The Sun. — 1845-08-01 (London, England)

STATE OF GREECE. Lord BEAUMONT presented a petition against the 28th clause of the Lunacy Bill. The Noble Lord then adverted to the state of brigandage on the frontiers of Greece, to which be had some time ago called the attention of the House, and to which he now wished to direct the attention of the Foreign•ollice. The interests of France and England were identical as regarded Greece, and it was incumbent that a good understanding should  exist between them ; but it could not be denied that French interests, particularly in mercantile matters, were now predominant in Greeee.—(Hear, hear.) rise question that he wished to put was, if the Foreign-office were informed of the state of the frontier between Greece and Turkey, and, if so, whether they had taken any measures on the subject, and also whether they had sent out instructions to Sir Edmund Lyons, to have General Valence removed from the frontier. The Earl of ABERDEEN would not deny but the peculiar state of Greece might justify the Noble Lord in bringing the question before their Lordships, which, under other circumstances, he would not have been warranted in doing. He did not mean to say that England had not a right to interfere in the affairs of Greece, for she had borrowed a sum of this country, the interest of which had not been paid, and England was consequently, by the treaty, justified in interfering and having the revenue so adjusted that her own claims might be satisfied. The Greek Government would do well to remember that this was not a vain formality, but a real right, which could be exercised whenever this country thought proper. However, they relied upon the faith of the Greek Government to keep faith with this country, and act in a fair and honest manner. He would not attempt to conceal the pain he felt at the present unfortunate state of Greece. Outrages had been committed there, Murders and robberies, and violence of almost every kind—and, in short, the state of Greece was anything but tranquil and orderly ; at the same time he felt bound to say that, as a Minister of another State, he had no right to express an opinion as to the Government of Greece, nor as to the causes which led to the present unfortunate results. He had given such advice to M.Coletti as he thought prudent and useful, and hoped it would have due weight in the councils of Greece. With regard to the excesses on the frontiers, he felt bound to say that they had been grossly exaggerated. The population on the frontiers were but imperfectly civilized, and if the Cretans of old were proverbial for lying, the Greeks of the present day were proverbial for robbing. He did not deny that outrages had taken place on the Turkish and Grecian frontier, but he must, say that these outrages had, both in nature and extent been grossly exaggerated, it was likewise utterly untrue that the Greek Government had encouraged these proceedings—the reverse was the fact. The supposition that Greece would go to war with Turkey was most absurd ; how could a bankrupt State without any military force do so? And even if Turkey were not able to cope with Greece, was there not the explicit declaration of the three great Powers, Russia, England, and France to prevent any such contingency. If Colletti had for a moment imagined such a thing, he should be put into Bedlam, if there was such a place as Bedlam in Greece. The Noble Lord was under a misunderstanding, as regarded Valence. He was not a commander as supposed of any considerable force, but only the leader of t 8 undisciplined men. There was therefore not the slightest ground for uneasiness on the part of the Porte. There was no truth in the insinuation that English interests were on the decline in Greece. English interests there were as strong as ever, and it was only reasonable to think they should be so, as ten Englishmen visited Greece for one of any other country. As long as English merchants were honest in their dealings, wealthy and enterprising, so long would they command respect' and Colletti, if inclined could not undermine such influence. There certainly were English, French, and Russian parties in Greece; the misfortune was that there was no Greek party there ; that was what was desirable ; and he hoped one would, before long, take up a position in Greece. —(Cheers.) The subject then dropped.