A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W X Z

Charles Philip Yorke, Fourth Earl of Hardwicke, Vice Admiral R.N.

L >> Lady Biddulph of Ledbury >> Charles Philip Yorke, Fourth Earl of Hardwicke, Vice Admiral R.N.




'I ask'd and consulted Sir T. Maitland on the mode I should adopt, but
he seem'd to advise that where they had captured a vessel, or property,
and refused to give it up on a fair review of the case, to take "vi et
armis" an equivalent or the vessel that committed the act. Thus armed
with his opinion it was not long before an opportunity offered, and one,
take it all in all, which was to me most interesting. A vessel of the
Greek fleet had captured an Ionian vessel coming from Patras to Zante
with a cargo "_as the Petition stated_" worth 400 Dollars, and
having plundered her and ill used the crew, permitted the vessel herself
to depart. This petition is put into my hands by Col. Sir F. Steven the
resident of Zante, for here a Capt. of a man of war is a species of
Penang Lawyer, and whenever a petition comes to any of these gentlemen
they always say "Oh! give it the Capt. of the Brig or Frigate, &c. he
will soon settle it, and do it by _Club Law_." However away I went
to Missolonghi, and anchored off the Town on the 23rd of Jany. observing
ten sail of Turkish men of war to leeward, went on shore, and with much
difficulty we poked our way through the narrow channels of this
extraordinary place, there being a low flat of sand turning out from the
land about seven miles; it seems to be the only defence the town has.
Had an interview with Mavrocordato who received me of course, with
civility, on Divan, supposing that I came to do him no good, having with
me two or three officers and an arm'd boats crew. When I landed I met
with a face that put me in mind of Hyde Park, Balls, Parties, Almacks,
&c. This was no one more or less than Col. Leicester Stanhope come out
with Jeremy Bentham under his arm to give the Greeks a constitution.

'Powerful in strength must he be who can manage this; long in pocket,
with a head filled up with every talent that man is capable of
possessing and a pair of loaded pistols in his belt, with no more words
than are absolutely necessary to warn people, if they do not do this,
that they will have a chance of being sent to sleep with their Fathers.

'St. James's Street and English notions must be abolish'd, so must all
Romance of Liberty and the children of the antient Greeks struggling to
shake off the yoke of the bloody Turk; Lord Byron knows all this, and is
in fact the only man that has ever come out to them who understands the
people. He was at Missolonghi, living in every way like a great Chief;
and in fact he is so, arm'd to the teeth with 500 Suliotes, the bravest
and best troops the Greeks have, and twenty German Veterans, besides a
certain Count Gamba, a beautiful Albanian Page, an Italian Chasseur, and
an old Scotch butler, making in all about 530 well arm'd men, besides
the Suliotes from all parts of Greece flocking to him daily, he could if
he liked set up a Govt. in Missolonghi, but as he hates governments, and
likes this sort of life where his nod and beck are a law, he will have
nothing to do with their legislation altho' they come and offer to place
him at the head of the Government victorious. He however has pay'd their
fleet for them, who immediately landed their Admiral and sailed away the
Lord knows where. 'The first interview I had with this Prince
Mavrocordato I could do nothing, as I plainly saw they were detaining me
while they made out a case and that Stanhope's wits were put in
requisition. In addition to which I had no interpreter, and so I was
obliged to speak French, the only other language Mavrocordato understood
besides Greek. So I broke up the interview by saying it was late and
that I should wait on him again to-morrow. This however I did not
effect, as it blew a gale on the following day, but the next I again saw
him, and having previously put a few questions to the purpose on paper I
defeated his quibbles, and made him refund in hard dollars the value of
the cargo, threatening that if he did not I should burn, sink and
destroy immediately. I gave him four hours to consider of it, and stay'd
with Ld. Byron until the time elapsed, much amused by all his sayings
and anecdotes, firing pistols at a mark, eating, &c. &c.

'The time pass'd and the money came; thus ended my diplomatic Mission at
Missolonghi. I have just seen some English papers, they talk of
Missolonghi having sixty pieces of Cannon and a large garrison.

'I can only say from personal knowledge that if it has sixty pieces of
Cannon they are all on the wrong side, or where the Dutchman had his
anchor. The garrison consisted of about 1000 arm'd men 500 of whom were
Lord Byron's Suliotes. The only defence towards the sea is what
bountiful Nature has given it, and a small fort on an island with two
guns, one dismounted, much more like a pig stye than a fort. In short
there seem'd to me to be nothing to prevent the Turkish Admiral from
landing men and destroying every soul in the place, but their style of
warfare is very harmless (except now and then, when they catch some poor
devil alone, then they murder him). The Greeks talked much of a fine
ship, and Ld. Byron recommended Mavrocordato to take boat with him in
the evening and "smoke a cigar against the Turkish fleet" which however
he declined. I was obliged soon to return to Zante for water, intending
to go up to Lepanto and be present at the storming of that place by the
Greeks. Ld. Byron and myself had agreed, he was to lead the attack and
indeed had undertaken the Enterprise entirely, and as he jocosely
observed to me a very fit man he was as he could not run if he wished,
alluding to his club foot; but it was otherwise ordained, for to my
great grief news one evening was suddenly brought me as I was dining at
the Mess of the 90th Regt. of the loss of H.M. sloop _Columbine_ at
Sapienza, my friend Abbot's ship. I lost no time in being at sea and was
with him on Saturday the 31st of Jany. having put to sea from Zante with
a gale from the N.W. and had much ado to keep clear of the Coast of the
Morea. On my arrival in Porto Longue, I found my friend and his crew all
well having only lost two people; the brig's tops just above water; she
was lost by parting her S.B. cable, and had not room to bring up; she
soon bilged on the rocks, and the people had much ado to save
themselves; little or no property was saved, they had tents on shore and
miserable enough, as the rain was almost constant. The Pasha of Modon é
Aron supplied them with provisions and was most attentive to them. Abbot
and myself pay'd our respects to the old boy, he regaled us with Pipes
and Coffee: and acknowledgement was made him for his attentions to the
shipwreck'd crew by a salute of twenty guns from H.M. sloop, four of my
cut glass tumblers as sherbet glasses, and 1 lb. of Mr. Fribourg's and
Palets' best snuff. I think you will laugh at our presents to him, but I
assure you it was thought much of, and highly valued. I think the Turks,
tho' they speak seldom, yet when they do are more profuse in their
compliments and fine speeches and questions than any people I have ever
seen.

'I am obliged to close my discourse as I am ordered to take another
convoy, and a ship is this moment weighing for England.

'So with affte. Love to Lady C.: and all haste,

'Believe me most sincerely,

'Your affte. Son,

'C. YORKE.'

* * * * *

H.M.S. 'ALACRITY,' MALTA:

May 24, 1824.

'MY DEAREST FATHER,

'I am once more in this part after divers peregrinations and events
which in due time I shall narrate. But first of all I am in despair at
hearing from no single soul in the land of Roast Beef. One solitary
letter from yourself is all I have received since I sailed from England.
You last heard from me from Gibraltar where I was waiting to take Convoy
to Cape St. Vincent having brought four sail to that place. Made short
work of the Cape St. Vincent trip having a gale of wind through the Gut
of Gib. And not able to show a stitch of canvas, so next day I was able
to haul my wind again having made the Cape. The letter which I hope you
received was sent by one of the ships. On my return to Gib. I again
three days afterwards took convoy to Malta where I did not remain more
than six hours being called on to perform a service of some delicacy;
different are the opinions of the way in which I acquitted myself but I
feel conscious of having strictly done my duty, and if I have done
wrong, all that I have to say is that the laws of nations were not the
groundwork or capital of my education, but it has made me take books up
a little in that way. The fact was a vessel under English colours
received on board at Rhodes 250 Algerians to take passage to their
native city (among whom was the brother-in-law of the Dey) with all
their money and effects; on this passage they hear of the war between
their country and our own, the master of the vessel wishes to bear up
for Malta but the Turks will not allow it, and he is obliged to use the
stratagem of cutting his main topmast rigging and so let the mast go
overboard for his excuse. He cannot reach Malta, but he gets into
Messina, the Consul for our Government there was applied to in this
matter by the Sicilian Authorities, & as by the salutary laws of that
country no barbarians can perform quarantine in any of their ports, it
became their desire to get her away. The master of the _Crown_
refuses to go, stating that his life was in absolute danger from the
people. I arrived in Malta from Gib with Convoy and in six hours after I
sailed for Messina with orders and that caused his untimely end.

'Give my kindest love to Lady Clanricarde and if she wants Turkey
carpets, shawls, &c. &c. now is the time. Affectionate love to all. I
wish Hy. was with me, I think if he would read as he travelled he would
make good use of his time.

'Your affectionate son,

'C.Y.'

* * * * *

H.M.S. 'TRIBUNE,'

In the Channel off Corfu, on the coast of Epirus:

July 16, 1824.

'MY DEAREST FATHER,

'I am here with G--- under sail and about to eat the gouty old
Commodore's dinner, _Alacrity_ in company. We start together for
Zante, Cephalonia, Cerigo, &c. though I leave him to take command in the
Archipelago.

'He is, as you well know, all that a kind and affectionate friend can
be. I wrote you a few days ago a very short letter and one that I know
you will abuse much when you receive it, but I promise a long one when I
am in for the Station and business that will naturally occur therefrom.
I have already one affair in hand with a Greek corvette for plunder
which will be acted on by me in a burning manner, for these fellows
require it.

'All the Algerian business is settled and the Admiral has expressed
himself well pleased with my conduct. Hamilton of the _Cambria_
promised me to see you and acquaint you with all particulars of the
affair.

'Love to all.

'Your affectionate son,

'C. Y.'

* * * * *

H.M. SLOOP 'ALACRITY,' SMYRNA:

Sept. 17, 1824.

'MY DEAREST FATHER,

'I received your kind letter of the 1st of May a few days ago at Spezzia
on the Gulf of Napoli di Romania (Nauplia) by H.M.S. _Martin_ which
arrived from Malta. Capt. Eden commands our little squad (for squadron I
will not call it as there are only 46 guns among three of us) and being
my senior officer has of course taken possession of the Green Bag, & my
command in these seas has expired after having held it nine weeks. 'I
believe before I go further it will be wise of me to explain to you what
this "Green Bag," as I call it, is, and when you hear I rather think you
will be a little amused.

'From the present state of Greece and the islands in the Archipelago
some Greek, some Turk, some both, and some neither, much piracy and
murder goes on against all the flags of Europe; and of course we fall in
for our share, and hardly a week passes but some appeal to humanity or
justice is brought to the Senior Officer, or any cruizing ship in the
Archipelago, indeed of late owing to the small force up this country
these papers have so accumulated that a large bag became necessary to
hold them, and when I gave up my command to Eden of the _Martin_,
up the side after me came the "awful Green Bag." The Senior Officer here
is in himself an Admiralty Court for all the Archipelago, and a most
difficult and delicate service it is, for _"truth is never to be got
at"_ and the Ionian who is always the person aggrieved is as bad as
the Greek. I foresee myself getting into a discussion, but I must say a
little of my opinions to you, faulty as they most likely are, yet such
has been the impression made on my mind by what I have seen and heard;
but I shall not break out here as I wish to give you an outline of what
I have been about since I left Malta.

'I had a passage of five weeks to Smyrna touching at Corfu and Milo and
delivering at the former 120,000 Dollars for the Government, found our
friend Guion there as much the ladies man as ever. I gave you a line
from _Tribune_ myself, I parted from her two days afterwards. After
remaining a few days at Smyrna I sailed on a cruizer leaving the
_Rose_ there for the protection of the Trade. But before I weigh
and make sail I shall say something of John Turk, who has always stood
rather well with me until you take him into the field, and there he is
bloody, cruel, ferocious and desperate but _not brave_. In the
drawing room he is polish'd, well bred, and from the pomp and
magnificence of style in which he lives he cannot fail at first to
impose on the stranger a good opinion of at least his gentlemanly
manners, and courtlike behaviour. On my arrival at Smyrna I did not fail
as soon as I was able to gain an interview with Hussan Pacha, the
Governor. This man gain'd his Government by some merit of his own;
marching thro' Smyrna on his way to take possession of his Pachalick
with his troops, he was called on by the Authorities and Consuls of
foreign powers to exercise his military authority in restoring order to
the town which was at this time (1821) in a state of anarchy, massacre
and cruelty, against the Greeks; he undertook the task and succeeded in
restoring order and stopping the slaughter in twenty-four hours, after
which service, in consequence of a representation from the Consuls, the
Porte confirm'd him to the Government.

'My party on the visit consisted of Capt. Dundas, Mr. Whitehead (the
Admiral's son who has been with me from Malta) Lt. Trescott and Mr.
Forester Wyson, with the Dragoman; we were received with all due respect
and pomp and after many compliments, pipes, coffee, sherbet, &c. &c. we
took our leave. The conversation that took place is not worth relating,
as it was of that nature which such a visit might be supposed to
produce.

'I afterwards went a round of visits to the Turkish nobles and principal
officers of the Town, Delibash Beys, Beys, Agas, &c. &c. Smyrna is a
large town, and like all other Turkish towns has narrow streets, low
dirty houses, and long Bazaars; the people from their costume and arms
forming the most amusing and picturesque objects of the whole. Here and
there you saw strong symptoms of firing in the dominions of the Porte,
doors full of shot-holes, and now and then a random ball whizzing over
your head. Above the town on an eminence is a very picturesque old
castle built by the Genoese, now in ruins and nothing more than a very
beautiful object, and one of the finest roadsteads in the Mediterranean.
The country at the back of Smyrna is rich and beautifully wooded.

'I rode out one evening with Capt. Dundas to the Consul's, the roads
infamous and my horse stumbling exceedingly I did not quite enjoy the
beauties of Asia, and the romance of the ride thro' the burying-place of
the Turk, studded with the Turban [Footnote: The Turks at the top of the
tombstone have the turban of their rank] or stone and Cypress, as much
as I ought.

'On the 4th of July, I sailed from Voorla, a watering place on the south
side of the Gulf of Smyrna, for Psara and arrived there on the 5th. The
Turks having attacked the place on the 3rd, which they carried in about
twelve hours, excepting a strong work on the west end of the Island
which did not fall till the following day. I thought at first that this
had been a decided and bloody blow struck at the root of the Greek
revolution, but the Turk has gone to sleep since, or nearly. I have
myself little doubt that the French had much to do with the capture of
this island, for I learnt from many that a Frigate had been at Psara on
the 22nd of June, and for four successive days had sounded round and
round the Island and then sailed for Mytilene where the Capt. Pacha was.
Moreover when I was on board the Pacha's ship he show'd me a Chart or
plan of the Island, which the moment I saw it, I exclaimed "This is done
by a Frank," and he said, yes that it had been done for him. The attack
was made on the north side, the only place in this Island that Turkish
troops could land on with safety, and even here the pass was so narrow
up the mountain that only one man could pass at a time. To shew the
difficulty of gaining ground, and how easily this place might have been
defended, one Greek who was near the spot asleep on hearing a noise
jumped up, and with his single arm killed seven Turks, one after the
other as they came up; and then fled.

'As soon as I anchored on the roadstead, I sent to say I wished to pay
my respects to the Captain Pacha, who returned a very civil answer, and
I went _en grande tenue_, to see this mighty conqueror and Royal
Prince. Our interview was truly amusing. I began with saying that having
anchored in the road, and finding his fleet there (which consisted of
one 80 gun ship, seven frigates and about eighty Corvettes, Brigs and
Transports) I had come to pay my respects to him and to congratulate him
on his successes over his enemies; he whimpered and simpered, like an
old woman, thank'd me, but pretended to be excessively sorry for the
loss of life on the part of the Psariotes, _he_ having taken very
good care that not a _man_ on the Island should have his head left
on his shoulders; but the women would not give him a chance, they did
that which would do honor to the Antient Hist: of Greece! throwing their
children from the precipices into the sea, and then following
themselves. The Pacha told me he had not taken a single woman, and only
a few children, that some of the boats pick'd up floating. We conversed
on different topics, but more particularly on the politics of Turkey and
Greece. I ask'd him if he meant to strike the iron while it was hot, and
get on to Hydra, and strike a blow there, telling him at the same time
that I was going to the Naval Islands on business and should tell all I
had seen. He replied, "No, I love the Hydriotes." The crafty old dog
loves them like a cannibal "well enough to eat them." After having sat
above an hour (for I was determined to see all I could) he was called
out by the Admiral who whispered in his ear; out he went, I was curious,
and walked to the front part of the cabin opening a little of the Door;
I saw him on the deck surrounded with Turkish soldiers who were each
producing their day's work, in the process of extermination. Each head
got the possessor a few Liqueurs. After he came into the cabin again, I
tax'd him with what he had been at. He smiled and ask'd me should I like
to see it. I told him I had read of these things among Eastern nations,
but was not quite sure before that it was true, upon which he not
knowing that I had seen a great deal, ordered the head of a Greek Priest
just taken off, and still reeking with gore, to be brought in to me,
which was accordingly done. After this I took my leave of the Old Turk,
who pressed my hand cordially; I ask'd his permission to go on shore,
but he would not give it, saying that it was a horrid sight and that
most likely I should be shot myself. The Turks here killed about 8000
Greeks and lost themselves by their own account about 3000, but the fact
is they cannot tell, for they never know the number of people they have
on board.

'Ismail Pacha had one of his Captains wounded, and he ask'd me to allow
my surgeon to visit him, which I did. This Ismail Pacha is an Albanian
and served under the old lion Ali for a long while and was by him raised
to a Pachalick which was confirm'd to him by the Porte after the death
of Ali; he commanded the 12,000 men that landed at Psara. Another
desperate act of heroism took place in the strong fort situated on an
eminence at the West End of the Island, it held out till the last and
was not destroy'd until everything was lost. The Turks had made a
forlorn hope to storm it, the Greeks allowed them easy access, then
fired the magazine. Thus perish'd 1000 Greek men, women and children and
400 Turks. I sailed in the evening after saluting the Pacha with twenty
guns, and saw them fire the Town, the Plunder being finish'd.

'From Psara to Hydra where I had a grievance to try to redress, but from
its being a year old, I had much fear that with my small force I should
not be able to effect that which a larger ship would have immediately
succeeded in, with nothing more than threats. I intended to try
_those_ first and ultimately to do more and take my chance of what
the Govt. might think.

'But the _Martin's_ arrival has taken the "Green Bag" away from me.
I will now relate that on my arrival off Hydra, I found Miaoulis the
Greek Admiral on his way to assist Psara. I hailed his vessel and
invited him on board, he came and I made him acquainted with the capture
and massacre at the place, (since I left Psara I found that about
twenty-five sail of vessels had escaped, with some women and children).
He seem'd much distressed, but said he would push on and see what was to
be done. I afterwards heard that he kept aloof until the Captain Pacha
quitted, he then attack'd the gun boats in which about 2000 [Footnote:
The garrison left at Psara] Turks were attempting to escape and
destroyed nearly the whole of them. Now the Island is desolate and
_neutral_ having neither Greek nor Turk on it; but I hear that the
Captain Pacha is going to adopt the miserable and contemptible policy of
destroying its harbour, and then taking no more regard of the Island. I
must say the want of unanimity in the Greek against the common enemy is
here too perceptible. The Hydriotes well knew that Psara was soon to be
attack'd and it was in their power to have saved it, but its having been
in former days a rival island in commerce, and was now a rival island in
achievements in war, they delay'd sending their ships until it was too
late. There were also traitors among their own people, no doubt of it!

'My business at Hydra was a case of piracy, against a British merchant
of Alexandria, and all the property was stolen and the vessel burnt, &c.
&c. I called off the island and as _they_ wish'd to refer back to
the affair before they would give an answer, I passed on to Napoli di
Romania (Nauplia) where the Greeks have set up an attempt at a
government, for a government I cannot call it that has neither laws or
courts, not even a national assembly is yet instituted; but anarchy
seems to reign among them, and until something like a strict union among
the chiefs of this people takes place I fear their cause is not likely
to be progressive, or their means effective.

'The people who are now at the head of what they style the Provisional
Government of Greece are men who under the Turks were merchants, or
masters of merchant ships. The Chief or Primate of this Government
(Condenotti by name) is an Hydriote (his Brother is now Primate of
Hydra) who during his life has amassed a fortune of Five million of
dollars, having had for twenty-three years the Trade, I may say, of the
whole of the northern part of the Archipelago; himself a ship owner,
having no less than eighteen or twenty fine Brigs and ships from 180 to
300 tons burthen. This man has never given a Para to the cause of his
country; what can you expect with such a beginning? The Govt. have in
their pay about 10,000 men, ragamuffins of all sorts. This is that part
of the population of Greece that our Committee in London send money to.

'Are the Greek Committee such fools as to suppose that they are
honourably dealt with, and that this money is all put to the uses they
would wish to see it put to, or that the money sent from England will
ever do any good to the Greek cause, unless they appoint proper
Commissioners to receive it, and to dole it out, in such a way as to be
of service to those who merit it? Is the Provisional Govt. of Greece
such a Committee? Or are they who have been tricking and trafficking to
make money all their lives fit people to be entrusted with such a
Commission? _There is not one Patriot among them!_ And they are
accountable to no one by law, for there are no laws in the land.

'Money has arrived lately from the Greek Committee and it was put into
the hands of the Provisional Govt. What they have done with the
_whole_ of it I do not know; some they have given to Odysseus. When
he heard that money was coming from England to Napoli he left his
stronghold in Parnassus and came down with the small retinue of 300 men
to demand of the Govt. some remuneration for his services, he had
expelled the Turks from Livadia, and he now required that they would pay
5000 men for him. This Odysseus is the only man whom I should call a
Patriot among them. So different in style is the free Mountain Chief
from the Lowland long enslaved Greek, that you would hardly believe them
to belong to the same nation. Odysseus ever called and thought himself
free, and his family before him never own'd the dominion of the Turk,
living in inaccessible holds no Turkish turbaned head was ever near
them. This man tho' wild and untaught is patriotic, brave, devoid of
superstition, and last and most rare among the Greeks, has an utter
contempt for money. He has talents for war or peace, and the most
moderate in his principles of any of them. If there is a man in Greece
who is to be depended on _he_ is the man. He maintains that one of
the greatest steps towards the well-being of Greece is the putting down
the ascendancy of the Priests, with that you will put down intolerant
avarice and much crime. At first the Govt. would not give much ear to
his demands, but he goes to them in person, stripped of his arms,
telling them he is no longer a soldier, that he would turn barber for he
could shave; he said he would get an honest livelihood as a poor man but
not pilfer &c. _as some of his friends did_ who had neither
patriotism or virtue, and who thought of nothing but aggrandizing and
enriching themselves. Such was his opinion of this Govt., and he assured
me himself that not one of their heads should be on their shoulders in
ten days if they did not distribute this money in such a way as to
ensure something like a successful campaign against the Turks. They have
however given what I suppose they could not keep from him and what he
_had before_; the command in _Livadia_, and pay 5000 men for
him.

Copyright (c) 2007. famouswriterz.com. All rights reserved.