Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-08-29
THE GREEKS.


The annexed letter from DR.. Howe was re-
ceived by late arrival. Though it gives no
late or encouraging information,it will be read
with some interest by the friends of Greece.
NApoLI, April 80, 1926.
Dear Sir--I write you with an almost break
ing heart. Missolongh has fallen! her brave
warriors have thrown themselves in despera-
ton upon the bayonets Of their enemies-her
women and children have persisted in the flames
|Aof their own dwellings,, kindled by their OWL
hands, and their scorched and mangled carca-
SEES, lie damning proof of the selfish indiffer-
ence Of christian world. Christian, do say?
kalas! fear christianity has fed from the world:
You send missionaries to the east and to the
west, and from pole to pole; millions are annu-
ally paid for the support Of pampered priests,
or Of over endowed institutions, while the poor
Greeks are left to worse than slavery and death.
For ten months have the eyes of christian Eu-
rope been turning upon Missoonghi; they have
seen her inhabitants struggling at enormous
odds against the horrors of war and famine; her
men worn out, bleeding and dying; her women
gnawing the bones Of dead horses and mules;
her walls surrounded by Arabs yelling for the
blood OF her warriors, and to glut their hellish
lusts upon her women and children. All this
they have seen and not raised finger for her
defence, and at last they have seen the catastro-
phe. You may talk to me of national policy, &
the necessity Of neutrality: but say, curse up
on such policy, it is contrary to christianity and
humanity; it is disgrace 20 our age, that two
millions OF christians should be left TO the Sabre
and yoke of the Turk.-Pardon me, perhaps
my language is too strong-but when l think
of Missolonghi, when | think of the protracted
sufcrings of her inhabitants, many Of whom,
knew, | cannot restrain my feelings Jarvis, too,
poor fellow, | fear was there. | have before
mentioned him to you-the young American,
who ranked SO highin the army; heard few
days ago that he had entered the place, and
been twice wounded-if this is true, he is lost;
for he could not cut his way out; well, peace to
his ashes, he has fought often for the cause, and
at last sealed bis love Of it with his life.
My last letter 10 you was from Athens, and
think dated about the first of January, in that
informed you of the need MissoIongl,i then
stood in of provisions, and of the exertions
which were making to get out the Greek fleet
to their relief. Missolonghi was then sur
rounded by the Albanian Turks, and bockaded
by the Alexandrian fleet: the Arabian army,
under Ibrahim Pacha, was then near Salona.--
Soon after the opening of the year, Ibrahim Pa
cha sat down with his army beiroe Missolonghi
and increased the number of its besiegers to
$4,000. On the 18th Jan. the brave old Adj
miral Miaulis, with the Greek vessels arrived;
he Immediately attacked the enemy, burnt one
corvette, took fire ship, and drove the rest Of
the fee, under the guns of Patros. He then at
lacked and destroyed the enemys feet OF boats,
upon the shoals of Missolonghi, and threw into
he 4 Iyo he which
all the limited means the government had al
lowed them to send. This supply animated the
courage Of the Greeks; they bravey repulsed
the almost daily attacks of the enemy, who
twice carried one Of the batteries and entered
the town, but was driven out again with great
loss. Nevertheless, the Pacha continued his
operations with great vgor; the town was bonn
barded day and highland during the last
three months, it is supposed that two, out of
the three thousand fighting men of Missolon-
CHI were killed or wounded. Meanwhile the
Greek fleet returned to Hydra. The siege was
hostly pressed during the month of February,
and until the middle of March, at which time
the Turkish squadron surrounded the little ISL
and of Vasiladi, situated at AND defending the
mouth of the harbor, and commenced a most
furious bombardment; ii was desperately de-
Tended by a little band Of Greeks, who repulsed
every attempted landing, unlila bomb falling
upon, and bursting in their magazine, caused
the whole 10 explode, and left the poor fellows
without a cartridge. Reduced to this mlsera-
bic situation, they awaited the approach of the
enemy, and persisted sword in hand, save about
thirty, who escaped to Missolonghi Thus was
the town again reduced TO extremities; their
two months provisions were nearly exhausted,
and even should the feet arrive with supplies,
the possession of Vasiladi by the enemy render
ed it extremely doubtful whether they could be
gotten in. A few days after, Anatolco, another
Island about miles from Missolonghi, was at
tackled at the same time by the feet, and by the
Arabian army, who waded across the shallow
channel that separates, ii from the main, made
landing and marched up to the town. Their
first column was cut to pieces, and driven back,
a second attack was not more ssfuI; but at
the third, they broke through the feeble deten-
ces of the Greeks, hewed down the soldiers
where they stood, and butchered or carried off
as slaves, 5000 women and children.
Meanwhile every exertion was making to get
out the Greek fleet with provisions for Misso-
longhi, but this was not effected until the first
Of April 1t soon arrived there and the sight
oft for moment cheered the furnishing Mis-
al {ou