The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1828-10-08
From the Concord Gazette.
HOWE'S GREEK REVOLUTION.

the better traits and more attractive char
acteristics, that we almost forget the blem-
ishes in our gratitude to the author for the
body Of valuable information he has pre-
sented. 1t is not however our purpose to
indite critique but the design of these re-
marks will be to give those persons, who
have not access to DR.. Howe's Sketch Of
the Greek Revolution, concise view of its
contents, that the most interesting revolu-
ton, which the world has witnessed since
our own, may be clearly understood. In
doing which, our facts will be chiefly drawn
from the work before us.
The Greek Revolution may be said to
have commenced November "a, 1920; for
on this day the Suliotes deserted in body
from the Turkish army near YaEina lake,
renounced allegiance to the Turks, and
raised the standard of revolt. Previously,
the present Sultan, Mahmoud, had reduced
all his Pashaws to due subordination except
the Pashaw of Egypt, and the celebrated
Ali, Pashaw of Albania. With the latter
the Turk was waging a vigorous war. Ali
Pashaw was at the above date 5lockaded in
his castle on the lake Yanina, by the Turk
ish army under Ismael Pashaw with which
were united the brave Suliotes. These had
been driven from Sui, their country, by Ali
Pashaw, after sustaining ID years. S'Nr in
defence OF. their homes. They now unteh
"i1u Ine Turks IN hopes to avenge the
injury, and to recover their country BY aid
OF the Turks as the Sultan had promised.
They soon found, they had nothing to gain
from the determination of Ali, that the Turk
would be faithless to his promise and
worse master than Ali had been. 1t was
therefore determined to turn the existing
state of the affairs to the best account For
this purpose, Marco Botzaris, the leader,
visited Ali in his blockade and requested
that Ali should order all the country and
businesses of Sui to be delivered into the
hands OF the Suliotes, in return for which
they were to revolt and make war against
the Turks. Pursuant to this agreement
they revolted, and were the first Greeks
who babe defiance to Turkish despotisn.
Early in 1921, Moldavia and Wafachia
joined the revolt. In these provinces Alex
ander Ipselanti assumed the commando
He was brave without enterprise learned
without a knowledge of men; and vain
without self confidence" He was born and
educated at Constantinople. He entered
the Russian service, where he lost an arm,
ana attained the rank of Mai. Gen. in the
nusslan army. He entered Moldavia the
nrst OF March IN arms, and was soon sur
rounded by crowd ofyoung men, the flower
o. Greece. These were chiefly Greeks who
had been educated in Europe, were already
prepared for engaging in revolutionary
measures were from the best families In
Greece, formed themselves into a battalion
called the sacred band, and displayed an
enthusiasm worthy of Greece. This band
was organized upon the plan of European
tactics.
During the next month this example was
followed IN most parts of the Morea, the
ancient Polopenessns. In the Morea the
standard of revolt was Gr-s -e:-.l ~ Crrlg-
.,-;t~Ly ovr.nunns, bishop of Patrass. This
TOOK place April a, 1921 and it found the
whole Greek population ripe for rebellion.
For centuries, the people had been suffer
ms the most horrible slavery, without dar-
ing to groan aloud; and now, at the sound
OF the word liberty, they raised the cry Of
vengeance and Selling upon whatever
arms were at hand they fell upon their op-
pressors-hewed down those who resisted,
and butchered those who yielded. Vain
was it to urge the policy of making prison
ers; vainer still, was the cry for quarter and
mercy: too many Greeks could remember
their houses burnt, a father murdered, or a
mother or sister violated and perhaps,
themselves treated in a way that makes
nature shudder; and they would not miss
the opportunity Of revenging their wrongs.
In the blood of their oppressors."
Argolis, and the district of Corinth soon
followed the example. Pierre Mavromi-
chalis, Bey of Mama, was one of the most
able and active leaders Under the Turks
he held lucrative Office, his influence was
great, and he could gain nothing by revolt.
Yet seconded by his patriotic brothers and
sons, he led the Mainotes from their noun
tains and took possession of Calamata and
the surrounding country. At this period
Colocotronl, with his nephew Niketas, left
the lonlan Islands and went to the Morea.
In the meantime the cry reached the ISL
ands. Spetzia and Ipsara raised the stand
ard ofrebellion. But Hydra hesitated. This
island scarcely felt the Turkish yoke. They
paid light tribute to the Sultan, but gov
eTned themselves, and had not a Turk upon
the island. They were rich, for commerce
gave them wealth, and they had nothing to
gain, but every thing to fear from war
But the lower orders and middle classes
caught the fame. and the primates were
compelled to yield to their Wishes GER
80" '0mag0gue, capt. Antonio, persuaded
the people to compel the primates to Fl out
a squadron at their own expense and to
give $50 piasters to each sailor, and the
primates were obliged to comply with this
popular demand.
Such was the state of the instruction in
May, 1921. Ipselanti had an army in Mol
davia Botzaris headed the Suliotes in AL |
BAN; nearly all the Morea, and the most
important islands were in open revolt; and
the first steps were taken toward the foun- |
dalton OF navy. Greece could not retrace
her march; victory or extermination was
the only alternative offered to her sons. 1t |
was at this time, that the Sultan sanctioned
an outrage, which widened the breach, and |
rendered reconciliation almost impossible |