duriotti, whose physiognomy proclaims him a very ordinary man, entirely deficient in the qualifications required for a leader of a nation, especially in arduous circumstances.

His ignorance was extraordinary; he had merely received the education of a coarse merchant-captain, and in his life had not perhaps read any other book than the log-books of his vessels. He bore the reputation of being obstinate, revengeful, proud, and, notwithstanding his immense wealth, exceedingly greedy and parsimonious. But never did his want of capacity, or of education, appear in a more glaring light, than since the secretary of state was near him; so great was the contrast to the advantage of the latter. The weightiest, and the most insignificant, affair were equally directed by him. He alone succeeded, by his indefatigable endeavours, in putting some activity and system into the measures, that were taken against Ibrahim; and in rousing the torpid and phlegmatic disposition of the president, who at last was persuaded to leave Tripolitza, (3d of April, O. S.) accompanied by fifteen hundred men.

In the evening we slept at Leondari, a large village six leagues and a half distant. On the road are two very strong positions, where the approach of an enemy to Tripolitza might be prevented by a handful of resolute men. The first is the Derveni of Mount Calviero, at about two hours distance from the town; and the second at the pass of the Panagia, at two leagues and a half from Leondari. The inhabitants of this village, in order to escape the vexations of the soldiers, had, a fortnight before, deserted their houses; so that our accommodations were none of the best. Before arriving, we were not a little surprised to meet on the road Cavaliere Collegno, who was returning alone to Tripolitza. This gentleman, who had served as colonel of artillery in the Piedmontese army, had,

on his arrival in Greece, been named engineer in chief to the expedition of Patras; but on that enterprise being given up, he was ordered to penetrate into the fortress of Neocastro, with the detachment of the artillery corps, commanded by Callergi. Arrived in the neighbourhood of Old Navarino, in order to avoid being perceived by the enemy, the resolution was taken of profiting by the obscurity of night, to accomplish the design; but the march proved difficult, owing to the guides losing the road, and leading the men over a rough and trackless country. Several lost themselves, and the next day returned to Nisi, amongst whom was Cavallo Collegno, who, highly disgusted with the Greeks, had given up the idea of entering Neocastro, and had formed the resolution of quitting a situation in which he felt the impossibility of being ever useful; owing to their total want of subordination and discipline.

On meeting his friend Count Santa Rosa, he explained to him the causes of his resolution: but the urgent remonstrances and entreaties of the latter prevailed upon him to alter his mind, and he gave him a promise to follow him wherever he went.

CHAPTER XXXII.

Proceedings at Neocastro-Author arrives at Nisi-Family of Mavromichali-Proceedings at Nisi-Conduct of Caratasso, &c.-Battle-Greeks defeated-Arrival at Neocastro-Proceedings of Mavrocordato.

LETTERS were now received, in which Stactouri, the governor of Neocastro, informed the president of the daily increasing danger, that threatened that fortress. The enemy was keeping up an incessant fire against it, and had already succeeded in opening a trench in the walls of the town. He enumerated the numerous wants of the garrison, and requested, above all things, that a medical man should be sent without delay; for the number of wounded had, of late, increased very rapidly. He trusted, that the Greek army at Fourgi would at last operate some movement in their favour; or, by falling on the rear of the besiegers, force them to abandon the undertaking altogether.

Aware of the delays, which would prevent the dilatory president from repairing to the army, his unfitness to animate the courage of the soldiers, or prove useful by his military counsels, Mavrocordato, ever animated by the noble ambition of distinguishing himself in his country's service, offered, under the plea of celerity, to proceed himself instantly to the field of action; communicate to the different capitani the orders and dispositions of the executive; examine the real situation of things; and, on his report, Conduriotti might, if he deemed it expedient, repair where his presence was most likely to prove useful.

His propositions were gladly accepted by the president; who thus exonerated himself of a task, the weight of which he felt himself by no means inclined or calculated to bear. I received orders to accompany the prince, and to remain at Neocastro; an honour which had been declined by all the Greek surgeons.

In consequence of the numerous despatches, he had to write, Mavrocordato could not leave Leondari before noon. Escorted by about fifty men, he proceeded, by the Derveni of Macryplai, to the Khan of Sakona; and thence to Scala, a distance of six short leagues. This village, situate at the entrance of the beautiful plain of Calamata, had like all those, two and even three hours from the road, been abandoned by its terrified inhabitants; who found themselves treated more tyrannically by their coreligionaries, than they had ever been by their Turkish oppressors. In the house, in which we took up our abode with the prince, traces still remained of the wanton and lawless conduct of the soldiers of the government, who had rioted here during several days, and committed all manner of excesses. The reader may have some idea of the baseness of their conduct, when I state, that, before they left the place, they amused themselves by firing at the wine casks of the peasants, and spilling the contents, because they could not have the satisfaction of drinking it themselves. In the evening we supped with Capitan Cephala, who had come down, from Meligala, where he left his troop, in order to see Mavrocordato. He was one of the few surviving companions of the famous Cleftis Zacharia, and might be considered as one of the most courageous of the Greeks. Nine honourable scars in the front part of his body attested sufficiently his valour. Two of these he had received in the affair at this very village; where the Cleftes were unex

pectedly surrounded by the Turkish Armatolis. Colocotrone's five brothers, and the greater number of their followers, were killed or taken in this bloody action. Theodore escaped miraculously by disguising himself in woman's clothes.

Cephala spoke at great length on the utter impossibility of inducing the Moriots to march against the enemy, as long as the Roumeliots remained in their country; or their capitani were detained at Hydra. For they preferred submitting to the Turks sooner than live again under the government of Conduriotti.

The next morning we proceeded to Nisi, a small town of about six hundred houses, situated in the centre of the luxuriant plain of Calamata. The vegetation was at least six weeks more advanced than at Tripolitza; and the numerous hedges of prickly Indian fig-tree gave to the country a peculiarly new character. The neighbourhood of Nisi is highly cultivated; and its detached houses surrounded by rich gardens, lemon, orange, pomegranate-groves, &c. present a very pleasing appearance. The numerous cypress trees and weeping willows, seen in every direction, should caution the traveller not to allow himself to be detained too long by the fascinating beauties of this spot; for the causes of its fertility render it the constant abode of disease and death.

The town, abandoned by its principal inhabitants, was now occupied by the Mainot soldiers of Petrobey Mavromichali, with whom we dined at the house of Calamargioti, chief primate of the place. Petrobey Mavromichali's physiognomy is exceedingly fine; possessing all that nobleness of expression, stamped on the countenances of gods and heroes on Grecian medals. The grief which the late death of his son, Jani, had occasioned him, was yet visible on his face, and rendered