"Missolonghi, March 4. 1824.
"My dear Doctor,
"I have to thank you for your two very kind letters, both received at
the same time, and one long after its date. I am not unaware of the
precarious state of my health, nor am, nor have been, deceived on
that subject. But it is proper that I should remain in Greece; and it
were better to die doing something than nothing. My presence here has
been supposed so far useful as to have prevented confusion from
becoming worse confounded, at least for the present. Should I become,
or be deemed useless or superfluous, I am ready to retire; but in the
interim I am not to consider personal consequences; the rest is in
the hands of Providence,--as indeed are all things. I shall, however,
observe your instructions, and indeed did so, as far as regards
abstinence, for some time past.
"Besides the tracts, &c. which you have sent for distribution, one of
the English artificers (hight Brownbill, a tinman,) left to my charge
a number of Greek Testaments, which I will endeavour to distribute
properly. The Greeks complain that the translation is not correct,
nor in _good_ Romaic: Bambas can decide on that point. I am trying to
reconcile the clergy to the distribution, which (without due regard
to their hierarchy) they might contrive to impede or neutralise in
the effect, from their power over their people. Mr. Brownbill has
gone to the Islands, having some apprehension for his life, (not from
the priests, however,) and apparently preferring rather to be a saint
than a martyr, although his apprehensions of becoming the latter were
probably unfounded. All the English artificers accompanied him,
thinking themselves in danger on account of some troubles here, which
have apparently subsided.
"I have been interrupted by a visit from Prince Mavrocordato and
others since I began this letter, and must close it hastily, for the
boat is announced as ready to sail. Your future convert, Hato, or
Hatagée, appears to me lively, and intelligent, and promising, and
possesses an interesting countenance. With regard to her disposition,
I can say little, but Millingen, who has the mother (who is a
middle-aged woman of good character) in his house as a domestic
(although their family was in good worldly circumstances previous to
the Revolution), speaks well of both, and he is to be relied on. As
far as I know, I have only seen the child a few times with her
mother, and what I have seen is favourable, or I should not take so
much interest in her behalf. If she turns out well, my idea would be
to send her to my daughter in England (if not to respectable persons
in Italy), and so to provide for her as to enable her to live with
reputation either singly or in marriage, if she arrive at maturity. I
will make proper arrangements about her expenses through Messrs.
Barff and Hancock, and the rest I leave to your discretion and to
Mrs. K.'s, with a great sense of obligation for your kindness in
undertaking her temporary superintendence.
"Of public matters here, I have little to add to what you will
already have heard. We are going on as well as we can, and with the
hope and the endeavour to do better. Believe me,
"Ever and truly," &c.