ich is
easily done, that if they will support your cause you will embrace
Christianity and give them freedom."

There was no time to lose, for matters became daily more serious. Ali
hastened to summon what he called a Grand Divan, composed of the chiefs
of both sects, Mussulmans and Christians. There were assembled men of
widely different types, much astonished at finding themselves in company:
the venerable Gabriel, Archbishop of Janina, and uncle of the unfortunate
Euphrosyne, who had been dragged thither by force; Abbas, the old head of
the police, who had presided at the execution of the Christian martyr;
the holy bishop of Velas, still bearing the marks of the chains with
which Ali had loaded him; and Porphyro, Archbishop of Arta, to whom the
turban would have been more becoming than the mitre.

Ashamed of the part he was obliged to play, Ali, after long hesitation,
decided on speaking, and, addressing the Christians, "O Greeks!" he said,
"examine my conduct with unprejudiced minds, and you will see manifest
proofs of the confidence and consideration which I have ever shown you.
What pacha has ever treated you as I have done? Who would have treated
your priests and the objects of your worship with as much respect? Who
else would have conceded the privileges which you enjoy? for you hold
rank in my councils, and both the police and the administration of my
States are in your hands. I do not, however, seek to deny the evils with
which I have afflicted you; but, alas! these evils have been the result
of my enforced obedience to the cruel and perfidious orders of the
Sublime Porte. It is to the Porte that these wrongs must be attributed,
for if my actions be attentively regarded it will be seen that I only did
harm when compelled thereto by the course of events. Interrogate my
actions, they will speak more fully than a detailed apology.

"My position with regard to the Suliotes allowed no half-and-half
measures. Having once broken with them, I was obliged either to drive
them from my country or to exterminate them. I understood the political
hatred of the Ottoman Cabinet too well not to know that it would declare
war against me sooner or later, and I knew that resistance would be
impossible, if on one side I had to repel the Ottoman aggression, and on
the other to fight against the formidable Suliotes.

"I might say the same of the Parganiotes. You know that their town was
the haunt of my enemies, and each