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

84 THE WAR OF GREEK INDEPENDENCE
rived in Greece.
He had already acquired at the court
of Karadja, Hospodar of Wallachia, a considerable
reputation for political ability, which, however, his
long career in the service of Greece did little to justify.
He was known, moreover, as an honourable man and
a sincere patriot. But neither his reputation nor his
honesty availed to reduce the chaos which he found
to order; and after struggling awhile unsuccessfully
with the confusion, he caused himself to be nominated
administrator of West Hellas, and left for Missolonghi.
Here, without further authority from the
central Government, he proceeded to summon a meeting
of deputies from the provinces of Acarnania,
^Etolia, Western Locris, and the part of Epirus which
had joined the Greek cause. Theodore Negris, who
was acting as administrator in East Hellas, convoked
a similar meeting at Salona, of deputies from Attica,
Boeotia, Megaris, Phocis, and Eastern Locris. At Missolonghi
a senate was appointed to conduct the executive
government; and a corresponding body at Salona
took the high-sounding title of the Areopagus.
Meanwhile Hypsilanti had made another bid for
popularity, and summoned the National Convention
to Argos, where it met in December. From the outset
it
was violently opposed by the oligarchy of primates
and military chiefs;
and since, in Argos, these