The Sun.
London, England, 1870-04-30 00:00:00

LATER CORRESPONDENCE,

Another dispatch from Mr. Erskine, the second in this
set of correspondence, is accompanied by further en-
closures of a character similar to the preceding. Mr.
Erskine's communication is dated April 21st, and was re-
ceived, like the others, on Friday. It says :—" Since
addressed your lordship this morning a messenger has
arrived from Colonel Thdagenis, who is the bearer of a
letter to M. Zaimii, containing so positive a refusal of the
conditions he was authorised to propose to the brigands
that he considers his mission at an end, and requests leave
to return to Athens. M. della Minerva and I immedi-
ately met the Ministers in Council. M. Pro-
velegios, Procureur-Gdneral of the Court of Cas-
eation, was sent for, and he concurred with the
Ministers of Justice and of the Interior, that the proposal
made by the brigands, that a Court of Assize should be
held at Oropos for the trial of the brigands, was altogether
out of the question. There remained nothing, therefore,
but the slight hope held out by Mr. Lloyd in his letter to
Lord Muncaster, that the brigands might after
all consent to leave the country in a British
man -of - war. T consequently saw Commander
Prowse, of the Cockatrice, and having ascertained
that he would, on my responsibility and requisition, re-
ceive these scoundrels on board, for removal to some place
out of Greece, I made up my mind to sanction the arrange-
ment. A quarter of an hour afterwards a telegram ar-
rived from Mr. Noel, from Chalcis, of which a
translation is herewith inclosed, saying that the brigands
were to go this evening to Sykamenon, a quarter of an
hour from Oropos ; that they must not be molested by the
troops, and that they would give way. I at the same
time heard from M. Zalrnis that he had also received a
telegram from Chalcis, which explained that what the
brigands intended to accept was, that they should leave
the country in a British vessel of war. All this may be a
mere feint, to enable them to get to a place where escape
would be less difficult than from Oropos ; but
at all events, I have, without awaiting your
lordship's orders, assumed the grave respon-
sibility of treating with the brigands on the terms I
have mentioned. I trust that your lordship has not
refused to sanction this measure, but an immediate deci-
sion on my part was indispensable to save the lives of the
captives, and if I have done wrong, I can only appeal to
the indulgence of her Majesty's Government.
Enclosed in this despatch. is another note from Mr.
Herbert. It is from Oropos, and is dated April 20. The
difficulties seemed greater than ever. The brigands
demanded that a Procureur should be sent to them, and
that they should be tried and condemned on the spot, and
then pardoned. " Such trial would, of course, be a farce,
if ever it could be arranged, though in substance it was no
more a farce than their trial at Athens would be if they
had the promise of a pardon.
A letter from Mr. Lloyd to Lord Muncaster, dated
April 20th, is also enclosed. He says :—" I cannot say
that negotiations have been satisfactory. The brigands
will not agree to undergo imprisonment until trial,
upon a promise of pardon ; because they say
they have so often been deceived before, and
I cannot undertake to say that any assurance
of pardon, more formal and solemn than has hitherto been
given would satisfy them. It might do so, and I think
no means should be left untried to induce the Govern-
ment to agree to this. They propose as an alternative to
surrender on parole, and go through their trial in some
village in this neighbonrhoed. No doubt this would bt