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maritime islands Hydra & Spezzia are under the influence of some
rich oligarchs & the rabble, & Ipsara is purely democratic.
The parties may be said to be three. 1 There is Mavrocordato &
the oligarchs of the maritime Isles & some of those of the Pelloponesus
These & the Legislative Body were for order & a mild despotism, either
under a Foreign King or otherwise. This faction stood high, but
must now change its principles or loose its power. 2. Collocotroni
& some of the Captains & some of the oligarchs of the Morea, who are
for power & plunder. This party is going down hill at a gallop. & 3.
Ipsilanti, Odissea, Negrais & the mass who are now beginning to embrace
republican motivesnotions, finding they cannot otherwise maintain
their power. Now the question is—which of these parties shd. an honest
man embrace. All have stumbled by endeavouring to hug
the best of these factions. I have pursued another course. Cautiously
I have avoided them all. I have loudly rated them for their
vices; & have as loudly praised them for their good acts. This for one
who has no genius for political intrigue, tactics or what is called
diplomacy is the safest course. It places a man of a plain mind
on a level with, & even above, a high flying Politician of the Gentz &
Metternich School.
Greece & all the Islands belonging to it are tranquil, with the
exception of 2 Towns viz: Napoli, which is blockaded by the
Govt. & Missolonghi, which is disturbed by a body of Suliots, who
play the Pretorians there.
Civilization & Good Govt. is gaining ground: chiefly owing to publicity.
There is a great fund of virtue in Greece; but it is monopolized
by the peasantry. What is most wanted is a good representative
body & some good Prefects, good Judges, & public writers. Three
active & strong minded Englishmen might do incalculable good in
Greece. The people are anxious to improve. The war lingers; owing to
the dissensions which prevail among the ruling few. Otherwise
it might easily be put an end to, with the assistance of the Loan.
Eastern
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correspondence |
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recto |
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richard doane |
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copy of letter 3097, vol. 11 |
4342 |
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