"And now for the sinews of war. I thank you and Mr. Barff for your ready answers, which, next to ready money, is a pleasant thing. Besides the assets and balance, and the relics of the Corgialegno correspondence with Leghorn and Genoa, (I sold the dog flour, tell him, but not at _his_ price,) I shall request and require, from the beginning of March ensuing, about five thousand dollars every two months, _i.e._, about twenty-five thousand within the current year, at regular intervals, independent of the sums now negotiating. I can show you documents to prove that these are considerably _within_ my supplies for the year in more ways than one; but I do not like to tell the Greeks exactly what I _could_ or would advance on an emergency, because otherwise, they will double and triple their demands, (a disposition that they have already sufficiently shown): and though I am willing to do all I can _when_ necessary, yet I do not see why they should not help a little; for they are not quite so bare as they pretend to be by some accounts.
"I have been interrupted by the arrival of Parry and afterwards by the return of Hesketh, who has not brought an answer to my epistles, which rather surprises me. You will write soon, I suppose. Parry seems a fine rough subject, but will hardly be ready for the field these three weeks; he and I will (I think) be able to draw together,--at least, _I_ will not interfere with or contradict him in his own department. He complains grievously of the mercantile and _enthusymusy_ part of the Committee, but greatly praises Gordon and Hume. Gordon _would_ have given three or four thousand pounds and come out _himself_, but Kennedy or somebody else disgusted him, and thus they have spoiled part of their subscription and cramped their operations. Parry says B---- is a humbug, to which I say nothing. He sorely laments the printing and civilising expenses, and wishes that there was not a Sunday-school in the world, or _any_ school _here_ at present, save and except always an academy for artilleryship.
"He complained also of the cold, a little to my surprise; firstly, because, there being no chimneys, I have used myself to do without other warmth than the animal heat and one's cloak, in these parts; and, secondly, because I should as soon have expected to hear a volcano sneeze, as a firemaster (who is to burn a whole fleet) exclaim against the atmosphere. I fully expected that his very approach would have scorched up the town like the burning-glasses of Archimedes.