Charles Philip Yorke, Fourth Earl of Hardwicke, Vice-Admiral R.N. — a MemoirBiddulph, Elizabeth Philippa, Baroness
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Charles Philip Yorke, Fourth Earl of Hardwicke, Vice-Admiral R.N. — a Memoir
Biddulph, Elizabeth Philippa, Baroness
Hardwicke, Charles Philip Yorke, Earl of, 1799-1873
'I immediately said that the Pacha could not with propriety march
against those flags until I had in person visited the position and had
ascertained how the case stood. The Pacha gave me a horse and throwing
his own cloak over my shoulders (for it rained hard) I started off with
my Greek friend and a few Turkish guards whom I requested might return,
as I wished to go alone, my mission being perfectly pacific. In about
eight hours I reached Cambus (? Kampos), a prodigiously strong position
in the mountains, and on approaching afar off I beheld the three Greek
flags flying on the pinnacle of the highest mountain in sight. The pass
to the position of Cambus is most narrow and difficult, and then at the
summit it is a plateau of fine soil with large trees and gardens. It is
a most beautiful spot and well worth fighting for. I was soon ushered
into an assembly of the chiefs who were Spakiotes, and Mons. Resière
was there also. This Mons. Resière was originally a physician of Canea;
born in Crete and having received a good education and speaking
European languages, he was considered by the President of Greece as a
fit man to govern Crete. He now wishes to keep up the shadow of that
power which he once had, and has established a council, at Milopotamos
in Crete, of which he is president, for the government of the Greeks
and arrangement of the future plans of operation. In quietly conversing
with Resière I found by his own confession that the object was to gain
time, and he beseeched me to use my endeavours for that purpose. To be
sure comments may be made of the conduct of the allies towards the
Candiote Greeks this year, for the sale of property does not expire
until February and the enemy has been permitted to march against the
Greeks; their olives are ripe and they wish time to gather their crop
and reap the advantages of it, for though the Greeks love liberty they
love money better. As matters were I had used my endeavours for that
purpose and without success. I now spoke publicly, and the captains and
troops were assembled in a large room. I desired the flags of the three
nations to be immediately surrendered to me. There was now a long
silence, during which time the captains eyed one another, apparently to
read in the countenance of each what was to be done. At length the
headmost and best speaker (his words coming out like drops of water
from an exhausted supply) "You may send and take away that of your
nation, but the others we will not give up." I replied I had made a
demand and required an answer; after much consideration they gave one
in the negative. I on this made a verbal protest against the colours of
the allies being hoisted in opposition to the Governor and departed. On
my journey over the mountains, it rained hard, and enveloped as I was
in the cloak or mantle of the Pacha, I feared I should be taken for a
Turk and shot at, or that my neck would be broken in the difficult
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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