October 2017 MAINE COASTAL NEWS Page 25. HISTORY FROM THE PAST - Hancock Gazette - 1827 I have the pleasure to inform you that


the CHANCELLOR arrived with safety at Napoli di Romania, on the evening of the 23rd


of May. We were fortunate in fi nding the


U. S. frigate CONSTITUTION, under the command of Capt. Patterson, from whom, as well as the offi cers under his command, I am highly gratifi ed to say, we received every attention and assistance which it was in their power to grant. After finding my countrymen, Dr.


Howe, and consulting with him as to the most proper manner to proceed, in order to accomplish the object contained in your let- ter of instructions, and also addressing a let- ter to the Government of Greece, explaining the object of the donations, we proceeded to break bulk. We landed at Napoli di Romani, six hundred and ninety barrels of fl our, bread and meal, and twenty-nine tierces of rice, together with nineteen boxes and packages of dry goods. At a small castle in the harbor of Napoli, we landed fi ve hundred barrels of fl our, bread and meal, for the use of those inhabiting the mountains between Napoli and Corinth; one hundred barrels of fl our we shipped on board a n Ionian vessel for the island of Calamo, for the use of those who escaped from Missolonghi before its fall. Though we were told several times, that


there would be eff orts made by the soldiers to obtain some part of the cargo for their own use, yet everything went on perfectly smooth without the most distant appearance of disorder. On the morning of the 27th


, I received a


letter from the Government, signed offi cial- ly, bidding me again welcome to Greece, and politely inviting me to come to the island of Poros, where it is now sitting. Immediately on the receipt of this letter, it was concluded between Dr. Howe and myself that it would be best to proceed directly to Poros, with the remaining part of the cargo; not for the purpose of delivering it into the hands of the government, but to show our respect for it, and to be still nearer to the scene of war, where the greatest misery always exists. We arrived at Poros on the 29th


. I called


upon the government soon after my arrival and explain to them my instructions. The tears fl owed copiously from the eyes of Slerakies, who is now Secretary of State, when mention was made of the suff ering women and children and old men. The gov- ernment expressed the warmest gratitude for this expression of American sympathy for the suff erers of Greece. I soon obtained a large magazine, where I have disposed of the remaining part of the cargo, and shall immediately on the departure of the ship attend to its distribution personally, in com- pany with Jarvis, who arrived here from the Camp in Attica, two day since on furlough. Dr. Howe was attending to the distribution of the provisions left at Napoli di Romania. I heard from him last evening that all things go on well. We most confi dently hope, Gentleman,


to be able to lay before you hereafter, every minute proceeding, both of our plans and manner of distributing the property commit- ted to our care. For the salvation of Greece, I have as


much, and even more, hope then when I left it last year. I then thought, that without for- eign assistance, she could not hold out one year longer; that year, however, is past, and Greece is nearly in the same state as she was at its commencement. Thousands of women and children are living on grass and snails; two thirds of the population of the country are in holes and caves of the earth, like wild beasts of the forest – many families in this vicinity are living in open air, with only an olive tree to shelter them. Could I have the means of saving this country, God is my


witness, how soon they should be applied. But, alas! She appears to be set up as a bea- con of suff ering, for the mighty of the earth to look upon and wag their heads. My hope for her, however, is in that Being who can make the wrath of man to praise him, and the remainder of that wrath he can restrain. Captain Barker has faithfully dis-


charged his duty as a navigator, and has safe- ly delivered to me all the cargo contained in the bill of lading, together with a hundred and one barrels, for which I have given him a receipt; it being, he says, a mistake, made at the time of shipping the cargo. I have also endorsed and delivered to Captain Barker at his request, the bill of lading which I received in New York. I have at the earnest request of Mr. Wor- rel, consented to oversee the distribution of the cargo of the TONTINE, as Mr. Worrel returns to the U. S. with Captain Harris. I would here observe, that, I believe Captain Harris and Mr. Worrell to have fully dis- charged their duty, and that the entire cargo of the TONTINE will be applied to the great and benevolent object for which it was raised in the United States. These persons, gentleman, who are


best acquainted with Greece, can judge, in some measure, of the task which I have had, and still have before me, in order to fulfi ll the trust committed to my care. I can still assure you, that no pains or diligence shall be spared on my part to fulfi ll your wishes. I am writing with great anxiety the arrival of Lieut. Carpenter, who I hope will soon be here.


In doing this, I beg leave to call your


attention to a few remarks on the feelings of my countrymen towards your cause, and the more fully to unfold to you my responsibil- ity for a faithful application of the property committed to my care, to the objects for which it has been raised in the United States. You need not be informed by me, gen-


tleman, at this late period of your struggle, that there exist on the other side of the At- lantic, a most lively interest in your behalf. Among the many who have heard of your warlike resistance against the combined forces of a Turkish Empire, and the unprec- edented state of wretchedness to which a most barbarous war has reduced many of the inhabitants of your country, the Greek Executive committee in New York are not the least conspicuous. Belonging, however, as they do, to a neutral nation, the policy is never to be the fi rst aggressor, the Executive Committee pledged themselves to the do- nors of the Greek fund, that they should be applied in relieving the distressed women, children, and old men there, comprising the noncombatants of Greece. My instructions are strictly to this eff ect, and I have pledged myself to the committee to fulfi ll them to the utmost of my power. Wishing you, gentleman, health and


prosperity, I subscribed myself Your obedient and humble servant, J. P. MILLER


Poros, June 2nd 29th , 1827 On board the CHANCELLOR, May


, 1827 To the members of the Legislative and


Executive departments of the government of Greece.


the 14th


Gentleman. – I received your letters of , and have lost no time in repairing


two Paros, and laying before you the instruc- tions of the Greek Executive Committee of New York, whose agent I have been appoint- ed.


However urgent then maybe my own


wishes to relieve the wants of those brave men with whom I have passed so many days in the camp or however well I may be


convinced of the present need of the gov- ernment to have provisions placed in their hands and at their disposal, I can by means listen to any other terms than those con- tained in my instructions, in the execution of which, I trust, Gentleman, I shall have your support and approbation. No pleasure of an earthly nature can be greater than that which I enjoy in again visiting your coun- try, and of having it in my power to add a little towards relieving the suff erings of its inhabitants. I am rejoiced to fi nd things, in relation to your country’s salvation looking a little more prosperous than when I left Greece a year ago. The voice of America is for you to go on and prosper. Who knows but a few mere showers of blood from the hearts of your sons and your daughters, shed by infi del hounds, may thought the icy policy of Europe so far as to compassionate your suff erings? But if this fails, let not your friends in Europe and America ever have the mortifi cation of hearing of your having submitted again to the Turkish yoke – imi- tate your brethren of Scio, of Ipsara and of Missolonghi; and if your independence is not achieved, your extinction will at least be glorious, and your reward in Heaven that of martyrs for the religion of Christ, and the liberty of your country. I am, Gentleman, your humble and obedient servant, J. P. MILLER Agent for the Greek Executive Com-


mittee in New York Commodore Porter, in a letter to the Ed-


itor of the Louisiana Advertiser, explicitly denies having violated the neutrality of this country during his stay at Key West, as the Spanish Admiral has asserted; and in a letter to Commodore Ridgely, he assures him, that if the United States’ government should think otherwise, and notify him thereof, he will withdraw his fl eet at once, provided the blockading squadron is not too strong.


Boston, September 8. – Capt. Alexan-


der, master of a brig belonging to this port, was examined at the police court on Tues- day, charged with killing one of his crew, and put under bonds of $10,000 to make his appearance for trial at the next Supreme Court. He states that the man mutinied.


rived at Savannah 24th


The schooner MEXICAN, which ar- ult. from Baltimore,


off Cape Fear, and Lat. 22, 30, on the 22nd inst. fell in with the wreck of the schooner ORLANDO, Capt. Courtney, of Castine, (ME) with foremast gone and full of water, and took from her the captain and crew. The ORLANDO was in ballast, bound from New York to St. Mary’s for a load of lumber. When 21 days out, in the above latitude, was capsized by a severe squall from the NW and immediately fi lled with water, and but for their providential rescue by the MEXICAN, all on board must inevitably have perished, as the wind had blown a gale from the time they left the wreck. Nothing was saved but the scanty clothing they had on at the time of the accident.


19 September The fast sailing ship UNITED STATES,


arrived at New York Harbor on the evening of the 7th


on the 18th Arctic Land Expedition. – Capt. Frank-


lin, accompanied by Dr. Richardson, sailed for Liverpool on Saturday in the JAMES CROPPER. A part of the expedition re- turned by Hudson’s Bay. The enterprise, if not entirely successful in the way originally designed – the plan of a junction with Capt.


inst. having sailed from Liverpool ult.


Beechy being frustrated by unfavorable weather, as before announced – has yet suf- fi ciently determined the grand question so long agitated, and removed all reasonable doubt respecting the Northwest passage. The Albion states, that Captain Frank-


lin’s private letters received since his arrival in New York, informs him that Captain Beechy proceeded in the BLOSSOM 120 miles east of Icy Cape. If this account be accurate, there do not remain more than 40 or 50 leagues of the Coast from Point Tur- nagain to Icy Cape unsurveyed; and as the discoveries of Captain Parry extended some degrees westward of the fi rst mentioned Point, “the interesting fact of the practica- bility of the North West Passage at certain seasons appears to have been determined.” – Phil. Gaz.


Sea Serpent again. – We not know


a subject which causes more speculation, then the Sea Serpent, no two persons can give the same description of it, except its resemblance to a horse or snake! About 20th of July last, Captain Thurlow of Deer Isle reported that had struck, and was dragged by this “god of the ocean,” upwards of four miles; that it took place ten leagues to the eastward of Mount Desert, that the line part- ed, and left about 20 fathoms of it attached to the iron in the Serpent – this statement had a very general circulation in the papers at that time. We now have another story to tell, and which seems to carry more truth with it than any other respecting the Serpent. Captain Daniel Brown, who arrived


here on Thursday, fell in with a singular fi sh, about 20 leagues East of Mount Desert, from which he took a pare of 5 prong’d granes, together with 20 fathoms of warp attached thereto, and exhibited the same at our offi ce yesterday. The fi sh was dead, and measured less than 25 feet; had a fl at head, appeared something like a blackfi sh, Captain Brown does not recollect ever having seen one sim- ilar to it. It must have been dead some time, as it had much decayed, and its skin parched or sunburnt – had no scales upon it. Captain Brown kept it alongside of his vessel about three quarters of an hour, had a fair opportu- nity to examine it, and we rely much on the testimony he has given. If this is the same fi sh which Captain Thurlow struck, and it appears to be, from many circumstances; he must have been deceived in its length &c. as hereto for published. [Gloucester Telegraph September 8 * * * * *


From the Eastern Argus Notice to Mariners. – Assisted by


several masters of vessels, I have recently taken the following bearing and distances of Islands and Ledges, from the Column on lit- tle Mark Island. By inserting it in your paper, and if publishers of other papers in Maine will copy it into theirs, they will doubtless render service to mariners, as well as to the commercial interests. Portland, August 1827


L. MOODY There has lately been erected, by order


of the U. S. government, a Stone column on little Mark Island, as a landmark for vessels running into, or passing either Harpswell or broad sound. It is a conspicuous mark for the Mariner, standing in from sea, in any direction between Cape Elizabeth and Cape Small Point. This island, at the entrance of Harpswell-sound, (halfway between Port- land in the entrance of the River Kennebec) is one fourth of a mile in length, without trees, its elevation forty feet above the level of the sea; the column is placed near the center of the Island, fi fty feet high, painted perpendicularly in black and white stripes, except near the top, which is black on each


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