Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-01-22

aak about the habits custonIs. and manners OF the
Greeks their habits all bsd---their customs arc
dtto-and as for their mnnaers the Lord only knows
whether they have any OF mott
Seriously, you have doubt heard much of the
virtue Of Grecian women. and Of the bravery and
patriotism of Grecian warriors; but If years resi-
dence in this country entities to be n Judge
I viii without hesitation declare that the women
are the most immodest AMI the men the greatest
poltroons that ever disgraccd civilized society
The country still divided, "a OF old into s,ua ra
eis cencns and the patriotism of an indiv; ,uri
10 bounded by those narrow limits. Hydrotes hate
Porioes, and Porotes hute Nor lotes-and thus it is
throughout the whole country. Each island is NOR.
tai enemy To its neighbour; and evnn among them
selves fheyare divided INFO clans Of twenty OF hun.
dred oacf, having separate leaders. Habit aud edu-
Cation have made them thieves and PIRATES. They
inherit the cunning ot their noble ancestors. and
decd, almost every thing except their virtues. When
near relation dies, some hours every day are devoted
to bowling =
This continues months years, as the case may be:
aud sometimes, believe, the chief mour.er has du-
ring fs,, devoted one hours day to this sin
gular Office Their religion consists in fas.s feasts
and useless torns-in sng-s song repetition of few
phrascs, and bespsterRg of the multitude with dir
ty water. have had lew opportunities to observe
them In domestic hfs but inclined TO believe they
are but little elevated above the brute creation An
eartheu jug, an old chest pot and few plat
tiers and spoons constitute their chsf flrnit,re bcds
table aH chairs are found only in the mansions of the
riost wealthy.
Before the most of the male Inhabitants of the
ISLANDS were employed IN commensurate aft erWards
In combating their enemies, the Turks but since the
arrival of Lord Cochrane their ships have been aul
ed mp, dismantled, and rotting in their har-
bours, while the sailors lounging, slipping coffee
gambling, smoking their pine, counting their beods
in the Coffee-H House. few carry on a petty trn.rc
between the islands in bosts; but of them are
too proud for such bIconsiderable employment The
women more industrious than the msu--with n
spindle in hand and bunch of cotton in the other
they may be seen spinning through the streets The
Greeks are very ignorant. Even the most wealthy
are deficient in writing and spelling. II is affirmed
Il know not how correctly that there is but one of
all the Hydriote captains, who either write or
take an obseryation; and that even Admiral Malls
when he signs his name is accustomed to count the
marks backward, to that all right The Greeks
however, feel the necessity of being better informed
and great national we'll individual efforts are ma
king to establish schools.
l have, - the s"iors say, "spuu long yarn
about Greece. 1t Is indeed gloomy picture-bnt
what can you expect from a nation that has
been seven yeurs absolutely without lawss What
was France drriug her state of anarchv,. and shall
we expect more from the ignorant aud long ensIa-
we'd Greeks than from that enlightened people. For
four years, Poros without the shs dow of Govern
ment--yet murder of occurrences NV
chief surprise is that the Greeks are no worse
hope a liberal and enlightened government will vet
arouse them from their rsPntal letharGv. see The
germ of Improvement herr, and nothing is wanted but
the unremtted excrtons of true philanthropists to
make It bud, blossom, and flourish
Yours, truly,
JOHN. ID. RUSS