“Many thanks for yours of the 5th; ditto to Muir for his. You will have heard that Gamba and my vessel got out of the hands of the Turks safe and intact; nobody knows well how or why, for there’s a mystery in the story somewhat melodramatic. Captain Valsamachi has, I take it, spun a long yarn by this time in Argostoli. I attribute their release entirely to Saint Dionisio, of Zante, and the Madonna of the Rock, near Cephalonia.
“The adventures of my separate luck were also not finished at
Dragomestri; we were conveyed out by some Greek gunboats, and found the Leonidas
brig-of-war at sea to look after us. But blowing weather coming on, we were driven on
the rocks twice in the passage of the Scrophes, and the dollars had another narrow
escape. Two-thirds of the crew got ashore over the bowsprit: the rocks were rugged
enough, but water very deep close in shore, so that she was, after much swearing and
| A. D. 1824. | LIFE OF LORD BYRON. | 713 |
“Tell Muir that Dr. Bruno did not show much fight on the occasion, for besides stripping to his flannel waistcoat, and running about like a rat in an emergency, when I was talking to a Greek boy (the brother of the Greek girls in Argostoli), and telling him of the fact that there was no danger for the passengers, whatever there might be for the vessel, and assuring him that I could save both him and myself without difficulty (though he can’t swim), as the water, though deep, was not very rough,—the wind not blowing right on shore (it was a blunder of the Greeks who missed stays),—the Doctor exclaimed, ‘Save him, indeed! by G—d! save me rather—I’ll be first if I can’—a piece of egotism which he pronounced with such emphatic simplicity as to set all who had leisure to hear him laughing†, and in a minute after the vessel drove off again after striking twice. She sprung a small leak, but nothing further happened, except that the captain was very nervous afterwards.
“To be brief, we had bad weather almost always, though not contrary; slept on deck in the wet generally for seven or eight nights, but never was in better health (I speak personally)—so much so, that I
* He meant to have taken the boy on his shoulders and swum with him to shore. This feat would have been but a repetition of one of his early sports at Harrow; where it was a frequent practice of his thus to mount one of the smaller boys on his shoulders end, much to the alarm of the urchin, dive with him into the water. |
† In the Doctor’s own account this scene is described, as might be expected, somewhat differently:—“Ma nel di lui posaaggio marittimo una fregata Turca insegui la di lui nave, obligaudola di ricoverarsi dentro le Scrofes, dove per l’impeto dei venti fu gettata sopra i scogli; tutti i marinari dell’ equipaggio saltarono a terra per salvare la loro vita: Milord solo col di lui Medico Dottr. Bruno rimasero sulla nave che ognuno vedeva colare a fondo; ma dopo qualche tempo non essendosi visto che ciò avveniva, le persone fuggite a terra respinsero la nave nell’ acque: ma il tempestoso mare la ribastò una seconda volta contra i scogli, ed allora si aveva per certo che is nave coll’ illustre personaggio, una grande quantità di denari, e molti preziosi effetti per i Greci anderebbero a fondo. Tuttavia Lord Byron non si perturbò per nulla; anzi disse al di lui medico che voleva gettarai al nuoto onde ruggiungere la apiaggia: ‘non abbandonate in nave finchè abbiamo forze per direggerla: allorchè saremo coperti dall’ acque, allora gettatevi pure, che io vi salvo.’” |
| 714 | NOTICES OF THE | A. D. 1824. |
“We were received at Missolonghi with all kinds of kindness and honours; and the sight of the fleet saluting, &c. and the crowds and different costumes, was really picturesque. We think of undertaking an expedition soon, and I expect to be ordered with the Suliotes to join the army.
“All well at present. We found Gamba already arrived, and every thing in good condition. Remember me to all friends.
“P.S. You will, I hope, use every exertion to realise the assets. For besides what I have already advanced, I have undertaken to maintain the Suliotes for a year (and will accompany them either as a Chief, or whichever is most agreeable to the Government), besides sundries. I do not understand Brown’s ‘letters of credit.’ I neither gave nor ordered a letter of credit that I know of; and though of course, if you have done it, I will be responsible, I was not aware of any thing, except that I would have backed his bills, which you said was unnecessary. As to orders—I ordered nothing but some red cloth and oil cloths, both of which I am ready to receive; but if Gamba has exceeded my commission, the other things must be sent back, for I cannot permit any thing of the kind, nor will. The servants’ journey will of course be paid for, though that is exorbitant. As for Brown’s letter, I do not know any thing more than I have said, and I really cannot defray the charges of half Greece and the Frank adventurers besides. Mr. Barff must send us some dollars soon, for the expenses fall on me for the present.
“P.S. Will you tell Saint (Jew) Geronimo
Corgialegno that I mean to draw for the balance of my credit with
Messrs. Webb and Co. I shall draw for two thousand dollars (that being about the
amount, more or less); but to facilitate the business, I shall make the draft payable
also at Messrs. Ransom and Co., Pall-Mall East, London. I believe I
| A. D. 1824. | LIFE OF LORD BYRON. | 715 |
