Greece vindicated; in two letters ... To which are added ... critical remarks on the works, recently published on the same subject, by Messrs. Bulwer, Emerson, Pecchio, Humphreys, Stanhope, Parry, and Blaquiere

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GREECE VINDICATED; IN TWO LETTERS, BY COUNT ALERINO PALMA ; To which are added, BY THE SAME AUTHOR, CRITICAL REMARKS ON THE WORKS RECENTLY PUBLISHED ON THE SAME SUBJECT, BY MESSRS. BULWER, EMERSON, PECCHIO, HUMPHREYS, STANHOPE, PARRY, & BLAQUIERE. LONDON; PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR, AND SOLD BY JAMES RIDGWAY, 169, PICCADILLY. 1826. LONDON : PRINTED BY CHARLES MOOD, Poppin's Court, Fleel Street. TO THE TRUE FRIENDS OF THE GREEK CAUSE, THE FOLLOWING LETTERS AND REMARKS ARE, WITH SINCERE ESTEEM, DEDICATED BY THE AUTHOR.

Introduction

. On my return from Greece, I had determined not to write any thing with respect to that country, because I could not speak as well of it as I could have wished, and because the sinister events, which had occurred at the commencement of the last campaign, might have been compensated for by victories obtained after my departure. But an article appeared in the Constitutionnel of the 2d of September (See Appendix I), which induced me to abandon my determination; for as it made my mission to Greece public, I considered myself called upon, in order to avoid all misre presentations with respect to my voyage, stay in, and departure from Greece, to publish something concerning my mission, and that country. On the 20th of September I sent my ma-

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. VI nuscript to the Editor of the Morning Chronicle, Mr. Black, with a request that he would insert it in that Journal at his earliest convenience. At his desire I afterwards divided my Essay into two Letters; part of the former of the two ap peared on the 23d, and the conclusion on the 30th of November. (Appendix II.) Having then heard from Mr. Black that he had mislaid the manuscript of my second Letter, I presented the translation of a copy, which I had fortunately kept, to Mr. Roche, the Editor of the Morning Post, who published it on the 10th, 11th, and 12th instant. (Appendix III.) Between the periods of the composition and publication of my work, appeared those of Messrs. Bulwer, Emerson, Pecchio, and Hum phreys, and that of Colonel Stanhope was re printed with several augmentations, and contain ing documents relative to 1825.

These publi cations had a tendency more hostile than friendly to the Greek cause, and I may safely say, that no person, unacquainted with Greece, could peruse them without yielding to the despair, which they served to inspire, Having been longer in Greece

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. VII than either of those writers, and during the in teresting period to which their narratives refer ; and having during my residence there transacted much business of moment with the Government, I considered, that, without presumption, I might publish some remarks on their works, which might have the effect of relieving the reader from that confusion of ideas which they might have given rise to in his mind. I followed the plan I had proposed to myself; and after I had pre pared for the press my different observations, chance threw in my way Mr. Parry's work, as also Captain Blaquiere's second voyage to Greece ; and I was happy to find that my views and opinions were justified by their previous remarks. (Appendix IV.) I never doubted of the delicacy of the affair I had undertaken; but the desire that I entertained to contribute to the welfare of Greece, which we Italians must look upon as our mother country, made me abandon all consideration for private individuals. Besides, I was desirous of paying a feeble tribute of gratitude to the English, for the hospitable asylum their country

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. had afforded me, by dissipating the clouds, which obscured the information those works contained; which, either as speculations for fame, or for lucre, would not be injured by my observations. The friend of Pecchio, towards whom I retain, and shall ever retain, sentiments of gratitude, for the generosity with which he and our mutual friends hastened to my assistance on my arriving from Cadiz, at the end of 1823, destitute of every thing, in London; an admirer of Colonel Stanhope, whom I had the pleasure to become acquainted with after my return from Greece; knowing Mr. Bulwer, from having met with him at Napoli di Romania, on my arrival there in the Florida; and believing that I am known to Messrs. Emerson and Humphreys; I am desirous to exculpate myself from any intention of personal disrespect, if, in the expression of my views of their opinions, I may have been led away by the discussion.

The words with which I have clad my sentiments may be harsh, but are certainly not meant to convey any imputation on the pri vate characters of the authors. I might, perhaps, have written more calmly, but my enthusiasm in

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. IX favour of Greece and of truth bore no restraint, and, in arguments on affairs of importance, a man is not always master of himself. I now leave to the Reader to judge if my sentiments of indignation were well founded, and those, whom my criticism may not suit, are re quested to remember the words of Juvenal : " If it is not agreeable, Let it not excite your anger." COUNT ALERINO PALMA. London, January 18, 1826. P. S. Many remarks, which I have made on one of the authors, are applicable to the others; but I have been anxious to avoid repetitions, and therefore I shall beg my readers to apply observations I may have made in my first reviews where due in the last. b CONTENTS.