captains of 1827.
7
faults this vessel may in future commit, you and your Government will be answerable for. It will also be satisfactory to me, that you deliver into my hands the two pirate chiefs, Nicolo Coccoici and Nicolo Siutto, of Genoa, who, I am well informed, are now residing within the limits of your territories.
(Signed)“Charles Leonard Irby.”
“To Signor Giovanni Mavronücali,
Member of the Senate of Sparta.”
(answer.)
“Sir,– Such of the members of the Ephori of Sparta as are here present are ready to reply to your letter of the 8th Jan. N.S.
“There can be no doubt that the Devil has again entered into the minds of the Sovereigns. The information you have had, that we have two vessels in our port armed as pirates, is not true; for having arranged our system by the name of Ephori, our first business was to put down piracy by every means in our power, and at the same time to annoy cur enemy in every possible way, both by sea and land, for which object our courageous General has orders from the Senate at Napoli de Romania, of which we send you a copy, according to your orders, to inform yourself, that by order of our Government, we have armed this vessel to guard our waters and blockade our enemy’s fortresses regularly, without committing any improprieties, according to the documents which we have put into the hands of her captain; having, however, given him directions to be vigilant in distressing our enemy who is so near to us, as we are always striving to do both by sea and land. As to the vessels taken by our cruiser, you will hear all from the Ionian captains themselves, and they are lawful prizes. Although their papers announce they are bound to Zante, they arc falsely made out; for the philanthrophic Government of Great Britain does not give papers for the fortresses of our enemies to transport provisions there; but these people, to serve themselves, have resolved to do injury to a whole nation, which is suffering under a barbarous enemy. It is now six years since we have revolted, and Great Britain is our only protector. Observe the quality of their cargoes, as appears by their declared manifests; but much of the cargo of the schooner does not appear on her manifest, such as stilettos, knives, pikes, &c. – this proves they were not intended for Zante, such articles being prohibited from entrance there. We, however, according as we ought, have written to our government at Napoli di Romania, to receive their orders on the subject, as in justice we could not do otherwise. If, on the contrary, your excellency thinks differently (not believing, however, it can be so), you are the master; but we must represent our reasoning on the subject. In what regards the pirates, Nicolo Coccoici and Nicolo Siutto, we will take every possible means to apprehend them, and send them under custody to