[Footnote 1:  The Legislative and Executive bodies having been for some time at variance, the latter had at length resorted to violence, and some skirmishes had already taken place between the factions.]

“For six weeks I have been expecting the fleet, which has not arrived, though I have, at the request of the Greek Government, advanced—­that is, prepared, and have in hand two hundred thousand piastres (deducting the commission and bankers’ charges) of my own monies to forward their projects.  The Suliotes (now in Acarnania) are very anxious that I should take them under my directions, and go over and put things to rights in the Morea, which, without a force, seems impracticable; and, really, though very reluctant (as my letters will have shown you) to take such a measure, there seems hardly any milder remedy.  However, I will not do any thing rashly, and have only continued here so long in the hope of seeing things reconciled, and have done all in my power thereto.  Had I gone sooner, they would have forced me into one party or other, and I doubt as much now; but we will do our best.

“Yours,” &c.

LETTER 529.  TO MR. BOWRING.

“October 10. 1823.

“Colonel Napier will present to you this letter.  Of his military character it were superfluous to speak:  of his personal, I can say, from my own knowledge, as well as from all public rumour or private report, that it is as excellent as his military:  in short, a better or a braver man is not easily to be found. He is our man to lead a regular force, or to organise a national one for the Greeks.  Ask the army—­ask any one.  He is besides a personal friend of both Prince Mavrocordato, Colonel Stanhope, and myself, and in such concord with all three that we should all pull together—­an indispensable, as well as a rare point, especially in Greece at present.

“To enable a regular force to be properly organised, it will be requisite for the loan-holders to set apart at least 50,000_l_. sterling for that particular purpose—­perhaps more; but by so doing they will guarantee their own monies, ’and make assurance doubly sure.’  They can appoint commissioners to see that part property expended—­and I recommend a similar precaution for the whole.

“I hope that the deputies have arrived, as well as some of my various despatches (chiefly addressed to Mr. Hobhouse) for the Committee.  Colonel Napier will tell you the recent special interposition of the gods, in behalf of the Greeks—­who seem to have no enemies in heaven or on earth to be dreaded but their own tendency to discord amongst themselves.  But these, too, it is to be hoped, will be mitigated, and then we can take the field on the offensive, instead of being reduced to the petite guerre of defending the same fortresses year after year, and taking a few ships, and starving out a castle, and making more fuss about them than Alexander in his cups, or Buonaparte in a bulletin.  Our friends have done something in the way of the Spartans—­(though not one tenth of what is told)—­but have not yet inherited their style.