Greeks.

An amusing instance of the worthlessness of the Greek sailors, whom,
from first to last, he tried to make useful, may here be given. On one
occasion, following his invariable habit of taking every possible
occasion of trying to win the confidence and friendship of those under
him, he was exhibiting a magic lantern to the crew of the _Hellas_. At
many of the dissolving views they manifested a childish delight, but at
length one unfortunate picture was brought before them. It depicted a
Greek running from the pursuit of a Turk, and then melted into a view of
the Turk cutting off his captive's head. At that sight every Greek on
board took fright. Some ran into the hold of the ship, others jumped
overboard, and many hours had to be spent in bringing them together
again and dispelling their frivolous and superstitious fears.

Lord Cochrane, however, though disheartened, still sought, with unabated
zeal, to render to Greece such help as became his name and character.
But he saw that this could not be done without a thorough reform in
naval affairs; and this, often urged by him before, he lost no time in
urging again. "The crew of the _Hellas_," he wrote to the effete
Government on the very day of his return, "having, according to their
usual practice, abandoned the vessel on her arrival in port, it is
essential that others should be enlisted to serve in the frigate without
delay. It is further essential that the individuals so enlisted shall
engage to serve during a period of not less than six months, and that
they shall be young men who will conform to the rules and regulations by
which the ships-of-war of other states are governed. It is quite
impossible to conduct a large ship-of-war amidst the noise and confusion
which I have witnessed during the two months that have elapsed since my
flag was hoisted on board this ship, and equally impossible to induce
monthly crews to conform to habits of order and regularity. Under these
circumstances, I enclose you a proclamation, stating the pay and
advantages which will accrue to such individuals. I should prefer that
the enlistment should take place under such respectable young men as
propose to obtain rank in the national marine, and who can be in some
degree responsible for the good conduct of the individuals who accompany
them, each individual qualified for, and aspiring to, the rank of
lieutenant being accompanied by sixty young seamen, the second
lieutenants to be eac