The Virginian

FROM GREECE—LATEST.

By the arrival of the Potomac, from Leghorn, we have the agreeable intelligence of the arrival at Poros, of the brig Herald, bearing a portion of the bounty of our countrymen to the famishing people of Greece. The following letter from the Rev. Mr. King who sailed in the Herald, in connection with the Agents of the Committee, but as a special minister of mercy from the Ladies' Greek Committee of this city, will be read with peculiar satisfaction.

[N. Y. Commercial Advertiser]

"Poros, 5th August, 1828.

I have at length arrived at this place of destination, and have now the happiness to stand on Grecian soil. My eyes now behold an immense field white already to harvest," and I rejoice that I am sent hither to labor. We arrived in the harbor of Poros, the 2d ult. in 59 days from New York. Being quite ill on the day of our arrival, and learning that it was very sickly in this place, having no lodgings procured, and as the Lord's day was approaching I concluded to remain on board till Monday the 28th, at which time I came on shore, and took lodgings in one of the best houses I could find, though there was in it neither bed, chair nor table. The same large trunk which Mr. Fisk and myself used in the desert and for a long time at Jerusalem, for a table, I am now using again for the same purpose.

The cargo of supplies for the Greeks arrived in good order and is now deposited in magazines furnished gratis by the Governor of Greece. We have called on the President, his brother, [Count Capo d'Istria,] Mavrocordato, and the Gov. of the island, all of whom gave us the most polite and cordial reception. The President has also been with us to examine the cargo, and seemed highly gratified, though he several times remarked that the things were quite too good.

Our first interview with him was to me in the highest degree interesting. After he had read several letters of introduction which I had to him from Mr. Gallatin, from the Dutchess de Broglie, the Countess St. Aulaire, and others of his friends in France and Switzerland, our conversation turned upon the present state of Greece, the means to be employed to raise her from the low state to which she has been reduced by Turkish tyranny, war and anarchy; the importance of establishing schools of teaching the various not only science, but good morals, and the religion of the Gospel &c. which I have not now time to detail.

On my observing to his Excellency that we, so far as means were concerned, owed our independence to the firm principles of piety with our forefathers possessed, who fled from England to America with the Bible in their hands: "I know it," said he, "I am well acquainted with your history." After a long conversation of this kind we came to the subject of the cargo sent out by the Greek Committee of New York. The letter from that Committee had been given to him by his brother, previous to our seeing him, as he was absent at the time of our arrival and our first business was transacted with his brother.

I was so unwell for several days after my arrival that I could do but little more than perform the duties which were absolutely necessary such as calling on the authorities of the place and making such arrangements as were necessary for unloading the cargo, taking the house, &c. Besides, multitudes were calling on me to beg the Gospel. I know not that I ever saw people so absolutely hungry for books as they are in this place. Not more than three or four have asked me for charity—hundreds have asked me for books. I have many things which interest me exceedingly, which I wish to communicate, but cannot now, as the Herald, in which I send this, is to sail at two o'clock to-morrow morning. Suffice it to say that the way is perfectly open for me to establish schools to any extent. If you can send me fifty thousand dollars, I can employ it to that purpose. Cannot the Ladies of New York collect money enough for building a school house and the establishment of a school of superior order for females in Greece? Would not such an act of charity in the Ladies of your city be to them a more brilliant ornament than chains of gold and pearls? I have to-day had another interview with the President and he has invited me to visit the schools which he has established here, and then to come to Egina, [where he is going to-morrow morning] to be introduced by him to the Bishop in that place, and to visit the schools which he has there established.

Athens is still in the hands of the Turks, and Ibrahim Pacha, and the plague are still in the Morea. In this place it is now sickly. Dr. Russ says that he thinks there are five hundred in Poros, ill of fevers.

One word now with regard to this place, and I will conclude,—Poros, is a small, rough, rugged, rocky Island, separated from the main land, the Morea, by a narrow channel of water. The city, which contains, perhaps, five thousand inhabitants, is built on the declivities of a steep hill, and the houses rise one above another, so that the foundation of one is about on the level with the top of the other ;& in the midst of these are ledges of large, pendant rocks, which, it would seem, a little shaking of the earth might set in motion, and roll down in desolation upon all beneath.

This Island was formerly called Calauria. It was here, that Demosthenes took refuge in the temple of Neptune, and where, to avoid falling into the hands of a Tyrant, he swallowed poison and fell dead at the foot of the Altar. Here fell the prince of Orators. Here was hushed to silence, more than two thousand years ago, the mightiest voice of eloquence, which the Pagan world ever heard. But the Liberty for which he plead, though fallen, still lives, and now has risen from the dust, to which Turkish tyranny had crushed her has seized her shield and sword, and already performed deeds of valor. They will one day be, I doubt not, recognized as such. At present, I hear little else from foreigners, but "base Greeks, vile Greeks, lying Greeks, thievish Greeks, unworthy of the charities you bring them, unworthy of assistance, unworthy of liberty, worse than Barbarians."

Some told me, before I arrived here, that they thought it very probable, that the Greeks would cut my throat. It may be so. I cannot say what may, or may not happen as to that. I can only say, for the present, that my reception here has been such as it always was among Greeks in Palestine and Syria, Egypt, Asia Minor, and Constantinople, friendly and polite.

In much haste, your very obedient friend and humble servant,

JONAS KING.