His case soon acquired an extraordinary interest, and will occupy a separate chapter.
In March, 1826, several Greek vessels entered the port of Beirut, and landed five hundred men.

They were unable to scale the walls, but plundered the houses of natives on the outside.

The wild Bedawin, whom the Pasha of Acre sent to drive them away, were worse than the Greeks.

They plundered without making any distinctions, and among other houses the one occupied by Mr.Goodell, but Consul Abbott obliged the Pasha to pay for what they took from the missionaries.

It was afterwards ascertained, that the Maronite bishop, having learned that the leases of the missionaries would soon expire, came to Beirut just before this invasion, with an excommunication for every Maronite who should permit his house to be hired by a missionary; and prepared by bribery and intrigue to bring also the Greek bishop and the Moslem rulers to act in concert with himself, in driving Protestant missionaries from the country.