The Greeks, on the other hand, treated him with attention, and so did the Moslem governor.

He returned to Beirut in company with three hundred of the Armenian pilgrims, who were no sooner out of Jerusalem than they began to treat him with kindness and respect, while they were full of inquiries as to what he and the Protestants believed, what ordinances they had, and how they observed them, with many more such questions.

He was engaged in conversation with them day and night, and had full opportunity to explain his religious views, and to show them the difference between the Christianity of the New Testament, and that of the Oriental Churches; and they expressed much astonishment at his statements.

Some of them were persons of respectability and influence, and declared their indignation at the treatment he had received from the convent.

It is probable that these conversations had some connection with the spirit of reform among the Armenians, which not long after appeared at Constantinople.
The Rev.Eli Smith reached Beirut early in 1827.