243, 245; 1821, 147, 149. 42. of the conquest, and subsequent the Greeks. above a thousand Christians were massacred in 256, 258. cha before Ja nina. Fall and through the whole night by the light of the 1 Gordon, i. burning houses; it went on all the next day; and when it ceased at length, by the exhaustion of the Ann. Reg. victors, nine thousand bodies, of all ages and sexes, encumbered the streets of Tripolitza.1 Though disgraced by such frightful cruelty, the sad result of the war of extermImportance ination which had begun between the Greeks and Turks, the capture of Tripolitza was an event of the measures of very highest importance to the Greek cause. They found there a considerable train of artillery, arms and ammunition While these important events were in proin abundance, and immense treasures, the long gress in Asia and southern Greece, 44. accumulations of Ottoman rapine, which laid Chourchid Pacha, commanding the Operations of the foundation of some of the principal fortunes army before Janina, justified the Churchid Pain the Morea. The army which had taken Tri- high confidence which the Sultan politza, after its important conquest, was di- reposed in him. Though obliged recapture of vided into two parts: one half sat down before to detach largely into the Morea Arta. the Acro-Corinthus of Corinth, which strong- and northern Greece, he never lost sight of his hold, commanding the entrance into the Morea, main object, the destruction of Ali Pacha. This surrendered in the middle of Novem- old and savage chieftain, in the last extremity, Nov. 15. ber; while the other went to reinforce justified his surname of the "Lion of Janina.” the troops under the Archbishop Germanos, Shut up with not more than four thousand folwhich were blockading the citadel of Patras, lowers in his impregnable fortress in the lake, where Jussuf Pacha, having been strongly re- he continued his obstinate resistance, though inforced by succors from the army besieging he amused his besiegers with delusive offers of Janina, had become very audacious, and had accommodation. Chourchid's chief difficulty defeated the Greeks in several sorties. Mean- was to preserve his lines of communication while the Sultan, irritated rather than discour- through the mountains, which were beset by aged by the defeat his fleet had sustained at twelve thousand Greeks and Souliotes, from sea in the beginning of summer, fitted out a whom he sustained, in the beginning of new squadron in the Dardanelles, which put to September, a bloody defeat in the defiles Sept. 3. sea in the beginning of July, and being much of Mount Pindus. Having received a reinforcestronger than any the Greeks could oppose to ment, however, of eight thousand men soon it, arrived in safety in the harbor of Rhodes, after, his force was raised to thirty thousand where it effected a junction with the Egyptian men, with which he both continued the blockfleet. The combined squadrons, consisting of ade of Janina, and kept up his communication four ships of the line and seventy smaller with Arta, Prevesa, and the sea, though not vessels, made sail for the Morea, where without extreme difficulty, from the incursions they revictualed all the blockaded fortresses hav- of the hardy mountaineers. Hassan Pacha, ing harbors, and regained the shelter of the Dar- alarmed at the dangers of his situation in Arta, danelles in the end of October, closely watched set out with all his forces, in order to force his by the Greek fleet, which, without venturing to way through the defiles to Janina; but he was hazard a general engagement, prevented the met in the defiles of Pindus by MARK BOZZARIS, Ottoman squadron from effecting any thing else. a chieftain destined to future glory, and Sept. 12. On the 24th November, the fleet re-entered the driven back with great slaughter to harbor of Constantinople, exhibiting as its only Arta. Chourchid, however, was not discourprizes thirty Greek sailors hanging from the aged, and by repeated efforts he succeeded in yard-arm of one of the vessels. So elated was re-establishing his communication with Arta. the Sultan, however, with the success of this There, however, the Turks, under the command maritime promenade, that he promoted the ad- of four pachas, were soon vigorously assailed miral, Kara Ali, to the rank of Capitan by Bozzaris at the head of his brave Souliotes, Pacha! Woeful picture of national who, after driving them back into the fortress, decline, when escape from defeat is at length carried it by assault. The iv. 422,423. considered equivalent to victory!2 greater part of the garrison found reThe intelligence of the disasters sustained by fuge in the citadel, which still held out; but all the Turks in the Morea, and the en- the stores and treasures of the four pachas fell tire ruin of their trade by the Greek into the hands of the Greeks, to whom they sacre of the cruisers, again roused the Moham- proved of essential service. They held their medan population of Smyrna to a conquest, however, only for three weeks. state of perfect frenzy. The wine- At the end of that time it was regained shops were filled from morning to night with by Omer-Vrione, who was detached by Chourarmed bands of Asiatics, threatening instant chid Pacha from before Janina, and the heads death and total extermination to the Christians. of the two pachas, who had sought 2 Gordon, i. The European consuls presented an en-refuge in the citadel, were sent to the 258, 271; Nov. 2. ergetic note to the Turkish governor, Sultan, by whom they were displayed Ann. Hist. representing the frightful consequences which at the gates of the Seraglio.2 iv. 427, 429. would ensue if these disorders were not re- The Greeks, who now began to feel the effects pressed; but in vain. The Asiatics broke loose; | of the divisions consequent in all insurrections Oct. 22. 2 Gordon, i. 247, 253; Ann. Hist. 43. Fresh mas Christians in Smyrna. Nov. 25. Dec. 17. 45. Failure of the Greeks before Napoli di Ro mania and Pa tras. on success, were far from making that use of their victory at Tripolitza which might have been expected, or, with more unanimity, might have been effected. Ipsilanti took the command of the army before Napoli di Romania, and prosecuted the siege with great vigor, in hopes of effecting the reduction of that important stronghold before the garrison was revictualed by sea in the following spring. This celebrated fortress, which in situation very closely resembles Gibraltar, is extremely strong, and by a few additions might be rendered impregnable. The citadel of Palamido, situated on a frowning rock eight hundred feet high, the base of which is washed by the sea, seemed almost beyond the reach of attack; and though the garrison consisted only of one thousand five hundred men, encumbered with ten times that number of useless mouths, yet there were four hundred guns mounted on the ramparts, and the main warlike stores of the Turks were deposited within its walls. Animated by the hopes of gaining so rich a prize, the Greeks, on the night of the 15th Dec. 15. December, attempted an escalade. So excessive was the negligence of the Turks that it had very nearly succeeded; and with more unanimity and resolution on the part of the besiegers, it unquestionably would have done 80. But some of the assaulting parties refused to advance, others failed, and the attack was repulsed, after which the siege was turned into a mere blockade. At the same time, the insurgents experienced a severe check in the ruins of Patras. Encouraged by the fall of Nov. 3. Tripolitza, a body of five thousand Peloponnesians, by a sudden assault, made themselves masters of the town, and remained there, blockading the citadel, till the beginning of December. Then Jussuf Pacha, observing how bad a look-out the Greeks kept, and knowing how completely their chiefs were divided, marched from the Morea Castle with four hundred men, and, aided by a sally from the citadel, drove the Greeks out of the town. Dec. 3. Mavrocordato and the generals escaped with difficulty to Argos, but the greater part of the insurgents in the town were destroyed; and the Turks immediately commenced the destruction of what remained of the buildings, in order to prevent them from 1 Gordon, i. again becoming a shelter to the enemy.1 While these important events, big with the future fate of old Hellas, were in progress in the Morea, the Greeks experienced a dreadful reverse in Cassandra. the Peninsula of Cassandra. The Nov. 11. position of that mountain ridge, washed by the waters of the Archipelago, and its close vicinity to the important town and harbor of Salonica, the centre of all the operations of the Turks in that quarter, rendered it an object of the highest importance to the Turks to extinguish the insurrection in its fastnesses. Accordingly, during the whole of October, large bodies of Asiatics were brought over from Smyrna, and on the 11th November, on a signal given by the discharge of a Nov. 11. bomb, the Ottoman horde, ten thousand strong, rushed to the assault. Although the 259, 301. 46. Forcing of the line of Greeks defended their intrenchments bravely, yet such was the fury of the onset, and the superiority of numbers on the part of the assailants, that they were broken through in several places, and at these openings the savage multitude rushed in with irresistible fury. It soon was no longer a battle, but a massacre. Such of the Greeks as could escape saved themselves in the mountains; but above three thousand fell under the Mussulman cimeters, and ten thousand women and children, with thirty thousand head of cattle, were taken and publicly sold in the market-place of Salonica. Taking advantage of the consternation produced by this dreadful event, the victorious pacha advanced to Mount Athos, where the trembling monks, though placed in their almost inaccessible eyries, were too happy to accept the proffered capitulation, by which they saved their lives and property on 1 Ann. Hist. payment of 250,000 piastres a year iv. 427, 428. (£20,000).1 47. To complete the picture of this memorable year, it only remains to notice the operations in Crete. The mountain- Operations eers there, albeit endowed by nature in Crete. with mild and pacific constitutions, were all in arms in consequence of the dreadful exactions and cruelty of the Turks, and the latter had brought over large bodies of Asiatics to complete their destruction. The Sfakiotes, a hardy race, whose position in the hills had hitherto saved them in a great measure from the tyranny of the Ottomans, defeated them in an action at Soulo, near Canea, upon which the Turks massacred all the Christians in July 3. Candia, and seven hundred more in other towns in the island. All the bishops perished. The Sfakiotes, however, were not discouraged, but made several incursions into the plains, from whence they returned laden with the spoils of their oppressors to their mountains. Upon this, the Turks brought over ten thousand Asiatic janizaries, who penetrated into their fastnesses, and stormed Therissow, their principal Aug. 3. stronghold, laying waste every thing with fire and sword; but want of provisions soon obliged them to retire, and the Sfakiotes again resumed their incursions. The revolt upon this spread universally over the island, and the Turks were obliged to take refuge in Canea, where, toward the end 2 Gordon, i. of autumn, they suffered severe- 301, 309: ly from dysentery and other dis- Ann. Hist. eases. 2 iv. 429, 431. 48. While the southern parts of the Ottoman dominions were thus the theatre of a frightful civil war, and the Turks, War with after many vicissitudes of fortune, Persia. were losing their hold of the richest and finest part of their territory, they were threatened with external danger both in the east and north scarcely less alarming. The Persians deeming a rupture between Russia and the Porte inevitable, and probably secretly instigated by the agents of the Czar, declared war against Aug. 3. Turkey in the beginning of August, and immediately invaded the pachalic of Bagdad with thirty thousand men. Although no great success attended their arms, yet it operated as an important diversion in favor of the Greeks, as it obliged the Sultan to employ an equal iv. 426, 428. sia. 49. 51. force in defense of his eastern dominions. Af- | departure with his whole suite. The conditions fairs also had become so threatening with Rus- exacted by Russia did not consist in any cession sia that an immediate rupture seemed inevit- of fortresses or provinces, but in reparation able, and the Turkish dominions, threatened for the insults offered to the Greek religion, alike in the south, the north, and expiation for the murder of its Patriarch, and 1 An. Hist. the east, seemed doomed to destruc- the adoption of a more humane system of wartion.1 fare in the contest with its Christian subjects.* Notwithstanding the determination of the If these terms were not acceded to within the Emperor Alexander to abstain from prescribed time, the Porte was openly menaced Angry ne- all interference with the Greek insur- with the utmost hostility of Russia, and the gotiations rection, it was inevitable that during support of the Greeks by the forces of entire with Rus- the progress of the contest various Christendom. No answer was returned by the points of dispute should arise between Divan to this menacing communication, and the two powers at St. Petersburg and Constan- the eight days allowed having expired, tinople. They were not long, accordingly, in Baron Strogonoff applied for his passJuly 26. showing themselves. M. Danesi, the banker to ports. He was at first threatened with being the Russian embassy, was arrested early in sent to the Seven Towers, and the Asiatic June, ostensibly for a debt of 300,000 piastres hordes loudly demanded the instant adoption (£3000), but really for having furnished funds of that severity; but the entire diplomatic to the Greek insurgents; and notwithstanding body having protested against the recurrence the remonstrances of M. Strogonoff, the Russian to that barbarous usage, the passports demandembassador, who reclaimed him as forming part ed were delivered to him, and he set sail, with of the embassy, sentenced to be beheaded, all his suite, and several Greek fami- 1 An. Hist. April 3. from which he only escaped by going into lies who had taken refuge in the Rus- iv. 413,415; exile. Hardly was this subject of discord ap-sian embassy, for Odessa on the last Gordon, i. peased when another and more serious one day of July. arose, in consequence of the Porte having issued an order that all neutral vessels passing the Dardanelles should be searched, and prohibiting the exportation of grain through the canal of the Bosphorus. These orders were vehemently opposed by the Russian minister, as interfering with the rights of the Russian merchants in the Black Sea; and as strongly maintained by the Sultan, as necessary to prevent succors being conveyed to the Greeks under the Russian flag, and within the acknowledged rights of a belligerent power. The execution of the Patriarch, and the frightful massacres in Constantinople and other chief towns of the empire, were next made the subject of well-founded complaints on the part of the Russian embassador, to which the Divan replied by remonstrances founded on the asylum afforded at Odessa to the Greeks who had escaped from them, and the right of every government to repress rebellion among its subjects by every means in its power. M. Strogonoff next protested against the entry of the Turkish forces into the principalities, which was entirely disregarded; de-velées sur le champ, et mises en état de servir à leur sainte clared that, as long as the Turkish government destination; que S. II., en rendant à la religion chrétienne ses prérogatives, en lui accordant la même protection que continued, the Russians would never refuse an par le passé, en lui garantissant son inviolabilite à l'avenir, asylum to any Greek who might demand it; s'efforce de consoler l'Europe du supplice du Patriarche and that, if the system of violence continued, de Constantinople, et des profanations qui ont suivi sa mort; qu'une sage et équitable distinction s'établisse he would break off all diplomatic intercourse entre les auteurs des troubles, les hommes qui y prenaient with the Porte. To all these remonstrances part, et ceux que leur innocence doit mettre à l'abri de la the answer constantly made was, that no for- sévérité du Divan; qu'a cet effet, on ouvre un avenir de eign power had a right to interfere between paix et de tranquillité aux Grecs qui seront restes soumis, ou qui se soumettront, dans un délai donné ; et qu'en the Turkish government and its tout état des choses, on se ménage les moyens de distiniv. 394, 397; own subjects, and that the insur-guer les innocens des coupables. Que si le GouverneGordon, i. rection could be subdued in no other 195, 197. way.2 2 An. Hist. These angry recriminations continued through the whole of May and June; and at length, in the middle of July, matters came to such a point that its refusal by M. Strogonoff shut himself up in 50. Russian ultimatum, and 193, 199. After the Russian embassador had taken his departure, the Sublime Porte dispatched a messenger to St. Peters- Ultimatum of burg with an answer to the Czar's the Turks. ultimatum, which was ante-dated July 31. 26th July, the last day assigned for its reception. In this state paper, which was very ably drawn, the Sultan, without disputing the truth of the charges made against him-which, in truth, were so notorious that they could not be denied contented himself with throwing the destruction of the churches on the violence of the dregs of the people, who had been excited to madness by the Greek insurrection, justified the execution of the Patriarch by the alleged discovery of letters which implicated him in the insurrection in the Morea, vindicated the entry of the Ottoman troops into the principalities by the obvious necessity of extinguishing a dangerous rebellion, and the general arming of the Mussulmans by the threatening * "Que les églises détruites ou pillées soient renou constitue en état d'hostilité ouverte contre le monde ment Ture témoignait, contre toute attente, que c'est par suite d'un plan librement arrêté, qu'il prend des mesures touchant lesquelles le Soussigné lui a déjà exposé l'opinion de son Auguste Maitre, il ne resterait à l'Empereur qu'a déclarer, dès à présent, à la Sublime Porte qu'elle se chrétien, qu'elle légitime la défense des Grees, qui déslors combattraient uniquement pour se soustraire à une perte inevitable; et que, vu le caractére de leur lutte, la his palace at Buysekdere, and de-Russie se trouverait dans la stricte obligation de leur offrir livered the ultimatum of the Russian government to the Porte, which was required to be accepted unconditionally within eight days, failing which he was to take his the Divan. July 18. asile parce qu'ils seraient persécutés; protection, parce qu'elle en aurait le droit; assistance, conjointement avec toute la Chrétienté, parce qu'elle ne pourrait pas livrer ses frères de religion à la merci d'un aveugle fanatisme." Note de M. le Baron STROGONOFF, July 18, 1821. Annuaire Historique, iv. 413, 414. 52. Strangford, the English minister, to avert a rupture. Constanti Dec. 2. and undeniable danger of the Ottoman empire; | pease the violence of the people as to bring 1 An. Hist. finally, the note stated that orders back the Divan to sentiments of mod- 53. iv. 413,416; had been given for reconstructing eration; and the fermentation was Alarmning Réponse à the churches which had been de- such at Constantinople, all the au- state of la Note de molished, and promising, on the tumn and winter, that a general masM. Strogonople, and noff, July Greek refugees being delivered up, sacre was hourly expected. Bands efforts of 26 1821; to execute rigorously and faithfully of Asiatics, worked up to the last the embasIbid., iv. the whole treaties with the cabinet point of religious fanaticism and sadors. 656, 659. of St. Petersburg.1* savage fury, were continually travAccording to the known usages of European ersing the streets, singing exciting songs, and diplomacy, the departure of the calling on the janizaries to rise and complete the Efforts of Lord Russian embassador from Constan- destruction of the infidels. To such a pitch did tinople was tantamount to a dec- the disorders arise that the janizaries openly delaration of war between the two manded the head of the new favorite, Halalpowers; and consternation was Effendi, who was thought to be too much inuniversal among the Christian in-clined to moderate measures, and even of Abdulhabitants that this would lead to a general Ahmed, the son of the Sultan, and sole heir of massacre of them, as it had done at Smyrna, the empire. The popular fury was only apSalonica, and several other places. In effect, it peased by the daily sight of a number of Chriswas very near occurring, for the Asiatic troops, tians hung in the streets, and a long row of as soon as the departure of the Russian embassy heads displayed every morning at the gates of was known, began to parade the streets, and the Seraglio. At length Lord Strangford precall on the people to rise and exterminate the vailed on the Divan to abate somewhat of their Christians without mercy or distinction. Mul- unbending attitude, and open the door, if not titudes, apprehending instant death, took refuge to accommodation, at least to renewed negoin the hotels of the embassadors of the neutral tiations, by an ultimatum on their part, in powers; and fortunately the English embassa- which they consented to adjourn the demand dor, Lord Strangford, enjoyed at that period for the surrender of the refugees, but refusing the highest consideration with the Porte, and to withdraw their troops from the 1 Ann. Hist. employed his great influence and abilities to principalities till the rebellion was iv. 434, 436; avert a rupture, and bring the Divan back to entirely put down, and then to main- Note de la sentiments of moderation, and a just apprecia-tain such troops in them as might be 2, 1821; tion of the difficulties with which they were deemed necessary to maintain their Ann. Hist. surrounded. In this praiseworthy attempt he tranquillity.' was cordially seconded by the ministers of France and Austria, and at length, by their 2 Ann. Hist. Strangford, December 2, 1821 Ibid., iv, 663. It was not so easy a matter, however, to ap Porte, Dec. iv. 663. of Greece. The commencement of the year 1822 was signalized by an event of no ordinary 54. united efforts, a decree was obtain-importance in this contest: the for- Formation ed from the Porte commuting the mation of a regular government, and of a constipunishment of Danesi into exile, the proclamation of national inde- tution, and proclamataking off the embargo which had pendence in Greece. During the tion of inbeen laid on Russian vessels, and month of November preceding, a dependence promising an amnesty to such of congress of chiefs and deputies asthe Greeks as should submit within sembled from all parts of Greece in Argos, a short period.' which afterward transferred its sittings to Epidaurus, and there a constitution was drawn up, and the national INDEPENDENCE PROCLAIMED. The act proclaiming it, signed by sixty-seven members of the congress, is remarkable as containing a forcible and not exaggerated statement of the dreadful nature of the oppression under which the nation had labored, the reasons which had induced or rather compelled them to take up arms, and the grand object of national independence for which they contended-very different from the democratie dreams which at the same time were agitating the states of western Europe. The constitu * “Que tous les individus punis à la suite de l'insurrection, et surtout le Patriarche Grec et autres prelats, n'avaient subi que la peine qu'ils avaient méritée d'apres le droit que tout Gouvernement a de faire arrêter et punir sans misericorde, sans distinction de religion ou de condition, de pareils malfaiteurs, afin de maintenir le bon ordre dans ses états et parmi le peuple. "Que les insultes faites à quelques Eglises Grecques n'étaient que des désordres commis par des réprouvés de la lie du peuple. "Que l'adoption de la vie des camps au lieu de celle des villes, et l'armement général de la Nation Mussulmane, n'étaient que des mesures indispensables pour le maintien du bon ordre intérieur, et ne regardait en rien les puissances amies ni les divers classes des Rayahs non coupables. "Que les instructions données au commandant des troupes envoyées par la Porte en Valachie et Moldavie n'avaient d'autre but que de réduire les rebelles et d'en purger les provinces, dont on ne voulait ni changer l'ordre ni abolir les privileges. "Qu'aussitôt que la tranquillité aurait été rétablie, que le ci-devant Prince de Moldavie, Michel Suzzo, et ses adhérens, qui se sont évadés avec lui, ainsi que ceux des scélérats qui auront pu s'enfuir sur le territoire Russe ou Autrichien, auraient été remis au Gouvernement Turc, ou bien publiquement punis sur les lieux mêmes où ils ont été saisis, la Sublime Porte procéderait immédiatement à Finstallation des Hospodars, et mettrait le plus grand soin å faire observer les anciennes conventions et à maintenir les privilèges des deux provinces comme dans le passé." -Réponse du Divan à l'Ultimatum de M. le Baron STROGONOFF, July 26, 1821. Annuaire Historique, iv. 656, 660, Appendix. * La Nation Grècque prend le ciel et la terre à témoin que, malgré le joug affreux des Ottomans, qui la menaçait de son dépérissement, elle existe encore. Pressée par les mesures aussi iniques que destructives, que ces tyrans féroces, après avoir violé leurs capitulations ainsi que tout esprit d'équité, rendaient de plus en plus oppressives, et qui ne tendaient à rien moins qu'à l'anéantissement entier du peuple soumis, elle s'était trouvée dans la nécessité absolue de courir aux armes, pour mettre à l'abri sa propre conservation. Après avoir repousse la violence par le seul courage de ses enfans, elle déclare aujourd'hui devant Dieu et devant les hommes, par l'organe de ses représentans légitimes, réunis dans ce congrès national convoqué par le peuple, son Indépendance Politique. "Loin d'être fondée sur des principes de démagogie et de rébellion, loin d'avoir pour motifs les intérêts partículiers de quelques individus, cette guerre est une guerre nationale et sacrée; elle n'a pour but que la restauration de la nation et sa réintégration dans les droits de pro Jan. 3. the violence and caprice of that savage barba- tion proclaimed-which, in default of heirs of the old Byzantine emperors, was perhaps the only one which could at that period be adopted -was very similar to that of the Directory which for a few years governed France: civil and religious liberty, security to person and property, equal eligibility to office, the independence of the judicial body, were duly provided for. The supreme legislative power was vested in a senate elected by the people, conjointly with an executive council appointed by the senate. This council, in whom the entire direction of affairs was vested, consisted of five members; it declared peace and war, and was invested with the supreme direction of affairs; but its members were elected only for a year, and were amenable to the senate for misconduct in duty. Prince Mavrocordato was unanimously elected the first president: the council immediately entered upon the discharge 182221, of its duties; and the congress, having accomplished its task of forming a constitution, declared itself dissolved. The seat of government was soon after transferred to Corinth, the citadel of which had just capitulated. It is easy to see the ideas of the French Revolution here germinating in the minds of a nation struggling for existence: and certainly its authors seem to have been thinking more of Alarmed at the prospect of what the despair the rights of man than of averting the sabres of so indomitable a chieftain might of the Osmanlis. Yet it is impossible to with- suggest, and desirous at all hazards Perfidious hold a tribute of admiration from the brave of securing his head as an ornament seizure and men who, when their chief fortresses were still for the Seraglio, Chourchid Pacha death of Ali in the hands of the enemy, still reeking with had recourse to perfidy; and, strange Feb. 1. the blood of their best and bravest citizens, to say, the old deceiver became the and when Mohammedan fanaticism was roused victim of his own arts. He held out the prosto the highest pitch for their destruction, ven- pect of a favorable capitulation, in virtue of tured, with the resources of seven which Ali was to enjoy his treasures, his harem, iv. 328, 329; hundred thousand men, to throw and the title of Vizier, with a suitable command Constitution down the gauntlet to a power pos-in Asia Minor during his life. He stipulated, de la Grèce; sessing thirty millions, and before Ibid., iv. 675, which all Christendom had so often 1 Ann. Hist. 679. 55. Capitula Pacha. trembled.1 359, 362; iv. 330, 331. 56. Pacha. The however, in return for so many concessions, that Ali should remove himself from his impregnable tower into an island on the lake, where a pleasThe Christian cause, thus irrevocably en- ure-house had been constructed, there to await gaged, sustained, however, a grievous the firman containing the pardon of the Sultan, blow in the early part of this year and the entire restoration to his favor. tion of Ali by the destruction of Ali Pacha, old pacha fell into the snare: the lion forgot who, although still a Mohammedan, the fox. He not only removed with his young and distrusted alike by the Greeks and Souli- and ardently-loved wife, and a few intrepid otes, had hitherto operated as a most important Albanians, who were resolved to share his fate, diversion, by retaining so large a portion of the to the island, but he was, though with some Ottoman forces round his wave-encircled walls.difficulty, prevailed on to deliver to the officers Notwithstanding the courage and energy of the of Chourchid Pacha a signet ring, the wellveteran pacha, who boasted in his inaccessible known token which enjoined implicit obedience fortress in the lake that his enemies would find on all his servants. Armed with this instru"that the bear of Pindus was still alive," his ment, the Turks instantly rowed across the resources were daily declining. For more than lake, ascended the tower, showed the ring to three months he had been closely blockaded. the faithful guardian of the magazine and treasProvisions were beginning to fail, and the gar-ures, who stood at the door with a lighted rison, worn out with the toil of incessant watch-match in his hand. The slave bowed with reing, and destitute of hope, had lent a willing spect before the talisman, and extinguished the ear to the offers of Chourchid Pacha, who torch. He was instantly dispatched by repeatpromised them a large share of the treasures of the pacha, in the event of their delivering up the stronghold to him. This treachery was rendered the more easy from the defection of Ali's chief engineer, Caretto, who, alienated by priété, d'homme, et de vie, droits qui sont le partage des peuples policés nos voisins, mais qui étaient arrachés aux Grecs par une puissance spoliatrice."-Déclaration d'Indépendance, Epidaure, Jan. 27, 1822. Annuaire Historique, iv. 679, Appendix, ed strokes of the poniard, and the perfidious assassins, rowing back to Ali's island, presented to him the fatal firman, which, instead of the promised pardon, contained the order for his immediate death. As soon as he saw it, Ali exclaimed, "Stop! what are you bringing me?" "The order of the Sultan," replied Hassan the officer; "he demands your head. Submit to the order of the Sultan; obey the decree of fate; pray to Allah; make your ablutions." |