Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v3p2.djvu/17

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6
captains of 1827.

embarkation at Acre, on board a Venetian brig, bound to Constantinople; and the scene of the sixth lies in Asia Minor, where they were attacked with fever and dysentery, which increased in so alarming a degree, that they were obliged to hasten from Chelindreh to Cyprus, for medical aid, being totally unprovided with medicine, or any of those comforts so requisite in such an emergency.

Towards the middle of December, 1818, as it was too late to return to Karamania, in their then feeble state, they embarked for Marseilles, where they arrived after a most boisterous passage of 76 days. From this enumeration it will be seen, that some of the least visited and most remarkable portions of the globe were explored by Captains Irby and Mangles, whose enterprise, perseverance, zeal, and abilities, are so conspicuous, throughout the entire narrative, that we much regret our present inability to find room for any illustrative quotations.

On the 8th of August, 1826, Captain Irby was appointed to the Pelican sloop, of 18 guns, fitting out for the Mediterranean station; and on the 3d of Jan. 1827, his boats, under the command of Lieutenant Henry Smith (b), captured, without resistance, the piratical schooner Afrodite, of 4 guns and 30 men, near Scardamoula, in the Gulf of Calamata. This vessel belonged to a notorious freebooter, named Nicolo Siutto, and had on board a quantity of plundered property, consisting of cochineal, raw-silk, bees’-wax, paper, gunpowder, provisions, dollars, and other money.

The following correspondence subsequently took place between Captain Irby and the Greek authorities, some of whom appear to have countenanced the depredations committed by corsairs from the ports of Sparta:

Djunova, Jan. 8th, 1827.

“Sir,– According to information I have received, there are two pirates in your port – I am come to take or sink them. I have, however, first examined these vessels, and observed that one of them belongs to you – I hear she is armed by order of your Senate, the sealed authority for which I request you will furnish me with a copy of. At the same time, I desire you will deliver into my hands the Ionian vessels she has captured, together with their cargoes; giving me likewise a written promise, that whatever