CHAPTER VI.

Affray between one of Lord Byron's guard and a citizen of Missolonghi-Lord Byron's letter on that occasion -Conspiracy of Cariascachi-His troops enter Missolonghi-A body of Suliotes seize upon BasiladiLord Byron's journey to Salona prevented—A spy arrested in Lord Byron's house-Measures taken by Prince Mavrocordato-His proclamation at Anatolico -His letter to Lord Byron-Lord Byron's last illness -His death-The funeral service over his remainsDisastrous consequences of the death of Lord Byron -The transfer of the remains to Zante, and thence to England.

THE weather continued to be more rainy than ever. Lord Byron could not take his usual rides, and his health was affected by want of air and exercise. He was at this time exposed to another annoyance.

On the night of the 31st of March, nearly at twelve o'clock, a Greek came to him, with tears in his eyes, complaining of one of his German guards, who, he said, had returned to his quarters intoxicated; had broken open the door, had drawn his sword, and had alarmed his whole family so much, as to make it necessary for him to have recourse to Lord Byron for immediate protection. Lord Byron, persuaded how necessary it was to show the Greeks that their foreign auxiliaries would be guilty of no outrage towards them, instantly despatched one of his officers, with a file of soldiers, to arrest the delinquent, and carry him to the artillery barracks. He was a Russian, who had arrived only lately, and had been very urgent to procure his admission into our brigade. When arrested and taken to the barracks, he asserted that the Greek had told what was untrue. He said that he had broken open the door because he had

been assigned those quarters, and had lodged there several days; and the man would not let him in, but kept him outside, exposed to violent rain. He complained of the time and manner of his arrest; and at once sent a long representation to Lord Byron, accusing the adjutant who arrested him. My Lord immediately answered him in the following terms.

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❝ SIR,

"I have the honour to reply to your letter of this day. In consequence of an urgent, and, to all appearance, a well-founded complaint, made to me yesterday evening, I gave orders to Mr. Hesketh to proceed "to your quarters with the soldiers of his guard, and to you remove from your house to the Seraglio; because "the owner of your house declared himself and his family "to be in immediate danger from your conduct; and added, that that was not the first time that you had

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placed them in similar circumstances. Neither Mr. "Hesketh nor myself could imagine that you were in "bed, as we had been assured of the contrary; and

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certainly such a situation was not contemplated. But "Mr. Hesketh had positive orders to conduct you from your quarters to those of the artillery brigade; at the 66 same time being desired to use no violence; nor does

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"it appear that any was had recourse to. This measure "was adopted because your landlord assured me, when "I proposed to put off the inquiry until the next day, "that he could not return to his house without a guard "for his protection, and that he had left his wife and "daughter, and family, in the greatest alarm; on that "account putting them under our immediate protection; “the case admitted of no delay. As I am not aware that "Mr. Hesketh exceeded his orders, I cannot take any "measures to punish him; but I have no objection to "examine minutely into his conduct. You ought to "recollect that entering into the auxiliary Greek corps, now under my orders, at your own sole request and positive desire, you incurred the obligation of obeying "the laws of the country, as well as those of the service.

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"I have the honour to be, &c.

"N. B."

At

April 1 and 2.-There was a rumour that a body of troops had sailed from the castle, and had disembarked at Chioneri, a village on the southern shore of Missolonghi. first there was some alarm in the town; but it was soon known that, in fact, a launch, belonging to one of the brigs that was returning into the Gulf, had attempted to

land her men in order to procure water, and had been driven off by some twenty peasants.

Mavrocordato presented to Lord Byron Signor Tricupi, arrived the day before from Zante. He was the son of one of the primates of Missolonghi, who had been educated by the means furnished by Lord Guildford, and was acquainted with the French, English, and Italian languages. He was a young man not only well-informed, but of a sound good sense, and a right judging patriotism; and had been selected as deputy to the general government to represent western Greece. This was the young man who afterwards pronounced the funeral oration of Lord Byron.

At two o'clock in the afternoon of the third of April, many canoes arrived, con-. taining about 150 soldiers belonging to