“Since your intelligence with regard to the Greek loan, P. Mavrocordato has shown to me an extract from some correspondence of his, by which it would appear that three commissioners are to be named to see that the amount is placed in proper hands for the service of the country, and that my name is amongst the number. Of this, however, we have as yet only the report.
“This commission is apparently named by the Committee or the contracting parties in England. I am of opinion that such a commission will be necessary, but the office will be both delicate and difficult. The weather, which has lately been equinoctial, has flooded the country, and will probably retard our proceeding to Salona for some days, till the road becomes more practicable.
“You were already apprized that P. Mavrocordato and myself had been invited to a conference by Ulysses and the Chiefs of Eastern Greece. I hear (and am
indeed consulted on the subject) that in case the remittance of the first advance of the
Loan should not arrive immediately, the Greek General Government mean to try to raise
some thousand dollars in the islands in the interim, to be repaid from the earliest
instalments on their arrival. What prospect of success they may have, or on what
conditions, you can tell better than me: I suppose, if the Loan be confirmed, something
might be done by them, but subject of course to the usual terms. You can let them and me
know your opinion. There is an imperious necessity for some national fund, and that
speedily, otherwise what is to be done? The auxiliary corps of about two hundred men
paid by me, are, I believe, the sole regularly and properly furnished with the money,
due to them weekly, and the officers monthly. It is true that the Greek Government gives
their rations, but we have had three mutinies, owing to the badness of the bread, which
neither native nor stranger could masticate (nor dogs either),
| 754 | NOTICES OF THE | A. D. 1824. |
“There is a dissension among the Germans about the conduct of the agents of their Committee, and an examination amongst themselves instituted. What the result may be cannot be anticipated, except that it will end in a row, of course, as usual.
“The English are all very amicable as far as I know; we get on too with the Greeks very tolerably, always making allowance for circumstances; and we have no quarrels with the foreigners.”
