the knowledge that England and France were ready to interfere for the preservation of tranquillity. Indeed, an Anglo-French squadron in the Adriatic, had intercepted a supply of arms and ammunition intended for the Albanian insurgents. As the Greeks in arms desired to induce the Servians to join the insurrection, Austria became interested in the struggle, and declared that she would not permit of any revolutionary movement. On The Turkish government took active steps to suppress the rising storm of revolution. Hafiz Pasha, the vizier, proclaimed drumhead law in the eastern districts of Albania: many persons were arrested; and every Greek Still the insurrection of the Greek subwho joined the insurrection was threatened jects of the Porte was not destined to die with death. The Turkish government dis-out without alarming circumstances. patched a corps of 5,000 troops, which, with the 9th of March, the Porte addressed a the troops previously at the disposal of the note to the British and French ambassadors, governors of Thessaly and Epirus, made an complaining of the connivance of the Greek effective strength of 8,000 men. This, it court in the revolt; and on the 21st, a was supposed, would be sufficient to put Turkish, a British, and a French vessel of down the revolt, and cause the authority of war entered the Piræus, for the purpose of the sultan to be respected. The Porte also conveying Ali Pasha on a special mission required, from the Greek minister at Con- to Athens, to present the demands of the stantinople, a formal disavowal of all parti- Porte to the Greek government. These cipation in, or connivance with, the Greek demands were to the effect that all Greek insurrection. Redschid Pasha even de- officers who had taken up arms against the clared that if, within a given time, authentic Turks should be recalled to their own proofs were not forthcoming that the Greek country; that all revolutionary committees government had nothing whatever to do with in Greece should be suppressed; that the the insurrection, or of its not having done Greek press should not be permitted to all in its power to prevent it, the Greek write against Turkey; that certain Greek minister should receive his passports. The professors should be dismissed from the insurrection did not meet with the expected university; and that some rioters, who had success out of a province containing a been liberated from prison by the patriotic Christian population of 400,000 persons, party, should be punished. After a cabinet only 8,000 rose in arms; and it is said, council, at which King Otho presided, had that not more than 3,000 of them were been held by the Greek government, a very Greeks. The liberal conduct of the sultan curt and independent answer was returned. probably had a considerable influence in This not being satisfactory, Nesset Bey, the bringing about this result. He promised Turkish chargé d'affaires at Athens, deto accede to the demands of the four powers manded his passport, and returned to Conrelative to the emancipation of his Christian stantinople. General Metaxas, the Greek subjects, and also to cause the excesses and ambassador at the city of the sultan, foloppressions of the Turkish officials and sol- lowed his example, and diplomatic relations diers to be duly restrained. Such had been between Greece and Turkey were broken off. the violent conduct of the latter, that the progress of the insurrection was largely attributed to the soldiers who were sent to put it down. Another circumstance that cooled the enthusiasm of the Greeks, was Some of our readers may not be aware that the kingdom of Greece is divided into three parts. Hellas, or that portion which adjoins the Turkish dominions; the Morea, known anciently as the Peloponnesus, and of numerous islands. Of these Syra is the seat of a Greek archbishopric. In ancient times the Greeks were first governed by kings, and there was as many monarchs as there were cities. As the monarchical power declined, the love of liberty cherished by the people induced them to adopt a The following extract from a letter dated. March 28th, from Syra, gives a lively picture, at this period, of the feelings of the population of the Greek islands :-" The nervous agitation which is pervading alike republican form of government. In the height of their power and glory they several times defeated the Persians, then regarded as the mightiest people on the earth, The Greek cities afterwards turned their arms against each other. Greece then sunk from its glorious altitude, submitted to the yoke of Alexander and his successors, and at length became a Roman province. When, in 1451, Sultan Mohammed II. took Constantinople, and the ancient eastern empire was overturned, Greece fell beneath the read, is rather difficult to understand. It is in vain to tell them that they possess already more land than they can cultivate; and that the population of Greece is on the decrease, rather than on the increase. The truth is, that the state of the whole population is very unsatisfactory. Through several successive years the crops have been insufficient; and, in consequence of this, and the heavy taxation which the expenses of the government and court require, the whole country, with the exception of some of the maritime towns, is in a state of misery. It is natural that, under such circumstances, most people should wish for a change, and be ready for every disturbance in which they have nothing to lose, and may win something. The lower classes, who are eager to join the insurgents, hope for booty; the upper classes for office and pay; which an aggrandisement of territory would facilitate. It would be a redeeming point in this headlong movement, if it was an off all classes, takes a different expression in each of them. Thus, while the wealthy merchants, with whom caution has become a prominent feature of character, betrays it only by his anxious looks and by the suspicious manner in which he imparts his apocryphal information to the stranger, the mass of the people rather glory in the display of what they call patriotism. All the streets are full of groups, discussing the actual state of affairs, indulging in the wildest schemes and hopes, and using their loud voices as proofs of their assertions. The coffeehouses and gin-shops resound in the evening with the 'Parisienne' and the 'Marseillaise,' both of which have been quite naturalised in Greece, and become national melodies, with suitable words adapted to them. Outside of the town, some forty or fifty patriots are drilling, under the superintendence of a serjeant; while in the town, the soldiers, as well as the sailors of the two men-of-war cutters (which would be more appropriately called boys-of-war) are treated with marked spring of a feeling of repressed energy, and regard. Even the rising generation seems to be roused. The excitement has taken, with them, a purely artistic turn, and shows itself in sundry chalk portraits of the Emperor Nicholas on the walls. "If one analyzes this excitement, the chief ingredient is certainly an inveterate and implacable hatred against the Turks; and the other-scarcely less powerful-the wish of aggrandisement for individuals, as well as for the Greek nation. Their chief argument is always, that Greece cannot exist as she is; and that it is preferable not to exist at all, than in such an humble way. This idea, which reminds one involuntarily of the dog letting the bone fall from the bridge to catch the shadow of it, which appeared larger, is firmly seated here in every Greek mind. The sympathy for their coreligionists in Albania and Thessaly is scarcely used as a pretext; they consider the whole as purely a Greek affair. They speak, indeed, in a general way of grievances and oppressions sometimes; but, if you ask in what they consist, almost every one will say the same-they have no liberty of the press. How this can be a grievance to the population of Albania and Thessaly, among whom there is scarcely anybody who can sway of the Turks. Thus it remained until the war of independence. In August, 1832, Greece again became a kingdom. The government was at first an almost absolute monarchy: the revolution of September, 1843, introduced a constitution; and in March, 1844, a government, on the basis of those of France if they intended to obtain the realisation of their vague hopes by their own strength. But such is not the case: their eyes are turned towards Russia. If Russia has hitherto failed in rousing the Slavonic population of European Turkey, she certainly has been successful in Greece. Not that much exertion was wanted; for all calculations, or rather expectations of Greek patriots, were always based on Russia: but one can perceive distinct traces of recent activity in the positiveness with which people look for Russian help. Of course, the Greek church is not behind in this movement. You cannot visit a Greek church without seeing signs of the czar's munificence, which the papas will not fail to point out to you. He will also show you divers passages from their liturgy: such as A great smoke arose from the north,' &c.; upon which he will comment in connexion with the present events. Besides Russia, they also count on Austria. It is useless to point out that Austria has declared for the Western powers: a sly wink is all you get as an answer." At this point we must, for a time, leave the struggle of the Greek subjects of the sultan, to bring forward other and contemporaneous events. and England, was proclaimed. Our readers are The CHAPTER VII. THE FINAL ULTIMATUM OF THE ALLIED POWERS TO THE CZAR; ENGLAND PREPARES FOR WAR; DEPAR JOURNAL, AND PRODUCTION OF THE SECRET CORRESPONDENCE. rope. The army consisted of two divisions, alled powers resolved to give the Emperor of his royal highness the Duke of Camand France; still, at the eleventh hour the General Sir George Browne, and the other some time been making both in England one of which was under the command or ambitious steps, and restoring peace to Eu- significance: we allude to that of the medical of Russia one last chance of retracing his bridge. One item of preparation has a painful Late in February, an ultimatum-a stores, which were provided partly by the Jinai ultimatum-was dispatched to St. Pe- Apothecaries' Hall, and partly from the welltersburg, requiring that Russia should pledge known firm of Savory and Sons, New Bondherself, within six days, to evacuate the street. Among the articles were 1,000 lbs. principalities before the end of April. The of lint, 1,000 lbs. of tow, 200 old sheets, governments of France and England both and 1,000 yards of adhesive plaster. Such occupation of the territories of Turkey by of the hideous sabre-gashes and rending felt that they could not permit the wrongful things unpleasantly remind the thoughtless Russia to be continued, and they signified | bullet-wounds to which the poor soldier is that they should consider the czar's not liable. withdrawing his troops from the principali On the 14th of February, the inhabitants At noon the 1st bat ties as equivalent to a declaration of war. of London beheld in their streets the first Forbearance has its boundaries; and, in this evidences of the war. case, those boundaries had been fully reached. talion of Coldstream guards marched out At the time it was sent, this final ultimatum from St. George's barracks, Trafalgar-square, was felt to be a mere form; and, before the en route for Chichester, preparatory to emanswer to it was received, two powerful fleets barking for the Mediterranean. The men had left our shores, and an English army seemed in the highest spirits, and marched was on its way to the territories of the cheerfully along to the familiar air of "The girl I left behind me," and amidst the enthusiastic cheers of the assembled multitude. sultan. Let us relate what occurred before the reply of the Emperor Nicholas to the ultimatum returned. Incessant preparations On the 20th of the same month his royal were making for the coming war, the most highness Prince Albert reviewed the 1st prominent and interesting of which we will battalion of the fusileers, and the 3rd of the refer to. The English government resolved grenadier guards, at the Wellington barto send out to Malta, as the first division of racks. The prince was accompanied by the the British division destined for the defence Duke of Cambridge, Lord Hardinge, and a of Turkey, a body of infantry, amounting numerous suite. The troops were drawn up to 10,000 men, accompanied by a propor- in open columns of companies on the paradetionable force of cavalry and artillery. The ground in front of the barracks, and the division consisted of three battalions of the formal inspection was carried on from comguards; the 4th, 28th, 33rd, 50th, 77th, and pany to company, and from man to man, in 93rd regiments of the line; and the 2nd bat-every detail of accoutrement. "The towertalion of the rifle brigade. The artillery ing bear-skin cap," says a spectator, "had force included five field-batteries and one brigade for small-arm ball-cartridge. The brigade of cavalry comprised the Scots-greys, the carbineers, the 17th lancers, the 11th hussars, the 8th hussars, and the Enniskillens. Lord Raglan was appointed to the chief command of the expedition, the forces of which were afterwards raised to 25,000 been diminished by several inches; the Minié rifle was substituted for brown Bess;' the heavy-marching order' of the battalions carried along with it a strongly-marked campaigning character; the sappers seemed hung round with an extra supply of pickaxes, saws, and hatchets; even the officers seemed to take an unusual interest in the fit of their sword-hilts. Then there were, as bustle, the 1st battalion of the Scots futhe intervals of discipline permitted, the sileer guards left London and embarked at grasping of hands, and words of brief and Portsmouth for the East. In consequence hearty farewell. The excitement and the of her majesty having expressed a desire to anticipation of active service visibly extended see this splendid corps, it marched to Buckthrough the ranks. Nor were the spectators ingham Palace at half-past seven in the indifferent witnesses of the scene before morning; and having passed within the them. Thoughts of what war might do with railing which surrounds the principal façade those stately battalions could hardly be of that building, drew up and formed in avoided on an occasion of the kind; yet at front of the main entrance. As this was least it was satisfactory to feel that the done, the queen, Prince Albert, and the honour of the country was confided to their royal children, surrounded by the housekeeping. As the grenadiers returned to hold, presented themselves in the balcony. their quarters at St. George's barracks, they The troops saluted their sovereign, and then were followed by excited thousands, eager to raised three tremendous cheers. Her mahave a good look at them before they em-jesty seemed deeply touched at the spectacle barked." before her: then the notes of the national On the 22nd, the 2nd battalion of the anthem rose into the air, mingled with the Coldstreams, and the 3rd of the grenadier measured tramp of the soldiers as they guards, proceeded from London to South-resumed their march. Emotions of pride, ampton, and embarked for Malta. Though scarcely daylight when the grenadiers left St. George's barracks for the Waterloo station, they were accompanied to the terminus by crowds of people, whose hearty cheers showed the true English interest they took in those who were leaving their country for the defence of the brave and the oppressed. Arrived at Southampton, the Coldstreams and the grenadiers embarked on board three steamers, and passed out of the docks amidst shouts from the spectators that rent the air -shouts that were lustily returned by the departing soldiers. On the 28th of this month of military • Our readers will not censure us for placing before them a few facts concerning the brave seaman who has led forth the British fleet to the icy seas of the north, and to whom the maintenance of our naval supremacy and glory is entrusted. Sir Charles Napier is of a noble Scotch family, and was born on the 6th of March, 1786; entered the army in 1799; and soon gave proofs of that fearlessness and spirit for which he has so long been celebrated. He dis|tinguished himself in the West Indies, in the Spanish war of succession (when in 1833 he commanded the fleet of Don Pedro, and gained a victory over the far superior squadron of Don Miguel), and in the war in Syria, when that memorable land, fraught with so many venerable associations which render it dear both to Christians and Mohammedans, was wrested in 1840 from the hands of Mehemet Ali, who had revolted against the sultan. Sir Charles then held the rank of commodore, and distinguished himself by taking the towns of Beyrout, Saida, Sidon, and Acre. Sir Charles has won laurels as a statesman and author, as well as in the capacity of a naval officer. He has published several useful papers on topics connected with his profession, and an Historical Account of the War in Syria; and another of that in Portugal. In 1833, he desired to enter parliament, and stood for Portsmouth, where he gave the following bluff mingled with sadness, no doubt, affected Sir At Portsmouth every day saw the fleet under the brave old Sir Charles Napier* sailor-like account of himself to the electors :--" In the course of my canvass, I have been asked who I am. I'll tell you. am Captain Charles Napier, who twenty-five years ago commanded the Recruit brig in the West Indies, and who had the honour of being twenty-four hours under the guns of three French line-of-battle ships flying from a British squadron, the nearest of which, with the exception of the Hawk brig, was from five to six miles astern the greatest part of the time. I kept flying doubleshotted broadsides into them. One of the ships (the Hautpolt) was captured by the Pompey and Castor, the other two escaped by superior sailing. Alexander Cochrane, my commander-in-chief, promoted me on the spot into her. At the siege of Martinique, the Æolus, Cleopatra, and Recruit, were ordered to beat up in the night between Pigeon Island and the main, and anchor close to Fort Edward: the enemy, fearing an attack, burnt their shipping. At daylight in the morning, it appeared to me that Fort Edward was abandoned; this, however, was doubted. I offered to ascertain the fact, and with five men I landed in open day, scaled the walls and planted the union-jack on the ramparts. Fortunately, I was undiscovered from Fort Bourbon, which stood about a hundred yards off, and commanded it. On this being reported to Sir Alexander Cochrane, a regiment was landed in the night, Fort and Admiral Chads advanced towards the admiral's flag-ship, Victory, to Sir Charles completion of its equipment. The latter Napier's fleet at Spithead and in harbour. practised the fleet, morning and afternoon, It was immediately followed by anotherin gunnery; the blazing and booming of "Be prepared to sail at the shortest notice." cannon was almost perpetual, and Spithead On the 10th her majesty, attended by the presented glorious studies to enthusiastic court, arrived from London, and after emartists. On the 8th of March, the signal- barking on board the Fairy yacht, passed "Prepare for sea," was made by the port- through the fleet at Spithead on her way to Edward was taken possession of, and the mortars always spoken with a sailor-like bluntness, and exturned against the enemy. I am in possession of a hibited a political acuteness not generally found in letter from Sir Alexander, saying, that 'my conduct gentlemen whose lives had been passed in the duties was the means of saving many lives and shortening of a profession which almost excludes any profound the siege of Martinique. I had once the misfortune study of the mysteries of statesmanship. In 1846, Sir of receiving a precious licking from a French cor- Charles was made rear-admiral of the blue; and, in vette; the first shot she fired broke my thigh, and a 1853, elevated to the rank of vice-admiral. We ought plumper carried away the mainmast. The enemy not to close this little account of the career of the galescaped, but the British flag was not tarnished. On lant admiral without a slight reference to the banquet my return to England in command of the Jason, I given to him by the members of the Reform Club, was turned out of her by a tory admiralty, because on the 7th of March, just previously to his departure I had no interest; but as I could not lead an idle for the Baltic. The speech of Lord Palmerston-that life I served a campaign with the army in Portugal veteran statesman, who yet possesses more than the as a volunteer, when I was again wounded. At the customary vivacity and brilliancy of youth-when battle of Busaco, I had the honour of carrying off the proposing the health of Sir Charles, may be called a field my gallant friend and relative, Colonel Napier, humorous but admirable essay on the life and chanow near me, who was shot through the face. On racter of the latter. Alluding to Sir Charles's immy return to England, I was appointed to the provements in agriculture, the noble lord observed:Thames, in the Mediterranean; and if I could bring "My gallant friend is a match for everything, and the inhabitants of the Neapolitan coast into this whatever he turns his hand to he generally succeeds room, they would tell you that, from Naples to the in it. However, gentlemen, he now, like Cincinnatus, Faro point, there was not a spot where I did not leaves his plough, puts on his armour, and is prepared leave my mark, and brought off with me upwards of to do that good service to his country which he will one hundred sail of gun-boats and merchant-vessels. always perform whenever an opportunity is afforded I had the honour of running the Thames and to him." The noble viscount added:-"I cannot reFurieuse into the small mole of Ponza, which was frain from repeating an observation which was made strongly defended, and before they could recover to me by a very discriminating, calm-minded friend from their surprise I captured the island without the of mine, who passed some time in the East, and saw loss of a man. I was then removed to the Euryalus, a great deal of my gallant friend, and who, when he and had the good fortune to fall in with two French came to town, visited me to give me an account of frigates and a schooner; I chased them in the night what he had observed. When I mentioned to him close into Calvi, in the Island of Corsica, passing my gallant friend, and praised his enterprise and close under the stern of one, plumpering her as I boldness, his daring and his intrepidity, this gentlepassed; and though we were going eight knots, I man said, 'Yes, all that is very true; but there is tried to run aboard of her consort, who was a little another quality that Sir Charles Napier possesses, outside, standing athwart my hause; the night was which is as valuable as any of these, and as important dark, the land close, and she succeeded in crossing an ingredient in his success. I never saw any man me, but I drove her ashore on the rocks, where she in my life who calculated so many moves beforehand.” was totally wrecked, and her consort was obliged to anchor close to her; the Euryalus wore round and got off, almost brushing the shore as she passed: these ships were afterwards ascertained to be Armées en flute, mounting twenty-two guns each, and the schooner fourteen. From the Mediterranean I was ordered to America; and if my gallant friend, Sir James Gordon, was here he would have told you how I did my duty in that long, arduous service up the Potomax: he would have told you that in a tremendous squall the Euryalus lost her bowsprit and all her top-masts, and that in twelve hours she was again ready for work; we brought away a fleet from Alexandria, were attacked going down the river by batteries built close to what was the residence of the great Washington, and I was again wounded in that action in the neck." In 1837 he presented himself as a candidate in the liberal interest to the electors of Greenwich, and polled 1,153 votes; but was defeated by forty votes. In 1841 he was more fortunate, being elected member for Marylebone. Since then he has frequently taken a prominent part in the councils of the nation, and In his reply, Sir Charles, with the humorous bluntness of a sailor, observed, amidst much laughter:"I cannot say we are at war, because we are still at peace; but I suppose we are very nearly at war, and probably when I get into the Baltic I'll have an opportunity of declaring war." Sir James Graham, possibly rendered a little more communicative, and less cautious, by the conviviality and excitement of the scene, than a minister of the state is expected to be, exclaimed :-" My gallant friend says, when he goes into the Baltic he will declare war. I, as first lord of the admiralty, give him my free consent so to do." This expression was severely censured by the press, and brought before the notice of the House of Commons by Mr. French, who desired to know by what authority Sir James Graham delegated a power declaring war to Sir Charles Napier, or to any other person, as it was provided by the constitution of this country that such power should rest exclusively in the sovereign. A rather warm debate followed; but the matter ultimately dropped, Sir James Graham's observations being regarded as a little after-dinner indiscretion. of |