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EIGHTH AND LAST YEAR OF THE WAR. 345

of France, who by this prompt and humane act redeemed her past indifference to the fate of Greece. With respect to England, it was quite curious to see how she trembled and quaked at the effect of her own cannon, starting back like the beautiful figure of her poet, "e'en at the sound herself had made:" her protests, her commissions of inquiry, her instructions to ambassadors, her compliments to the Sublime Porte, and her vacillating policy, were worthy of that weak disjointed ministry which succeeded to the administration of the illustrious Canning: still in spite of herself she was carried forwards, struggling and plunging in vain, like the wild elephant between two tame ones; when a steadier hand took the reins of government, and conducted her through all difficulties with credit to herself, and advantage to the best interests of humanity.

In the mean time another important series of events commenced, in the war which broke out between Russia and the Porte in April 1828. This placed the crown of the Cæsars within the grasp of the Czar; but the grandson of Catherine had not resolution enough to place it on his brows. He conquered Turkey, but he sold it for a sum of money, to be wrung out of the miserable rayahs; and rivers of blood are destined again to flow, and perhaps to flow in vain. Would Catherine have done so? His victories, however, secured the recognition of Grecian independence by the Sultan, and will probably secure to the Greek people an excellent sovereign in the person of Prince Leopold. There does not seem to exist a person more eminently qualified for this important station, whether we consider his personal qualifications, or the support of foreign nations, which will attach itself to him, and which is so necessary to the welfare of a despoiled and depopulated country: neither

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is it likely that any other candidate could be found more generally agreeable to the great mass of the people; though the higher ranks and the clergy would probably prefer the Count Capo d'Istrias: indeed so eminent have been the services of this individual, that it is to be hoped, whoever may be the sovereign of Greece, his merits will not be overlooked. With respect to the people themselves, bright prospects seem to open: to open their greatest faults were the faults of slaves, trodden to the earth under the feet of bigoted and cruel masters; the whole body politic has been cast and kept down by the most barbarous system of oppression that ever existed: the incubus being removed, it will rise again erect indeed, even under Mahometan despotism, wherever a single limb was liberated, it moved vigorously, and showed that the circulation was impeded, not destroyed; witness the flourishing condition of Hydra, Spezia, Poros, and Psara, before the war of independence: witness the numerous schools which the Greeks founded wherever they could profit by the indolence of their masters; witness the funds which they instituted in foreign capitals for the advancement of civilisation; witness the free spirit of their mountaineers, and the proud defiance which they hurled at the Mahometan oppressor. Having now rights worthy of defence and privileges worthy of enjoyment, the spirit of the ancients is likely again to beam forth in the moderns, purged as they have been by the fiercest fires of war, warned by previous errors, and animated by as bright examples as any contest for liberty ever yet produced. Europe too will be a gainer instead of the sluggish apathetic Turks, who have for so many ages remained stationary upon the current of civilisation, detained by the very anchors of their faith, the prescriptions of the koran, and the im

STATE AND PROSPECTS OF GREECE.

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mutability of oriental customs, a member will be restored to the great Christian confederacy: the atrocities of Barbary pirates will be checked by a Greek marine, and the sources cut off from which they recruit their strength; a new impulse will be given to the inventions of modern ingenuity that country, which was the nurse of literature and science, will be opened to the full investigation of literary curiosity; fanaticism will be replaced by toleration, and the sword of violence by the sceptre of justice; a new population will be created, capable of enjoying the bounty of Divine Providence, and an insurmountable barrier will be erected against the encroachments of the northern power: finally, his most sacred rights will be restored to Man, and the altars of the Living God purified from profanation.

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MARCH 5th. This day we dined with Mons. Pouqueville, and learned the particulars of Ali's attack of Ajà, and his defeat by the valiant Parghiotes: nor is it very consoling now to reflect upon the sentiments of the French consul upon this subject. He seemed fully aware that Parga would eventually change French for British protection; but he exulted in the prospect of its fate, and paid those compliments to our national faith, which are particularly gratifying as the acknowledgment of a generous enemy. I recollect the almost enthusiastic fondness that he expressed for the character of the Parghiotes, with which his frequent residence among them had made him well acquainted; a character which we invariably found acknowledged by all who had similar opportunities of observing it, and which our own sojourn upon their rock tended to confirm. And for whom did British

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authorities think proper to expatriate this interesting people, and to rivet the fetters of Greece!

Next day we called upon Mouchtar Pasha, who confirmed the intelligence of the capture of Ajà, though he studiously concealed the defeat before Parga. The mention of these events turned the conversation to his own exploits at the attack of Prevesa, where he headed the charge of Albanian cavalry, and drove in the outposts. Like the generality of Arnaout warriors he boasted much of his own valour, and expressed a contemptuous opinion of the French, which they little deserved: had they possessed a single troop of cavalry, probably Mouchtar would not have lived to tell the tale; nor would Prevesa have fallen so easy a prey, had the French troops been properly supported. As we sat smoking our pipes in social converse, a secretary came to inform the pasha that a desperate leader of banditti, who had long infested the forests of Acarnania, had voluntarily surrendered himself, and desired to make the adoration (goo xvvýσs) upon condition of receiving pardon and employment. In this ceremony the criminal prostrates himself before the chief and kisses the hem of his garment, after which his life is safe, whatever may have been the crimes he has committed. Mouchtar admitted the man to the expiatory rite, but in so doing he incurred the displeasure of his father, whose vengeance against this individual was implacable. To give up the pleasure of revenge was not compatible with Ali's nature; whilst, on the other hand, to violate the customs of his country and destroy all confidence between himself and his old companions the kleftes, was thought adverse to good policy in this dilemna therefore he released the man, and gave him safe conduct to the haunts of his associates, determining to wait patiently

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