m m OforncU Hmuetaitg Hibtarg BERNARD ALBERT SINN COLLECTION NAVAL HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY THE GIFT OF BERNARD A. SINN, 97 1919 CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY 3 1924 087 998 617 The original of tiiis book is in tine Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924087998617 ADMIRAL OF THE FLEET, SIR WILLIAM PARKER, Bart., G.C.B. From a J^hotograph by Ulnynii, taken iuimedinfcly after he had attended the Lin'ec Jot tlic last time. THE LIFE OF ADMIRAL OF THE FLEET SIR WILLIAM PARKER, BAKT., G.C.B., FIEST AND PEINOIPAI. NATAL AIDE-DE-CAMP TO HEB MAJESTY, ETC., ETC., ETC., FROM 1781 TO 1866. VICE-ADMIRAL AUGUSTUS PHILLIMORE. V^OL. III. LONDON; HARRISON, 59, PALL MALL, ^ooliwller to tjrc Qucm kn^ W-^-B- t&e |3nn« of ffittalcs, 1880. LONDON : HABEISON AND SONS, PEINTEES IN OBDINAET TO HEE MAJESTY, ST. maetin's lane. CONTENTS. Chaptee I. PAGE 1845. Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean Station — State of Greece, Syria, and Tunis . , . 1 Chaptee II. January to July, 1846. Commander-in-Chief of Mediter- ranean and Evolutionary Squadrons — Removal from Budrun of the Marbles of the Ancient Temple of Halicarnassus — Visits Athens, Constantinople, and Smyrna — Total Abolition of Slavery in dominions sub- ject to the Bey of Tunis — Declines the oifer of Lord EUenborongh to be Senior Naval Lord of the Admiralty — Leaves the Mediterranean and assumes the command of the Squadron of Evolution — Change of Ministry . 28 Chaptee III. July to December, 1846. Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean and Channel Squadrons — Refusal of fresh offer of post of Senior Naval Lord — The Spanish Marriages — Revolution in Portugal — Principal Naval Aide-de-Camp to the Qaeen . . ... 62 Appendix . . .116 IV CONTENTS. Chaptee IV. PAGE January to June, 1847. Commander-in-Chief of Her Majesty's Ships in the Mediterranean and Coast of Portugal — Continuance of the Civil War in Portugal — Intervention ; Surrender of the Insui-gents — Peace fol- lowed by a general Amnesty . . IIB Chapter V. July to December, 1847. Conclusion of the Civil War in Portugal .... . . 220 Chapter VI. Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean — Quits Lisbon for the Mediterranean — Assembles the ships of the Squadron — ^Visits the West Coast of Italy — Lord Miuto's Mission 252 Appendk . . , 282 Chapter YII. January to June, 1848. Commander-in-Chief of the Medi- terranean — Kevolutions in Sicily and France — ESect in the Italian States — Abdication and Flight of the Grand Duke of Parma . . _ 283 Appendix . . _ 34g Chapter VIII. July to December, 1848. OfEer of the Throne of Sicily to the Duke of Genoa — Intervention of the English and French Admirals in the Civil War— Armistice till reference could be made to London and Paris — Civil War in the Austrian States — Disturbances at Leghorn and Rome— Murder of Rossi— Escape of the Pope to Gaeta— British Questions at Naples— Prince Louis Napoleon elected President of the French Republic- Republic at Venice .... 349 CONTENTS. V CHAPTIiR IX. PAGE January to July, 1849. Death of Lord Auckland —Failure of the Mediation in Sicily ; Civil War Renewed — The Neapolitan Troops victorious — The French Expedition to Rome ......... 451 Chaptbe X. July to December, 1849. Debates on the Policy of the Government in Italy and Sicily — FaU of Rome — Surrender of Venice — Departure for the Ionian Islands — Insurrection in Cefalonia — Refusal of the Porte to surrender the Polish and Hungarian Refugees— Pro- ceeds to the Dardanelles ... . . 628 Chapter XI. January to July, 1860. Admiralty express undiminished confidence in Sir William Parker — Departure for Greece to support the Claims of H.M. Minister — Don Pacifico's case .... ... 597 Chaptee XII. July to December, 1860. Correspondence on Debates — Outbreak of Cholera at Malta — Visits the Balearic Islands and Sardinia— Stranding of an English Vessel on the Spanish beach at Gibraltar .... 649 Chaptee XIII. 1851. State of France — Re-discovery of Graham's Shoal — Visits Tunis, Sardinia, Sicily, and the East Coast of Spain — Neapolitan Prisoners — Coup d'Etat in France. 666 Chaptee XIV. 1862-1853. Return of Sir WiUiam Parker to England — Change of Government — Lord Derby Prime Minister — Chairman of Committee for Manning the Navy- — Louis Napoleon Emperor — Second Change of Govern- ment — Lord Aberdeen Prime Minister . . . 693 VI CONTENTS. Chaptee XV. PAGE 1854-5-6-7. War with Russia — Commander-in-Chief at Plymouth — Termination of Active Service . . 721 Chapter XVI. 1857-1866. Rear-Admiral of the United Kingdom — Admiral of the Fleet — Conclusion . . 741 Index . . 755 Beeata. — Vol. II. Page 137, line 15, after Calomarde, insert a comma. „ 138, line 18, 21 hours, not 21|. ,, 298, last Hne but one, /or Monera, read Manera. ,, S/'l, last line but two, for Pickering, read Pioken. „ 376, for Camota, read Carnota. ,, 450, line 22, after Sir Geo. Cockburn, insert Vice- Admiral Sir George Seymour. „ 525, line 15, for " Druid," read " Driver." ,, 661, line 21, /or elected, read selected. THE LIFE OF ADMIEAL OF THE FLEET CTTi 11/ I X TXATi/r -r»i-r»T7 CORRIGENDA TO THIRD VOLUME. Paob 203, Note. For Cornidiey, read Cormdier. „ 293, line 1. For " iAe«e troubles," read tte ^oZjfeaZ troubles. „ 358, „ 11. For Pronin, read Fronio. 456 171 49o' " 3 r ^'^^ Stabili, read Stabile. i> 463, „ 18. For Amiellini, read Arnnellini. respect and courtesy due to the Navy had not pre- vented him from appreciating the energy and zeal which enabled the Plenipotentiary to bring to a successful conclusion the commercial treaty v^^ith China. After his return to England a great banquet was given at the Mansion House to commemorate the VOL. III. "^ ' B 2 THE LIFE OF SIR W. PAKKER. [1845 opening of the five Chinese ports to trade, as well as the establishment of the regular steam-packet com- munication between England and the Chinese Empire. On this occasion the proposal to drink the health of Sir WiUiam Parker was received with enthusiasm, and he seized the opportunity of bearing public testi- mony to the merits and perseverance of Sir Henry Pottinger, in the most generous terms, describing the unwearied zeal and firmness with which he had worked, whether in sickness or in health, till the completion of the Treaty. " To the Earl of Haddington. " Shenstone Lodge, 28tli February, 1845. "I beg yoTi to accept my grateful thanks for the very flatter- ing communication with which I have this day been honoured, and to assure your Lordship that 1 sensibly appreciate the favour of being allowed to hoist my flag in a three-decker. The selection of ship, complement, &c., &c., are every way satis- factory to me, and I trust the Board will have no cause to regret this arrangement." The " Hibernia " was commissioned on February 27, ] 845, by Captaui Peter Eichards, for the flag- ship of the Mediterranean. The original intention of the builders of this ship, in 1790, was to make her of the same tonnage as the " Ville de Paris," but she was afterwards lengthened 11 feet. She Avas commenced in November, 1792, and launched in 1804.''- Between that date and 1815 she had carried the flags of several Admirals, among others, that of Earl St. Vincent, Sir Sydney * Notes to James's " Naval History," Vol. Ill 1845] THE LIFE OF SIB W. PARKER. 3 Smitli, and Sir Charles Cotton. At the end of the war she was laid up in ordinary, and her hull had not been examined for thirty years. On her being docked in 1845, a careful examination proved that, with the exception of two places, where the timber was easily replaced, she was perfectly sound ; and she still exists as the receiving ship at Malta, to testify to the excellence and durability of the material used in her construction. A large proportion of the officers who had served in the "CornwaUis" with the Admiral joined the "Hibernia." Sir William Parker thoroughly understood that the discipline and efficiency of a ship-of-war was maintained by every person in her, from the Com- mander-in-Chief downwards, acting in strict con- formity with what was due to his position, and by the proper subordination of every one to his next su- perior, of whatever grade he might be. He disliked aU approaches to undue familiarity, which he thought resulted frequently in breaches of discipline, to be succeeded by a harshness which might otherwise have easily been avoided. Himself of a cheerful disposition, genial, fond of humotir, and kind hearted, he was utterly devoid of ostentation. Anxious that his flag-ship should be an example to every ship on the station, he expected from every one in her, not only unvarying sobriety of language and conduct, but a zeal for the Service which would acquiesce with cheerful self- B 2 4 THE LIFE OE SIR W. PARKER. [1845 denial, when the usual recreations and indulgences were restricted, even should the object of the restric- tion not be apparent. So admirable was the ex- ample which he set, and so great was the confidence which he inspired, that these expectations were rarely disappointed. In order to stimulate and reward those who assisted to their uttermost in attaining this type of flag-ship, he considered it advisable, under ordinary circumstances, to bestow his own patronage on those who served in her, before those serving in other ships. Earl St. Vincent held still stronger views on the necessity of encouraging officers to look to his flag- ship as one of the stepping-stones to advancement." Writing to the First Lord of the Admiralty from the very same ship during his last command, ho says : — " 'Hibernia,' ofE Ushant, 1804. "I shall never ask your Lordship to promote, but if some of the Lieutenants in this ship are not made Commanders, it is impossible that the example set in her should be continued." The patronage vested in Commanders-in-Chief consisted in filling the vacancies caused by deaths on their station, and naming a Lieutenant, or Mate, for promotion on striking their flag at the end of their commands ; or, to speak more accurately, to have the power of recommending such officers for promotion : for, in every case, the confirmation to the rank * See Tucker's " Life of Earl St. Vincent." 1845] THE LIFE OP SIR W. TAEKER. 5 required a commission from the Lords of the Admiralty. ■*"" Some very recent regulations have suspended this initiative of patronage on all stations, but, in all probability, this is a temporary remedy for a tem- porary difficulty, in order that the new scheme of retirement should be fully tried, and, when that has been done, it is to be hoped that the power of Com- manders-in-Chief to bestow promotion on those serving under their command will be restored. Sir William Parker held strong opinions on the toischief caused to the young by the frequent use of tobacco. This view was then shared by the Lords of the Admiralty, all the leading Naval officers, and by far the greater part of the English gentry. It was considered objectionable for many reasons, the prin- cipal one of which was that it frequently led to drinking. Acting on what he thought most con- ducive to the public service. Sir William stipulated with those who joined his flag-ship that they should not smoke while under his command ; and he exacted a promise to the same effect when he had the opportunity of dispensing promotion. Smoking tobacco has become so fashionable of late years that many young officers will be astonished * As an instance in point, see Vol. I, page 17, where Lord Anson's first commission, given him by Sir John Norris, was confirmed by the Lords of the Admiralty in 1716. Moreover promotions were never given unless the duties of the Com- mander-ia- Chief had been performed to the entire satisfaction of the Government. 6 THE LIFE OF SIR W. PAKKEB. [1845 to learn that all the Queen's Eegnlations and Admi- ralty Instructions previous to 1862 positively forbade any smoking whatever in a ship-of-war, except in the galley. Many Captains of well-disciplined ships, looking on this as an unfit place for the resort of officers, considered these orders tantamount to a prohibition to any officer to smoke on board.* This explanation is necessary to elucidate parts of the correspondence which follows, but it may safely be asserted that, during a period of seven years, no officer of the Mediterranean flag-ship ever suffered in comfort, or health, or good companionship from the stipulations being enforced. " To Sir George Cockbiarn. " Shenstone Lodge, Liclifield, ISth March, 184.5. " I understand from Gage that the carronades are to be re- moved from the ' Hibernia's ' armament, for which I am thank- ful, but that her main deck battery is to be reduced to the ' gunnades ' of 25 owt. Now I would beseech you to permit her to retain the 32 cwt. guns on that deck, and then I think her armament would be quite perfect. It would only be 12 tons more weight than I believe is now intended, with much prefer- able guns, and I am satisfied she will carry them well, and with proper stability, as the whole weight of metal would then be '29| tons less than she carried during the late war. I am so sensible of the kindness and obliging attention that I have met with, that I woTild not for the world have you believe me dis- satisfied, or disposed to tease the Board ; but I shall indeed feel very thankful if you will allow this request, being confident the ship will be much niore efficient, and that we should not have cause to regret it. I do not want a man more to work the guns, and I think she might be lightened of 18 or 20 tons of ballast * The late Admiral Sir George Seymour did not allow it in his ship. 1845] THE LIFE OF SIR W. PARKER, 7 to meet the difEerence of weiglit, without disadvantage, if it is desired." From the Earl of Ellenborough. " Charles Street, 26th May, 1845. " The little cup,* of which I spoke to you, is just finished. It will remain at Mortimer and Hunt's, till you come to London. " I have had engraved upon it ' Palmam qui meruit ferat,' a motto to which you are well entitled in connection with the campaign in the Yang-tze-kiang. It bears also ' Peace of Nankin, August 29, 1842,' a peace you and Sir Hugh Gough, and your brave sailors and soldiers, gave to us — not diplomacy. " Believe me, my dear Admiral, ever very sincerely yours." " To the Earl of Ellenborough. " Shenstone Lodge, near Lichfield, 5th June, 1845. " You will doubtless be much surprised at my apparent neglect of your very gratifying note of the 26th of May; but having been directed to Whitchurch instead of Lichfield, it has made a grand tour in various directions, and only reached me this morning. Be assured, mj dear Lord, that I very sensibly appre- ciate this additional mark of your friendly attention, and shall most highly prize the very acceptable meniorial with which you so kindly present me. It will remind me, as long as I live, of your Lordship's strenuous support of the expeditionary forces employed in China under my gallant colleague Sir Hugh Gough and myself, and of your hospitable reception of me during my agreeable sojourn at Calcutta ; and, as an heirloom in my family, it will, 1 trust, be long preserved as a flattering proof that the exertions of the combined forces merited the approbation of our imna.ediate controllir|.g authority," In June, Mr. Hume brought forward a motion for granting a pension to Sir Henry Pottinger. Sir Kobert Peel demurred on the ground that public * The cup is of gold, of beautiful workmanship, surmounted by a figure of Victory. 8 THE LIFE OF SIR W. PABKER. [1845 servants while in health should have further em- ployment under the Crown instead of having pen- sions ; and instanced Sir William Parker. The feeling of gratitude in the House for opening the trade with China, was, however, so strong that Sir Robert undertook to bring a message from the Crown asking for a pension. On this message reaching the Lords, Lord EUen borough asked : — " How have Sir William Parker's services been considered ? Had lie commanded a small squadron of ships and met and defeated another sqnadron at sea, no doubt he would have been rewarded in a similar way to Sir Henry Pottinger, but Sir William Parker's services were far beyond what could be per- formed in a single action. They were extended over three or four months, in a river full of shoals, which was partly un- known. Surrounded by enemies, he had to conduct through an intricate navigation seventy vessels, and he not only conducted them through that navigation, but he did so with unvaried success. I know nothing in our naval records superior to Sir Wniiam Parker's conduct of this Pleet "With the exception of Sir George Cockburn there is no one Admiral with whom you can compare him as a com- mander." Lord Lansdowne said : — •" He had lived on terms of intimacy with Sir William Parker, and had heard from civilians, mili- tary and naval men, the most unqualified testimony to his qualities as a great commander ; but the honour of his Sovereign, the tribute of thanks by both Houses, and the command of the most important station on the globe, constitute a full acknowledgment for services, however great they may be."* From Vice-Admiral Sir IVm. Sail Gage. Extract. " Admiralty, 19th June, 1845. "The dockyards are not in mj department; Sir George * Parliamentary Debates, June, 1845. 1845] THE LIFE OF SIR W. PARKER. 9 Oockbum has most to do with them ; but I carried your request to him, and, after a little talk, an order was made out, and will be sent to Portsmouth this evening, to cut scuttles in the ' Hibernia's ' orlop, if it can be done with safety. The Surveyor is against them, as he says there is danger of the ship filling in the event of a sudden squall laying the ship upon her beam ends, and they are subject to leakage and occasion damp ; but, how- ever, the job is done, at least, will be. I approve them, and think a ship more likely to continue healthy. Tour Captain gives an excellent account of the ship, and I doubt not she will be what a man-of-war should be. " The Ordnance have replied to our letter respecting the shells for the ' Hibernia,' and they have ordered the heavy rifles for you. I believe now that everything is done you desired, and I have, my old friend, had great pleasure in effecting all your wishes that I could, either in or out of my department, from first urging the three-decker for the Mediterranean flag- ship, and I hope to see her before she takes her departure from Spithead." Fr07n the Harl of Haddington. Extract. " Admiralty, 16th July, 1845. " I am sincerely sorry that my journey to Plymouth should have been at the very time of your departure, which prevented me from seeing you once more before your hoisting your flag. " All I will now say is, that I trust you will write to me con- fidentially, and as often as anything occurs to yon to render such communication useful." The " Hibernia" sailed for the Mediterranean ]ate in July. She had a long passage to Gibraltar, where Sir William Parker, at the request of the Governor, General Sir Robert Wilson, laid the foundation stone of a battery near Europa Point which, was called, in honour of Lord Heathfield, Elliott's Battery. After visiting Tangier, he sailed for Malta, where, on the 4th of September, he relieved 10 THE LIFE OE SIR W. PARKEB. [1845 Sir Edward Owen,* whose departure had been de- layed four days in consequence of a court-martial on a seaman of the " Amazon " for mutiny ,t " To Sir Thomas Reade, Agent and Gonsul-General, Tunis. "H.M.S. 'Hibernia,' Malta, 4th September, 1845. " I will not forward the official intimation of my assumption of the naval command on this station without a few lines of private communication, to express my hope that you wiU have the good- ness to favour me with an unreserved correspondence on any points within the province of my duty that can in any way promote the interests of the public service. The political intrigues and difficulties with which you have to contend have been hinted to to me, and I hope at an early opportunity to pay a personal visit in your vicinity ; but it may, perhaps, not be advisable to notice this before my flag is in sight. 1 will, however, suggest that, whenever 1 may appear, I am not desirous of receiving a larger share of honours, either to our national flag or individually, than may be compatible with our position, without tending to embarrass the Bey of Tunis by demands from other foreign Powers for similar attentions ; in short, I wish to avoid giving a pretence for any exactions from others. J " Be assured that I shaU be most happy at aU times to adopt, as far as 1 am able, any measure that can aid you in advancing the views of our Government, and in tendering also my personal services, &c." * Sir E. Owen entered the Navy as Captain's servant in 1775. He attained Post-rank in 1798, and after much dis- tinguished service became Flag Officer 1825. Commander-in- Chief of the Bast Indies 1828 to 1832, and of the Mediterranean 1841 to 1845. t The seaman was sentenced to death, but this was com- muted to imprisonment for two years. X " The Bey of Tunis is decidedly not a sovereign and inde- pendent Prince, and ought not to be treated as such. I can hardly think that the French will endeavour to do so." — " Life of Lord Palmerston," Vol. Ill, page 319. (Bailing.) 1845] THE LIFE OE SIR W. PABKER. 11 " To His Excellency the Hon. William Temple, Naples. " H.M.S. ' Hibernia,' 4tli September, 1845. "I cannot transmit the official notification of my having assumed the naval command on this station, without tendering my personal services in any way in which they can be made useful, with the assurance that I shall not only feel flattered by any information that you may be kind enough to afford me from time to time, but that I shall have great pleasure in rendering any aid within my power in carrying out your views for the public service. "Ton are probably aware that the squadron at present con- signed to m.y charge is small both in number and in force ; but I look forward to the honour of a personal communication with you at Naples, whenever I naay have it in my power to visit that port." Extract. " To Lieut.-Colonel Sir Thomas Sorell, Trieste. " I hope it is unnecessary to assure you with what satisfac- tion I renew* my correspondence with you, whether of a public or private nature, and I flatter myself that our intercourse will maintain the same uninterrupted, friendly, and confidential character that pervaded it during the civil strife in Portugal, without any of the anxieties and political vexations with which we were occasionally beset by our ancient and worthy allies, of whatever denomination, in that kingdom." JFrom the Earl of Haddington. Extract. " Tyninghame, N.B., 17th September, 1846. " Although I have from this remote shore but little to say to you, I cannot help acknowledging the receipt of your letter of the 26th ultimo. " The Queen is safe again in the Isle of Wight, having made, it would seem, a triumphal progress through Germany. " Poor Rowley has resigned, and Sir C. Ogle is his successor. The choice is desperately narrowed by the age of the full Admirals, but Ogle is just the man for Portsmouth." * See Vol. II, Chapter III. 12 THE LIFE OF SIH W. PARKER. [1845 Our relations with France were at this time get- ting very unsatisfactory, and the bonds of the entente cordiale had been strained until they had almost snapped. Lord Palmerston, in writing to his brother at Naples, on the subject of Tahiti, on August 29, 1844, says : — "France every day becomes more encroaching, more over- bearing, more insulting, and more hostile ; even the quietest and most peaceful among us are beginning to look forward to a war with France as an event which no prudence on our part can long prevent." And on the 6th September, 1845 : — " ' Fidarsi e bene, ma non fidarsi e meglio,' ought to be our maxim in regard to France. She is preparing most assiduously the means of invading us, and it is not enough for us to rely upon her assurances, that she has no present intention of making use of those means." From Sir Udmund Lyons, Minister Plenipotentiary, Sfc. " Private and confidential.* "Athens, 22nd September, 1846. " As it may be interesting to you to know what is the state of Greece on your taking command of the station, I send you confidentially a copy of my despatch of to-day to Lord Aberdeen, which you can read at your leisure." " Sir Edmund Lyons to the Earl of Aberdeen. Copy. "Athens, 22nd September, 1845. " A twelvemonth has now elapsed since the opening of the Greek Parliament, but the session is continued on the ground that the budget is still under discussion in the Chamber of Deputies ; and though doubts are entertained of the legality of * With respect to Greece, there was (1846), as also there ptill is, little satisfactory to say, since the assassination of Capo d'Istria showed how little gratitude or wisdom there was to expect from the clever, foolish people of that distracted nation. — " Life of Lord Palmerston," by Lord Balling, Vol. Ill, page 201. 1845] THE LIFE OF SIR W. PAKKER. 13 tMs prolongation of the session, there is no difference of opinion as to the 30th, 31st, and 47th Articles of the Constitntion ren- dering a prorogation obligatory before the 1st of November. "I remember that, when Mons. Colletti was packing the Chamber of Deputies, my Austrian colleague, Mons. Prokesch, said to me more than once, that he had told him frankly that nothing could justify the illegalities he was committing for the attainment of that object, but the complete realization of his promise, that within thirty or forty days after the commence- ment of public business, the budget and all necessary laws should be passed, and the Parliament be prorogued, in order that the Members might return to contented homes. "I did not fail to express to Mons. Prokesch on this occasion my humble opinion, that no temporary result, however specious, could justify such immoral and dangerous precedents as Mons. Colletti was establishing under the plea of their being inseparable from representative Government ; nor did 1 omit to express my entire conviction that the persons whom Mons. Colletti was bringing into the Chamber by such means would attend more to their own interests than those of the State, and signally dis- appoint the hopes held out by their patrons. And so it has turned out ; for an improvident expenditure has been maintained by votes of credit ; and at the end of the twelvemonth the most im.portant points in the budget have still to be discussed, and ruin seems to be impending over the finances and commerce of the country. Instead of contentment, party spirit, with its direful and withering consequences, is more rife than ever ; no security for life or property is felt ; the most atrocious crimes are committed with impunity, sometimes by, and often in the presence of, the authorities of the Government ; the administra- tion of justice, hitherto so satisfactory and so honourable to the nation, has been rendered so subservient to party purposes, that whilst the opponents of the Government are dragged into court as defendants, they dare not, however just their cause, appear as plaintiffs ; the regular army is being supplanted by wild Pali- kars : the Constitution itself is anything but respected by the Government, and increasing efforts are employed to make it appear a curse rather than a blessing ; and I grieve to add, that the sanction which the King has been advised to give, or at 14 THE LIFE OE SIR W. PARKER. [1845 least to appear to give, to this state of things, Las shaken the throne to its very foundation. " Whilst these grievances, with proofs of the facts upon which they are founded, are constantly set forth by the Opposi- tion newspapers, the organs of Mons. CoUetti assert, in general terms, that tranquillity, happiness, and prosperity prevail all over the kingdom, and that nothing of a contrary nature exists anywhere but in the imagination of an insignificant and factious Opposition ; and Mons. Colletti himself has addressed a circular to the Governors of the Provinces to the same effect, but this has been denounced in the Chamber of Deputies as an act of shameless effrontery ; and Mons. Colletti has made a recantation, which has been inserted in the journals of the Chamber, and a copy of it furnished to each Deputy to send to his constituents. Mons. Colletti is, in fact, in the hands of a majority composed of persons whom he is obliged to maintain by the same ruinous means he employed to bring them into the Chamber, and who place him in difficulties from time to time in order to be remu- nerated for coming to his relief. The difficulties, and the con- sequent remuneration, have increased since the resignation of Mons. Metaxa ; and as the Ministers in a late division, on a point to which they attached much importance, and on which Mons. Metaxa did not speak or vote against them, had only 43 votes against 42, it is reasonable to suppose that they will not be able to maintain their majority until the end of the session vrithout making extraordinary sacrifices. In the Senate, the Ministerial majority is secured for the present by the late nomination of Senators. "A short time ago, Mons. Colletti, after suspending the Karysto election for many months in defiance of the Constitution and the Election Law, suddenly gave orders that it should take place; and on hearing that, in spite of all his efforts, Mons. Mavro- cordato was likely to be re-elected, he set in motion everything in his power to prevent it ; amongst other things, it was a great object to get the notorious General Grizziottis to the spot as soon as possible, and a Greek brig-of-war was ordered to convey him there ; but in order to save time, Mons. Piscatory gave him and a few of his followers a passage in a French steamer, which was to pass near Karysto on her way to meet the Due de Mont- 1845] THE LIFE OF SIR W. PARKER. 15 pensier ; and if Mons. Mavrocordato should lose his election, it wiLl undoubtedly be in a great measure owing to this inter- ference of the French Mission ; for not only is General Grizziottis all powerful when within the limits of his Military Inspectorship, in which he is upheld by the Government in the most arbitrary and cruel acts, but his being landed from a French steamer will show the Euboeans the importance this vindictive Government attaches to the election ; and, no doubt, instead of their quietly returning Mons. Mavrocordato and Colonel Zervas, as they did last time, when left to themselves, they will be overborne and intimidated, and we shall see Mons. CoUetti's nominees in the Chamber. "Mons. CoUetti and Mons. Roujoux, the French Consul, still persevere in their endeavours to seat Mons. Sophianopulos in the Chamber of Deputies. "In my despatch of the 30th ultimo, I had the honour to state to your Lordship that Major Mavromichalis had marched at the head of a body of militia, wearing his Majesty's uniform, and deliberately sacked the house of his political adversary. Colonel Pierrachos, whose relatives, he being at Corinth himself, on complaining to the Government authorities on the spot, were told by them that they would not interfere with the Mavro- michaelis, who enjoyed the protection of the King and the Government. This and similar acts, committed by the Govern- ment party in Maina with perfect impunity, drove their victims to desperation, and a fortnight since a considerable body of them got possession of an old Venetian fortress at Bordounia, on the western bank of the Eurotas, but abandoned it and dispersed, on hearing that Mons. Piscatory had placed steamers at the dis- posal of the Government for the transport of troops and guns ; so that when the ' Rubis,' French steamer, arrived off the mouth of the river, with 100 soldiers and two pieces of artillery, the dispersion had already taken place, and two of the leaders had fallen into the hands of the Government. " The Due de Montpensier arrived at the Piraeus in the steam frigate ' Gomer,' on the 12th instant, in consequence of an invitation from King Otho. His Royal Highness was re- ceived with every honour and distinction which the Court and and the Ministers could command ; but the proposal of the 16 THE LIFE OF SIK W. PARKER. [1845 Government in the Chamber of Deputies to send a deputation to congratulate him on his arrival was neg>atived without a division, and the glacial reception he met with out of doors was very remarkable, and, I understand, very disappointing to Mons. Colletti and the supporters of his system of Government. H.R.H. received the Diplomatic and Consular Bodies in his apartments in King Otho's palace on the day of his arrival, and the Greek Ministers, the superior officers of the Greek Army, and the Diplo- matic Body had the honour of dining with His Majesty to meet H.R.H. A day or two before the arrival of H.R.H., the Queen of Greece received an invitation from her father, the Grand Duke of Oldenburg, to pass a week or ten days at Venice, and on the 14th instant H.R.H. conveyed Her Majesty in the ' Gomer ' to Corinth, and, on the other side of the isthmus, Her Majesty embarked in another French steamer, the ' Cuvier,' which Mons. Piscatory had placed at her disposal. H.R.H. is now visiting the most interesting points on the coast of Greece, accompanied as far as Patras by Mons. Piscatory, and I under- stand that he intends to be at Malta on the 25th instant." " To the Hon. Charles A. Murray,* Secretary of Legation, Naples. Extract. "Malta, 28th September, 1845. " I have little to touch on, escept the visit of the Duke of Montpensier two days ago. His Royal Highness arrived in the ' Gomer,' steamer, before ten o'clock, and after expending as much powder in the interchange of salutes as might have decided an action between frigates, he landed : first visiting the Governor at the Palace, and then proceeded to the Church of San Giovanni, where his uncle was interred ; from thence he made a round of the fortifications, came on board the ' Hibernia soon after two o'clock, to luncheon and to see the ship, and dined with Sir P. Stewart at St. Antonio, his Excellency's country- house, four miles distant, returning to his steamer by eleven, and before midnight was out of the harbour en route to Toulon. The day was hot, and he was scarcely a moment at rest during his stay, but appeared, and expressed himself, much satisfied with * The present Sir Charles Murray, K.C.B. 1845] THE LIFE OF SIR W. PAEKER. 17 Jus reception and visit, and made himself very agreeable. He is required to be in Paris by tbe 6tli October, wMch is, I believe, tbe birthday of Louis Philippe." " To Captain Sir J. G. Sinclair, Gibraltar. Extract. " Malta, 13th October, 1845. "Tou must not think that my silence arises either from for- getfiilness or indifference towards old friends,* or that I am un- mindful of all the kind attentions we experienced at your hands at Gibraltar, but 1 have been so overcome with letter writing and letter reading, that I have scarcely found a moment to spare, to say nothing of a good deal of additional occupation in getting into our house here, which we were unable to accom- plish for a month after our arrival, for never was the holystone or white-washing more required ; and we are still quite unsettled, though beginning to shape into our berths. " I will give a hint to the Admiralty in a private letter about the state of Gibraltar Yard ; but I believe we have overrun the constable here as well as at the Kock, and the dock will be an expensive, though a magnificent work. We have had a very hot season, and plenty of siroc, which we have all suffered from more or less; but the north-west winds have now set in, and I trust there will be no more return of oppressive heat. " The destruction of the French force by the Arabs, near Oran, is an awful retaliation for the dreadful wholesale massacre at the Cave of Dahra. I send you the account as it has reached me, but conclude you have long since been in possession of it. " I am glad to find the question of Gibraltar signals is satis- factorily settled, as I quite accord in the view taken by the Admiralty on that head, and am pleased with their determina- tion not to turn Her Majesty's ships into convict ships. There is still a question open about the conveyance of military felons to England by ships-of-war, to which 1 confess myself likewise averse, except in very urgent cases ; and it is clear that, if the Admiralty sanction it, not a ship will return without a string of soldiers under sentence of transportation or minor punish- ment, collected from every garrison in the Mediterranean." * Vol. I, page 301. VOL. III.