the Mediterranean in enforcing obedience to the laws of justice and
humanity, and putting down the Ionian trade in slaves, as well as the
piracies which have originated chiefly in the total contempt shown by
the Ionian people and others for the laws of nations and the principles
of justice during the contest between Greeks and Turks. I also put at
your disposal the Turks found on board the Ionian boat, not considering
them as prisoners of war, but as men apprehended in violating the laws
of civilized nations and insulting the feelings of Christendom." "Since
writing the above," it was added in a postscript, "I have experienced
considerable difficulty in restraining the fury of the Greeks from
bursting forth upon the violators of their countrywomen. From what I
foresee, I also feel it my duty to warn you that, should the
transportation of Christian captives by neutrals be continued, I cannot
answer for the safety of Ionians found so employed by the other vessels
of the Greek squadron."

A formal acknowledgment of that letter was all the answer received by
Lord Cochrane.

On the 24th of May, when near Missolonghi, he made another capture--a
Turkish brig, with eight guns, bearing Austrian colours, which was
proceeding from Previsa to Navarino. In her, besides a good store of
flour and gunpowder, were found some Turkish officials and several
members of Reshid Pasha's harem. The alarm of these prisoners was very
great at first; but they were treated with courtesy, and landed, with
all their personal properties, at the first convenient halting-place,
the brig and its cargo being retained as prizes. Reshid Pasha, in return
for the generous treatment shown to his attendants, afterwards released
a hundred Greek prisoners without ransom.

Another curious incident occurred at this time. Several small Turkish
merchant-vessels passed Lord Cochrane's ship during his stay near
Missolonghi, but he abstained from capturing them, deeming it unworthy
to interfere with such small crafts, devoted, as it was supposed, only
to trading purposes. He was afterwards informed that in one of them
Ibrahim Pasha himself had been concealed. Had the Egyptian leader been
thus made prisoner, the future course of the war might have been
altogether changed.

Lord Cochrane had gone into the Gulf of Patras in hope of meeting with
Captain Hastings, from whom he had parted soon after leaving Spetzas;
but the _Karteria_ had been disabled by a squall, which