The Sun.
London, England, 1823-11-22 00:00:00

ITAGUE, Nov. 15.

SECOND CTIASCIIIER OF TIIE STATES-OENERAL.
The order of the day was the debate on the
project of law relative to the deposit of property
of persons presumed to be absent.
M. Nlcolai, in a very concise speech, 'hewed the advantages

of the proposed law.
Baron di Stassart approved of the law, as being eminently
calculated to preserve the interest of the absent in ordinary,
times, but he objected that it did not. offer the same security in
time of war : for instance, where a -province might be in-
invaded by an enemy, and when it might be thought necessary
to remove to some place of greater safety, the sums deposited in
the public coffers. lie is far from thinking that sucha govern-
ment as ours would ever apply such sums to its own use ; but if
the war should continue and interrupt the communication for
some years, a family may be put to great inconvenience ; he
therefore proposed that the families of the absent persons should
be permitted to receive. by way of deposit, the sums that have
devolved to such persons, in case they should desire it, and on
giving sufficient security.
Some members replied to these objections. and the question
being put, was adopted by 66 members, M. Stassart's being
the only vote against it.
The Chamber then proceeded to discuss the project of law
for relieving from the land-tax for fifteen years the build-
ings erected by the Benevolent Societies of the Hague and
Brussels.
Messrs. Barthelemy and Van Alphen spoke in favour of the
proposed law. The'former observed, that the object of the
establishments which it was intended to encourage was twofold
—to cultivate an immense tract of waste and barren land, anti
to employ in a manner useful to themselves and to society,
numbers of unhappy persons, whom misfortune and indigence
seemed to condemn to a premature death. M. Van Alphen
showed that, while England made an annual sacrifice of
80,000,000 (8,000,000/.) for the support of the poor, without
being able to extirpate mendicity, the means used in our king-
dom were much better calculated to attain that object. The
speaker remarked on the liberality of our financial laws.—
" While our neighbours (said he) try to encourage the industry
or their country by prohibitory laws and high duties, we em-
ploy the indigent in the cultivation of waste land, and our urn.
,ort duties are very moderate."
The law was adopted without one dissenting voice.

GREECE.

[From the Conetitutionnel.]
CIII.AXATA, OCT. 12.—[Extract from a Private Letter.
A dispatch boat has brought the newt' to Hydra that the Greek
fleet, commanded by Admiral Miaoule, divided into three di-
visions, attacked that of the Turks (at the end of September)
off Mitylene. The battle lasted four hours;—the Greeks, with
their fire-ships, set fire to four large Turkish ships--others
sunk, or went ashore on the coast off Asia, and two
captured frigates were carried into the port of Nara. The
rest of the Turkish fleet, pursued, took refuge in the port
of Oliveto.
Seven thousand fresh troops have left Peloponnesus. They
have already passed the Isthmus of Corinth and march on
Thessaly to join Odysseus and Nicetas, who intend to take the
offensive. . .
The Turkish army which penetrated into Liiadia, after the
considerable checks it experienced in the month of .July in
Boxitia, took refuge in the isle of' Eubcea, where it requested
from the Turks of Negropont an entry.into that place. Re-
pulsed by these last, who had not provisions enough for them-
selves, they were exposed to several attacks which the °reek
Commander, Diamantis, directed against them with much
fury. After several bloody defeats, some feeble wrecks
which had escaped the enemy's sword took the road of `Lei.count, to march on Tessaly, where they are pursued. Such
was the fate of the army slestined by the Porte to reconquer
re101)01111e6US.
The other troops, composed of the Albanians of Seodra, after
the check suffered at Carpenissa on the 20th August, took a
strong position in the environs, where it remained. in inaction.
Informed of this defeat, the Podia of Scodra advanced at the
beginning of September with the troops at his disposal, and
took the command of the united army. On the Pith September
he attacked the Commander, Contoyanne, who defended ono
of the passes to Missolungiii, and was repulsed with loss. On
the fith he attacked the Sullot corps, which occupied the other
defile. Here the combat was most bloody, and the Paella did
not retire till he had suffered considerable loss. The Ottoman
Commander, however, trusting to his superiority of num-
bers, seems disposed to persist in forcing the passage to Mis-
sehinghi. --- •
Extract qf a Letter from Florence, dated Nov. 15.
" I have had a most interesting conversation : with your
friend the Bishop about the affairs of Greece, with which he is,
perhaps, better acquainted than any other man in Europe.—
This venerable Prelate would scarcely believe me when 1 de-
scribed to him the apathy which pervades the Ministers and
people of England towards his unfortunate country. He says
that, next to sending out supplies of the nature above-mention-
etl, the greatest service die Greek Committee can render Greece
is, to convince the Government and people that it'is their in-
terest to favour her independence. The fact of Turkey being
unable everto regain possession of the territory lost through its
own tyranny and oppression, and of the well known intentions
of Russia to reach Constantinople the moment her plans are
matured, were the chief grounds of argument made use of by
the Bishop.
" The old man is of opinion that a King should be placed
over Greece. lie wovid prefer a foreigner—the Prince of Co-
burg, for instance ; or, as suggested by others, the son of the
deposed King of Sweden. Although this Monarchical spirit is
far from being general among the numero•ts Greeks I have
met with in Italy, it certainly prevails in several respectable
quarters. The Bishop quoted many eminent writers to prove
that democracies are not suited to large States, because they
possess less vigour and promptitude than smaller ones. To
this line of reasoning I opposed the splendid example of North
America, its freedom, activity,, land enterprise, so far aims e all
other nations ; and, snore especially, the inestimable advantage
of being enabled to change a President who may have proved
himself unfit to govern or unworthy of public confidence. They
talk, said I, of the prospect of small Republics and the decline
of large ones; hut they forget to cite the corruption, the
effeminacy, the disorder, and the convulsions to which large
Monarchies are subjected, while every hour adds wealth and
power to America!
" In allusion to passing events in the Morea, the Bishop
thinks Corinth must soon fall, because the supplies have been
cut off. Patras could not hold out many days against a regular
siege I it is commanded, has no casements, and is crowded with
Turks. The possession of this point would secure the fall of
Lepanto, and command all the trade of the Gulphpre-
venting the enemy from attempting another landing in the
Mores.
" There is a report at Leghorn that Mytelene has revolted.
This would be an event of vast importance. ,The island has a
warlike population of 80,000 Greeks. it possesses two strong
fortresses ; its possession would enable the Greeks to blockade
the mouth of the Dardenelles, and eventually lead to the re-
duction of Scio.
"'lll the public bodies, and eminent public men, whether
Greeks or otherwise, with whom I. have conversed on the affiiirs
of the Confederation, most strenuously urge the expediency of
our changing both men and measures in the lonian Islands.
The Russians and French contrived to conciliate these Islands
by securing the Ariatocracy, while the present powers there
have selected the most inefficient and unpopular men they could
find to fill all the places of trust.
" A notion seemed to prevail on the Continent that England
had a selfish policy in view towards Greece. 1 have,.how-
ever, laboured to produce a contrary opinion, founded on our
real interests. So long as Greece could be kept down by the
Porte the British Cabinet sanctioned her oppression : but the
moment she freed herself, and the question was, whether she
was to become a Substantive State or be added to Russia, no
doubt could remain in the mind of any sane Statesman. For
how could it be the interest of England, not only to increase an
Empire alread too large fir the safety of Europe, but make•
her a great naval Power into the bargain ?
" There is a report here that Lord Byron has offer:A to raise
500 men for the Confederation, and maintain them at his own
expence: the report relative to the resignation of Mavrocordato
requires to be confirmed. The Bishop observed tome on this sub-
ject, that if the Prince withdrew front the helm, it would only
he for a short time; isnd with a view of rendering more
important .services to his country in another place, than he
could by remaining there now that the campaign is at an eat'."