Was it not, in fact, for England, that the brief services were performed, which are to saddle the Greek finances with life pensions to young Englishmen ? Had the Ionians ever had any voice in their appointment to office in the Islands? But as it was made an indispensable condition of the Union it was submitted to, but with a very bad grace. grace. A million sterling the Ionians had already paid to the Protectorate for fortifications and other military expenses; and now at parting (when all the so made additional fortifications are destroyed) the Islands are further saddled with life pensions to Englishmen not entitled to them. All the English in the Islands (even most of those who are to be benefited) felt ashamed of the whole transaction. Cannot Parliament at the eleventh hour suggest to the Chancellor of the Exchequer (formerly Lord High Commissioner) to have compassion on the Ionians, and not to let them suppose that he is seeking to revenge on them the failure of his famous mission. The total amount of the pensions

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though distressing to Greece, would be a mere drop of water in the ocean of the British budget. Moreover, if that drop cannot be allowed, there is (as already mentioned) a very obviously just manner of arranging the affair, free of all expense whatever. But enough of that disagreeable subject, which is calculated to make, and has made, many Englishmen blush for their country.

power.

It is an unfortunate fact, that in modern Athens. which dates from only forty years back, education is more advanced than in the Ionian Islands, where Great Britain has ruled for fifty years with supreme But for these circumstances the political and religious prejudices of the Ionians are probably chiefly to blame. Before the cession there were 304 schoolmasters in the Islands, paid by the Government, 116 of whom were in Corfu. The total cost of the public education was 13,8007 But, owing to the very small salaries granted to the country schoolmasters, it was difficult to select suitable persons, and frequent vacancies in the office of teacher were the natural results.

The Ionian civil list was in 1857, 66,2517., but is at present about 71,000 a year; and the total number of paid civilians was 1551, of whom only 26 were English, but with salaries very superior to those of the Ionians. Out of the civil list, also, was always paid the sum guaranteed to the Lord High Commissioner, and the subordinates of the Protec

A BOON UNGRACIOUSLY BESTOWED.

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torate; which sum formerly amounted to 15,0007. a year, and was afterwards reduced to 13,0007. This grant defrayed the salaries of secretaries, treasurers, Residents, aide-de-camps, and many other officials. In this manner the Ionians had disbursed little short of a second million sterling for the benefit of the British Protectorate. Considering all these facts a little generosity at parting would have been scarcely more than justice; and Great Britain would have taken leave of the little country so long intrusted to her care in a more graceful and dignified manner, than has actually been the

case.

Our country has undoubtedly performed a great and generous act in ceding the Islands to Greece; but it is to be regretted that her manner of conferring the boon has been but little calculated to arouse the gratitude of those for whose benefit the sacrifice was supposed to have been voluntarily made, in the face, and with the consent, of all the Great Powers. And if in the case of the fortifications the blame lies chiefly with the latter, yet in the matter of the pensions, it must be confessed that Great Britain stands alone, in what cannot be called her glory.

CHAPTER XV.

CONCLUDING JOURNAL.*

Procession of Saint Spiro-Orders to leave the Islands in June-Greek Passover-Greek Easter Sunday-Patriotic Cephalonians—A charming Visit— Ionian Contributions of a Million sterling-Departure of the English not likely to excite much good Feeling-Hopes for the Future-Conclusion.

Saturday, 23rd April.-Rode for the first time to-day to the Val di Roppa-the largest and most beautiful valley in the island of Corfu-and therefore well worthy of being visited by strangers; so that I have noted it here on that account. The richly-cultivated soil, and the verdure, especially at this season of the year, with the bold line of surrounding hills, make a charming picture, not easily forgotten even in this lovely island.

Sunday, 24th. - The The Greek Palm Sunday. Grand procession of Saint Spiro, about noon, and lasting till two in the afternoon; the English, after

*From want both of space and time, this concluding chapter is taken chiefly from the author's diary of events, in which there was no room for more than a few lines daily.

PROCESSION OF SAINT SPIRO.

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Church, crowding to see the sight. The huge banners of all the churches of the town were there, with gilt lamps elevated on ornamented poles, and formed the principal part of the train, except where some great portrait of a saint was held aloft for veneration. As usual, the procession was on too straggling a plan for proper effect; and the parties with their banners too far apart from each other. In fact, the procession extended nearly half a mile. The Archbishop, surrounded by his clergy, and hedged in by the candle-bearers, walked in front of the saint, who, in his glass-case, was borne aloft under a canopy. All the gentry of Corfu, and a great rabble rout, escorted Saint Spiro through the crowds of spectators. When the procession arrived at Condi-terrace (the highest part of the town), a halt was made, and prayers were offered up by the Archbishop. After this, a man with a stiff arm (or some such misfortune), threw himself on the ground, and the saint was carried over him. The man arose, and his cure has, doubtless, swelled the long list of the benevolent virtues of Saint Spiro, who appears to be never weary in well-doing. Some of the English spectators remarked that the arm of the patient appeared as stiff after he got up as it had been when he laid down-a proof that he, at all events, was no impostor.

According to custom, the saint was carried under

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