The Sun.
London, England, 1821-05-09 00:00:00

ON THE P.RESENT STATE OF GREME.

Mn. Erna-ore—l think that, under existing circumstances,
a few observations on the Greeks will be rather. interesting to
your Readers. I shall endeavour to make them acquainted,.
by a short sketch,with the ancient country of THE m IST 0 C L ES,
ALEXANDER, and PHILOPEMON ; and shall combine in
this article what appears to me entitled to credit, among the
contradictory assertions of recent travellers, with the result of
the information I have received from other quarters. The
modern Greeks have been singularly ill-treated in the works of
those who have visited them, and have had opportunities of
studying their character. I have no wish however to run into
the opposite extreme, and extol them beyond their deserts ; nor
indeed is it prudent to anticipate the eulogiums which this peo-
ple may hereafter merit from history.
Greece is certainly no longer what she formerly was ; but she •
is far removed from that state of degradation and humiliation
which is supposed.. It is true that we must not seek for proofs
of the present valour of a' Nation in the history of the high ,!
deeds which signalized her in ancient times ; but it must at the
same time he admitted that he will reason badly who, forming
his opinion of a people, depressed by servitude; from- their pre-
sent condition, shall consign them to perpetual infamy, and
pronounce them incapable of improvement under good inatitus
dons. The Greeks of the present day are certainly not eaual
to those in the time of LEONIDAS • but are 'they very inferior their ancestors, who maintained, with no slight degree of
courage and resolution, the tottering remains of their empire,
during the first half or the fifteenth century ?
',Phis question may lead to a curious comparison between the
modern Greeks and Turke, by which it would appear that the
modern .Greeks, though they do not exist as a Nation, are un-
doubtedly more enlightened than their ancestors of the Low
Empire ; that they are no longer divided, like the latter, by
theological disputes; that they feel the necessity of instruction
in the sciences of Europe, and that, free from the scholastic
prejudices of the middle ages, they ground the system of human
knowledge on its true basis, the philosophy of experience and
common sense. On the other hand, manst be obvious that
the Turks have remained stationary in the midst of the amazing
progress in the Arts, Sciences, &c. made by the Nations of
•Europe.- The Turks are now what they were in the time of
MOHAMMED ; they harepteserved the same contempt for
the Arts and Sciences; the cultivation of them is still opposed
by their religious faith, and civilization is among them in the
same degraded state.
The knowledge diffused among the Greeks has not yet
reached the lower classes, who are still buried in ignorance.—
But with the exception of a few countries, of England, France,
and Germanyeis it not the same in all Europe ? Yet, if the
exertion of those worthy philanthropists, who propagate in-
Greece -the Bell and Lancasterien mode of instruction, were
seconded by some-fortunate political tombinations, the lower
classes among the Greeks might perhaps, in a quarter of a cen-
tury, be as well educated as the peasantry of Alsace, or Scotland.
In fact, when we contemplate the astonishing results that have
been obtained in our climates from a good plan of elementary
instruction, what may we not expect among a people whom
Nature has end() led with quick conception, an astonishing ap-
titude of mind, and a memory as retentive as their imagination
is ardent ? It gives,me heartfelt pleasure to observe, that schools
of this description have been established in Greece more than
three years.
Here I cannot refrain from bestowing a just tribute of praise
to the zeal of the Greeks of the rich and commercial class.—
About twenty years ago they began and still continue to im-
pose on themselves, the greatest pecuniary sacrifices which
their fortunes will admit, to promote the civilization of their
country ; and they also . dedicate a part of their wealth to the
Support of establishments for the instruction of their fellow-
citizens, or the aniehoration of their Condition. . Considerable
sums are raised by voluntary contributions, and appropriated
to the maintenance of a number of young Greeks in the prin-
cipal capitals of Europe, who devote themselves to the study of
the Arts and Sciences, , but more particularly to the study of
medicine, and the several branches of natural philosophy. Paris
and Germany contain a great many of these young end stu-
dious adopted children of their country, who are distin-
guished for their assiduous attendance on the lectures of
the learned Professors of those. countries. At the expiration
of three or four, years they return to their native country, edu- •
cate in their turn fresh pupils, and diffuse around them the
knowledge which they imbibed at the fountain head. What a
delightful and affecting object does this travelling prytaneum
exhibit, traversing enlightened kingdoms, in order to carry
back civilization to the mother country ! Wiser than the Ar-
gonauts, their fabulous predecessors, the Greeks of the present
day think only of the conquest of this noble civilization, which
forms the true wealth of man, and ought to be the sole object
of the ambition of Princes ; a treasure far surpassing those for
which the latter have contended, and shed so much blood !
In the event of a oreat insurrectional movement being direct-
ed against Constantinople, the Northern Greek Provinces are the
most worthy of attention. Their situation, extent, and proximity
to European States, their population essentially military, and
chiefly composed of Greeks,, and the leading station they have
always occupied, all concur in assigning them the foremost,
rank in the contest which is on the eve of taking place. The
Greeks of some other provinces, may, perhaps, be more war-
like than the Walachians, but they would meet with greater
obstacles in marching on Constantinople, and there resides the
whole Ottoman power.
The Moldavians and Walachians are the descendants of those
Gette and Dacians, whom Trajan had so much difficulty in
subjugating. They are proud, bold, vindictive, and believers
in predestination t• and they make no scruple in
Turk. They nominate their Princes and . Nobles, - bean
among whom alone the Porte can elect the Hospodars who
govern them. In truth, these Hospodars, who are true
Greek Paellas, signalize their administration by shameful ex-
tortions and violence ; but the people imagine they are
free, because they are not governed by a Mussulman. The
fertility of these provinces is well known ; their horses are little
inferior to those of the Cossacks, and are capable of enduring
great fatigue. Jassy, the capital of Moldavia, contains nearly
30,000 inhabitants ; and the population of Bucharest, the capi-
tal of Walachia, is computed at three times as many. For the
last twenty years, the Hospodars have induced many learned
men and skilful mechanics to settle in those towns. It is rather
a singular fact, that the Italian is here very generally spoken ;-
the rich send their sons to study in Italy, and by a fort of na-
tional pride, they pretend to derive their origin from a Roman
colony established in their country by TRAJAN. '
Albania, or ancient Epirus. contains a much more warlike po-
pulation than Walachia. The Albanians, or Arnauts, ate re-
markable for the roughness and ferocity•of their- manners.—
The always go well armed, and • are.fond of lighting. Their
fanciful costume reminds us of that of the ancient Roman sol-
diers ; and it is a well-known fact that Rome drew her best
legions from among them. They have retained the caliga and
the mantle ; they wear a kind of cuirass, a short broad sword,
the beard long, and the arms and neck bare; add to these a
bad carbine or musket, . and you may form some idea of their
accoutrement, alike grOtesqUe and martial. • GIBBON says of
Albania, that this -country, which, we can perceive from the
coast of Italy, is less known than the interior of America. The
difficulty of travelling through it, and the savage character of
the inhabitants are the cause; but of late years we have receiv-
ed most valuable information respecting the Arnauts, the Mon-
tenegrins, and the Chimnariots, feom the works of some English
and French travellers, who succeeded in traversing. the.s country.
It was on the courage of the Albanians that the power and
audacity of the famous ALI Paula ware founded. llis active
and enterprising spirit, his ferocity and love of plunder, render-
ed him popular among these barbarians. The part which this
tyrant-should take, in- a movement against the Porte, would be
attended with the most important consequences. loannina, his
former residence, is nearly the centre of Greece ; it is inhabi-
ted by rich Greeks, and might serve as a rallying point. to Ma-
cedon and Thessally. As for the Animas, they would desire
nothing better than the plunder of Constantinople ; tney are
neither• Christians nor Mussulmen, and their mode of life has
engendered among them the most profound indifference in mat-
ters of religion.
There exists at the farthest extremity of the Peleponn esus a
small warlike people who will, ['think, one day act a glorious
part in the destinies of GrecCe. The Mainotes boast of having
in their veins the blood of the Spartans, and they are worthy-of
it. They inhabit the mountains of Laconia, and never permit
a Tuek to set their foot on them. They love to idolatry, virtue,
and liberty ; and it would seem as if the great shade of Lycur-
gus still visited them, for we find, in their customs many reesem-
blances of the excellent institutions of that. Legislator. Agri-
culture and war are the only occupations of the.Mainetes.--
They can bring into the field 15,000 fighting men, and for
some years they have made great progress in the European mia
litary exercise. There is extant a description of MaMa, written
in modern Greek by a native, which contains very interesting
particulars of their character. The virtues of hospitality whiten
distinguish these people, their mutual confidence m the trans-
actions oflife, which are carried on without the aid of any Ma-
gistracy, their high respect for modesty and her sister virtues,
the Christianity of the primitive Church preserved among them
in its sublime simplicity, the peaceful- and democratic regula-
tion of their internal police, present a picture worthy the pen
of a Tacitus.

This article has already occupied too much space, but when
we are transported in imagination into a land so fertile in im-
posing recollections, when we recal to memory the glorious
nand' s of Athens and. Lacedemop, we are lost in thought and
suffer ourselves to be led away by illusions, why should 1 not
say hopes, which are,noble and, enchanting, though they may
prove chimerical. The love of order should not in our minds

supersede the interest which we ought to feel for suffering and op-
pressed Christians : nor does the respect due to legitimate Govern-
ments incline us to admire the government of the Grand Turk.
May 8, 1821. F. B.