The story of Arkadi had begun to move public opinion all over Europe, but it had no power on the governments, although the consuls friendly to the Cretans had continually appealed to their governments with the report of the barbarities which accompanied the march of the Turkish army.  For myself, under the advice of our minister at Constantinople, I had thrown off all reserve within my consular rights and used all my influence with my colleagues, especially the honest, if too pro-Turkish, Dickson, and at the same time disseminated the truth as to the condition of the island in every possible way.  The Turkish authorities naturally retaliated to the best of their power, and patrols of zapties watched my house in front and rear, for the idea had entered the mind of the governor that I was the postman of the insurrection.  But I held no direct communication with the insurgents, and no letter ever passed through my hands, while the Greek and Russian consuls, unwatched, kept up a regular postal service.  Our minister at Constantinople, who, in the beginning, had been in the closest personal relations with his English colleague, the just and humane Lord Lyons, replaced at this juncture by Sir Henry Elliott, finding that nothing was to be expected from England, joined forces with General Ignatieff, and thenceforward my action was directed by the Russian embassy.

In communicating the news of the affair of Arkadi to our government, I had fully explained my actual position and my proposed action on behalf of the insurgents, and begged that a man-of-war might be sent to convey from the island the refugee families who were dying of cold and hunger in the mountains, or being murdered in the plains.  In reply I received the following dispatch (December 25, 1866):—­

    W.J.  STILLMAN, ESQ., U.S.  Consul, Canea:—­

    Sir,—­Your dispatch No. 32, with regard to the Cretan
    insurrection and the attitude you have assumed in the matter, has
    been received.

Your action and proposed course of conduct, as set forth in said dispatch, are approved.  Mr. Morris, our minister resident at Constantinople, will be informed of the particulars set forth in your dispatch, and of the approval of your proceedings.  Rear-Admiral Goldsborough has been instructed to send a ship-of-war to your port.  I am, sir, your most obedient servant,

    W.H.  SEWARD.

Meanwhile the Wizard gunboat had been relieved by the Assurance,—­a larger vessel,—­the commander of which (Pym) had an American wife, and perhaps had been influenced by her, and certainly shared her sympathy with the Cretans.  I showed him Seward’s dispatch and fired him with the desire of distinguishing himself by taking the initiative in the work of humanity.  I then made the strongest possible appeal to Dickson, who had by this time come through his own informants to recognize the atrocity of Mustapha’s plan of campaign, to order Pym to obey his good impulse;