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Journal of a Visit to Greece

William Henry Humphreys to Gawen William Rowan Hamilton, 17 June 1825

INTRODUCTION & INDEXES

DOCUMENT INFORMATION

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Introduction

Chapter I

Chapter II

Chapter III

Chapter IV

Chapter V

Chapter VI

Chapter VII

Chapter VIII

Chapter IX

Appendix

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Produced by CATH

It appears the Greek Government have already mentioned to you the affair of the cave of Ulysses. How they have stated the affair I know not; but Captain Hamilton, who has been so long on the Mediterranean station, must be well aware, not every word from a Greek merits belief. I am now under an arrest on that account. The plea they state is groundless. They arrest me because I left the camp without leave. I did not do so. I had the permission of my general to go to the cave, when I was first informed of the atrocious attempt to assassinate Trelawney. I found him in imminent danger, from want of medical assistance. I came instantly to Napoli to procure it, without returning to the camp it is true, as going and returning would have occupied two days. I ask you, as a military man, whether, in our service, I should not have been perfectly justified in so doing: and here, where military regulations and

GREECE IN 1825.

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discipline have not an existence, it is absurd to a degree, and in the case of a native captain, would never have been thought of. The villain Fenton, the perpetrator of the act, was, some months ago, engaged by Mavrocordato to murder both Ulysses and Trelawney. I was then with Ulysses, before he joined the Turks, and Fenton at that time carried on the intrigue, under the pretence, to us (true or false) of entrapping Mavrocordato. A Mr. Jarvis, an American, now here, was Mavrocordato’s chief agent in that affair: it passed over: but the other day, Trelawney was attempted to be assassinated by this same Fenton, and immediately after, Ulysses was killed (how, Heaven knows) at Athens. I am arrested and imprisoned, among thieves and assassins, because I came for a surgeon for Trelawney. What I now demand, is either to be set at liberty, or, if they have any charge against me, to be tried. I am vexed to find myself obliged to occupy your attention on my affairs, but I should feel obliged if you would exercise your influence in my favour.