CHAPTER VI.

Signor Focca, the Archivist-Proveditors-Making up for lost time—Good Dinner due to bad Memory-Napier's summary Justice-Great Extension of the Franchise-Lord Collingwood's Fleet, 1809-Deputation sent to General Oswald-Unconciliating Conduct of Sir Hudson Lowe-A bragging Commander-An Englishman of few Words-Major de Bosset, Governor of Cephalonia-The dying Beauty and her wicked Brothers-in-Law-Rascal Notaries-A Land of Savages-De Bosset's summary Justice-Illuminations for Count Caruso, and Signors Zervo and Montferrato in Cephalonia— A Cephalonian Picture-Gallery.

DURING my stay in Cephalonia I made the acquaintance of Signor Focca, the Archivist, the oldest and staunchest friend of the British Protectorate. I inspected with him a number of old documents, and he imparted to me much interesting information. He possessed a considerable repertory of anecdotes, some of which I shall here relate. Signor Focca well remembered a Signor Valiero, a Cephalonian, who had passed much of his life under the rule of the Venetians. This gentleman told Focca that when he was unable to obtain his rents he was in the habit of applying to the Proveditor for the services of a soldier, who was sent to live in

the house, and at the expense of the debtor, till the latter was brought to terms of submission. The fruits of extortion (for in these cases something more was demanded than was due) were divided between the landlord and the Proveditor. Proveditors were usually poor Venetian gentlemen sent by great protecting nobles to make their fortunes in the island in two years. They generally carried away with them a thousand sequins, which in those days was thought a considerable sum to be extorted out of a single island. It was customary also for the Proveditor to give great dinners of a very remunerative kind. For the invited guests were all expected to leave under their plates either sums of money or, more generally, orders for oil or currants. In return for these tributes paid to the Venetian rulers, the Ionian gentry were allowed to rob at discretion their poor and ignorant pea

sants.

A certain Proveditor passed his two years in a manner quite exceptional to the long established rule. He acted most honorably, was not guilty of extortion, and took only what was voluntarily given to him. He acquired great respect, and was universally beloved. When his period of office was about to expire, every one bewailed his approaching departure. But he adopted an excellent plan for consoling the Cephalonians for his loss. The day before he sailed away, all the police were em

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ployed in inspecting the weights and measures used in the island. They were all found to be false, and consequently their owners were severely fined; and the Proveditor, carrying away the total amount of the penalties, made up in his last twenty-four hours for the time previously lost.

The Proveditors were often good-natured men, who were disinclined to do more evil than was actually necessary, in order to enrich themselves. One of them attained to celebrity from his singular want of memory, of which failing some wily Greeks often took advantage. One Cephalonian particularly distinguished himself in this respect. He went almost daily to pay his court to the great man, taking care to inspect his kitchen at the same time. Whenever he found a good dinner preparing, he stayed till it was served up. The Proveditor would then say to him: "What is your business, Signor ?" "My business? I am come to dinner, according to the invitation which you gave me yesterday." "Oh, indeed," replied the other, "I had quite forgotten it. Well, sit down."

Signor Focca related to me several stories about Sir Charles Napier. Here is one which I do not remember to have previously heard or read. A fair Turkish slave robbed her master's Seraglio, and fled with a Cephalonian Captain from Constantinople; entrusting him with all her property, consisting both of money and valuable jewels. Arrived at

Cephalonia, the Captain denied the deposit, and retained everything for himself. The girl appealed to Colonel Napier, who at first replied that it was a case for the courts. But he afterwards reflected that if the parties went to law, the lawyers would eat up all the property. He therefore sent the chief of the police for the Captain, whom, on his arrival, he thus addressed: "Captain you have most gallantly saved this poor girl from slavery at the risk of your life. That action" (he continued, addressing the girl) "deserves some remuneration from you. Captain, she has entrusted to you 700 sequins and valuable jewels. I decide that she shall give you 200 sequins. Go and bring the money and jewels, and I will give you the reward your gallantry deserves." The Captain had not the effrontery to deny the facts, and he was accompanied on board his ship by the chief of the police. The money and the jewels were brought to Colonel Napier, who gave the 200 sequins to the Captain, and restored to the lady the rest of her property.

According to Signor Focca, before the treaty of Tilsit a Russian Colonel, named Stepano, commanded in Cephalonia, where he lived with a certain native Countess. This lady sold all the official posts, and thereby greatly enriched herself. With regard to General Berthier, though he governed despotically, Focca said that he did so by means of the Senate of Corfu.