The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1827-12-26
Gsemrral f,ttellt9emre.
From the Boston Daily advertiser.
GREECE.


The late intelligence from Greece, which
has reached US, through private channels,
possesses painful interest. The return OF
the brig Statesman to this port, has brought
letters fiom DIR. Howe, Mr.. Miller, and DIR.
Russ, and other late arrivals from the
Archipelago and Smyrna, have brought us
accounts of extensive piracies, committed
on our vessels and those of other countries,
Notwithstanding the powerful fleets OF all
the maritime nations which are maintained
in those seas. Seven years ago continent
al Greece, and the islands of the Archipel-
ago, were filled with an active, intelligent,
Industrious, and in part, moral people !;
but imDerfectly educated, in many places
possessing the vices of half civilized
people, and subjected to the most Cypress
i've of all governments, the arbitrary sway
of rapacious, sensual and naughty govern
ors, of another race, and another religion,
who regard them less as Subjects, than
as slaves. Under all the disadvantages of
their situation, subjected to heavy exac-
tons from their conquerors, and with a
very imperfect security for the property
which they acquired by their skill and in
dustry, their condition was gradually i'm
proving they had provided in many places
the means of education; the lands, though
in general claimed as the property of the
Turks, who exacted large portion OF the
lncurneI were cuIUlvated ny rneIr 1aDor
alone; and in the islands they had become
the owners of a great number of ships,
which were employed in profitable trade,
and in consequence they had acquired
wealth and lived in affluence.
The revolution broke out prematurely
! without the concurrence at first of great
part of the population, yet the whole nation
were in short time impelled by all that
was noble in their nature to take part in it.
They had not the knowledge or the expe-
rlence that could qualify them for the task
4 OF self government, nor the confidence in
one another to produce harmony and al
though they are descended from common
stock, speak common language, possess
common religion, and are devoted with all
their souls to common noble cause, there
have always been found among them too
many of the elements of discord, to ena-
bic them to act together, with effect, as a
nation. Want of skill on the part of their
chiefs at one time, of honesty at another,
OF confidence at another, and want of
money and means for carrying on extern
siye and efficient operations at all times,
has prevented their displaying when acting
as people, almost any portion of that
energy and devotedness, which has dis
tlngulshed them as individuals, and when
acting in clans, and under their known and
acknowledged leaders. In consequence,
their whole warfare for two or three years
past, has been almost continued series of
disasters, and they have been reduced to a
state OF poverty, desperation and wretch
edness beyond description. Their houses
are plllaged and burnt, their farms are I'M
titled, overrun by invaders and despoiled of
fruits and flocks, their men are cut off by
successive sieges and battles, their women
and children are sold as slaves, or are be-
come beggars among people who have
nothing to give, their ships have been long
useless for purposes of commerce, their
mariners have been for years either in the
public service without pay, or destItute OF
employment, those who lived by industry
have become destitute, and those who we've
rich have become poor. Many have per-
ished by the sword in the course of this
long and exterminating war, many more
by disease, and still more by want. 1t is
not become extinct that there are men
living to keep Up the show of resistance
to maintain possession of few towers and
tortresses, and few islands, in spite of
their enemies, and to roam about their
native mountains, still retaining the hope
of final conquest over their oppressors.
AL that can be said to account for their
present existence is, that to cut off whole
nation, toeexterminate two or three millions
of people, who prefer death to submission,
is difficult task, and one which can be |
accomplished only by time, however keen
may be the relish of their enemy for the
work. Thousands have persisted in every
part Of Greece, but thousands more sur
we. Ii is for the future to determine
whether the race shall become extinct, or
whether under the protection which the
European powers seem disposed, at this
late hour, to afford them, they shall be re-
stored to their homes, and be permitted to
bring back to the delightful part of Europe
which they inhabit, the arts of civilized
life, the blessings of humane and pater-'
nal government, and the light Of Christian
lty.
In the mean time, we cannot be surpris-
Ell at the consequences OF their present
state of wretchedness. That starving
people, free from the restraints of govern
ment, accustomed to a seafaring life, pos
sessing ships and boats, which they can no
longer apply to any lawful use, and inhab-
ting islands in sight of which the com
merce of all nations is daily passing, should
resort to a life of piracy, is as much mat
ter of course, as that those Of their coun-
trymen, who have not this resource, should
die of hunger.
We have thought these remarks appro-
pirate, by way of introducing to our read
ers the following extracts from letters from
the agents of the Greek committee of this
city.
E1tTact of letter to the Editor, from Mr.
Miller, dated PorOs, Sept. IL.
-. koo,., 81 lo.o - -, -, x.ox,,or ko