1828

LETTER TO LADY CODRINGTON.

467

Lord Aberdeen, writing to the Duke of Wellington on August 26, 1828, says, 'Monsieur de Zuylen appears to have executed our commission perfectly well in informing the Reis Effendi of the cause of Sir E. Codrington's recall,' and

'The Reis Effendi had the utmost difficulty to comprehend the business at all; and the notion that the Admiral had been remiss in the execution of measures of severity, seemed to him incredible. On the whole it made a very unfavourable impression at the time.'1

Sir E. C. to Lady C. (letter continued).

W. J. C.

Corfù: July 19.

Yesterday evening I got the letters by the ' Racer,' and late at night those by the 'Alexander Newsky.' I cannot describe the pain which it gives me to find you taking so much to heart an event which I am persuaded will eventually be beneficial to me, and consequently to us all. Nothing but a bad cause could justify your admitting such feelings as your letters betray. I well know the sense of justice and the warm affection, my dear Jane, in which those feelings originate; and I well know that I have much to endure before I can fully overcome such a power as that to which I am unwillingly opposed. But as truth and publicity are the only supporters I require; and as the choice of time, if left to my own judgment or the chance of a favourable opportunity over which I have no immediate control, are all the contingencies necessary to consider, I feel as fully confident of victory, if life be left to me or mine, as if I had again to deal with the Turks at Navarin. In the meantime, there is no great suffering or merit in this endurance as I have termed it; for, whilst I contemplate the exposure of false friends and accusers, I not only prove real friends who do honour to that title, but am making more and more friends every day. In short, my dear, over-anxious Jane, I am gaining 'golden opinions from all sorts of men ;' and what would you wish for more?

1 See Wellington Papers, vol. iv.

Why, the interest which this business has excited in such people as the Ponsonbys and Bathurst at Malta, and Adam here, is a balance for any loss that falls upon me in quitting my command; and yet we have a catalogue to add which may well excite the envy of the most fortunate. Again, then, my dearest Jane, let me urge you to resume your natural firmness, and to show by your usual serenity and cheerfulness your reliance on a good cause. For myself, my only fear is that I shall become as proud as Lucifer, and look down upon other Secretaries of State as I do upon and and to your coming here, it is now too late, certainly, much as it would have gratified me and my ever dear friend Adam. I have kept my mind to the one point-my duty-and it is no fault of mine that it unexpectedly led me back to this place, instead of going to Navarin from Patras.

As

Ponsonby, or you, will have my secret order to Campbell, which will let you know what we are at, and by what my movements have been guided. Upon being joined by Malcolm, &c., I am to shift my flag into the Warspite;' and I propose sending the 'Warspite' to Malta to clear off her quarantine, continuing out myself in execution of the measures arranged. Malcolm will either send or come to me. The worst he can do will be turning me out of the 'Asia' at sea,' which will be a harsh proceeding that will hurt him more than me.

1 This was done at Zante.

1828

CONFERENCE WITH IBRAHIM PACHA.

469

CHAPTER XXI.

THE increasing difficulties of Ibrahim's position in the Morea led him to open a communication with the Allied squadrons, which resulted in a Conference at Modon, July 6, 1828.

6

On the Rifleman' bringing from Alexandria the answer to the despatch sent by Ibrahim to his father on June 12, Admirals Heiden and De Rigny and Commodore Campbell, on the part of Sir E. C., requested an interview in order to learn the Viceroy's answer, and a conference was held with the Pacha.

H.H. was asked if the answer was satisfactory and decisive. After some evasions the Pacha owned that it was such that if the means of transport came to him he would embark at once with his troops and return to Egypt. That was his father's order. If the fleet were to arrive to-day, was he ready to embark? Instantly,' he answered.

At this moment Col. Seve (five of his colonels had insisted on being present) took part in the discussion, saying, Gentlemen, there can be no doubt on that point, for if he would not, we should force him to do it. We have written to Mehemet Ali the unanimous determination of our regiments to quit this place. Let the fleet

come.

We will if necessary take him on board by force. We came here to fight, but not to starve.'

Ibrahim drew attention to the fact that for the last eight months, since he had known the declarations of the

Allies relating to the ravages of war, he had abstained from any attack whatever against the Greeks. This was acknowledged. He asked if the Admirals were aware that in the last few days he had released from 800 to 900 Greek prisoners.

Many points of detail were discussed, and it was impressed upon the Pacha that he was forbidden to take away any Greek slaves to Egypt. He answered that he promised not to take one.1

From Admiral Heiden to Sir E. C.

(Private.)

Navarin ce 7 juillet, 1828.

MON CHER AMIRAL,-Je profite du 'Rifleman' pour vous dire deux mots. Nous avons eu une conférence avec Ibrahim sur le désir de M. de Rigny. Nous sommes tout aussi loin que nous étions, avec la seule différence que les troupes d'Ibrahim veulent partir; mais, au reste, le père ment, le fils ment et toute le monde trompe. Aussi longtems qu'on n'enverra pas 3 à 4 mille hommes et une batterie de canons on ne fera rien, mais du moment que ceux-là débarquent la capitulation est faite dans une semaine. M. de Rigny veut que nous écrivions à Méhémet; je crois que c'est seulement nous compromettre et nous rendre ridicules. . . . Adieu, mon cher Amiral. me recommande à votre souvenir et amitié.

From Admiral De Rigny to Sir E. C.

HEIDEN.

'Conquérant,' près Paxo: 11 juillet, 1828.

Je

MONSIEUR L'AMIRAL,-Les mesures que V. E. a si judicieusement prescrites dans l'ordre général du 24 mai ont eu le résultat que nous pouvions espérer, et peut-être même ont-elles dépassé nos espérances.

Ibrahim Pacha, réduit par la sévérité du blocus, se voit contraint, soit par le manque absolu de vivres, soit par la révolte établie dans son propre camp, de déclarer qu'il est

Conference fully detailed in larger edition.

1828

LETTERS OF COLLEAGUES.

471

prét à retourner en Egypte aussitôt que les moyens de transport lui seront fournis par son père.

Nous pouvons donc croire que, sans ajouter l'emploi de troupes de terre, l'évacuation de la Morée est sur le point d'être accompli. Cet évènement, qui ne peut manquer d'être vivement désiré par nos gouvernemens respectifs, ne me paraît plus tenir qu'aux conditions que nous y mettrons.

Je dois désirer en mon particulier qu'avant de quitter le commandement de l'escadre de S. M. B. vous assistiez à l'accomplissement d'une telle mesure-d'une mesure aussi décisive-et qui terminera avec un succés incontestable la série des devoirs difficiles que nous avons été appelés à remplir en commun.

Sir E. C. to Count Heiden.

Corfù: Monday night, July 14, 1828. MY DEAR ADMIRAL,-Mr. S. Canning is not arrived nor is Monsieur Ribeaupierre. But after a consultation with our colleague, Count Guilleminot, and Sir F. Adam, I am most decidedly of opinion that we should forward Ibrahim's retirement in the manner proposed, with all the haste which the circumstances admit of. In order to arrange our plans, I propose that you should come here directly, and if our Ambassadors should arrive in the meantime we should be ready to meet them. . . I wish you could have heard De Rigny explain to us all his sentiments as well as all that has passed betwixt him and Ibrahim, his Dragoman, the Viceroy, Drovetti, &c. I am quite sure in such case you would agree with us in his zeal and honest anxiety to perform the service in the manner most satisfactory to us all. I will undertake whenever I meet you to convince you of the rectitude of his intentions throughout in spite of those little 'inconséquences' which give rise to that 'méfiance' which I know it is disagreeable to you to entertain towards anybody. . . . However, I have said enough for the present, and am very confident in the good results of the proposed plan: and not less so of the uprightness and sincerity of our colleague.

Your sincere friend,

EDWD. CODRINGTON.