Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-09-01
Extracts from DR.. Hove's Historical Sketch of thu
Greek Revolution.

friends, and even the admirers; OF the MODERN
GREEKS:
ale has been rather surprised at finding
so murh national spirit, and so much virtue
among them, than that there was so little; and
he thinks he has seen enough OF them, 10 JUS
,iry his looking confidently for the day, when
(rhey will show themselves worthy of their glo>
Tious descent; to the day when it shall no long,
err be said with truth, that "PhilopGmen was
The last Of the Greeks"
The arguments of those who reason upon
he present degraded situation Of the Greeks,
aud assert that that they are less deserving our
notice than the Turks, are not worth the pains
eta reGu,alion. The feelings of that man, who
regards with perfectly philosophical indifFer>
-eLte, such a people, such cause, and such
country, as that Of Greece, are not TO be con-
de1ned; but they are not to be envied. And
surely like allowance should be made Tor the
opposite feeling; for that enthusiasm which is
pardonable in this cause, ii in any; for 1t springs
from the best feelings of human nature. 10
admire Greece, and Greeks, for what they have
been, may not be rational, but it is natural; 10
hear the descendants Of Demosthenes speaking
The same beautiful language, which flowed like
rill, or Numbered like torrent, from his lips;
20 hearihe Modern Greek women saying, like
the Spartan marion, TO her son, a, he goes out
70 bat,le-"With it or upon ito see the de-
scendant Of Mitiades, fighting for liberty on
The battle ground Of Marathon; are scenes which
he scholar canno: contemplate without sumo
emotion; and the feelings of indifference which
philosophy tells him to substitute for il, is an
artificial, no. natural one.
But the Author has never, for an instant let
his enthusiasm blind him to the faults Of the
Greeks or influence him in recording them; nor
has he ever ranked himself among those Phil
hellenes, who have imagined that the cause Of
Greece was to be advanced, by holding up to
the world false picture Of disinterested pa
,rioism, or heroic courage OF the Modern
Greeks. he has endeavored, impSr,ially, and
faithfully 10 give an historical Sketch of those
events, which have for the last seven years so
much Interested the American public; /, is, as
vet, very imperfect, but should ii be indulgent-
ly received, ne hopes that farther researches,
and an investigation OF Turkish, as we'll as the
Greek character and actions, may enable him
10 present something, that may merit the name
of complete History Of the Revolution in
= Greece"
His description of boat builder and his i'm
plements, may DE taken as a specimen Of the
skill and ingenuity of the people. and The mis-
cradle deficiency OF their means. Defects in
the latter are, fortunately, those which are most
easily RENE died:
"Almos, every Greek sailor is capable of be-
ing ship builder, and il is surprising to see
the skill and ingenuity which they exhibit.
have been assured that some oil their most beau
tiful vessels, that are knownto all mariners as
the finest specimens OF graceful modelling aud
symmetrical construction, were built by men
calling themselves master workmen, but who
did otknow the common principles OF Mathe
mates. ] was once going along the bsaeh in
the little retired island Of Scopelus, and my at
,ention was attracted 10 long and beautifully
shaped boat, nearly finished. l approached
and found only one man, squaiting beside her
on his heels, eating biscuit. and olives. asked
him, where ,be builders were? Ego ernai,
replieSbhe; he was building her alone. look
ed round for his tools, but not seeing them,
asked him where his scale and compass were.
The man siared-l found he did no: know
Gun,er's scale from gridiron, and resolved to
wait and see him resume his work. After he
had inished his olives, wiped his mustac hos
and crossed himself three times, he got up, ex-
amined his little red cross, and piece Of garlic,
which he had nailed on the bow Of his boat 10
keep off the devil, and all other evil spirits, and
finding all well, he resumed his tools. He had
rude axe; block Of wood wiih a handle |
drove into it, for a mallet, another instrument
which he called saw, but which to me seemed |
wondrously like a notched iron hoop; and his
di,iders were formed by piece of oak wood,
split half way up, with wedge 10 push up and !,
down, to open or shut the arms; one of the split |
ends he would dip into composition Of brick
dust and spittle, TO shew me how well il would
describe circle; but his principal instrument,
and with which he could cut, plane and morlise,
and which he wore in his girdle, was long,
we'll tempered knife. went of, thinking
bout D1dalus and Archimedes; and as turn.
ed round to look again at the. gracefully mo-
deIled boat, which The old man had shaped out,
/ wondered where he got his ideas of beauty
and proportion, or il he had ever heard Of Phi.
dias or Praxiieles."