Two days after the unfortunate accident, I have described, an
event took place, which contributed in no small degree to destroy the illusion under which
Lord Byron had laboured in respect to the major of
artillery. A Turkish brig, returning to Patras, ran foul of the bank of sand which extends
from the mouth of the Phidari several miles out to sea. Remembering the immense booty,
which, but a year before, they had made on taking possession of a Turkish ship, which
adverse winds and the pilot’s ignorance had brought to the same spot, the
Mesolonghiots thanked fortune for thus supplying them with a new occasion of satisfying
their avidity and cruelty. The whole population embarked in an instant; the smallest
monoxylo was at sea; but, on their
approaching the vessel, the enemy offered so lively a resistance, that they despaired of
succeeding without the assistance of artillery. The spark of enthusiasm had equally fired
the young soldier and the elderly primate. Every one wished to have a share in the golden
fleece. Mavrocordato ordered the major to proceed in
all haste, with three guns, to assist in the attack of the brig; but this could not of
course take place without a previous visit to Lord
Byron, who still found himself so weak, as to be unable to rise from his sofa;
but on Parry’s entering
| 122 | MEMOIRS ON GREECE. |
On the first of April, the whole town of Mesolonghi was thrown into the liveliest alarm by the following events. Caraiscachi’s nephew had been seriously wounded in a quarrel with some Mesolonghiot boatmen, whom he wished to oblige to convey him, gratis, to Anatolico. Incensed at the affront offered to his nephew, and resolved on obtaining satisfaction, Caraiscachi despatched a hundred and fifty of his soldiers more effectually to solicit it. Finding, that the men, who had inflicted the wound, had absconded, the soldiers apprehended, during the night, two of the Mesolonghi primates, and immediately sent them to their capitano at Anatolico. Thinking that guarantee insufficient, Caraiscachi ordered fifty of his men to take possession of Vasiladi. This they easily did, as the whole garrison of this important point consisted of only half a dozen fishermen: and those asleep. Next morning they sent these men to Mesolonghi, to inform the townsmen, that Caraiscachi declared, he would neither give up the island nor the primates, till the men, who had wounded his nephew, were delivered into his hands.
| MEMOIRS ON GREECE. | 123 |
The very same day seven Turkish vessels were seen sailing out of the gulf; and, shortly after, anchoring off Vasiladi; and information arrived, that the garrison of the castle of Roumelia had had a sharp engagement with the Greeks at the pass of Kaki Scala, a little further than Galata. Mavrocordato, who suspected a correspondence between Caraiscachi and the enemy, gave orders for the apprehension of Costa Vulpiotti; a Greek, who, on his arrival from Janina, had instantly repaired to the house of Caraiscachi, and had since, almost daily, had secret conferences with him. Several letters were found on his person, that had been addressed by Mavrocordato and other patriots to Caraiscachi, reproaching him for his treachery and connivance with the enemy. These Vulpiotti was to show to Omer Pasha, as certificates to prove how faithful Caraiscachi had ever been to his engagements with him. It resulted from the interrogation, Vulpiotti underwent, that he had been charged to ask Omer Pasha for a Bouyourtè, appointing him capitano of the province of Agrapha. Caraiscachi engaged, in return, to co-operate with Vernakiotti in the reduction of Western Greece, and to draw over to his party several of the chiefs, that had hitherto most faithfully adhered to the interests of the Greek government.
Although no evidence existed, that he had carried on a similar
correspondence with Youssouf Pasha; yet as every
thing tended to prove him capable of so doing, Mavrocordato participated in the general apprehensions; and saw, in the
movements of the enemy and the taking of Vasiladi, the denouement of a conspiracy against
Western Greece. He expected, every moment, to hear, that the Turks had taken possession of
the above-mentioned island, and asserted that
| 124 | MEMOIRS ON GREECE. |
Lord Byron endeavoured to conceal the indignation, which
this treacherous action could not but excite. He urged Mavrocordato not to fear, but instantly to display all possible energy to
defeat the designs of the rebel chief. He offered his own personal assistance, that of the
artillery brigade, and of the three hundred Suliots on this service, and trusted that the
severest martial laws would inflict the punishment due to such crimes. Gun-boats were sent
against Vasiladi in order to dislodge the rebels. Their approach so much intimidated them,
that they precipitately abandoned the island; where, even if more resolute, they could not
long have defended themselves, as it was totally unprovided with water. The batteries of
Mesolonghi were secured by the brigade and inhabitants, and several of their guns were
pointed towards the town to prevent Caraiscachi’s
| MEMOIRS ON GREECE. | 125 |
As soon as Mavrocordato was informed of the arrival of the troops, he repaired to the town and appointed a military commission to judge Caraiscachi. It consisted of Nothi Bozzari, Stornari, Zonga, Dimo Scalza, Vlachopoulo, Demetri Macri, Coldari, Liacatà, Carajani, and Catzaro. These judges declared him an enemy to his country and a traitor; yet the only punishment, they awarded, was,—leaving Anatolico.
Although Caraiscachi was found
guilty, yet many of the accusations, laid to his charge, subsequent reflection has
demonstrated to be unfounded. That he proposed delivering up Vasiladi and Mesolonghi to the
enemy was a mere supposition; unwarranted by any positive proof. The coincidence of the
Turkish vessels sailing out of the gulf could be attributed only to chance, for they were
accustomed to do so almost every fortnight. Besides, had they attempted to communicate with
Vasiladi, or made signals, &c.? The garrison of Epacto and the castle made daily
sorties, having no other object in view than obtaining sheep, cattle, &c. The two
hundred Turks, who were repulsed at the Scala, formed too inconsiderable a force ever to
venture on such an undertaking. Besides, I afterwards learned from Dr.
Sibbert (who, during four years after the beginning of the Greek revolution,
was Youssouf Pasha’s physician), that this
Osmanlee never corresponded either with Caraiscachi or any other
Greek. I think it a duty to state these circumstances, in order to remove the stain, with
which
| 126 | MEMOIRS ON GREECE. |
The volcanic mind of Lord Byron, as
before observed, was thrown by these events into a violent state of commotion. He had come
to Greece prepared to devote his wealth, talents, and even life itself to the consolidation
of her liberties. Aware, how wofully the character of the nation had been corrupted; first,
by the most profligate, and afterwards, by the most barbarous of governments, he expected,
as a natural and inevitable result, that their proceedings would bear the stamp of their
moral degradation. But he was not prepared to meet with black-hearted treachery; or to see
Greeks themselves conspiring against their own country; courting the chains of their former
masters; and bargaining the liberties and very existence of their own brethren. Ignorant,
at first, how far the ramifications of this conspiracy might extend, he trembled while
thinking of the consequences. Personal fear did not, however, occupy his mind; although
most of the Suliots who composed his guard, being friends with the
Zavellas, had, as soon as they heard, that they sided with
Caraiscachi, declared openly that they would not
act against their countrymen. The hopes, he had formed, for the prosperity of Greece were
for a moment obscured; he feared lest the news of a civil war in the Peloponnesus, and of a
con-
| MEMOIRS ON GREECE. | 127 |
| ≪ PREV | NEXT ≫ |
