_Karteria_, Spetzas, June 9th, 1827.

MY LORD,

I had the honour to receive your order of the 7th, enjoining me to
repair to your lordship without delay, if ready for sea. A variety of
circumstances (unavoidable in a country deprived of even the shadow of
organization) has prevented my being yet ready to sail. I received my
foremast on board to-day, but the majority and best of my crew has left
me. I must look for others, and intend to weigh to-night and go to
Poros, where I was tormented by hundreds to take them. Here I can get
men--but shall confine myself to half-a-dozen, as I find it necessary to
mix my crew. In going to Poros I shall not delay anything, since I shall
be occupied getting up my masts and rigging there, making sails, &c.,
&c., _en route_, and I can water more easily at Poros than here. I have
informed the captain of the brig that brought this, that if I am ready
to sail before any further orders of yours arrive, I shall repair to
Cerigotto, and there await instructions from you; if I am not at
Cerigotto I shall be found here.

I have the honour to be, &c.,

F. A. HASTINGS.

XIV.

_Karteria_, Syra, August 1st, 1827.

MY LORD,

In hopes of seeing your lordship here I have waited two days, since
which, although not finished, all the work of our machinery can be done
on board. There are two things which retain me, namely, money, of which
I require about seven hundred dollars, and the fire-bars, which they
continually civilly refuse me--acting the true Greek or in other words,
the dog in the manger. If your lordship remains long absent, I shall be
sadly puzzled how to act. Without new fire-bars we cannot steam again.
The local authorities here are so afraid of the Hydriots and Spetziots
that they dare not take any steps against them. To leave this without
the fire-bars is useless. If I can obtain these bars, and your lordship
does not arrive, I will pay myself the necessary sums to get the vessel
out of this port, hoping you will reimburse me--but to go without the
bars is only going to return again. What I can do to forward the service
I will readily perform, and anxious enough I am to get away from this
place.

I have the honour to be, &c.,

F. A. HASTINGS.

XV.

_Karteria_, Poros, August 19th, 1827,

MY