THE WAR OF GREEK INDEPENDENCE 1821 TO 1833 BY W.ALISON PHILLIPS 1897

292 THE WAR OF GREEK INDEPENDENCE
even more loudly for reform than on land. Soon
after the arrival of the President, Hydra had sent a
deputation with offers of assistance, but coupled with
a demand for redress of grievances, and compensation
for losses sustained in the national cause. To
their haughty advances Capodistrias replied by a snub.
Out of an empty treasury no compensation could be
paid, even if it were due; as for their condescending
offers, he had no need of them; they must obey his
orders, or he would take care that they were not included
in the terms of the treaty establishing Greek
independence. 1 This episode was the first of a series
which threw the islands ultimately into armed opposition
to the President.
For the present the great question at sea was that
of the suppression of piracy. For some time the
Powers had winked at its continuance,
because it
gave them from time to time a ready pretext for interfering
in the affairs of the Archipelago. But now
the evil exceeded all bounds. Not only did vessels,
which were virtually pirates, sail under letters of
marque from the Greek Government, but regular corsair
strongholds had been established on many islands
of the ^Egean; and now on Grabusa, off the coast of
Crete, a flourishing town had sprung up which was
i
Mendelssohn, ii. p. 43.