you intended coming over to Corinth. Mr. Hane bringing me letters for
General Church, I despatched the other gunboat, _Bavaroise_, with these,
and also some for the _Sauveur_, in case she was still in the Gulf. Mr.
Darby, the commander of the _Bavaroise_, had directions to bring General
Church if he was anxious to communicate personally with your lordship.
Day after day I awaited anxiously an answer, till at length the mistico
I had sent three days ago to General Church, to learn something of the
fleet outside, which Mr. Hane wrote me for certain was Turkish, returned
yesterday evening, informing me that the _Sauveur_ and two gunboats had
gone out on Wednesday. General Church writes me that he positively
intends passing into Roumelia, and wants my aid; but I am now quite
alone (except the mistico, with whom I know not what to do). He
continually applies to me for provisions, and will soon probably for
money. What am I to do about him? Although wishing to aid General Church
and the service in all I can, I must acknowledge I have no confidence in
his intended movement, more particularly as he tells me he has no
provisions, and wants me to seize by force what I find in boats. All I
could get by this discreditable way of raising provisions would not
certainly feed one hundred men for three days, and therefore could not
aid General Church, and would be a gratuitous vexation of these
miserable peasantry. If General Church had money and provisions, much is
to be done in Roumelia, but without these nothing can be achieved
anywhere. As soon as I have got the prizes back to Loutraki, and formed
batteries, I will go and visit General Church, and learn more
particulars. But I am very anxious for some orders from your lordship,
having received nothing but the official letter of thanks since I left
you. I write in haste, and beg your lordship to let me have an answer as
soon as possible.

I have the honour to be, &c.,

F. A. Hastings.

XXIII.

_Karteria_, Loutraki, Oct. 27th, 1827.

MY LORD,

I am ready to do all and anything for the good of the service, but I
fear General Church has no means. I had him on board for two days,
making reconnaissances round the Gulf, and from what I can gather, the
money said to be at Corfu is a chimera. I suspect he has not a shilling
anywhere, and cannot stir. He talks, it is true, of expeditions, and I
have alwa