BYRON'S LETTERS TO DOUGLAS KINNAIRD ... - Get a Free Blog

the premium of 2½ pr ct on them – When I receive the Greek mony back, I will work to balance the
Stock that shall produce the best interest without risk –
D K.
M r Deardon has behaved throughout in the fairest manner – Had you met 12 years ago you wd have
settled the matter at once & have saved thousands in law –
1:4 blank.
March 26th 1824: Don Juan XV and XVI published.
Byron to Douglas Kinnaird, from Missolonghi, March 30th 1824:
(Source: Ms. not found; text from LJ VI 362-5; not in 1922 II; BLJ XI 143-5)
Byron’s last surviving letter to Douglas Kinnaird.
Messalonghi, March 30th, 1824
My Dear Douglas, – Signor Zaimi, 162 the third Greek Deputy, will present this to you; and in his behalf
I bespeak good hospitality and usual kindness. The other Deputies here can, could or should have
presented an introductory epistle to you, as well as to others, on their arrival. The same letter enclosed
also a copy of the paper signed by themselves and drawn up in their own way – on my advancing
4000£ Sterling to the Greek Govt. which was (by their own express wish) to be repaid in the event of
their obtaining a national loan in London, which it should seem that they have accomplished. I have
also to apprize you that I have cashed for P[rince] Mavrocordato bills to the amount of 550 £ Sterling,
which bills are drawn on Mr. Bowring and directed to you. P[rince] Mavrocordato says that SS.
Orlando and Luriotti have assets to supply the needful to the said Mr. Bowring, a fact which you will
duly ascertain, or otherwise the 550 £ Sterling, monies advanced by me on the specified bills may be in
some sort likely to hitch in their progress to payment.
The Greek Cause up to this present writing hath cost me of mine own monies about thirty thousand
Spanish dollars advanced, without counting my own contingent expences of every kind. It is true,
however, that every thing would have been at a stand still in Messalonghi if I had not done so. Part of
this money, more particularly the 4000 £ advanced, and guaranteed by the Gk Deputies is, or ought to
be, repaid. To this you will look, but I shall still spend it in the Cause, for I have some hundred men
under my command, regularly paid and pretty men enough.
I have written to you repeatedly, imploring you to sell out of the Funds while they are high, and to
take four per cent. – or any per cent. – on landed security for the monies.
I have also been, and am, anxious to hear how you have succeeded with Rochdale, the Kirkby
Arrears, the new publications, the settling the lawsuits, etc., etc., etc., and always concluding by a
request for all possible credits to the extent of my resources, for I must do the thing handsomely.
I have been very unwell, but am supposed to be better, and almost every body else has been ill too
– Parry and all, tho’ he is a sort of hardworking Hercules. We have had strange weather and strange
incidents – natural, moral, physical, martial and political, all which you will hear of perhaps, truly or
falsely, from other quarters – I can’t gossip just now. I am called to a Congress at Salona with P.
Mavrocordato to meet Ulysses and the Eastern Chiefs on State affairs, and on the opening Campaign.
What the result is likely to be I cannot say. The General Govt. have assured me the direction of this
province, or to join them in the Morea. I am willing to do anything that may be useful. We were to
have besieged Lepanto, but the Suliotes did not like the service “against Stone walls,” and have had a
row besides with some foreigners, in which blood was spilt on both sides, 163 so that that scheme was
postponed. Capt. Parry is doing all that circumstances will permit in his department, and indeed in
many others, for he does all that is done here, without any aid except the Committee’s and mine, for the
Gk. local Govt. have not a sou, they say, and are in debt besides. I have two hundred and twenty five
regulars and irregulars in my pay – and had five hundred of the latter, but when they quarrelled
amongst themselves, and tried to heighten their pretensions besides, I boomed them off; and by dint of
so doing, and turning restive when fair means would not do, the rest are reduced to very good order,
and the regulars have all along behaved very well, upon the whole – as well as any other troops
anywhere. Six Guns belong to this auxiliary Corps of Artillery, which, by the way, is the only regularly
paid corps in Greece. The Govt. only give them rations – and those reluctantly: they have mutinied
twice on account of bad bread, and really with cause, for it was quite unmasticable; but we have gotten
162: Andreas Zaimes was an associate of Andreas Londos.
163: The killing of the Swedish Captain Sass.
99