518 



declares, that tliey have been of the 

 greatest use in steelinsf the lieart against 

 the attacks which their injured, honest, 

 cause, has generated. 



Rhigasaitci wards drew up a " Grand 

 Chart of all Greece," in twelve divisions, 

 wherein he noted, not only the present, 

 but the ancient, names of all places ce- 

 lebrated in the Greek annals. Among 

 other ornaments, it exhibited a great 

 number of antique medals ; and, as his 

 songs formed a potent stimulus to martial 

 exertions, so his Chart held out instruc- 

 tions to the European literati ; so that, 

 though it is defective and incorrect, his 

 zeal and progress were ap|)lauded. The 

 expense was defrayed by his associates. 



By the all-conquering force of his 

 genius, this brave man first roused the 

 spirit of his countrymen, infusing the 

 firmness of hearts of oak, preparing them 

 for battle and new triumphs, concerting, 

 also, the means of destruction for the 

 base myriads their impious murdering 

 usurpers should bring against them. 

 The several passages here quoted prove 

 that his claim to the credit which such 

 discernment, such revolutionary feel- 

 ings, deserve, was undoubtedly and in- 

 disputably just. 



The uiisnner of terminating his career 

 was tragical. A false brother, seeking 

 to mend his fortune by the sale of his 

 bonour, denounced Rhigas, and eight of 

 bis friends, to the government of Austria, 

 as conspirators. The emperor arrested 

 them, to be given up to the Ottoman 

 Porte, except three that were natu- 

 ralized Austrians. 



This deplorable event was reported in 

 all the European journals. The Moni- 

 teur thus notices it, borrowing an arti- 

 cle from the Semlin Rubric. — (Date 

 1798,) " We have seen, on their pas- 

 sage through this town, the eight 

 Greeks arrested for seditious writings, 

 and to be delivered to the Porie. They 

 were bound two and two, and guarded 

 by twenty-four soldiers, with two corpo- 

 rals, a superior officer, and a commis- 

 sary. The soul of the party was Rhi- 

 gas, a rich merchant, and a native of 

 Thessaly. His ruling passion has been 

 the emancipation of his country. Some 

 time before his arrest, Rhigas, from pre- 

 sentiment, removed from Vienna, but he 

 was taken at Trieste. Five of the 

 eight Greeks are to be forwarded to the 

 Porte, the others are condemned to per- 

 petual exile. Rhigas was powerlully 

 supported by RIawroyeni, nephew to the 

 famous buspodar of that uatuc The 



Biography of Eminent Persons. 



[July 1, 



former of these is now living quiet at 

 Paris." 



It appears tiiat these Greeks were 

 afterwards thrown into the Danube, 

 their conductors fearing to be inter- 

 cepted by Passwan Oglou. This catas- 

 trophe, which was every where de- 

 plored, took place about the middle of 

 May, 1798. Rhigas was then about 

 five and Ibrty years of age. Soon after, 

 Allthimos, Patriarch of Jerusalem, and 

 Dean of the Greek Prelates, was or- 

 dered by Selini, the Turkish emperor, 

 to publish a circular paternal address to 

 all the Greeks, strongly recommending 

 fidelity, &c. This circular was com- 

 pletely refuted by another, as being dic- 

 tated by the Porte. In the preface, the 

 author says : — " Though our banners do 

 not wave high in air, yet with religion 

 for our bulwark, and freedom our 

 shield, we are resolved to share in the 

 glory of Rhigas; his call has awaked 

 and raised us from our sleepy trance, 

 and we will never yield to blas|)hemcrs 

 and the slaves of a merciless despot. 

 The dawn of liberty is only retarded by 

 our jealousy of certain European 

 powers." 



The author, afterwards, in the ani- 

 mated spirit of genuine enthusiasm, an 

 overwhelming burst of the imagination, 

 effusions vigorous, natural, and luxuriant, 

 calls attention aside to observe angels 

 descending from Heaven, bearing along 

 with them immortal palms to crown 

 these martyrs of religion and liberty. 

 He then feelingly and pathetically con- 

 trasts his circular, which he calls " Fra- 

 ternal," vvilh that falsely called " Pa- 

 ternal." He gives a full and distinct deli- 

 neation of every interesting circum- 

 stance attending their present desola- 

 tions, sympathises with his dear country 

 in every expression capable, by any 

 means, of raising a high degree of inter- 

 est and feeling, not to let fire or sword 

 cool their amor patriee. He then pro- 

 duces a passage from their most eminent 

 Eschylus, that, for its irresistible impe- 

 tuosity, and energetic sublimity, has 

 ever been justly admired as transcend- 

 ant. Any translation must suffer by 

 comparison; but the following, which in- 

 deed is only a literal rendering, may 

 bear some resemblance to it. "Chil- 

 dren of Greece, go forth, emancipate 

 your country ; let all ranks and descrip- 

 tions, acting on the principles of men 

 and citizens, principles which they have 

 so often adopted, recommended, and 

 sanctioned, combat in the cause of their 

 children, 



