15 - Life of Thomas, Lord Cochrane, Tenth Earl of Dundonald, Vol 2 by Henry Richard Fox Bourne

Immerse yourself in the thrilling tales of Lord Cochrane, a renowned sea captain from the Napoleonic era, whose life was rich with high-seas adventures that later inspired numerous naval fiction series. This second volume of his biography, penned by his secretary and son, completes the unfinished Autobiography of a Seaman. Discover how Cochrane valiantly assists the Greeks against the Ottoman Empire, marks his presence in the House of Lords, regains his knighthood, and makes a striking comeback to the Royal Navy.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Appendix of the Life of Thomas Lord Cochrane, tenth Earl
of Dundonald completing the Autobiography of Seaman, Volume two by
Henry Richard fox Borne and others. This LibriVox recording is
in the public domain. Recording by Timothy Ferguson Appendix Captain
Abney Hastings Letters to Lord Cochrane. So much has been

(00:21):
said in the body of this volume me and evidence
of the insurmountable difficulties raised by the Greeks themselves to
Lord Cochrane's efforts to aid them as efficiently as he desired,
that there seemed no room without wearying the reader for
their citing more than two or three of the letters
addressed to him by Captain Abney Hastings. They have therefore
been reserved for quotation here. Their publication is desirable for

(00:43):
two reasons. In the first place, they show how Captain Hastings,
whom all the historians of the Greek Revolution join in praising,
was harassed and his work rendered almost useless by causes
which Lord Cochrane, in a much more difficult position, was
blamed for not overcoming. In the second place, they will
serve as a tribution to the biography of a high
minded and valiant man, a sharer in Lord Cochrane's zealous

(01:05):
efforts on behalf of Greece, and in the misfortune's incident,
thereto of whose memorable career the world knows little one.
Katerina Hydra, March twenty sixth, eighteen twenty seven. My Lord,
the usual contrarities of the machine prevented my following you yesterday.
According to your desire, observing you went to Pooros, I

(01:27):
thought I should act in conformity with your wishes by
coming here to take in coals and avoid all possible delay.
I have got on board enough for about four days more.
I have expected you all day, and not seeing you,
I have taken upon myself to depart for the service
you have destined me for, although I am not quite
certain I know the exact station, I shall go off
Gribusa and endeavor to find Captain Saint George. I leave

(01:50):
a letter here for the Primates requesting them to load
a small vessel with coals for my return, which I
wish to take in. On the opposite side, this measure,
far from occasioning delay, would be advantageous in that respect,
as well as having less close connection with the hydriot
SU's presence always as the effect of setting a bad
example to the Greeks I have on board. I should
feel obliged to your Lordship to insist on this measure.

(02:13):
Perhaps it would be advantageous for your Lordship to decide
upon the port you intend to occupy immediately and send
there all the coals and other stores wanted for your
naval force. Since you object to an island in the
Great Archipelago, I am of the opinion with Colonel Gordon
that Ambaalaki is best suited for your station. If all
the coals were there, much delay would be saved to

(02:34):
the steam vessels. One of the causes our engine went
so badly was that some firebars being burnt, the fire
fell through and we could not keep up the steam.
Anotherise I had taken up the paddles, which previously had
two feet dip six inches. The engine consequently went fastter,
but the pumps would not supply sufficient water. I have

(02:55):
lowered them again. Pray have your further orders for me
here as I shall touch for coals. As aforesaid, on
my return, I have the honor to be et cetera
f a Hastings two Katerina Poros, April the ninth, eighteen
twenty seven. My Lord, I have the honor to transmit
you an account of the Katerina scene vessel up to
March sixteenth, by which you will perceive that with the

(03:17):
five hundred pounds credit I have on Missus Bayfitzante, I
still have a credit of three hundred sixty three dollars
in my favor. Not accustomed to keep such counts. There
may be errors, but if any, that are certainly against myself,
as I may have omitted charging expenses, whereas I have
never charged but what was really expended, Nor have I
ever charged anything for myself directly or indirectly. Wages will

(03:39):
become due again the sixteenth of this month, for which
I shall require about eight hundred dollars, having but a
few days salt meat on board, I beg your lordship
to cause an order to be written enabling me to
receive such quantity as you may deem requisite. I have
the honor to be et cetera. F. A. Hastings three
Katerina Scopolo, April the nineteenth n s eighteen twenty seven,

(04:04):
my Lord Northerly Winds prevented my passing Cape Doro until
the fifteenth. Having spoken a vessel from Scyro, I learnt
that an Austrian merchant vessel loaded with corn and ammunition
for Negroponte, was laying at that island under convoy of
an Austrian vessel of war, and that the corvette of
Tombasi was there watching the merchant vessel. I touched at

(04:25):
Scyro the night of the fifteenth and found that the
Austrian was gone, supposed for Syrah, followed by Hydriot schooner
of Condouriotes, who is supposed to have made some agreement
with the Austrian to deliver the cargo to him. The
Greek corvette had sailed as I was told for this.
I arrived here the night of the sixteenth and found

(04:45):
the brig and schooner was zealously employed on the service
they had been sent upon. Having steamed more than I
had at first intended, I was in want of fuel
and set them to work here to obtain me would
which they have done with more alacrity than I expected.
During to holidays. The engine, of course required repairs. I
sent off the schooner to inform the vessels of the
blockade when I should join them and a point of rendezvous.

(05:09):
I sail immediately and hope to take or destroy the
vessels at Trichery and Volo tomorrow. I send this by
way of the primates of the island, who carry a
letter to your lordship offering their services. They have been
apparently much opposed in all these islands by the heroes
of the Earth, and are anxious to obtain protection from
the naval force. This island is fertile and could and

(05:29):
could be made to pay well for protection. The others
have claims equally strong for protection. Saint George to Skiro, Scopolo, Scatho,
et cetera, et cetera have more than two thousand leappas
quartered upon them at this moment. If Athens is relieved,
these worthies might be turned into Negropond with much effect.
I am told the Turkish transports are still at Trechery

(05:52):
and Volo, not doubting to clear the gulf of Greeks
a force de argent. However, I hope to be with
them tomorrow. I suspect uaw could be obtained cheaper here
than at Megara, and I see no risen for incurring
the expensive transport of wood to Poros for construction of gunboats,
when a great majority of the great vessels are constructed here.
The wood does not grow here. It is brought from

(06:13):
ager on the main. The deputies to Bertis com ensant
can inform your Lordship of these things. I have the
honor to be et cetera f A. Hastings p s.
Having taken the coals out from between the boilers and
side of the ship, I am anxious to fill this
space with wool as a protection against shot. The coals
stowed there are an inconvenience for many reasons, and something

(06:35):
is necessary to replace them as a protection for the boilers.
If your Lordship would be good enough to order Tombasi
to procure me wool for that purpose, I think you
would be ultimately satisfied of its utility. Four Katerina off
to Cherry, Monday, twenty third n s. Eighteen twenty seven.
My Lord, I have the honor to inform you that,

(06:56):
in pursuance of your orders, I carried the squadron under
my command consisting of the corvette Themesticles, brig Arras, Schooner
Aspana and Schooner Panaea before the port of Volo the
evening of the twentieth I found eight vessels at anchor
in the port. Immediately I directed the themesticles and arras

(07:18):
to anchor off a battery at the point and cannonade it,
whilst I entered the harbor with boats and schooners at
four thirty PM. They anchored with much gallantry and soon
silenced the musket shot from the battery. At the same
moment I entered the harbor with the boats and schooners,
and we shortly took possession of seven brigs. They were

(07:39):
all on shore and most without sails bent. However, by
nine PM we succeeded in getting out five Prizes, three
loaded with provisions and ammunition to light, and this most
fortunately without the loss of a man killed or wounded.
Although we laid anchor in the harbor for four hours
and a half exposed to the fire of the Castle

(08:00):
of Volow, the ship received no material injury. Although several
shots struck her. We set fire to two Prizes. We
could not succeed in getting out one light brig. Remains
that we shot away her foremast and did such damage
in her hull as will I hope prevent her putting
to sea again last night I entered Trecherry with the

(08:21):
boats of the Mysticles Arras and Aspa and Aspasia to
endeavor to carry out a brig of war Turkish of
sixteen guns and two mortars, but found her protected too
advantageously by batteries and musketry. I sent the prizes to
your Lordship under the convoy of the Aspasia, and shall
remain here a few days to endeavor to destroy the

(08:43):
Turkish brig of war, and shall then return to join
your Lordship. I beg leave to assure your Lordship before
I conclude that in these affairs I have met with
the most cordial support from the captains of the vessels
under my orders, and their conduct, as well as that
of all the officers and men of the squadron, has
been high meritorious. I have the honor to be et

(09:04):
cetera f. A. Hastings, p. S. As the schooner Panaea
will participate in the prizes. I have ordered her to
remain on the blockade, although not sent by your lordship.
Five Katerina at sea, April twenty fourth, eighteen twenty seven,
My Lord, an hour after I had the honor of
sending you my last letter detailing the affair of Volo.

(09:27):
I stood in to Trichery with the vessels under my command, viz.
The muscles Arras Panaea. The Turks in this place had
one brig of war, which, erroneously in my last I
rated its sixteen guns mounted, but fourteen long twenty four
pounders and two mortars. She was made fast in a
small bite, with a plank on shore and high rocks

(09:50):
on each side of her, behind which were posted a
strong core of Albanian troops. She was likewise protected by
a battery close under her bow, and five other battle trees.
In other parts, four small schooners lay quite hauled up
on the beach to attempt to carry away vessels. So
posted and defended by men who wanted neither alacrity nor resolution,

(10:12):
would have been exposing the lives of the crews in
a very unwarrantable manner. I therefore resolved to burn the brig,
which was affected in less than an hour. I did
not make any attempt upon the schooners, which I considered
too inconsiderable to justify a loss in capturing them. In
this affair, the captain's officers and crews conducted themselves all
much to my satisfaction. In close. I have the honor

(10:36):
to transmit to you a return of the killed and
wounded in this affair, which I am happy to say
is trifling. I have left the rest of the squadron
to maintain the blockade. I have the honor to be
et cetera. F. A. Hastings, a return of the killed
and wounded on board the Greek squadron. At Trecherry, April eleventh,
Katerina killed one seaman. Ralph hall Arras killed one seaman,

(11:00):
Arrows wounded two seamen, Panai wounded one seamen. Total two
killed and three wounded. F. A. Hastings seven Katerina at sea,
April twenty sixth An s. Eighteen twenty seven, my Lord,
passing by Kumi, I observed several vessels at anchor there,
and a great number of large kayeks et cetera, hauled

(11:22):
up on the beach. I stood in and overhauled them,
and found, as I suspected, that a most scandalous and
extensive commerce in grain is carrying on to that place,
with the Turks, chiefly in Greek vessels. A brig under
Russian colors was chiefly discharged. A Surian schooner was nearly full,
and the magazines on shore were full. I set about

(11:43):
loading the grain from the magazines, but was unable to
take off more than one third of what was in them.
I have good reason for supposing that other magazines equally
stored are to be found in the town about an
hour's distance. Here, there were only a dozen Turks who
fled at our approach. In the evening, no less than
nine small vessels were standing in to Kumi. I weighed
and boarded six of them, three being entirely empty, I

(12:05):
allowed to pass too. I detained and have brought with me.
The want of men of time, et cetera, has prevented
my putting a finishing hand to this infamous traffic. But
I have no doubt your lordship will see the propriety
of sending a vessel of war without delay to destroy
these depots. It is idle to talk of blockading the
Gulf of Negropont whilst such an extensive commerce is carrying

(12:28):
on at other points of the island. I have the
honor to be et cetera. F. A. Hastings, seven Katerina, Poros,
April twenty eighth, eighteen twenty seven, my Lord, Captain Sir
George going to join you. I take the opportunity of
informing you, besides what my other letters contain, that my
information from Kumi imports that Negropont contains two months provision

(12:50):
for the army of Katai and fortresses, and that all
their hopes are in the Turkish fleet expected daily. It
seems to me of the first importance that the Greek
fleet should be ready to count the Turks, and the
Gulf is a place particularly favorable to the smaller, lighter
and more skillful party. Might I suggest, my Lord, the
propriety of sending a couple of light vessels upon whom

(13:11):
you could depend to cruise off the dard knells and
give information in time. The corvette Brigand's schooner off to
Cherry requested me to represent their want of provisions and
the necessity they have of paying their crew regularly. Many
I suspect have already quitted them. With Greek sailors, no
arrears of pay can exist. Hitherto, they have been accustomed
to receive their wages in advance. If they can be

(13:33):
made to go to see without that advance. It is
a great point gained to omit fulfilling the engagement would
ruin all confidence and oblige the sailors to return to
their ancient demands. With respect to Kumi, I beg leave
to urge the necessity of sending a vessel, perhaps better
Captain Saint George than a Greek, who probably would not
dare do his duty there was he so disposed to

(13:54):
destroy the infamous traffic existing there. May I beg of
your lordship to order hear the marine tribe or from Napoli,
to adjudge the prizes taken, also to issue a public
order respecting the distribution of prize money, by which I
may be guided in my payments. You will observe that
in my ladder respecting the affair of Tricherry, I mentioned
simply having burnt the brig of War, without saying how,

(14:17):
that letter, being a despatch for publication, I thought it
well not to proclaim to the enemy that we made
use of red hot shot. It was by those I
burnt the brig, and I could quite as easily burn
by the same means the largest ship ever built. Might
I suggest the advantage that would result from using the
same projectile with almost every ship. Each vessel might as

(14:37):
well as me, have a furnace in her hold for
the feeding of two of her guns. The effect would
be tremendous. If the fleet was ready before the Turks
came out, A slight excursion to Salonika might be attended
with profit and advantage. I shall require a little time
to repair damages. I have lost my larboored cat haird
my jim boom, second topmast, main gaff bow spread shot through,

(15:00):
and the engine requires various repairs. The steam waste paper
is completely gone, and I must get another maid. I
hope and trust your lordship has still the intention of
forming a national fleet and a dock yard. Without this,
your difficulties will be amplified beyond measure. I am merely
mention this because I he intrigues are on foot to
prevent such measures. I, a stranger who belong to no party,

(15:23):
and who neither fear nor love the Hydriots and Spetziots,
will tell you the truth on these points. Although your
orders prescribed for me to remain a fortnight on the
blockade of the Gulf of Negroponte, I was forced to
return wanting ammunition, fuel provisions, and various repairs. I shall
use my endeavors to be ready for see as speedily

(15:43):
as possible. Before I conclude, give me leave to congratulate
your Lordship upon your brilliant success at the Piraeus. I
have no doubt it is but a prelude to more
important successors. I have the honor to be et cetera.
F A. Hastings eight Katerina puros Apleith, eighteen twenty seven.
My Lord, may I beg leave to present to you

(16:04):
my very particular friend, mister Niccolo Kelogy. You will find
him a young man of good education, talent, and what
is of still great value, of great probity. I have
known him many years and esteemed him equally long by
his private fortune. He is independent and has consequently always
refused to meddle in the intrigues. He regrets so much

(16:24):
to seek cause the misfortunes of his country. So much
for introduction, mister Niccolo Kelogy has been good enough to
wait upon you to receive your orders. Respecting the prize,
I have lately captured. These vessels contained grain chiefly, and
therefore would in that state be of no use to you.
Your commissaries must turn it into biscuit before it is

(16:46):
sent to the Pereeus. The government has sent for the
Admiralty Court from Napolis to sit there upon the judgment
of vessels detained. As to the sales, I am of
opinion that to appease the jealousy of the seamen, a
public sale should be held, and your commissaries purchase it
if they please. They will thus always obtain it cheaper
than they could buy it at Syra, and thus nobody

(17:08):
can complain. I am anxious to receive from your Lordship
in order respecting the distribution of prize money, and this
I think should be public. Hitherto, the government has received
fifteen percent upon all prizes. Of course your Lordship will
arrange as you think proper upon this subject. But if
any part of a prize goes to the public purse,
it is only but just. It should aid in the

(17:29):
payment of the wages of seamen. I am now paying
a month's wages out of my own pocket, which I
hope and trust your Lordship will reimburse me. As I
cannot continue this system. Anything can be done in Greece
by prompt payments with the rears. Nothing is to be
done my friend has much in various information respecting every
part of Greece, and can furnish you with much useful matter.

(17:52):
I do not doubt, but you will shortly appreciate his merit.
I have the honor to be et cetera f A.
Hastings p S. May be of you, my Lord, to
furnish me with a commission of lieutenant, for mister Darby
the only officer doing duty as a sailor on board.
In truth he is no sailor, and does not pretend.
But he is brave, diligent and a gentleman, and is

(18:12):
served with me for about four months. Nine Katerina poor Ross,
April thirtieth, eighteen twenty seven. My Lord, I have the
honor to receive your orders on the twenty eighth instant.
Your lordship will have observed by the letters. I had
the honor of transmitting to you that the condition of
this vessel is such as to render it impossible for
her to put to sea immediately. Doctor Goss last night

(18:36):
was occupied sending you off sixty eight pounders, and I
am happy to hear this morning that the monastery has
fallen without them. I must again repeat how indispensable it
is that this fleet should be in readiness to encounter
the Turks, who cannot now delay long their departure. It
is with deep regret I see the extreme discontent existing

(18:56):
on board the Sauverurb brig, which seems to me to
be greatly augmented, if and not entirely, owing to the
Greeks being paid in advance and the English being in
arrears of wages in this country, my Lord, I must
repeat nothing can be done without regular payments. By paying
out of my own funds when others could not be obtained,
I have established the confidence of the Greeks and English

(19:17):
in this vessel as far as money is concerned. But
I cannot continue to pay out of my own pocket
if funds are not forthcoming for the wages of this vessel.
I must beg leave to resign. Whilst I am on board,
my people will always consider me personally responsible for their wages,
and I must again remark that I have suffered already
much too severely in my private fortune to admit of

(19:39):
making any further sacrifices. Besides wages for the crew. I
have various expenses here to repair damage sustained by the vessel.
I have the honour to be etc. F. A. Hastings p. S.
It seems to be necessary to relieve the vessels at
Volo or they wik at their station. Greek sailors on
board their own ships will not remain more than a
month at sea. Ten Katerina Porus, May the sixth, eighteen

(20:03):
twenty seven, my Lord, I do myself the honor of
enclosing for your perusal two different extracts from public papers
send me lately from Zante. I am now ready for sea,
excepting powder, of which I have only two quarter casks
of very vile French stuff received from Captain Saint George.
Mister Hesketh, among other prizes made it. Napoli has brought

(20:24):
some flannel cartridges for our guns filled and forty casks
of powder. Would your lordship have the goodness to cause
in order to be sent to me to receive this powder?
There is still a great quantity of the stores sent
out from England missing. I have the bills of ladying
and can give copies to mister Hesketh if you think
proper to send to Hydras, Spetzas and Napoli again to

(20:45):
collect them. I suspect the Hydriots have now in their
possession about one hundred and sixty carbines such as I
have on board. It be a strange to everybody here
that all the Commissary department should be absent. I am
informed provisions are wanted, and yet nobody comes to buy
the prize provisions. As every Greek is by nature a thief.

(21:06):
Things disappear daily, and if they remain much longer, nothing
will be forthcoming. Already, my Greeks have petitioned me about
the prizes, and everybody acquainted with Greek sailors must be
aware they will not go to sea again until they
have been paid their prize money. Till now, there was
never an example of a ship quitting her prize until
sold and the proceeds distributed. I am sorry to be

(21:28):
obliged to remind your Lordship again that on my arrival
here I paid my crew one month's wages, due the
sixteenth of last month, and in ten days more another
month's wages are due and pay I must, for, as
I have frequently remarked to your Lordship, no arrears can
exist in this country. The wages also is not the
only expense. I was obliged to purchase about one hundred

(21:51):
tons of firewood at Scapulio. Fresh meat in harbors runs
away with great sums, and when the engine works it
consumes about half a dollar a day off after oil.
Besides all this, I have been obliged to hire three
carpenters for ten days to repair the damages done. In
late expedition. I had a fluke shot off a bower
anchor at Tricherry, and ort to have another one. I

(22:11):
must get a new mainsail made here. It is very
disagreeable to me to torment your lordship with all these statements,
but you must be aware that a vessel like this
cannot be sailed without great expense. There I hear a
number of seamen from the brig who want to enter
with me. I have as yet refused to receive them.
But if you thought it proper to give me an order,

(22:33):
I should then be justified in doing so. I have
the honor to be et cetera. F. A. Hastings nine,
Katerina Spatzaz, May thirtieth, eighteen twenty seven. My Lord, having
lost two masts in a squall off Cape Malea, and
having business at Poros requiring my presence, I have thought
it the most expeditious way to go myself to purchase

(22:54):
other masts at Hydra and settle my affairs at Poros.
I therefore do myself the honor trant transmit your lordship
a report of my proceedings after you left me near Stempane.
At sunset, I lighted the fires, and as soon as
steam was up, steered for the passage between Zante and Maria.
The wind freshening much in a contrary direction. I found

(23:14):
myself about ten miles to the southward of Zante. In
the morning, about three a m. We perceived a large
vessel standing towards us from the Maria and went to
quarters for her. I thought at first she might be
the Hallas, but on approaching she stood back to the mainland,
which made me conclude that it was a stranger. The

(23:35):
wind increasing, I could not remain head to wind and
made sail under the lee of Zante. In the forenoon,
I saw a large ship under the land far off,
steering to the south, which I concluded was a Turkish
or Neutral ship of war. The wind debating, I steamed
up round the eastern point of Zante, and not finding
the helace on the other side of the island. I

(23:55):
stood towards Cephalonia, opening out the two Turkish frigates lying
at Clarendez. In the evening I saw a large ship
very far astern coming northward, and supposed she was the Hellas,
and the same I had seen in the forenoon under
the land. At sunset, I altered courses and steered for Clarenza,
and in the first watch we saw a good deal
of firing in that direction. The wind and sea augmenting,

(24:18):
I was unable to keep the ship head on to sea,
and therefore bore up for the rendezvous at Oxia, not
finding the Hellas at this station, the wind augmenting, the
starboard wheel being out of repair and threatening to come
to pieces if not looked to, the water required to
be drawn off the boilers, et cetera. All these things
made it necessary for me to search a port. I

(24:39):
looked inside Oxya, but found it unsafe, and therefore bore
up under the port of Patala, where I put things
to rights as well as I could, but found on
examination we had but three days and a half's coals,
little water, and only a few days bred. Under these circumstances,
I felt myself called upon to return alse the means
were still left to me of being to accomplish it.

(25:01):
Having obtained an offing west of Cephalonia, I took off
the paddle and sailed, which gave us an opportunity of
again repairing the wheels again in an unsound condition, and
saved our fuel. The wind and sea calming, I got
up my steam, and there being every appearance of calm weather,
I stood within five or six miles of Modon, hoping
to meet the two frigates we saw off there. When

(25:23):
we passed northward, however, we saw nothing but a brig
inside the harbor, sailing close along the land. Late on
the evening of the twenty eighth, when rounding Cape Saint Angelo,
as school from the high land, carried away our four
and second masts and left us in a very unenviable situation,
considering we had but a few hours calls on board. However,

(25:45):
a breeze favoring us all night, we arrived here at
ten a m twenty ninth of May. Upon the foremast
we lost one man, Yanni Patiniotti. I have the honor
to be et cetera f a hasting twelve Katerina Spetzas
June seventh, n s eighteen twenty seven. My Lord, I

(26:05):
had the honor of sending you a report of my
proceedings since I left you, and hope to have found
you here on my return from Poros, that I might
receive your further orders. I returned last night having been
subjected to more delay and vexation than can be imagined
or expressed. Respecting the prizes taken at Volo, I could
only procure one master Poros, sold me by tom Basi.
Others there were both at Hydra and Poros, but the

(26:27):
proprietors would not part with them. I have therefore been
obliged to purchase one here, considerably too large and expensive,
but there is no remedy. I hope to be ready
for sea in three days, but fear I shall have
some embarrassment about money matters. The purchase of masts, of salt, provisions, sales,
et cetera. Besides the page due to the crew puts
me to considerable straits, particularly as I had lent all

(26:49):
the ready money I possessed to Kalijy to redeem his brother. However,
I shall do my utmost to get to sea, and
I am anxious to know how, when and where I
can have the honor of rejoining your lordship. A fireship
that departs to day will deliver you this letter, and
your Lordship may perhaps think it worth while to send
a vessel here with orders for my further guidance. May

(27:09):
I beg of you also to add a private signal
by which I may know all Greek vessels at a
tolerable distance by day, also a night private signal. The
British squadron is assembled at Smena awaiting the Admiral. The
camp at Falureom is broken up, and general churches returned
to Aegina. The puppet of government is occupied voting for
the nomination of ministers. If possible, more incapable than themselves,

(27:31):
they talk of going to Napolis. Griever and Photomanns proposed this.
The former, as usual, seized upon an American ship, and
doctor Howe, charged with the distribution of the cargo, applied
to Captain Patterson of the Constitution, who is now at
Napolis guarding it. I am sorry to add that mister
Lee received a letter from England announcing that the Enterprise

(27:51):
having sailed her Boiler's burst opposite Plymouth, and she was
towed into that port by a brig of war. I
have the honor to be et cetera f a Hasting
thirteen Katerina Spezza's June ninth, eighteen twenty seven. My Lord,
I had the honor to receive your order of the
seventh in joining me to repair to your lordship without
delay if ready, for see. A variety of circumstances unavoidable

(28:16):
in a country deprived of even the shadow of organization,
has prevented my being yet ready to sail. I receive
my foremast on board to day, but the majority and
best of my crew has left me. I must look
for others and intend to wait to night and go
to Poros, where I was tormented by hundreds to take them.
Here I can get men, but I shall confine myself
to a half dozen, as I found it necessary to

(28:37):
mix my crew. In going to Poros, I shall not
delay anything, since I shall be occupied getting up my
masts and rigging there, making sails et cetera, et cetera
en route, and I can water more easily at Poros
than here. I have informed the captain of the brig
that brought this that if I am ready to sail
before any further orders of yours arrive, I shall repair
to Keragotto and await their instructions from you. If I

(29:00):
am not at Keragotto, I shall be found here. I
have the honor to be et cetera. F A. Hastings
fourteen Katerina Syrah, August the first, eighteen twenty seven, My Lord,
in hopes of seeing your lordship here, I have waited
two days since which, although not finished, all the work
of our machinery can be done on board. There are
two things which retain me, namely money, of which I

(29:23):
require about seven hundred dollars, and the fire bars, which
they continually civilly refuse me acting the true Greek, or
in other words, the dog in the manger. If your
lordship remains long absent, I shall be sadly puzzled how
to act. Without new firebars, we cannot steam again. The
local authorities here are so afraid of the Hydriots and
Speciots that they dare not take any steps against them.

(29:45):
To leave this without the firebars is useless. If I
can obtain these bars and your lordship does not arrive,
I will pay myself the necessary sum to get the
vessel out of this sport, hoping you will reimburse me,
but to go without the bars is only going to
return again. What I can do to forward the service,
I will gladly perform, and anxious enough I am to

(30:06):
get away from this place. I have the honor to
be et cetera. F A. Hastings fifteen Katerina PUOs, August
the nineteenth, eighteen twenty seven. My Lord, on my arrival here,
I wrote to Hydra to request the local authorities there
to send me the necessary coals, since you do not
wish the last cargo to be used. I have received
no answer, and upon inquiring yesterday from persons arrived from Hydra,

(30:30):
I find they are not taking any measures to forward
them to me. My officer wrote me under the date
of the fifteenth, from Napoli that he hoped to be
able to cast the bars there, in which case I
shall have to wait for the coals from Hydra. The
impertinence of the shopkeepers has at length attained a pitch
that is scarcely endurable. It is to be hoped that
your lordship will make them send their coals. Bracket. The

(30:53):
remainder is lost close Bracket sixteen, Katerina PUOs, August the twentieth,
eighteen twenty seven. My Lord, I am delighted to find
that you have an expedition in progress. This vessel shall
be ready to accompany your lordship. Whether I can get
the bars cast at Napoli or not, the ones we
now have can be made to answer for twenty four hours.
I shall write to Napoli to order the engineers to

(31:13):
be here by the twenty third, whether they succeed in
casting the bars or not. The calls I wrote for
from Hydra are government coals, and it is well they
should be used the first, as I have been informed
they are greatly diminishing without our consumption. I should like
to complete as speedily as possible, and there is no
time to spare between this and the twenty fourth for

(31:33):
shipping one hundred tons of coal from Hydra, I have
the honor to be et cetera. F. A. Hastings, seventeen.
Katerina Pouros, August twenty second, eighteen twenty seven. My Lord,
I am making a sail according to your Lordship's plan
to become the whull of the ship, but wants sail
cloth for completing it. I understand as your caring has

(31:54):
some in store would your lordship be kind enough to
allow me to take a hundred peaks. I have a
good deal of very bad French powder on board, and
even of Turkish I suspect put into French barrels, which
I received from Methana. Could your lordship permit me to
exchange it against English powder? It is of very great
importance that our cartridge powder should be good. I have

(32:16):
the honor to be et cetera f a Hastings eighteen
kattering a Gulf of Lepanto suptemptered of the twenty seventh,
eighteen twenty seven. My Lord, I have the honor to
transmit you a report of the proceedings from the day
I left you till this moment. Captain Thomas of the
Savoir joined me the twenty first and proposed with much
garantry to go into the gulf in the daytime, the

(32:39):
wind being unusually out at night. I consented, with some difficulty,
in consequence of the little dependence I can place on
my engine, which might render it impossible for me to
follow him immediately. The Savoir, the gunboat Barbarois in tow
and accompanied by two schooners, you had left to keep
blockade at MISSLOONI, but who contrary to my knowledge, thus

(33:01):
disobeyed your orders, passed into the gulf in the evening
of the twenty first, in most gallant style, in despite
of the enemy's very formidable batteries and one brig of
war and two schooners at the Maria castles and several
vessels at Lepanto. I attempted to steam in that night,
but the engine failed me within two miles of the castles.
The next day, the wind being strong in, I attempted

(33:23):
to sail in, but when within gunshot of the castles,
the wind failed me, and it was not until the
evening of the twenty third that I could get past,
towing after me the Philhellene gun boat, of whose commander
I have always had particular occasion to be satisfied. All
our damage amounted to a few ropes cut. On communicating
with the Maria the twenty fourth, I was informed that
the enemy had nine vessels at Salon's and there were

(33:46):
three Austrians there, that Captain Thomas had attacked them on
the twenty third, but in consequence of unfavorable weather, he
had not made any impression, and that he was retired
to Lutrachi. I immediately despatched a mystic go to desire
Captain Thomas to join me with all the vessels he
could collect, but not seeing him on the twenty sixth, then,
fearing that the Turks muight strengthen themselves during a delay,

(34:08):
I stood in on the twenty sixth with the gun
boat phil Helene. But we no sooner approached than the
wind came so strong out that we could not keep
the ship head to wind, and found it necessary to retire.
The Turks have asman's a very fine Algerine schooner brig
of fourteen guns, a brig of sixteen guns bearing an
admiral's flag, three smaller schooners, two armed transport brigs, and

(34:30):
two large boats with guns, and they have a battery
on shore. There are also three Austrians. While under their
fire one of my engineers was slightly wounded. I am
now waiting for the arrival of Captain Thomas, for whom
I have sent again, and am preparing for a final trial.
I have the honor to be et cetera. F. A.
Hastings nineteen Katerina Lutraki, October seventh, eighteen twenty seven. My

(34:54):
Lord Captain Thomas arrived here after our affair at Salons
with the prizes, and sent off immediately to Pooros for
provisions and ammunition. I could, notwithstanding your orders for him
to remain only seven days in the Golf, allow him
to depart in the state he then was, having only
five days provisions and four cartridges a gun. He received
some powder and provisions yesterday, and in consequence of your

(35:15):
rouder of the twenty seventh, which he received yesterday, departs immediately.
If the length of the time Captain Thomas has remained
in the Gulf is contrary to your intentions, I am
alone responsible. He was always anxious to depart. My crew
is in a very discontented state in consequence of the
month being expired without their receiving their wages. Twelve have
left me, and if I do not get money, I

(35:36):
fear the whole crew will follow their example. I have
sent an officer to Pouros four provisions, ammunition and money
if possible. I understand the English are about to prevent
any offensive operations of general Church, and if not, he
would never be able to undertake any situated as he
is for money and provisions. This seems to render my
remaining here any longer of no use. As soon as
I can get any money and provisions and arrange about

(35:58):
the prizes, I will quit the golf by But as
I have no orders from you where to go, I
shall return to Poros, unless you contrive to send me
some directions in the interim. I have the honor to
be et cetera. F. A. Hastings, twenty Katerina Lutrachi, October
the eighth, eighteen twenty seven. My Lord, I have the
honor to receive your letter of the third and am

(36:19):
happy to hear that the enterprises arrived. I have also
received one thousand dollars with the stores, et cetera, which
are very acceptable. I despatched the sauvoir yesterday according to
your order of the twenty seventh ultimate. I still retain
the gun boats, which are very useful. I wish further
orders from your lordship to know whether we are to
remain in the gulf, and if you wish us to

(36:40):
go out. There is yet at the castles a brig
and three or four Turkish schooners. I do not exactly
know their position. I intend to run down there one
of these days and see what can be done with them?
If close under the walls of the castles, which are
very strong, we could burn them some dark night if
you would send me a dozen rockets, would go with

(37:00):
a small boat close to them and do their business.
Mister Haynes announces to me that your lordship proposes coming
up to Corinth, in which case I will do myself
the honor of waiting upon you and receiving your further orders.
I have dispatched a gunboats to General Church to inform
him of your intention, and to bring him here if
he wishes to confer with your lordship. I have the

(37:21):
honor to be et cetera. F. A. Hastings, twenty one.
Katerina Lutraki, October fourteenth, eighteen twenty seven. My Lord mister
Haynes writes me that the Turkish fleet is off Patras.
From time to time I have received vague accounts of
vessels off there, but nothing certain. I shall fortify myself
either here or at the port on the other side,
under the village of Perisura, I think the latter. I

(37:43):
want fuses for shells. A box was sent, I suppose
in mistake for fuses, but it contained blue lights. Pray,
give an officer in order to send me at least
five hundred fuses. In my last your Lordship, I mentioned
of what service rockets would be to us as a
means of attack of the inner these vessels at the castles.
They will be of no less service as weapons of defense. Pray,

(38:04):
my Lord, let me have as large a quantity as possible.
I understood you were coming to Corinth, which has detained
me here, or I would by this have been at
the other end of the gulf to gain information and
see after the brig For I fear Thomas is not
too prudent. I have just been informed that much cannonading
was heard in the quarter of Lepanto the day before yesterday.
I hope no misfortune has befallen him. I have the

(38:26):
two gunboats and one mystic go out to bring me information,
and I can receive nothing. Pray let me have the rockets.
I have the honor to be et cetera. F. A. Hastings,
twenty two, Katerina put Strava, Gulf of Lepanto, October seventeenth,
eighteen twenty seven. My Lord. Not having received any orders
from your lordship, I am still in the Gulf. In
consequence of an order from your lordship to Captain Thomas,

(38:48):
I despatched the Sauveur on the seventh instant, and sent
the gunboat phil Helene with her, with letters to General
Church and orders to wait and bring the information how
the suv got past the castles or. I was a
good deal anxious on her account, and should have gone
myself to give her any assistance in case of need.
But that I understood you intended coming over to Corinth,

(39:09):
mister Hayne, bringing me letters from General Church. I dispatched
the other gunboat, Bavarois, with these, and also some for
sauver in case she was still in the gulf. Mister Darby,
the commander of the Bavarois, had directions to bring General
Church if he was anxious to communicate personally with your Lordship.
Day after day I awaited anxiously an answer, till at

(39:31):
length the Mystico I had sent three days ago to
General Church to learn something of the fleet outside, which
mister Hayne wrote me for certain was Turkish, returned yesterday
evening informing me that the Serveeur and two gunboats had
gone out on Wednesday. General Church writes me that he
positively intends passing into Rumelia and wants my aid. But

(39:53):
I am now quite alone except the Mystico, with whom
I know not what to do. He continually applies to
me for visions, and will soon probably for money. What
am I to do about him? Although wishing to aid
General Church and the Service in all I can, I
must acknowledge I have no confidence in his intended movement,
more particularly as he tells me he has no provisions
and wants me to seize by force what I find

(40:15):
in boats. All I could get by this disgreditable way
of raising provisions would not certainly feed one hundred men
for three days, and therefore could not aid General Church,
and would be a gratuitous vexation of these miserable peasantry.
If General Church had money and provisions, much is to
be done in Roumelia, But without these nothing can be
achieved anywhere. As soon as I have got the prizes

(40:36):
back to the trarchy and formed batteries, I will go
and visit General Church and learn more particulars. But I
am very anxious for some orders from your lordship, having
received nothing but the official letter of thanks since I
left you. I write in haste, and beg your lordship
to let me have an answer as soon as possible.
I have the honor to be et cetera. F A. Hastings,
twenty three. Katerina Lutrachi, October twenty seventh, eighteen twenty seven.

(41:00):
My Lord, I am ready to do all and anything
for the good of the service, but I fear General
Church has no means. I had him on board for
two days making reconnaissances round the gulf, and from what
I can gather the money said to be at Corfo
is a kind miarer. I suspect he has not a
shilling anywhere and cannot stir he talks. It is true
of expeditions, and I have always assured him of my

(41:21):
readiness to aid him. But we cannot be consuming months
after months in the hopes of receiving supplies. I must
limit the period of this embarkation, and if he cannot
then act. I think I shall be justified in quitting him.
I shall try, however, to destroy the other vessels in
the golf. First, we are in great want of fire bars.
I am laying in a stock of wood, but we

(41:42):
have not yet been able to succeed perfectly with it.
I have taken out the bars and filled the ash pits.
This we find does better than with any bars in
But we cannot as yet hope to keep the steam
up with it. I hope, however, ultimately to succeed. In fact,
our calls are nearly finished to show you how General
Church goes on his gun boat has only advanced twenty

(42:02):
feet from the beach, and yet he will not send
away that swinter Allan who commands her. I told him
I would not meddle with her until he dismissed that man,
and things remain thus. General Church, while on board, received
letters announcing the unlooked for destruction of the Turkish fleet.
Still I have not entirely credited it, and I am
in anxious expectation of some decisive information about it. I

(42:25):
am obliged to your lordship for the fuses, and hoped
to have had also some rockets. We are beginning to
get short again of provisions viz. Biscuit. The loaded prize
is condemned with a ridiculous clause for me to pay
the crew. They say nothing of the other vessels. I
send Captain Hayne to Aegina to hasten the condemnation of

(42:46):
the light vessels and counteract the intrigues which I have
no doubt Tombasi has recommenced. I shall also endeavor by
him to have more biscuit we have now, but for
a fortnight I have the honor to be etc. Faa Hastings,
twenty four. Katerina Lutrachi, November eighth, eighteen twenty seven. My
Lord the General Church has at length put himself in motion.

(43:09):
Some provisions and money have arrived on the other side
for him, I mean at Calamaki, and I hope to
sail with it to join him to night. I fortunately
received a fortnight's provisions yesterday when I had only one
day's biscuit on board. After destroying or ascertaining that I
cannot destroy the vessels at La Panto, I will go

(43:30):
outside the gulf and blockade Misslongi, Patris and the Golf,
hoping the General will blockade them by land. I fear much, however,
for provisions. I will endeavor to get some from the
Ionian islands, But money and everything else is scarce with me.
But I hear your lordship is in the same predicament,
and therefore I cannot complain, MA, I beg of your
Lordship to grant commission to Naval Lieutenant Monsieur Falanga, who

(43:53):
has served on board this vessel from the twenty ninth
March eighteen twenty seven, and is a most deserving officer.
He is the only sailor officer I have, and was
always the only one of any use in that capacity.
He behaved extremely well both at Volo, Ticherry and Salona,
at which latter place he was wounded in the neck
with a musket ball or selling fire to one of
the abandoned vessels. I may really say he is the

(44:15):
only Greek I ever saw who seems to conceive what
an officer ought to be. Although he would be a
great loss to me, and I should be sorry to
part with him, but for his own advantage, I can
strongly recommend him for promotion in the command of a vessel, since,
as I hear your Lordship is in such dreadful want
of officers to command, I am sure he would give

(44:36):
you the highest satisfaction. I have the honor to be
et cetera. F. A. Hastings, twenty five, Katerina, November seventeenth,
eighteen twenty seven. My Lord, I have the honor to
announce to you that, after much delay and disappointment usual
in Greece, I am about to proceed to Lebanto to
morrow and endeavor to destroy the Turkish vessels there. I
then go outside to pass General Church over into Roumilia,

(44:58):
and afterwards blockade Missals Epatress and Lepanto. The want of
gunboats here is much felt by me at this moment,
as in going out, I must leave the golf to
the Turks, who, even should I be fortunate enough to
destroy the enemy's vessels at Lepanto, will always have here
armed boats enough to command the golf. I must also
beg of your lordship to consider us in money matters.

(45:19):
I am now seven thousand pounds out of pocket by
Greek affairs, and I am daily now expending my own
money for the public service. Our prizes are serving as
transports for the army, and I must either shortly abandon
this important position or be paid. It is most likely
that if all the important points I have mentioned could
be blockaded, the Turks would soon be reduced, from the

(45:39):
blockade being so much more easily maintained than elsewhere. Without money.
You must be aware that I cannot maintain this vessel,
and all to be expected from General Church, you must
be aware is plenty of promises. The General is already
overwhelmed with expectance, and if he had millions would not
be able to command a farthing. I will do all
I can, but I must repeat it is not quite

(46:00):
fair I should end a beggar. After all the labor,
vexation and disappointment I have experienced for so many years.
I have the honor to be et cetera. F A. Hastings,
twenty six, Katerina off Cape Papas, November twentieth, eighteen twenty seven.
My Lord, I have the honor to inform you I
passed the castles on the eighteenth with the three prizes

(46:20):
and mist Cohen company. I lost two men killed and
one wounded in passing. The other vessels passed without suffering
any damage. It had been my attention to attack the
Turkish squadron at Lapanto, but the wind was so strong
on the land that I felt I could not affect
my object, and anxious to profit by the same wind
to go out and aid the operations of the army
outside and blockade the fortresses, I passed through without waiting

(46:42):
a more favorable moment of attack. At Patres, I found
a schooner whose suspicious conduct in abstaining for a long
time from hoisting any colors, and when she afterwards showed
Austrian persisting in drawing closer under the Turkish battery induced
me to fire and bring her out. After waiting a
little and finding no attention paid to my warning, I
fired again and sunk her. I hear she was Austrian.

(47:05):
I have the honor to be et cetera. F. A. Hastings,
twenty seven Katerina Patala, December the second, eighteen twenty seven.
My Lord, I have the honor to write to you
from Cape Papas informing you that I had come out
of the Gulf of Lepanto and was waiting to embark
the troops of General Church. I now beg leave to
acquaint you that I arrived at Dragamestro the day before

(47:25):
yesterday with the three prizes which have been serving as
transports to General Church's army for six weeks. We brought
over six hundred soldiers, artillery, horses, et cetera. And I
am now returning to Cape Papa's to embark a second
division I heard of the gunboat Helvetia Myshur Fabricus being
at Carculo, and no sent immediately to order him to
join me, which he did and is now at Cape Papas.

(47:49):
While in Cataculo, the gunboat was attacked by a Turkish
brig of twenty four guns. Moshur Fabricus defended himself with
much spirit and obliged the brig to retire. I have
since heard the same brig is now off provisia. If
the service here will permit my absence, I think of
going to look after her. The Gulf of La Panto
is now left entirely in the hands of the Turks,
and I wish to send the gun boat in to

(48:10):
assist the expedition against Salona. But the crew, having been
so long about here, suffering much hardship and without pay,
are very dissatisfied. I have given the boat any you
must anchor, cable, provisions, ammunition, et cetera, and I will
even advance them a little money if they will go
into the gulf. I should hope, however, that your Lordship
will reimburse me for these expenses extra of my own vessel.

(48:33):
As you may imagine, I am almost entirely without coals,
and cannot get a sufficient quantity of the pitch pine
to burn. The other pine will not answer, and therefore
I am reduced to sails. General Churchard ordered round here
a surreot brig he had at Kenkno's, and I wrote
to M. Kurring to request him to put coals on
board her, which I understand M. Gerdring refused. From the

(48:54):
manner in which I have been frequently treated, one would
imagine this vessel was not a Greek but an enemy's vessel.
I trust your lordship will remedy this and put me
on a fair footing with the other Greek national vessels.
I wish your Lordship could also contrive to let me
have some money to cover the expenses of this vessel,
which for three months that we have been absent from

(49:14):
Poros cannot be supposed trifling, as I conceive it important
under existing circumstances to keep the blockade of Patras Messlongi
and the Gulf. I will remain as long as my
destitute situation will permit me. Since I have been here,
I do not think any vessels have entered the Gulf.
I have the honor to be et cetera. F. A. Hastings,

(49:34):
twenty eight. Katerina Dragomstra, December the eighth, eighteen twenty seven.
My Lord, I have the honor to inform you that
I have passed over the army of General Church to
this port, amounting to about twelve hundred men, with six
pieces of artillery and about sixty horses mules, et cetera.
The General has been joined by Macri and some other captains,
which may have increased his force to two thousand men.

(49:57):
He is in hourly expectation of being joined by Zauga,
and even Varnacciotti is expected to come over. The monastery
of Ligowitza, on the road from Arta to Lepanto and Misselongi,
is said to have been possessed by the troops of
the General. This post is of importance. The troops of
all marched and patrust and Avarino, and nothing remains but

(50:18):
some Albanians and the inhabitants. Lepento is thinly peopled, all
have little provision, as well as Missolonghi. From what I
know of Lapento on the castles, I am confident that
if your lordship was to attack it with the squadron
you command and General Church was to make even a
demonstration of attack by land, it must fall in forty
eight hours time. Lepento lies on the face of a

(50:39):
hill open to the sea. Every shot and shell and
rocket must tell somewhere, and they would readily capitulate. We
must not take the monastery of the Pereeus as an example.
At Lapento, the Turks have their families. This particular always
operates upon them. But whether it did or not, the
place would be taken. And I am not one who
overrates the cat abilities of the Greeks. I fear, however,

(51:02):
that General Church has other projects, and such as, according
to my opinion, are very unlikely to succeed, so much
so that if your Lordship does not arrive or send
me orders, I shall return to the archipelago rather than
lend myself to measures which appear to me worse than useless.
I must beg again of your Lordship not to forget
us in the way of money, provisions, ammunition, calls, et cetera.

(51:24):
We are now more than three months absent from Poros.
I have the honor to be et cetera. I F. A.
Hastings twenty nine. Katerina of Vassaladi, December the twenty seventh,
eighteen twenty seven. My Lord, I have know been twelve
days before Vasaladi, and since our arrival I have every
reason to believe they have neither received provisions or water.
The weather has usually been so bad that I have

(51:46):
only been able to bombard it twice in the gun boat,
having few shot, I have exchanged her thirty two for
one of our sixty eighth with shells, since I have
not been able to batter it owing to the weather.
I am satisfied they are now at their last shifts
in the fort, and if I could remain before it
a week longer and bombarded for a couple of days,
I do not doubt it would fall into our hands.

(52:08):
I regret, of all things not having the flat bottomed
gunboat here with her. We could have laid the fort
before this general Church was to attack Antalico, and might
have taken it in the first instance with little or
no resistance. But he delayed till too late, and then
came without an ounce of provisions, and returned the day
after to Draga Mestra. This man is such an insufferable
quack that I cannot act any longer with him. He

(52:30):
affects to command the navy as well as the army.
And although I have given him one or two rather
rough lessons here, the other day captured with a boat
of his a spy of mine on his way to me,
and carried him off without mentioning a word of it
to me. The man merely came to me the other day.
Supposing Vassaladi about to surrender, then he might say he
took it. God knows, there is no merit due unless

(52:52):
to the boat's blockading inside. I have received letters to
day from the Gulf, and I find the expedition Atrosnia
is in alarm of being im blockaded by the Turkish
vessels at Lapanto. The loss of the gunboats from the
Gulf is almost irreparable. If your Lordship could send them
round here with a brig it would be of infinite service.
I am so in want of ammunition, provisions, fuel, et cetera,

(53:13):
that I hardly know what to do, but if possible,
I will reenter the Golf to assist them there. I
wrote mister Finlay, announcing to your Lordship that if the
whole squadron was to come round here, I am satisfied
that missolongee Patres Lapano and the castles might be taken.
They are much straitened for provisions at all, but particularly
at Missolonge and Lepanto, and the castles could be taken

(53:36):
by force. Patras is now provisioned daily by one of
Church's generals, Naneke from Zante via Clarenza. Doctor Goss informs
me how much you are in want of money? I trust, however,
if you obtain any I shall not be forgotten. I
have only received six hundred dollars from General Church, and
my expenses have been enormous for fuel provisions, et cetera.

(53:56):
I have the honor to be et cetera. F A.
Hastings Katerina off Vassaladi, December the twenty ninth, eighteen twenty seven.
My Lord, I have the honor to inform you that,
after having transported the troops of General Church from Cape
Papas to Tredameestra, I undertook the blockade of Vassaladi, for
which purpose I put in requisition the small craft after mentioned,

(54:18):
and employed them to intercept all communication with Vassaladi. This
flotilla I placed under the orders of my first Lieutenant
for Langa, and on the night of the sixteenth they
entered and commenced the blockade, which has been so strictly
observed up to this day that nothing had entered Vassaladi.
One boat, with a letter and fresh provisions was captured

(54:39):
by our flotilla. I anchored the gunboat Helvetia and Company
outside Vassaladi. Your lordship is aware that Helvatia was armed
with a long thirty two pounder, which in my opinion
is very inferior in every point of view to a
sixty eight, but indisputably so for cannonading afford only to
be reduced by shells. For this reason I changed a
thirty two pound a long gun for a seas sixty

(55:00):
eight pounder cannonade. On the twenty third I bombarded Vassaladi alone,
the gun boat having been detached, with little effect, the
weather being unfavorable. Nor could I recommence until to day,
when considering the distance we wore off about one and
three quarter mile and the diminutive size of the object.
Fire at better practice has rarely been displayed. Four shells
out of seven from the ship and gunboat exploded in

(55:22):
and one blew up their magazine. I immediately ordered an assault,
in which all boats took part. The Turks, intimidated by
the explosion and by our attitude of attack, called for quarter,
which I granted them. Although they had previously forfeited their
lives by firing on a flag of truce, I sent
to them with terms of capitulation. I embarked the prisoners
on board this ship, and from thence conveyed them in

(55:45):
safety to near MESSALONGI. They were thirty in number, and
one Greek badly wounded. I have retained on board to
be treated by our surgeon. The original number was from
forty to fifty. The deafsit having been killed off by
our previous cannonading and by the explosion. I am happy,
my Lord, to testify to the exemplary conduct of the
Greeks during the whole of this service. They have borne

(56:07):
the fatigues and privations of a winter's blockade in open
boats with extraordinary patients, and the forbearance they displayed towards
the Turks rendered any interference of mine in their favor
superfluous of my officers, Lieutenant Falanga and Captain Hayne m A.
I have only to repeat the often told tale of
their matory's conduct to Monsieur Fabricus, commanding the gunboat Helveatia.

(56:30):
I feel much indebted for his zeal and activity, and
I am happy to have so deserving an officer under
my orders. The Fort of Vassalardi mouns twelve guns, three
of which are of that remarkably useful piece of ordnance.
The Turkish lecran I have offered to deliver the Fort
of Vassaladi to General Church upon his renunerating for their
services those employed in taking it. I have the honor

(56:53):
to be et cetera. F A Hastings list of small
vessels employed in taking Vassaladi. A misty galaxidiote, Captain Ergsky,
the same went with me into the Gulf of Lepanto,
and who has served with me ever since, A mystico galaxiote,
A bonnie an armed rowboat. Two of my prize launchers,

(57:14):
each armed with a nine pounder, a brule Siicra, five
molok soolis or canoes for the shallows. Thirty one Katerina Dragonestra,
January the seventh, eighteen twenty eight. My Lord, I have
the honor to acquaint Hugh that General Church arrived before
Vasilidi on the second instant, and I resigned to him
that fort on the third, requesting him to refund the

(57:36):
expenses of taking it. These consist of five dollars per
man bounty, besides the provisions of the flotilla employed in
the blockade. The General has promised to repay this, although
not without expressing some surprise at the demand. Yet the
guns he receives in the fort would pay the whole sum.
On the same day I received an official letter from
General Church requesting me to inform him what coroporation he

(57:56):
might expect from the Navy in a projected attack of
his on Anatoluco. According to the wish of General Church,
I agreed to send all the boats at my disposal
that night to attempt to capture an island named Poros,
commanding the entrance in the Lake of Antiicolo with the
Turks at a post, and we heard he was filling
up the passage and about to place guns on another island,

(58:18):
which would render him entirely the master of the entrance.
I soon discovered that what General Church calls the co
operation of the navy is in reality the navy executing
the service, and the army looking on at its leisure,
ready to take possession if success attended the arms of
the former. I had understood that I was to be
supported by two rocket boats of General Church and by
the launch of the Saren brig carrying a carronade to

(58:41):
throw grenades, but these did not appear. A dozen polycaries
arrived from General Church and were embarked in the expedition.
At half past three a m of the fourth instant,
I arrived with five boats out of nine, the rest
having unaccountably kept behind at a narrow part of the
passage of the lake, across which the Turks had built

(59:01):
a wall and stationed a gunboat behind it. The Turkish
boat was soon put to flight, the sailors, jumping into
the water, soon cleared away a passage for the boats,
and five of our boats rowed upon Poros, the Turks
keeping up a brisk fire of musketry from that island
and of cannon from Anatoliko. We were now within pistol
shot of Poros, when I found, to my surprise a

(59:23):
fort on it, which I had been assured there was
no or. I would not have attempted the attack, knowing
that in our warfare, their holds are not to be
thus taken. Seeing no reasonable hope of succeeding, I owed
aed a retreat, and having repassed by the way, we
entered found General Church's detachment lying flat in the bottom
of their boats out of gunshot. To say that my officers,

(59:43):
Captain Haynes m A and Lieutenant Falanga, also Monsieur Fabricus,
commanding the gun boat Alvetire accompanied me is to commend
them for their accustomed zeal and gallantry. I cannot conclude
without mentioning the name Crossanto, who, after having aided at Vassaladi,
was with me here in his own boat and displayed

(01:00:04):
much courage. He had one man wounded, the only loss
we sustained. Perceiving that Antellico was not to be taken
by us, that General Churchi's trips were without provisions somewhere
in a marsh where our boats could not get to
embark them, and that they might have marched on the
mainland close to Antilico. Being without provisions in this ship,
and seeing no possibility of rendering any service by remaining

(01:00:26):
any longer before Vassaladi, I returned to this sport to
provide for our immediate wants, and in hopes of meeting
Doctor Gosson, procuring from him some funds for the maintenance
of my crew, which I think your Lordship will see
the necessity of providing me with, as I have not
received more than two thousand dollars during five months, and
I have lightly been maintaining the ship in provisions and fuel,
besides furnishing money and provisions to the gunboat and flotilla

(01:00:49):
inside Vassaladi. I have the honor to be et cetera. F. A.
Hastings end of appendix recording by Timothy Ferguson, Cold Coast, Australia,
d of the Life of Thomas Lord Cochrane, tenth Earl
of Dundonald completing the Autobiography of Seamen, Volume two by
Henry Richard Foxbourne and others