§ Sir G. Cockburnwould take advantage of that opportunity to give the explanation required by the noble Lord a few nights since, respecting the conduct of the Admiral (Sir E. Codrington) commanding the British and allied fleets at Patras, a few days before the battle of Navarino. The noble Lord had asked why an account of that affair 1351 had not appeared in the Gazette, and he had designated the transaction to which he alluded as a brilliant action; but the noble Lord went too far, inasmuch as no active hostility was engaged in, either on the part of the British admiral or the Turkish commander. The facts were simply, that Sir Edward Codrington being-informed that a part of the Turkish armament was proceeding towards Patras, put to sea, and coming up with it, found it was commanded by the Patrona Bey. He informed the Turkish commander that his conduct was a breach of faith, to which the latter replied, he did not understand that he was not to go to Patras. "Either you must not before have said this, "he added," or the interpreter must have deceived me. If you allow us to go to Patras, well; if you do not allow us it is still well; but if you send us to the bottom, we shall not resist, unless we receive orders to do so." Upon receiving this communication the Admiral rejoined, "then you must not go to Patras," and fired one gun. Upon this the Turks retired, and Admiral Codrington went back to Zante. The Admiral, however, heard, soon after his arrival at Zante that the Patrona Bey was communicating with Ibrahim Pacha, and accordingly bore down alongside of his vessel. The Turkish captain said, all he wanted was a written declaration of the Admiral's purpose, which "was accordingly given him, in the name of the commander of the allied fleet, and the matter then ended; the Turkish fleet going off to Navarino, though the wind was fair for Patras. The noble Lord, therefore, was in error about the loss of lives, as no resistance was offered by the Patrona Bey.
§ Lord Althorpsaid, his statement was derived from what he must consider the very best authority. He understood the gallant Admiral to say, that only one gun was fired, whereas he was given to understand that a considerable firing took place; and that several Turkish sailors were killed. The Turks, he believed, did not fire at our ships. He repeated that he spoke from the very best authority.
§ Sir G. Cockburncontended, that no authority could be equal to the official documents from which he spoke. He had not read the official letters in the House, but he had stated the substance of them.
Lord J. Russellwas much surprised that the matter had not been gazetted at the time of its occurrence. It was strange that a transaction so essential to the 1352 thorough understanding of the Battle of Navarino, should be first made known to the public, not by Ministers, but by a periodical, the Foreign Quarterly Review, in which it is fully explained. The matter here ended.