56 | LORD BYRON’S |
Arrival of Colonel Stanhope—The Pacha of Scutari retires from the siege of Anatolico—Dissensions amongst the Greeks of the Morea—Lord Byron addresses a public letter to the legislative body, and a private letter to Prince Mavrocordato—Arrival of the Greek fleet and of Mavrocordato—Lord Byron sends a message to the Prince—Arrival of two Greek vessels off the harbour of Argostoli, with letters from the Prince and the Greek government to Lord Byron—Lord Byron embarks, and sails from Cephalonia—Arrives at Zante—Sails for Missolonghi—Is separated from Count Gamba—The latter, with part of Lord Byron’s household, taken by a Turkish frigate, and conveyed to the Castle of the Morea—His release and arrival at Missolonghi, where Lord Byron also arrives—His joyful reception—Account of his dangerous voyage there—Departure of the Hydriote fleet—State of Greece—Lord Byron’s political conduct in that country—His intended enterprise against Lepanto—He takes five hundred Suliotes into his pay—Forms an artillery brigade—Establishes a Greek newspaper.
About this same time, the middle of November, the
Honourable Colonel L. Stan-
LAST JOURNEY TO GREECE | 57 |
News from Greece now informed us that the Pacha of
Scutari had abandoned Anatolico, and that the Turkish army had fled
precipitately; whether through fear of the approaching winter, through want of provisions,
or on account of divisions amongst the commanders, was not known: the first and the latter
conjectures were the most probable. From the Morea, we heard that the legislative body had
de-
58 | LORD BYRON’S |
As Lord Byron had been declared the
representative of the English and German committees, or, more properly speaking, of all
Europeans interested in the Greek cause, it was judged proper that he should address a
public letter to the general government of Greece, demonstrating how
LAST JOURNEY TO GREECE | 59 |
I here give an extract from a letter from Lord Byron to the executive and legislative bodies of the Greek nation:
“The affair of the loan, the expectation so long and
vainly indulged of the arrival of the Greek fleet, and the danger to which
Missolonghi is still exposed, have detained me here, and will still detain me
till some of them are removed. But when the money shall be advanced for the
fleet, I will start for the Morea, not
60 | LORD BYRON’S |
“And allow me to add once for all—I desire the
well-being of Greece, and nothing else; I will do all I can to secure it; but I
cannot consent, I never will consent that the English public, or English
individuals, should be deceived as to the real state of Greek affairs. The
rest, gentlemen, depends on you: you have fought gloriously; act honourably
towards your fellow-citizens and towards the world; then it will no more be
said, as it has been said for two thousand years, with the Roman historian,
that Philopœmen was the last of the
Grecians. Let not calumny itself (and it is difficult, I own, to guard against
it in so arduous a struggle) compare the patriot Greek, when resting from his
LAST JOURNEY TO GREECE | 61 |
“I pray you to accept these my sentiments as a sincere proof of my attachment to your real interests; and to believe that I am, and always shall be,
On the same occasion, Lord Byron wrote to Prince Mavrocordato a letter in Italian, which he consigned to the care of Colonel Stanhope:
“La presente sarà recapitata a V. A. dall’ onorévole Colonello Stanhope, figlio del Maggior-Generale Conte di Arrington, &c. Egli è arrivato da Londra in cinquanta giorni, dopo aver visitato tutti i comitati di Germania, ed è incaricato al nostro comitato ad operare in mia compagnia alla liberazione della Grecia. Io credo che il suo nome e la sua missione lo raccomanderanno abastanza all’ A. V. senza che gli abbisognino altre raccomandazioni da uno straniero, quantunque sia un tale, che rispetta ed ammira con l’Europa intera il coraggio, i talenti, e sopratutto la probità del Principe Mavrocordato.
62 | LORD BYRON’S |
“Duolmi oltremodo in udire che le discordie continuino sempre in Grecia, e in un momento in cui ella protrebbe trionfare da ogni parte, come ha trionfato in alcune.
“La Grecia è posta fra tre partiti: o riconquistare la libertà, o divenire uno dipendenza dei sovrani Europei, o tornare uno provincia Turca: non ha che a sciegliere fra questi tre. Ma la guerra civile non parmi strada che agli ultimi due. Se invidia la sorte della Valachia e della Crimea, può ottenerla domani; se quella dell’ Italia, postdomani; ma se vuol diventare la vera Grecia, libera per sempre e independente, conviene che si determini oggi, o non avrà più tempo mai più.
“P. S. Vostra Altezza saprà già come io ho cercato di sodiffare alla richieste del governo Greco per quanto era nel poter mio; ma vorrei che questa flotta sì lungo tempo aspettata e sempre in vano arivasse, o almeno fosse in strada: e sopratutto che L. A. Vostra si acostasse a queste parti, o sulla flotta con missione publica, o in qualche altro modo.”
“The present will be put into your hands by Colonel
LAST JOURNEY TO GREECE | 63 |
“I am very uneasy at hearing that the dissensions of Greece still continue, and at a moment when she might triumph over every thing in general, as she has already triumphed in part. Greece is, at present, placed between three measures: either to re-conquer her liberty, to become a dependence of the sovereigns of Europe, or to return to a Turkish province. She has the choice only of these three alternatives. Civil war is but a road which leads to the two latter. If she is desirous of the fate of Walachia and the Crimea, she may obtain it to-morrow; if of that of Italy, the day after; but if she wishes to become truly Greece, free and independent, she must resolve to-day, or she will never again have the opportunity.
“P. S. Your Highness will already have known that I
have sought to fulfil the wishes of the Greek government, as much as it lay
in my power to do so: but I
64 | LORD BYRON’S |
Such were the sentiments and the wishes of Lord Byron in this important crisis.
At last the long-expected fleet arrived. Mavrocordato was aboard. Between Ithaca and Cephalonia they fell in with a
Turkish corvette from Prevesa, with a considerable sum of money and some Turks of
distinction, amongst whom was a nephew of Yussuff
himself. The money had been sent to the Pacha for the payment of sixteen months’
arrears due to the garrisons of Patras and of the other three fortresses, who had long been
loud in their complaints. The corvette, attacked by the superior forces of the Greeks,
defended itself desperately, and would not surrender. In the end, it was wrecked on the
coast
LAST JOURNEY TO GREECE | 65 |
The Greek squadron afterwards cast anchor off Missolonghi, where Mavrocordato was received with enthusiasm, in gratitude for the memorable services he had rendered the year preceding. He was intrusted with full powers to organise western Greece. The Turkish squadron of fifteen vessels, brigs, corvettes, and two large frigates, was shut up in the gulf of Lepanto.
Lord Byron immediately despatched a boat with Signior Praidi, to inform Mavrocordato that the loan requested of him by the government was ready,
and that he would either go aboard the Greek fleet, or come to Missolonghi, in order to
have a
66 | LORD BYRON’S |
The weather was unfavourable and stormy. In a few days a Speziot brig,
the Leonidas, cast anchor in the port of Argostoli, under
pretence of procuring water. The Commandant would not allow it to remain in port more than
twenty-four hours, and forbade any communication with the land. Permission was, however,
given to deliver any letters: he had none; nor was Praidi aboard. The captain informed Lord
Byron, by letter, that he was ordered by his admiral to attend his
Lordship’s orders. We were waiting for an answer by our messenger: the Leonidas continued sailing off the port; and two days afterwards we saw
from our village of Metaxata another brig, which arrived, having on board Signior
Praidi and some Greek officers, bringing letters
LAST JOURNEY TO GREECE | 67 |
It was now the 26th of December. A boat was hired for part of the baggage; a light, fast-sailing vessel, called a Mistico, for Lord Byron and his suite; and a larger vessel for the rest of the baggage, horses, &c. &c.
* Extracts from these letters are given in the Appendix. |
68 | LORD BYRON’S |
In less than twelve hours every thing was ready, and we were on board; but contrary winds detained us for two days. Lord Byron lodged with his banker, Mr. Hancock, and passed the greater part of the day in company with the English authorities of the island.
The wind becoming fair, on the 28th of December, at 3 p. m. we set sail, he in the Mistico, myself in the larger vessel. On the 29th in the morning, we were at Zante. We passed the day in transacting business with Mr. Barff, and sent on board a considerable sum of money.
The Commandant, Dr. Thomas, and others, called on Lord Byron, but he declined an invitation to the Commandant’s house.
We took our ship’s papers for Calamo, one of the smaller of the Ionian islands, near
the coast of Roumelia. Towards six in the
LAST JOURNEY TO GREECE | 69 |
We sailed together till after ten at night; the wind favourable—a
clear sky, the air fresh but not sharp.—Our sailors sang alternately patriotic songs,
monotonous indeed, but to persons in our situation extremely touching, and we took part in
them. We were all, but Lord Byron particularly, in
excellent spirits. The Mistico sailed the fastest. When the waves
divided us, and our voices could no longer reach each other, we made signals by firing
pistols and carabines—“To-morrow we meet at
Missolonghi—to-morrow.” Thus, full of con-
70 | LORD BYRON’S |
The wind freshened towards three o’clock in the morning; my captain, Spiro Valsamarchi, of Cephalonia, was afraid of sailing any further in the dark on account of the shallows.
We again proceeded at five; at half past six it was daylight, and we found
ourselves near the insulated rocks which are seen in front of the shallows of Missolonghi.
A little before us to the right, a large vessel was perceived coming slowly towards us: at
first it was thought to be one of the Greek fleet, but it was too large: we then believed
it an Imperial frigate. In outward form and appearance it was superior to a Turkish ship;
nor was it like an English nor an American. How could a Turkish vessel be alone, and there?
It veered towards
LAST JOURNEY TO GREECE | 71 |
72 | LORD BYRON’S |
LAST JOURNEY TO GREECE | 73 |
Three sails now appeared at a distance, on the side of Zante. A great shout was raised in the frigate, for the Turks took them for the Greeks, and made sail towards the Gulf, ordering us, with noise and threats, to follow. Another frigate was then descried farther off in the Gulf, and also the rest of the Turkish fleet.
Proceeding towards Patras, our captain showed himself on the poop of the
frigate, and hailed us aloud, and told us to be cheerful. We cried out, that he stood more
in need of consolation than we; but his
74 | LORD BYRON’S |
“Is it possible,” said the
Turk—“you Spiro?” He embraced the trembling Greek, took him into his cabin,
showed
LAST JOURNEY TO GREECE | 75 |
We cast anchor under Patras, about four p. m., in the midst of fourteen Turkish vessels. The captain of the frigate immediately went to the Seraskier; and, passing by, told me that, on his return, he should wish to see me.
In about an hour I went, and with me Sig.
Zambelli, his Lordship’s superintendant of the household, and three
servants. I was allowed to have two, to take care of the horses. Knowing that presents are
a good introduction, particularly to a Turk, I carried with me a telescope, and some
76 | LORD BYRON’S |
* For some additional account of this circumstance, see the notes in the Appendix. |
LAST JOURNEY TO GREECE | 77 |
78 | LORD BYRON’S |
LAST JOURNEY TO GREECE | 79 |
I immediately went to the English Consulate. Mr. Green
was at Zante, but I found his agent, Sig. Romanelli, an Ionian Greek,
who received us in a polite manner, and appeared to take up our cause with warmth. The
Pacha was then in his seraglio, but would see me the next day; and, in the mean time, I was
allowed to go on board my vessel. I asked permission to shoot along the shore, for there
was a fine line of coast. The vice-consul sent two Janissaries with me. Arriving at the
foot of a hill, my guards would not ascend, for fear of the Greeks, who were masters of the
mountains, and frequently came down to carry off the sheep. The Turks never ventured there;
for the Greeks, hiding at night in the bushes, robbed and
80 | LORD BYRON’S |
In the morning I had an interview with the Pacha, who willingly accepted
some woodcocks of me. He received me in his divan, seated, or rather lying, on a sofa,
smoking, as were likewise four or five officers, or counsellors, seated round him. After
coffee and pipes, the examination began. I answered him as I had before answered
Zachirià: I deplored the turbulent state of the country,
which made travelling, our favourite passion, so difficult. To comply with the request of
my hospitable captain, I blamed him for capturing us out of the line of blockade, and
ex-
LAST JOURNEY TO GREECE | 81 |
The Pacha seemed much pleased with the bravery of his captain, and
congratulated me on my good fortune in falling into their hands rather than into those of
the infidels. He spoke Turkish to his secretary, and the latter addressed me in Greek. He
questioned me about the corvette destroyed by the Hydriots, on the coast of Ithaca. I
related the fact to him. The corvette was his property; the money on board was to pay the
troops; and it was his nephew who had been killed. I did not perceive the slightest emotion
in his countenance. He asked me what Sir Thomas
Maitland had thought of it; and if he would not revenge so great an insult
offered to the English by those rascally pirates. I replied, that Sir
Thomas was highly incensed at the infraction of the neutrality.
82 | LORD BYRON’S |
It was now Thursday, the 1st of January, 1824, but neither that day nor the
day after did the papers come. I passed my time shooting, without any guards; nor did I
meet with any molestation. I was informed, on Saturday morning, that my papers were to be
found at the consulate. I went there at eight o’clock. The Pacha sent for the consul,
and kept him above three hours. I was not without apprehension, as letters had arrived for
the Pacha from Zante, where I knew he had many spies. I at last got them; but, the
LAST JOURNEY TO GREECE | 83 |
At noon we reached the port of Missolonghi, which is situated several miles from the town, on account of the shallows. Five Speziot brigs of war lay at anchor: they saluted us with several discharges of cannon; and I set out to Missolonghi in a Speziot boat. The wonder and joy of the whole town on seeing me safe, with all my charge, is inexpressible: but how much greater was my surprise when I heard that Lord Byron was not arrived, but was expected from Dragomestri. On the morning of the fifth, we were informed that he had passed the night aboard his vessel, in the port. At eleven, a. m. he arrived at Missolonghi.
It is here that my journal regularly begins: the first part was sunk with
my
84 | LORD BYRON’S |
I cannot easily describe the emotions which such a scene excited: I could
scarcely refrain from tears; whether moved by the
LAST JOURNEY TO GREECE | 85 |
Lord Byron had escaped from equal perils. Parting
company with us on the night of the 31st of December, his vessel came close up to the
Turkish frigate, about two in the morning. The Greeks, by the appearance of it, and the
sudden shout raised by the Turks, who took the Mistico for a
fireship, perceiving the enemy, were enabled, under favour of the night and silence, to
save themselves among the rocks of the Scrofes. They saw us taken and conducted to Patras.
Not deeming it prudent to pursue their course towards Missolonghi, they steered for Petala,
finding which port open and unsafe, they retired to
86 | LORD BYRON’S |
* A small sea-port town on the coast of Acarnania. † See the Appendix. |
LAST JOURNEY TO GREECE | 87 |
After eight days of such fatigue, he had scarcely time to refresh himself, and converse with Mavrocordato, and his friends and countrymen, before he was assailed by the tumultuous visits of the primates and chiefs. These latter, not content with
* He had not pulled off his clothes since leaving Cephalonia; had slept upon the deck, and had purposely exposed himself to privations, which he thought would harden his constitution, and enable him to bear the fatigues of a campaign. He swam for half an hour on the 1st of January. When at Dragomestri, he composed the rough sketch of a Suliote war song, which has been found amongst his papers, but is not very easy to decipher. He wrote a letter to Colonel Stanhope, which has already appeared, and is given in the Appendix. |
88 | LORD BYRON’S |
When we arrived at Missolonghi, nine Hydriot brigs, impatient or hopeless
of being paid, had already set out for their own country; and five Speziots were with
difficulty induced to remain; and, to si-
LAST JOURNEY TO GREECE | 89 |
90 | LORD BYRON’S |
Another object of Mavrocordato and his chiefs was the attack of Nepacto; which, if successful, they thought, would bring about the surrender of the castles of the Morea and Patras. Notwithstanding the retreat of the Hydriots, it was hoped that the Speziot vessels, with two fireships, would keep the Turkish squadron in check, if not drive it from the Gulf.
These efforts were, it is true, to be made not without many obstacles. The
chieftains were not all of them well inclined to Mavrocordato; the soldiers were scarcely paid, or even fed at all by the
regular government; and so great was the apprehension of disturbances, quarrels, and even
of a civil war, that without the influence of
LAST JOURNEY TO GREECE | 91 |
After the departure of the Captain Pacha from the eastern shores of Greece,
and that of the Pacha of Scutari from Missolonghi, there was no fear of their return until
the next spring. The Peloponnesus, with the exception of the castles of the Morea and of
Patras, of Modon and of Covon, was in the hands of the Greeks; so was the northern shore of
the Gulf of Lepanto, with the exception of the two castles. Bœotia and Attica were
entirely in the power of the Greeks, together with the isthmus of Corinth. But the discord
of the Greeks amongst themselves had now
92 | LORD BYRON’S |
LAST JOURNEY TO GREECE | 93 |
Such was the state of affairs when Lord Byron arrived in Greece. His situation was one of extreme delicacy and difficulty: his own dignity, and the true interest of Greece, forbade him to mix himself up with any party; and he at once perceived that if by such a conduct he could finally reconcile the factions, he would play a part the most glorious that a stranger could attempt to perform.
Intrigues and underhand practices, however political, and perhaps useful in
some degree they might have been, were contrary to the dignity of his station, and
incompatible with his high character. Now it was that we all saw the advantage derived from
his protracted residence in the Ionian Islands: there he had opportunities of knowing
others, and of becoming known himself. His influence had increased amongst all parties; and
how sel-
94 | LORD BYRON’S |
The legislative body, which was the truly national party, acquired force every day. In conjunction with all the best patriots and the friends of Greece, he directed therefore all his efforts to the establishment of the government, and to the peaceful submission of the factions. In short, he made such dispositions, as might turn to the best account the first supplies of the expected loan, and might secure the organisation of a government capable of resisting all the attacks of the enemy during the next year; and at the same time, lay the foundations of those institutions which might confirm the freedom and independence of Greece.
LAST JOURNEY TO GREECE | 95 |
This was the aim of Lord Byron; to this were directed all his actions; and in spite of obstacles and difficulties, he was on the point of accomplishing this noble project, when he sunk under the blow that proved so calamitous to Greece, to his friends, and to the world.
The winter, however, admitted only of preparations for future
enterprise—nothing could be done except by re-organising western Greece, and by
attempting the capture of Lepanto. It would be superfluous to repeat here the advantages
which would be derived from this exploit; one of the most material of which would be the
employment of an idle and expensive soldiery, and the acquirement of fresh courage and
mutual confidence. The chieftains appeared very eager to undertake this enterprise under
the orders of Lord Byron; and Mavrocordato was persuaded
96 | LORD BYRON’S |
Lord Byron, after much experience, had convinced himself
that the first want of Greece was a strong national government; but he felt that such a
government could
LAST JOURNEY TO GREECE | 97 |
98 | LORD BYRON’S |
Mr. Parry was expected every day; and it was given
out for certain, that he brought with him a supply of Congreve rockets, or, at least, the
articles for manufacturing them immediately. The most exaggerated rumours, the offspring of
Greek boasting and Turkish ignorance, increased the im-
LAST JOURNEY TO GREECE | 99 |
Whilst waiting the arrival of Mr.
Parry, we were occupied with preparing our troops in the best manner
possible for our expedition. The greater part of the Suliotes were in Missolonghi: some of
them were in the Morea. After the death of their noble chieftain, Marco Bozzari, those who had retired to Missolonghi and
Anatolico had assisted in the defence of those towns. The magistrates, their employers,
were in debt to them for eight months’ pay, and they were clamorous for their dues.
It should be told in their excuse, that being
100 | LORD BYRON’S |
LAST JOURNEY TO GREECE | 101 |
He assisted also to form a small artillery corps of fifty men, for which he and Colonel Stanhope were to provide the payment. The Colonel had already sent a messenger into the Morea, to collect the Germans from various parts of that peninsula. It was resolved also to form at once a company for the service of the artillery which was expected to arrive with Mr. Parry.
Whilst these preparations were making for the attack of Lepanto, there was
no neglect of those salutary institutions which alone could enlighten the nation as to its
dearest interests. Colonel Stanhope zealously laboured
at the formation of schools on the Lancasterian
plan; he established dispensaries for the preservation of the
102 | LORD BYRON’S |
LAST JOURNEY TO GREECE | 103 |
≪ PREV | NEXT ≫ |