New-York daily tribune., 1858-07-26

ATHENS, April y. lo.,o.
Ton d.ys sgo. returned iron sn eScarsson ia
pnusj;, or Northern Greece. 1y rouse ~A'
,.,ourh Ro,otis to Parrassus. AID thence norn-
ws,d 10 Thsrnopyle aud tae frontier OF Ihessaiy'
whence crossed to the Island o' hu'Ta ana re-
turuad By wsy of Chassis to Athens. Except
| Aca,uania Etcls and some oi the Cycade''
bsxs th.rsiore yi..ted all parts OF Modern GREECE
Ard % far AZ pe rsons observation aud ioquir! can
,ccou,lish in the space OF four months, may con-
s;1sr mxse,f tolerably familiar with the condition
| of the country and ts iohabitants la summing
NJ, nv impressions and throwing toem toeetner III
| the form Of general statement snaIi eude"0t
| 20 be lust. believing myself to be uDpfeJudceo'
hsye lately Looked over several recent WORKS on
| Greece. ard have been surprised to hnd 80 muco
| of apartsan spri. in them-as if the postion aod
| character of Greece aud the Greeks were ques-
| ton TO be debated rather than picture 70 Dc
drawn. One author is too favorable, another too
severe and | foresee that, nasmuch "a my pain
| lies between the two extremes, shall be- TO some
extent, discredtsd BY both sides.
The fact ia. a few deeds OF splendid herolsm
| hsye thrown deceitul halo over the darker lea
| tures of the Greek War Of Independence, and
nc,t Of those who bend in reverence to the name
| of Marco Bozzsris do not know that his uncle
Moth stole supplies from bis own troops TO Sc" 70
| the Turks-that, while CaDaris and Maulis were
brave and incorruptible COlocotron filled his purse
| and made towards of his men-that, while harsiS-
kskis was honorable others broks the most solemn
os,bs of their religion. aud murdered the captives
| they had sworn to spare. One can say thas Tue
| Greeks are what the Turks made them--that we
shoud NOT expect TO find in slaves the virtues oi
freemep; but treschery and, perjury we're never
| characteristics Of the Moslem 1t is the corrupt
| leaven of the Lower Empire which still ierments
| in the veins of this mixed race. l have already
said and repeat il. that not oneiifh OF the pres
ent population eau with justice be called Greehs.
| The remsinder are Slavonians Albanians aud
| Turks, with slight infusion Of Venetian blood.
| Onlv in Mains on the slopes of Parnassus aud 10
pnrts of Doris, did find the ancient type in any
| considerable amount. In the war, the Albanian
blood-the Suliotes, Hydriotes and Spetzio!es-
achieved the greatest distinction.
Owing to this admjxture-when not always OF
race yet still of character and assocation-there
| is great diversity in the nature of the modern
Greeks and their number is still small thst one
must be cautious in stating general characteristics.
Some features OF the ancient race are still pre-
served: they are vain, laxative, f,nd Of argument
and fond of display. Their appreciation of Art,
| however, has utterly perished. Most OF them pro-
| fess leaning toward democratic principles, yet
| they are pleased as children at the tawdry pOmp
which surrounds throne. They are passiOna.ely
fond of gain, vet, with the most elastic tempera-
ment in the world, dislike manual labor. One of
their best general traits s their eagerness to fearn
but unfortunately, it ceases AZ soon us they are
capable of obtaining an office under Government.
Official corruption is as prevalent in Greece as
ss-as in the United States, but there is no means
OF preventing it here There is not an honest sooi-
ety sufficiently large to brand the genteel pick
pockets, and the great bulk Of the population
are in no better condition than the Christian sub
ects Of the Sultan, while horde Of eecnes, mill
tsry, naval and civil, thrive aud faten upon them.
More than prominent man here with whom l
baye coIyerSed on the state of the country has said
to ne: We want more people What can we do
with million of inhabitants ?" Yet at this moment
numbers of Greeks are emgratng from Acarnans
into Turkey There might have been long ago, a
considerable influx of German emigrsnts, yet the
Government refused to permits it.
The Greeks have three leading virtues which,
alone, form basis Of good almost sufficient to re-
deem them. They are remarkably chsste, for a
southern race; they are probably the most tenn
perste people in the world; and they are most un-
selfish and devoted in their family relations. Their
vanity also, while it re.srds their progress in many
respects, is chord which may nevertheless be
touched to their advantage. Being very sensitive
10 the Judgment pronounced upon them by otaers
they sometimes become better for the sake Of being
thought better. Hence, nothing Injuries them so
much as iDjudicious praise know family who
have acted on this principle in their treatment of
servants, and their confidence has never been
abused. In this case, however an unfay0rable
sentence would have been lasting misfortune and
the inciement to honesty was proportloDately
greater. Some Greek servants | haze reason 10
know, are great scamps, and the reputation Of the
whole class is nOne Of the best The honesty Of
the countIy Greeks, l think is quite IN 10 the
average VI people in their condition-in fact,
SIN not sure that they do not deserve credit for
not being wore, seeing that the most outrageous
arts of cheating are taught them BY those above
them.
For instance, the aericuturist is no. taxed by
assessment upon the value Of his property but by
9 title cf what bis land produces. The abomnable
Turkish sy.tem prevails, OF farming out tho entire
tthes Of the country to pack Of contractors, who
pay certain sum TO the Government, and tnen
make the most Of their bargain. In measuring the
grain, the law requires tast it snail De poured