ll ultimately destroy the hopes which they
entertain, I take the liberty of urging, as an officer who has some
character to lose in this affair, that your excellency should caution
the officers of your army against the vain belief that intrigues at the
present moment can produce any other effect than the ruin of themselves
and their country. The education which my countrymen, in common with
myself, have received, leads to an attachment to the cause of Greece
amounting to enthusiasm, and this feeling cannot but be increased by
viewing the monuments of her ancient grandeur. I am ready to do my
utmost to promote the interests of your country, but I am by no means
willing to allow myself to be made the puppet of intriguers. I shall put
an end to intrigue in the navy or I shall quit it, and I trust your
excellency will excuse me if I adopt the same resolutions respecting the
army, if you yourself cannot put it down. I have been but a short time
in Greece, but have taken effectual measures to obtain that sort of
information which is necessary for my guidance. This has led me to the
resolution to act by myself and for Greece, so far as I can, whenever I
find that others are either disinclined or unable to co-operate. I have
moved the transports close to the Phalerum in order that they may be
more conveniently situated when I shall learn the determination of your
excellency and the officers in your camp. If that determination is to
relieve Athens the night of the 26th is passed, the marines whom I have
hired, paid, and victualled, shall co-operate; if not, I shall try to
render them serviceable in some other quarter, and I will denounce to
the world as traitors to their country those intriguers who are the
cause of the captivity and perhaps annihilation of the garrison in the
Acropolis. My advice to your excellency is, that passing the tambourias
by night, without firing a shot, you join our troops in the olive-grove,
where I will take care they shall meet your excellency, if such is your
pleasure. I have been anxious that the glory of relieving Athens should
accrue to a Greek, and especially to your excellency. That object I am
ready to promote by every means in my power. The friendly manner in
which we the other day met will cause me to regret, if in my next letter
I shall be obliged to bid your excellency adieu for ever."

That letter to Karaiskakes was followed by one, written on the 24th, to
General Church. "In forty-eight