The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1823-07-22
AFFAIRS OF GREECE.

London, .UGy 30.-The affairs of Greece seem
approaching TO an interesting, perhaps a deci-
sive crisis There is bare possibility, and even
some faint hopes are entertained of n pacific ter
mination Of the contest. 1t is asserted from va
rious quarters that the British Ambassador has
submitted a Memoir to the Divan. detailing
infinitely pacific arrangement, BY which the
Greeks, on the one hand should be recognized
as an Independent nation, and the Porte, on the
other, be Unidentified for its loss of revenue-the
chief advantage which the Porte drew from its
Christian subjects by an annual tribute. This
no doubt would be infinitely beneficial TO the
Greeks. Surprising that the tribute agreed up-
on, should considerably exceed the revenues
hitherto received by the Porte, still the burden
would be much lighter to the Greeks, who would
no longer be vexed by the pilage and exactons
of the Turkish Governors. But there appears
no probability that the terms, such as they are
described, will be agreed to by the Porte. and
the business is likely to be decided BY the sword.
From recent accounts, it can hardly be long be-
fore the two parties grapple. The Turks have
made formidable preparations. Firnans have
been issued, commanding the Turkish Governors
to send what money they can procure to Con-
stantinople. The Turkish system of taxation is.
we need not mention, rather summary 1t falls
ton, or Greek rite, still under the dominion Of
the Porte. The property of the Greeks who
were assassnated in the Island OF Cyprus has
been torn from the surviving heirs, and sold for
the benefit of the Porte--that of the Greek
who are either suspected or have disappeared,
disposed of in The same way--and, in addition,
the villages along the coast, chiefly inhabited BY
Christians, piaged and burnt by the Egyptian
garrison of the Island. 1t is by sea that the
Turks seem disposed to make their principal at
tack. The Musseman force is formed of three
squadrons--tle united Algerne and Tunisian,
the Egyptian, and the Turkish sqnadrons, which
are stated to amount i'll all to 100 sail of various
sizes and denominations Tins is the most for
midable armament which the Porte has vet sent
out But the Greeks, leaving ont of calculation
their superiority in naval skill and proves, seem
well prepared to encounter il. The Hydrut,
Ypsariet, and Spezziot squadrons, all well armed.
equipped, and ready TO sail on the first signal,
amount 10 SO ships of war of various classes, and
"a fire-ships, with which, it is known, they do
Tremendous execution. By land, also, il is sta
ted, that the Turks intend last endeavor this
season. Great efforts were in the act of being
made, in the beginning Of MAY, to raise troops
in the European provinces for the purpose OF
attacking the Peloponnesus 10000 men were.
according to letters from Salonica, to be employ
ed 10 this service, with the Pachas at their head
There is, however, less OF cordiality and crcu,n-
stance in the account Of the Turkish prepare
tons by land than by sea. But even if the
statement were true, the Greeks Of the Morca
are in state TO make successful resistances.
The whole confederacy is now under regular
Goycrnnent-the troops are regularly paid out