that immediately ensued in Constantinople and Asia Minor, are feelingly related. We shudder at reading the account of the thousands of innocent and defenceless people, who were almost immediately immolated, not for having taken a part in the insurrection, nor because there was a possibility of their co-operating in it, but because they bore the name, and spoke the language of Greeks. The new friends of the Turks must allow at all events that they have a considerable appetite for Christian blood, and that they seldom omit a convenient opportunity of indulging it.

It is not our intention to follow the narrative in a regular manner. Those who do not already possess a clear and distinct idea of the whole progress of this splendid insurrection, will be gratified with perusing the lucid and correct account contained in Dr. Howe's pages. We shall content ourselves with selecting some passages, describing facts of which we have hitherto had only imperfect information, and which delineate in a masterly manner, chiefly from personal knowledge, the characters of the principal actors. Thus of Demetrius, the brother of Alexander

Ipselanti, we are told,

"A finer opportunity to run the race of ambition, could not be presented to a man of genius, than had Demetrius Ipselanti ; one of ordinary talent even, without his personal defects, might have done much; but these were great. He is about forty years of age; but being small of stature, his gaunt, and almost skeletonlike figure, and bald head, give him the appearance of premature old age; while his nearness of sight, a disagreeable twang of the voice, and a stiff, and awkward, and embarrassed manner, excite disagreeable feeling in any one introduced to him, amounting almost to pity. But Demetrius Ipselanti has not the character which his exterior seems to indicate; he possesses that best kind of courage, a cool indifference to danger; is free from the besetting sin of his countrymen, avarice; is a sincere patriot; and when once the reserve of first acquaintance is worn off, he proves the kind and generous friend. But unfortunately for him, he was surrounded by a set of weak-minded, vain young men, whose sole recommendation was their talent of flattering; and who probably suggested to him the idea of setting up ridiculous pretensions of superiority; which people will never submit to, in one deficient of the talent and power to enforce them." Of Colocotroni, the portrait is unfavourable, but we fear that in respect to his moral character, it is too true.

"The father of this distinguished individual, was a Klefte, or mountain robber, who became so renowned for the cunning and courage with which he committed his depredations upon the Turks, that a large band collected themselves under his command, and he became the terror of the Morea. He died as he had lived,-in war with the Turks;—and his name, preserved in the memory of the Kleftes, and handed down in their wild songs, gave a reputation to his son ; who from his youth followed his father's profession.

"The Turks having succeeded pretty well in clearing the Morea of these freebooters, Colocotroni was obliged to seek other occupation; and we find him serving in a regiment of Albanian Greeks, organized by the British, in the Ionian Islands; in which he held some subordinate office; until the regiment being disbanded, he found himself out of employ. The breaking out of the insurrec tion opened to him a new career; he hastened over to the Morea, and his name and reputation, at that moment, when he had few competitors, gained him the greatest influence among the wild soldiery. He is about fifty years of age: has a huge clumsy figure; to which is united by a brawny bull neck, an immense

shaggy head; with a face strongly, but coarsely marked; indicating cunning, presumption, and dogged resolution; which are in fact the attributes of his character. Enjoying a high reputation for courage, he seemed to think any demonstration of it unnecessary; and there is hardly an instance known of his exposing his person, during the war. As profoundly ignorant of politics, as of letters, he seemed disregardful of his reputation, and his actions have been uniformly directed by his ruling passion, avarice; and, as subservient to this, a desire of military supremacy in the Morea."

The name of Mavrocordato is interwoven with some of the most distinguished exploits of the war, and with much of the civil administration of government.

Dr. Howe's account of him, however, represents him as not without blots in his escutcheon.

"Alexander Mavrocordato is about thirty-eight years of age, rather below the middling height, but perfectly well made; his fine olive complexion looks darker than it really is, from the jetty blackness of his hair, which hangs in ringlets about his face, and from his large mustachios and sparkling black eyes. His manners are perfectly easy and gentlemanlike; and though the first impression would be from his extreme politeness, and continual smiles, that he was a good-natur ed silly fop, yet one soon sees from the keen inquisitive glances which involuntarily escape him, that he is concealing under an almost childish lightness of manner, a close and accurate study of his visiter. He speaks fluently seven languages; and having been an accurate observer of men and manners, can make his conversations extremely instructive; his political talents are of the very first order, and his mental resources great. He has a just confidence in his own powers; but unfortunately he has not that personal firmness and hardihood necessary in the leader of a revolution. He cannot be called cowardly, for he will resolutely put himself in situations which he knows to be dangerous; yet, when the danger actually arrives, he, in spite of himself, loses his coolness and presence of mind. There is but one opinion in Greece about the talents of Mavrocordato, all allow them to be very great; but this is not the case in respect to his virtues. His friends ascribe every action to the most disinterested patriotism; but his enemies hesitate not to pronounce them all to have for their end, his party or private interest; and say, that he would sooner subject his country to the Turks than have his political opponents get the credit of saving her. But here, as is often the case, truth lies between the two extremes; let his enemies avow that he loves his country, and has laboured hard to benefit her; and his friends confess that he is ambitious, and has always had a considerable regard to his own political interest; and a nearer approach to his true character will be had. As to his intriguing and crooked policy, it may be said that his excellence in it, alone kept up his influence; he could not oppose the schemes of his enemies but by using the same arms he was attacked with: the only way to escape a mine, is by countermining.

"Without family influence, without a military reputation, and without money, he gained, and long kept the supremacy; and the true cause of his having a party against him, was that he endeavoured to reform abuses, and to introduce order and discipline into the army. He has had large sums of public money at his disposal, almost without being under the necessity of rendering the least account; yet he is and always has been poor."

We may introduce one or two more of these portraits as we proceed. But the personal imperfections of some of the chief agents should not disgust us with their country or their cause. We cannot expect a Washington to spring from every soil. The brevity of the Greek declaration of independence may be contrasted with the eloquent but diffusive annunciation of the like event, by us. If the Greeks, in their agitation and alarm, had

had leisure to enter like us into a full exposition of their motives, they might, like us, have perpetuated for the benefit of future ages, the principles which both justify and dignify such an act. But a Spartan brevity was adopted, which perhaps was more suitable to their condition than it would have been to ours.

ΕΝ ΟΝΟΜΑΤΙ ΤΗΣ ΑΓΙΑΣ ΚΑΙ ΑΔΙΑΡΕΤΟΥ ΤΡΙΑΔΟΣ.

Τὸ Ἑλληνικὸν ἔθνος, τὸ ὑπὸ τὴν φρικώδη οθωμανικὴν δυναστείαν, μὴ δυνάμενον νὰ φέρῃ τὸν βαρύτατον καὶ ἀπαραδειγμάτιστον ζυγὸν τῆς τυραννίας, καὶ ἀποσεί σαν αὐτὸν μὲ μεγάλας θυσίας, κηρύττει σήμερον δια τῶν νομί μων Παραστατών τι, εἰς Ἐθνικὴν συνηγμένην Συνέλευσιν, ἐνώπιον, Θεὸ καὶ ἀνθρώπων Τὴν Πολιτικὴν αὐτὸ ὑπαρξιν καὶ ἀναξαρτησίαν” ἐν Ἐπιδαύρῳ, τὴν ά. Ιαννουαρίου, ἔτει αωκβ' καὶ ὰ. τῆς ἀνεξαρτησίας.

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"In the name of the Holy and Indivisible TRINITY.

"The Greek Nation, unable to bear the galling and oppressive yoke of tyranny, under Turkish despotism, proclaims this day, through its lawful Representatives, met in a National Assembly, before God and men, its political existence and Independence.

"EPIDAURUS,

"1st January, 1822, and first year of Independence."

In the outset, and at the moment when the infant struggles of the Republic required of every generous heart, that, if assistance was not rendered, opposition should not be made, Russia disavowed the insurrection of Moldavia,-Austria threw Alexander Ipselanti into prison,-and Britain, in one instance, conducted herself in the following manner :—

"A division of the Greek fleet had again put to sea, and directing its course towards Patrass, fell in with a division of the Turkish fleet, consisting chiefly of Barbary vessels. An encounter followed; the result of which, was the complete disorder of the Turks, by the superior manœuvring of the Greeks; and their fleet fell back, and took refuge in a port of Zante, one of the Ionian Islands. A few Greek vessels then steered north, with the intention of attacking a Turkish corvette, and four brigs, which had taken refuge at Mourto; but what was their astonishment, at being accosted, at the entrance of the channel of Corfu, by an English brig of war, and forbidden to pass the channel. It was vainly asked, 'why do you let the Turks pass there; why shelter them from us? Pass not the channel of Corfu,' was the only answer. The Greek Admiral, astonished at such strange conduct, sent a vessel (the Terpsichorde) to Corfu with a letter of complaint. On entering the port she was seized; her flag forcibly lowered; the captain ordered to unfit his ship; the envoy was put under an arrest, and kept for some weeks. What was the pretext for this strange proceeeding? That some Greek sailors had formerly landed at Santa Maura, and stolen some sheep!

"It is difficult to suppose, that the British government, with a policy so liberal as it has lately pursued, could have given instructions to the local authorities in the Ionian Islands, to pursue such a line of conduct towards the Greeks. But the following account of the affair of the Terpsichorde, will serve as a specimen of their policy at that time.

"The Greek government, in a very unpresuming letter, requested the deliverance of this vessel; the answer of Sir T. Maitland was rude and illiberal, as well as inconsistent; it read thus: 'His Excellency has just received letters, from persons who give to themselves the name of the Government of Greece, by a messenger now in this port. His Excellency is absolutely ignorant of the existence of a provisionary government of Greece, and therefore cannot recognise such agent. The necessity only to maintain, as his Excellency has always done, the most strict neutrality, makes him consent to answer some passages of those VOL. V.-No. 9.

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letters. He will not enter into a correspondence with any nominal power, which he does not know; and his determination is this: no vessel, calling herself Greek, and under a flag not known, and not authorized, can be received in British ports. His Excellency is not obliged to enter into a discussion with an unknown power, on the propriety of his own measures, but he will say, that he considers the whole channel of Corfu from Mourtoux to Cassapo, as the port of Corfu!'

"The government of the Ionian Islands, cannot but deplore the foolish presumption of one of the two belligerents, which has occasioned the present deplorable state of things.""

The general government, soon after the last event, issued an eloquent address to the Christian powers, from which we shall make a short extract.

“Greece, abandoned by the rest of the earth, with the volume of her past splendour, and her woes, and her rights, in her hand-Greece will still pursue her arduous career. Her cities sacked, her villages burnt, her population decimated, her fields ravaged, bear witness to her proud determination. Crushed by numbers, she will yet wash out her defeats in her blood. What will be the feelings of Europe towards her? Assembled Greece has solemnly proclaimed her independence, and has given herself a government, surrounded by national emblems, having for its first object the welfare of Greece, and not the interest of a party. This legitimate organ of the nation has thought it due equally to itself and to the people, to lay the preceding statement before the Christian powers. Honour and hope will guide Grecian constancy through the gloom of futurity. The Greeks aim at peace combined with independence, and at the political fruits of civilization. They protest beforehand against any violation of their rights, so lately purchased by the most heroic sacrifices. In a word, humanity, religion, interest, all plead in their favour."

The melancholy fate of Scio is too well known to require enlargement on it here. It is feelingly related by our author. We should be happy if one of the incidents had not taken place.

"Several thousand took refuge in the houses of the different European Consuls, whose flag they knew would protect them from the Turks.

"And how did these worthy representatives of the illustrious monarchs, who unite in 'Alliance,' yclept 'Holy,' for the peace and happiness of the world; how did these Consuls treat the miserable fugitives, who had cast themselves upon their mercy, and the faith of their flags? Are the stories of their courageous defence of these wretches, their generosity and philanthropy in sending them off free, to be credited? No! just the contrary; they coldly speculated upon their miseries; they gave them their liberty it is true, but it was only at the price of the last valuable they might have preserved from the destruction of their houses. The men were obliged to pay, or obligate themselves to pay, large suns to the Consuls for their protection; and the women were obliged to strip off their jewels, or their rich garments, to satisfy these rapacious representatives of Christian tyrants."

The mind, already inflamed by the view of blood and slaughter, sickens at such avarice and depravity. It seems as if the sorrows of Greece were contemplated by too many, on both sides of the Atlantic, as a fund on which rapacity might lawfully and laudably prey. The miseries inflicted on the inhabitants of Scio, were partially retaliated on the Turkish fleet, and the chief agent, the Capitan Pasha, fell a merited victim to the fireships of the Greeks conducted by Kanaris.

"The successful accomplishment of this daring act completely established his fame; congratulations poured in upon him, and every Greek was proud of the name of Kanaris, except Kanaris himself. He is by birth an Ipsariote, and had

hitherto been known only by those immediately about him, who loved him for his mildness, and goodness of heart, and respected him for his sterling integrity. No one would ever divine the character of Kanaris from his personal appearance; he is about thirty-four years of age, of low stature, slender but well made; and his mild interesting countenance bespeaks rather feminine goodness of heart, than what he really possesses-a mind that knows no fear. He appears insensible to danger; and his resolutions, which might be easily altered by persuasion, are made stubborn by open opposition, and fresh obstacles are to him only inducements for fresh exertions. He loves his country with the sincere unostentatious love of a patriot, and he calmly and steadily continues to make every exertion for her good, in the conviction that he is doing only his duty. He boasts not the performance of that, of which the neglect would be a crime, and seems to look for no other reward than the proud consciousness of having materially contributed to his country's emancipation."

The mention of Ipsara as the birth-place of this illustrious man, tempts us to transcribe the entire account of the destruction of that happy island. It is not so generally known, and has never been so circumstantially related, as the ruin of Scio.

"The first object selected for destruction, was Psara, or Ipsara, a rocky islet, which appears like a speck on the surface of the Egean; but which was the focus of an extensive commerce, carried on by its active and enterprising inhabitants, to every part of the world. Ipsara contained about 25,000 inhabitants, and it presented the best opportunity for the stranger to study the character of the modern Greeks, and admire the great degree of similarity which it has preserved to that of their glorious ancestry.

"The Psarians are genuine Greeks, without any mixture of Turkish or Albanian blood. They have nothing in appearance or character which is not truly national. Ingenious, loquacious, lively to excess, active, enterprising, vapouring and disputatious. And I may add, I have never seen a population more abundant in beauty and intelligence of countenance, than that of Psara.' It was the third place in point of commercial importance in Greece; and its inhabitants were not inferior to those of Hydra and Spetzia in enterprise. In common with those Islands, it had enjoyed peculiar privileges under the Turkish dominion; no Turks lived upon it; and it was subject only to the annual payment of a tribute, and the supplying a quota of sailors for the Turkish fleet. The Ipsariotes pushed their commerce to every part of the Mediterranean, and their light polacca vessels were every where remarked for the grace of their models, their speed, and excellence in manoeuvring. Many of the inhabitants had become rich; all were flourishing; and the well built houses, and continual bustle in its streets, gave signs of successful commerce. Ipsara had been one of the first isl ands to raise the standard of revolt, and it had always furnished a number of ships for the Greek fleet. Situated remotely from the centre of the revolution, and in the very track of the Turkish fleet, it had been considered as peculiarly in danger; and preparations had been made to defend it. But for three successive campaigns, the Capitan Pashaw had swept by it, without making any attempt upon it, and the inhabitants had relapsed into security; their miserable batteries were in no order; and they were listlessly smoking their pipes, or playing at cards in the Coffee-houses, when word was given from their telegraph, that the Turkish fleet was in sight, and steering for their island.

"Instantly all was bustle and confusion; some ran to the batteries to prop up the carriages, and load the rusty cannon; others buckled on their belts, and stuck into them their yataghans and pistols; others, fearful of the issue, began to prepare their vessels and boats for flight; while the women clasped their children closer to their bosoms, and retired to the inner apartments, as if to escape the danger by losing sight of it.

"The next morning the Turkish frigates and line-of-battle ships approached the town, and began a furious cannonade, which was briskly returned from the batteries; and the whole day was passed in cannonading, without much damage being suffered on either side. At night the Greeks began to feel at ease, sure