PREFACE. WHEN the Greek committee was formed in London, in 1823, one of its first objects was to send into Greece medical men, of which a deficiency had been severely felt during the campaign of the preceding year, when great numbers of sick and wounded perished from want of timely assistance. Informed of this object, the writer of these Memoirs (who had just terminated his studies) inscribed his name among those of other candidates for so honourable an appointment; anxious to engage in a career so congenial to the feelings of all the friends of liberty, and so adapted to his professional views. Having the honour to be recommended by William Smith, Esq. Member for Norwich, he had the satisfaction of having his proposals accepted by the Committee. Letters of recommendation were, in consequence, delivered to him by the secretary of the Committee; one of which was addressed to the Greek government, the other to Lord Byron. At the same time the Philanthropic Society of Friends supplied him with the requisite medicines and surgical instruments. On the 27th of August, 1823, the author embarked on board the Hope, bound to Corfu, in company of two Prussian officers of cavalry and artillery, and two Philhellene volunteers, one English, the other Saxon; sent also by the Greek Committee. It is here proper to state, that these Memoirs would have been published some time since; had not the Author been restrained by a consideration, that their publicity might have prejudiced the Greek cause; and that at a time, when Greece was in a situation of great danger. These considerations happily exist no longer; and Greece, free and independent, has to rely in future on her own exertions, rather than on the assistance of foreign nations. So many accounts have been published of Greek affairs, that the present attempt may appear somewhat presumptuous: but peculiar circumstances having placed the author in a situation, where he enjoyed opportunities of acquiring information, of which others were deprived, he has been induced to offer these pages to the public in the hope, that they may be found to. contain some matter, which may be not only useful in the present day; but decidedly so to the future historian. The author has been impelled, also, by a desire of giving a decided and official negative |