Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1840-12-10

EsN~iAb W tus WIZ d4SO fCNGftBU
the Long Walls. The Roman General
had but little respect for the classic nlonu-
ments or history OF Athens. When the
ambassadors, who came to him with pro.
posals TO save the city, endeayored 10 pro-
pIiiate him by reciiing the past glories Of
Athens, they were rudely interrupted by
Sylla, who bluntly exclaimed, "Go, my
noble souls, and take back your fine
speeches with you. For my part, was
not sent TO Athens 10 learn its antiquities,
but to chastse its rebellious people,"
Part of the road lay through an olive
grove, portion Of which extends over
the ground which once formed the site of
the Academy. As we approached the
city, we were struck with its modern ap.
pearance. The houses, clustered togeth.
er at The foot of the Acropolis, are, for the
most part, of frame; the better part OF
them built in the style of Italian Villas -
AS we whirled along, we caught glimpse
of the Temple of 'rheseus, and the Aero.
polls, crowned with magnificent ruins Of
Temples. Influenced more by the name,
than any thing else, we drove to the Ho-
tel de Londres," which we found quite
tolerable, batting the occasional visitation
OF few importunate tleas, which being
Athenlan, we felt bound, out Of respect to
their ancestors who had bitten the Socra.
ties, Mitiades, etc., of times past, TO in
dulge with taste Of our barbarian blood.
The steps of the hotel were ornamented
with some antique vases, which had been
dug up from the earth beneath, while The
yard was strewn with the trunks, limbs,
and headless bodies of statues.
The modern Athenians resemble their
ancestors in one respect at least they
have the same busy, eager, inqusitiye,
and idle habits. AT any hour Of the day
you will find the Cafes thronged with
oilers, reading the journals, and canvass
ing the men and measures Of the day.
But a few years have elapsed since the es.
tablishmeni of the independence ofGrcece,
yet not a Turk is now 10 be seen in Athens,
except those connected with the resident
embassy. The Turks we've formerly the
civil governors oil the country, aud the
possessors Of the soil. They have been
Invested, not only of their dominion, but
the land has been restored to those who
cultivate it. Their very memory seems
10 be datested for, in all Greece, | did
not see single Turkish cemetery which
had not been violated, lis expresses cut
down, and the tomb stones overturned and
broken. Habitatlons were consumed, the
ancient temples injured, and the Turks
seemed resolved to realize the boast OF
Alaric, that tie grass should not grow
where they had trod, for they carried not
only an unrelenting war against man and
the brute creation, but they applied the
torch 10 the olive groves, and consumed
the greater part oil these trees, which are
Of as multiluuous utility 10 Greece as the
palm to Egypt.
The Bavarian dynasty is very unpopu-
lar in Greece. The Revolution had pro-.
duced several chiefs of great merit, who
had signalised themselves by feuts of ex-
traordinary courage, which might have
cast lustre on the heroic age. Many
OF these chiefs had, for several years pre-
ceding the breaking out Of the revolution,
betaken themselves to the Businesses ofihe
mountains. Here they maintained their
independence, and occasionally descend
cd TO make a desolating .foray upon the
Turks. Their life was wild and savage,
but they preferred its hardships to life
in the plains, the subjects of Turkish cru.
city and tyranny. This wild and rowing
career was just the kind OF discipline like
ly to form bold and hardy spirits. When
4 kr. Lrol,o tIotr ,ND,,.oI
down from the mountains, and their chiefs
became the leaders Of the movement
Gourra, Odysseus, Baizarius, Karskai-
as, and Colocotronl were men Of this char
acter. The Egyptians, under lbrahim
Phsha, marched through the Morea in
overwhelming force, ravaging tho coun
try, burning the villages, nnssacreiug tho
inhabitants as they fled from beneath
their burning roofs, and converting the
whole country into such desolatioa that
not tree or blade of wheat was left
standing upon the route they had travefs-
ed. Whenever, however, this host was
divided, the little bands Of Greeks, who
were always lowering on their rear, fell
upon them, and destroyed them. Botza-
ris at Carpepitzra, in midnight assault,
attacked force quadrupe his own. fought
his way sword in hand 10 the tent OF the
Turkish General, cut off his head with
his own hand, and put his army TO rout.
When the war closed, the chiefs Of the
revolution were 100 aspiring characters
to be satisfied with inferior employments.
Each was ambitious to rule.-The choice
first fell upon Capo d'Istra, whose turbu.
lent sway was violently put an end to by
the pistol Of an assassin. After his death,
Colocotroni and others raised the standard
OF civil war. The nation finally solicit
ed the great powers to choose them some
European prince as King, as in the then
disturbed condition ofthe country, no ma