The Sun.
London, England, 1827-06-30 00:00:00

AUTHENTIC PARTICULARS.

Copy of a Letter addressed to the Administrative Commis-
sion of Greece, by his Excellency Sir Richard Church,
General in Chief.

EXCELLENT Sins—l have the honour to inform you,
that after I had concentrated a desirable force in the camp
near Megara, consisting of the corps I had ordered to
unite there, I transferred my head-quarters, on the 23d,
to the camp in Attica, commanded by General Karaiskaki,
near Port Aharon, distant from Athens about eight miles ;
and on that day and the following, the troops arrived from
Megara and Salamis, in the camp of Karaiskaki, which
had already been reinforced by the corps of Sessini
and Patmesa, and by a corps of Hydriot seamen, which
his Excellency Lord Cochrane placed at my disposal, and
which has taken post on the fortified lines of the Phalarum.

On the 25th, a simultaneous movement was made by
the principal corps under General Karaiskaki, and from
the troops in the Phalarum, the squadron directed by his
liercellency Lord Cochrane entering the Piraeus at the same
moment. The result of this movement was highly suc-
cessful, the enemy was driven from his position round the
Piraeus, and from all his posts along our line. We are
now masters of that important point, as well as consider-
ably advanced in the plain towards Athens ; and occupy-
ing, at the same time, the Phalarum, Munychie, the old
Arsenal of the Piraeus, and the strong position covering
Port Pharon ;
,the right of the Greek line being now in
the Phalarum, and the left on the chain of hills of Mount
Carydalus.

A body of Turks posted in the Monastery of St.
Spiridion, close to the Piraeus, still resist in that strong
post, and are at this moment suffering a heavy cannonade
from the flag .ship of Lord Cochrane, as well as from our
batteries on the Phalarum. They are, however, com-
pletely surrounded by different corps of our troops, and it
is probable they must shortly surrender.

The army of the Seraskier occupies the heights and a
part of the plain in our front, having his head-quarters at
Patissia ; he also occupies several posts on the sea line
near Trispirgos, cast of the Plialarinn. The positions of
the Turkish force round Athens are the same as they were
a week ago, the strongest of which is that of the Phi-
lotiepus.

Itave great reason to be pleased with the conduct and
spirit of the troops. General Karaiskaki merits the
highest praise for his zeal and activity, and I think it
but justice towards this brave officer that he should carry
into effect the movements he has himself proposed for the
deliverance of Athens; and as he has now with him, be-
sides the Chiefs already in his division, and in the Pha-
larum, the distinguished leaders of the Suliotes, Generals
Nikitas, the younger Colocotroni, and Sessini, I entertain
sanguine hopea of our being still able to save the Acropolis
from falling into the hands of the enemy.
I sin happy to may that our loss in the action of the 25th
and succeeding days has been but trifling, while that of the
enemy has been considerable. But what is of infinite ad-
vantage to us is, that the ground we have gained is highly
important for :our subsequent operations for the relief of
the Acropolis.

I have also great pleasure in stating, that we have com-
municated with the brave garrison of that fortress, which,
encouraged by the operations of the army, of which they
are spectators, have determined to hold out to the last.
I beg to assure the Government of the zealous and
active co-operation I have received from his Excellency
Lord Cochrane, Commander-in-Chief of the Naval Forces,
between whom and myself, as well as between the navy
and army, the greatest harmony and unanimity prevail.
I have the honour to be, &c.
R. CHURCH, General-in-Chief.
Head-quarters, Camp near Athens, April 27.

Copy of a Letter addressed to the Administrative Commis-
sion of Greece, by his Excellency the General-in-Chief.
EXCELLENT SIRS...-.I beg leave to inform you, that being
desirous that no obstacle should prevent the army under
the orders of General Karaiskaki from advancing i►nme-
diately towards Athens, and attacking the Turkish posi-
tions round that place, a capitulation was this morning
granted to the Turks, in the Monastery of St. Spiridion,
by which they were allowed to leave that strong post with
the honours of war, after having made a very courageous
defence for some days, notwithstanding a heavy cannonade
from the ships under the orders of his Excellency Lord
Cochrane, and the guns of. the Phalarum, besides a con-
tinued fire of musquetry from the- troops who had sur-
rounded the Monastery. The difficulty of storming this
position, from its strong and singular construction, dis-
couraged the troops from making the attempt, and the
ammunition of the ships and batteries being exhausted,

PRICE 7D.

terms were offered oft tht part of the Admiral-in-Chief
and myself, yesterday, to the Turics, with a view of saving
them, if possible, from total extermination, but which the)
refused.

General Karaiskaki having arranged with the Turks for
their leaving the Monastery, and received their standards.
he immediately formed them into a close column, in front
of the building on the land side ; and, for their protection,
threw a line of cavalry between them and the Greek troop,
occupying the neighbouring posts. Cavalry and infant',
were also posted round the column, and in the very centre
General Lavelle and several of the most distinguished Greek
officers placed themselves as hostages. The General com-
manding the irregular Greek cavalry, as well as the Com-
mandant of the regular cavalry, Colonel Almeida, were also
present for the protection of the Turks ; and, in fact, ever)
disposition made by General Karaiskaki for their safety,
he himself being present, and in the centre of the column.
En this order the Turks commenced their march from the
Monastery, and were moving regularly along ; but, as un-
happily it was generally thought in the camp that the Se •
raskier himself and several of his principal officers.were in
the convent with immense treasures, a crowd of sol-
diers from an adjoining post threw themselves into the
t onvent, in the hope of •finding booty ; disappointed in
title, they followed the column in spite of the erstOrt,
and one of them laying his hand on the sword of a
Turkish officer, endeavoured to take it from him, upon
which the Turk unfortunately fired his pistol ; this was re-
turned by a musket shot, and in one instant a firing com-
menced from the stragglers on the Turks, and from the
Turks in return. The Greek Generals and officers who were
with the column, were equally fired on by the furious sol•
diery, and saved themselves with great difficulty; as the
assailants moved on, their numbers increased from different
quarters, until the column arrived close to the hill occu- 1
I
1 pied by part of the Turkish army. Front this hill the
Turkish batteries fired upon the crowd, and destroyed a
great many of the unfortunate Turks, together with num-
hers of the Greeks ; the confusion was now at its height.
At this moment a circumstance took place which was
highly creditable to the Greek troops. The two prfncipal
advanced posts of the army, consisting of Suliots, under
General Bozzaris, and the corps of General Nikitas, un-
mindful of the immediate vicinity of the enemy, who was
firing on them, flew to protect the retreat of the Turks,
and succeeded in opening a passage for their escape, and in
this manner a number was happily saved. From the ac-
count of the Turkish Officer alluded to above, it appears
that about 130 of the column were killed, and probably
as many effected their escape.
I have no words to express my feelings iu relating
this lamentable event. I am, however, somewhat con-
soled to find, that it has excited a sensation of the
deepest indignation throughout the army, and more
particularly among the Generals and superior Officers,
and, I trust a terrible example will be made of the
principal offenders ; there is no possibility of excusing
such an act. lam willing to admit that it is difficult
to restrain the fury of an army hastily collected, and now
amounting to nearly ten thousand men, whose hatred of
the Turks has been increased by atrocities lately committed
in the Morea by the enemy, on defenceless villages, and
on women and children, not to mention the generally un-
forgiving nature of the contests. In addition to the above
causes, it should be observed that a great portion of the
soldiery forming this camp has been suffering for a length
of time under the greatest privations. My indignation is,
however, such at this moment, that nothing bat the appre-
hension of a greater misfortune—the fall of Athens—and
a conviction that there was no premeditation in the act,
could induce me to remain in the camp.
Several distinguished officers, belonging to different Eu-
ropean armies, and who are either travelling in Greece or
aiding her cause, were present when this unhappy event
took place ; their feelings are in unison with my own. It
. .

is, however, satisfactory to me, that they were witnesses of
the scene,' as it enables them to bear testimony to the facts
I have related.

Mr. Blaquiere, who is proceeding to Treesene, has kindly
offered to be the bearer of this despatch ; and, as he was
also an eye witness, he will afford your Excellencies any
further particulars you may be desirous of obtaining.
I have the honour to he, &c.
(Signed) RICHARD CHURCH,
Camp of the Piraeus, April 28. General-in-Chief.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS, FRIDAY, JUNE 29.

The Earl of SIIAFTESBURY presented a pe-
tition from a certain Society, the name of which we
were unable to ascertain, praying that they might be
relieved from the oppressive laws under which Jews
labour in these realms.

Mr. Crayfoi.:d, from the Treasury, presented an
account of the money received in the casual revenue
for the year 1826.
Mr. Richardson presented an account of the Ex-
penditure of the Commissioners for building New
Churches.

Mr. Swinburne presented the Four Quarterly Ac-
counts of the Commissioners of Westminster Bridge.
The Earl of MALMESBURY presented a peti-
tion from a parish in the Borough of Radnor against
any further concessions to the Catholics. The Noble
Lord wished to correct a mis-statement which
had gone abroad respecting his opinion of the effect
of the measure which had received their Lordships'
sanction last night : he was reported to have said,
that that measure would produce a fall in the price
of grain of from 10s. to 15s. He certainly had
stated that to be the opinion of some of the most
strenuous advocates of the measure, but he
had not declared it to be his own. Much as
he disapproved of the measure, he should be
unwilling to attribute such au operation to it,
and he was assured that a majority of their Lord-
ships we:•ld never have agreed to the Bill if they
conceived that it could produce that effect.
The Vote of Credit Bill was read a third time and
passed.
The Earl of FALMOUTH moved for a Return
of the amount of all Copper Ore imported
from South America, from January 1826 to
June 1827, and bonded for exportation, with-
out the payment of duty; an account of the
amount taken out of bond for the purpose of being
smelted for exportation; and an account. of the
amount of the copper returned to the Government
warehouses for exportation. The Noble Lord also
moved for other returns connected with the same
subject.