ion this day. Fearing that some
outrage might be committed, I sent you an order to retire; and I glory
in the consciousness that I have saved you as well as myself from being
inculpated in the most horrid scene I ever beheld,--a scene which
freezes my blood, and which cannot be palliated by any barbarities which
the Turks have committed on you. I send you the thousand dollars which I
promised should be distributed, as a reward for your valour and for your
obedience to my directions, which you will ever find lead to the path of
honour and humanity and the duty we owe to your country."

Utter confusion among the Greeks resulted, for a time, from the
barbarous massacre of Saint Spiridion. The soldiers quarrelled and
fought over the blood-stained spoil. The officers were occupied with
mutual recriminations and excuses regarding their several shares in the
atrocity. Karaiskakes found himself unable to establish order, and had
to entreat Sir Richard Church to take back his surrendered authority.

To this General Church assented on the promise that, if he did so, he
should be aided in bringing the chief wrong-doers to justice. Indeed,
both he and Lord Cochrane hoped, for a little while, that their very
misconduct, filling the Greeks with shame and penitence, would incline
them to listen to the counsels in which they both saw the only chance of
safety to the garrison of the Acropolis. "The destinies of Greece,"
wrote Lord Cochrane to Karaiskakes, on the 29th of April, "the fate of
your army, and the character of its chiefs, are now wholly in the hands
of your excellency. You and you alone will be held responsible for all
that shall happen. The hour of clemency for Greece is past; the sword
alone can decide the contest. Courage is a characteristic of men who
deserve to be free. Let then the conduct of a few atrocious individuals
yesterday be effaced by a march direct to Athens, at least to relieve
the women and children now doomed to destruction, if prompt exertions be
not made to save them. Your excellency has hitherto treated my friendly
advice in a manner which I did not anticipate; but the world will judge
between the course you have taken and that which I wished you, for the
benefit of your country, to pursue. I shall wait three days for your
excellency's reply, when it will be my duty, if the fortress be not
relieved, to attend exclusively to naval affairs. I hope you will
reflect on the glory you may yet attain by saving