'The time pass'd and the money came; thus ended my diplomatic Mission at
Missolonghi. I have just seen some English papers, they talk of
Missolonghi having sixty pieces of Cannon and a large garrison.

'I can only say from personal knowledge that if it has sixty pieces of
Cannon they are all on the wrong side, or where the Dutchman had his
anchor. The garrison consisted of about 1000 arm'd men 500 of whom were
Lord Byron's Suliotes. The only defence towards the sea is what
bountiful Nature has given it, and a small fort on an island with two
guns, one dismounted, much more like a pig stye than a fort. In short
there seem'd to me to be nothing to prevent the Turkish Admiral from
landing men and destroying every soul in the place, but their style of
warfare is very harmless (except now and then, when they catch some poor
devil alone, then they murder him). The Greeks talked much of a fine
ship, and Ld. Byron recommended Mavrocordato to take boat with him in
the evening and "smoke a cigar against the Turkish fleet" which however
he declined. I was obliged soon to return to Zante for water, intending
to go up to Lepanto and be present at the storming of that place by the
Greeks. Ld. Byron and myself had agreed, he was to lead the attack and
indeed had undertaken the Enterprise entirely, and as he jocosely
observed to me a very fit man he was as he could not run if he wished,
alluding to his club foot; but it was otherwise ordained, for to my
great grief news one evening was suddenly brought me as I was dining at
the Mess of the 90th Regt. of the loss of H.M. sloop _Columbine_ at
Sapienza, my friend Abbot's ship. I lost no time in being at sea and was
with him on Saturday the 31st of Jany. having put to sea from Zante with
a gale from the N.W. and had much ado to keep clear of the Coast of the
Morea. On my arrival in Porto Longue, I found my friend and his crew all
well having only lost two people; the brig's tops just above water; she
was lost by parting her S.B. cable, and had not room to bring up; she