But the circumstance of all others most adverse to the cause of the Greeks was, the capture and death of the old lion, Ali Pacha, in the month of February. This event set at liberty a very large portion of the Ottoman troops in Albania, and enabled their commander, Chourschid Pacha, to concentrate his forces and march upon the Morea, where dissensions had commenced among the captains and the members of government, to the great detriment of public affairs. It is said that Ulysses, who commanded the defiles of Thermopylæ, aware of these dissensions, adopted the very mode of allaying them with which Themistocles threatened the Peloponnesians at the Persian invasion. He retired, after a slight skirmish, from his commanding situation, and allowed the barbarians free ingress into the Morea, where they quickly retook the Acrocorinthus, and obliged the refractory Greeks to unite for the preservation of their common liberty. Chourschid Pacha, one of the most brave and experienced commanders in the Turkish empire, was soon afterwards recalled and put to death at Larissa, on suspicion of having secreted for his own use a part of Ali Pacha's treasures. At the end of this year the spirits of the Greeks revived with unusual successes: in a brilliant action off Tenedos, they blew up the Turkish admiral in a ship of the largest class, and drove the rest of his fleet, in a crippled state, for refuge behind the forts of the Dardanelles; it afterwards attempted twice to put to sea, and carry succours to the besieged fortresses, but was each time driven back with disgrace. The 30th of November was signalized by the surrender of Napoli di Romania, which had been invested ever since the commencement of the insurrection, and which, for its impregnable situation, might be styled the Gibraltar of the Morea. At this place the provisional government was im mediately installed, and this secures to the Greeks possession of Peloponnesus, although the Castles of Coron, Modon, and Patrass, still remain unreduced. Winter did not put a stop to the struggles of the combatants. On the 25th December, a well-appointed army of twelve thousand Mussulmen, from Albania, attacked the city of Messalonghi in Acarnania, and had begun to ascend the ramparts with scaling ladders, when they were bravely repulsed by the garrison and the citizens, and retreated to their camp with the loss of five hundred killed, and a proportionate number wounded. In the night of the 31st, they precipitately broke up their camp and endeavoured to retreat, leaving behind them all their baggage, artillery, and tents, Intercepted, however, in their flight by the river Achelous, which happened to be much swollen by rain, they attempted to save themselves by dispersing in small parties, but were for the most part killed or taken prisoners by the victorious Greeks. Thus freedom was restored to all the northern provinces of Grecia Propria; the standard of the cross waved over the ruins of the Parthenon; and Peloponnesus saw not a Mahometan within its boundaries, except those besieged in the fortresses abovementioned. Great preparations were made, during the winter, by the national congress at Napoli di Romania, for the ensuing campaign. A fleet of one hundred and fifty vessels was well-manned and equipped, whilst the army was raised to the number of fifty thousand effective troops, and placed under the most able officers. Colocotroni took the principal command in Peloponnesus, which, according to a new division made by the `provisional government, is called Southern Greece. Ulysses was appointed chief in Eastern Greece, which extends from Athens to Zeitun; and Marco Botzari in the Western division, which comprehends Etolia and Acarnania. The principal seat of war became now transferred to the northern parts of Thessaly and Macedonia; whither a large armament was despatched in March, under the command of Prince Mavrocordato, who was accompanied by Ulysses and his corps; the Greek fleet also disembarked a considerable body of troops at Cassandra. The islands of Negroponte and Candia were reduced, with the exception of a single fortress in each; and all the Turks expelled from Thasos, from whence the Ottoman navy was supplied with timber. The rendezvous appointed for the Ottoman army destined to act against the Greeks, was Larissa, and the command given to the Pacha of Scutari, upon whom the Divan places great reliance. The fleet also of the Sultan being refitted is ready again to take the sea, and expects the active cooperation of the Algerines and other allied powers. Such is the state of affairs according to the last advices, Possibly before our sheets go to the press some decisive actions may take place which shall materially alter the relative situation of the contending parties. At any rate, we must admire the efforts already made by the Greek patriots, with such trifling means, and against such enormous disadvantages. They have not only maintained themselves against the Turks, but have made a constant, steady progress, in their contest for freedom, and that almost exclusively by their own exertions and resources. Now, indeed, public opinion, in all Christian states, appears to sympathize with them in their struggle: Germany is sending forth supplies in men and officers; and Great Britain is raising a public subscription for their assistance. It is well, perhaps, for the Greeks, that these succours have been thus deferred. Long servitude had engendered many vices in their character, which were to be eradicated only by continued and painful exertions; the more severe their struggle for liberty, the better will they appreciate that blessing, and the more carefully will they guard it; their reverses will have taught them to be patient and persevering, to lay aside jealousies and dissensions, to bear with each other's infirmities, to succour each other's distresses, and to cultivate in adversity those virtues which may adorn their more prosperous fortunes. To that prosperity, the goal of their most anxious wishes, we have no doubt they are now hastening: the flame of liberty, now kindled in their bosoms, cannot be extinguished; they will go on till they have rescued their wives and children from pollution, till they have re-conquered the sepulchres of their glorious ancestors, and erased the mark of slavery from their brows. Their native ingenuity and taste in arts and science will then revive with double lustre ; for prosperity, contrasted with the previous debasement of a quick intelligent people, is sure to give a peculiar energy to the public mind. Europe will then see established on those scenes of present desolation, an independent kingdom, possessing rights worthy of defence, and privileges worthy of enjoyment: she will see fanaticism replaced by toleration, and the sword of violence by the sceptre of justice; she will see his most sacred rights restored to man, and the altars of God purified from profanation. [THE following Poem is from the pen of a young author of great promise and rising fame. He has begged us to withhold his name, 66 being unwilling," he says, "to risk any notice he may have gained, on so trifling a production as 'The Romance of the Lily." The epithet "trifling" may be applicable to the piece with reference to its length, but we are confident our readers will not deem it so on the score of merit. We think that, in more than one passage of wildness and original beauty, they will be reminded of Mr. Shelley.] EVER love the Lily pale, The flower of ladies' breasts; It is no earthly common flower For man to pull, and maidens wear On the wreathed midnight of their hair. Deep affection is its dower; For Venus kissed it as it sprung, And gave it one immortal tear, Woe-bowed, o'er Adon's daisied bier: Its petals, brimmed with cool sweet air, I ever have loved the lily pale, For the sake of one whom heaven has ta'en (Die! no, thou didst not-but some other way |