Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-03-15

oan NouCh ior the respecta0lllty OF the
source.
To the Editor ofthe National Gazette.
Tunis, January 4, 1925.
l send herewith a list containing the
names OF the vessels that have arrived
here with Greek slaves, since the break
ing out Of the war between Greece and
the Ottoman Porte; the Christian ma
tons to which they respectively be-
longed, and the number Of slaves actu-
ally on board each. The list is accu-
rate, and in fact official, although for
reasons which you will readily CON-
prehend, l must not mention how it
came into my possession. The whole
affair is well known to all the Consuls
here, and indeed is matter Of general
notoriety. In 1924 no slaves were in
troduced, not however because the, Gu
pidity of the slave traffickers had at all
abated, nor on account Of any abhor-
renee here of the Ubiquitous traffic it
self, but because the sacred cause of
Greece has become more prosperous,
and the Turks of late have been able to
make few or no prisoners.
Of these slaves, SO in all of both
sexes, the greater part were of the ISL
and Of Scios, and who in the general
massacre by the Turks, escaped a cru
ell death there, only to suffer a more
cruel fate here. Some of them are evil
IDENTIFY well educated; accustomed to
the enjoyment which wealth and intel
lect procure; and the seventies they
sustained before they could be made to
abjure their religion, indicates res
probability and heroism Of character,
which must command unqualified ad-
miration. Who can imagine the an
guish of mind to which those wretch
ed sufferers are now reduced, and where
shall we find language forcible enough
to express it? Compared with this
European slave to Tunis, how less hor-
rid is the acuteness of misery which it
causes in the African slave trade to the
west, horrid as this las, most certainly
is.
The condition of these unhappy per
sons is absolutely hopeless, except from
death; their story may become known,
but the knowledge of it can bring them
no relief. In December, 1928, Brit
fish squadron came here for the pur-
pose Of obtaining their release, but not
one was released, and all that was OBJ
tanned from the Bey, was stipulation
that this atrocious traffic should be
prohibited in future. 1t is absurd,
however, to suppose that this stipula-
ton provides any real security against
its recurrence. Ifunhappily the Turks
should make Greek prisoners more
than enough for the slave markets of
Constantinople and Smyrna, this treaty
stipulation will be no impeachment to.
their introduction here.
But whatever may be the effect of
British interference as respects the flu
ture, it has been most unfortunate for
the individuals whom its object was to
relieve. The difficulty of procuring
the liberation Of these persons is great
ly increased by their becoming con-
verted to the Turkish faith, no matter
how cruel the means by which they
had been compelled to become so, and,
perhaps the Bey himself might not in
such cases be able to deliver them to
Christian government. The arrival OF
a British squadron therefore, became
a signal for the slave owners; and then
1t was that the most inhuman cruelties
were exercised upon these unhappy
Greeks, both males and females, in or
der to force them into Mahometanism,
and thus prevent their being given up
to the British.
1t is disgraceful to Europe that the
on this side Of the Me-
should have been so long
suffered to exist. We cannot, at pre-
sent, however, hope for any favorable
change, since the principles OF govern
ment which now animates the Holy
Alliance seem to be pretty much in
unison with those which prevail here.
List, &c. of rssssls which brought Greek slaues
into Iunis.
October S, l82l.-The French gal
liot Duchess, d'Angouleme, from
with FIVE males.
December 10, ls2l.-The Tunisian
brig Eagle, under French colors, from
with two females. This YES
sell was conveyed by French man OF
war as far as Cerigo.
October IL, ls22.-The Sandman
brig John from Smyrna, with twenty
males and FIVE females; conveyed by an
English man Of war as far as Cerigo.
October IL, ls22.-The English brig
Two Cousins, from Constantinople and
Smyrna, with five males; conveyed as
far as Cerigo by an English man OF
war.
May %, ls2S.-The Austrian brig
from Smyrna, with twenty