, "that his excellency, Count Heyden, when he affixed his
signature to the letter of the Admirals, addressed to the Legislative
Assembly of Greece, dated the 24th of October, could not attest, of his
own knowledge, the truth of the imputations contained in the said
document; yet, as the public may not recollect that the recent arrival
of the Count precluded the possibility of his being in the slightest
degree acquainted with facts regarding the regular naval service under
my command, I expect from the Count, that so soon as he shall have
informed himself on the subject, he will take the necessary steps to
remove an evil impression which he unconsciously has contributed to
produce, and thus save me, in as far as the Count is concerned, the
necessity, always disagreeable, even of a satisfactory refutation of the
imputations cast upon me as Commander-in-Chief of the Greek fleet."

The third letter was to Commodore Hamilton, of the _Cambrian_, who had
been left by Sir Edward Codrington to represent the British squadron in
the Archipelago. "The Government of Greece having acquiesced in the
offer made by the three Powers to mediate in her behalf," wrote Lord
Cochrane, "it became my duty to obey the decision of the admirals
representing those Powers, when duly communicated. But whilst my
official situation demands acquiescence on points of a public nature, it
is far otherwise when the Admirals give reasons affecting the character
of the regular naval service of Greece, in justification of restrictions
imposed by them on the movements of the squadron I command, accompanied
by threats to destroy the Greek vessels of war, in order to prevent
asserted piracy. You, sir, who are accurately acquainted with facts, and
now possess ample means of ascertaining the truth here upon the spot,
must know, or may learn, that no neutral vessel has been seized or
disturbed in her course by the national squadron on the high seas, nor
any vessel detained, except those acting in violation of the blockades
acknowledged by these very Admirals. Is it not then extraordinary that
such limitations and menaces on false grounds should originate with
persons whose high official situations would seem to sanction imputation
under their signatures? I have told the French and Russian commanders,
and I hope you will assure the British Admiral, that I shall be loth to
trespass on public attention with explanations, to refute their joint
letter of the 24th of Octob