Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-09-19


der them contcnted with their submls-
SION TO the Sublime Porte, had not a
ceiling of patriotism impelled them to
ruin their own tranquility in order to
assist the noble efforts Of their less for
tunate countrymen. Governed by their
own laws, and in the full exercise OF
their own religion, n triHing yearly har-
atsch to the Porto purchased them per-
mission TO elect their governors and SEN
ate from among themselves, and freed
them from the presence or residence OF
|. Turk in the Islands. Syria was once
the happiest spot Of the Archipelago, its
plains the richest Of the Cycladcs, and
its merchants the most cnterpriStng in
the Levant; its only political grievance
the necessity of sending an annual num-
| bcr Of sailors TO the Ottoman fleet, and
its only tax abogt eight thousand pias-
tres a year paid to the reigning favorite
il 'he imperial Harem, OH whom the
revenue Of the Island was usually con-
ferrcd by the Sultan.
After protracted and gratifying visit
we rose TO depart, bat were pressed by
our hospitable host to partake OF des-
sert preparing in another apartment. Ii
was the sole produce of his own i'm
mediate household, consisting Of sweet
meats, oranges, fresh figs, peaches, mel
ons, apr;cots, and grapes, such as have.
never seen cqualicd, not in Smyrna
some OF the lunches weighing from five
to eight pounds, Of the pnrest amber
sprinkIad with red spots, aud skin so
delicate as to rufile off with the slightest
touch Of the finger. ills wine was de-
lcious, and after, pledging o'r host, and
speedy freedom to Greece, we reached
our boat and again regaincd the frigatc.
As usual, the breeze frcshcned at sunset,
and ut night VIC were again swiftly clcay-
Ing the Ngean, its sphosphorescont waves
leaving long line of light in our vessels
wake, that tracked her course along the
pitchy deep. We drove rapidly through
the straits Of Tenos, whilst the land marks
of our pilot were the watchlights and fires
that biazed from the cliffs Of Myconi and
the distant hills of Dclos.
The following day a strong head-wind
detained us till evening, beating through
the straits Of Scio, and alt ernalely tack
ing from IFS wooded coast of Chesmc
and Asia Minor. This beautiful arm of
the sea, once celebrated as the scene Of
the defeat Of Antiochus, has in later days
been rendered doubly interesting by the
struggle Of Greece: it was at Chesme,
that in I77O the Russian Admiral Orlow
destroyed the Ottoman fleet, and it was
in this same strait that in 1922 the mod
ern Themistocles consigned to des-
truction the author of the Sciotc Mas
sacrc. The view on either shore is
splendidly beautiful; but on both, the as
sociations Of memory cast feeling of
disgust over every object: we could not
look on the verdent hills Of Scio without
a shrddering recollectio:. ofthe slaughter
that had so lately stained them, whilst
the opposite and equally beautiful coast
was alike detestable as the home of its
perpetrators. But whilst to us the scene
was any thing but pleasing one, there
p as one individual on board our vessel TO
whom the sight Of this devoted island
served to summon up the most heart
rending reflections. This was young
Greek lady oftwenty-two or twenty-thrce
years Of age, native Of the island,
witness TO its massacre, and destitute
exile in consequence ofthe murder other
family. She vas now On her way with
us to Smyrna, in order to place herself
under the protection ola distant relative,
whom she hoped though family, to find
still surviving. She cat all day upon the
deck, watching with wstful eyes the
shores Of her native island, at every ap-
proach which our vessel made towards
it, she seemed straining to recognize
some scene that had once been familiar,
or perhaps somo now deserted home
that had on"c been the shelter of her
friends {; and whom, on the opposite tack,
we again ncarcd lhe Turkish coast, she
turned her back upon its hated hills to
watchthc retreating shores ofnor dcsolatc
home. | had not been aware Of her being
on board, as her national retiring habits
had prevented her appearing upon deck
during the early part ofthe voyage; but
as she drew near Scio, feeling seemed
to overcome education and prejudice, and
she sat all day beneath the awning to
satatc herself with gazing and with re-
collection.
Towards evening we drew near the
ruined town, built on tho sea-shorc, at
tho foot Of wooded hill, which had
been the site Of the ancient city Of Scio.
Its houses seemed all rooflcss and de-
serted, whilst the numerous groups of
tall and graceful Expresses which rose
amidst them, contrastod sadly with the
surrounding dcsoIation; all was solitude