on the other side of the Piraeus.
But the operations of both leaders were restrained by Reshid Pasha's
establishment of a garrison in the monastery of Saint Spiridion, midway
between the two camps; and, without wiser leaders than the Greeks had
hitherto possessed, there seemed small chance of their chasing the enemy
from his strong positions. Another plan, feebly recommended and yet more
feebly attempted before Lord Cochrane's arrival, was to starve him out
by intercepting the supplies of provisions that were brought from Turkey
by way of the northern channel of the Negropont, to be sent overland
from Oropos, a well-fortified magazine on the northern shore of Attica.

Lord Cochrane saw at once that this latter course was the one most
likely to be of service, or, at any rate, the one rightly devolving upon
him, while General Church was pursuing his operations nearer to Athens;
and he was strengthened in this conviction by discussion on the subject
with General Gordon, who came for a short visit to Poros, on the 21st of
March, in his own yacht. To this end he laboured while he was waiting
for the reconciliation of parties and the official recognition of his
employment as First Admiral. "The fate of Athens," he wrote, both to
Kolokotrones and to Karaiskakes, on the 29th of March, "depends upon our
depriving the enemy of the provisions obtained by him from the north.
The general and the soldiers who first devote themselves to this object
will have the glory of raising the siege. For myself, I offer the
heartiest co-operation of the fleet, accompanied by two thousand brave
marines, and the use of all the war-steamers and transports in any port
of eastern Attica. There is not a moment to be lost." This proposal was
rejected by Kolokotrones. On the 2nd of April, Karaiskakes sent an
ambiguous acceptance of it, which he cancelled on the 13th. "We are so
mixed up with the enemy," he wrote, "that if we abandon the smallest of
our positions we must resign ourselves to the loss of all. The Turks are
so embarrassed by us that they can offer only a feeble siege to the
Acropolis. Of this I am assured by several Greeks who have lately come
from their camp. Therefore, my lord, I am deterred from assailing the
enemy from the north; and I have the boldness to assure and promise you
that, if you will aid me here, Athens will be free in a few days. With
the help of two thousand good recruits, the enemy will not be able to
resist our enthusias