GALLANT BEHAVIOUR OF THE OFFICERS.

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of twelve or thirteen years of age. During the conflict, he had crept to the bottom of the boat; and it was with the utmost difficulty that he could be drawn forth. With less manliness than his age promised, he screamed most piteously. It is a curious fact, that one of the prisoners resembles the ci-devant Governor of Scio most strikingly. This was noticed by many beside myself.

Throughout the whole of the affair, the greatest credit is reflected upon the officers who conducted it. As far as my own knowledge goes, I should say, that than Mr. Marsham, the first, and Mr. Smart, the fourth, Lieutenant, of the Cambrian, there could not have been officers selected more fitted for the occasion, or for any other. Spirit, judgment, and humanity, are alike their characteristics, as they are those of the whole British navy. What say of one I say of all.

I

Tuesday, 1st Feb.-The prisoners who had been taken yesterday, were sent to the Cyrene, to be conducted to Scopeli, and delivered up to the government. One of these was a PAPAS. papers found upon them, added to the confession of one of the party, no doubt can

From

204

BURIAL OF THE SAILORS.

exist of their piratical pursuits. Their vessels have been burnt, after undergoing a minute inspection, and the contents disposed of on board our own ships. The large gun mentioned before, was found crammed up to the top with nails, round stones, and other offensive materials of the same nature. It had been fired several times the preceding day, but apparently without effect. In the belt of the deceased chief, a quantity of silver and gold was discovered, not amounting to more than a few pounds, and bearing principally the form of amulets. The greater part of their weapons the pirates themselves had thrown overboard, when further resistance was fruitless.

The dead bodies of our men were deposited in the sea, with military honours. Two boats were manned; in one lay the corpses, and in the other were the marines under arms. I accompanied the former boat, with the first lieutenant, about a cable's length from the ship; the band on deck playing solemn music. The funeral service was read, and the waters closed over them. They had yesterday gone. forth breathing-living men ; full of hope and exultation. They laughed with the laughers;

REFLECTIONS ON THEIR DEATH.

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and returned the coarse jest of their companions with noisy thoughtless glee. Before the ensuing dawn, they were dead: a piece of canvas, bound tightly to the body, was their winding-sheet—the echo of musketry their requiem-and the wave, as it parted to receive them into its bosom, poured forth almost the last tribute to their memory! No matter; that

and the deepest and the truest lamentation, is useful only as it affects the mind and heart and subsequent conduct of the living. "Mais la mort," says a Frenchman, whose name I forget, "la mort, n'est autre chose, que le regret des vivans; si nous ne la regrettons pas, il n'est pas mort. The idea is all over French.

Wednesday, 2d Feb.-Weighed anchor at an early hour. The Seringapatam hailed another boat which had suffered from the depredations of the pirates. About ten o'clock we discovered five small Latine vessels sailing

*Callimachus.

close under the coast of Thessaly, immediately at the entrance of the Gulf of Volo. Supposing them a part of the piratical cruizers they were fired at, for the purpose of being brought too: they were not, however, within shot. It was a beautiful morning with light winds which just served to ripple the surface of the water. The Latines furled their sails, put back, and pulled into a narrow creek, where they were safe for the time from molestation: they then climbed the rocks to watch our motions. As the object of Captain Hamilton was only to ascertain who and what they were, he wished to try every conciliating measure before he resorted to any thing harsh. With this view he despatched one of the wounded prisoners who remained, with a flag of truce, and a request that some of their leaders would come on board his ship. In the mean time preparations were made for a refusal. The marines were called up and drilled; ball cartridges brought out, with pistols, muskets and cutlasses for the whole crew. It certainly was an animating scene; the snapping of flints was perpetual, and the bustling, not to say joyous, air of the younger officers, was strong evidence

PROCEEDINGS OF THE OFFICERS.

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how vividly they felt the power of what was going forward.

On the return of the boat, after leaving our ambassador in the hands of his countrymen, we had a picturesque account of their proceedings. They approached without seeing a man, but as soon as they had landed the prisoner and retired, a whistle was heard, and immediately upwards of a hundred men sprung from beneath the bushes of the rocks. The incident in Sir W. Scott's " Lady of the Lake," that, namely, of Roderic Dhu and his clansmen instantly recurred! Allowing a sufficient time for consultation our boat was despatched a second time, and returned with four or five Greeks, for whose safety our first lieutenant, perhaps unwisely, had chosen to remain as a hostage; however, he was treated with every civility.

The account given by these people was, that they were gun-boats belonging to a small Greek squadron, consisting of two brigs, a schooner, and what is called a mystico, (which is something resembling a very small schooner) cruising on the opposite side of the gulf. It seems that twelve Turkish vessels are now in