The

life, or any other valuable property he might possess, that he would consent to inform the anxious crew as to the existing state of matters. position of affairs, according to his account, was this: Messalonghi, a somewhat insignificant looking town, situated on the edge of a marshy place, and surrounded by the high hills of Zygos, was at present garrisoned by a most gallant assemblage of Acarna nians, Etolians, and Epirotes, amounting to nearly 5,000 combatants, whose extraordinary bravery and unflinching endurance were destined to call forth the admiration of all Europe-but what were these to the army of 20,000 men, who were now hastening to assail them, under the command of one of the most able generals which Turkey ever knew, and who seemed to have turned all the pertinacity and firmness of his character into the one stern resolution of subduing and destroying utterly this long-coveted town.

Messalonghi was, in fact, considered by the sultan as the very stronghold of rebellion, which, could he once obtain, he believed it would be the means of delivering up to him the whole country. Furious at the defeat of the cowardly Omer Vriones during the last siege, he had now appointed Reshid Pasha, his prime minister, to the command of the imperial troops, investing him with unlimited authority over the western provinces of the empire, and supplying him with an ample treasure from the government stores. In addition to this, one of his naval commanders was occupied at Alexandria in hastening the equipment of the Egyptian fleet, who were to send troops as a reinforcement, and also to oppose the proceedings by sea of the Greek admiral Miaulis. In short, the garrison of Messalonghi seemed to await the assault of the whole combined forces of the Ottoman empire; and they well knew that from Reshid Pasha they must expect no mercy, for he was as cruel and treacherous as he was intelligent and brave. Calmly, however, they had employed themselves in increasing their means of defence, and strengthening the citadel, under the directions principally of Lord Byron.

"And now," continued Manouk, "I have to tell you of the heaviest blow that has befallen your country, even

amid all her sufferings-a blow so sudden and so irreparable, that I myself, true Moslem as I am, could not rejoice at it. A few days after we had landed here, there was a riot in the town. A Swiss was accidentally

killed by a Souliote; and when he was taken up, his countrymen flew to arms to defend him, and would have caused much bloodshed in the town. The troops were ordered out in vain ; nor would they heed the voice of their commanders. I was with Vasili in the midst of the confusion, and saw it all. The authorities at last became anxious for the safety of the town, and were greatly perplexed in their wish to find some means of quelling the tumult without loss of life. Suddenly there came one riding down the street on his jet-black horse, calm and composed as though the tumultuous crowd around him had assembled for rejoicing. He turned round his face, and those who looked upon it once never forgot it-his pale and beautiful faceand stretched out his hand towards the rebellious troops. They paused in their strife to look on him. Then he spoke, in a voice like music, and commanded them to be still, and not to waste in vain disputings the strength and life they soon must lavish on the enemy. He told them, if they proved thus unworthy of their country-if Greeks thus turned against Greecehe would abandon them, and return to die in his own far distant land. Then, at these words, with one shout they flung down their arms, and called out, Zeto Byron' (long live Byron); and he smiled upon the enthusiastic soldiers with a sweet and gentle smile, that would have won their hearts if they had not half worshipped him already, and then rode back to his house in peace.

"It was but one week after this, when the sun rose one morning as though shrouded in a thick, dark pall, and all things, even at the early dawn, portended a most awful storm-clouds black as night hung over the city, spreading themselves out above it like a mourning veil-the sea moaned and writhed, as though some dread stern spirit were making a pathway of its billows to advance upon the town, and the ill-omened birds which haunt the graveyards came hovering and shriek ing round our streets. You know wel

how unusual is a tempest at this season, and all men said that some great evil was at hand. Still the storm delayed its approach, though it sat brooding in the burdened heavens as though it waited for its hour to come. The day was that following the Anastasin (or Resurrection-Easter- Monday), but no one dared rejoice as Christians are wont, because of these portentous signs of coming ill. At length, one hour before the sunset, the sky so black and lowering was rent by one tremendous flash of dazzling lightning, and a peal of thunder, so loud and awful that it seemed rolling up from the very depths of the unseen world, burst over Messalonghi with a fearful sound. Just as it died away, there rose among its echoes one long shriek from a house round which thousands of watchers were assembled, and the cry went through the city that Byron had expired at that terrific moment.

"And so it was. In the midst of

that extraordinary tempest the poetspirit had been summoned forth, and for many days there was weeping and wailing through the land for the untimely fate of the noble Frank stranger, such as had never been wrung from the stout Greek hearts, even when they saw their own devoted dead falling round them before the blast of war, like autumn leaves driven earthward by the wind."

When Manouk had given his account of this public misfortune, he concluded by informing his listeners that Reshid Pasha and his tremendous army had penetrated into Acarnania some days previous to their arrival, and might therefore hourly be expected. Every preparation was now complete. To the Philellenists, he said, had been given, at their own request, the most difficult post of any, which was the defence of the powder magazine, and thither he now conducted Lester and his young adopted sister.

Two days later, the Greeks looked down from their ramparts on the countless hosts of their foe. Far as their sight could reach, they saw the standard of the Crescent waving, and all around them the Turkish vessels lay thick on the sea. A skirmish took place immediately, during which the Moslems threw a number of shells among the besieged with such good aim, that they commenced at the same time as extraordinary a siege as Europe ever witnessed, and the frightful sufferings which it entailed on the Messalonghiotes, who were destined to see them as they burst destroy a number of persons, and those principally helpless females.

It were tedious and uninteresting, even if our space allowed, were we to give the details of this celebrated blockade during the first ten months. With the usual variation incident to such a combat, it presents ever the same aspect-displaying, on the part of the Turks, a resolute, constant, and positive determination, not only to achieve the entire subjugation of the place, but its actual destruction; and on the side of the Greeks, a firm and

most devoted constancy in its defence, and that without the slightest hope;

for it was evident to all that there was no possible termination to the siege which would not involve their total overthrow. Nor was it themselves alone whose utter ruin was at hand, but their wives and children, their infirm and aged-all, in short, whom the town contained, must perish with them. Reshid Pasha had given them a means of calculating what amount of mercy he was likely to bestow on them, by causing a priest, two women, and several children, who were caught at tempting to escape from the city of famine, to be impaled before his camp! But, with no other prospect save that of certain death before them, they swore, if need be, to bury themselves in the ruins of their home, but never to desert their post.

Three several times during this fearfully-protracted strife their provi sions had failed them entirely, and three times the whole population were saved from a death of famine through the unflinching bravery of the admiral, Miaulis, who remained in the most dauntless manner in the roadstead, though surrounded by Turkish ships, and who succeeded, by exploits of singular daring, in conveying grain into the town. The Moslems, however,

directed the utmost care to the closing up of every channel of communication; and at last no other was left but one narrow creek, concealed by reeds, through which small boats and expert divers introduced parcels of grain and a miserably scanty supply of food for the nine thousand perishing souls of Messalonghi. But this, too, was discovered by the Turks. A few laden boats from Zante, endeavouring to enter, were seized, and the men hanged by order of the Pasha. After this the slightest intercourse with the besieged became altogether impracticable; and then, furious, irresistible, the dreadful famine came raging through the town hand in hand with death and disease.

Ten months, as we have said, had elapsed. For above twenty days no rations had been distributed. The people, unsubdued and uncomplaining, devoured dogs, rats, and sea-weed. One, who yet survives, described the feelings with which he sat for hours, with a loaded pistol in his hand, watching by the holes where the mice had retreated, till one of them should appear, that he might shoot it and pounce on the welcome food. To add to the horror of their situation, they were aware that Reshid Pasha had been reinforced from Egypt by a large body of African soldiers. Yet, though the earth around them was strewed with the sick, the famishing, and the wounded, these noble Greeks refused even to listen to any offers of capitulation.

The Philellenists, whose course we have more particularly traced out in this sketch, played a worthy part in this long-sustained tragedy, whatever might have been their various motives, the spring of their actions :-In Vasili, a wild ambition; in Lester, a remembrance of the dead, which gave him no rest, till, through the rent of some deep wound, his soul rushed forth to join them; in Petros G, a heartfelt patriotism; in his son, a resolute fulfilment of a holy duty. Whatever it was which bound them to their post, not one swerved from it, even in their darkest hour.

The dumb Rayah, Petros G-, early in the commencement of the siege, had his right foot shattered by a shot. It was amputated; and though his life was spared, his whole frame

was so completely paralysed by the wound, that he became unable to move an inch without assistance. The extraordinary constancy and tenderness with which from that period his son waited on him, and tended him, is beyond description. Young, brave, and energetic, as Floros was, he seemed to have repelled all the noble enthusiasm which would have roused him to rival his companions in deeds of heroism, in order that, day and night, he might watch by the side of that powerless old man; and once during the period of their long probation Floros attempted, by an act of the most unexampled daring, to rescue his helpless father from the certain doom which must await him, whatever might be the termination of the siege. One calm and moonless night (having concealed his intention from every one, in order that none might be involved in his danger) the young prince raised the aged Rayah on his shoulders, and animated by the almost unnatural strength which he seemed to have derived from his holy purpose, he proceeded to the only entrance, which, as we have said, was for a time successfully concealed by the besieged, in order that they might receive some scanty supplies from without. This narrow creek or channel was almost obstructed by the thick bulrushes which hid it from the enemy, and into its deep water Floros plunged at once with his precious burthen, which, by the most unparalleled exertion, he hoped, as he was an expert swimmer, to convey in safety from the doomed city. He had over-rated his physical powers. When about half way, the weight of the old man's almost lifeless body became intolerable. He felt that he was sinking, and, with one desperate effort, he barely succeeded in regaining the shore he had left; for the splash in the water had roused the Turkish sentinels, and they were firing briskly on him. So that the result of his rash attempt was in every way unfortunate; as by this means the concealed issue, the last they could depend on, was discovered by the enemy, and all communication between the town and the Greek vessels entirely cut off.

Floros returned with his helpless burden to the powder magazine, where his friends were stationed, but he rejoined them only to share with them

in the uncomplaining constancy with which they bore indescribable sufferings. Even the women, of whom half the population was composed, displayed a dauntlessness really extraordinary, in beings who, though well calculated to endure in patience the greatest evils, are but seldom able to find the physical courage requisite before they can expose their feeble frames to actual danger. Numbers were daily killed when carrying food to the men on the ramparts, but they never shrunk from the task. It was at last, in consideration of the dreadful fate in store for these poor gentle sufferers, that the besieged determined on putting an end to the blockade by one desperate and bold attempt, which would either terminate in the escape of a few, or in the ruin and destruction of the whole town and its inhabitants. As it was, their doom was certain-nothing could save them; disease and famine would do their work, till, no longer able to muster even soldiers for the walls, the enemy would rush in to terminate the slaughter. Yet even in this desperate condition, had they been alone, they would never have run the risk of delivering up Messalonghi one day sooner than they could help. But though they were indeed true patriots, and most brave soldiers, yet were they husbands and fathers also, and preeminent in their thoughts as might have been in the days of their strength and energy, their honour, and glory, and patriotism, in the hour of calamity and distress-these are the ties that tighten and strengthen round the stoutest hearts-till they felt that for their sakes one tremendous effort must be made, though all perished by it before their time.

It was determined that on the night of the 22d April they would attempt a sortie, the result of which must be escape or death. The monk who had performed over Lester and his adopted sister that strange midnight ceremony, and whose name was Neophytus, was one of the foremost in organizing this daring and noble attempt. Their arrangements were these-A messenger was, by some skilful expedient, the details of which are not now known, enabled to convey information of their intention to the Greek general, Kariaskaki, who commanded the scattered troops that at times attempted to ha

rass the enemy in the rear, and he was implored to be in readiness to advance and assist the Messalonghiotes as soon as they should have left the town. It was then settled that all the fighting men, to the amount of three thousand, their number being made up by a large proportion of those who were slightly wounded or convalescent,were to throw themselves headlong upon the enemy's lines, and cut open a road for the remainder of the population, six thousand in all, of which five thousand were women and children. They were then, dividing into two bodies, to push and fight their way, as best they might, through the camp, assisted, they fondly hoped, by Kariaskaki and his men, till they reached the hills of Zygos, over which they were to pass, and at last find shelter at Salona.

Such was their plan, and daring as it was, there seems little doubt that it would have been so far successful, but for the treachery of a Bulgarian de serter, who communicated their project to the Pasha, thus enabling him to take precautionary measures, though he refused to believe they could have formed any plan so audacious.

The

At sunset, on the appointed night, four bridges were laid over the outward ditch, formed merely of planks, and a patrol went round the town to summon all to be in readiness, as the sortie was to take place in two hours. Having crossed the moat, they were directed to lie prostrate with their faces to the earth, until the signal was given that Kariaskaki was in advance to support them, when they were to fall on the enemy, and hew out for themselves a path of blood. generals all mustered their soldiers, and the women, without exception, armed themselves. But now the most bitter moment of all their twelve months of intolerable suffering was at hand for the Messalonghiotes, and the sharpest blow they yet had known was about to be struck in a thousand hearts. When a second time the patrol went round, and announced that the hour was come, it was found, as might have been expected, that there was a vast number of unhappy beings sick, wounded, and infirm, who were utterly disabled even from making an attempt to follow their friends in the onset, yet, for the sake of a few, the whole must not perish. It was, as it

were, with one sympathetic thrill of horror that the vast multitude understood and felt at once that these must be abandoned to their doom! Nor dared they delay that terrible desertion-the hour was come-all ready-and this was no time for wailing, and lamentation, and tearful farewells.

was

But amongst that miserable band there was, as ever in a crowd, one master-mind. It appeared that the troop of infirm and helpless beings had prepared for themselves likewise an honourable doom. When the second call was made, it was found that they had assembled as many, at least, as could crawl thither—in the building containing the powder-magazine; and there, in the centre, with heaps of the aged and wounded round him, sat Petros G, holding in his hand a lighted match, and written in his face, as well as in that of every individual present, might be read a stern and awful resolution. It was indeed a strange spectacle, that of this decrepit old man-dumb, paralysed, his body having the appearance of a corpse, and being indeed as helpless and as powerless, with, from the eye alone, the soul glowing forth as strong, as full of ardour and enthusiasm, as in the best days of his youth.

Floros stood near him, and when his companions summoned him to follow them, he advanced a few steps, and seemed for a moment full of a terrible irresolution. He looked from his helpless father to his brave companions; death sat by the one, life beckoned to him from amongst the otherslife in the summer-time of youth, with ten thousand joys in his right handwith love, and hope, and friendship, and renown strewing their glittering flowers upon its path; and death, sudden and unavailing, ere he had tasted one drop of the world's cup of pleasure, or tried the powers of his soul for happiness. One moment he stood, as though the young warm blood careering through his beating heart were craving madly for the full term of the existence meted out to him, the next he pressed his hand upon his eyes, to shut out the vision of the gay, glad world, and rushed back to his father, who had not power to welcome him with a smile. There, falling at his feet, he buried his face in his knees, and so remained.

The Philellenists never knew whether this gallant young man had entertained any hope of saving the aged Rayah, or whether he had but thought his soul would mount to heaven with a freer impulse in the smoke of that sacrifice, but they had no alternative save to leave him there-it was impossible to delay another moment; and when they turned away, the fair face, that soon was to be so scared and blackened in the flames, was still buried on the old man's knees. The scene altogether was heart-rending, for many others likewise refused to quit their friends, thus foredoomed to destruction.

But now the moment for this energetic attempt had fully arrived, and the whole population of the ill-fated Messalonghi, with the exception of those who now tenanted the powder magazine, issued in profound silence from the city. They crossed the moat-the soldiers first, then all the women and children-and lay down quietly, with their faces to the earth, according to previous order; whilst before them, stretching far beyond where their eyes could reach, were the dark ranks of the vast Turkish host. Careful as they were to prevent a sound reaching the ears of the enemy, one piteous murmur could not be quelled-it was the weeping of the women for the condemned band they had left in the town; and long before the signal had been given that Kariaskaki was in advance, and that they were to rise and charge through the lines of the foe, that sound had aroused the Turks, and they commenced pouring incessant volleys of a most galling fire upon the rampart, beneath which the Messalonghiotes were crouching close on

one another.

Much of the shot passed over their heads, otherwise all must have perished; but, as it was, numberless were the passive sufferers who never rose from that spot. One whole hour they submitted to lie there, with death careering over their heads, and hundreds expiring unmurmuring around them; but no signal for the general movement was given. At last, their position became intolerable; the moon suddenly burst forth from among the clouds a circumstance favourable to the attack, but fatal if they remained exposed by its light to a surer aim. A