to their purpose by the slower but more certain measures of enlightenment and instruction.* Numbers of educated European Greeks, emulous of the reputation and example of Rhiga, returned at this period to their home and commenced with enthusiasm the work of founding seminaries, teaching, and preparing for the use of their countrymen treatises of elementary and scientific instruction.

The tone and object of education seemed at once to have undergone a salutary change, and in lieu of the dry scholastic study of ancient Greek, as a professional requisite or a pedantic accomplishment, the professors sought to direct the attention of their pupils less to the graces of style or the splendour of diction, than to the discovery of those invaluable maxims of legislation and moral policy, and those developements of character and manners preserved in the literature of Greece.† The mind of the scholar was expanded whilst it was adorned, and he was taught the first grand object of all education,-to think. Nor was this change in the national feeling confined to one class alone, it pervaded all; and even the clergy, who during the revolutionary ferment which prevailed at the close of the

* Carrel, p. 278. Leake. Korai, Proleg. to Beccaria, ẞ. + Rizo, Cours, &c. pp. 50. 58.

eighteenth century had been compelled to become the opponents of instruction in order to check the progress of the Gallic principles of liberty, now declared themselves its most strenuous patrons. The physicians likewise, an equally influential though less numerous class, proved most powerful agents in advancing the cause of learning. In Greece, as in all the countries of the Levant, the members of this profession enjoy a consideration by far more distinguished than is possessed by any

In order to oppose the exertions of the revolutionary party of the nation, who in pursuance of the advice of Rhiga were anxious to rouse the Greeks at once to arms, and who were employing every means through the press and otherwise to effect their purpose, the Divan found it necessary about 1795 to establish a press at Constantinople, and to enlist in its service the clergy and other influential members of the Greek community. To this confederacy I have already alluded in speaking of the Phanariots, and have likewise mentioned the most remarkable production of the Constantinopolitan press, the Διδασκαλία πατρικὴ, of Anthemius. (See vol. ii. pp. 54. 56. n.) A more detailed account of it, with specimens, will be found in Leake's Researches, p. 192. Villemain, p. 255. and in the Memoires of M. Raybaud, v. ii. p. 492. A work of a later date, emanating from the opposite party, and already known in England through the specimens translated by Lord Byron, is the satirical poem entitled the Russo-Anglo-Gaul, (Pwoo-Ayyλo-гáλλos.) Its object is to expose the vices of the leading classes of the Greeks, and to excite the nation to resistance.

+ Carrel, p. 274. Pouqueville, v. i. p. 428.

other body. Their information and powers are held, especially by the lower orders, in the highest veneration; and their scientific acquirements, from a remnant of that superstition which attaches to the early astrologers and alchymists of the East, are regarded as something more subtile than the attainments of ordinary mortals. Compelled to resort for the prosecution of their studies to the colleges of Europe, they naturally imbibed with their learning something of the tastes and feelings of the nations amongst whom they resided: and these, on their return, they had the most favourable opportunities of disseminating amongst their countrymen, since their rank and their office secured to them at once the respect and intimacy of their connexions. Their services, in fact, may be regarded as more valuable, if it were possible, than even those of the professional teachers of the schools; their presence was every where, they associated without reserve with every class, from the wealthiest to the most impoverished of the community; and by all, their opinions, their advice, and suggestions were regarded with deference and respect. Nor were these advantages left unimproved; amongst the lists of the modern Greek literati the names of her physicians are by no means the least conspi

*

cuous; and the exertions of one of their number, Korai, for the amelioration and improvement of his countrymen, justly entitle him to be classed with the Maurocordatos, the Morousis, and the other restorers of learning amongst the Greeks.

The life of this eminent patriot may be regarded as consecrated to the service of his country. He was born at Smyrna, in 1748,†

* Demetrius Karakasi, and Constantine Michael, both natives of Macedonia, have published at Halle and Vienna some erudite treatises on Medicine and Nosology. Zisi Cavras, of Ampelakia, the same who assisted Constandas in his literary labours, (see ante, n. ‡, p. 424.) translated Euler's Elements of Arithmetic and Algebra; and George Khrisoveloni, a physician of Scio, has written as well on his own profession as on Ethics and Logic. Anastasius Georghiadhi, of Philippopolis, is likewise distinguished as a medical writer and Lord Byron has attested the merits of Psalidas, of Joannina, who is by profession a physician. Michael Chrestari, also a native of Joannina, and a physician, has contributed much by his pen and his pecuniary services to advance the cause of education; he has translated Metzbourg's Mathematics, and Say's Political Economy, and is likewise the author of numerous dramatic pieces, performed at the theatre of Bucharest: his fortune has been ruined by the late revolution, in which he was attached to the sacred battalion of Ypsilanti, but still unbroken in spirit and unquenched in patriotism, he remains actively engaged in promoting the education of his countrymen.

↑ On the 27th of April. His family were originally from Scio, of which his father was a merchant, and one of them

and after receiving an education such as the schools of that city afforded, he settled as a merchant at Amsterdam. But literature had ever been more congenial than traffic to the mind of Korai, and after a long struggle between taste and prudence he at last resolved on abandoning commerce, and at the mature age of thirty-nine became a student of medicine at the university of Montpellier. Here his attention was divided between his professional and literary pursuits; his chief support he derived from teaching his native language to his fellowstudents, and his hours of leisure he employed in the publication of some medical works which materially contributed to establish his reputation as a man of science and a scholar.* In

named Antonio, a physician, who died in 1702, has left a Pindaric Ode, in Romaic, of considerable merit, written in honour of the Chancellor D'Aguesseau, a favourite character with the Greeks, and surnamed by them the Modern Aristides. Korai republished it in 1819, with a preface by M. NicoloPoulo, and the eulogy of the Chancellor by Thomas. It is included in Pardessus' edition of the works of D'Aguesseau.

* One of his earliest productions was a translation from the German of Selles' Clinical Medicine; it was published at Montpellier in 1787, in 2 vols. 8vo.; he afterwards edited an edition of Xenocrates de Alimentis et Aquatilibus, with critical notes, which was printed at Naples in 1794. He prepared likewise a translation of the Orthodox Confession of the Oriental Church, drawn up by Platon of Mos