CHAPTER XVI.

Grief of all parties at Lord Byron's death-Intrigues of Odysseus -Opinions of the people respecting a form of governmentIntrigues for a share of the loan-Account of Mr. Trelawney.

THE most dreadful public calamity could not have spread more general consternation, or more profound and sincere grief among the Mesolonghiots, than the unexpected news of Lord Byron's death. During the few months he had lived among them, he had given so many proofs of the sincerity and extent of his zeal for the advancement of their best interests; he had, with so much generosity, sacrificed considerable sums to that purpose; he had relieved the distress of so many unfortunate persons, that every one looked upon him as a father and public benefactor. These titles were not, as they mostly are, the incense of adulation, but the spontaneous tribute of overflowing gratitude. He had succeeded in inspiring the soldiers with the brightest and most sanguine expectations. Full of confidence in a chief they loved, they would have followed him in the boldest enterprises. To-day they must follow the corpse of him, whom they received but yesterday with the liveliest acclamations. The inhabitants of the surrounding country had flocked to Mesolonghi to celebrate the feasts of Easter; but these days of rejoicing were changed into days of unaffected mourning. On the 22d the burial ceremony was performed with all possible pomp. But the heartfelt tears of an entire population were its finest ornament. Tricoupi pronounced on the occasion a funeral oration, which did

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him credit as a patriot and orator. On the 2d of May, the body was embarked for Zante. Hatajè and her mother left Mesolonghi by the same vessel. When in the lazaret, it was explained to them, that they might choose to go either to Patras where Hussein Aga was, or to England. They naturally accepted the former proposal. "I thought you slaves," said the father in embracing them," and lo! you return to me decked like brides."

On the 23d of April Mr. E. Trelawney arrived at Mesolonghi. Scarcely had he been informed by Mr. Finlay of Lord Byron's indisposition, than he left Salona, and hastened to visit his friend. But he arrived only to imprint a last kiss on his pallid lips. He was bearer of several despatches from his hero and friend Odysseus; by which his lordship was entreated not to disappoint the hopes of the capitani and primates, assembled at Salona, but to come immediately to assist them by his counsels. So great indeed was his impatience to have an interview with him, that he had, for some weeks previous, used every means to induce him to quit Mesolonghi and notwithstanding Mavrocordato's endeavours to dissuade him, he would assuredly have undertaken the journey, had he not been prevented by the inclemency of the season, the affair of Caraiscachi, and lastly by his illness.

Negris and Sophanopoulo, the most intriguing and unprincipled men in existence, had imagined this assembly. It required no more to place Mavrocordato on his guard. He could easily foresee, that the man, who, once secretary of state, was, on account of his utter unworthiness, turned out of his situation, and had embraced Colocotrone's and afterwards Odysseus' party, teaching them the means of subverting the constitution, which he himself had been instrumental

in forming, could mean no good in convoking to a congress capitani, who were the professed enemies of the established government. The taking into consideration the existing states of things, cementing a more intimate union between Eastern and Western Greece, and devising a general plan of defence for the ensuing campaign-these were the ostensible motives of the congress. But the real aim of Negris and Odysseus was to draw Lord Byron over to their side. They had construed the momentary coolness between Lord Byron and Mavrocordato into enmity: -forgetting that, even if an enmity had arisen between them, it would be only personal, and therefore in no way influence their political principles, which were unalterably devoted to the support of government. Trusting to his lordship's dislike to Mesolonghi and the governor-general, they hoped they could easily prevail upon him to remove to Athens; a spot which, compared to the former, is a paradise; and which former recollections could not but render peculiarly attractive to Lord Byron. In order to mislead his judgment, Odysseus had been taught to perform a liberal part; and with such a prompter as Negris, played it so well, that he completely imposed on Lord Byron, and every Englishman then at Athens.

Among the many erroneous observations, made by various writers, none is more palpable, than that the mass of the Greek population was averse to a king. As to their pretended attachment to a republican form of government, the assumption is not only gratuitous, but absurd. Throwing off the Turkish yoke was the only object, the common people had in view in taking up arms. Their ignorance and depravity did not permit them to see an inch further. How could they then appreciate the blessings of civil

liberty? and admire a form of government unknown to them? Thanks to the abuses of their military chiefs! it never existed but on paper.

Weary of the numberless vexations of an undisciplined soldiery, and of the complete anarchy, in which they lived, the common people sighed after a deliverer, who they thought could only be a king. So great indeed was their misery, that to better their condition they would gladly have submitted not only to the monarchical, but to any other form of government, except that of their own countrymen or the Turkish. How often has the question been put to me-" Will not the European powers send us a king to govern us? will not the English take us under their protection? Slaves we were under the Turks, but are we not equally so under our capitani and primates? We may change them; but will not their successors practise the same extortions, and endeavour to enrich themselves at our expense? Who but a foreigner can terminate the evils, arising from our discords?"

The only persons to whom the idea of a king was obnoxious were those petty tyrants and their followers, who felt that their destruction would be the first step taken towards the establishment of good order. These hoped to perpetuate the reign of confusion; that, undisturbed, they might continue to suck the blood and substance of the country.

The motive, which rendered Odysseus so very anxious to engage Lord Byron's friendship, was the information which had reached him, that the Greek Loan, which had been negotiated in London, would shortly be in Greece, and that his lordship had been appointed chief commissioner for its partition and employment. He readily foresaw, that were Lord Byron to place it entirely in the hands of the government,

it would be instantly employed to crush the rebellious capitani, and consequently it would be employed in the first instance against himself. Before that decisive moment arrived, he flattered himself, that he might succeed in detaching Lord Byron from the government party to which he had hitherto adhered, and avert the impending storm. If he failed in obtaining so complete a triumph, he was still confident that he could at least so far impose upon Lord Byron, as to find in him a mediator to reconcile him with a government he dared no longer oppose, and thus be admitted to a share in the golden fleece.

Lord Byron was a man not to be imposed upon by appearances. He judged the tree by the fruit it bore; he estimated Odysseus therefore at his just value. But had Odysseus been of a less objectionable character, nothing could have induced Lord Byron to deviate from the line of conduct, which he had traced out to himself; for it was the result of mature consideration. To gain the esteem and confidence of all parties as much as possible, appeared to him necessary for the execution of his plans. Accordingly, he accepted the invitation of Odysseus, persuaded, that, during an interview, he should be able to bring him over to the government, by virtue of the omnipotent golden talisman, intrusted to his hands. He thought it necessary to weaken, but not to destroy the power of the capitani; for he considered them essential to the defence of Greece; more especially in that desultory warfare which its topography favours so highly. The most lamentable consequence of his death, for this country, was, perhaps, in the circumstance that the Loan, which, placed under his direction, might have operated wonders, fell into the hands of narrow-minded men, who dedicated it to carrying on the civil war, rather to satisfy their petty