language from friendly powers, lation, considers itself justified in for history presents no example of declaring, that from religious, policonduct in all respects so opposed to tical, administrative, and national, the principles and duties of govern- considerations, it cannot give the ments ? slightest countenance to the propoThe Sublime Porte, therefore, sitions which have been framed and can never listen to such proposi- finally brought forward. Always tions to propositions which it prepared to comply with the duties will neither hear nor understand, imposed by the treaties concluded so long as the country inhabited with the friendly powers who now by the Greeks forms part of the render this categorical reply neces. Ottoman dominions, and they are sary, the Sublime Porte hereby detributary subjects of the Porte, clares, for the last time, that every which never will renounce its thing which has been stated above rights. If with the aid of the entirely accords with the sovereign Almighty the Sublime Porte re- intentions of his highness, of his sume full possession of that coun- ministers, and of all the Mussultry, it will then always act as well man people. for the present as for the future in In the hope that this faithful conformity with the ordinances exposition will suffice to convince which its holy law prescribes with its equitable friends of the justice respect to its subjects. of its cause, the Sublime Porte em. The Sublime Porte, then, find- braces this opportunity for reing that in respect to this affair, it iterating the assurance of its high is impossible for it to listen to any consideration. thing except to the precepts of its Health and peace to him who religion, and the code of its legis- followeth the path of rectitude. DESPATCHES as to the BATTLE of NAVARINO. Despatches, of which the follow- termination, which has been carry- The Turkish ships were moored His Majesty's Ship Asia, in the in the form of a crescent, with port of Navarin, Oct. 21, 1827. springs on their cables, the larger Sir,—I have the honour of in- ones presenting their broadsides forming his royal highness the lord towards the centre, the smaller high admiral, that my colleague, ones in succession within them cunt Heyden and the chevalier de filling up the intervals. Rigny, having agreed with me that The combined fleet was formed we should come into this port, in in the order of sailing in two order to induce Ibrahim Pacha to columns, the British and French forming the weather or starboard admiral from one of the Egyptian line, and the Russian the lee line. ships, which of course brought on The Asia led in, followed by the a return, and thus, very shortly Genoa and Albion, and anchored afterwards the battle became geneclose alongside of a ship of the line, ral. The Asia, although placed bearing the flag of the Capitana alongside the ship of the Capitana Bey, another ship of the line, and Bey, was even nearer to that of a large double-banked frigate, each Moharem Bey, the commander of thus having their opponent in the the Egyptian ships; and since his front line of the Turkish fleet. The ships did not fire at the Asia, four ships to windward, part of the although the action was begun to Egyptian squadron, were allotted windward, neither did the Asia fire to the squadron of rear admiral de at her. The latter, indeed, sent a Rigny; and those to leeward in message “ that he would not fire the bight of the crescent, were to at all, and therefore no hostility mark the stations of the whole took place betwixt our ships for Russian squadron; the ships of some time after the Asia had retheir line closing those of the Eng. turned the fire of the Capitana Bey. lish line, and being followed up by In the mean time, however, an their own frigates. The French excellent pilot, Mr. Peter Mitchell, frigate Armide was directed to place who went to interpret to Moharem herself alongside the outermost my desire to avoid bloodshed, was frigate, on the left hand entering killed by his people in our boat the harbour; and the Cambrian, alongside. Whether with or withGlasgow, and Talbot next to her, out his orders I know not ; but his and abreast of the Asia, Genoa, ship soon fired into the Asia, and and Albion ; the Dartmouth and was consequently effectually dethe Mosquito, the Rose, the Brisk, stroyed by the Asia's fire, sharing and the Philomel were to look the same fate as his brother admiral after six fire vessels at the entrance on the starboard side, and falling of the harbour. I gave orders that to leeward a mere wreck. These no gun should be fired, unless guns ships being vut of the way, the were fired by the Turks; and those Asia became exposed to a raking orders were strictly observed. The fire from vessels in the second and three English ships were accord- third line, which carried away her ingly permitted to pass the bat- mizen-mast by the board, disabled teries and to moor, as they did some of her guns, and killed and with great rapidity, without any wounded several of her crew. This act of open hostility, although there narration of the proceedings of the was evident preparation for it in Asia would probably be equally all the Turkish ships, but upon the applicable to most of the other Dartmouth sending a boat to one ships of the fleet. The manner in of the fire-vessels, lieut. G. M. H. which the Genoa and Albion took Fitzroy and several of her crew their situations was beautiful ; and were shot with musketry. This the conduct of my brother admirals produced a defensive fire of mus- count Heyden and the chevalier de ketry from the Dartmouth, und Rigny throughout was admirable La Syrene, bearing the flag of rear- and highly exemplary. admiral de Rigny; that was suc- Captain Fellowes executed the ceeded by a cannon-shot at the rear- part allotted to him perfectly, and, man. with the able assistance of his performance of his duty; and I little but brave detachment, saved have to mourn the death of Mr. the Syrene from being burnt by Wm. Smith, the master, admired the fire vessels. And the Cambrian, for the zeal and ability with which Glasgow, and Talbot, following the he executed his duty, and beloved fine example of captain Hugon, of by all for his private qualities as a the Armide, who was opposed to Mr. H. S. Dyer, my secre the leading frigate of that line, tary, having received a severe effectually destroyed their oppo- contusion from a splinter, I am nents, and also silenced the bat- deprived temporarily of his valuable teries. This bloody and destructive assistance in collecting and keeping battle was continued with una- up the general returns and commibated fury for four hours, and the nications of the squadrons. I shall scene of wreck and devastation therefore retain in my office Mr. E. which presented itself at its termic J. T. White, his first clerk, whom nation, was such as has been seldom I have nominated to succeed the before witnessed. As each ship of purser of the Brisk. I feel much our opponents became effectually personal obligation to the hon. disabled, such of her crew as could lieut-colonel Craddock, for his escape from her, endeavoured to readiness during the heat of the set her on fire, and it is wonderful battle, in carrying my orders and how we avoided the effects of their messages to the different quarters successive and awful explosions. after my aides-de-camp were disIt is impossible for me to say too abled ; but I will beg permission I much for the able and zealous to refer his royal highness for assistance which I derived from further particulars of this sort to captain Curzon, throughout this the details of the killed and wound. long and arduous contest ; nor can ed, a subject which it is painful I say more than it deserves for the for me to dwell upon, but when I conduct of commander Baynes and contemplate, as I do with extreme the officers and crew of the Asia, sorrow, the extent of our loss, I for the perfection with which the console myself, with the reflection fire of their guns was directed, as that the measure which produced each vessel in turn, against which the battle was absolutely necessary her broadside was directed, became for obtaining the results contema complete wreck. His royal plated by the treaty, and that it highness will be aware that so was brought on entirely by our complete a victory by a few, how- opponents. ever perfect, against an excessive When I found that the boasted number, however individually in- Ottoman word of honour was made ferior, cannot be acquired but at a a sacrifice to wanton, savage devasconsiderable sacrifice of life; ac- tation, and that a base advantage cordingly I have to lament the loss was taken of our reliance upon of captain Bathurst, of the Genoa, Ibrahim's good faith, I own I felt whose example on this occasion is a desire to punish the offenders.well worthy of the imitation of his But it was my duty to refrain, and survivors. Captain Bell, command- refrain I did ; and I can assure his ing the royal marines of the Asia, royal highness, that I would still an excellent officer, was killed have avoided this disastrous extreearly in the action, in the steady mity, if other means had been open to me. The Asia, Genoa, and the purpose of concerting the means Albion, have each suffered so much, of effecting the object specified in that it is my intention to send them the said treaty-viz.: an armistice to England as soon as they shall de facto, between the Turks and have received at Malta the neces- the Greeks-have set forth, in the sary repairs for the voyage. The present protocol, the result of the Talbot, being closely engaged with conference. a double-banked frigate, has also Considering that, after the prosuffered considerably, as well as visional suspension of hostilities to others of the smaller vessels; but which Ibrahim Pacha consented, I hope their defects are not more in his conference of the 25th Septhan can be made good at Malta. tember last with the English and The loss of men in the Turko- French admirals; acting likewise Egyptian ships must have been in the name of the Russian admiral, immense, as his royal highness will - the said Pacha did, the very next see by the accompanying list day, violate his engagement, causobtained from the secretary of the ing his fleet to come out, with a Capitana Bey, which includes that view to its proceeding to another of two out of the three ships to point in the Morea : which the English division was Considering that since the reopposed. Captain Curzon having turn of the feet to Navarino, in preferred continuing to assist me consequence of a second requisition in the Asia, I have given the addressed to Ibrahim by admiral charge of my despatches to com- Codrington, who had met him near mander lord viscount Ingestrie, Patras, the troops of the Pacha who, besides having had a brilliant have not ceased carrying on a share in the action, is well compe- species of warfare more destructive tent to give his royal highness the and exterminating than before, lord high admiral any farther putting women and children to the particulars he may require. sword, burning their habitations, I enclose, for his royal highness's and tearing up trees by the roots, further information, a letter from in order to complete the devastacaptain Hamilton, descriptive of tion of the country: the proceedings of Ibrahim Pacha, Considering that with a view of and the misery of the country putting a stop to atrocities which which he has devastated, a protocol exceed all that has hitherto taken of the conference which I had with place, the means of persuasion and my colleagues, and the plan and conciliation, the representations order for entering the port, which made to the Turkish chiefs, and gave out in consequence. I the advice given to Mahomed Ali have, &c. and his son, have been treated as (Signed) mockeries, while they might, with EDWARD CODRINGTON, one word, have suspended the Vice-Admiral. course of so many barbarities : Considering that there only rea [No. I.-Translation.] mains to the commander of the The admirals commanding the allied squadrons the choice between squadrons of the three powers three modes of fulfilling the inten which signed the Treaty of London tions of their respective courts, having met before Navarino, for vizi 19 1st, The continuing throughout admiral sir Edward Codrington, the whole of the winter a blockade, dated Kitries, Oct. 18th, 1827.3 difficult, expensive, and perhaps I have the honour of informing useless, since a storm may disperse you that I arrived here yesterday the squadrons, and afford to Ibra- morning, in company with the him the facility of conveying his Russian frigate Constantine, the destroying army to different points captain of which ship had placed of the Morea and the islands : himself under my orders. On 2nd, Uniting the allied squadrons entering the gulf, we observed by in Navariņo itself, and securing by the clouds of fire and smoke that this permanent presence the inac- the work of devastation was still tion of the Ottoman fleets, but going on. The ships were anchored which mode alone leads to na off the pass of Ancyra, and a joint termination, since the Porte persists letter from myself and the Russian in not changing its system : captain was despatched to the 3rd, The proceeding to take a Turkish commander, a copy of position with the squadrons in which I enclose. The Russian Navarino, in order to renew to and English officers, the bearers of Ibrahim propositions which, enter- it were not allowed to proceed to ing into the spirit of the treaty, head-quarters, nor have we yet were evidently to the advantage received any answer. We, the of the Porte itself : two captains, in the afternoon, After having taken these three went on shore to the Greek quarmodes into consideration, we have ters, and were received with the unanimously agreed that this third greatest enthusiasm. The distress mode may, without effusion of blood, of the inhabitants, driven from the and without hostilities, but simply plain, is shocking in the extreme. by the imposing presence of the Women and children dying every squadrons, produce a determination moment of absolute starvation, and leading to the desired object : hardly any having better food than We have in consequence adopted boiled grass. I have promised to it, and set it forth in the present send a small quantity of bread to protocol. the caves in the mountains, where (Signed) these unfortunate wretches have Edward CODRINGTON, taken refuge. Vice admiral and commander It is supposed that if Ibrahim in chief of his Britannie remained in Greece more than a in the Mediterranean. of absolute starvation. Secretary to the Capitana Bey in the Russias. the port of Navarino, Oct. 21, Rear admiral H. DE RIGNY. 1827. Commanding the squadron of Three Turkish line of battle his Most Christian Majesty. ships ; 1 Turkish admiral, 84 guns, 650 men, 150 killed; i ditto 84 No. II.--Extract of a letter from guns, 830 men; 1 ditto 76 guns, captain Hamilton, of his majes- 850 men, 400 killed. ty's ship Cambrian, to vice 4 Egyptian doubled-banked fris a |