T U R 
they were seized by a party of Turks. The projected insur¬ 
rection, however, took place, and has continued with various 
success ever since. 
In the Peloponnesus, there were but two points at which 
hostilities were prosecuted with any degree ot vigour; these 
were Patrass and Napoli di Romania. The besieging force 
against Patrass having been considerably swelled by re¬ 
inforcements from Arcadia and Elis, was joined by Prince 
Mavrocordato and young Caradja, who brought over some 
pieces of ordnance, and a quantity of muskets fron Messo- 
lunghi. Towards the end of October, the town was carried 
by assault, and the garrison once more forced to retire into 
the citadel. The Greeks 'displayed a good deal of courage 
in this affair, and experienced considerable loss'. Having 
occupied the minarets and entrenched themselves in the 
houses, they kept up a continued fire of musquetry against 
the ramparts of the castle, which the Turks answered from 
their great guns. Unhappily, the vigilance of the assailants 
was not equal to their bravery. Yussuff Pacha, who had 
retreated into the castle of the Morea, quitted this place on 
the 15th of November, at noon, with only four hundred 
horse and foot, and, marching in the rear of the Greeks, was 
not perceived, until he entered the gates, and commenced 
an attack. The garrison of the citadel immediately sallied, 
and after a short and tumultuary conflict in the streets, the 
Christians were entirely routed. Mavrocordato and Ca- 
radja escaped with difficulty to a boat, which conveyed 
them back to Messolunghi: their cannon, baggage, and a 
magazine containing fifteen hundred muskets, fell into the 
hands of the Turks. This action did much honour to the 
vigour and military talents of Yussuff Pacha. 
Ipsilanti had another object in view in going to Argos, 
besides presiding over the deliberations of the Congress. He 
wished to push the siege of Napoli di Romania; but the 
means of attacking so strong a fortress were lamentably de¬ 
ficient. A plan was suggested to the prince for carrying it 
by assault. This was adopted, and measures taken in con¬ 
sequence, for re-assembling the army. The hope of spoil 
attracted the peasants from all quarters; and not less than 
twelve thousand of them were in fact collected. Scaling- 
ladders were accordingly prepared, and on the rnght of the 
15th of December, the troops and ships of war took up their 
respective stations; but this assault entirely failed. 
Nikitas and Balisto carried the scaling-ladders to within 
two yards of the ditch, and remained there for nearly an 
hour waiting the signal of attack. Ipsilanti then caused it 
to be given ; but the Greeks, after a general volley, which 
only served to shew the enemy where the men had retired 
behind the rocks, subsequently dispersed themselves over the 
plain. The fleet did not make any attack, neither did Co- 
locotroni; each party waiting till the other should begin. 
The Turks emboldened by the retreat of their adversaries, 
made a sortie, repulsed a party, which had kept its ground 
after the flight of Colocotroni’s division, seized the scaling- 
ladders, and bore them off in triumph. 
After the above check. Prince Demetrius went to Argos, 
where frequent meetings of the deputies, who had collected 
there from various points of the confederation, took place at 
his quarters: these continued until the arrival of Mavrocor¬ 
dato, whose presence, however, produced an immediate di¬ 
minution in the number of Ipsilanti’s visitors: nor did many 
days elapse, before it was evident that he regarded the former 
as a rival. Despairing, therefore, of being able to carry his 
plans into effect, and not wishing to expose himself to fur¬ 
ther humiliation, his whole attention was now directed to 
the progress of the war, and he departed soon after for 
Corinth, accompanied by Kiamel Bey, through whose in¬ 
fluence, it was hoped, that place would shortly surrender. 
Owing to the vicinity of Argos to Napoli di Romania, 
and the consequent interruption which might be occasioned 
by the operations of the siege, it was determined, after some 
.preliminary arrangements, that the more important delibe¬ 
rations of the Congress should be held at Epidaurus in the 
Gulf of Egina; to which place the members accordingly 
repaired early in December. 
Vol. XXIV. No. 1635. 
KEY. 177 
The anxiety of all classes to witness the formation of a 
government, was strongly evinced in the eagerness with 
which deputies were elected. Besides Prince Mavrocordato 
and the military chiefs, the number of representatives who 
had reached Epidaurus by the middle of December, exceeded 
sixty, consisting of ecclesiastics, landed proprietors, mer¬ 
chants and civilians, who had for the most part received a 
liberal education in the west of Europe. 
The first act of a congress thus met, to re-establish insti¬ 
tutions which may be said to have ceased with the Roman 
conquest, twenty-one centuries before, was that of naming a 
commission, including the most enlightened members, to 
draw up apolitical code; the remainder being occupied in 
examining into the general state of the nation, ascertaining 
its resources, and devising the best mode of commencing the 
second campaign, with proper effect. 
Having decided on the civil and political rights of the 
nation, the next object of congress was to select five mem¬ 
bers to form an executive; the choice of president fell on 
Prince Mavrocordato, whose talents and extensive informa¬ 
tion were pre-eminently displayed in aiding the commission 
appointed to draw up the constitution. Ipsilanti was also 
invited to preside over the deliberations of the legislative 
assembly; but having conceived that he was entitled to a still 
higher office, the prince did not accept the proffered honour. 
In order that still greater effect might be given to the mea¬ 
sures of the new government, ministers were named to super¬ 
intend the various departments of war, finance, public 
instruction, interior and police; a commission of three 
individuals from Hydria, Spezzia, and Ipsara, was also ap¬ 
pointed to direct the naval affairs. 
While the national congress were pursuing their arduous 
labours at Epidaurus, the capture of Corinth became an 
object of increasing solicitude and importance to the ex¬ 
ecutive. 
The arrival of Panouria, of Salona, a popular chief of 
that neighbourhood, gave a favourable turn to the siege. 
Originally a peasant of Mount Parnassus, he had in early 
life been driven to the necessity of drawing the sword to 
avenge the cruelty of a Turkish Aga, and greatly distin¬ 
guished himself at the head of some brave Annatolians ever 
since the insurrection began ; he opened a communication 
with the Albanian portion of the garrison; this plan suc¬ 
ceeded so well, that a treaty was concluded, by which they 
consented to withdraw, on condition of being allowed to 
return home with their arms and a gratification in money. 
These terms being readily granted, they descended from the 
citadel to the number of two hundred on the 22d of January, 
and having been escorted to the beach, were embarked in 
boats, which transported them to the opposite shore of the 
gulph. 
The retirement of the Albanians having removed all 
farther hope of holding out on the part of the Turks, they 
also declared themselves ready to capitulate. It was then 
agreed that the garrison should lay down their arms, and be 
conveyed to the coast of Asia Minor in transports provided 
by the government of Greece. The first part of these con¬ 
ditions was carried into effect on the 26th, and preparations 
made to execute the second, which was also fulfilled to a cer¬ 
tain extent: but owing to a delay in the arrival of transports, 
the peasants who had been exposed to the innumerable ex¬ 
actions and oppressive acts of Kiamil Bey, rushed into the 
citadel and gratified their irresistible thirst for revenge on 
many of the Turks. The executive naturally took advan¬ 
tage of the capture of Corinth, to establish the scat of 
government there. 
This event took place on the 27th of February, and it 
may truly be said, that on their reaching Corinth, those 
whom the legislators of Epidaurus had appointed to w'atch 
over the destinies of Greece, had little more to depend on, 
than the justice of her cause and constancy of the people. 
On the other hand, the preparations of the enemy were 
such as to appal ordinary minds. The reduction of Yanina 
and death of Ali Pacha, had placed a very large disposable 
force into the hands of Chourschid Pacha, together with the 
2 Z immense 
