CHAPTER XIV.

INSURRECTION OF THE GREEK SUBJECTS OF THE SULTAN; EXPULSION OF THE GREEKS FROM CONSTANTINOPLE; TURKISH DEFENCE OF THIS MEASURE, AND GREEK APPEAL AGAINST IT; EXCESSES OF THE INSURGENTS; INTERFERENCE OF GENERAL BARAGUAY D'HILLIERS ON BEHALF OF THE GREEK CATHOLICS, AND DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HIM AND THE PORTE; GREEK VIEW OF THE INSURRECTION; MONTENEGRO AND ITS PEOPLE; PRINCE DANIEL CALLS ON HIS SUBJECTS TO TAKE UP ARMS AGAINST THE TURKS; FRENCH AND ENGLISH FORCES OCCUPY THE PIRÆUS; SUBMISSION OF KING OTHO; DECLINE OF THE INSURRECTION.

To prevent confusion, we have carried the account of the war in the principalities and in the Baltic Sea up to the period when Bomarsund was destroyed, without noticing the progress of the insurrection among the Greek subjects of the sultan, and the war in Asia. We must now retrace our steps, and resume these interesting narrations from the points at which we left them. And first, of the insurrection of the Greeks in the Turkish provinces of Albania, Macedonia, and Thessaly, to which we shall devote this chapter. By referring to the sixth chapter of this work, from page 73 to page 77, the reader will see the opening of the subject to which we now return.

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After diplomatic relations had been broken off between Greece and Turkey, the Porte decided on a natural but extremely rigorous measure. It determined on the expulsion from Constantinople, within fifteen days, of all Greek subjects who would not place themselves under its exclusive protection. This measure was carried out with great severity, and every steamer that left Constantinople for Syra was so crowded with Greeks, that it was impossible for them to walk the decks. Many-indeed, most of them-were, by this act of banishment, reduced to the depths of poverty, and would have to be placed on shore at the Piraeus both destitute and friendless. Turks also felt the inconvenience of the measure. More than thirty medical menthe most skilful in the capital of the sultan

The

took their departure; and many shops in Pera were shut up in consequence of the expulsion of their owners.

We have there shown, that the Greek subjects of the Porte, instigated by Russian agents and Russian gold, had chosen the moment of Turkey's danger to cast off her yoke and gratify their long-cherished hatred against her government and religion: that King Otho and the independent Greeks had Redschid Pasha, the Turkish minister of at first secretly, and afterwards openly, foreign affairs, in forwarding to the Greek fomented the insurrection,-which pro- ambassador his passports, sent also a letter, ceeded, in reality, rather from Athens than justifying the conduct of the Porte in exfrom the Christian inhabitants of the neigh-pelling the Greeks:-"It appears," said bouring provinces that England and that document, "from positive proofs, that France had assisted the Porte to suppress it is not through mere negligence, but the insurrection; because it was ill-timed, through the toleration of the Greek goand threatened still further to prolong the vernment, that the frontier provinces of the war, and disturb the tranquillity of Europe, empire have been just invaded." It added by dividing the power of Turkey and the following passages, which show, that strengthening the hands of the Emperor of although the Porte considered it necessary Russia and finally, that diplomatic rela- to proceed with severity against the Greeks, tions between Greece and Turkey were it did not act in a merciless spirit: "Orders broken off, and their respective ambassadors have been given to the proper authorities recalled. The last-named event took place to facilitate the departure of those Greek in the month of March, 1854, much to the subjects who are poor or destitute, and to regret of all humane and prudent men, who show as much indulgence as possible to severely blamed the Greek government for those who are sick or infirm. It is my duty fostering insurrection in a neighbouring once more to repeat, that it is the Greek state at a time when the safety, if not the government alone which has created the existence, of that state was threatened by necessity for this determination, and that the common foe of Europe, of progress, and the responsibility of it must rest entirely of liberty.

upon Greece."

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To this note M. Metaxa replied by another, | Turks' heads. During this time, King of an expostulatory character. In it he Otho showed an obstinacy that might have complained of cruelty, saying, that although cost him his crown or even his life. He he had desired for the Greeks established in disregarded the advice given him, and asTurkey a period of six months for them to serted his belief that he was destined to wind up their affairs and quit the country, liberate the Christians from the Ottoman yet the Porte had reduced that term to rule. fifteen days. He added: "There is a tribunal higher than either Greece or Turkey, whose judgments are unerring, and whose decrees are infallible. It is to this Supreme tribunal that Greece appeals; for to that alone it belongs to decide whether Greece and its government ought to be held responsible for the evil consequences of the existing state of things, because discontent has provoked the inhabitants of Epirus and Thessaly to revolt; and because, on this occasion, sympathies have been manifested in Greece favourable to a movement made by co-religionists, by countrymen, and by relations."

The resolve of the sultan to drive the Greeks from Constantinople led to a serious difference between the Porte and General Baraguay d'Hilliers, then acting not only as a soldier, but as French ambassador at Constantinople. We have already mentioned that the French regarded themselves. as the protectors of the Christians of the Roman church in the Turkish empire. The general, therefore, made a demand that all Greek catholics should be excepted from the decree of expulsion, and that his guarantee for the good behaviour of the members of his own church should be considered sufficient. The animosity existing between The Turkish government did not escape the Greek and Latin churches is bitter in censure on account of the course it had the extreme. As the former were known pursued; and it was reasoned that the to lean towards Russia, the latter went to Greeks were punished, in their private and mercantile interests, for offences committed by a court which they disliked. The edict of expulsion drove forth thousands of innocent and intelligent men, whose very subsistence depended on dwelling where alone they seemed able to obtain a market for their labour.

the other extreme, and made the most fervent expressions of loyalty to the Ottoman government. The French general pointed out this circumstance to Redschid Pasha, and insisted very strongly upon it to obtain the favour he demanded for the Greeks of the Roman church. After some hesitation the desire of the French ambassador was The expulsion of the Greeks from Con- acceded to, though in a somewhat modified stantinople had no effect on the government form. The Porte, however, repented of its and people of independent Greece. Bodies partiality, and afterwards informed General of men and supplies of arms were con- Baraguay d'Hilliers that his request could tinually sent across the frontier to the not be granted. The French soldier was rebels of Thessaly and Epirus. Most of extremely indignant; he demanded the these men were little better than brigands, dismissal of the Turkish ministers, and who plundered under the pretence of pa-threatened, if satisfaction was denied to triotism. They not only committed depre- him, to embark with his whole embassy dations on the property of the Turks, against and leave Constantinople within forty-eight whom they professed to have taken arms, hours. This incident might have produced but also robbed those of their own creed untoward results, but for the discretion of and nation. So well was this understood, Lord Stratford de Redcliffe, who supported that the Greek subjects of the Porte, in the ministers of the sultan; and the French many places, bolted their doors and con- ambassador was finally pacified. The cause cealed their goods on the approach of the of quarrel was afterwards removed by an insurgents. At first these bands of robbers, edict from the Porte, by which all the in the name of liberty, being opposed only Greeks then at Constantinople, and not imby isolated detachments, obtained some suc-plicated in the insurrection, were permitted cesses; but when they encountered corps of to remain. To prevent a repetition of this regular troops, they were invariably beaten, scene, General Baraguay d'Hilliers was reand obliged to fly to the mountains. Such was the ferocity of these men, that Grivas, one of their leaders, offered a pound of gunpowder and fifteen drachmas for a couple of

called from Constantinople, and appointed to a command in the Baltic, where (as we have already related) he won distinction at the fall of Bomarsund.