Athens, he had an attack of fever which | don: "Tu me riderai, ma sento dopo di cio weakened him very much, and determined ch'io non devo piu rivedere i miei figli." him to fix his abode at Athens rather than Remaining in Navarino, where the weakness to return to Napoli de Romanie, whose un- of the garrison forbade an offensive part, he healthy atmosphere would have aggravated passed two weeks in reading, thinking, and or at least prolonged his malady. awaiting the decision of events. The last works that engaged his attention were those of Shakspeare, Davanzati, and the songs of Tyrtæus and of his friend Provano. Odysseus, who seemed to have an understanding with the Turks, having threatened to take possession of Athens, Santa-Rosa engaged in organizing its defense. The Ephemerides of Athens spoke of his enthusiasm and of his activity; but his importance ceased with the threatenings of Odysseus, and Santa-Rosa left Athens to rejoin his friends at Napoli de Romanie. At this period, preparations were made for the siege of Patras. Santa-Rosa, never having had any reply from the executive body to his first offers of service, insisted again on taking part in this expedition. He was told in reply that his name, too well known, would compromise the Greek Government with the Holy Alliance, and that if he wished to remain in Greece, it would be desirable that he should take some other name than his own; otherwise he could receive no employment either civil or military. It was in vain that his friends tried to represent to him that he had more than fulfilled all his obligations to the deputies of the Greek Government at London, to his friends, and to himself; that he owed nothing and could owe nothing to a nation that dared not openly avow his services. Santa-Rosa set out from Napoli the 10th of April, dressed and armed as a Greek soldier, and under the name of De Rossi. He joined the head-quarters at Tripolitza, and the army destined to besiege Patras having been carried to the support of Navarino, he followed the President to Leondari. Then, the Prince Maurocordato having been sent in advance to reconnoitre the position of the armies and the state of Navarino, Santa-Rosa asked to follow him. He took part in the engagement of the 19th of April against the troops of Ibrahim Pacha, and entered Navarino the 21st. He carried constantly with him the portrait of his children. Having perceived on the 20th that some drops of water had found way under the glass of the miniature, he opened it, and in wiping it partly effaced the figure of Theodore. This accident afflicted him bitterly. He confessed to Collegno that he could not but consider it as an evil omen; and on the 21st he wrote to a friend at Lon In the mean time the Greek army destined to raise the siege had disbanded; the Greek fleet had not been able to prevent the Turkish fleet from landing at Modon. The siege, which seemed to relax during the first days of April, was renewed with greater ardor; the breach was open and practicable; the enemy lodged at a hundred paces from the walls. The two fleets were fighting every day before the port, which was still occupied by a Greek squadron. On the evening of the 7th, the wind having driven the Greeks to the north, it was feared that the Turks might endeavor to take possession of the island of Sphacteria, which covers the port. It was occupied by a thousand men, and armed with fifteen cannon. A hundred men were sent to reënforce it. Santa-Rosa went with them. On the 8th, at nine o'clock in the morning, he wrote to Collegno: “ Uno sbarco non mi pare impraticabile sul punto alle difesa del quale io mi trovo." At eleven o'clock, the island was attacked, and at midday the Turks were in peaceable possession of it. Of the eleven or twelve hundred men who were in the island, some saved themselves by gaining the squadron which was at anchor in the port, and which, cutting the cables at the moment of attack, passed through the Turkish fleet. Two swam from the island to the fortress. They said that the greater part had crossed a ford north of the island, and had cast themselves into Paleo-Castro. This heap of ruins was taken by the Turks on the 10th. The fate of the Greeks who remained in the place was unknown. 66 At this time Navarino was nearly destitute of water. For some time each man had been on an allowance of two glasses a day. The munitions of war were exhausted. Ibrahim proposed a capitulation, and demanded that ambassadors should be sent to him. Collegno left the place with them on the 16th of May to try to discover the fate of his friend, which he but too well foresaw. Soliman-Bey was pointed out to him as hav coldness with which the Government had received the foreigners sent by the Greek deputies at London, and who simply demanded employment. Count Theotoki said:What do you wish? It is not men, nor arms, nor munition that we need: it is money. Next day, the 1st of January, Mr. Mason, a Scotchman, who was in the friendship of SantaRosa, said to him that a Greek friend of Count Theotoki had counselled him, Mason, not to associate with Santa-Rosa, nor with Collegno, as they were suspected by the Government. Santa-Rosa left Napoli on the morrow. ing commanded the attack of the island. | otoki. Some remarks were made in regard to the He found him in the tent of the Lieutenant of Ibrahim, under the walls of Modon. Soliman assured him that he had examined all the prisoners, and that he had found but one European, a German, who had been immediately set at liberty, and was then on board an Austrian vessel. Moreover, Soliman sent for his Lieutenant-Colonel, gave him in Arabic the description of Santa-Rosa, which Collegno dictated to him in French, and ordered him to give him next day the most exact information in regard to the fate of the man of whom they were in search. The name of Santa-Rosa was not unknown to the Turks. Their countenances seemed sad when it was known that there were fears that he had been killed. They regarded with sorrow the friend who came to claim him. On the 18th, Soliman-Bey sent for Collegno, ilarity of position, the wife and five children reand said to him that a soldier of his regi-duced to misery, moved Santa-Rosa. He gave to ment had seen among the dead the man the priest all the money he had about him. Two whom he had described. days after, as we were setting out for Athens, the priest came down from the city, as the priests of Neptune formerly did, and from the spot where the temple of this god once stood, he blessed our bark. "On leaving Epidaurus in the evening of the 3d of January, a priest of venerable aspect, but covered with rags, asked a passage to Egina in the bark which we had hired. Being interrogated by our interpreter, he replied that he had left Thessaly, his native land, in order to escape the persecution of the Turks. His wife and five children took refuge in one of the islands of the Archipelago. They had no other means of subsistence than the alms which the father procured in his walks, in showing relics to the faithful. The sim "At the beginning of March, Santa-Rosa appeared to have renounced all thought of estab lishing himself with his family in Greece. At out at least seeing the enemy. About this time, an envoy from the Philhellenic Committee of London (Mr. Whitcombe) arrived at Napoli de Romanie, the bearer of the complaints of this Com the same time he did not wish to leave it with On the 24th the garrison of Navarino landed at Calamata, where it was transported on neutral vessels after the capitulation. It is known that the greatest part of the Greeks who were on the island of Sphacteria on the 8th, retired to Paleo-Castro; that they capitulated on the 10th, and went away without arms, but free. Santa-Rosa was not with them. Neither did he escape on board the Greek vessels that were in the port. Collegno saw at Smyrna the Ger-mittee against the deputies Luriotti and Orlando, man who had been taken at Sphacteria, and of whom Soliman-Bey had spoken to him; he had not seen Santa-Rosa among the prisoners. At a later period, having asked M. de Collegno whether he could not bring to mind any exact and certain details to add to the preceding note, he sent me the following: "The 4th of December, 1824, we discovered the mountains of Peloponnesus. Of the six passengers who were on board of the Little Sally, five experienced the joy natural to every man who approaches the close of a long sea voyage; three, especially, were impatient to touch the sacred soil. Santa Rosa alone, leaning upon a cannon, sadly gazed upon the country which presented itself more and more distinctly to our view. In the evening he said to Collegno: 'I cannot tell why I regret that the voyage is already ended. Greece will not answer the idea which I had formed of it. Who knows how we shall be received? Who knows what destiny awaits us?' "The 31st of December Santa-Rosa arrived at the house of the Minister of Justice, Count The who, they said, were compromising the destiny of Greece, by sending men there known for their constant opposition to the Holy Alliance. It was perhaps owing to the arrival of Mr. Whitcombe that Santa-Rosa was reduced to the necessity of making the campaign as a simple soldier. "On the 16th of May, when Collegno said in the tent of the Lieutenant of Ibrahim Pacha, at Modon, that Santa-Rosa was in the island of Sphacteria when the Egyptians attacked it, at the moment when Soliman-Bey replied to him that Santa-Rosa was not among the prisoners, an old Turk with a to him in French: How, was Santa-Rosa in the long silvery beard approached Collegno and said island of Sphacteria, and did I not know it, that I might save his life a second time!' This was Schultz, a Pole, colonel in the French army at Naples, afterwards in Piedmont in March, 1821, then in Spain under the Cortes, then in Egypt. He arrived at Savone at the moment when the royal carabineers arrested Santa-Rosa. head of thirty armed students, he delivered him from his prison, that is, from the scaffold, and four years afterwards directed in part the attack in which Santa-Rosa died." At the What a tragedy is here related! What a contrast is Santa-Rosa, dying faithful to | As soon, therefore, as the French army, one and the same cause, to this adventurer commanded by Marshal Maison, had dewandering from one country to another, here livered the Peloponnesus and the island of saving Santa-Rosa, there perhaps slaying Sphacteria from the Egyptian invasion, Colohim; changing his standard as well as his nel Fabvier hastened to acquit our common religion, and in this absence of true moral- debt by rearing to Santa-Rosa, on the spot ity, still preserving a sort of natural gener- where he is said to have been killed, at the osity and soldier-like respect for unfortunate entrance of a cave situated in the island, courage. a monument with this inscription: "Au COMTE SANCTORRE DE SANTA-ROSA, TUE LE 9 MAI, 1825." The Greek Government took no part in it; but the people, and especially the French soldiers, eagerly seconded the worthy Colonel in his homage rendered to the memory of a man of heart. A Frenchman, M. Edouard Grasset, an attaché to the Prince Maurocordato, and who had come with him for the purpose of observing the condition of the island of Sphacteria, which was then about to be attacked by the Arabs, met Santa-Rosa in the island at about half an hour past nine o'clock in the morning of the 8th of May, and had with him a last interview, which he related to me in the following manner: And I also, jealous of paying my debt to a revered memory, having no other monument to raise to him, I have wished to attach his name to the least perishable of my works, in dedicating to him one of the volumes of my translation of Plato. Allow me here to reproduce this dedication:— "TO THE MEMORY OF COUNT SANCTORRE DE SANTA-ROSA. SANTA-ROSA." All our friends of the fort are well; I came here with Captain Simo, because it is necessary to defend this island, upon which the safety of the place depends. I repent of having undertaken this kind of life: I thought that I knew something about the Greek, and I find that I do not understand a word, the language of the common people being entirely different from that of the educated. Besides, the disorder which reigns in the Greek army is By turns a superior officer and administrator, frightful, and forbids all hope." M. Edouard Grasset said to him, "Come to the battery with us." Santa-Rosa replied, "No, I will remain here; I wish to get a nearer view of the Turks." At these words they separated. I have not met a single Greek who took part in the campaign of 1825, that did not speak to me with admiration of Santa-Rosa. I did not hesitate, then, to write to the Greek Government, in the person of Prince Maurocordato, asking that the name of Santa-Rosa might be given to that part of the island of Sphacteria where he was slain. I asked besides that a modest tomb might be erected in the same place, and that the Government would permit me to raise it at my own expense, in order that I might have the consolation of having rendered this last duty to the man whom, of my own times, I had most respected and cherished. I have never received any answer to this request; but at the same time that I addressed myself to the Greek Government, I had the good sense to write to Colonel Fabvier to commend to him the memory of our friend. He indeed was made to comprehend me. Born at Savigliano, the 18th of September, 1783 ; civil and military; Minister of War during the events of 1821; Author of the work entitled, "The Piedmontese Revolution;" Died on the Field of Honor, The 9th of May, 1825, In the island of Sphacteria, near Navarino, "Unfortunate, he was frustrated in his most noble designs. An iron frame, an upright mind, a most sensible heart; an inexhaustible energy; superiority of strength with the charms of goodness; the purest enthusiasm of virtue, which inspired him by turns with an audacity or a moderation which was proof to every thing; the disdain of fortune or of vulgar enjoyments; the loyalty of the chevalier even in the appearance of the rebel; the talents of the administrator with the intrepidity of the soldier; qualities the most opposite and the most rare, were given to him in vain. For want of a suitable theatre, for want also of a knowledge of his times and of the men of these times, he passed away as a romantic personage, when in him was a warrior and a statesman. chimeras. He may have been deceived as to the "But no; he has not wasted his time upon times and the means, but all that he wished will be accomplished. No: the house of Savoy will have loved is still animated by feelings, subcreated it? Of what consequence to me is lime thoughts, in the presence of Him who my present grief, if soon I may see him again, never more to be separated from him? O divine hope, that makes my heart beat in the midst of the uncertainty of the understanding! O fearful problem, that we have so often agitated together! O abyss covered with so many clouds and so little light! After all, my dear friend, there is a truth more brilliant in my eyes than all light, more certain than mathematics: this is the existence of Divine Providence. Yes, there is a God; a God who is a true intelligence; who, consequently, has consciousness of him not be unfaithful to his history, and Greece will not fall under the Mussulman yoke. "Others have had more influence over my mind and my ideas. He showed to me a heroic soul; it is to him that I am most largely indebted. I saw him assailed by every sorrow which can enter into the heart of man; exiled from his country, proscribed, despoiled, condemned to death by those whom he wished to serve; for a season disowned and calumniated by his own; separated for ever from his wife and children; bearing the weight of afflictions the most noble and the most sad; without a future, without an asylum, and almost without bread; finding persecution where he came to find a shelter; arrested, cast into chains, uncertain whether he would not be delivered up to his own Government, that is, to the scaffold. I saw him not only immovable, but calm, just, indulgent; striving to comprehend his enemies instead of hating them; excusing error, pardoning weakness, forgetting himself, thinking only of others, command-self; who has made and ordered all things ing the respect of his judges, inspiring devotion in his jailors; and when he suffered most, convinced that a strong soul creates its own destiny, and that there is no true misfortune but in vice and in feebleness; always ready for death, but cherishing life from respect to God and virtue; wishing happiness, and almost attaining it by the power of his will, the vivacity and quickness of his imagination, and the great sympathy of his heart. Such was Santa Rosa. I lay down my pen, dear friend. I have done nothing more, as you see, than bring together some correspondence, collect some worthy tokens of faith, sketch a few facts, and express some feelings which fifteen years have not weakened, and which are still in my soul, as lively, as profound as they have ever been. But I have not the ability to produce in my words the energy of my sentiments. This long narration has not the interest which I could have wished to give it. My exhausted spirit no longer serves my heart nor my thought. My pen is as feeble as my hand; it has traced painfully each of these lines; there is not one of them that has not torn my heart, and I would not have suffered more if I had with my own hands dug the grave of Santa-Rosa. And is it not, in fact, this sad duty which I have just accomplished? Is not my heart his veritable tomb? A few days more, perhaps, and the voice, the only voice which has uttered his name among men and saved him from oblivion, will be mute, and Santa-Rosa will die a second time and for ever. But of what consequence is the glory and miserable noise of this world, if any thing remains of him in a better world, if the soul which we with weight and measure; whose works are All Adieu, my dear friend. Preserve this sketch as a memento of me and of him. You knew him, you loved him; speak often of him among the small number of friends who still survive. Remember that it is to him we owe our mutual acquaintance. I still remember that day, near the close of 1825, when you and Lesio came to me to seek for yourselves, his companions in misfortune and exile, somewhat of the feeling which I entertained of him. Ah, well! it is I now, who, about to retire from the world, come to ask you for a place near him in your memory. Guard faithfully his name, dear friends; surround with respect his wife and his children; conduct them in the way of duty and of honor; teach them who their father was. Make them read this sketch: it is exact and faithful; there is not a word that is not strictly true; not a word but that is borrowed from the letters of their father. His defects are more prominent by the side of his great qualities. Energy borders upon exaltation, and exaltation is almost a sub lime folly. There is romance in every true | at the same time a great and a tender soul: hero, and our greatest qualities have their you owe him a separate place in your adprice in their excess. Doubtless Santa-Rosa miration and in your regrets. Adieu. was an imperfect man, but Santa-Rosa had November 1st, 1838. THE TRENCHARD PROPERTY. CHAPTER VI. [CONCLUDED.] Leach appeared gratified, and answered, interrogatively: "Well, I suppose we must set down this Montgomery girl, if things take their natural course, as Trenchard's heiress?" "It is quite possible." "Yet it is probable, I suppose, there will some interference with the natural order?" "Ay, like enough," replied Randolph composedly; "since you will have eight or ten thousand dollars to lose in that event, I should not wonder if you were to kick against it vigorously." "Haven't you also some interest in the matter?" STEPHEN RANDOLPH, as we have mentioned, kept house; yet, as his means became slender, he was compelled to enjoy company in the dwellings of others oftener than in his own. Some visitors, however, he still had; and, though substantial refresh-be ment might be scanty, was always ready to place before them a decanter of peach brandy or of twenty-year whiskey. There were a very few for whose gratification he would draw upon his last box of champagne, and thus honored was an individual who called on him about eight o'clock in the evening of the day whose events we have last been chronicling. A jolly time they had. Sandy Leach, though an innate vulgarity prevented him from being successful in more ambitious conversational efforts, had really a gift for coarse humor, and, to any one who could enjoy it, was a not unentertaining companion; "Now I believe," said Leach, sinking his and Randolph, whose versatility enabled him voice, "I believe it will be quite easy to to appear equally at home in either low or make her quit the mansion, and at the same refined society, had lately, from his unfor- time to excite against her Trenchard's distunate habits, learned to partake of the for-like, besides preventing any possible connecmer with most relish. The bottle travelled tion with either Middleton or Herbert." briskly backward and forward over the table, and their mirth grew fast and furious in proportion. "Here's to the health of that sweet youth Francis," cried Leach, holding up his glass; "may the soreness of his back speedily give way to good treatment!" 66 But what can heal his wounded honor?" "Oh, let him plaster that with texts of Scripture! Charming Miss Lucy can assist him to find them." As Leach said this, he watched the expression of his companion's face with peculiar earnestness. "Not much, so long as I have good friends to lend me all I want and take my note for payment. Still I must say I think these broad pedestals of mine would fill my uncle's shoes rather better than Lucy Montgomery's little feet." "Oh, a fig for the lovers!" returned Randolph," if the old man is but put straight; though how are you to bring about that happy state of things?" 66 Why, I am confident I can let loose some rumors from the boarding school where she stayed before her father's death that will accomplish all I have said." "And these reports will have relation to her good name?" said the other. "That they will; nothing short would serve the purpose." "So, Sandy, these reports have no real "Hang them both!" ejaculated Stephen. (foundation ?" |