386 Further Observations on the 



Further Observations on the Use of the Gelatin of Bones as an 

 Article of Food; addressed more particularly to the Friends 

 of the Greeks. By Charles de Gimbernat. 



I CANNOT but feel anxious that a process which was successfully 

 acted upon in the year 1814, with a view to furnish subsistence 

 to the garrison and inhabitants of Strasburg, should now be 

 revived and acted upon to a much greater extent, on behalf of 

 the intrepid defenders of Greece. The Philhellenes have done 

 much towards supplying the military and financial necessities of 

 that country ; they have sent arms, officers, engineers, artillery- 

 men, surgeons, artisans, and money, but the most pressing want 

 of all is, I fear, still very imperfectly provided for. Missolonghi, 

 after an obstinate resistance, fell by famine ; and of the fortresses 

 that remain, not one, perhaps, is victualled to stand a protracted 

 siege. Nor is the want of a sufficient supply of food, by any 

 means, confined to the fortresses : the probability is, that dearth 

 will soon become general throughout the country. Wars for 

 independence are always of long duration. If left to themselves, 

 there is little reason to suppose that the Turks will be able, 

 within any assignable period of time, to bring back the Greeks 

 to their allegiance, or consent to recognise their independence. 

 Whether the great powers of Europe will interfere is doubtful; 

 and still more doubtful is it in what manner that interference will 

 be exerted, and with what success. In whatever way we con- 

 sider this subject, the conclusion to which we must infallibly 

 arrive is, that dearth and the diseases incident to dearth, will, 

 for a considerable time, prevail in every part of Greece, unless 

 provisions are sent there from foreign countries. For these, 

 the Greeks must trust, in a great degree, to the sympathy and 

 benevolence of the several Philhellenic societies. Now, the 

 funds of these societies must, in the nature of things, be limited 

 and precarious. It is essential, therefore, that they should 

 economise their means to the utmost; that the relief first admi- 

 nistered should be directed to meet those wants which are the 

 most urgent ; and that it should reach these people for whose 

 benefit it is intended ; and consequently, be little liable to mis- 

 application by those subordinate agents through whose hands it 

 must pass. Under this impression, I respectfully submit to these 



