The Statesman.
London, England, 1823-06-30 00:00:00

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MEETING AT ABERDREN IN AID Utt' THE
GREEKS.
A Meeting took place at Aberdeen on Friday, lit '1
lut
Dempster's Hotel, for the above urpose, when •
ALEXANDER BANNERMAN, . was unanimously
called to the Chair, and opened the usiness of the Meet-
ing. He had already received several contributions,
owe among others, be was happy to acknoifleke that of
one of the Members of . Marischal College—and it was
with pleasure that he, noticed the presence, mantis occa-
sion, of the Principal of that University. lie then read
the Resolutions and Address of the London Committee,
which were loudly applauded.
Mr. P. BANNERMAN, Advocate, proposed the Resolu-
tions, which set forth, that the Greeks were now engaged
in the third year of a war for the recovery of their liberty
—that it was the duty of every Christian community to
promote their success,and that a Committee be appointed
to communicate with the London Committee, and to pro-
mote subscriptions.
Mr. GORDON, of Cairness, then rose and said, that,
after %that had passed, lie felt it incumbent on him to
make a few observations, in seconding the Resolutions,
and he regretted that the subject had not fallen into abler
hands. He said, " Yon are perhaps all aware, Gentle-
men, that this is not a cause in which a state has embark-
ed to acquire a greater number of subjects, or a greater
extent of territory. It is a struggle of a hole and brave
people, possessed of all the energy and courage which
ennoble man, taking up arms, resolved to perish, rather
than submit to the inhuman and barbarous inroads of the
Terks." Mr. Gordon then entered into an animated and
glowing description of ancient Greece. We regret that
it is impossible for us to give even a faint outline of the
substance and brilliancy of Mr. Gordon's speech, which,
throughout, was received with loud plaudits. Never bad
any nation, he said, or set of people, been placed in so
perilous a situation as the Greeks had been. They had
been opposed by wealth—fleets of regularly armed ships
—armies and stores of every kind; while they, on the
tidbir hand, had only a few small merchant vessels, and
the bravery of their own countrymen to protect them.—
Under all those circumstances, he need hardly say, that
at the outset of the contest, no man could have contem-
plated the victorious career the Greeks have run. or can
conjecture what they are yet able to do. He himself was
satisfied that the result would be different from what was
expected (he would not say wished for) by some, but he
thought that, from what be had seen and known of
Greece, it would soon be almost completely freed front the
Turks. Mr. Gordon then said, that the Greeks had im-
plored assistance from this and other free countries, but,
in high places it had been treated with indifference and
aversion •, but lam happy, said he, that, in my native
country, I see a different disposition. If, by the assistance
of this country. the Greeks shall succeed in their race for
their liberty, independence, and religion, we shall have
cause to rejoice, and, if they fail, we shall have the satis-
faction of thinking that they did not fall ingloriously.—
Wha'ever may be the issue of the contest, the friends of
the Greeks can honestly take merit to themselves that, at
all events, they have done all in their power. Mr. G. said,
lie would have here concluded, if lie had not heard it said
in certain quarters, that the Greeks were as bad as the
Turks, and that they had been guilty of many acts of per-
fidy and cruelty. Now, be would venture to say, that
every men who knew him, would be the last to suppose that
be was capable of vindicating any improper conduct on the
part of the Greeks. or any other nation. But he denied the
truth of the assertion to such au extent as had been made
npon that subject. It must be well known (said he)
• that, In a war of that description, eihen a whole country is
attempted to be pet to the sword, that the war cannot be
tarried on according to those nice feelings of honour which
have always distinguished the troops end inhabitants of this
country. Every thing went to extenuate or alleviate the
conduct of the Greeks in each a cense. They were no com-
mon or ordinary sufferers. They had personal wrongs to
avenge—they had been threatened with extermination, and
whenever an opportunity offered, the willingness to execute
the threat had been manifested by the sacrifice of victims.
The Greeks were, no doubt, justly enraged at the conduct of
the Turks, in putting to death, impaling, and burning their
friends and relatives ; and he would express an opinion
whether the law of retaliation had been carried too far.— Mr.
Gordon sat down amidst immense applause.
The Chairman then again put the Resolutions to the vote
of the Meeting, which were carried unanimously.
After which a Committee was named, consisting of Sir
Alexander Bannerman, Bart., Mr. Garioch. Mr. Gordon of
Cairness. Mr. Forbes of Balgownie, Mr. ft. Ahercombie,
Par. P. Bannerman, Major Leith Hay, Dr. Kerr.—Mr. Alex-
ander Bannerman, Chairman.

TOR GREEKS AND THE SPANIARDS.-0. T. Oldknow,
Esq. Mayor of this town, has done himself and the Cor-
poration also, great honour, by giving public notice,
tint on Wednesday next, he will attend at the Guildhall,
to lay before his *fellow-townsmen the communications
which he bus received respecting the present contests for
liberty and independence, in Spain and Greece, and to
adopt measures for immediately commencing and pro-
moting subscriptions in this town, for the furtherance of
these truly great and noble objects.—The Corporation
of London set the example, and the Corporation of Not-
tingham, we believe, has the honour to be the first in the
kingdom which has th-s come forward to second the ex-
ertions of the Corporation of London.—(Nottingham