The resources of Greece are great but unexplored. Nature has been bountiful to her, but the Turks, blinded by prejudice and heated by passion, have neglected their true interests and have destroyed her wealth, lands, and liberties,—all have been equally blasted.

Agriculture is in Greece in its lowest state. Here and there the fields are well irrigated, but this is not generally the case. The best means of improving this most useful science would be through the medium of foreign settlers, and by the establishment of an agricultural society and branch farms, for the purpose of demonstrating the first principles of culture, of introducing fresh productions, such as vegetables, artificial grasses, &c. and of improving the breed of cattle, especially of sheep and goats. The vine and the olive, as also the silk-worm, require likewise particular attention.

Where there is but small capital, few wants, no security, little probity, and no credit, commerce must stagnate. How is this state of things to be changed in Greece? By good government, by education, by publicity, by the establishment and enforcement of good laws, by great rigour towards pirates, and by the example of a scrupulous integrity on the part of the administration in all its financial measures; in a word, by proving to the people and the merchants how much it is their interest to be industrious and honest.

The people are not oppressed by the amount of taxes, but they are ruined by the manner in which the Captains and the Primates collect them; by the revenues entering the pockets of these individuals instead of being sent to the exchequer; by their being appropriated to private purposes instead of being devoted to the protection of their lands and country from the Turks, many parts of which are yearly overrun and destroyed; and by the occasional unlawful exactions and system of free-quarter pursued by the Captains. What are the remedies for these evils? The exposure of the abuse and of its fatal consequences ; the acquisition of power on the part of the government, to enable them to force the Captains and Primates to place the revenues in the public coffers; the enrolment of the people as a militia, hostile equally to foreign and domestic enemies; and an increased vigour and activity on the part of the representative body.

The Greeks think they have but one want— that of money. This is a false notion, and attended with bad consequences ; because, in every department of the government, all except money is neglected. Endeavours were made to remove this notion by proving that the richest had been subdued by the poorest nations. The Captains are in general averse to the loan, from a dread that it would fall into the hands of their antagonists, and deprive them of power. The rest of the nation look forward to its arrival with a feverish impatience. They think, and with truth, that, if well applied, it would not only secure their independence but also their freedom. When I was at Argos, measures were taken to bring the subject under the consideration of the government. The sittings of the legislative body were resumed; measures were recommended for the appropriation of the money and for securing the payment of the interest. I will not enter into a detail of these measures, as they embrace nearly the whole field of government. The representatives enacted some wholesome laws. They appeared exceedingly jealous of their power over the people’s purse, and as careful of the public money as they proverbially are of their own.