his rapacious inclinations uncontrolled; or, if ambition tormented him, accumulate sums, which might procure him from Constantinople the nomination to a wealthier see; and even to the dignity of patriarch; places always given to the highest bidder. The prelates affected, besides, a pomp and ostentation, little becoming the humble followers of a crucified redeemer. Whenever they appeared in public, they were accompanied by a train, only inferior to that of the pasha himself. Their conduct and that of the monks in general were highly immoral; and, not to mention others, the archbishop of Arta and Papaflessa, the bishop of Modon and Coron, were openly guilty of the most flagrant crimes.

The hierarchy had so intimately interwoven its interests with those of the existing government; and was so well aware, that any change in it would materially injure, if not entirely paralyze, its power; that the members of it were always most decidedly opposed to an insurrection of the Greeks; and, by inculcating submission to existing authorities as a christian duty, they trusted to perpetuate the lethargy that, during so many ages, had sealed up the eyes of the nation.

The Hetareia, far from attempting to make proselytes among men of this class, scrupulously concealed from them all their plans. They were aware, that, whilst the true followers of the gospel are favourable to liberty; and the diffusion of happiness through the medium of knowledge; the bigoted priests of superstition cling to a reign of tyranny and ignorance. They knew, that their minds were so governed by selfishness, that, brilliant as the picture might have been made of the future glory and prosperity of their regenerated nation; of the triumph

of the cross; and the unshackled profession of christinanity, they could never be prevailed upon to quit a certainty for an uncertainty, or to sacrifice their interests to those of their flock. The Hœtareia expected to meet in the clergy the principal obstacle to the accomplishment of their wishes.

In fact, as soon as the Turkish authorities in Peloponnesus began to entertain apprehensions, on hearing the news of the insurrection in Moldavia and Wallachia, the presence of a Russian army on the banks of the Pruth, the disturbances at Constantinople, and the discontent of the Greeks throughout the empire, they felt the necessity of adopting measures to prevent disturbances in the peninsula; and, in order to deliberate on this question, they judged it expedient to assemble their most trust-worthy counsellors; viz. the principal dignitaries of the Greek church, and the primates.

So little aware had these persons been of a revolution being on the point of bursting out in their country, that they unsuspectingly went to Tripolitza; and were proposing the readiest means of disarming the people, and of lessening the daily increasing number of kleftes, when the explosion took place.

Germanos, bishop of Patras, was on his way to the assembly; when he received information of the massacre of the patriarch, of the first dignitaries of the Greek church, at Constantinople, and of part of the whole Greek population in that city. He immediately changed his direction; and concluding that the Turks in Peloponnesus would follow the example of their sultan, and that the extermination of the heads of the clergy and every individual of note was decreed, despair pointed out to him, as the sole expedient, to unfurl the standard of the cross,

and without delay to make every man of influence in the country aware of the conspiracy, formed against their religion and lives.

This intelligence spread over the Morea with the rapidity of lightning. Every where the clergy, seeing no alternative, between death, spoliation, persecution, and exile, or open revolt, shaking off their apathy, employed all the influence and eloquence they would otherwise have used to smother the rising flame of liberty, in order to produce a more rapid and general conflagration.

Zaimi of Calavrita, Londo of Vostitza, the Petimeras, obeyed instantly the call of their country. The bishops of Helos, of Modon, numerous hegoumeni, and monks, placed themselves at the head of armed bodies of peasants, whose ardour they increased by the hopes of Turkish spoils; and by representing the war not only as one for independence, but for the defence of their faith and their own existence. They reassured the timid by showing how easy their triumph would be, since Russia was coming to their assistance.

The Mainots, who were at all times in arms, instantly obeyed the signal. Colocotroni and all the former capitani of kleftes, whom the fate of war had compelled to abandon the Morea, presented themselves to the old companions of their dangers. The name of this celebrated leader operated like magic on the whole population; and, in less than a week, every province had risen in arms. Thus, the class, which, according to all human probability, was to prove most hostile to the insurrection, from unforeseen circumstances, became its principal support.

Without this coincidence, the revolution never could have taken place. The clergy only were able to destroy the spell, which had so long held in chains

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the energies of the people. Their persuasions only could dissipate the hesitation, and rouse the timidity of the Moriot. More miraculous than the dragon's teeth, their words at once started the armed legions from every part of the land; and this proves, that the Greek insurrection owed its origin not, as most writers have asserted, to preconceived plans and fortunate combinations, but to casualties which could not have been foreseen.

CHAPTER XX.

Influence of the clergy diminished-Despotism and avarice of the capitani-Their insubordination-Illness and death of Lord Charles Murray- His noble character-Sessini-Character of the Greek Logiotati.

ALTHOUGH the clergy had thus been chiefly instrumental in bringing about the revolution; yet as soon as the national independence was once established, they possessed but little influence in the administration of affairs. They had themselves destroyed the principal prop of their temporal power. Turkish authority had fallen; and their influence fell with it. On maturer reflection little or no gratitude was professed towards them, by the people; for necessity and fear, rather than inclination and patriotism, had forced them to contribute to the triumph of that liberty they, till now, had been the foremost to restrain. But the chief reason of the obscurity, in which the clergy remained, was deficiency of talent amongst its members. The most respectable part of the higher clergy had been strangled in the prisons of Tripolitza. A few of those, who escaped a similar fate, attempted to take a part in the government, but soon gave up the task, as far exceeding their strength. Papaflessa was the only exception. He distinguished himself by his zeal as agent of the Hetareia before the insurrection, by his courage and activity as a warrior, when the nation was in arms; by the ardour he always displayed in support of the constitution against the rebels; and by the noble manner, in which he