The Express.
London, England, 1863-01-12 00:00:00

PUBLIC PZELING LA GREECE.

We learn from a Greek journal of the lit inst.
that upon the arrival of Mr. Elliot at Athens the
Public Opinion Club at once determined to send a
deputation to congratulate him upon his arrival.
The President of the club accordingly wrote the fol-
lowing letter to the English envoy :

Eieellency,—The Publit:Opinion Club, of which I bare
the honour to be presidest, wishing to send your excel-
lency a deputation to express to you its sympathy, and that
of the 'stint:heck patios, with Priace Alfred, has requested
me to ask you at what hoer you could receive it to-morrow.
I treat you will be good enough to inform me, end that you
will accept the assurance of my distinguished consideratico,
(Signed) Azaarastro 001:DALL.
_ _ _

Mr. Elliot replied iti the following triton :

Sir,—l will receive with much plower, ronraslf and the
other gentlemen to-morrow, towards noon, if that time will
suit you. (Signed) Hamm ELLIOT.

A. Geodes, Presidentof the Public Opinion Club.

On the following day the deputation presented
itself at the appointed hour, and was received by
Mr. Elliot ; Mr. Scarlett, and the admiral in com-
mand of the English squadron at the Pireus, being
present.
Mr. Elliot thus replied to the address :

I sincerely thank you for the sentiments you have =-
premed towards my country, Prince Alfred, and myself ; bet
I deeply regret that at this moment your wishes and those
of your country cannot be accomplished Farmer treaties
between England, France, and Russia., which bare recently
been renewed formally, forbid us to comply with throes
wishes. To show you, however, to what extent we there
in the desires of the 11=100, I will anomie' to you that,
although we feel that an English prime will not rule over
Greece, we cede, nevertheless, not to its future King, but to
the Greek nation, the Seven Islands, ma the condition that
the King elected by the nation can be accepted also by
England.
I much regret to announce news to you which is agree-
able neither to myself nor to your nation, but the treaties
of the protecting powers of Greece impose this duty upon
me. Turn your attention, therefore, elsewhere. You are
free to select any prince you plume who is not excluded by
treatise. But I recommend to you Prince Ferdinand,
father of the King of Portugal.

To this speech the President of the deputation
replied as under :
It is with regret that we hist this DOM, although we ac-
cept with gratitude the cession offered us ; we, nevertheless,
snore your excellency that Greece is more is need—at all
events just now—of an boooanble and sincerely coostitu-
Lionel prince than of an increase of territory. Great Briton',
above every other royal dynasty, honours and respects the
constitutional system. Besides, your excellency knows
that it is no easy matter to transfer the unanimous attention
of an entire people to a prince whom it had sot previously
thought of, sod I much fan that this refusal will occasion
serious troubles, not only in Greece, but throughout all the
Fiat.
Mr. Elliot replied :

Whoa we know our danger, we can, if we are prudent,
prevent it, The maintenance of order depetuli, therefore,
upon your ability, and that of your nation.

To this the presideut of the deputation replied :

Hitherto we have afforded Hurope sufficient proofs of our
ability and of our desire to maintain order ; but the present
coojuncture and this unexpected refusal fill us with grave
fears.

" May Divine Providence avert all dangers," aaid
Mr. Elliot, in reply; and the interview came to an
end. _ _

At eleven o'clock on Sunday morning the officers
of the N►tioual Guard, headed by their com-
mander, who resigned the previous day, hail an
interview with Mr. Elliot, in order to express to
him the desire of the inhabitants of the capital to
obtain Prince Alfred for King.