equally destitute of money and of troops. The dignified manner, however, in which the senators replied, unarmed, to the armed force, that entered the room, where they held their sittings; and the firmness, displayed by them in the midst of threats, insults and persecution, won them the public esteem and admiration. The islanders, in consequence, addressed to them a letter; in which they forcibly expressed their indignation at the conduct of those men, who, for their own sordid interests, were exposing their country to inevitable ruin; and they offered their services, at the same time, to enable the government to put an end to these acts of violence.

CHAPTER VIII.

Publication of a newspaper-Conduct of Dr. Meyer, as editorEstablishment of an hospital-Author appointed to the superintendence of it-Lord Byron sails from Zante-Danger of falling into the hands of the Turks-His escape-Lands at Mesolonghi Generous conduct of Mahmoud Capitan.

THE publication of a newspaper, which appeared at this time, produced little or no sensation on the Mesolonghiots. The greater part of the military chiefs, both in Peloponnesus and Continental Greece, could not read; and among the primates, as the event proved, few gave themselves the trouble of looking at a paper. Indeed there were not in the whole country forty Greek subscribers; and had it not been for the numerous subscriptions from the Ionian Islands and London, the printer would not have had sufficient money to pay even for his ink. If, under the circumstances of the moment, a newspaper could have been productive of advantage to the Greek public, it should have been written in a spirit very different from that, which animated the articles of the Greek Chronicle.

The first step towards the establishment of a free press, as Lord Byron justly observed, was the formation of a corps, whose only occupation should be, to act as body guard to the printing-office and editor. For in case he thought fit to expose and inveigh against the numberless and crying abuses of a powerful capitano, who should insure him against the resentment of the barbarian, or that of his friends? If Lord Byron did not approve Colonel Stanhope's opinion, it was not because his lordship was not a liberal; but because he foresaw, that not only no sort

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of advantage would accrue from it to the nation at large, but that it would become a firebrand of discord at home, and increase the number of enemies abroad. Had the colonel made more use of his reflection, would he not have perceived how injudicious it was, at a moment when many of the powers were looking on the Greek revolution with jealousy and suspicion, to incite the editor to comment boldly, not only on their hostile dispositions towards Greece, but to declaim against their internal tyrannical administration? So completely heedless of the consequences was Dr. Meyer, that he published in the 20th number of his newspaper an address to the Hungarians, conceived in so liberal and revolutionary a language, that it could not fail to excite the animadversion of the court of Vienna, already so ill-disposed towards Greece; and induce her perhaps to take measures to hasten the ruin of her rising liberties. Lord Byron felt himself in duty bound to destroy every copy of that number, and obliged the editor solemnly to promise the government, that he would abstain from any critical observations on the political conduct of European cabinets.

The proposals for the construction of proper roads for the sake of facilitating the communication of ideas, trade, and personal intercourse, surprised the military chiefs not a little. The improvement of roads would facilitate invasions, by opening a passage for the enemy's cavalry, provisions, heavy artillery, &c. &c.; while their present state offered no hinderance to the light armed Greek, who, even during the longest march, unincumbered by baggage, climbs the steepest ascents with almost as much ease as he walks along the plain. In fact not a single achievement of any note has taken place since the beginning of the Greek revolution, that did not owe its success chiefly to the

difficulties of the roads, fords or passes, which are the elements, as it were, of guerilla warfare.

On

When the establishment of an hospital was proposed to Mavrocordato, to the primates of Mesolonghi, and the capitani, they unanimously concurred in saying, that nothing was more necessary; and that it would be accompanied by inexpressible advantages to their countrymen. In no part of Greece was the necessity of a similar institution more lamentably felt. During every invasion, when its fortifications afforded shelter to the weaker part of the population of Western Greece, the concourse of so many human beings, the insalubrious air, and the privations endured, constantly brought on a multitude of complaints; more especially from the mountaineers, who either languished or perished for want of medical attendance. More than once have I witnessed the heartrending scene of strangers dying, unheeded, in the open streets of the town they had come to defend. hearing that the London Greek Committee and the Society of Friends had sent, at their own expense, medicines, instruments and medical men, the Greeks expressed their gratitude in the warmest terms. But when after these preliminaries the colonel added, to the primates of Mesolonghi, that he expected they would have no difficulty in allotting one of the Turkish houses for the reception of the sick, furnish it with beds, linen, &c., and allow a certain sum for the maintenance of patients, servants and convalescents; a most striking change took place in their physiognomy; and, after many protestations of utter poverty, unequalled by those of the most eloquent mendicant, they declared themselves unable to complete that charitable work. It certainly required no small share of barefacedness to make such assertions before individuals, who all the while admired the beauty of

their dress and their glittering arms; and who knew, that the sequins, covering the féri and adorning the tresses of one of their wives, or the doubloons which, linked together, formed a triangular breast-plate, would suffice to defray those trifling expenses for many years. The proposal made to them of selling one of the numerous Turkish properties, and appropriating the money to the desired purpose, was declared impracticable; and after repeated procrastination, they ended by a long litany of difficulties, complaints and fanciful stories, capable of disheartening the warmest philanthropist.

Obliged for the moment to give up every hope of inducing the Greeks to contribute to the establishment of an hospital, but anxious to enter immediately into the performance of my medical duties, I mentioned to Colonel Stanhope, that nothing could be now done for the relief of the indigent sick and soldier, than to establish a dispensary on a footing, similar to those in England. Having obtained his permission, I caused the following notice to be printed, and circulated through the town.

66 NOTICE.

"A public dispensary will be opened at Mesolonghi on the 10th of January, under the superintendence of Mr. J. Millingen.

"The chief object of this institution is to give medical advice and medicines, gratis, to the poor and soldiers. Every one else may, however, receive medicines and apply for advice, by paying a moderate consideration.

"In order to prevent abuses, the soldiers are expected to bring a certificate from their capitano; and the poor, one, undersigned by a magistrate.

"The indigent sick, who are confined to their beds,