During this crisis, the weather had become sufficiently favourable to admit of his paying the visit to Salona, which he had purposed.  But, as his departure at such a juncture might have the appearance of abandoning Missolonghi, he resolved to wait the danger out.  At this time the following letters were written.

LETTER 559.  TO MR. BARFF.

“April 3.

“There is a quarrel, not yet settled, between the citizens and some of Cariascachi’s people, which has already produced some blows.  I keep my people quite neutral; but have ordered them to be on their guard.

“Some days ago we had an Italian private soldier drummed out for thieving.  The German officers wanted to flog him; but I flatly refused to permit the use of the stick or whip, and delivered him over to the police.[1] Since then a Prussian officer rioted in his lodgings; and I put him under arrest, according to the order.  This, it appears, did not please his German confederation:  but I stuck by my text; and have given them plainly to understand, that those who do not choose to be amenable to the laws of the country and service, may retire; but that in all that I have to do, I will see them obeyed by foreigner or native.

[Footnote 1:  “Lord Byron declared that, as far as he was concerned, no barbarous usages, however adopted even by some civilised people, should be introduced into Greece; especially as such a mode of punishment would disgust rather than reform.  We hit upon an expedient which favoured our military discipline:  but it required not only all Lord Byron’s eloquence, but his authority, to prevail upon our Germans to accede to it.  The culprit had his uniform stripped off his back, in presence of his comrades, and was afterwards marched through the town with a label on his back, describing, both in Greek and Italian, the nature of his offence; after which he was given up to the regular police.  This example of severity, tempered by a humane spirit, produced the best effect upon our soldiers, as well as upon the citizens of the town.  But it was very near causing a most disagreeable circumstance; for, in the course of the evening, some very high words passed on the subject between three Englishmen, two of them officers of our brigade, in consequence of which cards were exchanged, and two duels were to have been fought the next morning.  Lord Byron did not hear of this till late at night:  but he immediately ordered me to arrest both parties, which I according did; and, after some difficulty, prevailed on them to shake hands.”—­COUNT GAMBA’S Narrative.]

“I wish something was heard of the arrival of part of the Loan, for there is a plentiful dearth of every thing at present.”

LETTER 560.  TO MR. BARFF.

“April 6.

“Since I wrote, we have had some tumult here with the citizens and Cariascachi’s people, and all are under arms, our boys and all.  They nearly fired on me and fifty of my lads[1], by mistake, as we were taking our usual excursion into the country.  To-day matters are settled or subsiding; but, about an hour ago, the father-in-law of the landlord of the house where I am lodged (one of the Primates the said landlord is) was arrested for high treason.