Movements of the Austrian navy in the Mediterranean according to the Dutch newspaper the Nederlandsche Staatscourant dated 23 October 1821

Vienna, 11 October 1821. As source was the Oesterreichischen Beobachter used. We already reported that an Austrian squadron consisting of the frigate Leipzig and the two brigs Montecuculli and the Husard, and to be joined by the frigate Hébé, commanded by colonel Armeni, was ordered to protect the Austrian trade in the Levant. Armeni reported several times and his reports ware used for the news item. 17 August anchored the squadron in the harbour of Zante, where shortly of her arrival 4 masters came onboard asking to help Gregorius Marovich, master of the merchant brig Diletto. Marovich left early August the harbour of Patras, which was defended by the Turkish and blockaded by the Greeks, towards Zante. He was hold up by a Greek privateer and searched but permitted to continue his voyage. On his next voyage from Zante towards Patras with a cargo, partly consisting of victuals on board and partly of remittances of money belonging to Austrians, he was again stopped by a Greek privateer, which captured the ship and take her to the Greek camp at Tripolitza. The tiding of the capture of this brig was confirmed by the Austrian representative at Zante as by the commanding officer of that island. Armeni ordered the frigate Leipzig and the goelette Arethuse to force the Greek privateers in the Gulf of Lepante to respect the Austrian flag and to return the above mentioned brig. 19 August departed both ships by first daylight Zante but were forced by a storm to anchor in the evening by the entrance of the Gulf of Patras, near Messalongi. There they were told that the brig was hold up in the Gulf of Patras. The same night the brig anchored on the roads of Messalongi and her master declared that he was hold up the 14th by a Greek privateer and kept at Patras until the 19th. The privateer planned despite the arguments of several representatives to declare her as being a good prize. But when the Leipzig showed up, the brig was permitted to go towards Zante and stay away from Patras. The commanding officer of the Leipzig lieutenant colonel Accurti went to the Diletto and ordered her to go towards Patras conveyed by the Leipzig. Accurti made this decision fearing for financial damage for the master of the brig if he returned to Zante and secondly, more important, for disrespect by the Greeks for the Austrian flag and free trade. Despite the contrary winds the frigate arrived 15.00 off Patras, where several Greek privateers were. One at the camp, the others sailing. The Diletto was able to enter the harbour of Patras, where several merchant ships were lying, some Turkish and British and one Austrian, the Nicolas Lazzari. The frigate didn´t bother the Greek privateers which avoided her. She returned to Zante, where she arrived the 21th.