History Of The Greek Revolution (Volume 2)

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAP. IV. Naval Campaign?Transactions in Peloponnesus to the end of 1823?Progress of Philbellenism in Europe. The appearance (June the 20th) of the grand Turkish fleet in the roads of Patrass might have been a source of dismay to the Moreotes, if the experience of the two past summers had not taught them that its annual visits were almost innocuous. However, as they were not yet thoroughly acquainted with the character of the new Capitan Pasha, whose fortunate debut in Eubcea seemed to promise some vigour, the government published an edict, enjoining the people near the coast to keep a strict look-out, and in case of a disembarkation to spread the alarm by preconcerted signals. Khosref Pasha soon calmed their fears, by gently sinking into the inept and indolent system of his predecessors. He began by declaring Messalonghi in a state of blockade, but although in the middle of July his fleet was augmented to sixty sail of men-of-war, by the junction of the Al- gerine and Tunisian squadrons, he could not hinder Greek boats from slipping into that place at the distance of a few miles from his anchorage. Like the redoubtable Kara Mehemet, the business he really applied himself to was the sale of permissions to Austrian, Maltese, and Ionian vessels to enter the gulf and trade with the insurgents, who exchanged their currants for arms and ammunition. His vanity also derived gratification from a visit paid him by the English Admiral, Sir Graham Moore, and the acting Lord High Commissioner, Sir Frederick Adam. The reason assigned for his stay at Patrass was his expecting an Albanian army to arrive under Yussuf Pasha: but the latter coming almost alone from Pre- vesa in the beginning of August, and communicating details of the mutiny and desertion of his troops, Khosref determined ...