In short, from the misconduct of this people up to the present time in declining to listen to advice, in imputing probably to erroneous motives the gracious clemency of his Imperial Majesty, who has hitherto delayed to visit their offences with punishment, and in preferring to follow the suggestions of seditious intrigues rather than the tranquillity and welfare of their families, it has become manifest that they will not be guided by prudential motives. Henceforth, then, the Imperial Government is compelled to perform its duty. A military force will at once be despatched to a convenient locality, and in the first instance the orders and resolutions of the Porte will once more be made known to the inhabitants of Crete, viz., that in obedience to orders the assemblies should disperse, and each individual return to his own home and ordinary occupation, under the protection of the Sultan; and, if they have any demands to prefer, let them make them in a wise and decorous manner to the Government. But if they continue in the course explained above, this will be regarded as a grave offence by the Government, and they will be dispersed by force and visited with severe chastisement. Let them understand this and take warning. Let them break up their assemblies, and give assurances and obligations in writing to the effect that they will no more act in contravention of the principle of submission to authority. If after this they immediately return to their homes and occupations, well and good. But if, on the contrary, they persist in their misconduct, the troops will be sent against them, and the ringleaders of the sedition will be arrested and imprisoned in the Sultan's fortresses, while the rest of the people will be dispersed by force; and, in the event of their presuming to have recourse to arms, they will meet with reprisals in kind and be severely chastised. Should these persons dare to resist to arms, it will also be necessary to disarm them. Your Excellency is instructed to execute the measures necessary in accordance with what is stated above. [Translation.] REPLY OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE CRETANS TO THE ANSWER OF THE GRAND VIZIER TO THEIR PETITION. TO HIS HIGHNESS THE GRAND VIZIER: YOUR HIGHNESS: We, the Undersigned, the Representatives of the Christian population of the Island of Crete, received yesterday (July 19), after a delay of three months, the answer of the Imperial Government to the humble petition we addressed to His Majesty the Sultan, which answer has been transmitted to us through his Excellency the Governor-General of Candia. It is with great pain that we remark the silence kept in this answer in regard to the chief complaints in our petition--that is to say, on what concerns the tribunals, freedom of worship, personal liberty, the municipal elections, the use of the Greek language, etc.