Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1822-08-15

The following affecting appeal from the
Greeks al Constantinople to their brethren
anG countrymen here, was received by
the last mail from Turkey. We publish
il without comment, leaving the statement,
as it will do most eloquently, to speak for
itself:
Constantinople, May IS, 1922.
"Dear and beloved Brethren and Coun.
trymen.-We doubt not that the news con-
tanned herein must have already reached
you, and fallen like a thunder-bolt on your
hearts. What more dreadful than the
knowledge that our illustrious and inno-
cent country nen-ten of them in prison
here, and those in the castle of Scio, IS
IN all-universally esteemed and respect
ed, chosen and held as hostages Tor more
than a year past, have at last, without a
single motive, without even the shadow of
a personal accusation against them; been
barbarously executed? W. at first deeply
lamented the unmerited restraint put upon
the persons Of those now no more; their
dsath, ig%nominious and cruel, in the first
burst of grief nearly paralysed our facul.
ties, Who can, without %shuddering, read
of the total ruin, the universal desoIation
of our famed and once happy isle (Scio);
the destruction OF all its inhabitants, near
ly one hundred thousand, who, except a
very lew who almost miracuIously escaped
from those ill-tated shores have fallen VIC
TINS to the sword, to fire, hunger. and sla-
very--that worst of all evils? Who can,
without feelings OF Indignation, without
execrating the perpetrators OF those horiid
acts behold a whole city lately SO flourish
ing. now one heap of ruins; whole villa.
ges. innumerable country seals, a prey TO
the flames; our celebrated school, library,
hospital for the sick. hundreds Of churches
richly adorned-all, all one confused mass
of smoking rubbish! Our island lately so
much frequented by Europeans, and more
especially by English families OF the first
rank, will now have only her ashes to show
the passing stranger. Nor is this so dread
iul it itself, the most dire of our calami-
ties. The slavery of so many respectable
women, young people, and children of
both sexes, sent off to different parts of
Asla-the markets of this city and Smyrna
filled With women and young people of
the first rank, and who have received the
best education! What can be more dread
full than this? Happy, thrice happy those
whom the steel of the assassin bas snatch
ed from scenes so narrowing to the feelings;
how miserable those still suffered 20 exist,
who see the sufferings, hear the cries and
plteous accents of their wives, children,
and relatives, and are witnesses to the bar
barous treatment this devoted and inno-
cent people receive from the wretches who
have them in their power! What can be
laid to our charge? We poor Sciots, who,
from the beginning have remained faith
full. are rewarded with death and slavery.
1t is we'll known, as soon as the Porte
heard of the instruction in the Morea,
and sundry islands of the Archipelago, it
sent here a Pacha, having with him about
three thousand troops; the whole OF the
expenses of this garrison was betrayed by
our island, which, in the course OF about
fourteen months, paid more than 2, 100000
piasters, each according 10 his means.-
Besides that, the Sultan ordered a choice
to be made of sixty OF the most considera-
Bile and respectable from our countrymen,
beginning by our Archbishop Plato, the
elder, and other principal inhabitaats,-
When the news of the invasion of the i'm
prudent Samiotes first spread in Scio, the
principal inhabitants waited on the PaCba
to apprise BIN OF it. What was bis an
to send into the castle, as hostages
some more of these innocent men, and to |
transport all the pro visions out Of the city
into the citadel, not leaving any whatever
for the poor inhabitants of the city, who
were so numerous. A month after, when
the Samiotes landed, the Pacha sent some
of the hostages, with severel Turks, TO
prevail on the Samiotes to evacuate the
but they imprudentIy resolved to
advance, and told these ministers Of peace