The Austrian newspaper Beobachter complained earlier that the Greek government gave out privateer permissions. The result was several merchant ships with neutral flag were captured by Greek pirates and brought into Egina. As soon as the Greek government was informed that Russia the export of grain from the Black Sea ports had forbidden she feared for shortages for her own people. At the end of September she ordered her captain Sachini who with the brig Hydra and 5 of 6 smaller war vessels closed the Gulf of Volo to cruise off the entrance of the Dardanelles to prevent all merchant ships tot go to Constantinople. It was forbidden to harm the crews in any way but transport the cargo’s inviolate to Egina where they were bought if property of neutral merchants against the same price as be paid at Constantinople. These Greek warships were later strengthened until a total of ten with orders from count Capodistrias without that the representatives of supreme naval commanding officers of the Neutral powers were informed. Since 11 November were 4 Austrian merchant ships, 2 Neapolitan merchant ships and a Tuscan merchant ships brought into Egina and their masters were to summoned to appear for the Prize Council. All Turkish property was condemned while the rest of cargo was bought by the Greek government with the promise of a soon payment. In the night of 18-19 November 1828 seemed the Greek brig Il Cimbro commanded by the fire ship captain Nikomdos to try 4 Austrian merchant ships coming from Alexandria at Mityle to hold up. The merchant ships were however escorted by an Austrian corvette which hold up the Greek brig and brought her to Smyrna where she 23 November still was. The commanding officer of the Austrian squadron in the Levant Count Dandolo intended according to the newspaper to go 6 December with the Bellona towards Egina to demand to give the seized ships back. What he intended to do with the crew of the Greek brig was unknown.
