LETTER 535.  TO MR. MUIR.

“Dragomestri, January 2. 1824.

“My dear Muir,

“I wish you many returns of the season, and happiness therewithal.  Gamba and the Bombard (there is a strong reason to believe) are carried into Patras by a Turkish frigate, which we saw chase them at dawn on the 31st:  we had been close under the stern in the night, believing her a Greek till within pistol shot, and only escaped by a miracle of all the Saints (our captain says), and truly I am of his opinion, for we should never have got away of ourselves.  They were signalising their consort with lights, and had illuminated the ship between decks, and were shouting like a mob;—­but then why did they not fire?  Perhaps they took us for a Greek brulot, and were afraid of kindling us—­they had no colours flying even at dawn nor after.

“At daybreak my boat was on the coast, but the wind unfavourable for the port;—­a large vessel with the wind in her favour standing between us and the Gulf, and another in chase of the Bombard about twelve miles off, or so.  Soon after they stood (i.e. the Bombard and frigate) apparently towards Patras, and a Zantiote boat making signals to us from the shore to get away.  Away we went before the wind, and ran into a creek called Scrofes, I believe, where I landed Luke[1] and another (as Luke’s life was in most danger), with some money for themselves, and a letter for Stanhope, and sent them up the country to Missolonghi, where they would be in safety, as the place where we were could be assailed by armed boats in a moment, and Gamba had all our arms except two carbines, a fowling-piece, and some pistols.

[Footnote 1:  A Greek youth whom he had brought with him, in his suite, from Cephalonia.]

“In less than an hour the vessel in chase neared us, and we dashed out again, and showing our stern (our boat sails very well), got in before night to Dragomestri, where we now are.  But where is the Greek fleet?  I don’t know—­do you?  I told our master of the boat that I was inclined to think the two large vessels (there were none else in sight) Greeks.  But he answered, ’They are too large—­why don’t they show their colours?’ and his account was confirmed, be it true or false, by several boats which we met or passed, as we could not at any rate have got in with that wind without beating about for a long time; and as there was much property, and some lives to risk (the boy’s especially) without any means of defence, it was necessary to let our boatmen have their own way.

“I despatched yesterday another messenger to Missolonghi for an escort, but we have yet no answer.  We are here (those of my boat) for the fifth day without taking our clothes off, and sleeping on deck in all weathers, but are all very well, and in good spirits.  It is to be supposed that the Government will send, for their own sakes, an escort, as I have 16,000 dollars on board, the greater part for their service.  I had (besides personal property to the amount of about 5000 more) 8000 dollars in specie of my own, without reckoning the Committee’s stores, so that the Turks will have a good thing of it, if the prize be good.