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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/14841-8.txt b/14841-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..efb7110 --- /dev/null +++ b/14841-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,15293 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Life of Lord Byron, Vol. 6 (of 6), by Thomas Moore + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Life of Lord Byron, Vol. 6 (of 6) + With his Letters and Journals + +Author: Thomas Moore + +Release Date: January 30, 2005 [EBook #14841] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LIFE OF LORD BYRON, VOL. 6 (OF 6) *** + + + + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Leonard Johnson and the PG Online +Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + + + +LIFE +OF +LORD BYRON: + +WITH HIS LETTERS AND JOURNALS. + +BY THOMAS MOORE, ESQ. + +IN SIX VOLUMES.--VOL. VI. + +NEW EDITION. + +1854. + + + + +CONTENTS OF VOL. VI. + +LETTERS AND JOURNALS OF LORD BYRON, with NOTICES OF HIS LIFE, from +February, 1823, to his Death in April, 1824 + +APPENDIX + +MISCELLANEOUS PIECES IN PROSE. + +REVIEW OF WORDSWORTH'S POEMS. 1807 + +REVIEW OF GELL'S GEOGRAPHY OF ITHACA, AND ITINERARY OF GREECE. 1811 + +PARLIAMENTARY SPEECHES. 1812, 1813 + +FRAGMENT. 1816 + +LETTER TO JOHN MURRAY, ESQ., ON THE REV. W.L. BOWLES'S STRICTURES ON +THE LIFE AND WRITINGS OF POPE. 1821 + +OBSERVATIONS UPON "OBSERVATIONS" OF THE REV. W.L. BOWLES ON THE +POETICAL CHARACTER OF POPE; IN A SECOND LETTER TO JOHN MURRAY, ESQ. +1821 + + + + +NOTICES OF THE LIFE OF LORD BYRON. + + * * * * * + +LETTER 508. TO MR. MOORE. + +"Genoa, February 20. 1823. + +"My Dear Tom, + +"I must again refer you to those two letters addressed to you at +Passy before I read your speech in Galignani, &c., and which you do +not seem to have received.[1] + +[Footnote 1: I was never lucky enough to recover these two letters, +though frequent enquiries were made about them at the French +post-office.] + +"Of Hunt I see little--once a month or so, and then on his own +business, generally. You may easily suppose that I know too little of +Hampstead and his satellites to have much communion or community with +him. My whole present relation to him arose from Shelley's unexpected +wreck. You would not have had me leave him in the street with his +family, would you? and as to the other plan you mention, you forget +how it would _humiliate_ him--that his writings should be supposed to +be dead weight![1] Think a moment--he is perhaps the vainest man on +earth, at least his own friends say so pretty loudly; and if he were +in other circumstances, I might be tempted to take him down a peg; +but not now,--it would be cruel. It is a cursed business; but neither +the motive nor the means rest upon my conscience, and it happens that +he and his brother _have_ been so far benefited by the publication in +a pecuniary point of view. His brother is a steady, bold fellow, such +as _Prynne_, for example, and full of moral, and, I hear, physical +courage. + +[Footnote 1: The passage in one of my letters to which he here refers +shall be given presently.] + +"And _you_ are _really_ recanting, or softening to the clergy! It +will do little good for you--it is _you_, not the poem, they are at. +They will say they frightened you--forbid it, Ireland! + +"Yours ever, + +"N.B." + +Lord Byron had now, for some time, as may be collected from his +letters, begun to fancy that his reputation in England was on the +wane. The same thirst after fame, with the same sensitiveness to +every passing change of popular favour, which led Tasso at last to +look upon himself as the most despised of writers[1], had more than +once disposed Lord Byron, in the midst of all his triumphs, if not to +doubt their reality, at least to distrust their continuance; and +sometimes even, with that painful skill which sensibility supplies, +to extract out of the brightest tributes of success some omen of +future failure, or symptom of decline. New successes, however, still +came to dissipate these bodings of diffidence; nor was it till after +his unlucky coalition with Mr. Hunt in the Liberal, that any grounds +for such a suspicion of his having declined in public favour showed +themselves. + +[Footnote 1: In one of his letters this poet says:--"Non posso negare +che io mi doglio oltramisura di esser stato tanto disprezzato dal +mondo quanto non e altro scrittore di questo secolo." In another +letter, however, after complaining of being "perseguitato da molti +più che non era convenevole," he adds, with a proud prescience of his +future fame, "Laondé stimo di poter mene ragionevolmente richiamare +alla posterità."] + +The chief inducements, on the part of Lord Byron, to this unworthy +alliance were, in the first place, a wish to second the kind views of +his friend Shelley in inviting Mr. Hunt to join him in Italy; and, in +the next, a desire to avail himself of the aid of one so experienced, +as an editor, in the favourite project he had now so long +contemplated, of a periodical work, in which all the various +offspring of his genius might be received fast as they sprung to +light. With such opinions, however, as he had long entertained of Mr. +Hunt's character and talents[1], the facility with which he now +admitted him--_not_ certainly to any degree of confidence or +intimacy, but to a declared fellowship of fame and interest in the +eyes of the world, is, I own, an inconsistency not easily to be +accounted for, and argued, at all events, a strong confidence in the +antidotal power of his own name to resist the ridicule of such an +association. + +[Footnote 1: See Letter 317. p. 103.] + +As long as Shelley lived, the regard which Lord Byron entertained for +him extended its influence also over his relations with his friend; +the suavity and good-breeding of Shelley interposing a sort of +softening medium in the way of those unpleasant collisions which +afterwards took place, and which, from what is known of both parties, +may be easily conceived to have been alike trying to the patience of +the patron and the vanity of the dependent. That even, however, +during the lifetime of their common friend, there had occurred some +of those humiliating misunderstandings which money +engenders,--humiliating on both sides, as if from the very nature of +the dross that gives rise to them,--will appear from the following +letter of Shelley's which I find among the papers in my hands. + + +TO LORD BYRON. + +"February 15. 1823. + +"My dear Lord Byron. + +"I enclose you a letter from Hunt, which annoys me on more than one +account. You will observe the postscript, and you know me well enough +to feel how painful a task is set me in commenting upon it. Hunt had +urged me more than once to ask you to lend him this money. My answer +consisted in sending him all I could spare, which I have now +literally done. Your kindness in fitting up a part of your own house +for his accommodation I sensibly felt, and willingly accepted from +you on his part, but, believe me, without the slightest intention of +imposing, or, if I could help it, allowing to be imposed, any heavier +task on your purse. As it has come to this in spite of my exertions, +I will not conceal from you the low ebb of my own money affairs in +the present moment,--that is, my absolute incapacity of assisting +Hunt farther. + +"I do not think poor Hunt's promise to pay in a given time is worth +very much; but mine is less subject to uncertainty, and I should be +happy to be responsible for any engagement he may have proposed to +you. I am so much annoyed by this subject that I hardly know what to +write, and much less what to say; and I have need of all your +indulgence in judging both my feelings and expressions. + +"I shall see you by and by. Believe me + +"Yours most faithfully and sincerely, + +"P.B. SHELLEY." + + +Of the book in which Mr. Hunt has thought it decent to revenge upon +the dead the pain of those obligations he had, in his hour of need, +accepted from the living, I am luckily saved from the distaste of +speaking at any length, by the utter and most deserved oblivion into +which his volume has fallen. Never, indeed, was the right feeling of +the world upon such subjects more creditably displayed than in the +reception given universally to that ungenerous book;--even those the +least disposed to think approvingly of Lord Byron having shrunk back +from such a corroboration of their own opinion as could be afforded +by one who did not blush to derive his authority, as an accuser, from +those facilities of observation which he had enjoyed by having been +sheltered and fed under the very roof of the man whom he maligned. + +With respect to the hostile feeling manifested in Mr. Hunt's work +towards myself, the sole revenge I shall take is, to lay before my +readers the passage in one of my letters which provoked it; and which +may claim, at least, the merit of not being a covert attack, as +throughout the whole of my remonstrances to Lord Byron on the subject +of his new literary allies, not a line did I ever write respecting +either Mr. Shelley or Mr. Hunt which I was not fully prepared, from +long knowledge of my correspondent, to find that he had instantly, +and as a matter of course, communicated to them. That this want of +retention was a fault in my noble friend, I am not inclined to deny; +but, being undisguised, it was easily guarded against, and, when +guarded against, harmless. Besides, such is the penalty generally to +be paid for frankness of character; and they who could have flattered +themselves that one so open about his own affairs as Lord Byron would +be much more discreet where the confidences of others were concerned, +would have had their own imprudence, not his, to blame for any injury +that their dependence upon his secrecy had brought on them. + +The following is the passage, which Lord Byron, as I take for +granted, showed to Mr. Hunt, and to which one of his letters to +myself (February 20.) refers:-- + +"I am most anxious to know that you mean to emerge out of the +Liberal. It grieves me to urge any thing so much against Hunt's +interest; but I should not hesitate to use the same language to +himself, were I near him. I would, if I were you, serve him in every +possible way but this--I would give him (if he would accept of it) +the profits of the same works, published separately--but I would +_not_ mix myself up in this way with others. I would _not_ become a +partner in this sort of miscellaneous '_pot au feu_,' where the bad +flavour of one ingredient is sure to taint all the rest. I would be, +if I were _you_, alone, single-handed, and, as such, invincible." + +While on the subject of Mr. Hunt, I shall avail myself of the +opportunity it affords me of introducing some portions of a letter +addressed to a friend of that gentleman by Lord Byron, in consequence +of an appeal made to the feelings of the latter on the score of his +professed "friendship" for Mr. Hunt. The avowals he here makes are, I +own, startling, and must be taken with more than the usual allowance, +not only for the particular mood of temper or spirits in which the +letter was written, but for the influence also of such slight casual +piques and resentments as might have been, just then, in their +darkening transit through his mind,--indisposing him, for the moment, +to those among his friends whom, in a sunnier mood, he would have +proclaimed as his most chosen and dearest. + + +LETTER 509. TO MRS. ----. + +"I presume that you, at least, know enough of me to be sure that I +could have no intention to insult Hunt's poverty. On the contrary, I +honour him for it; for I know what it is, having been as much +embarrassed as ever he was, without perceiving aught in it to +diminish an honourable man's self-respect. If you mean to say that, +had he been a wealthy man, I would have joined in this Journal, I +answer in the negative. * * * I engaged in the Journal from good-will +towards him, added to respect for his character, literary and +personal; and no less for his political courage, as well as regret +for his present circumstances: I did this in the hope that he might, +with the same aid from literary friends of literary contributions +(which is requisite for all journals of a mixed nature), render +himself independent. + +"I have always treated him, in our personal intercourse, with such +scrupulous delicacy, that I have forborne intruding advice which I +thought might be disagreeable, lest he should impute it to what is +called 'taking advantage of a man's situation.' + +"As to friendship, it is a propensity in which my genius is very +limited. I do not know the _male_ human being, except Lord Clare, the +friend of my infancy, for whom I feel any thing that deserves the +name. All my others are men-of-the-world friendships. I did not even +feel it for Shelley, however much I admired and esteemed him, so that +you see not even vanity could bribe me into it, for, of all men, +Shelley thought highest of my talents,--and, perhaps, of my +disposition. + +"I will do my duty by my intimates, upon the principle of doing as +you would be done by. I have done so, I trust, in most instances. I +may be pleased with their conversation--rejoice in their success--be +glad to do them service, or to receive their counsel and assistance +in return. But as for friends and friendship, I have (as I already +said) named the only remaining male for whom I feel any thing of the +kind, excepting, perhaps, Thomas Moore. I have had, and may have +still, a thousand friends, as they are called, in _life_, who are +like one's partners in the waltz of this world--not much remembered +when the ball is over, though very pleasant for the time. Habit, +business, and companionship in pleasure or in pain, are links of a +similar kind, and the same faith in politics is another." * * * + + +LETTER 510. TO LADY ----. + +"Genoa, March 28. 1823. + +"Mr. Hill is here: I dined with him on Saturday before last; and on +leaving his house at S. P. d'Arena, my carriage broke down. I walked +home, about three miles,--no very great feat of pedestrianism; but +either the coming out of hot rooms into a bleak wind chilled me, or +the walking up-hill to Albaro heated me, or something or other set me +wrong, and next day I had an inflammatory attack in the face, to +which I have been subject this winter for the first time, and I +suffered a good deal of pain, but no peril. My health is now much as +usual. Mr. Hill is, I believe, occupied with his diplomacy. I shall +give him your message when I see him again. + +"My name, I see in the papers, has been dragged into the unhappy +Portsmouth business, of which all that I know is very succinct. Mr. +H---- is my solicitor. I found him so when I was ten years old--at my +uncle's death--and he was continued in the management of my legal +business. He asked me, by a civil epistle, as an old acquaintance of +his family, to be present at the marriage of Miss H----. I went very +reluctantly, one misty morning (for I had been up at two balls all +night), to witness the ceremony, which I could not very well refuse +without affronting a man who had never offended me. I saw nothing +particular in the marriage. Of course I could not know the +preliminaries, except from what he said, not having been present at +the wooing, nor after it, for I walked home, and they went into the +country as soon as they had promised and vowed. Out of this simple +fact I hear the Debats de Paris has quoted Miss H. as 'autrefois trés +liée avec le célebre,' &c. &c. I am obliged to him for the celebrity, +but beg leave to decline the liaison, which is quite untrue; my +liaison was with the father, in the unsentimental shape of long +lawyers' bills, through the medium of which I have had to pay him ten +or twelve thousand pounds within these few years. She was not pretty, +and I suspect that the indefatigable Mr. A---- was (like all her +people) more attracted by her title than her charms. I regret very +much that I was present at the prologue to the happy state of +horse-whipping and black jobs, &c. &c.; but I could not foresee that +a man was to turn out mad, who had gone about the world for fifty +years, as competent to vote, and walk at large; nor did he seem to me +more insane than any other person going to be married. + +"I have no objection to be acquainted with the Marquis Palavicini, if +he wishes it. Lately I have gone little into society, English or +foreign, for I had seen all that was worth seeing in the former +before I left England, and at the time of life when I was more +disposed to like it; and of the latter I had a sufficiency in the +first few years of my residence in Switzerland, chiefly at Madame de +Staël's, where I went sometimes, till I grew tired of _conversazioni_ +and carnivals, with their appendages; and the bore is, that if you go +once, you are expected to be there daily, or rather nightly. I went +the round of the most noted soirées at Venice or elsewhere (where I +remained not any time) to the Benzona, and the Albrizzi, and the +Michelli, &c. &c. and to the Cardinals and the various potentates of +the Legation in Romagna, (that is, Ravenna,) and only receded for the +sake of quiet when I came into Tuscany. Besides, if I go into +society, I generally get, in the long run, into some scrape of some +kind or other, which don't occur in my solitude. However, I am pretty +well settled now, by time and temper, which is so far lucky, as it +prevents restlessness; but, as I said before, as an acquaintance of +yours, I will be ready and willing to know your friends. He may be a +sort of connection for aught I know; for a Palavicini, of _Bologna_, +I believe, married a distant relative of mine half a century ago. I +happen to know the fact, as he and his spouse had an annuity of five +hundred pounds on my uncle's property, which ceased at his demise; +though I recollect hearing they attempted, naturally enough, to make +it survive him. If I can do any thing for you here or elsewhere, pray +order, and be obeyed." + + +LETTER 511. TO MR. MOORE. + +"Genoa, April 2. 1823. + +"I have just seen some friends of yours, who paid me a visit +yesterday, which, in honour of them and of you, I returned +to-day;--as I reserve my bear-skin and teeth, and paws and claws, for +our enemies. + +"I have also seen Henry F----, Lord H----'s son, whom I had not +looked upon since I left him a pretty, mild boy, without a neckcloth, +in a jacket, and in delicate health, seven long years agone, at the +period of mine eclipse--the third, I believe, as I have generally one +every two or three years. I think that he has the softest and most +amiable expression of countenance I ever saw, and manners +correspondent. If to those he can add hereditary talents, he will +keep the name of F---- in all its freshness for half a century more, +I hope. I speak from a transient glimpse--but I love still to yield +to such impressions; for I have ever found that those I liked longest +and best, I took to at first sight; and I always liked that +boy--perhaps, in part, from some resemblance in the less fortunate +part of our destinies--I mean, to avoid mistakes, his lameness. But +there is this difference, that _he_ appears a halting angel, who has +tripped against a star; whilst I am _Le Diable Boiteux_,--a +soubriquet, which I marvel that, amongst their various _nominis +umbræ_, the Orthodox have not hit upon. + +"Your other allies, whom I have found very agreeable personages, are +Milor B---- and _épouse_, travelling with a very handsome companion, +in the shape of a 'French Count' (to use Farquhar's phrase in the +Beaux Stratagem), who has all the air of a _Cupidon déchainé_, and is +one of the few specimens I have seen of our ideal of a Frenchman +_before_ the Revolution--an old friend with a new face, upon whose +like I never thought that we should look again. Miladi seems highly +literary,--to which, and your honour's acquaintance with the family, +I attribute the pleasure of having seen them. She is also very +pretty, even in a morning,--a species of beauty on which the sun of +Italy does not shine so frequently as the chandelier. Certainly, +English-women wear better than their continental neighbours of the +same sex. M---- seems very good-natured, but is much tamed, since I +recollect him in all the glory of gems and snuff-boxes, and uniforms, +and theatricals, and speeches in our house--'I mean, of peers,'--(I +must refer you to Pope--who you don't read and won't appreciate--for +that quotation, which you must allow to be poetical,) and sitting to +Stroeling, the painter, (do you remember our visit, with Leckie, to +the German?) to be depicted as one of the heroes of Agincourt, 'with +his long sword, saddle, bridle, Whack fal de, &c. &c.' + +"I have been unwell--caught a cold and inflammation, which menaced a +conflagration, after dining with our ambassador, Monsieur Hill,--not +owing to the dinner, but my carriage broke down in the way home, and +I had to walk some miles, up hill partly, after hot rooms, in a very +bleak, windy evening, and over-hotted, or over-colded myself. I have +not been so robustious as formerly, ever since the last summer, when +I fell ill after a long swim in the Mediterranean, and have never +been quite right up to this present writing. I am thin,--perhaps +thinner than you saw me, when I was nearly transparent, in 1812,--and +am obliged to be moderate of my mouth; which, nevertheless, won't +prevent me (the gods willing) from dining with your friends the day +after to-morrow. + +"They give me a very good account of you, and of your nearly +'Emprisoned Angels.' But why did you change your title?--you will +regret this some day. The bigots are not to be conciliated; and, if +they were--are they worth it? I suspect that I am a more orthodox +Christian than you are; and, whenever I see a real Christian, either +in practice or in theory, (for I never yet found the man who could +produce either, when put to the proof,) I am his disciple. But, till +then, I cannot truckle to tithe-mongers,--nor can I imagine what has +made _you_ circumcise your Seraphs. + +"I have been far more persecuted than you, as you may judge by my +present decadence,--for I take it that I am as low in popularity and +book-selling as any writer can be. At least, so my friends assure +me--blessings on their benevolence! This they attribute to Hunt; but +they are wrong--it must be, partly at least, owing to myself; be it +so. As to Hunt, I prefer _not_ having turned him to starve in the +streets to any personal honour which might have accrued from such +genuine philanthropy. I really act upon principle in this matter, for +we have nothing much in common; and I cannot describe to you the +despairing sensation of trying to do something for a man who seems +incapable or unwilling to do any thing further for himself,--at +least, to the purpose. It is like pulling a man out of a river who +directly throws himself in again. For the last three or four years +Shelley assisted, and had once actually extricated him. I have since +his demise,--and even before,--done what I could: but it is not in my +power to make this permanent. I want Hunt to return to England, for +which I would furnish him with the means in comfort; and his +situation _there_, on the whole, is bettered, by the payment of a +portion of his debts, &c.; and he would be on the spot to continue +his Journal, or Journals, with his brother, who seems a sensible, +plain, sturdy, and enduring person." * * + +The new intimacy of which he here announces the commencement, and +which it was gratifying to me, as the common friend of all, to find +that he had formed, was a source of much pleasure to him during the +stay of his noble acquaintances at Genoa. So long, indeed, had he +persuaded himself that his countrymen abroad all regarded him in no +other light than as an outlaw or a show, that every new instance he +met of friendly reception from them was as much a surprise as +pleasure to him; and it was evident that to his mind the revival of +English associations and habitudes always brought with it a sense of +refreshment, like that of inhaling his native air. + +With the view of inducing these friends to prolong their stay at +Genoa, he suggested their taking a pretty villa called "Il Paradiso," +in the neighbourhood of his own, and accompanied them to look at it. +Upon that occasion it was that, on the lady expressing some +intentions of residing there, he produced the following impromptu, +which--but for the purpose of showing that he was not so "chary of +his fame" as to fear failing in such trifles--I should have thought +hardly worth transcribing. + + "Beneath ----'s eyes + The reclaim'd Paradise + Should be free as the former from evil; + But, if the new Eve + For an apple should grieve, + What mortal would not play the devil?"[1] + +[Footnote 1: The Genoese wits had already applied this threadbare +jest to himself. Taking it into their heads that this villa (which +was also, I believe, a Casa Saluzzo) had been the one fixed on for +his own residence, they said "Il Diavolo é ancora entrato in +Paradise."] + +Another copy of verses addressed by him to the same lady, whose +beauty and talent might well have claimed a warmer tribute from such +a pen, is yet too interesting, as descriptive of the premature +feeling of age now stealing upon him, to be omitted in these pages. + +"TO THE COUNTESS OF B----. + +1. + + "You have ask'd for a verse:--the request + In a rhymer 'twere strange to deny, + But my Hippocrene was but my breast, + And my feelings (its fountain) are dry. + +2. + + "Were I now as I was, I had sung + What Lawrence has painted so well; + But the strain would expire on my tongue, + And the theme is too soft for my shell. + +3. + + "I am ashes where once I was fire, + And the bard in my bosom is dead; + What I loved I _now_ merely admire, + And my heart is as grey as my head. + +4. + + "My life is not dated by years-- + There are _moments_ which act as a plough, + And there is not a furrow appears + But is deep in my soul as my brow. + +5. + + "Let the young and the brilliant aspire + To sing what I gaze on in vain; + For sorrow has torn from my lyre + The string which was worthy the strain. + +"B." + +The following letters written during the stay of this party at Genoa +will be found,--some of them at least,--not a little curious. + + +LETTER 512. TO THE EARL OF B----. + +"April 5. 1823. + +"My dear Lord, + +"How is your gout? or rather, how are you? I return the Count ----'s +Journal, which is a very extraordinary production[1], and of a most +melancholy truth in all that regards high life in England. I know, or +knew personally, most of the personages and societies which he +describes; and after reading his remarks, have the sensation fresh +upon me as if I had seen them yesterday. I would however plead in +behalf of some few exceptions, which I will mention by and by. The +most singular thing is, _how_ he should have penetrated _not_ the +_fact_, but the _mystery_ of the English ennui, at two-and-twenty. I +was about the same age when I made the same discovery, in almost +precisely the same circles,--(for there is scarcely a person +mentioned whom I did not see nightly or daily, and was acquainted +more or less intimately with most of them,)--but I never could have +described it so well. _Il faut étre Français_, to effect this. + +[Footnote 1: In another letter to Lord B---- he says of this +gentleman, "he seems to have all the qualities requisite to have +figured in his brother-in-law's ancestor's Memoirs."] + +"But he ought also to have been in the country during the hunting +season, with 'a select party of distinguished guests,' as the papers +term it. He ought to have seen the gentlemen after dinner (on the +hunting days), and the soiree ensuing thereupon,--and the women +looking as if they had hunted, or rather been hunted; and I could +have wished that he had been at a dinner in town, which I recollect +at Lord C----'s--small, but select, and composed of the most amusing +people. The dessert was hardly on the table, when, out of twelve, I +counted _five asleep_; of that five, there were _Tierney_, Lord ----, +and Lord ---- --I forget the other two, but they were either wits or +orators--perhaps poets. + +"My residence in the East and in Italy has made me somewhat indulgent +of the siesta;--but then they set regularly about it in warm +countries, and perform it in solitude (or at most in a tête-à-tête +with a proper companion), and retire quietly to their rooms to get +out of the sun's way for an hour or two. + +"Altogether, your friend's Journal is a very formidable production. +Alas! our dearly beloved countrymen have only discovered that they +are tired, and not that they are tiresome; and I suspect that the +communication of the latter unpleasant verity will not be better +received than truths usually are. I have read the whole with great +attention and instruction. I am too good a patriot to say +_pleasure_--at least I won't say so, whatever I may think. I showed +it (I hope no breach of confidence) to a young Italian lady of rank, +_très instruite_ also; and who passes, or passed, for being one of +the three most celebrated belles in the district of Italy, where her +family and connections resided in less troublesome times as to +politics, (which is not Genoa, by the way,) and she was delighted +with it, and says that she has derived a better notion of English +society from it than from all Madame de Staël's metaphysical +disputations on the same subject, in her work on the Revolution. I +beg that you will thank the young philosopher, and make my +compliments to Lady B. and her sister. + +"Believe me your very obliged and faithful + +"N. B. + +"P.S. There is a rumour in letters of some disturbance or complot in +the French Pyrenean army--generals suspected or dismissed, and +ministers of war travelling to see what's the matter. 'Marry (as +David says), this hath an angry favour.' + +"Tell Count ---- that some of the names are not quite intelligible, +especially of the clubs; he speaks of _Watts_--perhaps he is right, +but in my time _Watiers_ was the Dandy Club, of which (though no +dandy) I was a member, at the time too of its greatest glory, when +Brummell and Mildmay, Alvanley and Pierrepoint, gave the Dandy Balls; +and we (the club, that is,) got up the famous masquerade at +Burlington House and Garden, for Wellington. He does not speak of the +_Alfred_, which was the most _recherché_ and most tiresome of any, as +I know by being a member of that too." + + +LETTER 513. TO THE EARL OF B----. + +"April 6. 1823. + +"It _would_ be worse than idle, knowing, as I do, the utter +worthlessness of words on such occasions, in me to attempt to express +what I ought to feel, and do feel for the loss you have sustained[1]; +and I must thus dismiss the subject, for I dare not trust myself +further with it _for your_ sake, or for my own. I shall _endeavour_ +to see you as soon as it may not appear intrusive. Pray excuse the +levity of my yesterday's scrawl--I little thought under what +circumstances it would find you. + +[Footnote 1: The death of Lord B----'s son, which had been long +expected, but of which the account had just then arrived.] + +"I have received a very handsome and flattering note from Count ----. +He must excuse my apparent rudeness and real ignorance in replying to +it in English, through the medium of your kind interpretation. I +would not on any account deprive him of a production, of which I +really think more than I have even _said_, though you are good enough +not to be dissatisfied even with that; but whenever it is completed, +it would give me the greatest pleasure to have a _copy_--but _how_ to +keep it secret? literary secrets are like others. By changing the +names, or at least omitting several, and altering the circumstances +indicative of the writer's real station or situation, the author +would render it a most amusing publication. His countrymen have not +been treated, either in a literary or personal point of view, with +such deference in English recent works, as to lay him under any very +great national obligation of forbearance; and really the remarks are +so true and piquante, that I cannot bring myself to wish their +suppression; though, as Dangle says, 'He is _my_ friend,' many of +these personages 'were _my friends_, but much such friends as Dangle +and his allies. + +"I return you Dr. Parr's letter--I have met him at Payne Knight's and +elsewhere, and he did me the honour once to be a patron of mine, +although a great friend of the other branch of the House of Atreus, +and the Greek teacher (I believe) of my _moral_ Clytemnestra--I say +_moral_, because it is true, and is so useful to the virtuous, that +it enables them to do any thing without the aid of an Ægisthus. + +"I beg my compliments to Lady B., Miss P., and to your _Alfred_. I +think, since his Majesty of the same name, there has not been such a +learned surveyor of our Saxon society. + +"Ever yours most truly, N. B." + +"April 9. 1823. + +"P.S. I salute Miledi, Mademoiselle Mama, and the illustrious +Chevalier Count ----; who, I hope, will continue his history of 'his +own times.' There are some strange coincidences between a part of his +remarks and a certain work of mine, now in MS. in England, (I do not +mean the hermetically sealed Memoirs, but a continuation of certain +Cantos of a certain poem,) especially in _what_ a _man_ may do in +London with impunity while he is 'à la mode;' which I think it well +to state, that he may not suspect me of taking advantage of his +confidence. The observations are very general." + + +LETTER 514. TO THE EARL OF B----. + +"April 14. 1823. + +"I am truly sorry that I cannot accompany you in your ride this +morning, owing to a violent pain in my face, arising from a wart to +which I by medical advice applied a caustic. Whether I put too much, +I do not know, but the consequence is, that not only I have been put +to some pain, but the peccant part and its immediate environ are as +black as if the printer's devil had marked me for an author. As I do +not wish to frighten your horses, or their riders, I shall postpone +waiting upon you until six o'clock, when I hope to have subsided into +a more christian-like resemblance to my fellow-creatures. My +infliction has partially extended even to my fingers; for on trying +to get the black from off my upper lip at least, I have only +transfused a portion thereof to my right hand, and neither +lemon-juice nor eau de Cologne, nor any other eau, have been able as +yet to redeem it also from a more inky appearance than is either +proper or pleasant. But 'out, damn'd spot'--you may have perceived +something of the kind yesterday, for on my return, I saw that during +my visit it had increased, was increasing, and ought to be +diminished; and I could not help laughing at the figure I must have +cut before you. At any rate, I shall be with you at six, with the +advantage of twilight. + +Ever most truly, &c. + +"Eleven o'clock. + +"P.S. I wrote the above at three this morning. I regret to say that +the whole of the skin of about an _inch_ square above my upper lip +has come off, so that I cannot even shave or masticate, and I am +equally unfit to appear at your table, and to partake of its +hospitality. Will you therefore pardon me, and not mistake this +rueful excuse for a '_make-believe_,' as you will soon recognise +whenever I have the pleasure of meeting you again, and I will call +the moment I am, in the nursery phrase, 'fit to be seen.' Tell Lady +B. with my compliments, that I am rummaging my papers for a MS. +worthy of her acceptation. I have just seen the younger Count Gamba, +and as I cannot prevail on his infinite modesty to take the field +without me, I must take this piece of diffidence on myself also, and +beg your indulgence for both." + + +LETTER 515. TO THE COUNT ----. + +"April 22. 1823. + +"My dear Count ---- (if you will permit me to address you so +familiarly), you should be content with writing in your own language, +like Grammont, and succeeding in London as nobody has succeeded since +the days of Charles the Second and the records of Antonio Hamilton, +without deviating into our barbarous language,--which you understand +and write, however, much better than it deserves. + +"My 'approbation,' as you are pleased to term it, was very sincere, +but perhaps not very impartial; for, though I love my country, I do +not love my countrymen--at least, such as they now are. And, besides +the seduction of talent and wit in your work, I fear that to me there +was the attraction of vengeance. I have _seen_ and _felt_ much of +what you have described so well. I have known the persons, and the +re-unions so described,--(many of them, that is to say,) and the +portraits are so like that I cannot but admire the painter no less +than his performance. + +"But I am sorry for you; for if you are so well acquainted with life +at your age, what will become of you when the illusion is still more +dissipated? But never mind--_en avant!_--live while you can; and that +you may have the full enjoyment of the many advantages of youth, +talent, and figure, which you possess, is the wish of +an--Englishman,--I suppose, but it is no treason; for my mother was +Scotch, and my name and my family are both Norman; and as for myself, +I am of no country. As for my 'Works,' which you are pleased to +mention, let them go to the Devil, from whence (if you believe many +persons) they came. + +"I have the honour to be your obliged," &c. &c. + +During this period a circumstance occurred which shows, most +favourably for the better tendencies of his nature, how much allayed +and softened down his once angry feeling, upon the subject of his +matrimonial differences, had now grown. It has been seen that his +daughter Ada,--more especially since his late loss of the only tie of +blood which he could have a hope of attaching to himself,--had become +the fond and constant object of his thoughts; and it was but natural, +in a heart kindly as his was, that, dwelling thus with tenderness +upon the child, he should find himself insensibly subdued into a +gentler tone of feeling towards the mother. A gentleman, whose sister +was known to be the confidential friend of Lady Byron, happening at +this time to be at Genoa, and in the habit of visiting at the house +of the poet's new intimates, Lord Byron took one day an opportunity, +in conversing with Lady ----, to say, that she would render him an +essential kindness if, through the mediation of this gentleman and +his sister, she could procure for him from Lady Byron, what he had +long been most anxious to possess, a copy of her picture. It having +been represented to him, in the course of the same, or a similar +conversation, that Lady Byron was said by her friends to be in a +state of constant alarm lest he should come to England to claim his +daughter, or, in some other way, interfere with her, he professed his +readiness to give every assurance that might have the effect of +calming such apprehensions; and the following letter, in reference to +both these subjects, was soon after sent by him. + + +LETTER 516. TO THE COUNTESS OF B----. + +"May 3. 1823. + +"Dear Lady ----, + +"My request would be for a copy of the miniature of Lady B. which I +have seen in possession of the late Lady Noel, as I have no picture, +or indeed memorial of any kind of Lady B., as all her letters were in +her own possession before I left England, and we have had no +correspondence since--at least on her part. + +My message, with regard to the infant, is simply to this effect--that +in the event of any accident occurring to the mother, and my +remaining the survivor, it would be my wish to have her plans carried +into effect, both with regard to the education of the child, and the +person or persons under whose care Lady B. might be desirous that she +should be placed. It is not my intention to interfere with her in any +way on the subject during her life; and I presume that it would be +some consolation to her to know,(if she is in ill health, as I am +given to understand,) that in _no_ case would any thing be done, as +far as I am concerned, but in strict conformity with Lady B.'s own +wishes and intentions--left in what manner she thought proper. + +"Believe me, dear Lady B., your obliged," &c. + +This negotiation, of which I know not the results, nor whether, +indeed, it ever ended in any, led naturally and frequently to +conversations on the subject of his marriage,--a topic he was himself +always the first to turn to,--and the account which he then gave, as +well of the circumstances of the separation, as of his own entire +unconsciousness of the immediate causes that provoked it, was, I +find, exactly such as, upon every occasion when the subject presented +itself, he, with an air of sincerity in which it was impossible not +to confide, promulgated. "Of what really led to the separation (said +he, in the course of one of these conversations,) I declare to you +that, even at this moment, I am wholly ignorant; as Lady Byron would +never assign her motives, and has refused to answer my letters. I +have written to her repeatedly, and am still in the habit of doing +so. Some of these letters I have sent, and others I did not, simply +because I despaired of their doing any good. You may, however, see +some of them if you like;--they may serve to throw some light upon my +feelings." + +In a day or two after, accordingly, one of these withheld letters was +sent by him, enclosed in the following, to Lady ----. + + +LETTER 517. TO THE COUNTESS OF ----. + +"Albaro, May 6.1828. + +My dear Lady ----, + +I send you the letter which I had forgotten, and the book[1], which I +ought to have remembered. It contains (the book, I mean,) some +melancholy truths; though I believe that it is too triste a work ever +to have been popular. The first time I ever read it (not the edition +I send you,--for I got it since,) was at the desire of Madame de +Staël, who was supposed by the good-natured world to be the +heroine;--which she was not, however, and was furious at the +supposition. This occurred in Switzerland, in the summer of 1816, and +the last season in which I ever saw that celebrated person. + +[Footnote 1: Adolphe, by M. Benjamin Constant.] + +"I have a request to make to my friend Alfred (since he has not +disdained the title), viz. that he would condescend to add a _cap_ to +the gentleman in the jacket,--it would complete his costume,--and +smooth his brow, which is somewhat too inveterate a likeness of the +original, God help me!" + +"I did well to avoid the water-party,--_why_, is a mystery, which is +not less to be wondered at than all my other mysteries. Tell Milor +that I am deep in his MS., and will do him justice by a diligent +perusal." + +"The letter which I enclose I was prevented from sending by my +despair of its doing any good. I was perfectly sincere when I wrote +it, and am so still. But it is difficult for me to withstand the +thousand provocations on that subject, which both friends and foes +have for seven years been throwing in the way of a man whose feelings +were once quick, and whose temper was never patient. But 'returning +were as tedious as go o'er.' I feel this as much as ever Macbeth did; +and it is a dreary sensation, which at least avenges the real or +imaginary wrongs of one of the two unfortunate persons whom it +concerns." + +"But I am going to be gloomy;--so 'to bed, to bed.' Good night,--or +rather morning. One of the reasons why I wish to avoid society is, +that I can never sleep after it, and the pleasanter it has been the +less I rest." + +"Ever most truly," &c. &c. + +I shall now produce the enclosure contained in the above; and there +are few, I should think, of my readers who will not agree with me in +pronouncing, that if the author of the following letter had not +_right_ on his side, he had at least most of those good feelings +which are found in general to accompany it. + + +LETTER 518. TO LADY BYRON. + +(TO THE CARE OF THE HON. MRS. LEIGH, LONDON.) + +Pisa, November 17. 1821. + +I have to acknowledge the receipt of 'Ada's hair,'which is very soft +and pretty, and nearly as dark already as mine was at twelve years +old, if I may judge from what I recollect of some in Augusta's +possession, taken at that age. But it don't curl,--perhaps from its +being let grow. + +"I also thank you for the inscription of the date and name, and I +will tell you why;--I believe that they are the only two or three +words of your handwriting in my possession. For your letters I +returned, and except the two words, or rather the one word, +'Household,' written twice in an old account book, I have no other. I +burnt your last note, for two reasons:--firstly, it was written in a +style not very agreeable; and, secondly, I wished to take your word +without documents, which are the worldly resources of suspicious +people. + +I suppose that this note will reach you somewhere about Ada's +birthday--the 10th of December, I believe. She will then be six, so +that in about twelve more I shall have some chance of meeting +her;--perhaps sooner, if I am obliged to go to England by business or +otherwise. Recollect, however, one thing, either in distance or +nearness;--every day which keeps us asunder should, after so long a +period, rather soften our mutual feelings, which must always have one +rallying-point as long as our child exists, which I presume we both +hope will be long after either of her parents. + +The time which has elapsed since the separation has been considerably +more than the whole brief period of our union, and the not much +longer one of our prior acquaintance. We both made a bitter mistake; +but now it is over, and irrevocably so. For, at thirty-three on my +part, and a few years less on yours, though it is no very extended +period of life, still it is one when the habits and thought are +generally so formed as to admit of no modification; and as we could +not agree when younger, we should with difficulty do so now. + +I say all this, because I own to you, that, notwithstanding every +thing, I considered our re-union as not impossible for more than a +year after the separation;--but then I gave up the hope entirely and +for ever. But this very impossibility of re-union seems to me at +least a reason why, on all the few points of discussion which can +arise between us, we should preserve the courtesies of life, and as +much of its kindness as people who are never to meet may preserve +perhaps more easily than nearer connections. For my own part, I am +violent, but not malignant; for only fresh provocations can awaken my +resentments. To you, who are colder and more concentrated, I would +just hint, that you may sometimes mistake the depth of a cold anger +for dignity, and a worse feeling for duty. I assure you that I bear +you _now_ (whatever I may have done) no resentment whatever. +Remember, that _if you have injured me_ in aught, this forgiveness is +something; and that, if I have _injured you_, it is something more +still, if it be true, as the moralists say, that the most offending +are the least forgiving. + +"Whether the offence has been solely on my side, or reciprocal, or on +yours chiefly, I have ceased to reflect upon any but two +things,--viz. that you are the mother of my child, and that we shall +never meet again. I think if you also consider the two corresponding +points with reference to myself, it will be better for all three. + +"Yours ever, + +"NOEL BYRON." + + +It has been my plan, as must have been observed, wherever my +materials have furnished me with the means, to leave the subject of +my Memoir to relate his own story; and this object, during the two or +three years of his life just elapsed, I have been enabled by the rich +resources in my hands, with but few interruptions, to attain. Having +now, however, reached that point of his career from which a new start +was about to be taken by his excursive spirit, and a course, glorious +as it was brief and fatal, entered upon,--a moment of pause may be +permitted while we look back through the last few years, and for a +while dwell upon the spectacle, at once grand and painful, which his +life during that most unbridled period of his powers exhibited. + +In a state of unceasing excitement, both of heart and brain,--for +ever warring with the world's will, yet living but in the world's +breath,--with a genius taking upon itself all shapes, from Jove down +to Scapin, and a disposition veering with equal facility to all +points of the moral compass,--not even the ancient fancy of the +existence of two souls within one bosom would seem at all adequately +to account for the varieties, both of power and character, which the +course of his conduct and writings during these few feverish years +displayed. Without going back so far as the Fourth Canto of Childe +Harold, which one of his bitterest and ablest assailants has +pronounced to be, "in point of execution, the sublimest poetical +achievement of mortal pen," we have, in a similar strain of strength +and splendour, the Prophecy of Dante, Cain, the Mystery of Heaven and +Earth, Sardanapalus,--all produced during this wonderful period of +his genius. To these also are to be added four other dramatic pieces, +which, though the least successful of his compositions, have yet, as +Poems, few equals in our literature; while, in a more especial +degree, they illustrate the versatility of taste and power so +remarkable in him, as being founded, and to this very circumstance, +perhaps, owing their failure, on a severe classic model, the most +uncongenial to his own habits and temperament, and the most remote +from that bold, unshackled license which it had been the great +mission of his genius, throughout the whole realms of Mind, to +assert. + +In contrast to all these high-toned strains, and struck off during +the same fertile period, we find his Don Juan--in itself an epitome +of all the marvellous contrarieties of his character--the Vision of +Judgment, the Translation from Pulci, the Pamphlets on Pope, on the +British Review, on Blackwood,--together with a swarm of other light, +humorous trifles, all flashing forth carelessly from the same mind +that was, almost at the same moment, personating, with a port worthy +of such a presence, the mighty spirit of Dante, or following the dark +footsteps of Scepticism over the ruins of past worlds, with Cain. + +All this time, too, while occupied with these ideal creations, the +demands upon his active sympathies, in real life, were such as almost +any mind but his own would have found sufficient to engross its every +thought and feeling. An amour, not of that light, transient kind +which "goes without a burden," but, on the contrary, deep-rooted +enough to endure to the close of his days, employed as restlessly +with its first hopes and fears a portion of this period as with the +entanglements to which it led, political and domestic, it embarrassed +the remainder. Scarcely, indeed, had this disturbing passion begun to +calm, when a new source of excitement presented itself in that +conspiracy into which he flung himself so fearlessly, and which +ended, as we have seen, but in multiplying the objects of his +sympathy and protection, and driving him to a new change of home and +scene. + +When we consider all these distractions that beset him, taking into +account also the frequent derangement of his health, and the time and +temper he must have thrown away on the minute drudgery of watching +over every item of his household expenditure, the mind is lost in +almost incredulous astonishment at the wonders he was able to achieve +under such circumstances--at the variety and prodigality of power +with which, in the midst of such interruptions and hinderances, his +"bright soul broke out on every side," and not only held on its +course, unclogged, through all these difficulties, but even extracted +out of the very struggles and annoyances it encountered new nerve for +its strength, and new fuel for its fire. + +While thus at this period, more remarkably than at any other during +his life, the unparalleled versatility of his genius was unfolding +itself, those quick, cameleon-like changes of which his character, +too, was capable were, during the same time, most vividly, and in +strongest contrast, drawn out. To the world, and more especially to +England,--the scene at once of his glories and his wrongs,--he +presented himself in no other aspect than that of a stern, haughty +misanthrope, self-banished from the fellowship of men, and, most of +all, from that of Englishmen. The more genial and beautiful +inspirations of his muse were, in this point of view, looked upon but +as lucid intervals between the paroxysms of an inherent malignancy of +nature; and even the laughing effusions of his wit and humour got +credit for no other aim than that which Swift boasted of, as the end +of all his own labours, "to vex the world rather than divert it." + +How totally all this differed from the Byron of the social hour, they +who lived in familiar intercourse with him may be safely left to +tell. The sort of ferine reputation which he had acquired for himself +abroad prevented numbers, of course, of his countrymen, whom he would +have most cordially welcomed, from seeking his acquaintance. But, as +it was, no English gentleman ever approached him, with the common +forms of introduction, that did not come away at once surprised and +charmed by the kind courtesy and facility of his manners, the +unpretending play of his conversation, and, on a nearer intercourse, +the frank, youthful spirits, to the flow of which he gave way with +such a zest, as even to deceive some of those who best knew him into +the impression, that gaiety was after all the true bent of his +disposition. + +To these contrasts which he presented, as viewed publicly and +privately, is to be added also the fact, that, while braving the +world's ban so boldly, and asserting man's right to think for himself +with a freedom and even daringness unequalled, the original shyness +of his nature never ceased to hang about him; and while at a distance +he was regarded as a sort of autocrat in intellect, revelling in all +the confidence of his own great powers, a somewhat nearer observation +enabled a common acquaintance at Venice[1] to detect, under all this, +traces of that self-distrust and bashfulness which had marked him as +a boy, and which never entirely forsook him through the whole of his +career. + +[Footnote 1: The Countess Albrizzi--see her Sketch of his Character.] + +Still more singular, however, than this contradiction between the +public and private man,--a contradiction not unfrequent, and, in some +cases, more apparent than real, as depending upon the relative +position of the observer,--were those contrarieties and changes not +less startling, which his character so often exhibited, as compared +with itself. He who, at one moment, was seen intrenched in the most +absolute self-will, would, at the very next, be found all that was +docile and amenable. To-day, storming the world in its strong-holds, +as a misanthrope and satirist--to-morrow, learning, with implicit +obedience, to fold a shawl, as a Cavaliere--the same man who had so +obstinately refused to surrender, either to friendly remonstrance or +public outcry, a single line of Don Juan, at the mere request of a +gentle Donna agreed to cease it altogether; nor would venture to +resume this task (though the chief darling of his muse) till, with +some difficulty, he had obtained leave from the same ascendant +quarter. Who, indeed, is there that, without some previous clue to +his transformations, could have been at all prepared to recognise the +coarse libertine of Venice in that romantic and passionate lover who, +but a few months after, stood weeping before the fountain in the +garden at Bologna? or, who could have expected to find in the close +calculator of sequins and baiocchi, that generous champion of Liberty +whose whole fortune, whose very life itself were considered by him +but as trifling sacrifices for the advancement, but by a day, of her +cause? + +And here naturally our attention is drawn to the consideration of +another feature of his character, connected more intimately with the +bright epoch of his life now before us. Notwithstanding his strongly +marked prejudices in favour of rank and high birth, we have seen with +what ardour,--not only in fancy and theory, bet practically, as in +the case of the Italian Carbonari,--he embarked his sympathies +unreservedly on the current of every popular movement towards +freedom. Though of the sincerity of this zeal for liberty the seal +set upon it so solemnly by his death leaves us no room to doubt, a +question may fairly arise whether that general love of excitement, +let it flow from whatever source it might, by which, more or less, +every pursuit of his whole life was actuated, was not predominant +among the impulses that governed him in this; and, again, whether it +is not probable that, like Alfieri and other aristocratic lovers of +freedom, he would not ultimately have shrunk from the result of his +own equalising doctrines; and, though zealous enough in lowering +those _above_ his own level, rather recoil from the task of raising +up those who were _below_ it. + +With regard to the first point, it may be conceded, without deducting +much from his sincere zeal in the cause, that the gratification of +his thirst of fame, and, above all, perhaps, that supply of +excitement so necessary to him, to whet, as it were, the edge of his +self-wearing spirit, were not the least of the attractions and +incitements which a struggle under the banners of Freedom presented +to him. It is also but too certain that, destined as he was to +endless disenchantment, from that singular and painful union which +existed in his nature of the creative imagination that calls up +illusions, and the cool, searching sagacity that, at once, detects +their hollowness, he could not long have gone on, even in a path so +welcome to him, without finding the hopes with which his fancy had +strewed it withering away beneath him at every step. + +In politics, as in every other pursuit, his ambition was to be among +the first; nor would it have been from the want of a due appreciation +of all that is noblest and most disinterested in patriotism, that he +would ever have stooped his flight to any less worthy aim. The +following passage in one of his Journals will be remembered by the +reader:--"To be the first man _(not_ the Dictator), not the Sylla, +but the Washington, or Aristides, the leader in talent and truth, is +to be next to the Divinity." With such high and pure notions of +political eminence, he could not be otherwise than fastidious as to +the means of attaining it; nor can it be doubted that with the sort +of vulgar and sometimes sullied instruments which all popular leaders +must stoop to employ, his love of truth, his sense of honour, his +impatience of injustice, would have led him constantly into such +collisions as must have ended in repulsion and disgust; while the +companionship of those beneath him, a tax all demagogues must pay, +would, as soon as it had ceased to amuse his fancy for the new and +the ridiculous, have shocked his taste and mortified his pride. The +distaste with which, as appears from more than one of his letters, he +was disposed to view the personal, if not the political, attributes +of what is commonly called the Radical party in England, shows how +unsuited he was naturally to mix in that kind of popular fellowship +which, even to those far less aristocratic in their notions and +feelings, must be sufficiently trying. + +But, even granting that all these consequences might safely be +predicted as almost certain to result from his engaging in such a +career, it by no means the more necessarily follows that, _once_ +engaged, he would not have persevered in it consistently and +devotedly to the last; nor that, even if reduced to say, with Cicero, +"nil boni præter causam," he could not have so far abstracted the +principle of the cause from its unworthy supporters as, at the same +time, to uphold the one and despise the others. Looking back, indeed, +from the advanced point where we are now arrived through the whole of +his past career, we cannot fail to observe, pervading all its +apparent changes and inconsistencies, an adherence to the original +bias of his nature, a general consistency in the main, however +shifting and contradictory the details, which had the effect of +preserving, from first to last, all his views and principles, upon +the great subjects that interested him through life, essentially +unchanged.[1] + +[Footnote 1: Colonel Stanhope, who saw clearly this leading character +of Byron's mind, has thus justly described it:--"Lord Byron's was a +versatile and still a stubborn mind; it wavered, but always returned +to certain fixed principles."] + +At the worst, therefore, though allowing that, from disappointment or +disgust, he might have been led to withdraw all personal +participation in such a cause, in no case would he have shown himself +a recreant to its principles; and though too proud to have ever +descended, like Egalité, into the ranks of the people, he would have +been far too consistent to pass, like Alfieri, into those of their +enemies. + +After the failure of those hopes with which he had so sanguinely +looked forward to the issue of the late struggle between Italy and +her rulers, it may be well conceived what a relief it was to him to +turn his eyes to Greece, where a spirit was now rising such as he had +himself imaged forth in dreams of song, but hardly could have even +dreamed that he should live to see it realised. His early travels in +that country had left a lasting impression on his mind; and whenever, +as I have before remarked, his fancy for a roving life returned, it +was to the regions about the "blue Olympus" he always fondly looked +back. Since his adoption of Italy as a home, this propensity had in a +great degree subsided. In addition to the sedatory effects of his new +domestic r, there had, at this time, grown upon him a degree of +inertness, or indisposition to change of residence, which, in the +instance of his departure from Ravenna, was with some difficulty +surmounted. + +The unsettled state of life he was from thenceforward thrown into, by +the precarious fortunes of those with whom he had connected himself, +conspired with one or two other causes to revive within him all his +former love of change and adventure; nor is it wonderful that to +Greece, as offering _both_ in their most exciting form, he should +turn eagerly his eyes, and at once kindle with a desire not only to +witness, but perhaps share in, the present triumphs of Liberty on +those very fields where he had already gathered for immortality such +memorials of her day long past. + +Among the causes that concurred with this sentiment to determine him +to the enterprise he now meditated, not the least powerful, +undoubtedly, was the supposition in his own mind that the high tide +of his poetical popularity had been for some time on the ebb. The +utter failure of the Liberal,--in which, splendid as were some of his +own contributions to it, there were yet others from his pen hardly to +be distinguished from the surrounding dross,--confirmed him fully in +the notion that he had at last wearied out his welcome with the +world; and, as the voice of fame had become almost as necessary to +him as the air he breathed, it was with a proud consciousness of the +yet untouched reserves of power within him he now saw that, if +arrived at the end of _one_ path of fame, there were yet others for +him to strike into, still more glorious. + +That some such vent for the resources of his mind had long been +contemplated by him appears from a letter of his to myself, in which +it will be recollected he says,--"If I live ten years longer, you +will see that it is not over with me. I don't mean in literature, for +that is nothing; and--it may seem odd enough to say--I do not think +it was my vocation. But you will see that I shall do something,--the +times and Fortune permitting,--that 'like the cosmogony of the world +will puzzle the philosophers of all ages.'" He then adds this but too +true and sad prognostic:--"But I doubt whether my constitution will +hold out." + +His zeal in the cause of Italy, whose past history and literature +seemed to call aloud for redress of her present vassalage and wrongs, +would have, no doubt, led him to the same chivalrous self-devotion in +her service, as he displayed afterwards in that of Greece. The +disappointing issue, however, of that brief struggle is but too well +known; and this sudden wreck of a cause so promising pained him the +more deeply from his knowledge of some of the brave and true hearts +embarked in it. The disgust, indeed, which that abortive effort left +behind, coupled with the opinion he had early formed of the +"hereditary bonds-men" of Greece, had kept him for some time in a +state of considerable doubt and misgiving as to their chances of ever +working out their own enfranchisement; nor was it till the spring of +this year, when, rather by the continuance of the struggle than by +its actual success, some confidence had begun to be inspired in the +trust-worthiness of the cause, that he had nearly made up his mind to +devote himself to its aid. The only difficulty that still remained to +retard or embarrass this resolution was the necessity it imposed of a +temporary separation from Madame Guiccioli, who was herself, as might +be expected, anxious to participate his perils, but whom it was +impossible he could think of exposing to the chances of a life, even +for men, so rude. + +At the beginning of the month of April he received a visit from Mr. +Blaquiere, who was then proceeding on a special mission to Greece, +for the purpose of procuring for the Committee lately formed in +London correct information as to the state and prospects of that +country. It was among the instructions of this gentleman that he +should touch at Genoa and communicate with Lord Byron; and the +following note will show how cordially the noble poet was disposed to +enter into all the objects of the Committee. + + +LETTER 519. TO MR. BLAQUIERE. + +"Albaro, April 5. 1823. + +"Dear Sir, + +"I shall be delighted to see you and your Greek friend, and the +sooner the better. I have been expecting you for some time,--you will +find me at home. I cannot express to you how much I feel interested +in the cause, and nothing but the hopes I entertained of witnessing +the liberation of Italy itself prevented me long ago from returning +to do what little I could, as an individual, in that land which it is +an honour even to have visited. + +"Ever yours truly, NOEL BYRON." + + +Soon after this interview with their agent, a more direct +communication on the subject was opened between his Lordship and the +Committee itself. + + +LETTER 520. TO MR. BOWRING. + +"Genoa, May 12. 1823 + +"Sir, + +"I have great pleasure in acknowledging your letter, and the honour +which the Committee have done me:--I shall endeavour to deserve their +confidence by every means in my power. My first wish is to go up into +the Levant in person, where I might be enabled to advance, if not the +cause, at least the means of obtaining information which the +Committee might be desirous of acting upon; and my former residence +in the country, my familiarity with the Italian language, (which is +there universally spoken, or at least to the same extent as French in +the more polished parts of the Continent,) and my _not_ total +ignorance of the Romaic, would afford me some advantages of +experience. To this project the only objection is of a domestic +nature, and I shall try to get over it;--if I fail in this, I must do +what I can where I am; but it will be always a source of regret to +me, to think that I might perhaps have done more for the cause on the +spot. + +"Our last information of Captain Blaquiere is from Ancona, where he +embarked with a fair wind for Corfu, on the 15th ult.; he is now +probably at his destination. My last letter _from_ him personally was +dated Rome; he had been refused a passport through the Neapolitan +territory, and returned to strike up through Romagna for +Ancona:--little time, however, appears to have been lost by the +delay. + +"The principal material wanted by the Greeks appears to be, first, a +park of field artillery--light, and fit for mountain-service; +secondly, gunpowder; thirdly, hospital or medical stores. The +readiest mode of transmission is, I hear, by Idra, addressed to Mr. +Negri, the minister. I meant to send up a certain quantity of the two +latter--no great deal--but enough for an individual to show his good +wishes for the Greek success,--but am pausing, because, in case I +should go myself, I can take them with me. I do not want to limit my +own contribution to this merely, but more especially, if I can get to +Greece myself, I should devote whatever resources I can muster of my +own, to advancing the great object. I am in correspondence with +Signor Nicolas Karrellas (well known to Mr. Hobhouse), who is now at +Pisa; but his latest advice merely stated, that the Greeks are at +present employed in organising their _internal_ government, and the +details of its administration: this would seem to indicate +_security_, but the war is however far from being terminated. + +"The Turks are an obstinate race, as all former wars have proved +them, and will return to the charge for years to come, even if +beaten, as it is to be hoped they will be. But in no case can the +labours of the Committee be said to be in vain; for in the event even +of the Greeks being subdued, and dispersed, the funds which could be +employed in succouring and gathering together the remnant, so as to +alleviate in part their distresses, and enable them to find or make a +country (as so many emigrants of other nations have been compelled to +do), would 'bless both those who gave and those who took,' as the +bounty both of justice and of mercy. + +"With regard to the formation of a brigade, (which Mr. Hobhouse hints +at in his short letter of this day's receipt, enclosing the one to +which I have the honour to reply,) I would presume to suggest--but +merely as an opinion, resulting rather from the melancholy experience +of the brigades embarked in the Columbian service than from any +experiment yet fairly tried in GREECE,--that the attention of the +Committee had better perhaps be directed to the employment of +_officers_ of experience than the enrolment of _raw British_ +soldiers, which latter are apt to be unruly, and not very +serviceable, in irregular warfare, by the side of foreigners. A small +body of good officers, especially artillery; an engineer, with +quantity (such as the Committee might deem requisite) of stores of +the nature which Captain Blaquiere indicated as most wanted, would, I +should conceive, be a highly useful accession. Officers, also, who +had previously served in the Mediterranean would be preferable, as +some knowledge of Italian is nearly indispensable. + +"It would also be as well that they should be aware, that they are +not going 'to rough it on a beef-steak and bottle of port,'--but that +Greece--never, of late years, very plentifully stocked for a +_mess_--is at present the country of all kinds of _privations_. This +remark may seem superfluous; but I have been led to it, by observing +that many _foreign_ officers, Italian, French, and even Germans +(but_fewer_ of the _latter_), have returned in disgust, imagining +either that they were going up to make a party of pleasure, or to +enjoy full pay, speedy promotion, and a very moderate degree of duty. +They complain, too, of having been ill received by the Government or +inhabitants; but numbers of these complainants were mere adventurers, +attracted by a hope of command and plunder, and disappointed of both. +Those Greeks I have seen strenuously deny the charge of +inhospitality, and declare that they shared their pittance to the +last crum with their foreign volunteers. + +"I need not suggest to the Committee the very great advantage which +must accrue to Great Britain from the success of the Greeks, and +their probable commercial relations with England in consequence; +because I feel persuaded that the first object of the Committee is +their EMANCIPATION, without any interested views. But the +consideration might weigh with the English people in general, in +their present passion for every kind of speculation,--they need not +cross the American seas, for one much better worth their while, and +nearer home. The resources even for an emigrant population, in the +Greek islands alone, are rarely to be paralleled; and the cheapness +of every kind of, not _only necessary_, but _luxury_, (that is to +say, _luxury_ of _nature_,) fruits, wine, oil, &c. in a state of +peace, are far beyond those of the Cape, and Van Dieman's Land, and +the other places of refuge, which the English people are searching +for over the waters. + +"I beg that the Committee will command me in any and every way. If I +am favoured with any instructions, I shall endeavour to obey them to +the letter, whether conformable to my own private opinion or not. I +beg leave to add, personally, my respect for the gentleman whom I +have the honour of addressing, + +"And am, Sir, your obliged, &c. + +"P.S. The best refutation of Gell will be the active exertions of the +Committee;--I am too warm a controversialist; and I suspect that if +Mr. Hobhouse have taken him in hand, there will be little occasion +for me to 'encumber him with help.' If I go up into the country, I +will endeavour to transmit as accurate and impartial an account as +circumstances will permit. + +"I shall write to Mr. Karrellas. I expect intelligence from Captain +Blaquiere, who has promised me some early intimation from the seat of +the Provisional Government. I gave him a letter of introduction to +Lord Sydney Osborne, at Corfu; but as Lord S. is in the government +service, of course his reception could only be a _cautious_ one." + + +LETTER 521. TO MR. BOWRING. + +"Genoa, May 21. 1823. + +"Sir, + +"I received yesterday the letter of the Committee, dated the 14th of +March. What has occasioned the delay, I know not. It was forwarded by +Mr. Galignani, from Paris, who stated that he had only had it in his +charge four days, and that it was delivered to him by a Mr. Grattan. +I need hardly say that I gladly accede to the proposition of the +Committee, and hold myself highly honoured by being deemed worthy to +be a member. I have also to return my thanks, particularly to +yourself, for the accompanying letter, which is extremely flattering. + +"Since I last wrote to you, through the medium of Mr. Hobhouse, I +have received and forwarded a letter from Captain Blaquiere to me, +from Corfu, which will show how he gets on. Yesterday I fell in with +two young Germans, survivors of General Normann's band. They arrived +at Genoa in the most deplorable state--without food--without a +soul--without shoes. The Austrians had sent them out of their +territory on their landing at Trieste; and they had been forced to +come down to Florence, and had travelled from Leghorn here, with four +Tuscan _livres_ (about three francs) in their pockets. I have given +them twenty Genoese scudi (about a hundred and thirty-three livres, +French money,) and new shoes, which will enable them to get to +Switzerland, where they say that they have friends. All that they +could raise in Genoa, besides, was thirty _sous_. They do not +complain of the Greeks, but say that they have suffered more since +their landing in Italy. + +"I tried their veracity, 1st, by their passports and papers; 2dly, by +topography, cross-questioning them about Arta, Argos, Athens, +Missolonghi, Corinth, c.; and, 3dly, in _Romaic_, of which I found +one of them, at least, knew more than I do. One of them (they are +both of good families) is a fine handsome young fellow of +three-and-twenty--a Wirtembergher, and has a look of _Sandt_ about +him--the other a Bavarian, older and flat-faced, and less ideal, but +a great, sturdy, soldier-like personage. The Wirtembergher was in the +action at Arta, where the Philhellenists were cut to pieces after +killing six hundred Turks, they themselves being only a hundred and +fifty in number, opposed to about six or seven thousand; only eight +escaped, and of them about three only survived; so that General +Normann 'posted his ragamuffins where they were well peppered--not +three of the hundred and fifty left alive--and they are for the +town's end for life.' + +"These two left Greece by the direction of the Greeks. When Churschid +Pacha over-run the Morea, the Greeks seem to have behaved well, in +wishing to save their allies, when they thought that the game was up +with themselves. This was in September last (1822): they wandered +from island to island, and got from Milo to Smyrna, where the French +consul gave them a passport, and a charitable captain a passage to +Ancona, whence they got to Trieste, and were turned back by the +Austrians. They complain only of the minister (who has always been an +indifferent character); say that the Greeks fight very well in their +own way, but were at _first_ afraid to _fire_ their own cannon--but +mended with practice. + +"Adolphe (the younger) commanded at Navarino for a short time; the +other, a more material person, 'the bold Bavarian in a luckless +hour,' seems chiefly to lament a fast of three days at Argos, and the +loss of twenty-five paras a day of pay in arrear, and some baggage at +Tripolitza; but takes his wounds, and marches, and battles in very +good part. Both are very simple, full of naïveté, and quite +unpretending: they say the foreigners quarrelled among themselves, +particularly the French with the Germans, which produced duels. + +"The Greeks accept muskets, but throw away _bayonets_, and will _not_ +be disciplined. When these lads saw two Piedmontese regiments +yesterday, they said, 'Ah! if we had but _these_ two, we should have +cleared the Morea:' in that case the Piedmontese must have behaved +better than they did against the Austrians. They seem to lay great +stress upon a few regular troops--say that the Greeks have arms and +powder in plenty, but want victuals, hospital stores, and lint and +linen, &c. and money, very much. Altogether, it would be difficult to +show more practical philosophy than this remnant of our 'puir hill +folk' have done; they do not seem the least cast down, and their way +of presenting themselves was as simple and natural as could be. They +said, a Dane here had told them that an Englishman, friendly to the +Greek cause, was here, and that, as they were reduced to beg their +way home, they thought they might as well begin with me. I write in +haste to snatch the post. + +"Believe me, and truly, + +"Your obliged, &c. + +"P.S. I have, since I wrote this, seen them again. Count P. Gamba +asked them to breakfast. One of them means to publish his Journal of +the campaign. The Bavarian wonders a little that the Greeks are not +quite the same with them of the time of Themistocles, (they were not +then very tractable, by the by,) and at the difficulty of +disciplining them; but he is a 'bon homme' and a tactician, and a +little like Dugald Dalgetty, who would insist upon the erection of 'a +sconce on the hill of Drumsnab,' or whatever it was;--the other seems +to wonder at nothing." + + +LETTER 522. TO LADY ----. + +"May 17. 1823. + +"My voyage to Greece will depend upon the Greek Committee (in +England) partly, and partly on the instructions which some persons +now in Greece on a private mission may be pleased to send me. I am a +member, lately elected, of the said Committee; and my object in going +up would be to do any little good in my power;--but as there are some +_pros_ and _cons_ on the subject, with regard to how far the +intervention of strangers may be advisable, I know no more than I +tell you; but we shall probably hear something soon from England and +Greece, which may be more decisive. + +"With regard to the late person (Lord Londonderry), whom you hear +that I have attacked, I can only say that a bad minister's memory is +as much an object of investigation as his conduct while alive,--for +his measures do not die with him like a private individual's notions. +He is a matter of _history_; and, wherever I find a tyrant or a +villain, _I will mark him._ I attacked him no more than I had been +wont to do. As to the Liberal,--it was a publication set up for the +advantage of a persecuted author and a very worthy man. But it was +foolish in me to engage in it; and so it has turned out--for I have +hurt myself without doing much good to those for whose benefit it was +intended. + +"Do _not defend_ me--it will never do--you will only make _yourself_ +enemies. + +"Mine are neither to be diminished nor softened, but they may be +overthrown; and there are events which may occur, less improbable +than those which have happened in our time, that may reverse the +present state of things--_nous verrons_. + +"I send you this gossip that you may laugh at it, which is all it is +good for, if it is even good for so much. I shall be delighted to see +you again; but it will be melancholy, should it be only for a moment. + +"Ever yours, N. B." + + +It being now decided that Lord Byron should proceed forthwith to +Greece, all the necessary preparations for his departure were +hastened. One of his first steps was to write to Mr. Trelawney, who +was then at Rome, to request that he would accompany him. "You must +have heard," he says, "that I am going to Greece--why do you not come +to me? I can do nothing without you, and am exceedingly anxious to +see you. Pray, come, for I am at last determined to go to Greece:--it +is the only place I was ever contented in. I am serious; and did not +write before, as I might have given you a journey for nothing. They +all say I can be of use to Greece; I do not know how--nor do they; +but, at all events, let us go." + +A physician, acquainted with surgery, being considered a necessary +part of his suite, he requested of his own medical attendant at +Genoa, Dr. Alexander, to provide him with such a person; and, on the +recommendation of this gentleman, Dr. Bruno, a young man who had just +left the university with considerable reputation, was engaged. Among +other preparations for his expedition, he ordered three splendid +helmets to be made,--with his never forgotten crest engraved upon +them,--for himself and the two friends who were to accompany him. In +this little circumstance, which in England (where the ridiculous is +so much better understood than the heroic) excited some sneers at the +time, we have one of the many instances that occur amusingly through +his life, to confirm the quaint but, as applied to him, true +observation, that "the child is father to the man;"--the +characteristics of these two periods of life being in him so +anomalously transposed, that while the passions and ripened views of +the man developed themselves in his boyhood, so the easily pleased +fancies and vanities of the boy were for ever breaking out among the +most serious moments of his manhood. The same schoolboy whom we +found, at the beginning of the first volume, boasting of his +intention to raise, at some future time, a troop of horse in black +armour, to be called Byron's Blacks, was now seen trying on with +delight his fine crested helmet, and anticipating the deeds of glory +he was to achieve under its plumes. + +At the end of May a letter arrived from Mr. Blaquiere communicating +to him very favourable intelligence, and requesting that he would as +much as possible hasten his departure, as he was now anxiously looked +for, and would be of the greatest service. However encouraging this +summons, and though Lord Byron, thus called upon from all sides, had +now determined to give freely the aid which all deemed so essential, +it is plain from his letters that, in the cool, sagacious view which +he himself took of the whole subject, so far from agreeing with these +enthusiasts in their high estimate of his personal services, he had +not yet even been able to perceive any definite way in which those +services could, with any prospect of permanent utility, be applied. + +For an insight into the true state of his mind at this crisis, the +following observations of one who watched him with eyes quickened by +anxiety will be found, perhaps, to afford the clearest and most +certain clue. "At this time," says the Contessa Guiccioli, "Lord +Byron again turned his thoughts to Greece; and, excited on every side +by a thousand combining circumstances, found himself, almost before +he had time to form a decision, or well know what he was doing, +obliged to set out for that country. But, notwithstanding his +affection for those regions,--notwithstanding the consciousness of +his own moral energies, which made him say always that 'a man ought +to do something more for society than write verses,'--notwithstanding +the attraction which the object of this voyage must necessarily have +for his noble mind, and that, moreover, he was resolved to return to +Italy within a few months,--notwithstanding all this, every person +who was near him at the time can bear witness to the struggle which +his mind underwent (however much he endeavoured to hide it), as the +period fixed for his departure approached."[1] + +[Footnote 1: "Fu allora che Lord Byron rivolse i suoi pensieri alla +Grecia; e stimolato poi da ogni parte per mille combinazioni egli si +trovo quasi senza averlo deciso, e senza saperlo, obbligato di +partire per la Grecia. Ma, non ostante il suo affetto per quelle +contrade,--non ostante il sentimento delle sue forze morali che gli +faceva dire sempre 'che un uomo e obbligato a fare per la societa +qualche cosa di piu che dei versi,--non ostante le attrative che +doveva avere pel nobile suo animo l'oggetto di que viaggio,--e non +ostante che egli fosse determinato di ritornare in Italia fra non +molti mesi,--pure in quale combattimento si trovasse il suo cuore +mentre si avvanzava l'epoca della sua parenza (sebbene cercasse +occultarlo) ognuno che lo ha avvicinato allora puù dirlo."] + +In addition to the vagueness which this want of any defined object so +unsatisfactorily threw round the enterprise before him, he had also a +sort of ominous presentiment--natural, perhaps, to one of his +temperament under such circumstances--that he was but fulfilling his +own doom in this expedition, and should die in Greece. On the evening +before the departure of his friends, Lord and Lady B----, from Genoa, +he called upon them for the purpose of taking leave, and sat +conversing for some time. He was evidently in low spirits, and after +expressing his regret that they should leave Genoa before his own +time of sailing, proceeded to speak of his intended voyage in a tone +full of despondence. "Here," said he, "we are all now together--but +when, and where, shall we meet again? I have a sort of boding that we +see each other for the last time; as something tells me I shall never +again return from Greece." Having continued a little longer in this +melancholy strain, he leaned his head upon the arm of the sofa on +which they were seated, and, bursting into tears, wept for some +minutes with uncontrollable feeling. Though he had been talking only +with Lady B----, all who were present in the room observed, and were +affected by his emotion, while he himself, apparently ashamed of his +weakness, endeavoured to turn off attention from it by some ironical +remark, spoken with a sort of hysterical laugh, upon the effects of +"nervousness." + +He had, previous to this conversation, presented to each of the party +some little farewell gift--a book to one, a print from his bust by +Bartolini to another, and to Lady B---- a copy of his Armenian +Grammar, which had some manuscript remarks of his own on the leaves. +In now parting with her, having begged, as a memorial, some trifle +which she had worn, the lady gave him one of her rings; in return for +which he took a pin from his breast, containing a small cameo of +Napoleon, which he said had long been his companion, and presented it +to her Ladyship. + +The next day Lady B---- received from him the following note. + + +TO THE COUNTESS OF B----. + +"Albaro, June 2. 1823. + +"My dear Lady B----, 'I am _superstitious_, and have recollected that +memorials with a _point_ are of less fortunate augury; I will, +therefore, request you to accept, instead of the _pin_, the enclosed +chain, which is of so slight a value that you need not hesitate. As +you wished for something _worn_, I can only say, that it has been +worn oftener and longer than the other. It is of Venetian +manufacture; and the only peculiarity about it is, that it could only +be obtained at or from Venice. At Genoa they have none of the same +kind. I also enclose a ring, which I would wish _Alfred_ to keep; it +is too large to _wear_; but is formed of _lava_, and so far adapted +to the fire of his years and character. You will perhaps have the +goodness to acknowledge the receipt of this note, and send back the +pin (for good luck's sake), which I shall value much more for having +been a night in your custody. + +"Ever and faithfully your obliged, &c. + +"P.S. I hope your _nerves_ are well to-day, and will continue to +flourish." + + +In the mean time the preparations for his romantic expedition were in +progress. With the aid of his banker and very sincere friend, Mr. +Barry, of Genoa, he was enabled to raise the large sums of money +necessary for his supply;--10,000 crowns in specie, and 40,000 crowns +in bills of exchange, being the amount of what he took with him, and +a portion of this having been raised upon his furniture and books, on +which Mr. Barry, as I understand, advanced a sum far beyond their +worth. An English brig, the Hercules, had been freighted to convey +himself and his suite, which consisted, at this time, of Count Gamba, +Mr. Trelawney, Dr. Bruno, and eight domestics. There were also aboard +five horses, sufficient arms and ammunition for the use of his own +party, two one-pounders belonging to his schooner, the Bolivar, which +he had left at Genoa, and medicine enough for the supply of a +thousand men for a year. + +The following letter to the Secretary of the Greek Committee +announces his approaching departure. + + +LETTER 523. TO MR. BOWRING. + +"July 7. 1823. + +"We sail on the 12th for Greece.--I have had a letter from Mr, +Blaquiere, too long for present transcription, but very satisfactory. +The Greek Government expects me without delay. + +"In conformity to the desires of Mr. B. and other correspondents in +Greece, I have to suggest, with all deference to the Committee, that +a remittance of even '_ten thousand pounds only_' (Mr. B.'s +expression) would be of the greatest service to the Greek Government +at present. I have also to recommend strongly the attempt of a loan, +for which there will be offered a sufficient security by deputies now +on their way to England. In the mean time, I hope that the Committee +will be enabled to do something effectual. + +"For my own part, I mean to carry up, in cash or credits, above +eight, and nearly nine thousand pounds sterling, which I am enabled +to do by funds I have in Italy, and credits in England. Of this sum I +must necessarily reserve a portion for the subsistence of myself and +suite; the rest I am willing to apply in the manner which seems most +likely to be useful to the cause--having of course some guarantee or +assurance, that it will not be misapplied to any individual +speculation. + +"If I remain in Greece, which will mainly depend upon the presumed +probable utility of my presence there, and of the opinion of the +Greeks themselves as to its propriety--in short, if I am welcome to +them, I shall continue, during my residence at least, to apply such +portions of my income, present and future, as may forward the +object--that is to say, what I can spare for that purpose. Privations +I can, or at least could once bear--abstinence I am accustomed +to--and as to fatigue, I was once a tolerable traveller. What I may +be now, I cannot tell--but I will try. + +"I await the commands of the Committee--Address to Genoa--the letters +will be forwarded me, wherever I may be, by my bankers, Messrs. Webb +and Barry. It would have given me pleasure to have had some more +_defined_ instructions before I went, but these, of course, rest at +the option of the Committee. + +I have the honour to be, + +"Yours obediently, &c. + +"P.S. Great anxiety is expressed for a printing press and types, &c. +I have not the time to provide them, but recommend this to the notice +of the Committee. I presume the types must, partly at least, be +_Greek_: they wish to publish papers, and perhaps a Journal, probably +in Romaic, with Italian translations." + + +All was now ready; and on the 13th of July himself and his whole +party slept on board the Hercules. About sunrise the next morning +they succeeded in clearing the port; but there was little wind, and +they remained in sight of Genoa the whole day. The night was a bright +moonlight, but the wind had become stormy and adverse, and they were, +for a short time, in serious danger. Lord Byron, who remained on deck +during the storm, was employed anxiously, with the aid of such of his +suite as were not disabled by sea-sickness from helping him in +preventing further mischief to the horses, which, having been badly +secured, had broken loose and injured each other. After making head +against the wind for three or four hours, the captain was at last +obliged to steer back to Genoa, and re-entered the port at six in the +morning. On landing again, after this unpromising commencement of his +voyage, Lord Byron (says Count Gamba) "appeared thoughtful, and +remarked that he considered a bad beginning a favourable omen." + +It has been already, I believe, mentioned that, among the +superstitions in which he chose to indulge, the supposed unluckiness +of Friday, as a day for the commencement of any work, was one by +which he, almost always, allowed himself to be influenced. Soon after +his arrival at Pisa, a lady of his acquaintance happening to meet him +on the road from her house as she was herself returning thither, and +supposing that he had been to make her a visit, requested that he +would go back with her. "I have not been to your house," he answered; +"for, just before I got to the door, I remembered that it was Friday; +and, not liking to make my first visit on a Friday, I turned back." +It is even related of him that he once sent away a Genoese tailor who +brought him home a new coat on the same ominous day. + +With all this, strange to say, he set sail for Greece on a +Friday:--and though, by those who have any leaning to this +superstitious fancy, the result maybe thought but too sadly +confirmatory of the omen, it is plain that either the influence of +the superstition over his own mind was slight, or, in the excitement +of self-devotion under which he now acted, was forgotten, In truth, +notwithstanding his encouraging speech to Count Gamba, the +forewarning he now felt of his approaching doom seems to have been +far too deep and serious to need the aid of any such accessory. +Having expressed a wish, on relanding, to visit his own palace, which +he had left to the care of Mr. Barry during his absence, and from +which Madame Guiccioli had early that morning departed, he now +proceeded thither, accompanied by Count Gamba alone. "His +conversation," says this gentleman, "was somewhat melancholy on our +way to Albaro: he spoke much of his past life, and of the uncertainty +of the future. 'Where,' said he, 'shall we be in a year?'--It looked +(adds his friend) like a melancholy foreboding; for, on the same day, +of the same month, in the next year, he was carried to the tomb of +his ancestors." + +It took nearly the whole of the day to repair the damages of their +vessel; and the greater part of this interval was passed by Lord +Byron, in company with Mr. Barry, at some gardens near the city. Here +his conversation, as this gentleman informs me, took the same gloomy +turn. That he had not fixed to go to England, in preference, seemed +one of his deep regrets; and so hopeless were the views he expressed +of the whole enterprise before him, that, as it appeared to Mr. +Barry, nothing but a devoted sense of duty and honour could have +determined him to persist in it. + +In the evening of that day they set sail;--and now, fairly launched +in the cause, and disengaged, as it were, from his former state of +existence, the natural power of his spirit to shake off pressure, +whether from within or without, began instantly to display itself. +According to the report of one of his fellow-voyagers, though so +clouded while on shore, no sooner did he find himself, once more, +bounding over the waters, than all the light and life of his better +nature shone forth. In the breeze that now bore him towards his +beloved Greece, the voice of his youth seemed again to speak. Before +the titles of hero, of benefactor, to which he now aspired, that of +poet, however pre-eminent, faded into nothing. His love of freedom, +his generosity, his thirst for the new and adventurous,--all were +re-awakened; and even the bodings that still lingered at the bottom +of his heart but made the course before him more precious from his +consciousness of its brevity, and from the high and self-ennobling +resolution he had now taken to turn what yet remained of it +gloriously to account. + + "Parte, e porta un desio d'eterna ed alma + Gloria che a nobil cuor e sferza e sprone; + A magnanime imprese intenta ha l'alma, + Ed _insolite cose oprar_ dispone. + Gir fra i nemici--_ivi o cipresso o palma_ + Acquistar." + +After a passage of five days, they reached Leghorn, at which place it +was thought necessary to touch, for the purpose of taking on board a +supply of gunpowder, and other English goods, not to be had +elsewhere. + +It would have been the wish of Lord Byron, in the new path he had now +marked out for himself, to disconnect from his name, if possible, all +those poetical associations, which, by throwing a character of +romance over the step he was now taking, might have a tendency, as he +feared, to impair its practical utility; and it is, perhaps, hardly +saying too much for his sincere zeal in the cause to assert, that he +would willingly at this moment have sacrificed his whole fame, as +poet, for even the prospect of an equivalent renown, as +philanthropist and liberator. How vain, however, was the thought that +he could thus supersede his own glory, or cause the fame of the lyre +to be forgotten in that of the sword, was made manifest to him by a +mark of homage which reached him, while at Leghorn, from the hands of +one of the only two men of the age who could contend with him in the +universality of his literary fame. + +Already, as has been seen, an exchange of courtesies, founded upon +mutual admiration, had taken place between Lord Byron and the great +poet of Germany, Goethe. Of this intercourse between two such +men,--the former as brief a light in the world's eyes, as the latter +has been long and steadily luminous,--an account has been by the +venerable survivor put on record, which, as a fit preliminary to the +letter I am about to give, I shall here insert in as faithful a +translation as it has been in my power to procure. + + + +"GOETHE AND BYRON. + +"The German poet, who, down to the latest period of his long life, +had been always anxious to acknowledge the merits of his literary +predecessors and contemporaries, because he has always considered +this to be the surest means of cultivating his own powers, could not +but have his attention attracted to the great talent of the noble +Lord almost from his earliest appearance, and uninterruptedly watched +the progress of his mind throughout the great works which he +unceasingly produced. It was immediately perceived by him that the +public appreciation of his poetical merits kept pace with the rapid +succession of his writings. The joyful sympathy of others would have +been perfect, had not the poet, by a life marked by +self-dissatisfaction, and the indulgence of strong passions, +disturbed the enjoyment which his infinite genius produced. But his +German admirer was not led astray by this, or prevented from +following with close attention both his works and his life in all +their eccentricity. These astonished him the more, as he found in the +experience of past ages no element for the calculation of so +eccentric an orbit. + +"These endeavours of the German did not remain unknown to the +Englishman, of which his poems contain unambiguous proofs; and he +also availed himself of the means afforded by various travellers, to +forward some friendly salutation to his unknown admirer. At length a +manuscript Dedication of _Sardanapaius_, in the most complimentary +terms, was forwarded to him, with an obliging enquiry whether it +might be prefixed to the tragedy. The German, who, at his advanced +age, was conscious of his own powers and of their effects, could only +gratefully and modestly consider this Dedication as the expression of +an inexhaustible intellect, deeply feeling and creating its own +object. He was by no means dissatisfied when, after a long delay, +Sardanapaius appeared without the Dedication; and was made happy by +the possession of a fac-simile of it, engraved on stone, which he +considered a precious memorial. + +The noble Lord, however, did not abandon his purpose of proclaiming +to the world his valued kindness towards his German contemporary and +brother poet, a precious evidence of which was placed in front of the +tragedy of Werner. It will be readily believed, when so unhoped for +an honour was conferred upon the German poet,--one seldom experienced +in life, and that too from one himself so highly distinguished,--he +was by no means reluctant to express the high esteem and sympathising +sentiment with which his unsurpassed contemporary had inspired him. +The task was difficult, and was found the more so, the more it was +contemplated;--for what can be said of one whose unfathomable +qualities are not to be reached by words? But when a young gentleman, +Mr. Sterling, of pleasing person and excellent character, in the +spring of 1823, on a journey from Genoa to Weimar, delivered a few +lines under the hand of the great man as an introduction, and when +the report was soon after spread that the noble Peer was about to +direct his great mind and various power to deeds of sublime daring +beyond the ocean, there appeared to be no time left for further +delay, and the following lines were hastily written[1]:-- + +[Footnote 1: I insert the verses in the original language, as an +English version gives but a very imperfect notion of their meaning.] + + "Ein freundlich Wort kommt eines nach dem andern + Von Süden her und bringt uns frohe Stunden; + Es ruft uns auf zum Edelsten zu wandern, + Nich ist der Geist, doch ist der Fuss gebunden. + + "Wie soil ich dem, den ich so lang begleitet, + Nun etwas Traulich's in die Ferne sagen? + Ihm der sich selbst im Innersten bestreitet, + Stark angewohnt das tiefste Weh zu tragen. + + "Wohl sey ihm doch, wenn er sich selbst empfindet! + Er wage selbst sich hoch beglückt zu nennen, + Wenn Musenkraft die Schmerzen überwindet, + Und wie ich ihn erkannt mög' er sich kennen. + +"The verses reached Genoa, but the excellent friend to whom they were +addressed was already gone, and to a distance, as it appeared, +inaccessible. Driven back, however, by storms, he landed at Leghorn, +where these cordial lines reached him just as he was about to embark, +on the 24th of July, 1823. He had barely time to answer by a +well-filled page, which the possessor has preserved among his most +precious papers, as the worthiest evidence of the connection that had +been formed. Affecting and delightful as was such a document, and +justifying the most lively hopes, it has acquired now the greatest, +though most painful value, from the untimely death of the lofty +writer, which adds a peculiar edge to the grief felt generally +throughout the whole moral and poetical world at his loss: for we +were warranted in hoping, that when his great deeds should have been +achieved, we might personally have greeted in him the pre-eminent +intellect, the happily acquired friend, and the most humane of +conquerors. At present we can only console ourselves with the +conviction that his country will at last recover from that violence +of invective and reproach which has been so long raised against him, +and will learn to understand that the dross and lees of the age and +the individual, out of which even the best have to elevate +themselves, are but perishable and transient, while the wonderful +glory to which he in the present and through all future ages has +elevated his country, will be as boundless in its splendour as it is +incalculable in its consequences. Nor can there be any doubt that the +nation, which can boast of so many great names, will class him among +the first of those through whom she has acquired such glory." + +The following is Lord Byron's answer to the communication above +mentioned from Goethe:-- + + +LETTER 524. TO GOETHE. + +"Leghorn, July 24. 1823. + +"Illustrious Sir, + +"I cannot thank you as you ought to be thanked for the lines which my +young friend, Mr. Sterling, sent me of yours; and it would but ill +become me to pretend to exchange verses with him who, for fifty +years, has been the undisputed sovereign of European literature. You +must therefore accept my most sincere acknowledgments in prose--and +in hasty prose too; for I am at present on my voyage to Greece once +more, and surrounded by hurry and bustle, which hardly allow a moment +even to gratitude and admiration to express themselves. + +"I sailed from Genoa some days ago, was driven back by a gale of +wind, and have since sailed again and arrived here, 'Leghorn,' this +morning, to receive on board some Greek passengers for their +struggling country. + +"Here also I found your lines and Mr. Sterling's letter; and I could +not have had a more favourable omen, a more agreeable surprise, than +a word of Goethe, written by his own hand. + +"I am returning to Greece, to see if I can be of any little use +there: if ever I come back, I will pay a visit to Weimar, to offer +the sincere homage of one of the many millions of your admirers. I +have the honour to be, ever and most, + +"Your obliged, + +"NOEL BYRON." + + +From Leghorn, where his Lordship was joined by Mr. Hamilton Browne, +he set sail on the 24th of July, and, after about ten days of most +favourable weather, cast anchor at Argostoli, the chief port of +Cephalonia. + +It had been thought expedient that Lord Byron should, with the view +of informing himself correctly respecting Greece, direct his course, +in the first instance, to one of the Ionian islands, from whence, as +from a post of observation, he might be able to ascertain the exact +position of affairs before he landed on the continent. For this +purpose it had been recommended that either Zante or Cephalonia +should be selected; and his choice was chiefly determined towards the +latter island by his knowledge of the talents and liberal feelings of +the Resident, Colonel Napier. Aware, however, that, in the yet +doubtful aspect of the foreign policy of England, his arrival thus on +an expedition so declaredly in aid of insurrection might have the +effect of embarrassing the existing authorities, he resolved to adopt +such a line of conduct as would be the least calculated either to +compromise or offend them. It was with this view he now thought it +prudent not to land at Argostoli, but to await on board his vessel +such information from the Government of Greece as should enable him +to decide upon his further movements. + +The arrival of a person so celebrated at Argostoli excited naturally +a lively sensation, as well among the Greeks as the English of that +place; and the first approaches towards intercourse between the +latter and their noble visiter were followed instantly, on both +sides, by that sort of agreeable surprise which, from the false +notions they had preconceived of each other, was to be expected. His +countrymen, who, from the exaggerated stories they had so often heard +of his misanthropy and especial horror of the English, expected their +courtesies to be received with a haughty, if not insulting coldness, +found, on the contrary, in all his demeanour a degree of open and +cheerful affability which, calculated, as it was, to charm under any +circumstances, was to them, expecting so much the reverse, peculiarly +fascinating;--while he, on his side, even still more sensitively +prepared, by a long course of brooding over his own fancies, for a +cold and reluctant reception from his countrymen, found himself +greeted at once with a welcome so cordial and respectful as not only +surprised and flattered, but, it was evident, sensibly touched him. +Among other hospitalities accepted by him was a dinner with the +officers of the garrison, at which, on his health being drunk, he is +reported to have said, in returning thanks, that "he was doubtful +whether he could express his sense of the obligation as he ought, +having been so long in the practice of speaking a foreign language +that it was with some difficulty he could convey the whole force of +what he felt in his own." + +Having despatched messengers to Corfu and Missolonghi in quest of +information, he resolved, while waiting their return, to employ his +time in a journey to Ithaca, which island is separated from that of +Cephalonia but by a narrow strait. On his way to Vathi, the chief +city of the island, to which place he had been invited, and his +journey hospitably facilitated, by the Resident, Captain Knox, he +paid a visit to the mountain-cave in which, according to tradition, +Ulysses deposited the presents of the Phæacians. "Lord Byron (says +Count Gamba) ascended to the grotto, but the steepness and height +prevented him from reaching the remains of the Castle. I myself +experienced considerable difficulty in gaining it. Lord Byron sat +reading in the grotto, but fell asleep. I awoke him on my return, and +he said that I had interrupted dreams more pleasant than ever he had +before in his life." + +Though unchanged, since he first visited these regions, in his +preference of the wild charms of Nature to all the classic +associations of Art and History, he yet joined with much interest in +any pilgrimage to those places which tradition had sanctified. At the +Fountain of Arethusa, one of the spots of this kind which he visited, +a repast had been prepared for himself and his party by the Resident; +and at the School of Homer,--as some remains beyond Chioni are +called,--he met with an old refugee bishop, whom he had known +thirteen years before in Livadia, and with whom he now conversed of +those times, with a rapidity and freshness of recollection with which +the memory of the old bishop could but ill keep pace. Neither did the +traditional Baths of Penelope escape his research; and "however +sceptical (says a lady, who, soon after, followed his footsteps,) he +might have been as to these supposed localities, he never offended +the natives by any objection to the reality of their fancies. On the +contrary, his politeness and kindness won the respect and admiration +of all those Greek gentlemen who saw him; and to me they spoke of him +with enthusiasm." + +Those benevolent views by which, even more, perhaps, than by any +ambition of renown, he proved himself to be actuated in his present +course, had, during his short stay at Ithaca, opportunities of +disclosing themselves. On learning that a number of poor families had +fled thither from Scio, Patras, and other parts of Greece, he not +only presented to the Commandant three thousand piastres for their +relief, but by his generosity to one family in particular, which had +once been in a state of affluence at Patras, enabled them to repair +their circumstances and again live in comfort. "The eldest girl (says +the lady whom I have already quoted) became afterwards the mistress +of the school formed at Ithaca; and neither she, her sister, nor +mother, could ever speak of Lord Byron without the deepest feeling of +gratitude, and of regret for his too premature death." + +After occupying in this excursion about eight days, he had again +established himself on board the Hercules, when one of the messengers +whom he had despatched returned, bringing a letter to him from the +brave Marco Botzari, whom he had left among the mountains of Agrafa, +preparing for that attack in which he so gloriously fell. The +following are the terms in which this heroic chief wrote to Lord +Byron:-- + +"Your letter, and that of the venerable Ignazio, have filled me with +joy. Your Excellency is exactly the person of whom we stand in need. +Let nothing prevent you from coming into this part of Greece. The +enemy threatens us in great number; but, by the help of God and your +Excellency, they shall meet a suitable resistance. I shall have +something to do to-night against a corps of six or seven thousand +Albanians, encamped close to this place. The day after to-morrow I +will set out with a few chosen companions, to meet your Excellency. +Do not delay. I thank you for the good opinion you have of my +fellow-citizens, which God grant you will not find ill-founded; and I +thank you still more for the care you have so kindly taken of them. + +"Believe me," &c. + +In the expectation that Lord Byron would proceed forthwith to +Missolonghi, it had been the intention of Botzari, as the above +letter announces, to leave the army, and hasten, with a few of his +brother warriors, to receive their noble ally on his landing in a +manner worthy of the generous mission on which he came. The above +letter, however, preceded but by a few hours his death. That very +night he penetrated, with but a handful of followers, into the midst +of the enemy's camp, whose force was eight thousand strong, and after +leading his heroic band over heaps of dead, fell, at last, close to +the tent of the Pasha himself. + +The mention made in this brave Suliote's letter of Lord Byron's care +of his fellow-citizens refers to a popular act done recently by the +noble poet at Cephalonia, in taking into his pay, as a body-guard, +forty of this now homeless tribe. On finding, however, that for want +of employment they were becoming restless and turbulent, he +despatched them off soon after, armed and provisioned, to join in the +defence of Missolonghi, which was at that time besieged on one side +by a considerable force, and blockaded on the other by a Turkish +squadron. Already had he, with a view to the succour of this place, +made a generous offer to the Government, which he thus states himself +in one of his letters:--"I offered to advance a thousand dollars a +month for the succour of Missolonghi, and the Suliotes under Botzari +(since killed); but the Government have answered me, that they wish +to confer with me previously, which is in fact saying they wish me to +expend my money in some other direction. I will take care that it is +for the public cause, otherwise I will not advance a para. The +opposition say they want to cajole me, and the party in power say the +others wish to seduce me, so between the two I have a difficult part +to play; however, I will have nothing to do with the factions unless +to reconcile them if possible." + +In these last few sentences is described briefly the position in +which Lord Byron was now placed, and in which the coolness, +foresight, and self-possession he displayed sufficiently refute the +notion that even the highest powers of imagination, whatever effect +they may sometimes produce on the moral temperament, are at all +incompatible with the sound practical good sense, the steadily +balanced views, which the business of active life requires. + +The great difficulty, to an observer of the state of Greece at this +crisis, was to be able clearly to distinguish between what was real +and what was merely apparent in those tests by which the probability +of her future success or failure was to be judged. With a Government +little more than nominal, having neither authority nor resources, its +executive and legislative branches being openly at variance, and the +supplies that ought to fill its exchequer being intercepted by the +military Chiefs, who, as they were, in most places, collectors of the +revenue, were able to rob by authority;--with that curse of all +popular enterprises, a multiplicity of leaders, each selfishly +pursuing his own objects, and ready to make the sword the umpire of +their claims;--with a fleet furnished by private adventure, and +therefore precarious; and an army belonging rather to its Chiefs than +to the Government, and, accordingly, trusting more to plunder than to +pay;--with all these principles of mischief, and, as it would seem, +ruin at the very heart of the struggle, it had yet persevered, which +was in itself victory, through three trying campaigns; and at this +moment presented, in the midst of all its apparent weakness and +distraction, some elements of success which both accounted for what +had hitherto been effected, and gave a hope, with more favouring +circumstances, of something nobler yet to come. + +Besides the never-failing encouragement which the incapacity of their +enemies afforded them, the Greeks derived also from the geographical +conformation of their country those same advantages with which nature +had blessed their great ancestors, and which had contributed mainly +perhaps to the formation, as well as maintenance, of their high +national character. Islanders and mountaineers, they were, by their +very position, heirs to the blessings of freedom and commerce; nor +had the spirit of either, through all their long slavery and +sufferings, ever wholly died away. They had also, luckily, in a +political as well as religious point of view, preserved that sacred +line of distinction between themselves and their conquerors which a +fond fidelity to an ancient church could alone have maintained for +them;--keeping thus holily in reserve, against the hour of struggle, +that most stirring of all the excitements to which Freedom can appeal +when she points to her flame rising out of the censer of Religion. In +addition to these, and all the other moral advantages included in +them, for which the Greeks were indebted to their own nature and +position, is to be taken also into account the aid and sympathy they +had every right to expect from others, as soon as their exertions in +their own cause should justify the confidence that it would be +something more than the mere chivalry of generosity to assist +them.[1] + +[Footnote 1: For a clear and concise sketch of the state of Greece at +this crisis, executed with all that command of the subject which a +long residence in the country alone could give, see Colonel Leake's +"Historical Outline of the Greek Revolution."] + +Such seem to have been the chief features of hope which the state of +Greece, at this moment, presented. But though giving promise, +perhaps, of a lengthened continuance of the struggle, they, in that +very promise, postponed indefinitely the period of its success; and +checked and counteracted as were these auspicious appearances by the +manifold and inherent evils above enumerated,--by a consideration, +too, of the resources and obstinacy of the still powerful Turk, and +of the little favour with which it was at all probable that the +Courts of Europe would ever regard the attempt of any people, under +any circumstances, to be their own emancipators,--none, assuredly, +but a most sanguine spirit could indulge in the dream that Greece +would be able to work out her own liberation, or that aught, indeed, +but a fortuitous concurrence of political circumstances could ever +accomplish it. Like many other such contests between right and might, +it was a cause destined, all felt, to be successful, but at its own +ripe hour;--a cause which individuals might keep alive, but which +events, wholly independent of them, alone could accomplish, and +which, after the hearts, and hopes, and lives of all its bravest +defenders had been wasted upon it, would at last to other hands, and +even to other means than those contemplated by its first champions, +owe its completion. + +That Lord Byron, on a nearer view of the state of Greece, saw it much +in the light I have here regarded it in, his letters leave no room to +doubt. Neither was the impression he had early received of the Greeks +themselves at all improved by the present renewal of his acquaintance +with them. Though making full allowance for the causes that had +produced their degeneracy, he still saw that they were grossly +degenerate, and must be dealt with and counted upon accordingly. "I +am of St. Paul's opinion," said he, "that there is no difference +between Jews and Greeks,--the character of both being equally vile." +With such means and materials, the work of regeneration, he knew, +must be slow; and the hopelessness he therefore felt as to the +chances of ever connecting his name with any essential or permanent +benefit to Greece, gives to the sacrifice he now made of himself a +far more touching interest than had the consciousness of dying for +some great object been at once his incitement and reward. He but +looked upon himself,--to use a favourite illustration of his own,--as +one of the many waves that must break and die upon the shore, before +the tide they help to advance can reach its full mark. "What +signifies Self," was his generous thought, "if a single spark of that +which would be worthy of the past can be bequeathed unquenchedly to +the future?"[1] Such was the devoted feeling with which he embarked +in the cause of Italy; and these words, which, had they remained +_only_ words, the unjust world would have pronounced but an idle +boast, have now received from his whole course in Greece a practical +comment, which gives them all the right of truth to be engraved +solemnly on his tomb. + +[Footnote 1: _Diary of_ 1821.--The same distrustful and, as it turned +out, just view of the chances of success were taken by him also on +that occasion:--"I shall not," he says, "fall back;--though I don't +think them in force or heart sufficient to make much of it."] + +Though with so little hope of being able to serve signally the cause, +the task of at least lightening, by his interposition, some of the +manifold mischiefs that pressed upon it, might yet, he thought, be +within his reach. To convince the Government and the Chiefs of the +paralysing effect of their dissensions;--to inculcate that spirit of +union among themselves which alone could give strength against their +enemies;--to endeavour to humanise the feelings of the belligerents +on both sides, so as to take from the war that character of barbarism +which deterred the more civilised friends of freedom through Europe +from joining in it;--such were, in addition to the now essential aid +of his money, the great objects which he proposed to effect by his +interference; and to these he accordingly, with all the candour, +clear-sightedness, and courage which so pre-eminently distinguished +his great mind, applied himself. + +Aware that, to judge deliberately of the state of parties, he must +keep out of their vortex, and warned, by the very impatience and +rivalry with which the different chiefs courted his presence, of the +risk he should run by connecting himself with any, he resolved to +remain, for some time longer, in his station at Cephalonia, and there +avail himself of the facilities afforded by the position for +collecting information as to the real state of affairs, and +ascertaining in what quarter his own presence and money would be most +available. During the six weeks that had elapsed since his arrival at +Cephalonia, he had been living in the most comfortless manner, pent +up with pigs and poultry, on board the vessel which brought him. +Having now come, however, to the determination of prolonging his +stay, he decided also upon fixing his abode on shore; and, for the +sake of privacy, retired to a small village, called Metaxata, about +seven miles from Argostoli, where he continued to reside during the +remainder of his stay on the island. + +Before this change of residence, he had despatched Mr. Hamilton +Browne and Mr. Trelawney with a letter to the existing Government of +Greece, explanatory of his own views and those of the Committee whom +he represented; and it was not till a month after his removal to +Metaxata that intelligence from these gentlemen reached him. The +picture they gave of the state of the country was, in most respects, +confirmatory of what has already been described as his own view of +it;--incapacity and selfishness at the head of affairs, +disorganisation throughout the whole body politic, but still, with +all this, the heart of the nation sound, and bent on resistance. Nor +could he have failed to be struck with the close family resemblance +to the ancient race of the country which this picture +exhibited;--that great people, in the very midst of their own endless +dissensions, having been ever ready to face round in concert against +the foe. + +His Lordship's agents had been received with all due welcome by the +Government, who were most desirous that he should set out for the +Morea without delay; and pressing letters to the same purport, both +from the Legislative and Executive bodies, accompanied those which +reached him from Messrs. Browne and Trelawney. He was, however, +determined not to move till his own selected time, having seen +reason, the farther insight he obtained into their intrigues, to +congratulate himself but the more on his prudence in not plunging +into the maze without being first furnished with those guards against +deception which the information he was now acquiring supplied him. + +To give an idea, as briefly as possible, of the sort of conflicting +calls that were from various scenes of action, reaching him in his +retirement, it may be sufficient to mention that, while by Metaxa, +the present governor of Missolonghi, he was entreated earnestly to +hasten to the relief of that place, which the Turks were now +blockading both by land and by sea, the head of the military chiefs, +Colocotroni, was no less earnestly urging that he should present +himself at the approaching congress of Salamis, where, under the +dictation of these rude warriors, the affairs of the country were to +be settled,--while at the same time, from another quarter, the great +opponent of these chieftains, Mavrocordato, was, with more urgency, +as well as more ability than any, endeavouring to impress upon him +his own views, and imploring his presence at Hydra, whither he +himself had just been forced to retire. + +The mere knowledge, indeed, that a noble Englishman had arrived in +those regions, so unprepossessed by any party as to inspire a hope of +his alliance in all, and with money, by common rumour, as abundant as +the imaginations of the needy chose to make it, was, in itself, fully +sufficient, without any of the more elevated claims of his name, to +attract towards him all thoughts. "It is easier to conceive," says +Count Gamba, "than to relate the various means employed to engage him +in one faction or the other: letters, messengers, intrigues, and +recriminations,--nay, each faction had its agents exerting every art +to degrade its opponent." He then adds a circumstance strongly +illustrative of a peculiar feature in the noble poet's +character:--"He occupied himself in discovering the truth, hidden as +it was under these intrigues, and _amused himself in confronting the +agents of the different factions_." + +During all these occupations he went on pursuing his usual simple and +uniform course of life,--rising, however, for the despatch of +business, at an early hour, which showed how capable he was of +conquering even long habit when necessary. Though so much occupied, +too, he was, at all hours, accessible to visitors; and the facility +with which he allowed even the dullest people to break in upon him +was exemplified, I am told, strongly in the case of one of the +officers of the garrison, who, without being able to understand any +thing of the poet but his good-nature, used to say, whenever he found +his time hang heavily on his hands,--"I think I shall ride out and +have a little talk with Lord Byron." + +The person, however, whose visits appeared to give him most pleasure, +as well from the interest he took in the subject on which they +chiefly conversed, as from the opportunities, sometimes, of +pleasantry which the peculiarities of his visiter afforded him, was a +medical gentleman named Kennedy, who, from a strong sense of the +value of religion to himself, had taken up the benevolent task of +communicating his own light to others. The first origin of their +intercourse was an undertaking, on the part of this gentleman, to +convert to a firm belief in Christianity some rather sceptical +friends of his, then at Argostoli. Happening to hear of the meeting +appointed for this purpose, Lord Byron begged that he might be +allowed to attend, saying to the person through whom he conveyed his +request, "You know I am reckoned a black sheep,--yet, after all, not +so black as the world believes me." He had promised to convince Dr. +Kennedy that, "though wanting, perhaps, in faith, he at least had +patience:" but the process of so many hours of lecture,--no less than +twelve, without interruption, being stipulated for,--was a trial +beyond his strength; and, very early in the operation, as the Doctor +informs us, he began to show evident signs of a wish to exchange the +part of hearer for that of speaker. Notwithstanding this, however, +there was in all his deportment, both as listener and talker, such a +degree of courtesy, candour, and sincere readiness to be taught, as +excited interest, if not hope, for his future welfare in the good +Doctor; and though he never after attended the more numerous +meetings, his conferences, on the same subject, with Dr. Kennedy +alone, were not infrequent during the remainder of his stay at +Cephalonia. + +These curious conversations are now published; and to the value which +they possess as a simple and popular exposition of the chief +evidences of Christianity, is added the charm that must ever dwell +round the character of one of the interlocutors, and the almost +fearful interest attached to every word that, on such a subject, he +utters. In the course of the first conversation, it will be seen that +Lord Byron expressly disclaimed being one of those infidels "who deny +the Scriptures, and wish to remain in unbelief." On the contrary, he +professed himself "desirous to believe; as he experienced no +happiness in having his religious opinions so unfixed." He was +unable, however, he added, "to understand the Scriptures. Those who +conscientiously believed them he could always respect, and was always +disposed to trust in them more than in others; but he had met with so +many whose conduct differed from the principles which they professed, +and who seemed to profess those principles either because they were +paid to do so, or from some other motive which an intimate +acquaintance with their character would enable one to detect, that +altogether he had seen few, if any, whom he could rely upon as truly +and conscientiously believing the Scriptures." + +We may take for granted that these Conversations,--more especially +the first, from the number of persons present who would report the +proceedings,--excited considerable interest among the society of +Argostoli. It was said that Lord Byron had displayed such a profound +knowledge of the Scriptures as astonished, and even puzzled, the +polemic Doctor; while in all the eminent writers on theological +subjects he had shown himself far better versed than his more +pretending opponent. All this Dr. Kennedy strongly denies; and the +truth seems to be, that on neither side were there much stores of +theological learning. The confession of the lecturer himself, that he +had not read the works of Stillingfleet or Barrow, shows that, in his +researches after orthodoxy, he had not allowed himself any very +extensive range; while the alleged familiarity of Lord Byron with the +same authorities must be taken with a similar abatement of credence +and wonder to that which his own account of his youthful studies, +already given, requires;--a rapid eye and retentive memory having +enabled him, on this as on most other subjects, to catch, as it were, +the salient points on the surface of knowledge, and the recollections +he thus gathered being, perhaps, the livelier from his not having +encumbered himself with more. To any regular train of reasoning, even +on this his most favourite topic, it was not possible to lead him. He +would start objections to the arguments of others, and detect their +fallacies; but of any consecutive ratiocination on his own side he +seemed, if not incapable, impatient. In this, indeed, as in many +other peculiarities belonging to him,--his caprices, fits of weeping, +sudden affections and dislikes,--may be observed striking traces of a +feminine cast of character;--it being observable that the discursive +faculty is rarely exercised by women; but that nevertheless, by the +mere instinct of truth (as was the case with Lord Byron), they are +often enabled at once to light upon the very conclusion to which man, +through all the forms of reasoning, is, in the mean time, puzzling, +and, perhaps, losing his way:-- + + "And strikes each point with native force of mind, + While puzzled logic blunders far behind." + +Of the Scriptures, it is certain that Lord Byron was a frequent and +almost daily reader,--the small pocket Bible which, on his leaving +England, had been given him by his sister, being always near him. How +much, in addition to his natural solicitude on the subject of +religion, the taste of the poet influenced him in this line of study, +may be seen in his frequently expressed admiration of "the +ghost-scene," as he called it, in Samuel, and his comparison of this +supernatural appearance with the Mephistopheles of Goethe. In the +same manner, his imagination appears to have been much struck by the +notion of his lecturer, that the circumstance mentioned in Job of the +Almighty summoning Satan into his presence was to be interpreted, +not, as he thought, allegorically and poetically, but literally. More +than once we find him expressing to Dr. Kennedy "how much this belief +of the real appearance of Satan to hear and obey the commands of God +added to his views of the grandeur and majesty of the Creator." + +On the whole, the interest of these Conversations, as far as regards +Lord Byron, arises not so much from any new or certain lights they +supply us with on the subject of his religious opinions, as from the +evidence they afford of his amiable facility of intercourse, the +total absence of bigotry or prejudice from even his most favourite +notions, and--what may be accounted, perhaps, the next step in +conversion to belief itself--his disposition to believe. As far, +indeed, as a frank submission to the charge of being wrong may be +supposed to imply an advance on the road to being right, few persons, +it must be acknowledged, under a process of proselytism, ever showed +more of this desired symptom of change than Lord Byron. "I own," says +a witness to one of these conversations[1], "I felt astonished to +hear Lord Byron submit to lectures on his life, his vanity, and the +uselessness of his talents, which made me stare." + +[Footnote 1: Mr. Finlay.] + +As most persons will be tempted to refer to the work itself, there +are but one or two other opinions of his Lordship recorded in it +which I shall think necessary to notice here. A frequent question of +his to Dr. Kennedy was,--"What, then, you think me in a very bad +way?"--the usual answer to which being in the affirmative, he, on one +occasion, replied,--"I am now, however, in a fairer way. I already +believe in predestination, which I know you believe, and in the +depravity of the human heart in general, and of my own in +particular:--thus you see there are two points in which we agree. I +shall get at the others by and by; but you cannot expect me to become +a perfect Christian at once." On the subject of Dr. Southwood's +amiable and, it is to be hoped for the sake of Christianity and the +human race, _orthodox_ work on "The Divine Government," he thus +spoke:--"I cannot decide the point; but to my present apprehension it +would be a most desirable thing could it be proved, that ultimately +all created beings were to be happy. This would appear to be most +consistent with God, whose power is omnipotent, and whose chief +attribute is Love. I cannot yield to your doctrine of the eternal +duration of punishment. This author's opinion is more humane, and I +think he supports it very strongly from Scripture." + +I shall now insert, with such explanatory remarks as they may seem to +require, some of the letters, official as well as private, which his +Lordship wrote while at Cephalonia; and from which the reader may +collect, in a manner far more interesting than through the medium of +any narrative, a knowledge both of the events now passing in Greece, +and of the views and feelings with which they were regarded by Lord +Byron. + +To Madame Guiccioli he wrote frequently, but briefly, and, for the +first time, in English; adding always a few lines in her brother +Pietro's letters to her. The following are extracts. + + +"October 7. + +"Pietro has told you all the gossip of the island,--our earthquakes, +our politics, and present abode in a pretty village. As his opinions +and mine on the Greeks are nearly similar, I need say little on that +subject. I was a fool to come here; but, being here, I must see what +is to be done." + + +"October ----. + +"We are still in Cephalonia, waiting for news of a more accurate +description; for all is contradiction and division in the reports of +the state of the Greeks. I shall fulfil the object of my mission from +the Committee, and then return into Italy; for it does not seem +likely that, as an individual, I can be of use to them;--at least no +other foreigner has yet appeared to be so, nor does it seem likely +that any will be at present. + +"Pray be as cheerful and tranquil as you can; and be assured that +there is nothing here that can excite any thing but a wish to be with +you again,--though we are very kindly treated by the English here of +all descriptions. Of the Greeks, I can't say much good hitherto, and +I do not like to speak ill of them, though they do of one another." + + +"October 29. + +"You may be sure that the moment I can join you again, will be as +welcome to me as at any period of our recollection. There is nothing +very attractive here to divide my attention; but I must attend to the +Greek cause, both from honour and inclination. Messrs. B. and T. are +both in the Morea, where they have been very well received, and both +of them write in good spirits and hopes. I am anxious to hear how the +Spanish cause will be arranged, as I think it may have an influence +on the Greek contest. I wish that both were fairly and favourably +settled, that I might return to Italy, and talk over with you _our_, +or rather Pietro's adventures, some of which are rather amusing, as +also some of the incidents of our voyages and travels. But I reserve +them, in the hope that we may laugh over them together at no very +distant period." + + +LETTER 525. TO MR. BOWRING. + +"9bre 29. 1823. + +"This letter will be presented to you by Mr. Hamilton Browne, who +precedes or accompanies the Greek deputies. He is both capable and +desirous of rendering any service to the cause, and information to +the Committee. He has already been of considerable advantage to both, +of my own knowledge. Lord Archibald Hamilton, to whom he is related, +will add a weightier recommendation than mine. + +"Corinth is taken, and a Turkish squadron said to be beaten in the +Archipelago. The public progress of the Greeks is considerable, but +their internal dissensions still continue. On arriving at the seat of +Government, I shall endeavour to mitigate or extinguish them--though +neither is an easy task. I have remained here till now, partly in +expectation of the squadron in relief of Missolonghi, partly of Mr. +Parry's detachment, and partly to receive from Malta or Zante the sum +of four thousand pounds sterling, which I have advanced for the +payment of the expected squadron. The bills are negotiating, and will +be cashed in a short time, as they would have been immediately in any +other mart; but the miserable Ionian merchants have little money, and +no great credit, and are besides _politically shy_ on this occasion; +for although I had letters of Messrs. Webb (one of the strongest +houses of the Mediterranean), and also of Messrs. Ransom, there is no +business to be done on _fair_ terms except through English merchants. +These, however, have proved both able and willing,--and upright as +usual.[1] + +[Footnote 1: The English merchants whom he thus so justly describes, +are Messrs. Barff and Hancock, of Zante, whose conduct, not only in +the instance of Lord Byron, but throughout the whole Greek struggle, +has been uniformly most zealous and disinterested.] + +"Colonel Stanhope has arrived, and will proceed immediately; he shall +have my co-operation in all his endeavours: but, from every thing +that I can learn, the formation of a brigade at present will be +extremely difficult, to say the least of it. With regard to the +reception of foreigners,--at least of foreign officers,--I refer you +to a passage in Prince Mavrocordato's recent letter, a copy of which +is enclosed in my packet sent to the Deputies. It is my intention to +proceed by sea to Napoli di Romania as soon as I have arranged this +business for the Greeks themselves--I mean the advance of two hundred +thousand piastres for their fleet. + +"My time here has not been entirely lost,--as you will perceive by +some former documents that any advantage from my _then_ proceeding to +the Morea was doubtful. We have at last moved the Deputies, and I +have made a strong remonstrance on their divisions to Mavrocordato, +which, I understand, was forwarded by the Legislative to the Prince. +With a loan they _may_ do much, which is all that _I_, for particular +reasons, can say on the subject. + +"I regret to hear from Colonel Stanhope that the Committee have +exhausted their funds. Is it supposed that a brigade can be formed +without them? or that three thousand pounds would be sufficient? It +is true that money will go farther in Greece than in most countries; +but the regular force must be rendered a _national concern_, and paid +from a national fund; and neither individuals nor committees, at +least with the usual means of such as now exist, will find the +experiment practicable. + +"I beg once more to recommend my friend, Mr. Hamilton Browne, to whom +I have also personal obligations, for his exertions in the common +cause, and have the honour to be + +"Yours very truly." + +His remonstrance to Prince Mavrocordato, here mentioned, was +accompanied by another, addressed to the existing Government; and +Colonel Stanhope, who was about to proceed to Napoli and Argos, was +made the bearer of both. The wise and noble spirit that pervades +these two papers must, of itself, without any further comment, be +appreciated by all readers.[1] + +[Footnote 1: The originals of both are in Italian.] + + +LETTER 526. + +TO THE GENERAL GOVERNMENT OF GREECE. + +"Cephalonia, November 30. 1823. + +"The affair of the Loan, the expectations so long and vainly indulged +of the arrival of the Greek fleet, and the danger to which +Missolonghi is still exposed, have detained me here, and will still +detain me till some of them are removed. But when the money shall be +advanced for the fleet, I will start for the Morea; not knowing, +however, of what use my presence can be in the present state of +things. We have heard some rumours of new dissensions, nay, of the +existence of a civil war. With all my heart I pray that these reports +may be false or exaggerated, for I can imagine no calamity more +serious than this; and I must frankly confess, that unless union and +order are established, all hopes of a Loan will be vain; and all the +assistance which the Greeks could expect from abroad--an assistance +neither trifling nor worthless--will be suspended or destroyed; and, +what is worse, the great powers of Europe, of whom no one was an +enemy to Greece, but seemed to favour her establishment of an +independent power, will be persuaded that the Greeks are unable to +govern themselves, and will, perhaps, themselves undertake to settle +your disorders in such a way as to blast the brightest hopes of +yourselves and of your friends. + +"Allow me to add, once for all,--I desire the well-being of Greece, +and nothing else; I will do all I can to secure it; but I cannot +consent, I never will consent, that the English public, or English +individuals, should be deceived as to the real state of Greek +affairs. The rest, Gentlemen, depends on you. You have fought +gloriously;--act honourably towards your fellow-citizens and the +world, and it will then no more be said, as has been repeated for two +thousand years with the Roman historians, that Philopoemen was the +last of the Grecians. Let not calumny itself (and it is difficult, I +own, to guard against it in so arduous a struggle,) compare the +patriot Greek, when resting from his labours, to the Turkish pacha, +whom his victories have exterminated. + +"I pray you to accept these my sentiments as a sincere proof of my +attachment to your real interests, and to believe that I am and +always shall be + +"Yours," &c. + + +LETTER 527. TO PRINCE MAVROCORDATO. + +"Cephalonia, Dec. 2. 1823. + +"Prince, + +"The present will be put into your hands by Colonel Stanhope, son of +Major-General the Earl of Harrington, &c. &c. He has arrived from +London in fifty days, after having visited all the Committees of +Germany. He is charged by our Committee to act in concert with me for +the liberation of Greece. I conceive that his name and his mission +will be a sufficient recommendation, without the necessity of any +other from a foreigner, although one who, in common with all Europe, +respects and admires the courage, the talents, and, above all, the +probity of Prince Mavrocordato. + +"I am very uneasy at hearing that the dissensions of Greece still +continue, and at a moment when she might triumph over every thing in +general, as she has already triumphed in part. Greece is, at present, +placed between three measures: either to reconquer her liberty, to +become a dependence of the sovereigns of Europe, or to return to a +Turkish province. She has the choice only of these three +alternatives. Civil war is but a road which leads to the two latter. +If she is desirous of the fate of Walachia and the Crimea, she may +obtain it to-morrow; if of that of Italy, the day after; but if she +wishes to become truly Greece, free and independent, she must resolve +to-day, or she will never again have the opportunity. + +"I am, with all respect, + +"Your Highness's obedient servant, + +"N. B. + +"P.S. Your Highness will already have known that I have sought to +fulfil the wishes of the Greek government, as much as it lay in my +power to do so: but I should wish that the fleet so long and so +vainly expected were arrived, or, at least, that it were on the way; +and especially that your Highness should approach these parts, either +on board the fleet, with a public mission, or in some other manner." + + +LETTER 528. TO MR. BOWRING. + +"10bre 7. 1823. + +"I confirm the above[1]: it is certainly my opinion that Mr. +Millingen is entitled to the same salary with Mr. Tindall, and his +service is likely to be harder. + +[Footnote 1: He here alludes to a letter, forwarded with his own, +from Mr. Millingen, who was about to join, in his medical capacity, +the Suliotes, near Fatras, and requested of the Committee an increase +of pay. This gentleman, having mentioned in his letter "that the +retreat of the Turks from before Missolonghi had rendered unnecessary +the appearance of the Greek fleet," Lord Byron, in a note on this +passage, says, "By the special providence of the Deity, the +Mussulmans were seized with a panic, and fled; but no thanks to the +fleet, which ought to have been here months ago, and has no excuse to +the contrary, lately--at least since I had the money ready to pay." + +On another passage, in which Mr. Millingen complains that his hope of +any remuneration from the Greeks has "turned out perfectly +chimerical," Lord Byron remarks, in a note, "and _will_ do so, till +they obtain a loan. They have not a rap, nor credit (in the islands) +to raise one. A medical man may succeed better than others; but all +these penniless officers had better have stayed at home. Much money +may not be required, but some must."] + +"I have written to you (as to Mr. Hobhouse _for_ your perusal) by +various opportunities, mostly private; also by the Deputies, and by +Mr. Hamilton Browne. + +"The public success of the Greeks has been considerable,--Corinth +taken, Missolonghi nearly safe, and some ships in the Archipelago +taken from the Turks; but there is not only dissension in the Morea, +but _civil war_, by the latest accounts[1]; to what extent we do not +yet know, but hope trifling. + +[Footnote 1: The Legislative and Executive bodies having been for +some time at variance, the latter had at length resorted to violence, +and some skirmishes had already taken place between the factions.] + +"For six weeks I have been expecting the fleet, _which has not +arrived_, though I have, at the request of the Greek Government, +advanced--that is, prepared, and have in hand two hundred thousand +piastres (deducting the commission and bankers' charges) of my own +monies to forward their projects. The Suliotes (now in Acarnania) are +very anxious that I should take them under my directions, and go over +and put things to rights in the Morea, which, without a force, seems +impracticable; and, really, though very reluctant (as my letters will +have shown you) to take such a measure, there seems hardly any milder +remedy. However, I will not do any thing rashly, and have only +continued here so long in the hope of seeing things reconciled, and +have done all in my power thereto. Had _I gone sooner, they would +have forced me into one party or other_, and I doubt as much now; but +we will do our best. + +"Yours," &c. + + + +LETTER 529. TO MR. BOWRING. + +"October 10. 1823. + +"Colonel Napier will present to you this letter. Of his military +character it were superfluous to speak: of his personal, I can say, +from my own knowledge, as well as from all public rumour or private +report, that it is as excellent as his military: in short, a better +or a braver man is not easily to be found. _He_ is our man to lead a +regular force, or to organise a national one for the Greeks. Ask the +army--ask any one. He is besides a personal friend of both Prince +Mavrocordato, Colonel Stanhope, and myself, and in such concord with +all three that we should all pull together--an indispensable, as well +as a rare point, especially in Greece at present. + +"To enable a regular force to be properly organised, it will be +requisite for the loan-holders to set apart at least 50,000_l_. +sterling for that particular purpose--perhaps more; but by so doing +they will guarantee their own monies, 'and make assurance doubly +sure.' They can appoint commissioners to see that part property +expended--and I recommend a similar precaution for the whole. + +"I hope that the deputies have arrived, as well as some of my various +despatches (chiefly addressed to Mr. Hobhouse) for the Committee. +Colonel Napier will tell you the recent special interposition of the +gods, in behalf of the Greeks--who seem to have no enemies in heaven +or on earth to be dreaded but their own tendency to discord amongst +themselves. But these, too, it is to be hoped, will be mitigated, and +then we can take the field on the offensive, instead of being reduced +to the _petite guerre_ of defending the same fortresses year after +year, and taking a few ships, and starving out a castle, and making +more fuss about them than Alexander in his cups, or Buonaparte in a +bulletin. Our friends have done something in the way of the +_Spartans_--(though not one tenth of what is told)--but have not yet +inherited _their_ style. + +"Believe me yours," &c. + + +LETTER 530 TO MR. BOWRING. + +"October 13. 1823. + +"Since I wrote to you on the 10th instant, the long-desired squadron +has arrived in the waters of Missolonghi and intercepted two Turkish +corvettes--ditto transports--destroying or taking all four--except +some of the crews escaped on shore in Ithaca--and an unarmed vessel, +with passengers, chased into a port on the opposite side of +Cephalonia. The Greeks had fourteen sail, the Turks _four_--but the +odds don't matter--the victory will make a very good _puff_, and be +of some advantage besides. I expect momentarily advices from Prince +Mavrocordato, who is on board, and has (I understand) despatches from +the Legislative for me; in consequence of which, after paying the +squadron, (for which I have prepared, and am preparing,) I shall +probably join him at sea or on shore. + +"I add the above communication to my letter by Col. Napier, who will +inform the Committee of every thing in detail much better than I can +do. + +"The mathematical, medical, and musical preparations of the Committee +have arrived, and in good condition, abating some damage from wet, +and some ditto from a portion of the letter-press being spilt in +landing--(I ought not to have omitted the press--but forgot it a +moment--excuse the same)--they are excellent of their kind, but till +we have an engineer and a trumpeter (we have chirurgeons already) +mere 'pearls to swine,' as the Greeks are quite ignorant of +mathematics, and have a bad ear for _our_ music. The maps, &c. I will +put into use for them, and take care that _all_ (with proper caution) +are turned to the intended uses of the Committee--but I refer you to +Colonel Napier, who will tell you, that much of your really valuable +supplies should be removed till proper persons arrive to adapt them +to actual service. + +"Believe me, my dear Sir, to be, &c. + +"P.S. _Private_--I have written to our friend Douglas Kinnaird on my +own matters, desiring him to send me out all the' further credits I +can command,--and I have a year's income, and the sale of a manor +besides, he tells me, before me,--for till the Greeks get _their_ +Loan, it is probable that I shall have to stand partly paymaster--as +far as I am 'good upon _Change_,' that is to say. I pray you to +repeat as much to _him_, and say that I must in the interim draw on +Messrs. Ransom most formidably. To say the truth, I do not grudge it +now the fellows have begun to fight _again_--and still more welcome +shall they be if they will go on. But they have had, or are to have, +some four thousand pounds (besides some private extraordinaries for +widows, orphans, refugees, and rascals of all descriptions,) of mine +at one 'swoop;' and it is to be expected the next will be at least as +much more. And how can I refuse it if they _will_ fight?--and +especially if I should happen ever to be in their company? I +therefore request and require that you should apprise my trusty and +trust-worthy trustee and banker, and crown and sheet-anchor, Douglas +Kinnaird the Honourable, that he prepare all monies of mine, +including the purchase money of Rochdale manor and mine income for +the year ensuing, A.D. 1824, to answer, or anticipate, any orders or +drafts of mine for the good cause, in good and lawful money of Great +Britain, &c. &c. May you live a thousand years I which is nine +hundred and ninety-nine longer than the Spanish Cortes' +Constitution." + + +LETTER 531. + +TO THE HON. MR. DOUGLAS KINNAIRD. + +"Cephalonia, December 23. 1823. + +"I shall be as saving of my purse and person as you recommend; but +you know that it is as well to be in readiness with one or both, in +the event of either being required. + +"I presume that some agreement has been concluded with Mr. Murray +about 'Werner.' Although the copyright should only be worth two or +three hundred pounds, I will tell you what can be done with them. For +three hundred pounds I can maintain in Greece, at more than the +_fullest pay_ of the Provisional Government, rations included, one +hundred armed men for _three months_. You may judge of this when I +tell you, that the four thousand pounds advanced by me to the Greeks +is likely to set a fleet and an army in motion for some months. + +"A Greek vessel has arrived from the squadron to convey me to +Missolonghi, where Mavrocordato now is, and has assumed the command, +so that I expect to embark immediately. Still address, however, to +Cephalonia, through Messrs. Welch and Barry of Genoa, as usual; and +get together all the means and credit of mine you can, to face the +war establishment, for it is 'in for a penny, in for a pound,' and I +must do all that I can for the ancients. + +"I have been labouring to reconcile these parties, and there is _now_ +some hope of succeeding. Their public affairs go on well. The Turks +have retreated from Acarnania without a battle, after a few fruitless +attempts on Anatoliko. Corinth is taken, and the Greeks have gained a +battle in the Archipelago. The squadron here, too, has taken a +Turkish corvette with some money and a cargo. In short, if they can +obtain a Loan, I am of opinion that matters will assume and preserve +a steady and favourable aspect for their independence. + +"In the mean time I stand paymaster, and what not; and lucky it is +that, from the nature of the warfare and of the country, the +resources even of an individual can be of a partial and temporary +service. + +"Colonel Stanhope is at Missolonghi. Probably we shall attempt Patras +next. The Suliotes, who are friends of mine, seem anxious to have me +with them, and so is Mavrocordato. If I can but succeed in +reconciling the two parties (and I have left no stone unturned), it +will be something; and if not, we roust go over to the Morea with the +Western Greeks--who are the bravest, and at present the strongest, +having beaten back the Turks--and try the effect of a little +_physical_ advice, should they persist in rejecting _moral_ +persuasion. + +"Once more recommending to you the reinforcement of my strong box and +credit from all lawful sources and resources of mine to their +practicable extent--for, after all, it is better playing at nations +than gaming at Almack's or Newmarket--and requesting you to write to +me as often as you can, + +"I remain ever," &c. + +The squadron, so long looked for, having made its appearance at last +in the waters of Missolonghi, and Mavrocordato, the only leader of +the cause worthy the name of statesman, having been appointed, with +full powers, to organise Western Greece, the fit moment for Lord +Byron's presence on the scene of action seemed to have arrived. The +anxiety, indeed, with which he was expected at Missolonghi was +intense, and can be best judged from the impatient language of the +letters written to hasten him. "I need not tell you, my Lord," says +Mavrocordato, "how much I long for your arrival, to what a pitch your +presence is desired by every body, or what a prosperous direction it +will give to all our affairs. Your counsels will be listened to like +oracles." Colonel Stanhope, with the same urgency, writes from +Missolonghi,--"The Greek ship sent for your Lordship has returned; +your arrival was anticipated, and the disappointment has been great +indeed. The Prince is in a state of anxiety, the Admiral looks +gloomy, and the sailors grumble aloud." He adds at the end, "I walked +along the streets this evening, and the people asked me after Lord +Byron !!!" In a Letter to the London Committee of the same date, +Colonel Stanhope says, "All are looking forward to Lord Byron's +arrival, as they would to the coming of the Messiah." + +Of this anxiety, no inconsiderable part is doubtless to be attributed +to their great impatience for the possession of the loan which he had +promised them, and on which they wholly depended for the payment of +the fleet--"Prince Mavrocordato and the Admiral (says the same +gentleman) are in a state of extreme perplexity: they, it seems, +relied on your loan for the payment of the fleet; that loan not +having been received, the sailors will depart immediately. This will +be a fatal event indeed, as it will place Missolonghi in a state of +blockade; and will prevent the Greek troops from acting against the +fortresses of Nepacto and Patras." + +In the mean time Lord Byron was preparing busily for his departure, +the postponement of which latterly had been, in a great measure, +owing to that repugnance to any new change of place which had lately +so much grown upon him, and which neither love, as we have seen, nor +ambition, could entirely conquer. There had been also considerable +pains taken by some of his friends at Argostoli to prevent his fixing +upon a place of residence so unhealthy as Missolonghi; and Mr. Muir, +a very able medical officer, on whose talents he had much dependence, +endeavoured most earnestly to dissuade him from such an imprudent +step. His mind, however, was made up,--the proximity of that port, in +some degree, tempting him,--and having hired, for himself and suite, +a light, fast-sailing vessel, called the Mistico, with a boat for +part of his baggage, and a larger vessel for the remainder, the +horses, &c. he was, on the 26th of December, ready to sail. The wind, +however, being contrary, he was detained two days longer, and in this +interval the following letters were written. + + +LETTER 532. TO MR. BOWRING. + +"10bre 26. 1823. + +"Little need be added to the enclosed, which arrived this day, except +that I embark to-morrow for Missolonghi. The intended operations are +detailed in the annexed documents. I have only to request that the +Committee will use every exertion to forward our views by all its +influence and credit. + +"I have also to request you _personally_ from myself to urge my +friend and trustee, Douglas Kinnaird (from whom I have not heard +these four months nearly), to forward to me all the resources of my +_own_ we can muster for the ensuing year; since it is no time to +ménager _purse_, or, perhaps, _person_. I have advanced, and am +advancing, all that I have in hand, but I shall require all that can +be got together;--and (if Douglas has completed the sale of Rochdale, +_that _ and my year's income for next year ought to form a good round +sum,)--as you may perceive that there will be little cash of their +own amongst the Greeks (unless they get the Loan), it is the more +necessary that those of their friends who have any should risk it. + +"The supplies of the Committee are, some, useful, and all excellent +in their kind, but occasionally hardly _practical_ enough, in the +present state of Greece; for instance, the mathematical instruments +are thrown away--none of the Greeks know a problem from a poker--we +must conquer first, and plan afterwards. The use of the trumpets, +too, may be doubted, unless Constantinople were Jericho, for the +Helenists have no ears for bugles, and you must send us somebody to +listen to them. + +"We will do our best--and I pray you to stir your English hearts at +home to more _general_ exertion; for my part, I will stick by the +cause while a plank remains which can be _honourably_ clung to. If I +quit it, it will be by the Greeks' conduct, and not the Holy Allies +or holier Mussulmans--but let us hope better things. + +"Ever yours, N. B. + +"P.S. I am happy to say that Colonel Leicester Stanhope and myself +are acting in perfect harmony together--he is likely to be of great +service both to the cause and to the Committee, and is publicly as +well as personally a very valuable acquisition to our party on every +account. He came up (as they all do who have not been in the country +before) with some high-flown notions of the sixth form at Harrow or +Eton, &c.; but Col. Napier and I set him to rights on those points, +which is absolutely necessary to prevent disgust, or perhaps return; +but now we can set our shoulders _soberly_ to the _wheel_, without +quarrelling with the mud which may clog it occasionally. + +"I can assure you that Col. Napier and myself are as decided for the +cause as any German student of them all; but like men who have seen +the country and human life, there and elsewhere, we must be permitted +to view it in its truth, with its defects as well as beauties,--more +especially as success will remove the former _gradually_. N. B. + +"P.S. As much of this letter as you please is for the Committee, the +rest may be 'entre nous.'" + + +LETTER 533. TO MR. MOORE. + +"Cephalonia, December 27. 1823. + +"I received a letter from you some time ago. I have been too much +employed latterly to write as I could wish, and even now must write +in haste. + +"I embark for Missolonghi to join Mavrocordato in four-and-twenty +hours. The state of parties (but it were a long story) has kept me +here till _now_; but now that Mavrocordato (their Washington, or +their Kosciusko) is employed again, I can act with a _safe +conscience._ I carry money to pay the squadron, &c., and I have +influence with the Suliotes, _supposed _ sufficient to keep them in +harmony with some of the dissentients;--for there are plenty of +differences, but trifling. + +"It is imagined that we shall attempt either Patras or the castles on +the Straits; and it seems, by most accounts, that the Greeks, at any +rate, the Suliotes, who are in affinity with me of 'bread and +salt,'--expect that I should march with them, and--be it even so! If +any thing in the way of fever, fatigue, famine, or otherwise, should +cut short the middle age of a brother warbler,--like Garcilasso de la +Vega, Kleist, Korner, Joukoffsky[1] (a Russian nightingale--see +Bowring's Anthology), or Thersander, or,--or somebody else--but never +mind--I pray you to remember me in your 'smiles and wine.' + +[Footnote 1: One of the most celebrated of the living poets of +Russia, who fought at Borodino, and has commemorated that battle in a +poem of much celebrity among his countrymen.] + +"I have hopes that the cause will triumph; but whether it does or no, +still 'honour must be minded as strictly as milk diet,' I trust to +observe both, + +"Ever," &c. + +It is hardly necessary to direct the attention of the reader to the +sad, and but too true anticipation expressed in this letter--the last +but one I was ever to receive from my friend. Before we accompany him +to the closing scene of all his toils, I shall here, as briefly as +possible, give a selection from the many characteristic anecdotes +told of him, while at Cephalonia, where (to use the words of Colonel +Stanhope, in a letter from thence to the Greek committee,) he was +"beloved by Cephalonians, by English, and by Greeks;" and where, +approached as he was familiarly by persons of all classes and +countries, not an action, not a word is recorded of him that does not +bear honourable testimony to the benevolence and soundness of his +views, his ever ready but discriminating generosity, and the clear +insight, at once minute and comprehensive, which he had acquired into +the character and wants of the people and the cause he came to serve. +"Of all those who came to help the Greeks," says Colonel Napier, (a +person himself the most qualified to judge, as well from long local +knowledge, as from the acute, straightforward cast of his own mind,) +"I never knew one, except Lord Byron and Mr. Gordon, that seemed to +have justly estimated their character. All came expecting to find the +Peloponnesus filled with Plutarch's men, and all returned thinking +the inhabitants of Newgate more moral. Lord Byron judged them fairly: +he knew that half-civilised men are full of vices, and that great +allowance must be made for emancipated slaves. He, therefore, +proceeded, bridle in hand, not thinking them good, but hoping to make +them better."[1] + +[Footnote 1: A similar tribute was paid to him by Count Delladecima, +a gentleman of some literary acquirements, of whom he saw a good deal +at Cephalonia, and to whom he was attracted by that sympathy which +never failed to incline him towards those who laboured, like himself, +under any personal defects. "Of all the men," said this gentleman, +"whom I have had an opportunity of conversing with, on the means of +establishing the independence of Greece, and regenerating the +character of the natives, Lord Byron appears to entertain the most +enlightened and correct views."] + +In speaking of the foolish charge of avarice brought against Lord +Byron by some who resented thus his not suffering them to impose on +his generosity, Colonel Napier says, "I never knew a single instance +of it while he was here. I saw only a judicious generosity in all +that he did. He would not allow himself to be _robbed_, but he gave +profusely where he thought he was doing good. It was, indeed, because +he would not allow himself to be _fleeced_, that he was called stingy +by those who are always bent upon giving money from any purses but +their own. Lord Byron had no idea of this; and would turn sharply and +unexpectedly on those who thought their game sure. He gave a vast +deal of money to the Greeks in various ways." + +Among the objects of his bounty in this way were many poor refugee +Greeks from the Continent and the Isles. He not only relieved their +present distresses, but allotted a certain sum monthly to the most +destitute. "A list of these poor pensioners," says Dr. Kennedy, "was +given me by the nephew of Professor Bambas." + +One of the instances mentioned of his humanity while at Cephalonia +will show how prompt he was at the call of that feeling, and how +unworthy, sometimes, were the objects of it. A party of workmen +employed upon one of those fine roads projected by Colonel Napier +having imprudently excavated a high bank, the earth fell in, and +overwhelmed nearly a dozen persons; the news of which accident +instantly reaching Metaxata, Lord Byron despatched his physician +Bruno to the spot, and followed with Count Gamba, as soon as their +horses could be saddled. They found a crowd of women and children +wailing round the ruins; while the workmen, who had just dug out +three or four of their maimed companions, stood resting themselves +unconcernedly, as if nothing more was required of them; and to Lord +Byron's enquiry whether there were not still some other persons below +the earth, answered coolly that "they did not know, but believed that +there were." Enraged at this brutal indifference, he sprang from his +horse, and seizing a spade himself, began to dig with all his +strength; but it was not till after being threatened with the +horsewhip that any of the peasants could be brought to follow his +example. "I was not present at this scene myself," says Colonel +Napier, in the Notices with which he has favoured me, "but was told +that Lord Byron's attention seemed quite absorbed in the study of the +faces and gesticulations of those whose friends were missing. The +sorrow of the Greeks is, in appearance, very frantic, and they shriek +and howl, as in Ireland. + +It was in alluding to the above incident that the noble poet is +stated to have said that he had come out to the Islands prejudiced +against Sir T. Maitland's government of the Greeks: "but," he added, +"I have now changed my opinion. They are such barbarians, that if I +had the government of them, I would pave these very roads with them." + +While residing at Metaxata, he received an account of the illness of +his daughter Ada, which "made him anxious and melancholy (says Count +Gamba) for several days." Her indisposition he understood to have +been caused by a determination of blood to the head; and on his +remarking to Dr. Kennedy, as curious, that it was a complaint to +which he himself was subject, the physician replied, that he should +have been inclined to infer so, not only from his habits of intense +and irregular study, but from the present state of his eyes,--the +right eye appearing to be inflamed. I have mentioned this latter +circumstance as perhaps justifying the inference that there was in +Lord Byron's state of health at this moment a predisposition to the +complaint of which he afterwards died. To Dr. Kennedy he spoke +frequently of his wife and daughter, expressing the Strongest +affection for the latter, and respect towards the former, and while +declaring as usual his perfect ignorance of the causes of the +separation, professing himself fully disposed to welcome any prospect +of reconcilement. + +The anxiety with which, at all periods of his life, but particularly +at the present, he sought to repel the notion that, except when under +the actual inspiration of writing, he was at all influenced by +poetical associations, very frequently displayed itself. "You must +have been highly gratified (said a gentleman to him) by the classical +remains and recollections which you met with in your visit to +Ithaca."--"You quite mistake me," answered Lord Byron--"I have no +poetical humbug about me; I am too old for that. Ideas of that sort +are confined to rhyme." + +For the two days during which he was delayed by contrary winds, he +took up his abode at the house of Mr. Hancock, his banker, and passed +the greater part of the time in company with the English authorities +of the Island. At length the wind becoming fair, he prepared to +embark. "I called upon him to take leave," says Dr. Kennedy, "and +found him alone, reading Quentin Durward. He was, as usual, in good +spirits." In a few hours after the party set sail,--Lord Byron +himself on board the Mistico, and Count Gamba, with the horses and +heavy baggage, in the larger vessel, or Bombarda. After touching at +Zante, for the purpose of some pecuniary arrangements with Mr. Barff, +and taking on board a considerable sum of money in specie, they, on +the evening of the 29th, proceeded towards Missolonghi. Their last +accounts from that place having represented the Turkish fleet as +still in the Gulf of Lepanto, there appeared not the slightest +grounds for apprehending any interruption in their passage. Besides, +knowing that the Greek squadron was now at anchorage near the +entrance of the Gulf, they had little doubt of soon falling in with +some friendly vessel, either in search, or waiting for them. + +"We sailed together," says Count Gamba, in a highly picturesque and +affecting passage, "till after ten at night; the wind favourable--a +clear sky, the air fresh but not sharp. Our sailors sang alternately +patriotic songs, monotonous indeed, but to persons in our situation +extremely touching, and we took part in them. We were all, but Lord +Byron particularly, in excellent spirits. The Mistico sailed the +fastest. When the waves divided us, and our voices could no longer +reach each other, we made signals by firing pistols and +carabines--'To-morrow we meet at Missolonghi--to-morrow.' Thus, full +of confidence and spirits, we sailed along. At twelve we were out of +sight of each other." + +In waiting for the other vessel, having more than once shortened sail +for that purpose, the party on board the Mistico were upon the point +of being surprised into an encounter which might, in a moment, have +changed the future fortunes of Lord Byron. Two or three hours before +daybreak, while steering towards Missolonghi, they found themselves +close under the stern of a large vessel, which they at first took to +be Greek, but which, when within pistol shot, they discovered to be a +Turkish frigate. By good fortune, they were themselves, as it +appears, mistaken for a Greek brulot by the Turks, who therefore +feared to fire, but with loud shouts frequently hailed them, while +those on board Lord Byron's vessel maintained the most profound +silence; and even the dogs (as I have heard his Lordship's valet +mention), though they had never ceased to bark during the whole of +the night, did not utter, while within reach of the Turkish frigate, +a sound;--a no less lucky than a curious accident, as, from the +information the Turks had received of all the particulars of his +Lordship's departure from Zante, the harking of the dogs, at that +moment, would have been almost certain to betray him. Under the +favour of these circumstances, and the darkness, they were enabled to +bear away without further molestation, and took shelter among the +Scrofes, a cluster of rocks but a few hours' sail from Missolonghi. +From this place the following letter, remarkable, considering his +situation at the moment, for the light, careless tone that pervades +it, was despatched to Colonel Stanhope. + + +LETTER 534. + +TO THE HONOURABLE COLONEL STANHOPE. + +"Scrofer (or some such name), on board a +Cephaloniote Mistico, Dec. 31. 1823. + +"My dear Stanhope, + +"We are just arrived here, that is, part of my people and I, with +some things, &c., and which it may be as well not to specify in a +letter (which has a risk of being intercepted, perhaps);--but Gamba, +and my horses, negro, steward, and the press, and all the Committee +things, also some eight thousand dollars of mine, (but never mind, we +have more left, do you understand?) are taken by the Turkish +frigates, and my party and myself, in another boat, have had a narrow +escape last night, (being close under their stern and hailed, but we +would not answer, and bore away,) as well as this morning. Here we +are, with the sun and clearing weather, within a pretty little port +enough; but whether our Turkish friends may not send in their boats +and take us out (for we have no arms except two carbines and some +pistols, and, I suspect, not more than four fighting people on +board,) is another question, especially if we remain long here, since +we are blocked out of Missolonghi by the direct entrance. + +"You had better send my friend George Drake (Draco), and a body of +Suliotes, to escort us by land or by the canals, with all convenient +speed. Gamba and our Bombard are taken into Patras, I suppose; and we +must take a turn at the Turks to get them out: but where the devil is +the fleet gone?--the Greek, I mean; leaving us to get in without the +least intimation to take heed that the Moslems were out again. + +"Make my respects to Mavrocordato, and say that I am here at his +disposal. I am uneasy at being here: not so much on my own account as +on that of a Greek boy with me, for you know what his fate would be; +and I would sooner cut him in pieces, and myself too, than have him +taken out by those barbarians. We are all very well. N. B. + +"The Bombard was twelve miles out when taken; at least, so it +appeared to us (if taken she actually be, for it is not certain); and +we had to escape from another vessel that stood right between us and +the port." + +Finding that his position among the rocks of the Scrofes would be +untenable in the event of an attack by armed boats, he thought it +right to venture out again, and making all sail, got safe to +Dragomestri, a small sea-port town on the coast of Acarnania; from +whence the annexed letters to two of the most valued of his +Cephalonian friends were written. + + +LETTER 535. TO MR. MUIR. + +"Dragomestri, January 2. 1824. + +"My dear Muir, + +"I wish you many returns of the season, and happiness therewithal. +Gamba and the Bombard (there is a strong reason to believe) are +carried into Patras by a Turkish frigate, which we saw chase them at +dawn on the 31st: we had been close under the stern in the night, +believing her a Greek till within pistol shot, and only escaped by a +miracle of all the Saints (our captain says), and truly I am of his +opinion, for we should never have got away of ourselves. They were +signalising their consort with lights, and had illuminated the ship +between decks, and were shouting like a mob;--but then why did they +not fire? Perhaps they took us for a Greek brulot, and were afraid of +kindling us--they had no colours flying even at dawn nor after. + +"At daybreak my boat was on the coast, but the wind unfavourable for +_the port_;--a large vessel with the wind in her favour standing +between us and the Gulf, and another in chase of the Bombard about +twelve miles off, or so. Soon after they stood (_i.e._ the Bombard +and frigate) apparently towards Patras, and a Zantiote boat making +signals to us from the shore to get away. Away we went before the +wind, and ran into a creek called Scrofes, I believe, where I landed +Luke[1] and another (as Luke's life was in most danger), with some +money for themselves, and a letter for Stanhope, and sent them up the +country to Missolonghi, where they would be in safety, as the place +where we were could be assailed by armed boats in a moment, and Gamba +had all our arms except two carbines, a fowling-piece, and some +pistols. + +[Footnote 1: A Greek youth whom he had brought with him, in his +suite, from Cephalonia.] + +"In less than an hour the vessel in chase neared us, and we dashed +out again, and showing our stern (our boat sails very well), got in +before night to Dragomestri, where we now are. But where is the Greek +fleet? I don't know--do you? I told our master of the boat that I was +inclined to think the two large vessels (there were none else in +sight) Greeks. But he answered, 'They are too large--why don't they +show their colours?' and his account was confirmed, be it true or +false, by several boats which we met or passed, as we could not at +any rate have got in with that wind without beating about for a long +time; and as there was much property, and some lives to risk (the +boy's especially) without any means of defence, it was necessary to +let our boatmen have their own way. + +"I despatched yesterday another messenger to Missolonghi for an +escort, but we have yet no answer. We are here (those of my boat) for +the fifth day without taking our clothes off, and sleeping on deck in +all weathers, but are all very well, and in good spirits. It is to be +supposed that the Government will send, for their own sakes, an +escort, as I have 16,000 dollars on board, the greater part for their +service. I had (besides personal property to the amount of about 5000 +more) 8000 dollars in specie of my own, without reckoning the +Committee's stores, so that the Turks will have a good thing of it, +if the prize be good. + +"I regret the detention of Gamba, &c., but the rest we can make up +again; so tell Hancock to set my bills into cash as soon as possible, +and Corgialegno to prepare the remainder of my credit with Messrs. +Webb to be turned into monies. I shall remain here, unless something +extraordinary occurs, till Mavrocordato sends, and then go on, and +act according to circumstances. My respects to the two colonels, and +remembrances to all friends. Tell '_Ultima Anahse_'[1] that his +friend Raidi did not make his appearance with the brig, though I +think that he might as well have spoken with us _in_ or _off_ Zante, +to give us a gentle hint of what we had to expect. + +[Footnote 1: Count Delladecima, to whom he gives this name in +consequence of a habit which that gentleman had of using the phrase +"in ultima analise" frequently in conversation.] + +"Yours, ever affectionately, N. B. + +"P.S. Excuse my scrawl on account of the pen and the frosty morning +at daybreak. I write in haste, a boat starting for Kalamo. I do not +know whether the detention of the Bombard (if she be detained, for I +cannot swear to it, and I can only judge from appearances, and what +all these fellows say,) be an affair of the Government, and +neutrality, and &c.--but _she was stopped at least_ twelve miles +distant from any port, and had all her papers regular from _Zante _ +for _Kalamo_ and _we also_. I did not land at Zante, being anxious to +lose as little time as possible, but Sir F. S. came off to invite me, +&c. and every body was as kind as could be, even in Cephalonia." + + +LETTER 536. TO MR. C. HANCOCK. + +"Dragomestri, January 2. 1824. + +"Dear Sir 'Ancock[1],' + +[Footnote 1: This letter is, more properly, a postscript to one which +Dr. Bruno had, by his orders, written to Mr. Hancock, with some +particulars of their voyage; and the Doctor having begun his letter, +"Pregiat'mo. Sig'r. Ancock," Lord Byron thus parodies his mode of +address.] + +"Remember me to Dr. Muir and every body else. I have still the 16,000 +dollars with me, the rest were on board the Bombarda. Here we +are--the Bombarda taken, or at least missing, with all the Committee +stores, my friend Gamba, the horses, negro, bull-dog, steward, and +domestics, with all our implements of peace and war, also 8000 +dollars; but whether she will be lawful prize or no, is for the +decision of the Governor of the Seven Islands. I have written to Dr. +Muir, by way of Kalamo, with all particulars. We are in good +condition; and what with wind and weather, and being hunted or so, +little sleeping on deck, &c. are in tolerable seasoning for the +country and circumstances. But I foresee that we shall have occasion +for all the cash I can muster at Zante and elsewhere. Mr. Barff gave +us 8000 and odd dollars; so there is still a balance in my favour. We +are not quite certain that the vessels were Turkish which chased; but +there is strong presumption that they were, and no news to the +contrary. At Zante, every body, from the Resident downwards, were as +kind as could be, especially your worthy and courteous partner. + +"Tell our friends to keep up their spirits, and we may yet do well. I +disembarked the boy and another Greek, who were in most terrible +alarm--the boy, at least, from the Morea--on shore near Anatoliko, I +believe, which put them in safety; and, as for me and mine, we must +stick by our goods. + +"I hope that Gamba's detention will only be temporary. As for the +effects and monies, if we have them,--well; if otherwise, patience. I +wish you a happy new year, and all our friends the same. + +"Yours," &c. + +During these adventures of Lord Byron, Count Gamba, having been +brought to by the Turkish frigate, had been carried, with his +valuable charge, into Patras, where the Commander of the Turkish +fleet was stationed. Here, after an interview with the Pacha, by whom +he was treated, during his detention, most courteously, he had the +good fortune to procure the release of his vessel and freight; and, +on the 4th of January, reached Missolonghi. To his surprise, however, +he found that Lord Byron had not yet arrived; for,--as if everything +connected with this short voyage were doomed to deepen whatever ill +bodings there were already in his mind,--on his Lordship's departure +from Dragomestri, a violent gale of wind had come on; his vessel was +twice driven on the rocks in the passage of the Scrofes, and, from +the force of the wind, and the captain's ignorance of those shoals, +the danger was by all on board considered to be most serious. "On the +second time of striking," says Count Gamba, "the sailors, losing all +hope of saving the vessel, began to think of their own safety. But +Lord Byron persuaded them to remain; and by his firmness, and no +small share of nautical skill, got them out of danger, and thus saved +the vessel and several lives, with 25,000 dollars, the greater part +in specie." + +The wind still blowing right against their course to Missolonghi, +they again anchored between two of the numerous islets by which this +part of the coast is lined; and here Lord Byron, as well for +refreshment as ablution, found himself tempted into an indulgence +which, it is not improbable, may have had some share in producing the +fatal illness that followed. Having put off in a boat to a small rock +at some distance, he sent back a messenger for the nankeen trowsers +which he usually wore in bathing; and, though the sea was rough and +the night cold, it being then the 3d of January, swam back to the +vessel. "I am fully persuaded," says his valet, in relating this +imprudent freak, "that it injured my Lord's health. He certainly was +not taken ill at the time, but in the course of two or three days his +Lordship complained of a pain in all his bones, which continued, more +or less, to the time of his death." + +Setting sail again next morning with the hope of reaching Missolonghi +before sunset, they were still baffled by adverse winds, and, +arriving late at night in the port, did not land till the morning of +the 5th. + +The solicitude, in the mean time, of all at Missolonghi, knowing that +the Turkish fleet was out, and Lord Byron on his way, may without +difficulty be conceived, and is most livelily depicted in a letter +written during the suspense of that moment, by an eye-witness. "The +Turkish fleet," says Colonel Stanhope, "has ventured out, and is, at +this moment, blockading the port. Beyond these again are seen the +Greek ships, and among the rest the one that was sent for Lord Byron. +Whether he is on board or not is a question. You will allow that this +is an eventful day." Towards the end of the letter, he adds, "Lord +Byron's servants have just arrived; he himself will be here +to-morrow. If he had not come, we had need have prayed for fair +weather; for both fleet and army are hungry and inactive. Parry has +not appeared. Should he also arrive to-morrow, all Missolonghi will +go mad with pleasure." + +The reception their noble visiter experienced on his arrival was such +as, from the ardent eagerness with which he had been looked for, +might be expected. The whole population of the place crowded to the +shore to welcome him: the ships anchored off the fortress fired a +salute as he passed; and all the troops and dignitaries of the place, +civil and military, with the Prince Mavrocordato at their head, met +him on his landing, and accompanied him, amidst the mingled din of +shouts, wild music, and discharges of artillery, to the house that +had been prepared for him. "I cannot easily describe," says Count +Gamba, "the emotions which such a scene excited. I could scarcely +refrain from tears." + +After eight days of fatigue such as Lord Byron had endured, some +short interval of rest might fairly have been desired by him. But the +scene on which he had now entered was one that precluded all thoughts +of repose. He on whom the eyes and hopes of all others were centred, +could but little dream of indulging any care for himself. There were, +at this particular moment, too, collected within the precincts of +that town as great an abundance of the materials of unquiet and +misrule as had been ever brought together in so small a space. In +every quarter; both public and private, disorganisation and +dissatisfaction presented themselves. Of the fourteen brigs of war +which had come to the succour of Missolonghi, and which had for some +time actually protected it against a Turkish fleet double its number, +nine had already, hopeless of pay, returned to Hydra, while the +sailors of the remaining five, from the same cause of complaint, had +just quitted their ships, and were murmuring idly on shore. The +inhabitants, seeing themselves thus deserted or preyed upon by their +defenders, with a scarcity of provisions threatening them, and the +Turkish fleet before their eyes, were no less ready to break forth +into riot and revolt; while, at the same moment, to complete the +confusion, a General Assembly was on the point of being held in the +town, for the purpose of organising the forces of Western Greece, and +to this meeting all the wild mountain chiefs of the province, ripe, +of course, for dissension, were now flocking with their followers. +Mavrocordato himself, the President of the intended Congress, had +brought in his train no less than 5000 armed men, who were at this +moment in the town. Ill provided, too, with either pay or food by the +Government, this large military mob were but little less discontented +and destitute than the sailors; and in short, in every direction, the +entire population seems to have presented such a fermenting mass of +insubordination and discord as was far more likely to produce warfare +among themselves than with the enemy. + +Such was the state of affairs when Lord Byron arrived at +Missolonghi;--such the evils he had now to encounter, with the +formidable consciousness that to him, and him alone, all looked for +the removal of them. + +Of his proceedings during the first weeks after his arrival, the +following letters to Mr. Hancock (which by the great kindness of that +gentleman I am enabled to give) will, assisted by a few explanatory +notes, supply a sufficiently ample account. + + +LETTER 537. TO MR. CHARLES HANCOCK. + +"Missolonghi, January 13. 1824. + +"Dear Sir, + +"Many thanks for yours of the fifth; ditto to Muir for his. You will +have heard that Gamba and my vessel got out of the hands of the Turks +safe and intact; nobody knows well how or why, for there's a mystery +in the story somewhat melodramatic. Captain Valsamachi has, I take +it, spun a long yarn by this time in Argostoli. I attribute their +release entirely to Saint Dionisio, of Zante, and the Madonna of the +Rock, near Cephalonia. + +"The adventures of my separate luck were also not finished at +Dragomestri; we were conveyed out by some Greek gun-boats, and found +the Leonidas brig-of-war at sea to look after us. But blowing weather +coming on, we were driven on the rocks _twice_ in the passage of the +Scrofes, and the dollars had another narrow escape. Two thirds of the +crew got ashore over the bowsprit: the rocks were rugged enough, but +water very deep close in shore, so that she was, after much swearing +and some exertion, got off again, and away we went with a third of +our crew, leaving the rest on a desolate island, where they might +have been now, had not one of the gun-boats taken them off, for we +were in no condition to take them off again. + +"Tell Muir that Dr. Bruno did not show much fight on the occasion; +for besides stripping to his flannel waistcoat, and running about +like a rat in an emergency, when I was talking to a Greek boy (the +brother of the Greek girls in Argostoli), and telling him of the fact +that there was no danger for the passengers, whatever there might be +for the vessel, and assuring him that I could save both him and +myself without difficulty[1] (though he can't swim), as the water, +though deep, was not very rough,--the wind _not_ blowing _right_ on +shore (it was a blunder of the Greeks who missed stays),--the Doctor +exclaimed, 'Save _him_, indeed! by G--d! save _me_ rather--I'll be +first if I can'--a piece of egotism which he pronounced with such +emphatic simplicity as to set all who had leisure to hear him +laughing[2], and in a minute after the vessel drove off again after +striking twice. She sprung a small leak, but nothing further +happened, except that the captain was very nervous afterwards. + +[Footnote 1: He meant to have taken the boy on his shoulders and swum +with him to shore. This feat would have been but a repetition of one +of his early sports at Harrow; where it was a frequent practice of +his thus to mount one of the smaller boys on his shoulders, and, much +to the alarm of the urchin, dive with him into the water.] + +[Footnote 2: In the Doctor's own account this scene is described, as +might be expected, somewhat differently:--"Ma nel di lui passaggio +marittimo una fregata Turca insegui la di lui nave, obligandola di +ricoverarsi dentro le _Scrofes_, dove per l'impeto dei venti fù +gettata sopra i scogli: tutti i marinari dell' equipaggio saltarono a +terra per salvare la loro vita: Milord solo col di lui Medico Dottr. +Bruno rimasero sulla nave che ognuno vedeva colare a fondo: ma dopo +qualche tempo non essendosi visto che ciò avveniva, le persone +fuggite a terra respinsero la nave nell' acque: ma il tempestoso mare +la ribastò una seconda volta contro i scogli, ed allora si aveva per +certo che la nave coll' illustre personaggio, una grande quantità di +denari, e molti preziosi effetti per i Greci anderebbero a fondo. +Tuttavia Lord Byron non si perturbò per nulla; anzi disse al di lui +medico che voleva gettarsi al nuoto onde raggiungere la spiaggia: +'Non abbandonate la nave finchè abbiamo forze per direggerla: +allorchè saremo coperti dall' acque, allora gettatevi pure, che io vi +salvo.'"] + +"To be brief, we had bad weather almost always, though not contrary; +slept on deck in the wet generally for seven or eight nights, but +never was in better health (I speak personally)--so much so that I +actually bathed for a quarter of an hour on the evening of the 4th +instant in the sea, (to kill the fleas, and other &c.) and was all +the better for it. + +"We were received at Missolonghi with all kinds of kindness and +honours; and the sight of the fleet saluting, &c. and the crowds and +different costumes, was really picturesque. We think of undertaking +an expedition soon, and I expect to be ordered with the Suliotes to +join the army. + +"All well at present. We found Gamba already arrived, and every thing +in good condition. Remember me to all friends. + +"Yours ever, N. B. + +"P.S. You will, I hope, use every exertion to realise the _assets_. +For besides what I have already advanced, I have undertaken to +maintain the Suliotes for a year, (and will accompany them either as +a Chief, or whichever is most agreeable to the Government,) besides +sundries. I do not understand Brown's '_letters of credit_.' I +neither gave nor ordered a letter of credit that I know of; and +though of course, if you have done it, I will be responsible, I was +not aware of any thing, except that I would have backed his bills, +which you said was unnecessary. As to _orders_--I ordered nothing but +some _red cloth_ and _oil cloths_, both of which I am ready to +receive; but if Gamba has exceeded my commission, _the other things +must be sent back, for I cannot permit any thing of the kind, nor +will_. The servants' journey will of course be paid for, though +_that_ is exorbitant. As for Brown's letter, I do not know any thing +more than I have said, and I really cannot defray the charges of half +Greece and the Frank adventurers besides. Mr. Barff must send us some +dollars soon, for the expenses fall on me for the present. + +"January 14. 1824. + +"P.S. Will you tell Saint (Jew) Geronimo Corgialegno that I mean to +draw for the balance of my credit with Messrs. Webb and Co. I shall +draw for two thousand dollars (that being about the amount, more or +less); but, to facilitate the business, I shall make the draft +payable also at Messrs. Ransom and Co., Pall-Mall East, London. I +believe I already showed you my letters, (but if not, I have them to +show,) by which, besides the credits now realising, you will have +perceived that I am not limited to any particular amount of credit +with my bankers. The Honourable Douglas, my friend and trustee, is a +principal partner in that house, and having the direction of my +affairs, is aware to what extent my present resources may go, and the +letters in question were from him. I can merely say, that within the +_current_ year, 1824, besides the money already advanced to the Greek +Government, and the credits now in your hands and your partner's (Mr. +Barff), which are all from the income of 1823, I have anticipated +nothing from that of the present year hitherto. I shall or ought to +have at my disposition upwards of one hundred thousand dollars, +(including my income, and the purchase-monies of a manor lately +sold,) and perhaps more, without infringing on my income for 1825, +and not including the remaining balance of 1823. + +Yours ever, N. B." + + +LETTER 538. TO MR. CHARLES HANCOCK. + +"Missolonghi, January 17, 1824. + +"I have answered, at some length, your obliging letter, and trust +that you have received my reply by means of Mr. Tindal. I will also +thank you to remind Mr. Tindal that I would thank him to furnish you, +on my account, with _an order of the Committee_ for one hundred +dollars, which I advanced to him on their account through Signor +Corgialegno's agency at Zante on his arrival in October, as it is but +fair that the said Committee should pay their own expenses. An order +will be sufficient, as the money might be inconvenient for Mr. T. at +present to disburse. + +"I have also advanced to Mr. Blackett the sum of fifty dollars,-which +I will thank Mr. Stevens to pay to you, on my account, from monies of +Mr. Blackett now in his hands. I have Mr. B.'s acknowledgment in +writing. + +"As the wants of the State here are still pressing, and there seems +very little specie stirring except mine, I will stand paymaster; and +must again request you and Mr. Barff to forward by a _safe _ channel +(if possible) all the dollars you can collect upon the bills now +negotiating. I have also written to Corgialegno for two thousand +dollars, being about the balance of my separate letter from Messrs. +Webb and Co., making the bills also payable at Ransom's in London. + +"Things are going on better, if not well; there is some order, and +considerable preparation. I expect to accompany the troops on an +expedition shortly, which makes me particularly anxious for the +remaining remittance, as 'money is the sinew of war,' and of peace, +too, as far as I can see, for I am sure there would be no peace here +without it. However, a little does go a good way, which is a comfort. +The Government of the Morea and of Candia have written to me for a +further advance from my own peculium of 20 or 30,000 dollars, to +which I demur for the present, (having undertaken to pay the Suliotes +as a free gift and other things already, besides the loan which I +have already advanced,) till I receive letters from England, which I +have reason to expect. + +"When the expected credits arrive, I hope that you will bear a hand, +otherwise I must have recourse to Malta, which will be losing time +and taking trouble; but I do not wish you to do more than is +perfectly agreeable to Mr. Barffand to yourself. I am very well, and +have no reason to be dissatisfied with my personal treatment, or with +the posture of public affairs--others must speak for themselves. +Yours ever and truly, &c. + +"P.S. Respects to Colonels Wright and Duffie, and the officers civil +and military; also to my friends Muir and Stevens particularly, and +to Delladecima." + + +LETTER 539. TO MR. CHARLES HANCOCK. + +"Missolonghi, January 19. 1824. + +"Since I wrote on the 17th, I have received a letter from Mr. +Stevens, enclosing an account from Corfu, which is so exaggerated in +price and quantity, that I am at a loss whether most to admire +Gamba's folly, or the merchant's knavery. All that _I_ requested +Gamba to order was red cloth enough to make a _jacket_, and some +oil-skin for trowsers, &c.--the latter has not been sent--the whole +could not have amounted to fifty dollars. The account is six hundred +and forty-five!!! I will guarantee Mr. Stevens against any loss, of +course, but I am not disposed to take the articles (which I never +ordered), nor to pay the amount. I will take one hundred dollars' +worth; the rest may be sent back, and I will make the merchant an +allowance of so much per-cent.; or, if that is not to be done, you +must sell the whole by auction at what price the things may fetch; +for I would rather incur the dead loss of _part_, than be encumbered +with a quantity of things, to me at present superfluous or useless. +Why, I could have maintained three hundred men for a month for the +sum in Western Greece. + +"When the dogs, and the dollars, and the negro; and the horses, fell +into the hands of the Turks, I acquiesced with patience, as you may +have perceived, because it was the work of the elements of war, or of +Providence: but this is a piece of mere human knavery or folly, or +both, and I neither can nor will submit to it.[1] I have occasion for +every dollar I can muster to keep the Greeks together, and I do not +grudge any expense for the cause; but to throw away as much as would +equip, or at least maintain, a corps of excellent ragamuffins with +arms in their hands, to furnish Gamba and the Doctor with blank bills +(see list), broad cloth, Hessian boots, and horsewhips (the _latter_ +I own that they have richly earned), is rather beyond my endurance, +though a pacific person, as all the world knows, or at least my +acquaintances. I pray you to try to help me out of this damnable +commercial speculation of Gamba's, for it is one of those pieces of +impudence or folly which I don't forgive him in a hurry. I will of +course see Stevens free of expense out of the transaction;--by the +way, the Greek of a Corfiote has thought proper to draw a bill, and +get it discounted at 24 dollars: if I had been there, it should have +been _protested_ also. + +[Footnote 1: We have here as striking an instance as could be adduced +of that peculiar feature of his character which shallow or malicious +observers have misrepresented as avarice, but which in reality was +the result of a strong sense of justice and fairness, and an +indignant impatience of being stultified or over-reached. Colonel +Stanhope, in referring to the circumstance mentioned above, has put +Lord Byron's angry feeling respecting it in the true light. + +"He was constantly attacking Count Gamba, sometimes, indeed, +playfully, but more often with the bitterest satire, for having +purchased for the use of his family, while in Greece, _500_ dollars' +worth of cloth. This he used to mention as an instance of the Count's +imprudence and extravagance. Lord Byron told me one day, with a tone +of great gravity, that this 500 dollars would have been most +serviceable in promoting the siege of Lepanto; and that he never +would, to the last moment of his existence, forgive Gamba, for having +squandered away his money in the purchase of cloth. No one will +suppose that Lord Byron could be serious in such a denunciation: he +entertained, in reality, the highest opinion of Conant Gamba, who, +both on account of his talents and devotedness to his friend, merited +his Lordship's esteem. As to Lord Byron's generosity, it is before +the world; he promised to devote his large income to the cause of +Greece, and he honestly acted up to his pledge."] + +"Mr. Blackett is here ill, and will soon set out for Cephalonia. He +came to me for some pills, and I gave him some reserved for +particular friends, and which I never knew any body recover from +under several months; but he is no better, and, what is odd, no +worse; and as the doctors have had no better success with him than I, +he goes to Argostoli, sick of the Greeks and of a constipation. + +"I must reiterate my request for _specie_, and that speedily, +otherwise public affairs will be at a standstill here. I have +undertaken to pay the Suliotes for a year, to advance in March 3000 +dollars, besides, to the Government for a balance due to the troops, +and some other smaller matters for the Germans, and the press, &c. +&c. &c.; so what with these, and the expenses of my suite, which, +though not extravagant, is expensive, with Gamba's d--d nonsense, I +shall have occasion for all the monies I can muster; and I have +credits wherewithal to face the undertakings, if realised, and expect +to have more soon. + +"Believe me ever and truly yours," &c. + +On the morning of the 22d of January, his birthday,--the last my poor +friend was ever fated to see,--he came from his bedroom into the +apartment where Colonel Stanhope and some others were assembled, and +said with a smile, "You were complaining the other day that I never +write any poetry now. This is my birthday, and I have just finished +something which, I think, is better than what I usually write." He +then produced to them those beautiful stanzas, which, though already +known to most readers, are far too affectingly associated with this +closing scene of his life to be omitted among its details. Taking +into consideration, indeed, every thing connected with these +verses,--the last tender aspirations of a loving spirit which they +breathe, the self-devotion to a noble cause which they so nobly +express, and that consciousness of a near grave glimmering sadly +through the whole,--there is perhaps no production within the range +of mere human composition round which the circumstances and feelings +under which it was written cast so touching an interest. + + +"JANUARY 22D. + +"ON THIS DAY I COMPLETE MY THIRTY-SIXTH YEAR. + +1. + "'Tis time this heart should be unmoved, + Since others it hath ceased to move; + Yet though I cannot be beloved, + Still let me love! + +2. + "My days are in the yellow leaf; + The flowers and fruits of love are gone; + The worm, the canker, and the grief + Are mine alone! + +3. + "The fire that on my bosom preys + Is lone as some volcanic isle; + No torch is kindled at its blaze-- + A funeral pile! + +4. + "The hope, the fear, the jealous care, + The exalted portion of the pain + And power of love, I cannot share, + But wear the chain. + +5. + "But 'tis not _thus_--and 'tis not _here_-- + Such thoughts should shake my soul, nor _now_, + Where glory decks the hero's bier, + Or binds his brow. + +6. + "The sword, the banner, and the field, + Glory and Greece, around roe see! + The Spartan, borne upon his shield, + Was not more free. + +7. + "Awake! (not Greece--she _is_ awake!) + Awake, my spirit! Think through _whom_ + Thy life-blood tracks its parent lake, + And then strike home! + +8. + "Tread those reviving passions down, + Unworthy manhood!--unto thee + Indifferent should the smile or frown + Of beauty be. + +9. + "If thou regret'st thy youth, _why live_? + The land of honourable death + Is here:--up to the field, and give + Away thy breath! + +10. + "Seek out--less often sought than found-- + A soldier's grave, for thee the best; + Then look around, and choose thy ground,-- + And take thy rest." + +"We perceived," says Count Gamba, "from these lines, as well as from +his daily conversations, that his ambition and his hope were +irrevocably fixed upon the glorious objects of his expedition to +Greece, and that he had made up his mind to 'return victorious, or +return no more.' Indeed, he often said to me, 'Others may do as they +please--they may go--but I stay here, _that is certain_.' The same +determination was expressed in his letters to his friends; and this +resolution was not unaccompanied with the very natural +presentiment--that he should never leave Greece alive. He one day +asked his faithful servant, Tita, whether he thought of returning to +Italy? 'Yes,' said Tita: 'if your Lordship goes, I go.' Lord Byron +smiled, and said, 'No, Tita, I shall never go back from +Greece--either the Turks, or the Greeks, or the climate, will prevent +that.'" + + +LETTER 540. TO MR. CHARLES HANCOCK. + +"Missolonghi, February 5. 1824. + +"Dr. Muir's letter and yours of the 23d reached me some days ago. +Tell Muir that I am glad of his promotion for his sake, and of his +remaining near us for all our sakes; though I cannot but regret Dr. +Kennedy's departure, which accounts for the previous earthquakes and +the present English weather in this climate. With all respect to my +medical pastor, I have to announce to him, that amongst other +fire-brands, our firemaster Parry (just landed) has disembarked an +elect blacksmith, intrusted with three hundred and twenty-two Greek +Testaments. I have given him all facilities in my power for his works +spiritual and temporal; and if he can settle matters as easily with +the Greek Archbishop and hierarchy, I trust that neither the heretic +nor the supposed sceptic will be accused of intolerance. + +"By the way, I met with the said Archbishop at Anatolico (where I +went by invitation of the Primates a few days ago, and was received +with a heavier cannonade than the Turks, probably,) for the second +time (I had known him here before); and he and P. Mavrocordato, and +the Chiefs and Primates and I, all dined together, and I thought the +metropolitan the merriest of the party, and a very good Christian for +all that. But Gamba (we got wet through on our way back) has been ill +with a fever and cholic; and Luke has been out of sorts too, and so +have some others of the people, and I have been very well,--except +that I caught cold yesterday, with swearing too much in the rain at +the Greeks, who would not bear a hand in landing the Committee +stores, and nearly spoiled our combustibles; but I turned out in +person, and made such a row as set them in motion, blaspheming at +them from the Government downwards, till they actually did _some_ +part of what they ought to have done several days before, and this is +esteemed, as it deserves to be, a wonder. + +"Tell Muir that, notwithstanding his remonstrances, which I receive +thankfully, it is perhaps best that I should advance with the troops; +for if we do not do something soon, we shall only have a third year +of defensive operations and another siege, and all that. We hear that +the Turks are coming down in force, and sooner than usual; and as +these fellows do mind me a little, it is the opinion that I should +go,--firstly, because they will sooner listen to a foreigner than one +of their own people, out of native jealousies; secondly, because the +Turks will sooner treat or capitulate (if such occasion should +happen) with a Frank than a Greek; and, thirdly, because nobody else +seems disposed to take the responsibility--Mavrocordato being very +busy here, the foreign military men too young or not of authority +enough to be obeyed by the natives, and the Chiefs (as aforesaid) +inclined to obey any one except, or rather than, one of their own +body. As for me, I am willing to do what I am bidden, and to follow +my instructions. I neither seek nor shun that nor any thing else they +may wish me to attempt: as for personal safety, besides that it ought +not to be a consideration, I take it that a man is on the whole as +safe in one place as another; and, after all, he had better end with +a bullet than bark in his body. If we are not taken off with the +sword, we are like to march off with an ague in this mud basket; and +to conclude with a very bad pun, to the ear rather than to the eye, +better _martially_ than _marsh-ally:_--the situation of Missolonghi +is not unknown to you. The dykes of Holland when broken down are the +Deserts of Arabia for dryness, in comparison. + +"And now for the sinews of war. I thank you and Mr. Barff for your +ready answers, which, next to ready money, is a pleasant thing. +Besides the assets and balance, and the relics of the Corgialegno +correspondence with Leghorn and Genoa, (I sold the dog flour, tell +him, but not at _his_ price,) I shall request and require, from the +beginning of March ensuing, about five thousand dollars every two +months, _i.e._, about twenty-five thousand within the current year, +at regular intervals, independent of the sums now negotiating. I can +show you documents to prove that these are considerably _within_ my +supplies for the year in more ways than one; but I do not like to +tell the Greeks exactly what I _could_ or would advance on an +emergency, because otherwise, they will double and triple their +demands, (a disposition that they have already sufficiently shown): +and though I am willing to do all I can _when_ necessary, yet I do +not see why they should not help a little; for they are not quite so +bare as they pretend to be by some accounts. + + +"February 7. 1824. + +"I have been interrupted by the arrival of Parry and afterwards by +the return of Hesketh, who has not brought an answer to my epistles, +which rather surprises me. You will write soon, I suppose. Parry +seems a fine rough subject, but will hardly be ready for the field +these three weeks; he and I will (I think) be able to draw +together,--at least, _I_ will not interfere with or contradict him in +his own department. He complains grievously of the mercantile and +_enthusymusy_ part of the Committee, but greatly praises Gordon and +Hume. Gordon _would_ have given three or four thousand pounds and +come out _himself_, but Kennedy or somebody else disgusted him, and +thus they have spoiled part of their subscription and cramped their +operations. Parry says B---- is a humbug, to which I say nothing. He +sorely laments the printing and civilising expenses, and wishes that +there was not a Sunday-school in the world, or _any_ school _here_ at +present, save and except always an academy for artilleryship. + +"He complained also of the cold, a little to my surprise; firstly, +because, there being no chimneys, I have used myself to do without +other warmth than the animal heat and one's cloak, in these parts; +and, secondly, because I should as soon have expected to hear a +volcano sneeze, as a firemaster (who is to burn a whole fleet) +exclaim against the atmosphere. I fully expected that his very +approach would have scorched up the town like the burning-glasses of +Archimedes. + +"Well, it seems that I am to be Commander-in-Chief, and the post is +by no means a sinecure, for we are not what Major Sturgeon calls 'a +set of the most amicable officers.' Whether we shall have 'a boxing +bout between Captain Sheers and the Colonel,' I cannot tell; but, +between Suliote chiefs, German barons, English volunteers, and +adventurers of all nations, we are likely to form as goodly an allied +army as ever quarrelled beneath the same banner. + + +"February 8. 1824. + +"Interrupted again by business yesterday, and it is time to conclude +my letter. I drew some time since on Mr. Barff for a thousand +dollars, to complete some money wanted by the Government. The said +Government got cash on that bill _here_, and at a profit; but the +very same fellow who gave it to them, after proposing to give me +money for other bills on Barff to the amount of thirteen hundred +dollars, either could not, or thought better of it. I had written to +Barff advising him, but had afterwards to write to tell him of the +fellow's having not come up to time. You must really send me the +balance soon. I have the artillerists and my Suliotes to pay, and +Heaven knows what besides; and as every thing depends upon +punctuality, all our operations will be at a standstill unless you +use despatch. I shall send to Mr. Barff or to you further bills on +England for three thousand pounds, to be negotiated as speedily as +you can. I have already stated here and formerly the sums I can +command at home within the year,--without including my credits, or +the bills already negotiated or negotiating, as Corgialegno's balance +of Mr. Webb's letter,--and my letters from my friends (received by +Mr. Parry's vessel) confirm what I have already stated. How much I +may require in the course of the year I can't tell, but I will take +care that it shall not exceed the means to supply it. Yours ever, +N.B. + +"P.S. I have had, by desire of a Mr. _Jerostati_, to draw on +Demetrius Delladecima (is it our friend in ultima analise?) to pay +the Committee expenses. I really do not understand what the Committee +mean by some of their freedoms. Parry and I get on very well +_hitherto_: how long this may last, Heaven knows, but I hope it will, +for a good deal for the Greek service depends upon it; but he has +already had some" _miffs_ with Col. S. and I do all I can to keep the +peace amongst them. However, Parry is a fine fellow, extremely +active, and of strong, sound, practical talents, by all accounts. +Enclosed are bills for three thousand pounds, drawn in the mode +directed (_i.e._ parcelled out in smaller bills). A good opportunity +occurring for Cephalonia to send letters on, I avail myself of it. +Remember me to Stevens and to all friends. Also my compliments and +every thing kind to the colonels and officers. + + +"February 9. 1824. + +"P.S. 2d or 3d. I have reason to expect a person from England +directed with papers (on business) for me to sign, somewhere in the +Islands, by and by: if such should arrive, would you forward him to +me by a safe conveyance, as the papers regard a transaction with +regard to the adjustment of a lawsuit, and a sum of several thousand +pounds, which I, or my bankers and trustees for me, may have to +receive (in England) in consequence. The time of the probable arrival +I cannot state, but the date of my letters is the 2d Nov. and I +suppose that he ought to arrive soon." + +How strong were the hopes which even those who watched him most +observingly conceived from the whole tenor of his conduct since his +arrival at Missolonghi, will appear from the following words of +Colonel Stanhope, in one of his letters to the Greek Committee:-- + +"Lord Byron possesses all the means of playing a great part in the +glorious revolution of Greece. He has talent; he professes liberal +principles; he has money, and is inspired with fervent and chivalrous +feelings. He has commenced his career by two good measures: 1st, by +recommending union, and declaring himself of no party; and, 2dly, by +taking five hundred Suliotes into pay, and acting as their chief. +These acts cannot fail to render his Lordship universally popular, +and proportionally powerful. Thus advantageously circumstanced, his +Lordship will have an opportunity of realising all his professions." + +That the inspirer, however, of these hopes was himself far from +participating in them is a fact manifest from all he said and wrote +on the subject, and but adds painfully to the interest which his +position at this moment excites. Too well, indeed, did he both +understand and feel the difficulties into which he was plunged to +deceive himself into any such sanguine delusions. In one only of the +objects to which he had looked forward with any hope,--that of +endeavouring to humanise, by his example, the system of warfare on +both sides,--had he yet been able to gratify himself. Not many days +after his arrival an opportunity, as we have seen, had been afforded +him of rescuing an unfortunate Turk out of the hands of some Greek +sailors; and, towards the end of the month, having learned that there +were a few Turkish prisoners in confinement at Missolonghi, he +requested of the Government to place them at his disposal, that he +might send them to Yussuff Pacha. In performing this act of humane +policy, he transmitted with the rescued captives the following +letter:-- + + +LETTER 541. + +TO HIS HIGHNESS YUSSUFF PACHA. + +"Missolonghi, January 23. 1824. + +"Highness! + +"A vessel, in which a friend and some domestics of mine were +embarked, was detained a few days ago, and released by order of your +Highness. I have now to thank you; not for liberating the vessel, +which, as carrying a neutral flag, and being under British +protection, no one had a right to detain; but for having treated my +friends with so much kindness while they were in your hands. + +"In the hope, therefore, that it may not be altogether displeasing to +your Highness, I have requested the governor of this place to release +four Turkish prisoners, and he has humanely consented to do so. I +lose no time, therefore, in sending them back, in order to make as +early a return as I could for your courtesy on the late occasion. +These prisoners are liberated without any conditions: but should the +circumstance find a place in your recollection, I venture to beg, +that your Highness will treat such Greeks as may henceforth fall into +your hands with humanity; more especially since the horrors of war +are sufficiently great in themselves, without being aggravated by +wanton cruelties on either side. NOEL BYRON." + +Another favourite and, as it appeared for some time, practicable +object, on which he had most ardently set his heart, was the intended +attack upon Lepanto--a fortified town[1] which, from its command of +the navigation of the Gulf of Corinth, is a position of the first +importance. "Lord Byron," says Colonel Stanhope, in a letter dated +January 14., "burns with military ardour and chivalry, and will +accompany the expedition to Lepanto." The delay of Parry, the +engineer, who had been for some months anxiously expected with the +supplies necessary for the formation of a brigade of artillery, had +hitherto paralysed the preparations for this important enterprise; +though, in the mean time, whatever little could be effected, without +his aid, had been put in progress both by the appointment of a +brigade of Suliotes to act under Lord Byron, and by the formation, at +the joint expense of his Lordship and Colonel Stanhope, of a small +corps of artillery. + +[Footnote 1: The ancient Naupactus, called Epacto by the modern +Greeks, and Lepauto by the Italians.] + +It was towards the latter end of January, as we have seen, that Lord +Byron received his regular commission from the Government, as +Commander of the expedition. In conferring upon him full powers, both +civil and military, they appointed, at the same time, a Military +Council to accompany him, composed of the most experienced Chieftains +of the army, with Nota Bozzari, the uncle of the famous warrior, at +their head. + +It had been expected that, among the stores sent with Parry, there +would be a supply of Congreve rockets,--an instrument of warfare of +which such wonders had been related to the Greeks as filled their +imaginations with the most absurd ideas of its powers. Their +disappointment, therefore, on finding that the engineer had come +unprovided with these missiles was excessive. Another hope, +too,--that of being enabled to complete an artillery corps by the +accession of those Germans who had been sent for into the Morea,--was +found almost equally fallacious; that body of men having, from the +death or retirement of those who originally composed it, nearly +dwindled away; and the few officers that now came to serve being, +from their fantastic notions of rank and etiquette, far more +troublesome than useful. In addition to these discouraging +circumstances, the five Speziot ships of war which had for some time +formed the sole protection of Missolonghi were now returned to their +home, and had left their places to be filled by the enemy's squadron. + +Perplexing as were all these difficulties in the way of the +expedition, a still more formidable embarrassment presented itself in +the turbulent and almost mutinous disposition of those Suliote troops +on whom he mainly depended for success in his undertaking. Presuming +as well upon his wealth and generosity as upon their own military +importance, these unruly warriors had never ceased to rise in the +extravagance of their demands upon him;--the wholly destitute and +homeless state of their families at this moment affording but too +well founded a pretext both for their exaction and discontent. Nor +were their leaders much more amenable to management than themselves. +"There were," says Count Gamba, "six heads of families among them, +all of whom had equal pretensions both by their birth and their +exploits; and none of whom would obey any one of his comrades." + +A serious riot to which, about the middle of January, these Suliotes +had given rise, and in which some lives were lost, had been a source +of much irritation and anxiety to Lord Byron, as well from the +ill-blood it was likely to engender between his troops and the +citizens, as from the little dependence it gave him encouragement to +place upon materials so unmanageable. Notwithstanding all this, +however, neither his eagerness nor his efforts for the accomplishment +of this sole personal object of his ambition ever relaxed a single +instant. To whatever little glory was to be won by the attack upon +Lepanto, he looked forward as his only reward for all the sacrifices +he was making. In his conversations with Count Gamba on the subject, +"though he joked a good deal," says this gentleman, "about his post +of 'Archistrategos,' or Commander in Chief, it was plain that the +romance and the peril of the undertaking were great allurements to +him." When we combine, indeed, his determination to stand, at all +hazards, by the cause, with the very faint hopes his sagacious mind +would let him indulge as to his power of serving it, I have little +doubt that the "soldier's grave" which, in his own beautiful verses, +he marked out for himself, was no idle dream of poetry; but that, on +the contrary, his "wish was father to the thought," and that to an +honourable death, in some such achievement as that of storming +Lepanto, he looked forward, not only as the sole means of redeeming +worthily the great pledge he had now given, but as the most signal +and lasting service that a name like his,--echoed, as it would then +be, among the watch-words of Liberty, from age to age,--could +bequeath to her cause. + +In the midst of these cares he was much gratified by the receipt of a +letter from an old friend of his, Andrea Londo, whom he had made +acquaintance with in his early travels in 1809, and who was at that +period a rich proprietor, under the Turks, in the Morca.[1] This +patriotic Greek was one of the foremost to raise the standard of the +Cross; and at the present moment stood distinguished among the +supporters of the Legislative Body and of the new national +Government. The following is a translation of Lord Byron's answer to +his letter. + +[Footnote 1: This brave Moriote, when Lord Byron first knew him, was +particularly boyish in his aspect and manners, but still cherished, +under this exterior, a mature spirit of patriotism which occasionally +broke forth; and the noble poet used to relate that, one day, while +they were playing at draughts together, on the name of Riga being +pronounced, Londo leaped from the table, and clapping violently his +hands, began singing the famous song of that ill-fated patriot:-- + + "Sons of the Greeks, arise! + The glorious hour's gone forth."] + + +LETTER 542. TO LONDO. + +"Dear Friend, + +"The sight of your handwriting gave me the greatest pleasure. Greece +has ever been for me, as it must be for all men of any feeling or +education, the promised land of valour, of the arts, and of liberty; +nor did the time I passed in my youth in travelling among her ruins +at all chill my affection for the birthplace of heroes. In addition +to this, I am bound to yourself by ties of friendship and gratitude +for the hospitality which I experienced from you during my stay in +that country, of which you are now become one of the first defenders +and ornaments. To see myself serving, by your side and under your +eyes, in the cause of Greece, will be to me one of the happiest +events of my life. In the mean time, with the hope of our again +meeting, + +"I am, as ever," &c. + +Among the less serious embarrassments of his position at this period, +may be mentioned the struggle maintained against him by his +colleague, Colonel Stanhope,--with a degree of conscientious +perseverance which, even while thwarted by it, he could not but +respect, on the subject of a Free Press, which it was one of the +favourite objects of his fellow-agent to bring instantly into +operation in all parts of Greece. On this important point their +opinions differed considerably; and the following report, by Colonel +Stanhope, of one of their many conversations on the subject, may be +taken as a fair and concise statement of their respective +views:--"Lord Byron said that he was an ardent friend of publicity +and the press: but that he feared it was not applicable to this +society in its present combustible state. I answered that I thought +it applicable to all countries, and essential here, in order to put +an end to the state of anarchy which at present prevailed. Lord B. +feared libels and licentiousness. I said that the object of a free +press was to check public licentiousness, and to expose libellers to +odium. Lord B. had mentioned his conversation with Mavrocordato[1] to +show that the Prince was not hostile to the press. I declared that I +knew him to be an enemy to the press, although he dared not openly to +avow it. His Lordship then said that he had not made up his mind +about the liberty of the press in Greece, but that he thought the +experiment worth trying." + +[Footnote 1: Lord Byron had, it seems, acknowledged, on the preceding +evening, his having remarked to Prince Blavrocordato that "if he were +in his situation, he would have placed the press under a censor;" to +which the Prince had replied, "No; the liberty of the press is +guaranteed by the Constitution."] + +That between two men, both eager in the service of one common cause, +there should arise a difference of opinion as to the _means_ of +serving it is but a natural result of the varieties of human +judgment, and detracts nothing from the zeal or sincerity of either. +But by those who do not suffer themselves to be carried away by a +theory, it will be conceded, I think, that the scruples professed by +Lord Byron, with respect to the expedience or safety of introducing +what is called a Free Press into a country so little advanced in +civilisation as Greece, were founded on just views of human nature +and practical good sense. To endeavour to force upon a state of +society, so unprepared for them, such full grown institutions; to +think of engrafting, at once, on an ignorant people the fruits of +long knowledge and cultivation,--of importing among them, ready made, +those advantages and blessings which no nation ever attained but by +its own working out, nor ever was fitted to enjoy but by having first +struggled for them; to harbour even a dream of the success of such an +experiment, implies a sanguineness almost incredible, and such as, +though, in the present instance, indulged by the political economist +and soldier, was, as we have seen, beyond the poet. + +The enthusiastic and, in many respects, well founded confidence with +which Colonel Stanhope appealed to the authority of Mr. Bentham on +most of the points at issue between himself and Lord Byron, was, from +that natural antipathy which seems to exist between political +economists and poets, but little sympathised in by the latter;--such +appeals being always met by him with those sallies of ridicule, which +he found the best-humoured vent for his impatience under argument, +and to which, notwithstanding the venerable name and services of Mr. +Bentham himself, the quackery of much that is promulgated by his +followers presented, it must be owned, ample scope. Romantic, indeed, +as was Lord Byron's sacrifice of himself to the cause of Greece, +there was in the views he took of the means of serving her not a +tinge of the unsubstantial or speculative. The grand practical task +of freeing her from her tyrants was his first and main object. He +knew that slavery was the great bar to knowledge, and must be broken +through before her light could come; that the work of the sword must +therefore precede that of the pen, and camps be the first schools of +freedom. + +With such sound and manly views of the true exigencies of the crisis, +it is not wonderful that he should view with impatience, and +something, perhaps, of contempt, all that premature apparatus of +printing-presses, pedagogues, &c. with which the Philhellenes of the +London Committee were, in their rage for "utilitarianism," +encumbering him. Nor were some of the correspondents of this body +much more solid in their speculations than themselves; one +intelligent gentleman having suggested, as a means of conferring +signal advantages on the cause, an alteration of the Greek alphabet. + +Though feeling, as strongly, perhaps, as Lord Byron, the importance +of the great object of their mission,--that of rousing and, what was +far more difficult, combining against the common foe the energies of +the country,--Colonel Stanhope was also one of those who thought that +the lights of their great master, Bentham, and the operations of a +press unrestrictedly free, were no less essential instruments towards +the advancement of the struggle; and in this opinion, as we have +seen, the poet and man of literature differed from the soldier. But +it was such a difference as, between men of frank and fair minds, may +arise without either reproach to themselves, or danger to their +cause,--a strife of opinion which; though maintained with heat, may +be remembered without bitterness, and which, in the present instance, +neither prevented Byron, at the close of one of their warmest +altercations, from exclaiming generously to his opponent, "Give me +that honest right hand," nor withheld the other from pouring forth, +at the grave of his colleague, a strain of eulogy[1] not the less +cordial for being discriminatingly shaded with censure, nor less +honourable to the illustrious dead for being the tribute of one who +had once manfully differed with him. + +[Footnote 1: Sketch of Lord Byron.--See Colonel Stanhope's "Greece in +1823, 1824," &c.] + +Towards the middle of February, the indefatigable activity of Mr. +Parry having brought the artillery brigade into such a state of +forwardness as to be almost ready for service, an inspection of the +Suliote corps took place, preparatory to the expedition; and after +much of the usual deception and unmanageableness on their part, every +obstacle appeared to be at length surmounted. It was agreed that they +should receive a month's pay in advance;--Count Gamba, with 300 of +their corps, as a vanguard, was to march next day and take up a +position under Lepanto, and Lord Byron with the main body and the +artillery was speedily to follow. + +New difficulties, however, were soon started by these untractable +mercenaries; and under the instigation, as was discovered afterwards, +of the great rival of Mavrocordato, Colocotroni, who had sent +emissaries into Missolonghi for the purpose of seducing them, they +now put forward their exactions in a new shape, by requiring of the +Government to appoint, out of their number, two generals, two +colonels, two captains, and inferior officers in the same +proportion:--"in short," says Count Gamba, "that, out of three or +four hundred actual Suliotes, there should be about one hundred and +fifty above the rank of common soldiers." The audacious dishonesty of +this demand,--beyond what he could have expected even from +Greeks,--roused all Lord Byron's rage, and he at once signified to +the whole body, through Count Gamba, that all negotiation between +them and himself was at an end; that he could no longer have any +confidence in persons so little true to their engagements; and that +though the relief which he had afforded to their families should +still be continued, all his agreements with them, as a body, must be +thenceforward void. + +It was on the 14th of February that this rupture with the Suliotes +took place; and though, on the following day, in consequence of the +full submission of their Chiefs, they were again received into his +Lordship's service on his own terms, the whole affair, combined with +the various other difficulties that now beset him, agitated his mind +considerably. He saw with pain that he should but place in peril both +the cause of Greece and his own character, by at all relying, in such +an enterprise, upon troops whom any intriguer could thus seduce from +their duty; and that, till some more regular force could be +organised, the expedition against Lepanto must be suspended. + +While these vexatious events were occurring, the interruption of his +accustomed exercise by the rains but increased the irritability that +such delays were calculated to excite; and the whole together, no +doubt, concurred with whatever predisposing tendencies were already +in his constitution, to bring on that convulsive fit,--the forerunner +of his death,--which, on the evening of the 15th of February, seized +him. He was sitting, at about eight o'clock, with only Mr. Parry and +Mr. Hesketh, in the apartment of Colonel Stanhope,--talking jestingly +upon one of his favourite topics, the differences between himself and +this latter gentleman, and saying that "he believed, after all, the +author's brigade would be ready before the soldier's printing-press." +There was an unusual flush in his face, and from the rapid changes of +his countenance it was manifest that he was suffering under some +nervous agitation. He then complained of being thirsty, and, calling +for some cider, drank of it; upon which, a still greater change being +observable over his features, he rose from his seat, but was unable +to walk, and, after staggering forward a step or two, fell into Mr. +Parry's arms. In another minute, his teeth were closed, his speech +and senses gone, and he was in strong convulsions. So violent, +indeed, were his struggles, that it required all the strength both of +Mr. Parry and his servant Tita to hold him during the fit. His face, +too, was much distorted; and, as he told Count Gamba afterwards, "so +intense were his sufferings during the convulsion, that, had it +lasted but a minute longer, he believed he must have died." The fit +was, however, as short as it was violent; in a few minutes his speech +and senses returned; his features, though still pale and haggard, +resumed their natural shape, and no effect remained from the attack +but excessive weakness. "As soon as he could speak," says Count +Gamba, "he showed himself perfectly free from all alarm; but he very +coolly asked whether his attack was likely to prove fatal. 'Let me +know,' he said; 'do not think I am afraid to die--I am not.'" + +This painful event had not occurred more than half an hour, when a +report was brought that the Suliotes were up in arms, and about to +attack the seraglio, for the purpose of seizing the magazines. +Instantly Lord Byron's friends ran to the arsenal; the artillery-men +were ordered under arms; the sentinels doubled, and the cannon loaded +and pointed on the approaches to the gates. Though the alarm proved +to be false, the very likelihood of such an attack shows sufficiently +how precarious was the state of Missolonghi at this moment, and in +what a scene of peril, confusion, and uncomfort, the now nearly +numbered days of England's poet were to close. + +On the following morning he was found to be better, but still pale +and weak, and complained much of a sensation of weight in his head. +The doctors, therefore, thought it right to apply leeches to his +temples; but found it difficult, on their removal, to stop the blood, +which continued to flow so copiously, that from exhaustion he +fainted. It must have been on this day that the scene thus described +by Colonel Stanhope occurred:-- + +"Soon after his dreadful paroxysm, when, faint with over-bleeding, he +was lying on his sick bed, with his whole nervous system completely +shaken, the mutinous Suliotes, covered with dirt and splendid +attires, broke into his apartment, brandishing their costly arms, and +loudly demanding their wild rights. Lord Byron, electrified by this +unexpected act, seemed to recover from his sickness; and the more the +Suliotes raged, the more his calm courage triumphed. The scene was +truly sublime." + +Another eye-witness, Count Gamba, bears similar testimony to the +presence of mind with which he fronted this and all other such +dangers. "It is impossible," says this gentleman, "to do justice to +the coolness and magnanimity which he displayed upon every trying +occasion. Upon trifling occasions he was certainly irritable; but the +aspect of danger calmed him in an instant, and restored to him the +free exercise of all the powers of his noble nature. A more undaunted +man in the hour of peril never breathed." + +The letters written by him during the few following weeks form, as +usual, the best record of his proceedings, and, besides the sad +interest they possess as being among the latest from his hand, are +also precious, as affording proof that neither illness nor +disappointment, neither a worn-out frame nor even a hopeless spirit, +could lead him for a moment to think of abandoning the great cause he +had espoused; while to the last, too, he preserved unbroken the +cheerful spring of his mind, his manly endurance of all ills that +affected but himself, and his ever-wakeful consideration for the +wants of others. + + +LETTER 543. TO MR. BARFF. + +"February 21. + +"I am a good deal better, though of course weakly; the leeches took +too much blood from my temples the day after, and there was some +difficulty in stopping it, but I have since been up daily, and out in +boats of on horseback. To-day I have taken a warm bath, and live as +temperately as can well be, without any liquid but water, and without +animal food. + +"Besides the four Turks sent to Patras, I have obtained the release +of four-and-twenty women and children, and sent them at my own +expense to Prevesa, that the English Consul-General may consign them +to their relations. I did this by their own desire. Matters here are +a little embroiled with the Suliotes and foreigners, &c., but I still +hope better things, and will stand by the cause as long as my health +and circumstances will permit me to be supposed useful.[1] + +[Footnote 1: In a letter to the same gentleman, dated January 27., he +had already said, "I hope that things here will go on well some time +or other. I will stick by the cause as long as a cause exists--first +or second."] + +"I am obliged to support the Government here for the present." + +The prisoners mentioned in this letter as having been released by him +and sent to Prevesa, had been held in captivity at Missolonghi since +the beginning of the Revolution. The following was the letter which +he forwarded with them to the English Consul at Prevesa. + + +LETTER 544. TO MR. MAYER. + +"Sir, + +"Coming to Greece, one of my principal objects was to alleviate as +much as possible the miseries incident to a warfare so cruel as the +present. When the dictates of humanity are in question, I know no +difference between Turks and Greeks. It is enough that those who want +assistance are men, in order to claim the pity and protection of the +meanest pretender to humane feelings. I have found here twenty-four +Turks, including women and children, who have long pined in distress, +far from the means of support and the consolations of their home. The +Government has consigned them to me; I transmit them to Prevesa, +whither they desire to be sent. I hope you will not object to take +care that they may be restored to a place of safety, and that the +Governor of your town may accept of my present. The best recompense I +can hope for would be to find that I had inspired the Ottoman +commanders with the same sentiments towards those unhappy Greeks who +may hereafter fall into their hands. + +"I beg you to believe me," &c. + + +LETTER 545. + +TO THE HONOURABLE DOUGLAS KINNAIRD. + +"Missolonghi, February 21. 1824. + +"I have received yours of the 2d of November. It is essential that +the money should be paid, as I have drawn for it all, and more too, +to help the Greeks. Parry is here, and he and I agree very well; and +all is going on hopefully for the present, considering circumstances. + +"We shall have work this year, for the Turks are coming down in +force; and, as for me, I must stand by the cause. I shall shortly +march (according to orders) against Lepanto, with two thousand men. I +have been here some time, after some narrow escapes from the Turks, +and also from being ship-wrecked. We were twice upon the rocks; but +this you will have heard, truly or falsely, through other channels, +and I do not wish to bore you with a long story. + +"So far I have succeeded in supporting the Government of Western +Greece, which would otherwise have been dissolved. If you have +received the eleven thousand and odd pounds, these, with what I have +in hand, and my income for the current year, to say nothing of +contingencies, will, or might, enable me to keep the 'sinews of war' +properly strung. If the deputies be honest fellows, and obtain the +loan, they will repay the 4000,'. as agreed upon; and even then I +shall save little, or indeed less than little, since I am maintaining +nearly the whole machine--in this place, at least--at my own cost. +But let the Greeks only succeed, and I don't care for myself. + +"I have been very seriously unwell, but am getting better, and can +ride about again; so pray quiet our friends on that score. + +"It is not true that I ever _did, will, would, could, _ or _should_ +write a satire against Gifford, or a hair of his head. I always +considered him as my literary father, and myself as his 'prodigal +son;' and if I have allowed his 'fatted calf' to grow to an ox +before, he kills it on my return, it is only because I prefer beef to +veal. Yours," &c + + +LETTER 546. TO MR. BARFF. + +"February 23. + +"My health seems improving, especially from riding and the warm bath. +Six Englishmen will be soon in quarantine at Zante; they are +artificers[1], and have had enough of Greece in fourteen days. If you +could recommend them to a passage home, I would thank you; they are +good men enough, but do not quite understand the little discrepancies +in these countries, and are not used to see shooting and slashing in +a domestic quiet way, or (as it forms here) a part of housekeeping. + +[Footnote 1: The workmen who came out with Parry; and who, alarmed by +the scene of confusion and danger they found at Missolonghi, had +resolved to return home.] + +"If they should want any thing during their quarantine, you can +advance them not more than a dollar a day (amongst them) for that +period, to purchase them some little extras as comforts (as they are +quite out of their element). I cannot afford them more at present." + +The following letter to Mr. Murray,--which it is most gratifying to +have to produce, as the last completing link of a long friendship and +correspondence which had been but for a short time, and through the +fault only of others, interrupted,--contains such a summary of the +chief events now passing round Lord Byron, as, with the assistance of +a few notes, will render any more detailed narrative unnecessary. + + +LETTER 547. TO MR. MURRAY. + +"Missolonghi, February 25. 1824. + +"I have heard from Mr. Douglas Kinnaird that you state 'a report of a +satire on Mr. Gifford having arrived from Italy, _said_ to be written +by _me_! but that _you_ do not believe it.' I dare say you do not, +nor anybody else, I should think. Whoever asserts that I am the +author or abettor of any thing of the kind on Gifford lies in his +throat. If any such composition exists it is none of mine. _You_ know +as well as any body upon _whom_ I have or have not written; and _you_ +also know whether they do or did not deserve that same. And so much +for such matters. + +"You will perhaps be anxious to hear some news from this part of +Greece (which is the most liable to invasion); but you will hear +enough through public and private channels. I will, however, give you +the events of a week, mingling my own private peculiar with the +public; for we are here a little jumbled together at present. + +"On Sunday (the 15th, I believe,) I had a strong and sudden +convulsive attack, which left me speechless, though not +motionless--for some strong men could not hold me; but whether it was +epilepsy, catalepsy, cachexy, or apoplexy, or what other _exy _ or +_epsy_, the doctors have not decided; or whether it was spasmodic or +nervous, &c.; but it was very unpleasant, and nearly carried me off, +and all that. On Monday, they put leeches to my temples, no difficult +matter, but the blood could not be stopped till eleven at night (they +had gone too near the temporal artery for my temporal safety), and +neither styptic nor caustic would cauterise the orifice till after a +hundred attempts. + +"On Tuesday, a Turkish brig of war ran on shore. On Wednesday, great +preparations being made to attack her, though protected by her +consorts[1], the Turks burned her and retired to Patras. On Thursday +a quarrel ensued between the Suliotes and the Frank guard at the +arsenal: a Swedish officer[2] was killed, and a Suliote severely +wounded, and a general fight expected, and with some difficulty +prevented. On Friday, the officer was buried; and Captain Parry's +English artificers mutinied, under pretence that their lives are in +danger, and are for quitting the country:--they may.[3] + +[Footnote 1: "Early in the morning we prepared for our attack on the +brig. Lord Byron, notwithstanding his weakness, and an inflammation +that threatened his eyes, was most anxious to be of our party; but +the physicians would not suffer him to go."--COUNT GAMBA'S +_Narrative_. + +His Lordship had promised a reward for every Turk taken alive in the +proposed attack on this vessel.] + +[Footnote 2: Captain Sasse, an officer esteemed as one of the best +and bravest of the foreigners in the Greek service. "This," says +Colonel Stanhope, in a letter, February 18th, to the Committee, "is a +serious affair. The Suliotes have no country, no home for their +families; arrears of pay are owing to them; the people of Missolonghi +hate and pay them exorbitantly. Lord Byron, who was to have led them +to Lepanto, is much shaken by his fit, and will probably be obliged +to retire from Greece. In short, all our hopes in this quarter are +damped for the present. I am not a little fearful, too, that these +wild warriors will not forget the blood that has been spilt. I this +morning told Prince Mavrocordato and Lord Byron that they must come +to some resolution about compelling the Suliotes to quit the place."] + +[Footnote 3: This was a fresh, and, as may be conceived, serious +disappointment to Lord Byron. "The departure of these men," says +Count Gamba, "made us fear that our laboratory would come to nothing; +for, if we tried to supply the place of the artificers with native +Greeks, we should make but little progress.] + +"On Saturday we had the smartest shock of an earthquake which I +remember, (and I have felt thirty, slight or smart, at different +periods; they are common in the Mediterranean,) and the whole army +discharged their arms, upon the same principle that savages beat +drums, or howl, during an eclipse of the moon:--it was a rare scene +altogether--if you had but seen the English Johnnies, who had never +been out of a cockney workshop before!--or will again, if they can +help it--and on Sunday, we heard that the Vizier is come down to +Larissa, with one hundred and odd thousand men. + +"In coming here, I had two escapes, one from the Turks, _(one_ of my +vessels was taken, but afterwards released,) and the other from +shipwreck. We drove twice on the rocks near the Scrophes (islands +near the coast). + +"I have obtained from the Greeks the release of eight-and-twenty +Turkish prisoners, men, women, and children, and sent them to Patras +and Prevesa at my own charges. One little girl of nine years old, who +prefers remaining with me, I shall (if I live) send, with her mother, +probably, to Italy, or to England. Her name is Hato, or Hatagee. She +is a very pretty, lively child. All her brothers were killed by the +Greeks, and she herself and her mother merely spared by special +favour and owing to her extreme youth, she being then but five or six +years old. + +"My health is now better, and I ride about again. My office here is +no sinecure, so many parties and difficulties of every kind; but I +will do what I can. Prince Mavrocordato is an excellent person, and +does all in his power, but his situation is perplexing in the +extreme. Still we have great hopes of the success of the contest. You +will hear, however, more of public news from plenty of quarters; for +I have little time to write. + +"Believe me yours, &c. &c. N. BN." + +The fierce lawlessness of the Suliotes had now risen to such a height +that it became necessary, for the safety of the European population, +to get rid of them altogether; and, by some sacrifices on the part of +Lord Byron, this object was at length effected. The advance of a +month's pay by him, and the discharge of their arrears by the +Government, (the latter, too, with money lent for that purpose by the +same universal paymaster,) at length induced these rude warriors to +depart from the town, and with them vanished all hopes of the +expedition against Lepanto. + + +LETTER 548. TO MR. MOORE. + +"Missolonghi, Western Greece, March 4. 1824. + +"My dear Moore, + +"Your reproach is unfounded--I have received two letters from you, +and answered both previous to leaving Cephalonia. I have not been +'quiet' in an Ionian island, but much occupied with business,--as the +Greek deputies (if arrived) can tell you. Neither have I continued +'Don Juan,' nor any other poem. You go, as usual, I presume, by some +newspaper report or other.[1] + +[Footnote 1: Proceeding, as he here rightly supposes, upon newspaper +authority, I had in my letter made some allusion to his imputed +occupations, which, in his present sensitiveness on the subject of +authorship, did not at all please him. To this circumstance Count +Gamba alludes in a passage of his Narrative; where, after mentioning +a remark of Byron's, that "Poetry should only occupy the idle, and +that in more serious affairs it would be ridiculous," he adds-- +"----, at this time writing to him, said, that he had heard that +'instead of pursuing heroic and warlike adventures, he was residing +in a delightful villa, continuing Don Juan.' This offended him for +the moment, and he was sorry that such a mistaken judgment had been +formed of him." + +It is amusing to observe that, while thus anxious, and from a highly +noble motive, to throw his authorship into the shade while engaged in +so much more serious pursuits, it was yet an author's mode of revenge +that always occurred to him, when under the influence of any of these +passing resentments. Thus, when a little angry with Colonel Stanhope +one day, he exclaimed, "I will libel you in your own Chronicle;" and +in this brief burst of humour I was myself the means of provoking in +him, I have been told, on the authority of Count Gamba, that he swore +to "write a satire" upon me. + +Though the above letter shows how momentary was any little spleen he +may have felt, there not unfrequently, I own, comes over me a short +pang of regret to think that a feeling of displeasure, however +slight, should have been among the latest I awakened in him.] + +"When the proper moment to be of some use arrived, I came here; and +am told that my arrival (with some other circumstances) _has_ been +of, at least, temporary advantage to the cause. I had a narrow escape +from the Turks, and another from Shipwreck on my passage. On the 15th +(or 16th) of February I had an attack of apoplexy, or epilepsy,--the +physicians have not exactly decided which, but the alternative is +agreeable. My constitution, therefore, remains between the two +opinions, like Mahomet's sarcophagus between the magnets. All that I +can say is, that they nearly bled me to death, by placing the leeches +too near the temporal artery, so that the blood could with difficulty +be stopped, even with caustic, I am supposed to be getting better, +slowly, however. But my homilies will, I presume, for the future, be +like the Archbishop of Grenada's--in this case, 'I order you a +hundred ducats from my treasurer, and wish you a little more taste.' + +"For public matters I refer you to Colonel Stanhope's and Capt. +Parry's reports,--and to all other reports whatsoever. There is +plenty to do--war without, and tumult within--they 'kill a man a +week,' like Bob Acres in the country. Parry's artificers have gone +away in alarm, on account of a dispute in which some of the natives +and foreigners were engaged, and a Swede was killed, and a Suliote +wounded. In the middle of their fright there was a strong shock of an +earthquake; so, between that and the sword, they boomed off in a +hurry, in despite of all dissuasions to the contrary. A Turkish brig +run ashore, &c. &c. &c.[1] + +[Footnote 1: What I have omitted here is but a repetition of the +various particulars, respecting all that had happened since his +arrival, which have already been given in the letters to his other +correspondents.] + +"You, I presume, are either publishing or meditating that same. Let +me hear from and of you, and believe me, in all events, + +"Ever and affectionately yours, + +"N. B. + +"P.S. Tell Mr. Murray that I wrote to him the other day, and hope +that he has received, or will receive, the letter." + + +LETTER 549. TO DR. KENNEDY. + +"Missolonghi, March 4. 1824. + +"My dear Doctor, + +"I have to thank you for your two very kind letters, both received at +the same time, and one long after its date. I am not unaware of the +precarious state of my health, nor am, nor have been, deceived on +that subject. But it is proper that I should remain in Greece; and it +were better to die doing something than nothing. My presence here has +been supposed so far useful as to have prevented confusion from +becoming worse confounded, at least for the present. Should I become, +or be deemed useless or superfluous, I am ready to retire; but in the +interim I am not to consider personal consequences; the rest is in +the hands of Providence,--as indeed are all things. I shall, however, +observe your instructions, and indeed did so, as far as regards +abstinence, for some time past. + +"Besides the tracts, &c. which you have sent for distribution, one of +the English artificers (hight Brownbill, a tinman,) left to my charge +a number of Greek Testaments, which I will endeavour to distribute +properly. The Greeks complain that the translation is not correct, +nor in _good_ Romaic: Bambas can decide on that point. I am trying to +reconcile the clergy to the distribution, which (without due regard +to their hierarchy) they might contrive to impede or neutralise in +the effect, from their power over their people. Mr. Brownbill has +gone to the Islands, having some apprehension for his life, (not from +the priests, however,) and apparently preferring rather to be a saint +than a martyr, although his apprehensions of becoming the latter were +probably unfounded. All the English artificers accompanied him, +thinking themselves in danger on account of some troubles here, which +have apparently subsided. + +"I have been interrupted by a visit from Prince Mavrocordato and +others since I began this letter, and must close it hastily, for the +boat is announced as ready to sail. Your future convert, Hato, or +Hatagée, appears to me lively, and intelligent, and promising, and +possesses an interesting countenance. With regard to her disposition, +I can say little, but Millingen, who has the mother (who is a +middle-aged woman of good character) in his house as a domestic +(although their family was in good worldly circumstances previous to +the Revolution), speaks well of both, and he is to be relied on. As +far as I know, I have only seen the child a few times with her +mother, and what I have seen is favourable, or I should not take so +much interest in her behalf. If she turns out well, my idea would be +to send her to my daughter in England (if not to respectable persons +in Italy), and so to provide for her as to enable her to live with +reputation either singly or in marriage, if she arrive at maturity. I +will make proper arrangements about her expenses through Messrs. +Barff and Hancock, and the rest I leave to your discretion and to +Mrs. K.'s, with a great sense of obligation for your kindness in +undertaking her temporary superintendence. + +"Of public matters here, I have little to add to what you will +already have heard. We are going on as well as we can, and with the +hope and the endeavour to do better. Believe me, + +"Ever and truly," &c. + + +LETTER 550. TO MR. BARFF. + +"March 5. 1824. + +"If Sisseni[1] is sincere, he will be treated with, and well treated; +if he is not, the sin and the shame may lie at his own door. One +great object is to heal those internal dissensions for the future, +without exacting too rigorous an account of the past. Prince +Mavrocordato is of the same opinion, and whoever is disposed to act +fairly will be fairly dealt with. I _have_ heard a _good deal_ of +Sisseni, but not a _deal_ of _good_: however, I never judge from +report, particularly in a Revolution. _Personally_, I am rather +obliged to him, for he has been very hospitable to all friends of +mine who have passed through his district. You may therefore assure +him that any overture for the advantage of Greece and its internal +pacification will be readily and sincerely met _here_. I hardly think +that he would have ventured a deceitful proposition to me through +_you_, because he must be sure that in such a case it would +eventually be exposed. At any rate, the healing of these dissensions +is so important a point, that something must be risked to obtain it." + +[Footnote 1: This Sisseni, who was the _Capitano_ of the rich +district about Gastouni, and had for some time held out against the +general Government, was now, as appears by the above letter, making +overtures, through Mr. Barff, of adhesion. As a proof of his +sincerity, it was required by Lord Byron that he should surrender +into the hands of the Government the fortress of Chiarenza.] + + +LETTER 551. TO MR. BARFF. + +"March 10. + +"Enclosed is an answer to Mr. Parruca's letter, and I hope that you +will assure him from me, that I have done and am doing all I can to +re-unite the Greeks with the Greeks. + +"I am extremely obliged by your offer of your country house (as for +all other kindness) in case that my health should require my removal; +but I cannot quit Greece while there is a chance of my being of any +(even supposed) utility:--there is a stake worth millions such as I +am, and while I can stand at all, I must stand by the cause. When I +say this, I am at the same time aware of the difficulties and +dissensions and defects of the Greeks themselves; but allowance must +be made for them by all reasonable people. + +"My chief, indeed _nine tenths_ of my expenses here are solely in +advances to or on behalf of the Greeks[1], and objects connected with +their independence." + +[Footnote 1: "At this time (February 14th)," says Mr. Parry, who kept +the accounts of his Lordship's disbursements, "the expenses of Lord +Byron in the cause of the Greeks did not amount to less than two +thousand dollars per week in rations alone." In another place this +writer says, "The Greeks seemed to think he was a mine from which +they could extract gold at their pleasure. One person represented +that a supply of 20,000 dollars would save the island of Candia from +falling into the hands of the Pacha of Egypt; and there not being +that sum in hand, Lord Byron gave him authority to raise it if he +could in the Islands, and he would guarantee its repayment. I believe +this person did not succeed."] + +The letter of Parruca, to which the foregoing alludes, contained a +pressing invitation to Lord Byron to present himself in the +Peloponnesus, where, it was added, his influence would be sure to +bring about the Union of all parties. So general, indeed, was the +confidence placed in their noble ally, that, by every Chief of every +faction, he seems to have been regarded as the only rallying point +round which there was the slightest chance of their now split and +jarring interests being united. A far more flattering, as well as +more authorised, invitation soon after reached him, through an +express envoy, from the Chieftain, Colocotroni, recommending a +National Council, where his Lordship, it was proposed, should act as +mediator, and pledging this Chief himself and his followers to abide +by the result. To this application an answer was returned similar to +that which he sent to Parruca, and which was in terms as follows:-- + + +LETTER 552. TO SR. PARRUCA. + +"March 10. 1824. + +"Sir, + +"I have the honour of answering your letter. My first wish has always +been to bring the Greeks to agree amongst themselves. I came here by +the invitation of the Greek Government, and I do not think that I +ought to abandon Roumelia for the Peloponnesus until that Government +shall desire it; and the more so, as this part is exposed in a +greater degree to the enemy. Nevertheless, if my presence can really +be of any assistance in uniting two or more parties, I am ready to go +any where, either as a mediator, or, if necessary, as a hostage. In +these affairs I have neither private views, nor private dislike of +any individual, but the sincere wish of deserving the name of the +friend of your country, and of her patriots. I have the honour," &c. + + +LETTER 553. TO MR. CHARLES HANCOCK. + +"Missolonghi, March 10. 1824. + +"Sir, + +"I sent by Mr. J.M. Hodges a bill drawn on Signer C. Jerostatti for +three hundred and eighty-six pounds, on account of the Hon. the Greek +Committee, for carrying on the service at this place. But Count +Delladecima sent no more than two hundred dollars until he should +receive instructions from C. Jerostatti. Therefore I am obliged to +advance that sum to prevent a positive stop being put to the +Laboratory service at this place, &c. &c. + +"I beg you will mention this business to Count Delladecima, who has +the draft and every account, and that Mr. Barff, in conjunction with +yourself, will endeavour to arrange this money account, and, when +received, forward the same to Missolonghi. + +"I am, Sir, yours very truly. + +"So far is written by Captain Parry; but I see that I must continue +the letter myself. I understand little or nothing of the business, +saving and except that, like most of the present affairs here, it +will be at a stand-still if monies be not advanced, and there are few +here so disposed; so that I must take the chance, as usual. + +"You will see what can be done with Delladecima and Jerostatti, and +remit the sum, that we may have some quiet; for the Committee have +somehow embroiled their matters, or chosen Greek correspondents more +Grecian than ever the Greeks are wont to be. + +"Yours ever, NL. BN. + +"P.S. A thousand thanks to Muir for his cauliflower, the finest I +ever saw or tasted, and, I believe, the largest that ever grew out of +Paradise, or Scotland. I have written to quiet Dr. Kennedy about the +newspaper (with which I have nothing to do as a writer, please to +recollect and say). I told the fools of conductors that their motto +would play the devil; but, like all mountebanks, they persisted. +Gamba, who is any thing but _lucky_, had something to do with it; +and, as usual, the moment he had, matters went wrong. [1] It will be +better, perhaps, in time. But I write in haste, and have only time to +say, before the boat sails, that I am ever + +"Yours, N. BN. + +[Footnote 1: He had a notion that Count Gamba was destined to be +unfortunate,--that he was one of those ill-starred persons with whom +every thing goes wrong. In speaking of this newspaper to Parry, he +said, "I have subscribed to it to get rid of importunity, and, it may +be, keep Gamba out of mischief. At any rate, he can mar nothing that +is of less importance."] + +"P.S. Mr. Findlay is here, and has received his money." + + +LETTER 554. TO DR. KENNEDY. + +"Missolonghi, March 10. 1824. + +"Dear Sir, + +"You could not disapprove of the motto to the Telegraph more than I +did, and do; but this is the land of liberty, where most people do as +they please, and few as they ought. + +"I have not written, nor am inclined to write, for that or for any +other paper, but have suggested to them, over and over, a change of +the motto and style. However, I do not think that it will turn out +either an irreligious or a levelling publication, and they promise +due respect to both churches and things, _i.e._ the editors do. + +"If Bambas would write for the Greek Chronicle, he might have his own +price for articles. + +"There is a slight demur about Hato's voyage, her mother wishing to +go with her, which is quite natural, and I have not the heart to +refuse it; for even Mahomet made a law, that in the division of +captives, the child should never be separated from the mother. But +this may make a difference in the arrangement, although the poor +woman (who has lost half her family in the war) is, as I said, of +good character, and of mature age, so as to render her respectability +not liable to suspicion. She has heard, it seems, from Prevesa, that +her husband is no longer there. I have consigned your Bibles to Dr. +Meyer; and I hope that the said Doctor may justify your confidence; +nevertheless, I shall keep an eye upon him. You may depend upon my +giving the Society as fair play as Mr. Wilberforce himself would; and +any other commission for the good of Greece will meet with the same +attention on my part. + +"I am trying, with some hope of eventual success, to re-unite the +Greeks, especially as the Turks are expected in force, and that +shortly. We must meet them as we may, and fight it out as we can. + +"I rejoice to hear that your school prospers, and I assure you that +your good wishes are reciprocal. The weather is so much finer, that I +get a good deal of moderate exercise in boats and on horseback, and +am willing to hope that my health is not worse than when you kindly +wrote to me. Dr. Bruno can tell you that I adhere to your regimen, +and more, for I do not eat any meat, even fish. + +"Believe me ever, &c. + +"P.S. The mechanics (six in number) were all pretty much of the same +mind. Brownbill was but _one_. Perhaps they are less to blame than is +imagined, since Colonel Stanhope is said to have told them, '_that he +could not positively say their lives were safe.' _ I should like to +know _where_ our life _is_ safe, either here or any where else? With +regard to a place of safety, at least such hermetically sealed safety +as these persons appeared to desiderate, it is not to be found in +Greece, at any rate; but Missolonghi was supposed to be the place +where they would be useful, and their risk was no greater than that +of others." + + +LETTER 555. TO COLONEL STANHOPE. + +"Missolonghi, March 19. 1824. + +"My dear Stanhope, + +"Prince Mavrocordato and myself will go to Salona to meet Ulysses, +and you may be very sure that P.M. will accept any proposition for +the advantage of Greece. Parry is to answer for himself on his own +articles[1]: if I were to interfere with him, it would only stop the +whole progress of his exertion; and he is really doing all that can +be done without more aid from the Government. + +[Footnote 1: Colonel Stanhope had, at the instance of the Chief +Odysseus, written to request that some stores from the laboratory at +Missolonghi might be sent to Athens. Neither Prince Mavrocordato, +however, nor Lord Byron considered it prudent, at this time, to +weaken their means for defending Missolonghi, and accordingly sent +back by the messenger but a few barrels of powder.] + +"What can be spared will be sent; but I refer you to Captain +Humphries's report, and to Count Gamba's letter for details upon all +subjects. + +"In the hope of seeing you soon, and deferring much that will be to +be said till then, + +"Believe me ever, &c. + +"P.S. Your two letters (to me) are sent to Mr. Barff, as you desire. +Pray remember me particularly to Trelawney, whom I shall be very much +pleased to see again." + + +LETTER 556. TO MR. BARFF. + +"March 19. + +"As Count Mercati is under some apprehensions of a _direct_ answer to +_him_ personally on Greek affairs, I reply (as you authorised me) to +you, who will have the goodness to communicate to him the enclosed. +It is the joint answer of Prince Mavrocordato and of myself, to +Signor Georgio Sisseni's propositions. You may also add, both to him +and to Parruca, that I am perfectly sincere in desiring the most +amicable termination of their internal dissensions, and that I +believe P. Mavrocordato to be so also; otherwise I would not act with +him, or any other, whether native or foreigner. + +"If Lord Guilford is at Zante, or, if he is not, if Signor Tricupi is +there, you would oblige me by presenting my respects to one or both, +and by telling them, that from the very first I foretold to Col. +Stanhope and to P. Mavrocordato that a Greek newspaper (or indeed any +other) in _the present state_ of Greece might and probably _would_ +tend to much mischief and misconstruction, unless under some +restrictions, nor have I ever had any thing to do with either, as a +writer or otherwise, except as a pecuniary contributor to their +support in the outset, which I could not refuse to the earnest +request of the projectors. Col. Stanhope and myself had considerable +differences of opinion on this subject, and (what will appear +laughable enough) to such a degree, that he charged me with +_despotic_ principles, and I _him_ with ultra radicalism. + +"Dr. ----, the editor, with his unrestrained freedom of the press, +and who has the freedom to exercise an unlimited discretion,--not +allowing any article but his own and those like them to appear,--and +in declaiming against restrictions, cuts, carves, and restricts (as +they tell me) at his own will and pleasure. He is the author of an +article against Monarchy, of which he may have the advantage and +fame--but they (the editors) will get themselves into a scrape, if +they do not take care. + +"Of all petty tyrants, he is one of the pettiest, as are most +demagogues, that ever I knew. He is a Swiss by birth, and a Greek by +assumption, having married a wife and changed his religion. + +"I shall be very glad, and am extremely anxious for some favourable +result to the recent pacific overtures of the contending parties in +the Peloponnese." + + +LETTER 557. TO MR. BARFF. + +"March 23. + +"If the Greek deputies (as seems probable) have obtained the Loan, +the sums I have advanced may perhaps be repaid; but it would make no +great difference, as I should still spend that in the cause, and more +to boot--though I should hope to better purpose than paying off +arrears of fleets that sail away, and Suliotes that won't march, +which, they say, what has hitherto been advanced has been employed +in. But that was not my affair, but of those who had the disposal of +affairs, and I could not decently say to them, 'You shall do so and +so, because, &c. &c. &c.' + +"In a few days P. Mavrocordato and myself, with a considerable +escort, intend to proceed to Salona at the request of Ulysses and the +Chiefs of Eastern Greece, and take measures offensive and defensive +for the ensuing campaign. Mavrocordato is _almost _ recalled by the +_new_ Government to the Morea, (to take the lead, I rather think,) +and they have written to propose to me to go either to the Morea with +him, or to take the general direction of affairs in this +quarter--with General Londo, and any other I may choose, to form a +council. A. Londo is my old friend and acquaintance since we were +lads in Greece together. It would be difficult to give a positive +answer till the Salona meeting is over[1]; but I am willing to serve +them in any capacity they please, either commanding or commanded--it +is much the same to me, as long as I can be of any presumed use to +them. + +[Footnote 1: To this offer of the Government to appoint him +Governor-General of Greece, (that is, of the enfranchised part of the +continent, with the exception of the Morea and the Islands,) his +answer was, that "he was first going to Salona, and that afterwards +he would be at their commands; that he could have no difficulty in +accepting any office, provided he could persuade himself that any +good would result from it."] + +"Excuse haste; it is late, and I have been several hours on horseback +in a country so miry after the rains, that every hundred yards brings +you to a ditch, of whose depth, width, colour, and contents, both my +horses and their riders have brought away many tokens." + + +LETTER 558. TO ME. BARFF. + +"March 26. + +"Since your intelligence with regard to the Greek loan, P. +Mavrocordato has shown to me an extract from some correspondence of +his, by which it would appear that three commissioners are to be +named to see that the amount is placed in proper hands for the +service of the country, and that my name is amongst the number. Of +this, however, we have as yet only the report. + +"This commission is apparently named by the Committee or the +contracting parties in England. I am of opinion that such a +commission will be necessary, but the office will be both delicate +and difficult. The weather, which has lately been equinoctial, has +flooded the country, and will probably retard our proceeding to +Salona for some days, till the road becomes more practicable. + +"You were already apprised that P. Mavrocordato and myself had been +invited to a conference by Ulysses and the Chiefs of Eastern Greece. +I hear (and am indeed consulted on the subject) that in case the +remittance of the first advance of the Loan should not arrive +immediately, the Greek General Government mean to try to raise some +thousand dollars in the islands in the interim, to be repaid from the +earliest instalments on their arrival. What prospect of success they +may have, or on what conditions, you can tell better than me: I +suppose, if the Loan be confirmed, something might be done by them, +but subject of course to the usual terms. You can let them and me +know your opinion. There is an imperious necessity for some national +fund, and that speedily, otherwise what is to be done? The auxiliary +corps of about two hundred men, paid by me, are, I believe, the sole +regularly and properly furnished with the money, due to them weekly, +and the officers monthly. It is true that the Greek Government give +their rations; but we have had three mutinies, owing to the badness +of the bread, which neither native nor stranger could masticate (nor +dogs either), and there is still great difficulty in obtaining them +even provisions of any kind. + +"There is a dissension among the Germans about the conduct of the +agents of _their_ Committee, and an examination amongst themselves +instituted. What the result may be cannot be anticipated, except that +it will end in _a row_, of course, as usual. + +"The English are all very amicable as far as I know; we get on too +with the Greeks very tolerably, always making allowance for +circumstances; and we have no quarrels with the foreigners." + +During the month of March there occurred but little, besides what is +mentioned in these letters, that requires to be dwelt upon at any +length, or in detail. After the failure of his design against +Lepanto, the two great objects of his daily thoughts were, the +repairs of the fortifications of Missolonghi [1], and the formation +of a brigade;--the one, with a view to such defensive measures as +were alone likely to be called for during the present campaign; and +the other in preparation for those more active enterprises, which he +still fondly flattered himself he should undertake in the next. "He +looked forward (says Mr. Parry) for the recovery of his health and +spirits, to the return of the fine weather, and the commencement of +the campaign, when he proposed to take the field at the head of his +own brigade, and the troops which the Government of Greece were to +place under his orders." + +[Footnote 1: The generous zeal with which he applied himself to this +important object will be understood from the following +statement:--"On reporting to Lord Byron what I thought might be done, +he ordered me to draw up a plan for putting the fortifications in +thorough repair, and to accompany it with an estimate of the expense. +It was agreed that I should make the estimate only one third of what +I thought would be the actual expense; and if that third could be +procured from the magistrates, Lord Byron undertook secretly to pay +the remainder."] + +With that thanklessness which too often waits on disinterested +actions, it has been sometimes tauntingly remarked, and in quarters +from whence a more generous judgment might be expected [1], that, +after all, Lord Byron effected but little for Greece:--as if much +_could_ be effected by a single individual, and in so short a time, +for a cause which, fought as it has been almost incessantly through +the six years since his death, has required nothing less than the +intervention of all the great Powers of Europe to give it a chance of +success, and, even so, has not yet succeeded. That Byron himself was +under no delusion as to the importance of his own solitary aid,--that +he knew, in a struggle like this, there must be the same prodigality +of means towards one great end as is observable in the still grander +operations of nature, where individuals are as nothing in the tide of +events,--that such was his, at once, philosophic and melancholy view +of his own sacrifices, I have, I trust, clearly shown. But that, +during this short period of action, he did not do well and wisely all +that man could achieve in the time, and under the circumstances, is +an assertion which the noble facts here recorded fully and +triumphantly disprove. He knew that, placed as he was, his measures, +to be wise, must be prospective, and from the nature of the seeds +thus sown by him, the benefits that were to be expected must be +judged. To reconcile the rude chiefs to the Government and to each +other;--to infuse a spirit of humanity, by his example, into their +warfare;--to prepare the way for the employment of the expected Loan, +in a manner most calculated to call forth the resources of the +country;--to put the fortifications of Missolonghi in such a state of +repair as might, and eventually _did_, render it proof against the +besieger;--to prevent those infractions of neutrality, so tempting to +the Greeks, which brought their Government in collision with the +Ionian authorities[2], and to restrain all such license of the Press +as might indispose the Courts of Europe to their cause:--such were +the important objects which he had proposed to himself to accomplish, +and towards which, in this brief interval, and in the midst of such +dissensions and hinderances, he had already made considerable and +most promising progress. But it would be unjust to close even here +the bright catalogue of his services. It is, after all, _not_ with +the span of mortal life that the good achieved by a name immortal +ends. The charm acts into the future,--it is an auxiliary through all +time; and the inspiring example of Byron, as a martyr of liberty, is +for ever freshly embalmed in his glory as a poet. From the period of +his attack in February he had been, from time to time, indisposed; +and, more than once, had complained of vertigos, which made him feel, +he said, as if intoxicated. He was also frequently affected with +nervous sensations, with shiverings and tremors, which, though +apparently the effects of excessive debility, he himself attributed +to fulness of habit. Proceeding upon this notion, he had, ever since +his arrival in Greece, abstained almost wholly from animal food, and +ate of little else but dry toast, vegetables, and cheese. With the +same fear of becoming fat, which had in his young days haunted him, +he almost every morning measured himself round the wrist and waist, +and whenever he found these parts, as he thought, enlarged, took a +strong dose of medicine. + +[Footnote 1: Articles in the Times newspaper, Foreign Quarterly +Review, &c.] + +[Footnote 2: In a letter which he addressed to Lord Sidney Osborne, +enclosing one, on the subject of these infractions, from Prince +Mavrocordato to Sir T. Maitland, Lord Byron says,--"You must all be +persuaded how difficult it is, under existing circumstances, for the +Greeks to keep up discipline, however they may be all disposed to do +so, I am doing all I can to convince them of the necessity of the +strictest observance of the regulations of the Islands, and, I trust, +with some effect"] + +Exertions had, as we have seen, been made by his friends at +Cephalonia, to induce him, without delay, to return to that island, +and take measures, while there was yet time, for the re-establishment +of his health. "But these entreaties (says Count Gamba) produced just +the contrary effect; for in proportion as Byron thought his position +more perilous, he the more resolved upon remaining where he was." In +the midst of all this, too, the natural flow of his spirits in +society seldom deserted him; and whenever a trick upon any of his +attendants, or associates, suggested itself, he was as ready to play +the mischief-loving boy as ever. His engineer, Parry, having been +much alarmed by the earthquake they had experienced, and still +continuing in constant apprehension of its return, Lord Byron +contrived, as they were all sitting together one evening, to have +some barrels full of cannon-balls trundled through the room above +them; and laughed heartily, as he would have done when a Harrow boy, +at the ludicrous effect which this deception produced on the poor +frightened engineer. + +Every day, however, brought new trials both to his health and temper. +The constant rains had rendered the swamps of Missolonghi almost +impassable;--an alarm of plague, which, about the middle of March, +was circulated, made it prudent, for some time, to keep within doors; +and he was thus, week after week, deprived of his accustomed air and +exercise. The only recreation he had recourse to was that of playing +with his favourite dog, Lion; and, in the evening, going through the +exercise of drilling with his officers, or practising at +single-stick. + +At the same time, the demands upon his exertions, personal and +pecuniary, poured in from all sides, while the embarrassments of his +public position every day increased. The chief obstacle in the way of +his plan for the reconciliation of all parties had been the rivalry +so long existing between Mavrocordato and the Eastern Chiefs; and +this difficulty was now not a little heightened by the part taken by +Colonel Stanhope and Mr. Trelawney, who, having allied themselves +with Odysseus, the most powerful of these Chieftains, were +endeavouring actively to detach Lord Byron from Mavrocordato, and +enlist him in their own views. This schism was,--to say the least of +it,--ill-timed and unfortunate. For, as Prince Mavrocordato and Lord +Byron were now acting in complete harmony with the Government, a +co-operation of all the other English agents on the same side would +have had the effect of assuring a preponderance to this party (which +was that of the civil and commercial interests all through Greece), +that might, by strengthening the hands of the ruling power, have +afforded some hope of vigour and consistency in its movements. By +this division, however, the English lost their casting weight; and +not only marred whatever little chance they might have had of +extinguishing the dissensions of the Greeks, but exhibited, most +unseasonably, an example of dissension among themselves. + +The visit to Salona, in which, though distrustful of the intended +Military Congress, Mavrocordato had consented to accompany Lord +Byron, was, as the foregoing letters have mentioned, delayed by the +floods,--the river Fidari having become so swollen as not to be +fordable. In the mean time, dangers, both from within and without, +threatened Missolonghi. The Turkish fleet had again come forth from +the Gulf, while, in concert, it was apprehended, with this resumption +of the blockade, insurrectionary movements, instigated, as was +afterwards known, by the malcontents of the Morea, manifested +themselves formidably both in the town and its neighbourhood. The +first cause for alarm was the landing, in canoes, from Anatolico, of +a party of armed men, the followers of Cariascachi of that place, who +came to demand retribution from the people of Missolonghi for some +injury that, in a late affray, had been inflicted on one of their +clan. It was also rumoured that 300 Suliotes were marching upon the +town; and the following morning, news came that a party of these wild +warriors had actually seized upon Basiladi, a fortress that commands +the port of Missolonghi, while some of the soldiers of Cariascachi +had, in the course of the night, arrested two of the Primates, and +carried them to Anatolico. The tumult and indignation that this +intelligence produced was universal. All the shops were shut, and the +bazaars deserted. "Lord Byron," says Count Gamba, "ordered his troops +to continue under arms; but to preserve the strictest neutrality, +without mixing in any quarrel, either by actions or words." + +During this crisis, the weather had become sufficiently favourable to +admit of his paying the visit to Salona, which he had purposed. But, +as his departure at such a juncture might have the appearance of +abandoning Missolonghi, he resolved to wait the danger out. At this +time the following letters were written. + + +LETTER 559. TO MR. BARFF. + +"April 3. + +"There is a quarrel, not yet settled, between the citizens and some +of Cariascachi's people, which has already produced some blows. I +keep my people quite neutral; but have ordered them to be on their +guard. + +"Some days ago we had an Italian private soldier drummed out for +thieving. The German officers wanted to flog him; but I flatly +refused to permit the use of the stick or whip, and delivered him +over to the police.[1] Since then a Prussian officer rioted in his +lodgings; and I put him under arrest, according to the order. This, +it appears, did not please his German confederation: but I stuck by +my text; and have given them plainly to understand, that those who do +not choose to be amenable to the laws of the country and service, may +retire; but that in all that I have to do, I will see them obeyed by +foreigner or native. + +[Footnote 1: "Lord Byron declared that, as far as he was concerned, +no barbarous usages, however adopted even by some civilised people, +should be introduced into Greece; especially as such a mode of +punishment would disgust rather than reform. We hit upon an expedient +which favoured our military discipline: but it required not only all +Lord Byron's eloquence, but his authority, to prevail upon our +Germans to accede to it. The culprit had his uniform stripped off his +back, in presence of his comrades, and was afterwards marched through +the town with a label on his back, describing, both in Greek and +Italian, the nature of his offence; after which he was given up to +the regular police. This example of severity, tempered by a humane +spirit, produced the best effect upon our soldiers, as well as upon +the citizens of the town. But it was very near causing a most +disagreeable circumstance; for, in the course of the evening, some +very high words passed on the subject between three Englishmen, two +of them officers of our brigade, in consequence of which cards were +exchanged, and two duels were to have been fought the next morning. +Lord Byron did not hear of this till late at night: but he +immediately ordered me to arrest both parties, which I according did; +and, after some difficulty, prevailed on them to shake hands."--COUNT +GAMBA'S _Narrative_.] + +"I wish something was heard of the arrival of part of the Loan, for +there is a plentiful dearth of every thing at present." + + +LETTER 560. TO MR. BARFF. + +"April 6. + +"Since I wrote, we have had some tumult here with the citizens and +Cariascachi's people, and all are under arms, our boys and all. They +nearly fired on me and fifty of my lads[1], by mistake, as we were +taking our usual excursion into the country. To-day matters are +settled or subsiding; but, about an hour ago, the father-in-law of +the landlord of the house where I am lodged (one of the Primates the +said landlord is) was arrested for high treason. + +[Footnote 1: A corps of fifty Suliotes which he had, almost ever +since his arrival at Missolonghi, kept about him as a body-guard. A +large outer room of his house was appropriated to these troops; and +their carbines were suspended along the walls. "In this room (says +Mr. Parry), and among these rude soldiers, Lord Byron was accustomed +to walk a great deal, particularly in wet weather, accompanied by his +favourite dog, Lion." + +When he rode out, these fifty Suliotes attended him on foot; and +though they carried their carbines, "they were always," says the same +authority, "able to keep up with the horses at full speed. The +captain, and a certain number, preceded his Lordship, who rode +accompanied on one side by Count Gamba, and on the other by the Greek +interpreter. Behind him, also on horseback, came two of his +servants,--generally his black groom, and Tita,--both dressed like +the chasseurs usually seen behind the carriages of ambassadors, and +another division of his guard closed the cavalcade."--PARRY'S _Last +Days of Lord Byron_.] + +"They are in conclave still with Mavrocordato; and we have a number +of new faces from the hills, come to assist, they say. Gun-boats and +batteries all ready, &c. + +"The row has had one good effect--it has put them on the alert. What +is to become of the father-in-law, I do not know: nor what he has +done, exactly[1]: but + + "''Tis a very fine thing to be father-in-law + To a very magnificent three-tail'd bashaw,' + +as the man in Bluebeard says and sings. I wrote to you upon matters +at length, some days ago; the letter, or letters, you will receive +with this. We are desirous to hear more of the Loan; and it is some +time since I have had any letters (at least of an interesting +description) from England, excepting one of 4th February, from +Bowring (of no great importance). My latest dates are of 9bre, or of +the 6th 10bre, four months exactly. I hope you get on well in the +islands: here most of us are, or have been, more or less indisposed, +natives as well as foreigners." + +[Footnote 1: This man had, it seems, on his way from Ioannina, passed +by Anatolico, and held several conferences with Cariascachi. He had +long been suspected of being a spy; and the letters found upon him +confirmed the suspicion.] + + +LETTER 561. TO MR. BARFF. + +"April 7. + +"The Greeks here of the Government have been boring me for more +money.[1] As I have the brigade to maintain, and the campaign is +apparently now to open, and as I have already spent 30,000 dollars in +three months upon them in one way or another, and more especially as +their public loan has succeeded, so that they ought not to draw from +individuals at that rate, I have given them a refusal, and--as they +would not take _that,--another_ refusal in terms of considerable +sincerity. + +[Footnote 1: In consequence of the mutinous proceedings of +Cariascachi's people, most of the neighbouring chieftains hastened to +the assistance of the Government, and had already with this view +marched to Anatolico near 2000 men. But, however opportune the +arrival of such a force, they were a cause of fresh embarrassment, as +there was a total want of provisions for their daily maintenance. It +was in this emergency that the Governor, Primates, and Chieftains had +recourse, as here stated, to their usual source of supply.] + +"They wish now to try in the Islands for a few thousand dollars on +the ensuing Loan. If you can serve them, perhaps you will, (in the +way of information, at any rate,) and I will see that you have fair +play; but still I do not _advise_ you, except to act as you please. +Almost every thing depends upon the arrival, and the speedy arrival, +of a portion of the Loan to keep peace among themselves. If they can +but have sense to do this, I think that they will be a match and +better for any force that can be brought against them for the +present. We are all doing as well as we can." + +It will be perceived from these letters, that besides the great and +general interests of the cause, which were in themselves sufficient +to absorb all his thoughts, he was also met on every side, in the +details of his duty, by every possible variety of obstruction and +distraction that rapacity, turbulence, and treachery could throw in +his way. Such vexations, too, as would have been trying to the most +robust health, here fell upon a frame already marked out for death; +nor can we help feeling, while we contemplate this last scene of his +life, that, much as there is in it to admire, to wonder at, and glory +in, there is also much that awakens sad and most distressful +thoughts. In a situation more than any other calling for sympathy and +care, we see him cast among strangers and mercenaries, without either +nurse or friend;--the self-collectedness of woman being, as we shall +find, wanting for the former office, and the youth and inexperience +of Count Gamba unfitting him wholly for the other. The very firmness +with which a position so lone and disheartening was sustained, +serves, by interesting us more deeply in the man, to increase our +sympathy, till we almost forget admiration in pity, and half regret +that he should have been great at such a cost. + +The only circumstances that had for some time occurred to give him +pleasure were, as regarded public affairs, the news of the successful +progress of the Loan, and, in his personal relations, some favourable +intelligence which he had received, after a long interruption of +communication, respecting his sister and daughter. The former, he +learned, had been seriously indisposed at the very time of his own +fit, but had now entirely recovered. While delighted at this news, he +could not help, at the same time, remarking, with his usual tendency +to such superstitious feelings, how strange and striking was the +coincidence. + +To those who have, from his childhood, traced him through these +pages, it must be manifest, I think, that Lord Byron was not formed +to be long-lived. Whether from any hereditary defect in his +organisation,--as he himself, from the circumstance of both his +parents having died young, concluded,--or from those violent means he +so early took to counteract the natural tendency of his habit, and +reduce himself to thinness, he was, almost every year, as we have +seen, subject to attacks of indisposition, by more than one of which +his life was seriously endangered. The capricious course which he at +all times pursued respecting diet,--his long fastings, his expedients +for the allayment of hunger, his occasional excesses in the most +unwholesome food, and, during the latter part of his residence in +Italy, his indulgence in the use of spirituous beverages,--all this +could not be otherwise than hurtful and undermining to his health; +while his constant recourse to medicine,--daily, as it appears, and +in large quantities,--both evinced and, no doubt, increased the +derangement of his digestion. When to all this we add the wasteful +wear of spirits and strength from the slow corrosion of sensibility, +the warfare of the passions, and the workings of a mind that allowed +itself no sabbath, it is not to be wondered at that the vital +principle in him should so soon have burnt out, or that, at the age +of thirty-three, he should have had--as he himself drearily expresses +it--"an old feel." To feed the flame, the all-absorbing flame, of his +genius, the whole powers of his nature, physical as well as moral, +were sacrificed;--to present that grand and costly conflagration to +the world's eyes, in which, + + "Glittering, like a palace set on fire, + His glory, while it shone, but ruin'd him!"[1] + +[Footnote 1: Beaumont and Fletcher.] + +It was on the very day when, as I have mentioned, the intelligence of +his sister's recovery reached him, that, having been for the last +three or four days prevented from taking exercise by the rains, he +resolved, though the weather still looked threatening, to venture out +on horseback. Three miles from Missolonghi Count Gamba and himself +were overtaken by a heavy shower, and returned to the town walls wet +through and in a state of violent perspiration. It had been their +usual practice to dismount at the walls and return to their house in +a boat, but, on this day, Count Gamba, representing to Lord Byron how +dangerous it would be, warm as he then was, to sit exposed so long to +the rain in a boat, entreated of him to go back the whole way on +horseback. To this however, Lord Byron would not consent; but said, +laughingly, "I should make a pretty soldier indeed, if I were to care +for such a trifle." They accordingly dismounted and got into the boat +as usual. + +About two hours after his return home he was seized with a +shuddering, and complained of fever and rheumatic pains. "At eight +that evening," says Count Gamba, "I entered his room. He was lying on +a sofa restless and melancholy. He said to me, 'I suffer a great deal +of pain. I do not care for death, but these agonies I cannot bear.'" + +The following day he rose at his accustomed hour,--transacted +business, and was even able to take his ride in the olive woods, +accompanied, as usual, by his long train of Suliotes. He complained, +however, of perpetual shudderings, and had no appetite. On his return +home he remarked to Fletcher that his saddle, he thought, had not +been perfectly dried since yesterday's wetting, and that he felt +himself the worse for it. This was the last time he ever crossed the +threshold alive. In the evening Mr. Finlay and Mr. Millingen called +upon him. "He was at first (says the latter gentleman) gayer than +usual; but on a sudden became pensive." + +On the evening of the 11th his fever, which was pronounced to be +rheumatic, increased; and on the 12th he kept his bed all day, +complaining that he could not sleep, and taking no nourishment +whatever. The two following days, though the fever had apparently +diminished, he became still more weak, and suffered much from pains +in the head. + +It was not till the 14th that his physician, Dr. Bruno, finding the +sudorifics which he had hitherto employed to be unavailing, began to +urge upon his patient the necessity of being bled. Of this, however, +Lord Byron would not hear. He had evidently but little reliance on +his medical attendant; and from the specimens this young man has +since given of his intellect to the world, it is, indeed, +lamentable,--supposing skill to have been, at this moment, of any +avail,--that a life so precious should have been intrusted to such +ordinary hands. "It was on this day, I think," says Count Gamba, +"that, as I was sitting near him, on his sofa, he said to me, 'I was +afraid I was losing my memory, and, in order to try, I attempted to +repeat some Latin verses with the English translation, which I have +not endeavoured to recollect since I was at school. I remembered them +all except the last word of one of the hexameters.'" + +To the faithful Fletcher, the idea of his master's life being in +danger seems to have occurred some days before it struck either Count +Gamba or the physician. So little, according to his friend's +narrative, had such a suspicion crossed Lord Byron's own mind, that +he even expressed himself "rather glad of his fever, as it might cure +him of his tendency to epilepsy." To Fletcher, however, it appears, +he had professed, more than once, strong doubts as to the nature of +his complaint being so slight as the physician seemed to suppose it, +and on his servant renewing his entreaties that he would send for Dr. +Thomas to Zante, made no further opposition; though still, out of +consideration for those gentlemen, he referred him on the subject to +Dr. Bruno and Mr. Millingen. Whatever might have been the advantage +or satisfaction of this step, it was now rendered wholly impossible +by the weather,--such a hurricane blowing into the port that not a +ship could get out. The rain, too, descended in torrents, and between +the floods on the land-side and the sirocco from the sea, Missolonghi +was, for the moment, a pestilential prison. + +It was at this juncture that Mr. Millingen was, for the first time, +according to his own account, invited to attend Lord Byron in his +medical capacity,--his visit on the 10th being so little, as he +states, professional, that he did not even, on that occasion, feel +his Lordship's pulse. The great object for which he was now called +in, and rather, it would seem, by Fletcher than Dr. Bruno, was for +the purpose of joining his representations and remonstrances to +theirs, and prevailing upon the patient to suffer himself to be +bled,--an operation now become absolutely necessary from the increase +of the fever, and which Dr. Bruno had, for the last two days, urged +in vain. + +Holding gentleness to be, with a disposition like that of Byron, the +most effectual means of success, Mr. Millingen tried, as he himself +tells us, all that reasoning and persuasion could suggest towards +attaining his object. But his efforts were fruitless:--Lord Byron, +who had now become morbidly irritable, replied angrily, but still +with all his accustomed acuteness and spirit, to the physician's +observations. Of all his prejudices, he declared, the strongest was +that against bleeding. His mother had obtained from him a promise +never to consent to being bled; and whatever argument might be +produced, his aversion, he said, was stronger than reason. "Besides, +is it not," he asked, "asserted by Dr. Reid, in his Essays, that less +slaughter is effected by the lance than the lancet:--that minute +instrument of mighty mischief!" On Mr. Millingen observing that this +remark related to the treatment of nervous, but not of inflammatory +complaints, he rejoined, in an angry tone, "Who is nervous, if I am +not? And do not those other words of his, too, apply to my case, +where he says that drawing blood from a nervous patient is like +loosening the chords of a musical instrument, whose tones already +fail for want of sufficient tension? Even before this illness, you +yourself know how weak and irritable I had become;--and bleeding, by +increasing this state, will inevitably kill me. Do with me whatever +else you like, but bleed me you shall not. I have had several +inflammatory fevers in my life, and at an age when more robust and +plethoric: yet I got through them without bleeding. This time, also, +will I take my chance."[1] + +[Footnote 1: It was during the same, or some similar conversation, +that Dr. Bruno also reports him to have said, "If my hour is come, I +shall die, whether I lose my blood or keep it."] + +After much reasoning and repeated entreaties, Mr. Millingen at length +succeeded in obtaining from him a promise, that should he feel his +fever increase at night, he would allow Dr. Bruno to bleed him. + +During this day he had transacted business and received several +letters; particularly one that much pleased him from the Turkish +Governor, to whom he had sent the rescued prisoners, and who, in this +communication, thanked him for his humane interference, and requested +a repetition of it. + +In the evening he conversed a good deal with Parry, who remained some +hours by his bedside. "He sat up in his bed (says this officer), and +was then calm and collected. He talked with me on a variety of +subjects connected with himself and his family; he spoke of his +intentions as to Greece, his plans for the campaign, and what he +should ultimately do for that country. He spoke to me about my own +adventures. He spoke of death also with great composure; and though +he did not believe his end was so very near, there was something +about him so serious and so firm, so resigned and composed, so +different from any thing I had ever before seen in him, that my mind +misgave me, and at times foreboded his speedy dissolution." + +On revisiting his patient early next morning, Mr. Millingen learned +from him, that having passed, as he thought, on the whole, a better +night, he had not considered it necessary to ask Dr. Bruno to bleed +him. What followed, I shall, in justice to Mr. Millingen, give in his +own words.[1] "I thought it my duty now to put aside all +consideration of his feelings, and to declare solemnly to him, how +deeply I lamented to see him trifle thus with his life, and show so +little resolution. His pertinacious refusal had already, I said, +caused most precious time to be lost;--but few hours of hope now +remained, and, unless he submitted immediately to be bled, we could +not answer for the consequences. It was true, he cared not for life; +but who could assure him that, unless he changed his resolution, the +uncontrolled disease might not operate such disorganisation in his +system as utterly and for ever to deprive him of reason?--I had now +hit at last on the sensible chord; and, partly annoyed by our +importunities, partly persuaded, he cast at us both the fiercest +glance of vexation, and throwing out his arm, said, in the angriest +tone, 'There,--you are, I see, a d--d set of butchers,--take away as +much blood as you like, but have done with it.' + +[Footnote 1: MS.--This gentleman is, I understand, about to publish +the Narrative from which the above extract is taken.] + +"We seized the moment (adds Mr. Millingen), and drew about twenty +ounces. On coagulating, the blood presented a strong buffy coat; yet +the relief obtained did not correspond to the hopes we had formed, +and during the night the fever became stronger than it had been +hitherto. The restlessness and agitation increased, and the patient +spoke several times in an incoherent manner." + +On the following morning, the 17th, the bleeding was repeated; for, +although the rheumatic symptoms had been completely removed, the +appearances of inflammation on the brain were now hourly increasing. +Count Gamba, who had not for the last two days seen him, being +confined to his own apartment by a sprained ankle, now contrived to +reach his room. "His countenance," says this gentleman, "at once +awakened in me the most dreadful suspicions. He was very calm; he +talked to me in the kindest manner about my accident, but in a +hollow, sepulchral tone. 'Take care of your foot,' said he; 'I know +by experience how painful it must be.' I could not stay near his bed: +a flood of tears rushed into my eyes, and I was obliged to withdraw." +Neither Count Gamba, indeed, nor Fletcher, appear to have been +sufficiently masters of themselves to do much else than weep during +the remainder of this afflicting scene. + +In addition to the bleeding, which was repeated twice on the 17th, it +was thought right also to apply blisters to the soles of his feet. +"When on the point of putting them on," says Mr. Millingen, "Lord +Byron asked me whether it would answer the purpose to apply both on +the same leg. Guessing immediately the motive that led him to ask +this question, I told him that I would place them above the knees. +'Do so,' he replied." + +It is painful to dwell on such details,--but we are now approaching +the close. In addition to most of those sad varieties of wretchedness +which surround alike the grandest and humblest deathbeds, there was +also in the scene now passing around the dying Byron such a degree of +confusion and uncomfort as renders it doubly dreary to contemplate. +There having been no person invested, since his illness, with +authority over the household, neither order nor quiet was maintained +in his apartment. Most of the comforts necessary in such an illness +were wanting; and those around him, either unprepared for the danger, +were, like Bruno, when it came, bewildered by it; or, like the +kind-hearted Fletcher and Count Gamba, were by their feelings +rendered no less helpless. + +"In all the attendants," says Parry, "there was the officiousness of +zeal; but, owing to their ignorance of each other's language, their +zeal only added to the confusion. This circumstance, and the want of +common necessaries, made Lord Byron's apartment such a picture of +distress and even anguish during the two or three last days of his +life, as I never before beheld, and wish never again to witness." + +The 18th being Easter day,--a holiday which the Greeks celebrate by +firing off muskets and artillery,--it was apprehended that this noise +might be injurious to Lord Byron; and, as a means of attracting away +the crowd from the neighbourhood, the artillery brigade were marched +out by Parry, to exercise their guns at some distance from the town; +while, at the same time, the town-guard patrolled the streets, and +informing the people of the danger of their benefactor, entreated +them to preserve all possible quiet. + +About three o'clock in the afternoon, Lord Byron rose and went into +the adjoining room. He was able to walk across the chamber, leaning +on his servant Tita; and, when seated, asked for a book, which the +servant brought him. After reading, however, for a few minutes, he +found himself faint; and, again taking Tita's arm, tottered into the +next room, and returned to bed. + +At this time the physicians, becoming still more alarmed, expressed a +wish for a consultation; and proposed calling in, without delay, Dr. +Freiber, the medical assistant of Mr. Millingen, and Luca Vaya, a +Greek, the physician of Mavrocordato. On hea[r]ing this, Lord Byron +at first refused to see them; but being informed that Mavrocordato +advised it, he said,--"Very well, let them come; but let them look at +me and say nothing." This they promised, and were admitted; but when +one of them, on feeling his pulse, showed a wish to +speak--"Recollect," he said, "your promise, and go away." + +It was after this consultation of the physicians[1], that, as it +appeared to Count Gamba, Lord Byron was, for the first time, aware of +his approaching end. Mr. Millingen, Fletcher, and Tita had been +standing round his bed; but the two first, unable to restrain their +tears, left the room. Tita also wept; but, as Byron held his hand, +could not retire. He, however, turned away his face; while Byron, +looking at him steadily, said, half smiling, "Oh questa è una bella +scena!" He then seemed to reflect a moment, and exclaimed, "Call +Parry." Almost immediately afterwards, a fit of delirium ensued; and +he began to talk wildly, as if he were mounting a breach in an +assault,--calling out, half in English, half in Italian, +"Forwards--forwards--courage--follow my example," &c. &c. + +[Footnote 1: For Mr. Millingen's account of this consultation, see +Appendix.] + +On coming again to himself, he asked Fletcher, who had then returned +into the room, "whether he had sent for Dr. Thomas, as he desired?" +and the servant answering in the affirmative, he replied, "You have +done right, for I should like to know what is the matter with me." He +had, a short time before, with that kind consideration for those +about him which was one of the great sources of their lasting +attachment to him, said to Fletcher, "I am afraid you and Tita will +be ill with sitting up night and day." It was now evident that he +knew he was dying; and between his anxiety to make his servant +understand his last wishes, and the rapid failure of his powers of +utterance, a most painful scene ensued. On Fletcher asking whether he +should bring pen and paper to take down his words--"Oh no," he +replied--"there is no time--it is now nearly over. Go to my +sister--tell her--go to Lady Byron--you will see her, and say ----" +Here his voice faltered, and became gradually indistinct; +notwithstanding which he continued still to mutter to himself, for +nearly twenty minutes, with much earnestness of manner, but in such a +tone that only a few words could be distinguished. These, too, were +only names,--"Augusta,"--"Ada,"--"Hobhouse,"--"Kinnaird." He then +said, "Now, I have told you all." "My Lord," replied Fletcher, "I +have not understood a word your Lordship has been saying."--"Not +understand me?" exclaimed Lord Byron, with a look of the utmost +distress, "what a pity!--then it is too late; all is over."--"I hope +not," answered Fletcher; "but the Lord's will be done!"--"Yes, not +mine," said Byron. He then tried to utter a few words, of which none +were intelligible, except "my sister--my child." + +The decision adopted at the consultation had been, contrary to the +opinion of Mr. Millingen and Dr. Freiber, to administer to the +patient a strong antispasmodic potion, which, while it produced +sleep, but hastened perhaps death. In order to persuade him into +taking this draught, Mr. Parry was sent for[1], and, without any +difficulty, induced him to swallow a few mouthfuls. "When he took my +hand," says Parry, "I found his hands were deadly cold. With the +assistance of Tita I endeavoured gently to create a little warmth in +them; and also loosened the bandage which was tied round his head. +Till this was done he seemed in great pain, clenched his hands at +times, gnashed his teeth, and uttered the Italian exclamation of 'Ah +Christi!' He bore the loosening of the band passively, and, after it +was loosened, shed tears; then taking my hand again, uttered a faint +good night, and sunk into a slumber." + +[Footnote 1: From this circumstance, as well as from the terms in +which he is mentioned by Lord Byron, it is plain that this person +had, by his blunt, practical good sense, acquired far more influence +over his Lordship's mind than was possessed by any of the other +persons about him.] + +In about half an hour he again awoke, when a second dose of the +strong infusion was administered to him. "From those about him," says +Count Gamba, who was not able to bear this scene himself, "I +collected that, either at this time, or in his former interval of +reason, he could be understood to say--'Poor Greece!--poor town!--my +poor servants!' Also, 'Why was I not aware of this sooner?' and 'My +hour is come!--I do not care for death--but why did I not go home +before I came here?' At another time he said, 'There are things which +make the world dear to me _Io lascio qualche cosa di caro nel mondo_: +for the rest, I am content to die.' He spoke also of Greece, saying, +'I have given her my time, my means, my health--and now I give her my +life!--what could I do more?'"[1] + +[Footnote 1: It is but right to remind the reader, that for the +sayings here attributed to Lord Byron, however natural and probable +they may appear, there is not exactly the same authority of credible +witnesses by which all the other details I have given of his last +hours are supported.] + +It was about six o'clock on the evening of this day when he said, +"Now I shall go to sleep;" and then turning round fell into that +slumber from which he never awoke. For the next twenty-four hours he +lay incapable of either sense or motion,--with the exception of, now +and then, slight symptoms of suffocation, during which his servant +raised his head,--and at a quarter past six o'clock on the following +day, the 19th, he was seen to open his eyes and immediately shut them +again. The physicians felt his pulse--he was no more! + +To attempt to describe how the intelligence of this sad event struck +upon all hearts would be as difficult as it is superfluous. He, whom +the whole world was to mourn, had on the tears of Greece peculiar +claim,--for it was at her feet he now laid down the harvest of such a +life of fame. To the people of Missolonghi, who first felt the shock +that was soon to spread through all Europe, the event seemed almost +incredible. It was but the other day that he had come among them, +radiant with renown,--inspiring faith, by his very name, in those +miracles of success that were about to spring forth at the touch of +his ever-powerful genius. All this had now vanished like a short +dream:--nor can we wonder that the poor Greeks, to whom his coming +had been such a glory, and who, on the last evening of his life, +thronged the streets, enquiring as to his state, should regard the +thunder-storm which, at the moment he died, broke over the town, as a +signal of his doom, and, in their superstitious grief, cry to each +other, "The great man is gone!"[1] + +[Footnote 1: Parry's "Last Days of Lord Byron," p. 128.] + +Prince Mavrocordato, who of all best knew and felt the extent of his +country's loss, and who had to mourn doubly the friend of Greece and +of himself, on the evening of the 19th issued this melancholy +proclamation:-- + + +"PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT OF WESTERN GREECE. + +"ART. 1185. + +"The present day of festivity and rejoicing has become one of sorrow +and of mourning. The Lord Noel Byron departed this life at six +o'clock in the afternoon, after an illness of ten days; his death +being caused by an inflammatory fever. Such was the effect of his +Lordship's illness on the public mind, that all classes had forgotten +their usual recreations of Easter, even before the afflicting event +was apprehended. + +"The loss of this illustrious individual is undoubtedly to be +deplored by all Greece; but it must be more especially a subject of +lamentation at Missolonghi, where his generosity has been so +conspicuously displayed, and of which he had even become a citizen, +with the further determination of participating in all the dangers of +the war. + +"Every body is acquainted with the beneficent acts of his Lordship, +and none can cease to hail his name as that of a real benefactor. + +"Until, therefore, the final determination of the National Government +be known, and by virtue of the powers with which it has been pleased +to invest me, I hereby decree,-- + +"1st, To-morrow morning, at daylight, thirty seven minute guns will +be fired from the Grand Battery, being the number which corresponds +with the age of the illustrious deceased. + +"2d, All the public offices, even the tribunals, are to remain closed +for three successive days. + +"3d, All the shops, except those in which provisions or medicines are +sold, will also be shut; and it is strictly enjoined that every +species of public amusement, and other demonstrations of festivity at +Easter, shall be suspended. + +"4th, A general mourning will be observed for twenty-one days. + +"5th, Prayers and a funeral service are to be offered up in all the +churches. + + (Signed) "A. MAVROCORDATO. + "GEORGE PRAIDIS, Secretary. + + "Given at Missolonghi, + this 19th day of April, 1824." + +Similar honours were paid to his memory at many other places through +Greece. At Salona, where the Congress had assembled, his soul was +prayed for in the Church; after which the whole garrison and the +citizens went out into the plain, where another religious ceremony +took place, under the shade of the olive trees. This being concluded, +the troops fired; and an oration, full of the warmest praise and +gratitude, was pronounced by the High Priest. + +When such was the veneration shown towards him by strangers, what +must have been the feelings of his near associates and attendants? +Let one speak for all:--"He died (says Count Gamba) in a strange +land, and amongst strangers; but more loved, more sincerely wept he +never could have been, wherever he had breathed his last. Such was +the attachment, mingled with a sort of reverence and enthusiasm, with +which he inspired those around him, that there was not one of us who +would not, for his sake, have willingly encountered any danger in the +world." + +Colonel Stanhope, whom the sad intelligence reached at Salona, thus +writes to the Committee:--"A courier has just arrived from the Chief +Scalza. Alas! all our fears are realised. The soul of Byron has taken +its last flight. England has lost her brightest genius, Greece her +noblest friend. To console them for the loss, he has left behind the +emanations of his splendid mind. If Byron had faults, he had +redeeming virtues too--he sacrificed his comfort, fortune, health, +and life, to the cause of an oppressed nation. Honoured be his +memory!" + +Mr. Trelawney, who was on his way to Missolonghi at the time, +describes as follows the manner in which he first heard of his +friend's death:--"With all my anxiety I could not get here before the +third day. It was the second, after having crossed the first great +torrent, that I met some soldiers from Missolonghi. I had let them +all pass me, ere I had resolution enough to enquire the news from +Missolonghi. I then rode back, and demanded of a straggler the news. +I heard nothing more than--Lord Byron is dead,--and I proceeded on in +gloomy silence." The writer adds, after detailing the particulars of +the poet's illness and death, "Your pardon, Stanhope, that I have +thus turned aside from the great cause in which I am embarked. But +this is no private grief. The world has lost its greatest man; I my +best friend." + +Among his servants the same feeling of sincere grief prevailed:--"I +have in my possession (says Mr. Hoppner, in the Notices with which he +has favoured me,) a letter written by his gondolier Tita, who had +accompanied him from Venice, giving an account to his parents of his +master's decease. Of this event the poor fellow speaks in the most +affecting manner, telling them that in Lord Byron he had lost a +father rather than a master; and expatiating upon the indulgence with +which he had always treated his domestics, and the care he expressed +for their comfort and welfare." + +His valet Fletcher, too, in a letter to Mr. Murray, announcing the +event, says, "Please to excuse all defects, for I scarcely know what +I either say or do; for, after twenty years' service with my Lord, he +was more to me than a father, and I am too much distressed to give +now a correct account of every particular." + +In speaking of the effect produced on the friends of Greece by this +event, Mr. Trelawney says,--"I think Byron's name was the great means +of getting the Loan. A Mr. Marshall, with 8000_l_. per annum, was as +far as Corfu, and turned back on hearing of Lord Byron's death. +Thousands of people were flocking here: some had arrived as far as +Corfu, and hearing of his death, confessed they came out to devote +their fortunes not to the Greeks, or from interest in the cause, but +to the noble poet; and the 'Pilgrim of Eternity[1]' having departed, +they turned back."[2] + +[Footnote 1: The title given by Shelley to Lord Byron in his Elegy on +the death of Keats. + + "The Pilgrim of Eternity, whose fame + Over his living head like Heaven is bent, + An early but enduring monument, + Came veiling all the lightnings of his song + In sorrow."] + +[Footnote 2: Parry, too, mentions an instance to the same +effect:--"While I was on the quarantine-house at Zante, a gentleman +called on me, and made numerous enquiries as to Lord Byron. He said +he was only one of fourteen English gentlemen, then at Ancona, who +had sent him on to obtain intelligence, and only waited his return to +come and join Lord Byron. They were to form a mounted guard for him, +and meant to devote their personal services and their incomes to the +Greek cause. On hearing of Lord Byron's death, however, they turned +back."] + +The funeral ceremony, which, on account of the rains, had been +postponed for a day, took place in the church of St. Nicholas, at +Missolonghi, on the 22d of April, and is thus feelingly described by +an eye-witness:-- + +"In the midst of his own brigade, of the troops of the Government, +and of the whole population, on the shoulders of the officers of his +corps, relieved occasionally by other Greeks, the most precious +portion of his honoured remains were carried to the church, where lie +the bodies of Marco Bozzari and of General Normann. There we laid +them down: the coffin was a rude, ill-constructed chest of wood; a +black mantle served for a pall; and over it we placed a helmet and a +sword, and a crown of laurel. But no funeral pomp could have left the +impression, nor spoken the feelings, of this simple ceremony. The +wretchedness and desolation of the place itself; the wild and +half-civilised warriors around us; their deep-felt, unaffected grief; +the fond recollections; the disappointed hopes; the anxieties and sad +presentiments which might be read on every countenance;--all +contributed to form a scene more moving, more truly affecting, than +perhaps was ever before witnessed round the grave of a great man. + +"When the funeral service was over, we left the bier in the middle of +the church, where it remained until the evening of the next day, and +was guarded by a detachment of his own brigade. The church was +crowded without cessation by those who came to honour and to regret +the benefactor of Greece. In the evening of the 23d, the bier was +privately carried back by his officers to his own house. The coffin +was not closed till the 29th of the month. Immediately after his +death, his countenance had an air of calmness, mingled with a +severity, that seemed gradually to soften; for when I took a last +look of him, the expression, at least to my eyes, was truly sublime." + +We have seen how decidedly, while in Italy, Lord Byron expressed his +repugnance to the idea of his remains resting upon English ground; +and the injunctions he so frequently gave to Mr. Hoppner on this +point show his wishes to have been,--at least, during that +period,--sincere. With one so changing, however, in his impulses, it +was not too much to take for granted that the far more cordial +feeling entertained by him towards his countrymen at Cephalonia would +have been followed by a correspondent change in this antipathy to +England as a last resting-place. It is, at all events, fortunate that +by no such spleen of the moment has his native country been deprived +of her natural right to enshrine within her own bosom one of the +noblest of her dead, and to atone for any wrong she may have +inflicted upon him, while living, by making his tomb a place of +pilgrimage for her sons through all ages. + +By Colonel Stanhope and others it was suggested that, as a tribute to +the land he celebrated and died for, his remains should be deposited +at Athens, in the Temple of Theseus; and the Chief Odysseus +despatched an express to Missolonghi to enforce this wish. On the +part of the town, too, in which he breathed his last, a similar +request had been made by the citizens; and it was thought advisable +so far to accede to their desires as to leave with them, for +interment, one of the vessels, in which his remains, after +embalmment, were enclosed. + +The first step taken, before any decision as to its ultimate +disposal, was to have the body conveyed to Zante; and every facility +having been afforded by the Resident, Sir Frederick Stoven, in +providing and sending transports to Missolonghi for that purpose, on +the morning of the 2d of May the remains were embarked, under a +mournful salute from the guns of the fortress:--"How different," says +Count Gamba, "from that which had welcomed the arrival of Byron only +four months ago!" + +At Zante, the determination was taken to send the body to England; +and the brig Florida, which had just arrived there with the first +instalment of the Loan, was engaged for the purpose. Mr. Blaquiere, +under whose care this first portion of the Loan had come, was also +the bearer of a Commission for the due management of its disposal in +Greece, in which Lord Byron was named as the principal Commissioner. +The same ship, however, that brought this honourable mark of +confidence was to return with him a corpse. To Colonel Stanhope, who +was then at Zante, on his way homeward, was intrusted the charge of +his illustrious colleague's remains; and on the 25th of May he +embarked with them on board the Florida for England. + +In the letter which, on his arrival in the Downs, June 29th, this +gentleman addressed to Lord Byron's executors, there is the following +passage:--"With respect to the funeral ceremony, I am of opinion that +his Lordship's family should be immediately consulted, and that +sanction should be obtained for the public burial of his body either +in the great Abbey or Cathedral of London." It has been asserted, and +I fear too truly, that on some intimation of the wish suggested in +this last sentence being conveyed to one of those Reverend persons +who have the honours of the Abbey at their disposal, such an answer +was returned as left but little doubt that a refusal would be the +result of any more regular application.[1] + +[Footnote 1: A former Dean of Westminster went so far, we know, in +his scruples as to exclude an epitaph from the Abbey, because it +contained the name of Milton:--"a name, in his opinion," says +Johnson, "too detestable to be read on the wall of a building +dedicated to devotion."--_Life of_ MILTON.] + +There is an anecdote told of the poet Hafiz, in Sir William Jones's +Life, which, in reporting this instance of illiberality, recurs +naturally to the memory. After the death of the great Persian bard, +some of the religious among his countrymen protested strongly against +allowing to him the right of sepulture, alleging, as their objection, +the licentiousness of his poetry. After much controversy, it was +agreed to leave the decision of the question to a mode of divination, +not uncommon among the Persians, which consisted in opening the +poet's book at random and taking the first verses that occurred. They +happened to be these:-- + + "Oh turn not coldly from the poet's bier, + Nor check the sacred drops by Pity given; + For though in sin his body slumbereth here, + His soul, absolved, already wings to heaven." + +These lines, says the legend, were looked upon as a divine decree; +the religionists no longer enforced their objections, and the remains +of the bard were left to take their quiet sleep by that "sweet bower +of Mosellay" which he had so often celebrated in his verses. + +Were our Byron's right of sepulture to be decided in the same manner, +how few are there of his pages, thus taken at hazard, that would not, +by some genial touch of sympathy with virtue, some glowing tribute to +the bright works of God, or some gush of natural devotion more +affecting than any homily, give him a title to admission into the +purest temple of which Christian Charity ever held the guardianship. + +Let the decision, however, of these Reverend authorities have been, +finally, what it might, it was the wish, as is understood, of Lord +Byron's dearest relative to have his remains laid in the family vault +at Hucknall, near Newstead. On being landed from the Florida, the +body had, under the direction of his Lordship's executors, Mr. +Hobhouse and Mr. Hanson, been removed to the house of Sir Edward +Knatchbull in Great George Street, Westminster, where it lay in state +during Friday and Saturday, the 9th and 10th of July, and on the +following Monday the funeral procession took place. Leaving +Westminster at eleven o'clock in the morning, attended by most of his +Lordship's personal friends and by the carriages of several persons +of rank, it proceeded through various streets of the metropolis +towards the North Road. At Pancras Church, the ceremonial of the +procession being at an end, the carriages returned; and the hearse +continued its way, by slow stages, to Nottingham. + +It was on Friday the 16th of July that, in the small village church +of Hucknall, the last duties were paid to the remains of Byron, by +depositing them, close to those of his mother, in the family vault. +Exactly on the same day of the same month in the preceding year, he +had said, it will be recollected, despondingly, to Count Gamba, +"Where shall we be in another year?" The gentleman to whom this +foreboding speech was addressed paid a visit, some months after the +interment, to Hucknall, and was much struck, as I have heard, on +approaching the village, by the strong likeness it seemed to him to +bear to his lost friend's melancholy deathplace, Missolonghi. + +On a tablet of white marble in the chancel of the Church of Hucknall +is the following inscription:-- + + IN THE VAULT BENEATH, + WHERE MANY OF HIS ANCESTORS AND HIS MOTHER ARE + BURIED, + LIE THE REMAINS OF + GEORGE GORDON NOEL BYRON, + LORD BYRON, OF ROCHDALE, + IN THE COUNTY OF LANCASTER, + THE AUTHOR OF "CHILDE HAROLD'S PILGRIMAGE." + HE WAS BORN IN LONDON ON THE + 22D OF JANUARY, 1788. + + HE DIED AT MISSOLONGHI, IN WESTERN GREECE, ON THE + 19TH OF APRIL, 1824, + ENGAGED IN THE GLORIOUS ATTEMPT TO RESTORE THAT + COUNTRY TO HER ANCIENT FREEDOM AND RENOWN. + + * * * * * + + HIS SISTER, THE HONOURABLE + AUGUSTA MARIA LEIGH, + PLACED THIS TABLET TO HIS MEMORY. + +From among the tributes that have been offered, in prose and verse, +and in almost every language of Europe, to his memory, I shall select +two which appear to me worthy of peculiar notice, as being, one of +them,--so far as my limited scholarship will allow me to judge,--a +simple and happy imitation of those laudatory inscriptions with which +the Greece of other times honoured the tombs of her heroes; and the +other as being the production of a pen, once engaged controversially +against Byron, but not the less ready, as these affecting verses +prove, to offer the homage of a manly sorrow and admiration at his +grave. + + +[Greek: + + Eis + Ton en tê Helladi têleutêsanta + Poiêtên + + * * * * * + + Ou to zên tanaon biou euklees oud' enarithmein + Arxaiax progonôn eunxneôn aretas + Ton d' eudaimonias moir' amphepei, hosper apantôn + Aien aristeuôn gignetai athanatos.-- + Eudeis oun su, teknon, xaritôn ear? ouk eti thallei + Akmaios meleôn hêdupnoôn stephanos?-- + Alla teon, tripophête, moron penphousin Aphênê, + Mousai, patris, Arês, Ellas, eleupheria.[1]] + +[Footnote 1: By John Williams, Esq.--The following translation of +this inscription will not be unacceptable to my readers:-- + + "Not length of life--not an illustrious birth, + Rich with the noblest blood of all the earth;-- + Nought can avail, save deeds of high emprize, + Our mortal being to immortalise. + + "Sweet child of song, thou deepest!--ne'er again + Shall swell the notes of thy melodious strain: + Yet, with thy country wailing o'er thy urn, + Pallas, the Muse, Mars, Greece, and Freedom mourn." + +H.H. JOY.] + + +"CHILDE HAROLD'S LAST PILGRIMAGE. + +"BY THE REV. W.L. BOWLES. + + "SO ENDS CHILDE HAROLD HIS LAST PILGRIMAGE!-- + Upon the shores of Greece he stood, and cried + 'LIBERTY!' and those shores, from age to age + Renown'd, and Sparta's woods and rocks replied + 'Liberty!' But a Spectre, at his side, + Stood mocking;--and its dart, uplifting high, + Smote him;--he sank to earth in life's fair pride: + SPARTA! thy rocks then heard another cry, + And old Ilissus sigh'd--'Die, generous exile, die!' + + "I will not ask sad Pity to deplore + His wayward errors, who thus early died; + Still less, CHILDE HAROLD, now thou art no more, + Will I say aught of genius misapplied; + Of the past shadows of thy spleen or pride:-- + But I will bid th' Arcadian cypress wave, + Pluck the green laurel from Peneus' side, + And pray thy spirit may such quiet have, + That not one thought unkind be murmur'd o'er thy grave. + + "SO HAROLD ENDS, IN GREECE, HIS PILGRIMAGE!-- + There fitly ending,--in that land renown'd, + Whose mighty genius lives in Glory's page,-- + He, on the Muses' consecrated ground, + Sinking to rest, while his young brows are bound + With their unfading wreath!--To bands of mirth, + No more in TEMPE let the pipe resound! + HAROLD, I follow to thy place of birth + The slow hearse--and thy LAST sad PILGRIMAGE on earth. + + "Slow moves the plumed hearse, the mourning train,-- + I mark the sad procession with a sigh, + Silently passing to that village fane, + Where, HAROLD, thy forefathers mouldering lie;-- + There sleeps THAT MOTHER, who with tearful eye, + Pondering the fortunes of thy early road, + Hung o'er the slumbers of thine infancy; + Her son, released from mortal labour's load, + Now comes to rest, with her, in the same still abode. + + "Bursting Death's silence--could that mother speak-- + (Speak when the earth was heap'd upon his head)-- + In thrilling, but with hollow accent weak, + She thus might give the welcome of the dead:-- + 'Here rest, my son, with me;--the dream is fled;-- + The motley mask and the great stir is o'er: + Welcome to me, and to this silent bed, + Where deep forgetfulness succeeds the roar + Of life, and fretting passions waste the heart no more.'" + +By his Lordship's Will, a copy of which will be found in the +Appendix, he bequeathed to his executors in trust for the benefit of +his sister, Mrs. Leigh, the monies arising from the sale of all his +real estates at Rochdale and elsewhere, together with such part of +his other property as was not settled upon Lady Byron and his +daughter Ada, to be by Mrs. Leigh enjoyed, free from her husband's +control, during her life, and, after her decease, to be inherited by +her children. + +We have now followed to its close a life which, brief as was its +span, may be said, perhaps, to have comprised within itself a greater +variety of those excitements and interest which spring out of the +deep workings of passion and of intellect than any that the pen of +biography has ever before commemorated. As there still remain among +the papers of my friend some curious gleanings which, though in the +abundance of our materials I have not hitherto found a place for +them, are too valuable towards the illustration of his character to +be lost, I shall here, in selecting them for the reader, avail myself +of the opportunity of trespassing, for the last time, on his patience +with a few general remarks. + +It must have been observed, throughout these pages, and by some, +perhaps, with disappointment, that into the character of Lord Byron, +as a poet, there has been little, if any, critical examination; but +that, content with expressing generally the delight which, in common +with all, I derive from his poetry, I have left the task of analysing +the sources from which this delight springs to others.[1] In thus +evading, if it must be so considered, one of my duties as a +biographer, I have been influenced no less by a sense of my own +inaptitude for the office of critic than by recollecting with what +assiduity, throughout the whole of the poet's career, every new +rising of his genius was watched from the great observatories of +Criticism, and the ever changing varieties of its course and +splendour tracked out and recorded with a degree of skill and +minuteness which has left but little for succeeding observers to +discover. It is, moreover, into the character and conduct of Lord +Byron, as a man, not distinct from, but forming, on the contrary, the +best illustration of his character, as a writer, that it has been the +more immediate purpose of these volumes to enquire; and if, in the +course of them, any satisfactory clue has been afforded to those +anomalies, moral and intellectual, which his life exhibited,--still +more, should it have been the effect of my humble labours to clear +away some of those mists that hung round my friend, and show him, in +most respects, as worthy of love as he was, in all, of admiration, +then will the chief and sole aim of this work have been accomplished. + +[Footnote 1: It may be making too light of criticism to say with Gray +that "even a bad verse is as good a thing or better than the best +observation that ever was made upon it;" but there are surely few +tasks that appear more thankless and superfluous than that of +following, as Criticism sometimes does, in the rear of victorious +genius (like the commentators on a field of Blenheim or of Waterloo), +and either labouring to point out to us _why_ it has triumphed, or +still more unprofitably contending that it _ought_ to have failed. +The well-known passage of La Bruyère, which even Voltaire's adulatory +application of it to some work of the King of Prussia has not spoiled +for use, puts, perhaps, in its true point of view the very +subordinate rank which Criticism must be content to occupy in the +train of successful Genius:--"Quand une lecture vous élève l'esprit +et qu'elle vous inspire des sentimens nobles, ne cherehez pas une +autre règle pour juger de l'ouvrage; il est bon et fait de main de +l'ouvrier: La Critique, après ça, peut s'exercer sur les petites +choses, relever quelques expressions, corriger des phrases, parler de +syntaxe," &c. &c.] + +Having devoted to this object so large a portion of my own share of +these pages, and, yet more fairly, enabled the world to form a +judgment for itself, by placing the man, in his own person, and +without disguise, before all eyes, there would seem to remain now but +an easy duty in summing up the various points of his character, and, +out of the features, already separately described, combining one +complete portrait. The task, however, is by no means so easy as it +may appear. There are few characters in which a near acquaintance +does not enable us to discover some one leading principle or passion +consistent enough in its operations to be taken confidently into +account in any estimate of the disposition in which they are found. +Like those points in the human face, or figure, to which all its +other proportions are referable, there is in most minds some one +governing influence, from which chiefly,--though, of course, biassed +on some occasions by others,--all its various impulses and tendencies +will be found to radiate. In Lord Byron, however, this sort of pivot +of character was almost wholly wanting. Governed as he was at +different moments by totally different passions, and impelled +sometimes, as during his short access of parsimony in Italy, by +springs of action never before developed in his nature, in him this +simple mode of tracing character to its sources must be often wholly +at fault; and if, as is not impossible, in trying to solve the +strange variances of his mind, I should myself be found to have +fallen into contradictions and inconsistencies, the extreme +difficulty of analysing, without dazzle or bewilderment, such an +unexampled complication of qualities must be admitted as my excuse. + +So various, indeed, and contradictory, were his attributes, both +moral and intellectual, that he may be pronounced to have been not +one, but many: nor would it be any great exaggeration of the truth to +say, that out of the mere partition of the properties of his single +mind a plurality of characters, all different and all vigorous, might +have been furnished. It was this multiform aspect exhibited by him +that led the world, during his short wondrous career, to compare him +with that medley host of personages, almost all differing from each +other, which he thus playfully enumerates in one of his Journals:-- + +"I have been thinking over, the other day, on the various +comparisons, good or evil, which I have seen published of myself in +different journals, English and foreign. This was suggested to me by +accidentally turning over a foreign one lately,--for I have made it a +rule latterly never to _search_ for any thing of the kind, but not to +avoid the perusal, if presented by chance. + +"To begin, then: I have seen myself compared, personally or +poetically, in English, French, _German_ (_as_ interpreted to me), +Italian, and Portuguese, within these nine years, to Rousseau, +Goethe, Young, Aretine, Timon of Athens, Dante, Petrarch, 'an +alabaster vase, lighted up within,' Satan, Shakspeare, Buonaparte, +Tiberius, Æschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, Harlequin, the Clown, +Sternhold and Hopkins, to the phantasmagoria, to Henry the Eighth, to +Chenier, to Mirabeau, to young R. Dallas (the schoolboy), to Michael +Angelo, to Raphael, to a petit-maître, to Diogenes, to Childe Harold, +to Lara, to the Count in Beppo, to Milton, to Pope, to Dryden, to +Burns, to Savage, to Chatterton, to 'oft have I heard of thee, my +Lord Biron,' in Shakspeare, to Churchill the poet, to Kean the actor, +to Alfieri, &c. &c. &c. + +"The likeness to Alfieri was asserted very seriously by an Italian +who had known him in his younger days. It of course related merely to +our apparent personal dispositions. He did not assert it to _me_ (for +we were not then good friends), but in society. + +"The object of so many contradictory comparisons must probably be +like something different from them all; but what _that_ is, is more +than _I_ know, or any body else." + +It would not be uninteresting, were there either space or time for +such a task, to take a review of the names of note in the preceding +list, and show in how many points, though differing so materially +among themselves, it might be found that each presented a striking +resemblance to Lord Byron. We have seen, for instance, that wrongs +and sufferings were, through life, the main sources of Byron's +inspiration. Where the hoof of the critic struck, the fountain was +first disclosed; and all the tramplings of the world afterwards but +forced out the stream stronger and brighter. The same obligations to +misfortune, the same debt to the "oppressor's wrong," for having +wrung out from bitter thoughts the pure essence of his genius, was +due no less deeply by Dante!--"quum illam sub amarâ cogitatione +excitatam, occulti divinique ingenii vim exacuerit et +inflammarit."[1] + +[Footnote 1: Paulus Jovius.--Bayle, too, says of him, "Il fit entrer +plus de feu et plus de force dans ses livres qu'il n'y en eût mis +s'il avoit joui d'une condition plus tranquille."] + +In that contempt for the world's opinion, which led Dante to exclaim, +"Lascia dir le genti," Lord Byron also bore a strong resemblance to +that poet,--though far more, it must be confessed, in profession than +reality. For, while scorn for the public voice was on his lips, the +keenest sensitiveness to its every breath was in his heart; and, as +if every feeling of his nature was to have some painful mixture in +it, together with the pride of Dante which led him to disdain public +opinion, he combined the susceptibility of Petrarch which placed him +shrinkingly at its mercy. + +His agreement, in some other features of character, with Petrarch, I +have already had occasion to remark[1]; and if it be true, as is +often surmised, that Byron's want of a due reverence for Shakspeare +arose from some latent and hardly conscious jealousy of that poet's +fame, a similar feeling is known to have existed in Petrarch towards +Dante; and the same reason assigned for it,--that from the living he +had nothing to fear, while before the shade of Dante he might have +reason to feel humbled,--is also not a little applicable[2] in the +case of Lord Byron. + +[Footnote 1: Some passages in Foscolo's Essay on Petrarch may be +applied, with equal truth, to Lord Byron.--For instance, "It was +hardly possible with Petrarch to write a sentence without portraying +himself"--"Petrarch, allured by the idea that his celebrity would +magnify into importance all the ordinary occurrences of his life, +satisfied the curiosity of the world," &c. &c.--and again, with still +more striking applicability,--"In Petrarch's letters, as well as in +his Poems and Treatises, we always identify the author with the man, +who felt himself irresistibly impelled to develope his own intense +feelings. Being endowed with almost all the noble, and with some of +the paltry passions of our nature, and having never attempted to +conceal them, he awakens us to reflection upon ourselves while we +contemplate in him a being of our own species, yet different from any +other, and whose originality excites even more sympathy than +admiration."] + +[Footnote 2: "II Petrarca poteva credere candidamente ch'ei non +pativa d'invidia solamente, perché fra tutti i viventi non v'era chi +non s'arretrasse per cedergli il passo alla prima gloria, ch'ei non +poteva sentirsi umiliato, fuorchè dall' ombra di Dante."] + +Between the dispositions and habits of Alfieri and those of the noble +poet of England, no less remarkable coincidences might be traced; and +the sonnet in which the Italian dramatist professes to paint his own +character contains, in one comprehensive line, a portrait of the +versatile author of Don Juan,-- + + "Or stimandome Achille ed or Tersite." + +By the extract just given from his Journal, it will be perceived +that, in Byron's own opinion, a character which, like his, admitted +of so many contradictory comparisons, could not be otherwise than +wholly undefinable itself. It will be found, however, on reflection, +that this very versatility, which renders it so difficult to fix, +"ere it change," the fairy fabric of his character, is, in itself, +the true clue through all that fabric's mazes,--is in itself the +solution of whatever was most dazzling in his might or startling in +his levity, of all that most attracted and repelled, whether in his +life or his genius. A variety of powers almost boundless, and a pride +no less vast in displaying them,--a susceptibility of new impressions +and impulses, even beyond the usual allotment of genius, and an +uncontrolled impetuosity, as well from habit as temperament, in +yielding to them,--such were the two great and leading sources of all +that varied spectacle which his life exhibited; of that succession of +victories achieved by his genius, in almost every field of mind that +genius ever trod, and of all those sallies of character in every +shape and direction that unchecked feeling and dominant self-will +could dictate. + +It must be perceived by all endowed with quick powers of association +how constantly, when any particular thought or sentiment presents +itself to their minds, its very opposite, at the same moment, springs +up there also:--if any thing sublime occurs, its neighbour, the +ridiculous, is by its side;--across a bright view of the present or +the future, a dark one throws its shadow;--and, even in questions +respecting morals and conduct, all the reasonings and consequences +that may suggest themselves on the side of one of two opposite +courses will, in such minds, be instantly confronted by an array just +as cogent on the other. A mind of this structure,--and such, more or +less, are all those in which the reasoning is made subservient to the +imaginative faculty,--though enabled, by such rapid powers of +association, to multiply its resources without end, has need of the +constant exercise of a controlling judgment to keep its perceptions +pure and undisturbed between the contrasts it thus simultaneously +calls up; the obvious danger being that, where matters of taste are +concerned, the habit of forming such incongruous juxtapositions--as +that, for example, between the burlesque and sublime--should at last +vitiate the mind's relish for the nobler and higher quality; and +that, on the yet more important subject of morals, a facility in +finding reasons for every side of a question may end, if not in the +choice of the worst, at least in a sceptical indifference to all. + +In picturing to oneself so awful an event as a shipwreck, its many +horrors and perils are what alone offer themselves to ordinary +fancies. But the keen, versatile imagination of Byron could detect in +it far other details, and, at the same moment with all that is +fearful and appalling in such a scene, could bring together all that +is most ludicrous and low. That in this painful mixture he was but +too true to human nature, the testimony of De Retz (himself an +eye-witness of such an event) attests:--"Vous ne pouvez vous imaginer +(says the Cardinal) l'horreur d'une grande tempête;--vous en pouvez +imaginer aussi pen le ridicule." But, assuredly, a poet less +wantoning in the variety of his power, and less proud of displaying +it, would have paused ere he mixed up, thus mockingly, the +degradation of humanity with its sufferings, and, content to probe us +to the core with the miseries of our fellow-men, would have forborne +to wring from us, the next moment, a bitter smile at their baseness. + +To the moral sense so dangerous are the effects of this quality, that +it would hardly, perhaps, be generalising too widely to assert that +wheresoever great versatility of power exists, there will also be +found a tendency to versatility of principle. The poet Chatterton, in +whose soul the seeds of all that is good and bad in genius so +prematurely ripened, said, in the consciousness of this multiple +faculty, that he "held that man in contempt who could not write on +both sides of a question;" and it was by acting in accordance with +this principle himself that he brought one of the few stains upon his +name which a life so short afforded time to incur. Mirabeau, too, +when, in the legal warfare between his father and mother, he helped +to draw up for each the pleadings against the other, was influenced +less, no doubt, by the pleasure of mischief than by this pride of +talent, and lost sight of the unnatural perfidy of the task in the +adroitness with which he executed it. + +The quality which I have here denominated versatility, as applied to +_power_, Lord Byron has himself designated by the French word +"mobility," as applied to _feeling_ and _conduct_; and, in one of the +Cantos of Don Juan, has described happily some of its lighter +features. After telling us that his hero had begun to doubt, from the +great predominance of this quality in her, "how much of Adeline was +_real_," he says,-- + + "So well she acted, all and every part, + By turns,--with that vivacious versatility, + Which many people take for want of heart. + They err--'tis merely what is called mobility, + A thing of temperament and not of art, + Though seeming so, from its supposed facility; + And false--though true; for surely they're sincerest, + Who are strongly acted on by what is nearest." + +That he was fully aware not only of the abundance of this quality in +his own nature, but of the danger in which it placed consistency and +singleness of character, did not require the note on this passage, +where he calls it "an unhappy attribute," to assure us. The +consciousness, indeed, of his own natural tendency to yield thus to +every chance impression, and change with every passing impulse, was +not only for ever present in his mind, but,--aware as he was of the +suspicion of weakness attached by the world to any retractation or +abandonment of long professed opinions,--had the effect of keeping +him in that general line of consistency, on certain great subjects, +which, notwithstanding occasional fluctuations and contradictions as +to the details of these very subjects, he continued to preserve +throughout life. A passage from one of his manuscripts will show how +sagaciously he saw the necessity of guarding himself against his own +instability in this respect. "The world visits change of politics or +change of religion with a more severe censure than a mere difference +of opinion would appear to me to deserve. But there must be some +reason for this feeling;--and I think it is that these departures +from the earliest instilled ideas of our childhood, and from the line +of conduct chosen by us when we first enter into public life, have +been seen to have more mischievous results for society, and to prove +more weakness of mind than other actions, in themselves, more +immoral." + +The same distrust in his own steadiness, thus keeping alive in him a +conscientious self-watchfulness, concurred not a little, I have no +doubt, with the innate kindness of his nature, to preserve so +constant and unbroken the greater number of his attachments through +life;--some of them, as in the instance of his mother, owing +evidently more to a sense of duty than to real affection, the +consistency with which, so creditably to the strength of his +character, they were maintained. + +But while in these respects, as well as in the sort of task-like +perseverance with which the habits and amusements of his youth were +held fast by him, he succeeded in conquering the variableness and +love of novelty so natural to him, in all else that could engage his +mind, in all the excursions, whether of his reason or his fancy, he +gave way to this versatile humour without scruple or check,--taking +every shape in which genius could manifest its power, and +transferring himself to every region of thought where new conquests +were to be achieved. + +It was impossible but that such a range of will and power should be +abused. It was impossible that, among the spirits he invoked from all +quarters, those of darkness should not appear, at his bidding, with +those of light. And here the dangers of an energy so multifold, and +thus luxuriating in its own transformations, show themselves. To this +one great object of displaying power,--various, splendid, and +all-adorning power,--every other consideration and duty were but too +likely to be sacrificed. Let the advocate but display his eloquence +and art, no matter what the cause;--let the stamp of energy be but +left behind, no matter with what seal. _Could_ it have been expected +that from such a career no mischief would ensue, or that among these +cross-lights of imagination the moral vision could remain +undisturbed? _Is_ it to be at all wondered at that in the works of +one thus gifted and carried away, we should find,--wholly, too, +without any prepense design of corrupting on his side,--a false +splendour given to Vice to make it look like Virtue, and Evil too +often invested with a grandeur which belongs intrinsically but to +Good? + +Among the less serious ills flowing from this abuse of his great +versatile powers,--more especially as exhibited in his most +characteristic work, Don Juan,--it will be found that even the +strength and impressiveness of his poetry is sometimes not a little +injured by the capricious and desultory flights into which this +pliancy of wing allures him. It must be felt, indeed, by all readers +of that work, and particularly by those who, being gifted with but a +small portion of such ductility themselves, are unable to keep pace +with his changes, that the suddenness with which he passes from one +strain of sentiment to another,--from the frolic to the sad, from the +cynical to the tender,--begets a distrust in the sincerity of one or +both moods of mind which interferes with, if not chills, the sympathy +that a more natural transition would inspire. In general such a +suspicion would do him injustice; as, among the singular combinations +which his mind presented, that of uniting at once versatility and +depth of feeling was not the least remarkable. But, on the whole, +favourable as was all this quickness and variety of association to +the extension of the range and resources of his poetry, it may be +questioned whether a more select concentration of his powers would +not have afforded a still more grand and precious result. Had the +minds of Milton and Tasso been thus thrown open to the incursions of +light, ludicrous fancies, who can doubt that those solemn sanctuaries +of genius would have been as much injured as profaned by the +intrusion?--and it is at least a question whether, if Lord Byron had +not been so actively versatile, so totally under the dominion of + + "A fancy, like the air, most free, + And full of mutability," + +he would not have been less wonderful, perhaps, but more great. + +Nor was it only in his poetical creations that this love and power of +variety showed itself:--one of the most pervading weaknesses of his +life may be traced to the same fertile source. The pride of +personating every description of character, evil as well as good, +influenced but too much, as we have seen, his ambition, and, not a +little, his conduct; and as, in poetry, his own experience of the ill +effects of passion was made to minister materials to the workings of +his imagination, so, in return, his imagination supplied that dark +colouring under which he so often disguised his true aspect from the +world. To such a perverse length, indeed, did he carry this fancy for +self-defamation, that if (as sometimes, in his moments of gloom, he +persuaded himself,) there was any tendency to derangement in his +mental conformation[1], on this point alone could it be pronounced to +have manifested itself.[2] In the early part of my acquaintance with +him, when he most gave way to this humour,--for it was observable +afterwards, when the world joined in his own opinion of himself, he +rather shrunk from the echo,--I have known him more than once, as we +have sat together after dinner, and he was, at the time, perhaps, a +little under the influence of wine, to fall seriously into this sort +of dark and self-accusing mood, and throw out hints of his past life +with an air of gloom and mystery designed evidently to awaken +curiosity and interest. He was, however, too promptly alive to the +least approaches of ridicule not to perceive, on these occasions, +that the gravity of his hearer was only prevented from being +disturbed by an effort of politeness, and he accordingly never again +tried this romantic mystification upon me. From what I have known, +however, of his experiments upon more impressible listeners, I have +little doubt that, to produce effect at the moment, there is hardly +any crime so dark or desperate of which, in the excitement of thus +acting upon the imaginations of others, he would not have hinted that +he had been guilty; and it has sometimes occurred to me that the +occult cause of his lady's separation from him, round which herself +and her legal adviser have thrown such formidable mystery, may have +been nothing more, after all, than some imposture of this kind, some +dimly hinted confession of undefined horrors, which, though intended +by the relater but to mystify and surprise, the hearer so little +understood him as to take in sober seriousness. + +[Footnote 1: We have seen how often, in his Journals and Letters, +this suspicion of his own mental soundness is intimated. A similar +notion, with respect to himself, seems to have taken hold also of the +strong mind of Johnson, who, like Byron, too, was disposed to +attribute to an hereditary tinge that melancholy which, as he said, +"made him mad all his life, at least not sober." This peculiar +feature of Johnson's mind has, in the late new edition of Boswell's +Life of him, given rise to some remarks, pregnant with all the +editor's well known acuteness, which, as bearing on a point so +important in the history of the human intellect, will be found worthy +of all attention. + +In one of the many letters of Lord Byron to myself, which I have +thought right to omit, I find him tracing this supposed disturbance +of his own faculties to the marriage of Miss Chaworth;--"a marriage," +he says, "for which she sacrificed the prospects of two very ancient +families, and a heart which was hers from ten years old, and a head +which has never been quite right since."] + +[Footnote 2: In his Diary of 1814 there is a passage (vol. ii. page +270.) which I had preserved solely for the purpose of illustrating +this obliquity of his mind, intending, at the same time, to accompany +it with an explanatory note. From some inadvertence, however, the +note was omitted; and, thus left to itself, this piece of +mystification has, with the French readers of the work, I see, +succeeded most perfectly; there being no imaginable variety of murder +which the votaries of the new romantic school have not been busily +extracting out of the mystery of that passage.] + +This strange propensity with which the man was, as it were, +inoculated by the poet, re-acted back again upon his poetry, so as to +produce, in some of his delineations of character, that inconsistency +which has not unfrequently been noticed by his critics,--namely, the +junction of one or two lofty and shining virtues with "a thousand +crimes" altogether incompatible with them; this anomaly being, in +fact, accounted for by the two different sorts of ambition that +actuated him,--the natural one, of infusing into his personages those +high and kindly qualities he felt conscious of within himself, and +the artificial one, of investing them with those crimes which he so +boyishly wished imputed to him by the world. + +Independently, however, of any such efforts towards blackening his +own name, and even after he had learned from bitter experience the +rash folly of such a system, there was still, in the openness and +over-frankness of his nature, and that indulgence of impulse with +which he gave utterance to, if not acted upon, every chance +impression of the moment, more than sufficient to bring his +character, in all its least favourable lights, before the world. Who +is there, indeed, that could bear to be judged by even the best of +those unnumbered thoughts that course each other, like waves of the +sea, through our minds, passing away unuttered, and, for the most +part, even unowned by ourselves?--Yet to such a test was Byron's +character throughout his whole life exposed. As well from the +precipitance with which he gave way to every impulse as from the +passion he had for recording his own impressions, all those +heterogeneous thoughts, fantasies, and desires that, in other men's +minds, "come like shadows, so depart," were by him fixed and embodied +as they presented themselves, and, at once, taking a shape cognizable +by public opinion, either in his actions or his words, either in the +hasty letter of the moment, or the poem for all time, laid open such +a range of vulnerable points before his judges, as no one individual +perhaps ever before, of himself, presented. + +With such abundance and variety of materials for portraiture, it may +easily be conceived how two professed delineators of his character, +the one over partial and the other malicious, might,--the former, by +selecting only the fairer, and the latter only the darker, +features,--produce two portraits of Lord Byron, as much differing +from each other as they would both be, on the whole, unlike the +original. + +Of the utter powerlessness of retention with which he promulgated his +every thought and feeling,--more especially if at all connected with +the subject of self,--without allowing even a pause for the almost +instinctive consideration whether by such disclosures he might not be +conveying a calumnious impression of himself, a stronger instance +could hardly be given than is to be found in a conversation held by +him with Mr. Trelawney, as reported by this latter gentleman, when +they were on their way together to Greece. After some remarks on the +state of his own health[1], mental and bodily, he said, "I don't know +how it is, but I am so cowardly at times, that if, this morning, you +had come down and horsewhipped me, I should have submitted without +opposition. Why is this? If one of these fits come over me when we +are in Greece, what shall I do?"--"I told him (continues Mr. +Trelawney) that it was the excessive debility of his nerves. He said, +'Yes, and of my head, too. I was very heroic when I left Genoa, but, +like Acres, I feel my courage oozing out at my palms.'" + +[Footnote 1: "He often mentioned," says Mr. Trelawney, "that he +thought he should not live many years, and said that he would die in +Greece." This he told me at Cephalonia. He always seemed unmoved on +these occasions, perfectly indifferent as to when he died, only +saying that he could not bear pain. On our voyage we had been reading +with great attention the life and letters of Swift, edited by Scott, +and we almost daily, or rather nightly, talked them over; and he more +than once expressed his horror of existing in that state, and +expressed some fears that it would be his fate.] + +It will hardly, by those who know any thing of human nature, be +denied that such misgivings and heart-sinkings as are here described +may, under a similar depression of spirits, have found their way into +the thoughts of some of the gallantest hearts that ever +breathed;--but then, untold and unremembered, even by the sufferer +himself, they passed off with the passing infirmity that produced +them, leaving neither to truth to record them as proofs of want of +health, nor to calumny to fasten upon them a suspicion of want of +bravery. The assertion of some one that all men are by nature +cowardly would seem to be countenanced by the readiness with which +most men believe others so. "I have lived," says the Prince de Ligne, +"to hear Voltaire called a fool, and the great Frederick a coward." +The Duke of Marlborough in his own times, and Napoleon in ours, have +found persons not only to assert but believe the same charge against +them. After such glaring instances of the tendency of some minds to +view greatness only through an inverting medium, it need little +surprise us that Lord Byron's conduct in Greece should, on the same +principle, have engendered a similar insinuation against him; nor +should I have at all noticed the weak slander, but for the +opportunity which it affords me of endeavouring to point out what +appears to me the peculiar nature of the courage by which, on all +occasions that called for it, he so strikingly distinguished himself. + +Whatever virtue may be allowed to belong to personal courage, it is, +most assuredly, they who are endowed by nature with the liveliest +imaginations, and who have therefore most vividly and simultaneously +before their eyes all the remote and possible consequences of danger, +that are most deserving of whatever praise attends the exercise of +that virtue. A bravery of this kind, which springs more out of mind +than temperament,--or rather, perhaps, out of the conquest of the +former over the latter,--will naturally proportion its exertion to +the importance of the occasion; and the same person who is seen to +shrink with an almost feminine fear from ignoble and every-day +perils, may be found foremost in the very jaws of danger where honour +is to be either maintained or won. Nor does this remark apply only to +the imaginative class, of whom I am chiefly treating. By the same +calculating principle, it will be found that most men whose bravery +is the result not of temperament but reflection, are regulated in +their daring. The wise De Wit, though negligent of his life on great +occasions, was not ashamed, we are told, of dreading and avoiding +whatever endangered it on others. + +Of the apprehensiveness that attends quick imaginations, Lord Byron +had, of course, a considerable share, and in all situations of +ordinary peril gave way to it without reserve. I have seldom seen any +person, male or female, more timid in a carriage; and, in riding, his +preparation against accidents showed the same nervous and imaginative +fearfulness. "His bridle," says the late Lord B----, who rode +frequently with him at Genoa, "had, besides cavesson and martingale, +various reins; and whenever he came near a place where his horse was +likely to shy, he gathered up these said reins and fixed himself as +if he was going at a five-barred gate." None surely but the most +superficial or most prejudiced observers could ever seriously found +upon such indications of nervousness any conclusion against the real +courage of him who was subject to them. The poet Ariosto, who was, it +seems, a victim to the same fair-weather alarms,--who, when on +horseback, would alight at the least appearance of danger, and on the +water was particularly timorous,--could yet, in the action between +the Pope's vessels and the Duke of Ferrara's, fight like a lion; and +in the same manner the courage of Lord Byron, as all his companions +in peril testify, was of that noblest kind which rises with the +greatness of the occasion, and becomes but the more self-collected +and resisting, the more imminent the danger. + +In proposing to show that the distinctive properties of Lord Byron's +character, as well moral as literary, arose mainly from those two +great sources, the unexampled versatility of his powers and feelings, +and the facility with which he gave way to the impulses of both, it +had been my intention to pursue the subject still further in detail, +and to endeavour to trace throughout the various excellences and +defects, both of his poetry and his life, the operation of these two +dominant attributes of his nature. "No men," says Cowper, in speaking +of persons of a versatile turn of mind, "are better qualified for +companions in such a world as this than men of such temperament. +Every scene of life has two sides, a dark and a bright one; and the +mind that has an equal mixture of melancholy and vivacity is best of +all qualified for the contemplation of either." It would not be +difficult to show that to this readiness in reflecting all hues, +whether of the shadows or the lights of our variegated existence, +Lord Byron owed not only the great range of his influence as a poet, +but those powers of fascination which he possessed as a man. This +susceptibility, indeed, of immediate impressions, which in him was so +active, lent a charm, of all others the most attractive, to his +social intercourse, by giving to those who were, at the moment, +present, such ascendant influence, that they alone for the time +occupied all his thoughts and feelings, and brought whatever was most +agreeable in his nature into play.[1] + +[Footnote 1: In reference to his power of adapting himself to all +sorts of society, and taking upon himself all varieties of character, +I find a passage in one of my early letters to him (from Ireland) +which, though it might be expressed, perhaps, in better taste, is +worth citing for its truth:--"Though I have not written, I have +seldom ceased to think of you; for you are that sort of being whom +every thing, high or low, brings into one's mind. Whether I am with +the wise or the waggish, among poets or among pugilists, over the +book or over the bottle, you are sure to connect yourself +transcendently with all, and come 'armed for _every_ field' into my +memory."] + +So much did this extreme mobility,--this readiness to be "strongly +acted on by what was nearest,"--abound in his disposition, that, even +with the casual acquaintances of the hour, his heart was upon his +lips[1], and it depended wholly upon themselves whether they might +not become at once the depositories of every secret, if it might be +so called, of his whole life. That in this convergence of all the +powers of pleasing towards present objects, those absent should be +sometimes forgotten, or, what is worse, sacrificed to the reigning +desire of the moment, is unluckily one of the alloys attendant upon +persons of this temperament, which renders their fidelity, either as +lovers or confidants, not a little precarious. But of the charm which +such a disposition diffuses through the manner there can be but +little doubt,--and least of all among those who have ever felt its +influence in Lord Byron. Neither are the instances in which he has +been known to make imprudent disclosures of what had been said or +written by others of the persons with whom he was conversing to be +all set down to this rash overflow of the social hour. In his own +frankness of spirit, and hatred of all disguise, this practice, +pregnant as it was with inconvenience, and sometimes danger, in a +great degree originated. To confront the accused with the accuser +was, in such cases, his delight,--not only as a revenge for having +been made the medium of what men durst not say openly to each other, +but as a gratification of that love of small mischief which he had +retained from boyhood, and which the confusion that followed such +exposures was always sure to amuse. This habit, too, being, as I have +before remarked, well known to his friends, their sense of prudence, +if not their fairness, was put fully on its guard, and he himself was +spared the pain of hearing what he could not, without inflicting +still worse, repeat. + +[Footnote 1: It is curious to observe how, in all times, and all +countries, what is called the poetical temperament has, in the great +possessors, and victims, of that gift, produced similar effects. In +the following passage, the biographer of Tasso has, in painting that +poet, described Byron also:--"There are some persons of a sensibility +so powerful, that whoever happens to be with them is, at that moment, +to them the world: their hearts involuntarily open; they are prompted +by a strong desire to please; and they thus make confidants of their +sentiments people whom they in reality regard with indifference."] + +A most apt illustration of this point of his character is to be found +in an anecdote told of him by Parry, who, though himself the victim, +had the sense and good temper to perceive the source to which Byron's +conduct was to be traced. While the Turkish fleet was blockading +Missolonghi, his Lordship, one day, attended by Parry, proceeded in a +small punt, rowed by a boy, to the mouth of the harbour, while in a +large boat accompanying them were Prince Mavrocordato and his +attendants. In this situation, an indignant feeling of contempt and +impatience at the supineness of their Greek friends seized the +engineer, and he proceeded to vent this feeling to Lord Byron in no +very measured terms, pronouncing Prince Mavrocordato to be "an old +gentlewoman," and concluding, according to his own statement, with +the following words:--"If I were in their place, I should be in a +fever at the thought of my own incapacity and ignorance, and should +burn with impatience to attempt the destruction of those rascal +Turks. But the Greeks and the Turks are opponents worthy, by their +imbecility, of each other." + +"I had scarcely explained myself fully," adds Mr. Parry, "when his +Lordship ordered our boat to be placed alongside the other, and +actually related our whole conversation to the Prince. In doing it, +however, he took on himself the task of pacifying both the Prince and +me, and though I was at first very angry, and the Prince, I believe, +very much annoyed, he succeeded. Mavrocordato afterwards showed no +dissatisfaction with me, and I prized Lord Byron's regard too much, +to remain long displeased with a proceeding which was only an +unpleasant manner of reproving us both." + +Into these and other such branches from the main course of his +character, it might have been a task of some interest to +investigate,--certain as we should be that, even in the remotest and +narrowest of these windings, some of the brightness and strength of +the original current would be perceptible. Enough however has been, +perhaps, said to set other minds upon supplying what remains:--if the +track of analysis here opened be the true one, to follow it in its +further bearings will not be difficult. Already, indeed, I may be +thought by some readers to have occupied too large a portion of these +pages, not only in tracing out such "nice dependencies" and +gradations of my friend's character, but still more uselessly, as may +be conceived, in recording all the various habitudes and whims by +which the course of his every-day life was distinguished from that of +other people. That the critics of the day should think it due to +their own importance to object to trifles is naturally to be +expected; but that, in other times, such minute records of a Byron +will be read with interest, even such critics cannot doubt. To know +that Catiline walked with an agitated and uncertain gait is, by no +mean judge of human nature, deemed important as an indication of +character. But far less significant details will satisfy the +idolaters of genius. To be told that Tasso loved malmsey and thought +it favourable to poetic inspiration is a piece of intelligence, even +at the end of three centuries, not unwelcome; while a still more +amusing proof of the disposition of the world to remember little +things of the great is, that the poet Petrarch's excessive fondness +for turnips is one of the few traditions still preserved of him at +Arqua. + +The personal appearance of Lord Byron has been so frequently +described, both by pen and pencil, that were it not the bounden duty +of the biographer to attempt some such sketch, the task would seem +superfluous. Of his face, the beauty may be pronounced to have been +of the highest order, as combining at once regularity of features +with the most varied and interesting expression. The same facility, +indeed, of change observable in the movements of his mind was seen +also in the free play of his features, as the passing thoughts within +darkened or shone through them. + +His eyes, though of a light grey, were capable of all extremes of +expression, from the most joyous hilarity to the deepest sadness, +from the very sunshine of benevolence to the most concentrated scorn +or rage. Of this latter passion, I had once an opportunity of seeing +what fiery interpreters they could be, on my telling him, +thoughtlessly enough, that a friend of mine had said to me--"Beware +of Lord Byron; he will some day or other do something very +wicked."--"Was it man or woman said so?" he exclaimed, suddenly +turning round upon me with a look of such intense anger as, though it +lasted not an instant, could not easily be forgot, and of which no +better idea can be given than in the words of one who, speaking of +Chatterton's eyes, says that "fire rolled at the bottom of them." + +But it was in the mouth and chin that the great beauty as well as +expression of his fine countenance lay. "Many pictures have been +painted of him," says a fair critic of his features, "with various +success; but the excessive beauty of his lips escaped every painter +and sculptor. In their ceaseless play they represented every emotion, +whether pale with anger, curled in disdain, smiling in triumph, or +dimpled with archness and love." It would be injustice to the reader +not to borrow from the same pencil a few more touches of portraiture. +"This extreme facility of expression was sometimes painful, for I +have seen him look absolutely ugly--I have seen him look so hard and +cold, that you must hate him, and then, in a moment, brighter than +the sun, with such playful softness in his look, such affectionate +eagerness kindling in his eyes, and dimpling his lips into something +more sweet than a smile, that you forgot the man, the Lord Byron, in +the picture of beauty presented to you, and gazed with intense +curiosity--I had almost said--as if to satisfy yourself, that thus +looked the god of poetry, the god of the Vatican, when he conversed +with the sons and daughters of man." + +His head was remarkably small[1],--so much so as to be rather out of +proportion with his face. The forehead, though a little too narrow, +was high, and appeared more so from his having his hair (to preserve +it, as he said,) shaved over the temples; while the glossy, +dark-brown curls, clustering over his head, gave the finish to its +beauty. When to this is added, that his nose, though handsomely, was +rather thickly shaped, that his teeth were white and regular, and his +complexion colourless, as good an idea perhaps as it is in the power +of mere words to convey may be conceived of his features. + +[Footnote 1: "Several of us, one day," says Colonel Napier, "tried on +his hat, and in a party of twelve or fourteen, who were at dinner, +_not one_ could put it on, so exceedingly small was his head. My +servant, Thomas Wells, who had the smallest head in the 90th regiment +(so small that he could hardly get a cap to fit him), was the only +person who could put on Lord Byron's hat, and him it fitted +exactly."] + +In height he was, as he himself has informed us, five feet eight +inches and a half, and to the length of his limbs he attributed his +being such a good swimmer. His hands were very white, and--according +to his own notion of the size of hands as indicating +birth--aristocratically small. The lameness of his right foot[1], +though an obstacle to grace, but little impeded the activity of his +movements; and from this circumstance, as well as from the skill with +which the foot was disguised by means of long trowsers, it would be +difficult to conceive a defect of this kind less obtruding itself as +a deformity; while the diffidence which a constant consciousness of +the infirmity gave to his first approach and address made, in him, +even lameness a source of interest. + +[Footnote 1: In speaking of this lameness at the commencement of my +work, I forbore, both from my own doubts on the subject and the great +variance I found in the recollections of others, from stating in +_which_ of his feet this lameness existed. It will, indeed, with +difficulty be believed what uncertainty I found upon this point, even +among those most intimate with him. Mr. Hunt, in his book, states it +to have been the left foot that was deformed, and this, though +contrary to my own impression, and, as it appears also, to the fact, +was the opinion I found also of others who had been much in the habit +of living with him. On applying to his early friends at Southwell and +to the shoemaker of that town who worked for him, so little prepared +were they to answer with any certainty on the subject, that it was +only by recollecting that the lame foot "was the off one in going up +the street" they at last came to the conclusion that his right limb +was the one affected; and Mr. Jackson, his preceptor in pugilism, +was, in like manner, obliged to call to mind whether his noble pupil +was a right or left hand hitter before he could arrive at the same +decision.] + +In looking again into the Journal from which it was my intention to +give extracts, the following unconnected opinions, or rather +reveries, most of them on points connected with his religious +opinions, are all that I feel tempted to select. To an assertion in +the early part of this work, that "at no time of his life was Lord +Byron a confirmed unbeliever," it has been objected, that many +passages of his writings prove the direct contrary. This assumption, +however, as well as the interpretation of most of the passages +referred to in its support, proceed, as it appears to me, upon the +mistake, not uncommon in conversation, of confounding together the +meanings of the words unbeliever and sceptic,--the former implying +decision of opinion, and the latter only doubt. I have myself, I +find, not always kept the significations of the two words distinct, +and in one instance have so far fallen into the notion of these +objectors as to speak of Byron in his youth as "an unbelieving +school-boy," when the word "doubting" would have more truly expressed +my meaning. With this necessary explanation, I shall here repeat my +assertion; or rather--to clothe its substance in a different +form--shall say that Lord Byron was, to the last, a sceptic, which, +in itself, implies that he was, at no time, a confirmed unbeliever. + + * * * * * + +"If I were to live over again, I do not know what I would change in +my life, unless it were _for--not to have lived at all_.[1] All +history and experience, and the rest, teaches us that the good and +evil are pretty equally balanced in this existence, and that what is +most to be desired is an easy passage out of it. What can it give us +but years? and those have little of good but their ending. + +[Footnote 1: Swift "early adopted," says Sir Walter Scott, "the +custom of observing his birth-day, as a term, not of joy, but of +sorrow, and of reading, when it annually recurred, the striking +passage of Scripture, in which Job laments and execrates the day upon +which it was said in his father's house 'that a man-child was +born.'"--_Life of Swift._] + + * * * * * + +"Of the immortality of the soul it appears to me that there can be +little doubt, if we attend for a moment to the action of mind: it is +in perpetual activity. I used to doubt of it, but reflection has +taught me better. It acts also so very independent of body--in +dreams, for instance;--incoherently and _madly_, I grant you, but +still it is mind, and much more mind than when we are awake. Now that +this should not act _separately_, as well as jointly, who can +pronounce? The stoics, Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius, call the +present state 'a soul which drags a carcass,'--a heavy chain, to be +sure, but all chains being material may be shaken off. How far our +future life will be _individual_, or, rather, how far it will at all +resemble _our present_ existence, is another question; but that the +mind is eternal seems as probable as that the body is not so. Of +course I here venture upon the question without recurring to +revelation, which, however, is at least as rational a solution of it +as any other. A _material_ resurrection seems strange and even +absurd, except for purposes of punishment; and all punishment which +is to _revenge_ rather than _correct_ must be _morally wrong_; and +_when the world is at an end_, what moral or warning purpose _can_ +eternal tortures answer? Human passions have probably disfigured the +divine doctrines here;--but the whole thing is inscrutable. + + * * * * * + +"It is useless to tell me _not_ to _reason_, but to _believe._ You +might as well tell a man not to wake, but _sleep._ And then to +_bully_ with torments, and all that! I cannot help thinking that the +_menace_ of hell makes as many devils as the severe penal codes of +inhuman humanity make villains. + + * * * * * + +"Man is born _passionate_ of body, but with an innate though secret +tendency to the love of good in his main-spring of mind. But, God +help us all! it is at present a sad jar of atoms. + + * * * * * + +"Matter is eternal, always changing, but reproduced, and, as far as +we can comprehend eternity, eternal; and why not _mind_? Why should +not the mind act with and upon the universe, as portions of it act +upon, and with, the congregated dust called mankind? See how one man +acts upon himself and others, or upon multitudes! The same agency, in +a higher and purer degree, may act upon the stars, &c. ad infinitum. + + * * * * * + +"I have often been inclined to materialism in philosophy, but could +never bear its introduction into _Christianity_, which appears to me +essentially founded upon the _soul_. For this reason Priestley's +Christian Materialism always struck me as deadly. Believe the +resurrection of the _body_, if you will, but _not without_ a _soul_. +The deuce is in it, if after having had a soul, (as surely the +_mind_, or whatever you call it, _is,_) in this world, we must part +with it in the _next_, even for an immortal materiality! I own my +partiality for _spirit_. + + * * * * * + +"I am always most religious upon a sunshiny day, as if there was some +association between an internal approach to greater light and purity +and the kindler of this dark lantern of our external existence. + + * * * * * + +"The night is also a religious concern, and even more so when I +viewed the moon and stars through Herschell's telescope, and saw that +they were worlds. + + * * * * * + +"If, according to some speculations, you could prove the world many +thousand years older than the Mosaic chronology, or if you could get +rid of Adam and Eve, and the apple, and serpent, still, what is to be +put up in their stead? or how is the difficulty removed? Things must +have had a beginning, and what matters it _when_ or _how_? + + * * * * * + +"I sometimes think that _man_ may be the relic of some higher +material being wrecked in a former world, and degenerated in the +hardship and struggle through chaos into conformity, or something +like it,--as we see Laplanders, Esquimaux, &c. inferior in the +present state, as the elements become more inexorable. But even then +this higher pre-Adamite supposititious creation must have had an +origin and a _Creator_--for a _creation_ is a more natural +imagination than a fortuitous concourse of atoms: all things remount +to a fountain, though they may flow to an ocean. + + * * * * * + +"Plutarch says, in his Life of Lysander, that Aristotle observes +'that in general great geniuses are of a melancholy turn, and +instances Socrates, Plato, and Hercules (or Heraclitus), as examples, +and Lysander, though not while young, yet as inclined to it when +approaching towards age.' Whether I am a genius or not, I have been +called such by my friends as well as enemies, and in more countries +and languages than one, and also within a no very long period of +existence. Of my genius, I can say nothing, but of my melancholy, +that it is 'increasing, and ought to be diminished.' But how? + +"I take it that most men are so at bottom, but that it is only +remarked in the remarkable. The Duchesse de Broglio, in reply to a +remark of mine on the errors of clever people, said that 'they were +not worse than others, only, being more in view, more noted, +especially in all that could reduce them to the rest, or raise the +rest to them.' In 1816, this was. + +"In fact (I suppose that) if the follies of fools were all set down +like those of the wise, the wise (who seem at present only a better +sort of fools) would appear almost intelligent. + + * * * * * + +"It is singular how soon we lose the impression of what ceases to be +_constantly_ before us: a year impairs; a lustre obliterates. There +is little distinct left without an effort of memory. _Then_, indeed, +the lights are rekindled for a moment; but who can be sure that +imagination is not the torch-bearer? Let any man try at the end of +_ten_ years to bring before him the features, or the mind, or the +sayings, or the habits of his best friend, or his _greatest_ man, (I +mean his favourite, his Buonaparte, his this, that, or t'other,) and +he will be surprised at the extreme confusion of his ideas. I speak +confidently on this point, having always passed for one who had a +good, ay, an excellent memory. I except, indeed, our recollection of +womankind; there is no forgetting _them_ (and be d--d to them) any +more than any other remarkable era, such as 'the revolution,' or 'the +plague,' or 'the invasion,' or 'the comet,' or 'the war' of such and +such an epoch,--being the favourite dates of mankind who have so many +_blessings_ in their lot that they never make their calendars from +them, being too common. For instance, you see 'the great drought,' +'the Thames frozen over,' 'the seven years' war broke out,' 'the +English, or French, or Spanish revolution commenced,' 'the Lisbon +earthquake,' 'the Lima earthquake,' 'the earthquake of Calabria,' +'the plague of London,' ditto 'of Constantinople,' 'the sweating +sickness,' 'the yellow fever of Philadelphia,' &c. &c. &c.; but you +don't see 'the abundant harvest,' 'the fine summer,' 'the long +peace,' 'the wealthy speculation,' 'the wreckless voyage,' recorded +so emphatically! By the way, there has been a _thirty years' war_ and +a _seventy years' war_; was there ever a _seventy_ or a _thirty +years' peace_? or was there even a DAY'S _universal_ peace? except +perhaps in China, where they have found out the miserable happiness +of a stationary and unwarlike mediocrity. And is all this because +nature is niggard or savage? or mankind ungrateful? Let philosophers +decide. I am none. + + * * * * * + +"In general, I do not draw well with literary men; not that I dislike +them, but I never know what to say to them after I have praised their +last publication. There are several exceptions, to be sure, but then +they have either been men of the world, such as Scott and Moore, &c. +or visionaries out of it, such as Shelley, &c.: but your literary +every-day man and I never went well in company, especially your +foreigner, whom I never could abide; except Giordani, +and--and--and--(I really can't name any other)--I don't remember a +man amongst them whom I ever wished to see twice, except perhaps +Mezzophanti, who is a monster of languages, the Briareus of parts of +speech, a walking Polyglott and more, who ought to have existed at +the time of the Tower of Babel as universal interpreter. He is indeed +a marvel--unassuming, also. I tried him in all the tongues of which I +knew a single oath, (or adjuration to the gods against post-boys, +savages, Tartars, boatmen, sailors, pilots, gondoliers, muleteers, +camel-drivers, vetturini, post-masters, post-horses, post-houses, +post every thing,) and egad! he astounded me--even to my English. + + * * * * * + +"'No man would live his life over again,' is an old and true saying +which all can resolve for themselves. At the same time, there are +probably _moments_ in most men's lives which they would live over the +rest of life to _regain_. Else why do we live at all? because Hope +recurs to Memory, both false--but--but--but--but--and this _but_ +drags on till--what? I do not know; and who does? 'He that died o' +Wednesday.'" + + * * * * * + +In laying before the reader these last extracts from the papers in my +possession, it may be expected, perhaps, that I should say +something,--in addition to what has been already stated on this +subject,--respecting those Memoranda, or Memoirs, which, in the +exercise of the discretionary power given to me by my noble friend, I +placed, shortly after his death, at the disposal of his sister and +executor, and which they, from a sense of what they thought due to +his memory, consigned to the flames. As the circumstances, however, +connected with the surrender of that manuscript, besides requiring +much more detail than my present limits allow, do not, in any +respect, concern the character of Lord Byron, but affect solely my +own, it is not here, at least, that I feel myself called upon to +enter into an explanation of them. The world will, of course, +continue to think of that step as it pleases; but it is, after all, +on a man's _own_ opinion of his actions that his happiness chiefly +depends, and I can only say that, were I again placed in the same +circumstances, I would--even at ten times the pecuniary sacrifice +which my conduct then cost me--again act precisely in the same +manner. + +For the satisfaction of those whose regret at the loss of that +manuscript arises from some better motive than the mere +disappointment of a prurient curiosity, I shall here add, that on the +mysterious cause of the separation, it afforded no light +whatever;--that, while some of its details could never have been +published at all[1], and little, if any, of what it contained +personal towards others could have appeared till long after the +individuals concerned had left the scene, all that materially related +to Lord Byron himself was (as I well knew when I made that sacrifice) +to be found repeated in the various Journals and Memorandum-books, +which, though not all to be made use of, were, as the reader has seen +from the preceding pages, all preserved. + +[Footnote 1: This description applies only to the Second Part of the +Memoranda; there having been but little unfit for publication in the +First Part, which was, indeed, read, as is well known, by many of the +noble author's friends.] + +As far as suppression, indeed, is blamable, I have had, in the course +of this task, abundantly to answer for it; having, as the reader must +have perceived, withheld a large portion of my materials, to which +Lord Byron, no doubt, in his fearlessness of consequences, would have +wished to give publicity, but which, it is now more than probable, +will never meet the light. + +There remains little more to add. It has been remarked by Lord +Orford[1], as "strange, that the writing a man's life should in +general make the biographer become enamoured of his subject, whereas +one should think that the nicer disquisition one makes into the life +of any man, the less reason one should find to love or admire him." +On the contrary, may we not rather say that, as knowledge is ever the +parent of tolerance, the more insight we gain into the springs and +motives of a man's actions, the peculiar circumstances in which he +was placed, and the influences and temptations under which he acted, +the more allowance we may be inclined to make for his errors, and the +more approbation his virtues may extort from us? + +[Footnote 1: In speaking of Lord Herbert of Cherbury's Life of Henry +VIII.] + +The arduous task of being the biographer of Byron is one, at least, +on which I have not obtruded myself: the wish of my friend that I +should undertake that office having been more than once expressed, at +a time when none but a boding imagination like his could have +foreseen much chance of the sad honour devolving to me. If in some +instances I have consulted rather the spirit than the exact letter of +his injunctions, it was with the view solely of doing him more +justice than he would have done himself, there being no hands in +which his character could have been less safe than his own, nor any +greater wrong offered to his memory than the substitution of what he +affected to be for what he was. Of any partiality, however, beyond +what our mutual friendship accounts for and justifies, I am by no +means conscious; nor would it be in the power, indeed, of even the +most partial friend to allege any thing more convincingly favourable +of his character than is contained in the few simple facts with which +I shall here conclude,--that, through life, with all his faults, he +never lost a friend;--that those about him in his youth, whether as +companions, teachers, or servants, remained attached to him to the +last;--that the woman, to whom he gave the love of his maturer years, +idolises his name; and that, with a single unhappy exception, scarce +an instance is to be found of any one, once brought, however briefly, +into relations of amity with him, that did not feel towards him a +kind regard in life, and retain a fondness for his memory. + +I have now done with the subject, nor shall be easily tempted to +recur to it. Any mistakes or misstatements I may be proved to have +made shall be corrected;--any new facts which it is in the power of +others to produce will speak for themselves. To mere opinions I am +not called upon to pay attention--and still less to insinuations or +mysteries. I have here told what I myself know and think concerning +my friend; and now leave his character, moral as well as literary, to +the judgment of the world. + + + + +APPENDIX. + + * * * * * + +TWO EPISTLES FROM THE ARMENIAN VERSION. + +THE EPISTLE OF THE CORINTHIANS TO ST. PAUL THE APOSTLE.[1] + +1 STEPHEN[2], and the elders with him, Dabnus, Eubulus, Theophilus, +and Xinon, to Paul, our father and evangelist, and faithful master in +Jesus Christ, health.[3] + +2 Two men have come to Corinth, Simon by name, and Cleobus[4], who +vehemently disturb the faith of some with deceitful and corrupt +words; + +3 Of which words thou shouldst inform thyself: + +4 For neither have we heard such words from thee, nor from the other +apostles: + +5 But we know only that what we have heard from thee and from them, +that we have kept firmly. + +6 But in this chiefly has our Lord had compassion, that, whilst thou +art yet with us in the flesh, we are again about to hear from thee. + +7 Therefore do thou write to us, or come thyself amongst us quickly. + +8 We believe in the Lord, that, as it was revealed to Theonas, he +hath delivered thee from the hands of the unrighteous.[5] + +9 But these are the sinful words of these impure men, for thus do +they say and teach: + +10 That it behoves not to admit the Prophets.[6] + +11 Neither do they affirm the omnipotence of God: + +12 Neither do they affirm the resurrection of the flesh: + +13 Neither do they affirm that man was altogether created by God: + +14 Neither do they affirm that Jesus Christ was born in the flesh +from the Virgin Mary: + +15 Neither do they affirm that the world was the work of God, but of +some one of the angels. + +16 Therefore do thou make haste[7] to come amongst us. + +17 That this city of the Corinthians may remain without scandal. + +18 And that the folly of these men may be made manifest by an open +refutation. Fare thee well.[8] + +The deacons Thereptus and Tichus[9] received and conveyed this +Epistle to the city of the Philippians.[10] + +When Paul received the Epistle, although he was then in chains on +account of Stratonice[11], the wife of Apofolanus[12], yet, as it +were forgetting his bonds, he mourned over these words, and said, +weeping: "It were better for me to be dead, and with the Lord. For +while I am in this body, and hear the wretched words of such false +doctrine, behold, grief arises upon grief, and my trouble adds a +weight to my chains; when I behold this calamity, and progress of the +machinations of Satan, who searcheth to do wrong." + +And thus, with deep affliction, Paul composed his reply to the +Epistle.[13] + +[Footnote 1: Some MSS. have the title thus: _Epistle of Stephen the +Elder to Paul the Apostle, from the Corinthians_.] + +[Footnote 2: In the MSS. the marginal verses published by the +Whistons are wanting.] + +[Footnote 3: In some MSS. we find, _The elders Numenus, Eubulus, +Theophilus, and Nomeson, to Paul their brother, health_!] + +[Footnote 4: Others read, _There came certain men, ... and Clobeus, +who vehemently shake._] + +[Footnote 5: Some MSS. have, _We believe in the Lord, that his +presence was made manifest; and by this hath the Lord delivered as +from the hands of the unrighteous._] + +[Footnote 6: Others read, _To read the Prophets._] + +[Footnote 7: Some MSS. have, _Therefore, brother, do thou make +haste._] + +[Footnote 8: Others read, _Fare thee well in the Lord._] + +[Footnote 9: Some MSS. have, _The deacons Therepus and Techus_] + +[Footnote 10: The Whistons have, _To the city of Phoenicia_; but in +all the MSS. we find, _To the city of the Philippians._] + +[Footnote 11: Others read, _On account of Onotice._] + +[Footnote 12: The Whistons have, _Of Apollophanus_: but in all the +MSS. we read, _Apofolanus_.] + +[Footnote 13: In the text of this Epistle there are some other +variations in the words, but the sense is the same.] + + +EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS, [1] + +1 Paul, in bonds for Jesus Christ, disturbed by so many errors [2], +to his Corinthian brethren, health. + +2 I nothing marvel that the preachers of evil have made this +progress. + +3 For because the Lord Jesus is about to fulfil his coming, verily on +this account do certain men pervert and despise his words. + +4 But I, verily, from the beginning, have taught you that only which +I myself received from the former apostles, who always remained with +the Lord Jesus Christ. + +5 And I now say unto you, that the Lord Jesus Christ was born of the +Virgin Mary, who was of the seed of David, + +6 According to the annunciation of the Holy Ghost, sent to her by our +Father from heaven; + +7 That Jesus might be introduced into the world [3], and deliver our +flesh by his flesh, and that he might raise us up from the dead; + +8 As in this also he himself became the example: + +9 That it might be made manifest that man was created by the Father, + +10 He has not remained in perdition unsought [4]; + +11 But he is sought for, that he might be revived by adoption. + +12 For God, who is the Lord of all, the Father of our Lord Jesus +Christ, who made heaven and earth, sent, firstly, the Prophets to the +Jews: + +13 That he would absolve them from their sins, and bring them to his +judgment. + +14 Because he wished to save, firstly, the house of Israel, he +bestowed and poured forth his Spirit upon the Prophets; + +15 That they should, for a long time, preach the worship of God, and +the nativity of Christ. + +16 But he who was the prince of evil, when he wished to make himself +God, laid his hand upon them, + +17 And bound all men in sin,[5] + +18 Because the judgment of the world was approaching. + +19 But Almighty God, when he willed to justify, was unwilling to +abandon his creature; + +20 But when he saw his affliction, he had compassion upon him: + +21 And at the end of a time he sent the Holy Ghost into the Virgin +foretold by the Prophets. + +22 Who, believing readily [6], was made worthy to conceive, and bring +forth our Lord Jesus Christ. + +23 That from this perishable body, in which the evil spirit was +glorified, he should be cast out, and it should be made manifest + +24 That he was not God: For Jesus Christ, in his flesh, had recalled +and saved this perishable flesh, and drawn it into eternal life by +faith. + +25 Because in his body he would prepare a pure temple of justice for +all ages; + +26 In whom we also, when we believe, are saved. + +27 Therefore know ye that these men are not the children of justice, +but the children of wrath; + +28 Who turn away from themselves the compassion of God; + +29 Who say that neither the heavens nor the earth were altogether +works made by the hand of the Father of all things.[7] + +30 But these cursed men[8] have the doctrine of the serpent. + +31 But do ye, by the power of God, withdraw yourselves far from +these, and expel from amongst you the doctrine of the wicked. + +32 Because you are not the children of rebellion [9]; but the sons of +the beloved church. + +33 And on this account the time of the resurrection is preached to +all men. + +34 Therefore they who affirm that there is no resurrection of the +flesh, they indeed shall not be raised up to eternal life; + +35 But to judgment and condemnation shall the unbeliever arise in the +flesh: + +36 For to that body which denies the resurrection of the body, shall +be denied the resurrection: because such are found to refuse the +resurrection. + +37 But you also, Corinthians! have known, from the seeds of wheat, +and from other seeds, + +38 That one grain falls [10] dry into the earth, and within it first +dies, + +39 And afterwards rises again, by the will of the Lord, endued with +the same body: + +40 Neither indeed does it arise with the same simple body, but +manifold, and filled with blessing. + +41 But we produce the example not only from seeds, but from the +honourable bodies of men. [11] + +42 Ye have also known Jonas, the son of Amittai.[12] + +43 Because he delayed to preach to the Ninevites, he was swallowed up +in the belly of a fish for three days and three nights: + +44 And after three days God heard his supplication, and brought him +out of the deep abyss; + +45 Neither was any part of his body corrupted; neither was his +eyebrow bent down.[13] + +46 And how much more for you, oh men of little faith; + +47 If you believe in our Lord Jesus Christ, will he raise you up, +even as he himself hath arisen. + +48 If the bones of Elisha the prophet, falling upon the dead, revived +the dead, + +49 By how much more shall ye, who are supported by the flesh and the +blood and the Spirit of Christ, arise again on that day with a +perfect body? + +50 Elias the prophet, embracing the widow's son, raised him from the +dead: + +51 By how much more shall Jesus Christ revive you, on that day, with +a perfect body, even as he himself hath arisen? + +52 But if ye receive other things vainly [14], + +53 Henceforth no one shall cause me to travail; for I bear on my body +these fetters [15], + +54 To obtain Christ; and I suffer with patience these afflictions to +become worthy of the resurrection of the dead. + +55 And do each of you, having received the law from the hands of the +blessed Prophets and the holy gospel [16], firmly maintain it; + +56 To the end that you may be rewarded in the resurrection of the +dead, and the possession of the life eternal. + +57 But if any of ye, not believing, shall trespass, he shall be +judged with the misdoers, and punished with those who have false +belief. + +58 Because such are the generation of vipers, and the children of +dragons and basilisks. + +59 Drive far from amongst ye, and fly from such, with the aid of our +Lord Jesus Christ. + +60 And the peace and grace of the beloved Son be upon you.[17] Amen. + +_Done into English by me, January-February,_ 1817, _at the Convent of +San Lazaro, with the aid and exposition of the Armenian text by the +Father Paschal Aucher, Armenian Friar_. + + +BYRON. + +Venice, April 10, 1817. + +_I had also the Latin text, but it is in many places very corrupt, +and with great omissions_. + +[Footnote 1: Some MSS. have, _Paul's Epistle from prison, for the +instruction of the Corinthians_.] + +[Footnote 2: Others read, _Disturbed by various compunctions_.] + +[Footnote 3: Some MSS. have. _That Jesus might comfort the world_.] + +[Footnote 4: Others read, _He has not remained indifferent_.] + +[Footnote 5: Some MSS have, _Laid his hand, and then and all body +bound in sin_.] + +[Footnote 6: Others read, _Believing with a pure heart_.] + +[Footnote 7: Some MSS. have, _Of God the Father of all things._] + +[Footnote 8: Others read, _They curse themselves in this thing._] + +[Footnote 9: Others read, _Children of the disobedient._] + +[Footnote 10: Some MSS. have, _That one grain falls not dry into the +earth._] + +[Footnote 11: Others read, _But we have not only produced from seeds, +but from the honourable body of man._] + +[Footnote 12: Others read, _The son of Ematthius_.] + +[Footnote 13: Others add, _Nor did a hair of his body fall +therefrom_.] + +[Footnote 14: Some MSS. have, _Ye shall not receive other things in +vain_.] + +[Footnote 15: Others finished here thus, _Henceforth no one can +trouble me further, for I bear in my body the sufferings of Christ. +The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, my brethren. +Amen_.] + +[Footnote 16: Some MSS. have, _Of the holy evangelist_.] + +[Footnote 17: Others add, _Our Lord be with ye all. Amen_.] + + +REMARKS ON MR. MOORE'S LIFE OF LORD BYRON, BY LADY BYRON. + +"I have disregarded various publications in which facts within my own +knowledge have been grossly misrepresented; but I am called upon to +notice some of the erroneous statements proceeding from one who +claims to be considered as Lord Byron's confidential and authorised +friend. Domestic details ought not to be intruded on the public +attention: if, however, they _are_ so intruded, the persons affected +by them have a right to refute injurious charges. Mr. Moore has +promulgated his own impressions of private events in which I was most +nearly concerned, as if he possessed a competent knowledge of the +subject. Having survived Lord Byron, I feel increased reluctance to +advert to any circumstances connected with the period of my marriage; +nor is it now my intention to disclose them, further than may be +indispensably requisite for the end I have in view. Self-vindication +is not the motive which actuates me to make this appeal, and the +spirit of accusation is unmingled with it; but when the conduct of my +parents is brought forward in a disgraceful light, by the passages +selected from Lord Byron's letters, and by the remarks of his +biographer, I feel bound to justify their characters from imputations +which I _know_ to be false. The passages from Lord Byron's letters, +to which I refer, are the aspersion on my mother's character (vol. +iii. p. 206. last line):--'My child is very well, and flourishing, I +hear; but I must see also. I feel no disposition to resign it to the +_contagian of its grandmother's society_.' The assertion of her +dishonourable conduct in employing a spy (vol. iii. p. 202. l. 20, +&c.), 'A Mrs. C. (now a kind of housekeeper and _spy of Lady N_'s), +who, in her better days, was a washerwoman, is supposed to be--by the +learned--very much the occult cause of our domestic discrepancies.' +The seeming exculpation of myself, in the extract (vol. iii. p. +205.), with the words immediately following it,--'Her nearest +relatives are a ----;' where the blank clearly implies something too +offensive for publication. These passages tend to throw suspicion on +my parents, and give reason to ascribe the separation either to their +direct agency, or to that of 'officious spies' employed by them.[1] +From the following part of the narrative (vol. iii. p. 198.) it must +also be inferred that an undue influence was exercised by them for +the accomplishment of this purpose. 'It was in a few weeks after the +latter communication between us (Lord Byron and Mr. Moore), that Lady +Byron adopted the determination of parting from him. She had left +London at the latter end of January, on a visit to her father's +house, in Leicestershire, and Lord Byron was in a short time to +follow her. They had parted in the utmost kindness,--she wrote him a +letter full of playfulness and affection, on the road; and +immediately on her arrival at Kirkby Mallory, her father wrote to +acquaint Lord Byron that she would return to him no more.' In my +observations upon this statement, I shall, as far as possible, avoid +touching on any matters relating personally to Lord Byron and myself. +The facts are:--I left London for Kirkby Mallory, the residence of my +father and mother, on the 15th of January, 1816. Lord Byron had +signified to me in writing (Jan. 6th) his absolute desire that I +should leave London on the earliest day that I could conveniently +fix. It was not safe for me to undertake the fatigue of a journey +sooner than the 15th. Previously to my departure, it had been +strongly impressed on my mind, that Lord Byron was under the +influence of insanity. This opinion was derived in a great measure +from the communications made to me by his nearest relatives and +personal attendant, who had more opportunities than myself of +observing him during the latter part of my stay in town. It was even +represented to me that he was in danger of destroying himself. _With +the concurrence of his family_, I had consulted Dr. Baillie, as a +friend (Jan. 8th), respecting this supposed malady. On acquainting +him with the state of the case, and with Lord Byron's desire that I +should leave London, Dr. Baillie thought that my absence might be +advisable as an experiment, _assuming_ the fact of mental +derangement; for Dr. Baillie, not having had access to Lord Byron, +could not pronounce a positive opinion on that point. He enjoined, +that in correspondence with Lord Byron, I should avoid all but light +and soothing topics. Under these impressions, I left London, +determined to follow the advice given by Dr. Baillie. Whatever might +have been the nature of Lord Byron's conduct towards me from the time +of my marriage, yet, supposing him to be in a state of mental +alienation, it was not for _me_, nor for any person of common +humanity, to manifest, at that moment, a sense of injury. On the day +of my departure, and again on my arrival at Kirkby, Jan. 16th, I +wrote to Lord Byron in a kind and cheerful tone, according to those +medical directions. The last letter was circulated, and employed as a +pretext for the charge of my having been subsequently _influenced_ to +'desert[2]' my husband. It has been argued, that I parted from Lord +Byron in perfect harmony; that feelings, incompatible with any deep +sense of injury, had dictated the letter which I addressed to him; +and that my sentiments must have been changed by persuasion and +interference, when I was under the roof of my parents. These +assertions and inferences are wholly destitute of foundation. When I +arrived at Kirkby Mallory, my parents were unacquainted with the +existence of any causes likely to destroy my prospects of happiness; +and when I communicated to them the opinion which had been formed +concerning Lord Byron's state of mind, they were most anxious to +promote his restoration by every means in their power. They assured +those relations who were with him in London, that 'they would devote +their whole care and attention to the alleviation of his malady,' and +hoped to make the best arrangements for his comfort, if he could be +induced to visit them. With these intentions, my mother wrote on the +17th to Lord Byron, inviting him to Kirkby Mallory. She had always +treated him with an affectionate consideration and indulgence, which +extended to every little peculiarity of his feelings. Never did an +irritating word escape her lips in her whole intercourse with him. +The accounts given me after I left Lord Byron by the persons in +constant intercourse with him, added to those doubts which had before +transiently occurred to my mind, as to the reality of the alleged +disease, and the reports of his medical attendant, were far from +establishing the existence of any thing like lunacy. Under this +uncertainty, I deemed it right to communicate to my parents, that if +I were to consider Lord Byron's past conduct as that of a person of +sound mind, nothing could induce me to return to him. It therefore +appeared expedient, both to them and myself, to consult the ablest +advisers. For that object, and also to obtain still further +information respecting the appearances which seemed to indicate +mental derangement, my mother determined to go to London. She was +empowered by me to take legal opinions on a written statement of +mine, though I had then reasons for reserving a part of the case from +the knowledge even of my father and mother. Being convinced by the +result of these enquiries, and by the tenor of Lord Byron's +proceedings, that the notion of insanity was an illusion, I no longer +hesitated to authorise such measures as were necessary, in order to +secure me from being ever again placed in his power. Conformably with +this resolution, my father wrote to him on the 2d of February, to +propose an amicable separation. Lord Byron at first rejected this +proposal; but when it was distinctly notified to him, that if he +persisted in his refusal, recourse must be had to legal measures, he +agreed to sign a deed of separation. Upon applying to Dr. Lushington, +who was intimately acquainted with all the circumstances, to state in +writing what he recollected upon this subject, I received from him +the following letter, by which it will be manifest that my mother +cannot have been actuated by any hostile or ungenerous motives +towards Lord Byron. + +[Footnote 1: "The officious spies of his privacy," vol. iii. p. 211.] + +[Footnote 2: "The deserted husband," vol. iii. p. 212.] + + +"'My dear Lady Byron, + +"'I can rely upon the accuracy of my memory for the following +statement. I was originally consulted by Lady Noel on your behalf, +whilst you were in the country; the circumstances detailed by her +were such as justified a separation, but they were not of that +aggravated description as to render such a measure indispensable. On +Lady Noel's representation, I deemed a reconciliation with Lord Byron +practicable, and felt most sincerely a wish to aid in effecting it. +There was not on Lady Noel's part any exaggeration of the facts; nor, +so far as I could perceive, any determination to prevent a return to +Lord Byron: certainly none was expressed when I spoke of a +reconciliation. When you came to town in about a fortnight, or +perhaps more, after my first interview with Lady Noel, I was, for the +first time, informed by you of facts utterly unknown, as I have no +doubt, to Sir Ralph and Lady Noel. On receiving this additional +information, my opinion was entirely changed: I considered a +reconciliation impossible. I declared my opinion, and added, that if +such an idea should be entertained, I could not, either +professionally or otherwise, take any part towards effecting it. +Believe me, very faithfully yours, STEPH. LUSHINGTON. + +"'_Great George-street, Jan_. 31. 1830.' + +"I have only to observe, that if the statements on which my legal +advisers (the late Sir Samuel Komilly and Dr. Lushington) formed +their opinions were false, the responsibility and the odium should +rest with _me only_. I trust that the facts which I have here briefly +recapitulated will absolve my father and mother from all accusations +with regard to the part they took in the separation between Lord +Byron and myself. They neither originated, instigated, nor advised, +that separation; and they cannot be condemned for having afforded to +their daughter the assistance and protection which she claimed. There +is no other near relative to vindicate their memory from insult. I am +therefore compelled to break the silence which I had hoped always to +observe, and to solicit from the readers of Lord Byron's life an +impartial consideration of the testimony extorted from me. + +"A.I. NOEL BYRON. + +"_Hanger Hill, Feb_. 19. 1830." + + * * * * * + +LETTER OF MR. TURNER. + +_Referred to in_ vol. v. p. 129. + +"Eight months after the publication of my 'Tour in the Levant,' there +appeared in the London Magazine, and subsequently in most of the +newspapers, a letter from the late Lord Byron to Mr. Murray. + +"I naturally felt anxious at the time to meet a charge of error +brought against me in so direct a manner: but I thought, and friends +whom I consulted at the time thought with me, that I had better wait +for a more favourable opportunity than that afforded by the +newspapers of vindicating my opinion, which even so distinguished an +authority as the letter of Lord Byron left unshaken, and which, I +will venture to add, remains unshaken still. + +"I must ever deplore that I resisted my first impulse to reply +immediately. The hand of Death has snatched Lord Byron from his +kingdom of literature and poetry, and I can only guard myself from +the illiberal imputation of attacking the mighty dead, whose living +talent I should have trembled to encounter, by scrupulously confining +myself to such facts and illustrations as are strictly necessary to +save me from the charges of error, misrepresentation, and +presumptuousness, of which every writer must wish to prove himself +undeserving. + +"Lord Byron began by stating, 'The _tide_ was _not_ in our favour,' +and added, 'neither I nor any person on board the frigate had any +notion of a difference of the current on the Asiatic side; I never +heard of it till this moment.' His Lordship had probably forgotten +that Strabo distinctly describes the difference in the following +words;-- + +[Greek: 'Dio kai eupetesteron ek tês Sêstou diairousi parallaxamenoi +mikron epi ton tês Hêrous purgon, kakeithen aphientes ta ploia +sumprattontos tou rhou pros tên peraiôsin: Tois d' ex Abudou +peraioumenois parallakteon estin eis tanantia, oktô pou stadious epi +purgon tina kat' antikru tês Sêstou, epeita diairein plagion, kai mê +teleôs echousin enantion ton rhoun.'--] Ideoque _facilius a Sesto, +trajiciunt_ paululum deflexâ navigatione ad Herus turrim, atque inde +_navigia dimittentes adjuvante etiam fluxu trajectum_. Qui ab Abydo +trajiciunt, in contrarium flectunt partem ad octo stadia ad turrim +quandam e regione Sesti: hinc _oblique_ trajiciunt, non _prorsus_ +contrario fluxu.'[1] + +[Footnote 1: "Strabo, book xiii. Oxford Edition."] + +"Here it is clearly asserted, that the current assists the crossing +from Sestos, and the words [Greek: 'aphientes ta ploia']--'_navigia +dimittentes_,'--'_letting the vessels go of themselves_,' prove how +considerable the assistance of the current was; while the words +[Greek: 'plagion']--'_oblique_,' and '[Greek: teleôs],'--'_prorsus_,' +show distinctly that those who crossed from Abydos were obliged to do +so in an _oblique_ direction, or they would have the current +_entirely_ against them. + +"From this ancient authority, which, I own, appears to me +unanswerable, let us turn to the moderns. Baron de Tott, who, having +been for some time resident on the spot, employed as an engineer in +the construction of batteries, must be supposed well cognisant of the +subject, has expressed himself as follows:-- + +"'La surabondance des eaux que la Mer Noire reçoit, et qu'elle ne +peut evaporer, versée dans la Méditerranée par le Bosphore de Thrace +et La Propontide, forme aux Dardanelles des courans si violens, que +souvent les batimens, toutes voiles dehors, out peine à les vaincre. +Les pilotes doivent encore observer, lorsque le vent suffit, de +diriger leur route de manière à présenter le moins de résistance +possible à l'effort des eaux. On sent que cette étude a pour base la +direction des courans, qui, _renvoyés d'une points à l'autre,_ +forment des obstacles à la navigation, et feroient courir les plus +grands risques si l'on negligeoit ces connoissances +hydrographiques.'--_Mémoires de_ TOTT, 3^{_me_} _Partie_. + +"To the above citations, I will add the opinion of Tournefort, who, +in his description of the strait, expresses with ridicule his +disbelief of the truth of Leander's exploit; and to show that the +latest travellers agree with the earlier, I will conclude my +quotation with a statement of Mr. Madden, who is just returned from +the spot. 'It was from the European side Lord Byron swam _with_ the +current, which runs about four miles an hour. But I believe he would +have found it totally impracticable to have crossed from Abydos to +Europe.'--MADDEN'S _Travels_, vol. i. + +"There are two other observations in Lord Byron's letter on which I +feel it necessary to remark. + +"'Mr. Turner says, "Whatever is thrown into the stream on this part +of the European bank _must_ arrive at the Asiatic shore." This is so +far from being the case, that it _must_ arrive in the Archipelago, if +left to the current, although a strong wind from the Asiatic[1] side +might have such an effect occasionally.' + +[Footnote 1: "This is evidently a mistake of the writer or printer. +His Lordship must here have meant a strong wind from the European +side, as no wind from the Asiatic side could have the effect of +driving an object to the Asiatic shore." + +I think it right to remark, that it is Mr. Turner himself who has +here originated the inaccuracy of which he accuses others; the words +used by Lord Byron being, _not_, as Mr. Turner says, "from the +Asiatic side," but "in the Asiatic direction."--T. M.] + +"Here Lord Byron is right, and I have no hesitation in confessing +that I was wrong. But I was wrong only in the letter of my remark, +not in the spirit of it. Any _thing_ thrown into the stream on the +European bank would be swept into the Archipelago, because, after +arriving so near the Asiatic-shore as to be almost, if not quite, +within a man's depth, it would be again floated off from the coast by +the current that is dashed from the Asiatic promontory. But this +would not affect a swimmer, who, being so near the land, would of +course, if he could not actually walk to it, reach it by a slight +effort. + +"Lord Byron adds, in his P.S. 'The strait is, however, not +extraordinarily wide, even where it broadens above and below the +forts.' From this statement I must venture to express my dissent, +with diffidence indeed, but with diffidence diminished by the ease +with which the fact may be established. The strait is widened so +considerably above the forts by the Bay of Maytos, and the bay +opposite to it on the Asiatic coast, that the distance to be passed +by a swimmer in crossing higher up would be, in my poor judgment, too +great for any one to accomplish from Asia to Europe, having such a +current to stem. + +"I conclude by expressing it as my humble opinion that no one is +bound to believe in the possibility of Leander's exploit, till the +passage has been performed by a swimmer, at least from Asia to +Europe. The sceptic is even entitled to exact, as the condition of +his belief, that the strait be crossed, as Leander crossed it, both +ways within at most fourteen hours. + +"W. TURNER." + + + +MR. MILLINGEN'S ACCOUNT OF THE CONSULTATION. + +_Referred to in_ vol. vi. p. 209. + +As the account given by Mr. Millingen of this consultation differs +totally from that of Dr. Bruno, it is fit that the reader should have +it in Mr. Millingen's own words:-- + +"In the morning (18th) a consultation was proposed, to which Dr. +Lucca Vega and Dr. Freiber, my assistants, were invited. Dr. Bruno +and Lucca proposed having recourse to antispasmodics and other +remedies employed in the last stage of typhus. Freiber and I +maintained that they could only hasten the fatal termination, that +nothing could be more empirical than flying from one extreme to the +other; that if, as we all thought, the complaint was owing to the +metastasis of rheumatic inflammation, the existing symptoms only +depended on the rapid and extensive progress it had made in an organ +previously so weakened and irritable. Antiphlogistic means could +never prove hurtful in this case; they would become useless only if +disorganisation were already operated; but then, since all hopes were +gone, what means would not prove superfluous? We recommended the +application of numerous leeches to the temples, behind the ears, and +along the course of the jugular vein; a large blister between the +shoulders, and sinapisms to the feet, as affording, though feeble, +yet the last hopes of success. Dr. B., being the patient's physician, +had the casting vote, and prepared the antispasmodic potion which Dr. +Lucca and he had agreed upon; it was a strong infusion of valerian +and ether, &c. After its administration, the convulsive movement, the +delirium increased; but, notwithstanding my representations, a second +dose was given half an hour after. After articulating confusedly a +few broken phrases, the patient sunk shortly after into a comatose +sleep, which the next day terminated in death. He expired on the 19th +of April, at six o'clock in the afternoon." + + +THE WILL OF LORD BYRON. + +_Extracted from the Registry of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury_. + +This is the last will and testament of me, George Gordon, Lord Byron, +Baron Byron, of Rochdale, in the county of Lancaster, as follows:--I +give and devise all that my manor or lordship of Rochdale, in the +said county of Lancaster, with all its rights, royalties, members, +and appurtenances, and all my lands, tenements, hereditaments, and +premises situate, lying, and being within the parish, manor, or +lordship of Rochdale aforesaid, and all other my estates, lands, +hereditaments, and premises whatsoever and wheresoever, unto my +friends John Cam Hobhouse, late of Trinity College, Cambridge, +Esquire, and John Hanson, of Chancery-lane, London, Esquire, to the +use and behoof of them, their heirs and assigns, upon trust that they +the said John Cam Hobhouse and John Hanson, and the survivor of them, +and the heirs and assigns of such survivor, do and shall, as soon as +conveniently may be after my decease, sell and dispose of all my said +manor and estates for the most money that can or may be had or gotten +for the same, either by private contract or public sale by auction, +and either together or in lots, as my said trustees shall think +proper; and for the facilitating such sale and sales, I do direct +that the receipt and receipts of my said trustees, and the survivor +of them, and the heirs and assigns of such survivor, shall be a good +and sufficient discharge, and good and sufficient discharges to the +purchaser or purchasers of my said estates, or any part or parts +thereof, for so much money as in such receipt or receipts shall be +expressed or acknowledged to be received; and that such purchaser or +purchasers, his, her, or their heirs and assigns, shall not +afterwards be in any manner answerable or accountable for such +purchase-monies, or be obliged to see to the application thereof: And +I do will and direct that my said trustees shall stand possessed of +the monies to arise by the sale of my said estates upon such trusts +and for such intents and purposes as I have hereinafter directed of +and concerning the same: And whereas I have by certain deeds of +conveyance made on my marriage with my present wife conveyed all my +manor and estate of Newstead, in the parishes of Newstead and Limby, +in the county of Nottingham, unto trustees, upon trust to sell the +same, and apply the sum of sixty thousand pounds, part of the money +to arise by such sale; upon the trusts of my marriage settlement: Now +I do hereby give and bequeath all the remainder of the purchase-money +to arise by sale of my said estate at Newstead, and all the whole of +the said sixty thousand pounds, or such part thereof as shall not +become vested and payable under the trusts of my said marriage +settlement, unto the said John Cam Hobhouse and John Hanson, their +executors, administrators, and assigns, upon such trusts and for such +ends, intents, and purposes as hereinafter directed of and concerning +the residue of my personal estate. I give and bequeath unto the said +John Cam Hobhouse and John Hanson, the sum of one thousand pounds +each, I give and bequeath all the rest, residue, and remainder of my +personal estate whatsoever and wheresoever unto the said John Cam +Hobhouse and John Hanson, their executors, administrators, and +assigns, upon trust that they, my said trustees and the survivor of +them, and the executors and administrators of such survivor, do and +shall stand possessed of all such rest and residue of my said +personal estate and the money to arise by sale of my real estates +hereinbefore devised to them for sale, and such of the monies to +arise by sale of my said estate at Newstead as I have power to +dispose of, after payment of my debts and legacies hereby given, upon +the trusts and for the ends, intents, and purposes hereinafter +mentioned and directed of and concerning the same, that is to say, +upon trust, that they my said trustees and the survivor of them, and +the executors and administrators of such survivor, do and shall lay +out and invest the same in the public stocks or funds, or upon +government or real security at interest, with power from time to time +to change, vary, and transpose such securities, and from time to time +during the life of my sister Augusta Mary Leigh, the wife of George +Leigh, Esquire, pay, receive, apply, and dispose of the interest, +dividends, and annual produce thereof, when and as the same shall +become due and payable, into the proper hands of the said Augusta +Mary Leigh, to and for her sole and separate use and benefit, free +from the control, debts, or engagements of her present or any future +husband, or unto such person or persons as she my said sister shall +from time to time, by any writing under her hand, notwithstanding her +present or any future coverture, and whether covert or sole, direct +or appoint; and from and immediately after the decease of my said +sister, then upon trust, that they my said trustees and the survivor +of them, his executors or administrators, do and shall assign and +transfer all my said personal estate and other the trust property +hereinbefore mentioned, or the stocks, funds, or securities wherein +or upon which the same shall or may be placed out or invested, unto +and among all and every the child and children of my said sister, if +more than one, in such parts, shares, and proportions, and to become +a vested interest, and to be paid and transferred at such time and +times, and in such manner, and with, under, and subject to such +provisions, conditions, and restrictions, as my said sister, at any +time during her life, whether covert or sole, by any deed or deeds, +instrument or instruments, in writing, with or without power of +revocation, to be sealed and delivered in the presence of two or more +credible witnesses, or by her last will and testament in writing, or +any writing of appointment in the nature of a will, shall direct or +appoint; and in default of any such appointment, or in case of the +death of my said sister in my lifetime, then upon trust that they my +said trustees and the survivor of them, his executors, +administrators, and assigns, do and shall assign and transfer all the +trust, property, and funds unto and among the children of my said +sister, if more than one, equally to be divided between them, share +and share alike, and if only one such child, then to such only child +the share and shares of such of them as shall be a son or sons, to be +paid and transferred unto him and them when and as he or they shall +respectively attain his or their age or ages of twenty-one years; and +the share and shares of such of them as shall be a daughter or +daughters, to be paid and transferred unto her or them when and as +she or they shall respectively attain her or their age or ages of +twenty-one years, or be married, which shall first happen; and in +case any of such children shall happen to die, being a son or sons, +before he or they shall attain the age of twenty-one years, or being +a daughter or daughters, before she or they shall attain the said age +of twenty-one, or be married; then it is my will and I do direct that +the share and shares of such of the said children as shall so die +shall go to the survivor or survivors of such children, with the +benefit of further accruer in case of the death of any such surviving +children before their shares shall become vested. And I do direct +that my said trustees shall pay and apply the interest and dividends +of each of the said children's shares in the said trust funds for +his, her, or their maintenance and education during their minorities, +notwithstanding their shares may not become vested interests, but +that such interest and dividends as shall not have been so applied +shall accumulate, and follow, and go over with the principal. And I +do nominate, constitute, and appoint the said John Cam Hobhouse and +John Hanson executors of this my will. And I do will and direct that +my said trustees shall not be answerable the one of them for the +other of them, or for the acts, deeds, receipts, or defaults of the +other of them, but each of them for his own acts, deeds, receipts, +and wilful defaults only, and that they my said trustees shall be +entitled to retain and deduct out of the monies which shall come to +their hands under the trusts aforesaid all such costs, charges, +damages, and expenses which they or any of them shall bear, pay, +sustain, or be put unto, in the execution and performance of the +trusts herein reposed in them. I make the above provision for my +sister and her children, in consequence of my dear wife Lady Byron, +and any children I may have, being otherwise amply provided for; and, +lastly, I do revoke all former wills by me at any time heretofore +made, and do declare this only to be my last will and testament. In +witness whereof, I have to this my last will, contained in three +sheets of paper, set my hand to the first two sheets thereof, and to +this third and last sheet my hand and seal this 29th day of July, in +the year of our Lord 1815. + +BYRON (L.S.) + +Signed, sealed, published, and declared by the said Lord Byron, the +testator, as and for his last will and testament, in the presence of +us, who, at his request, in his presence, and in the presence of each +other, have hereto subscribed our names as witnesses. + + THOMAS JONES MAWSE, + EDMUND GRIFFIN, + FREDERICK JERVIS, + Clerks to Mr. Hanson, Chancery-lane. + +CODICIL.--This is a Codicil to the last will and testament of me, the +Right Honourable George Gordon, Lord Byron. I give and bequeath unto +Allegra Biron, an infant of about twenty months old, by me brought +up, and now residing at Venice, the sum of five thousand pounds, +which I direct the executors of my said will to pay to her on her +attaining the age of twenty-one years, or on the day of her marriage, +on condition that she does not marry with a native of Great Britain, +which shall first happen. And I direct my said executors, as soon as +conveniently may be after my decease, to invest the said sum of five +thousand pounds upon government or real security, and to pay and +apply the annual income thereof in or towards the maintenance and +education of the said Allegra Biron until she attains her said age of +twenty-one years, or shall be married as aforesaid; but in case she +shall die before attaining the said age and without having been +married, then I direct the said sum of five thousand pounds to become +part of the residue of my personal estate, and in all other respects +I do confirm my said will, and declare this to be a codicil thereto. +In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, at Venice, +this 17th day of November, in the year of our Lord 1818, + +BYRON (L.S.) + +Signed, sealed, published, and declared by the said Lord Byron, as +and for a codicil to his will, in the presence of us, who, in his +presence, at his request, and in the presence of each other, have +subscribed our names as witnesses. + + NEWTON HANSON, + WILLIAM FLETCHER. + +Proved at London (with a Codicil), 6th of July, 1824, before the +Worshipful Stephen Lushington, Doctor of Laws, and surrogate, by the +oaths of John Cam Hobhouse and John Hanson, Esquires, the executors, +to whom administration was granted, having been first sworn duly to +administer. + + NATHANIEL GOSTLING, + GEORGE JENNER, + CHARLES DYNELEY, + Deputy Registrars. + + * * * * * + + + + +MISCELLANEOUS PIECES + +IN PROSE. + +REVIEW OF WORDSWORTH'S POEMS, + +2 Vols. 1807.[1] + +[Footnote 1: I have been a reviewer. In 1807, in a Magazine called +"Monthly Literary Recreations," I reviewed Wordsworth's trash of that +time. In the Monthly Review I wrote some articles which were +inserted. This was in the latter part of 1811.--BYRON.] + +(From "Monthly Literary Recreations," for August, 1807.) + +The volumes before us are by the author of Lyrical Ballads, a +collection which has not undeservedly met with a considerable share +of public applause. The characteristics of Mr. W.'s muse are simple +and flowing, though occasionally inharmonious verse, strong, and +sometimes irresistible appeals to the feelings, with unexceptionable +sentiments. Though the present work may not equal his former efforts, +many of the poems possess a native elegance, natural and unaffected, +totally devoid of the tinsel embellishments and abstract hyperboles +of several contemporary sonneteers. The last sonnet in the first +volume, p. 152., is perhaps the best, without any novelty in the +sentiments, which we hope are common to every Briton at the present +crisis; the force and expression is that of a genuine poet, feeling +as he writes:-- + + "Another year! another deadly blow! + Another mighty empire overthrown! + And we are left, or shall be left, alone-- + The last that dares to struggle with the foe. + 'Tis well!--from this day forward we shall know + That in ourselves our safety must be sought, + That by our own right-hands it must be wrought; + That we must stand unprop'd, or be laid low. + O dastard! whom such foretaste doth not cheer! + We shall exult, if they who rule the land + Be men who hold its many blessings dear, + Wise, upright, valiant, not a venal band, + Who are to judge of danger which they fear, + And honour which they do not understand." + +The song at the Feast of Brougham Castle, the Seven Sisters, the +Affliction of Margaret ---- of ----, possess all the beauties, and +few of the defects, of this writer: the following lines from the last +are in his first style:-- + + "Ah! little doth the young one dream + When full of play and childish cares, + What power hath e'en his wildest scream, + Heard by his mother unawares: + He knows it not, he cannot guess: + Years to a mother bring distress, + But do not make her love the less." + +The pieces least worthy of the author are those entitled "Moods of my +own Mind." We certainly wish these "Moods" had been less frequent, or +not permitted to occupy a place near works which only make their +deformity more obvious; when Mr. W. ceases to please, it is by +"abandoning" his mind to the most commonplace ideas, at the same time +clothing them in language not simple, but puerile. What will any +reader or auditor, out of the nursery, say to such namby-pamby as +"Lines written at the Foot of Brother's Bridge?" + + "The cock is crowing, + The stream is flowing, + The small birds twitter, + The lake doth glitter. + The green field sleeps in the sun; + The oldest and youngest, + Are at work with the strongest; + The cattle are grazing, + Their heads never raising, + There are forty feeding like one. + Like an army defeated, + The snow hath retreated, + And now doth fare ill, + On the top of the bare hill." + +"The plough-boy is whooping anon, anon," &c. &c. is in the same +exquisite measure. This appears to us neither more nor less than an +imitation of such minstrelsy as soothed our cries in the cradle, with +the shrill ditty of + + "Hey de diddle, + The cat and the fiddle: + The cow jump'd over the moon, + The little dog laugh'd to see such sport, + And the dish ran away with the spoon." + +On the whole, however, with the exception of the above, and other +INNOCENT odes of the same cast, we think these volumes display a +genius worthy of higher pursuits, and regret that Mr. W. confines his +muse to such trifling subjects. We trust his motto will be in future, +"Paulo majora canamus." Many, with inferior abilities, have acquired +a loftier seat on Parnassus, merely by attempting strains in which +Mr. Wordsworth is more qualified to excel.[1] + +[Footnote 1: This first attempt of Lord Byron at reviewing is +remarkable only as showing how plausibly he could assume the +established tone and phraseology of these minor judgment-seats of +criticism. If Mr. Wordsworth ever chanced to cast his eye over this +article, how little could he have expected that under that dull +prosaic mask lurked one who, in five short years from thence, would +rival even _him_ in poetry!--MOORE.] + + +REVIEW OF GELL'S GEOGRAPHY OF ITHACA, AND ITINERARY OF GREECE. + +(From the "Monthly Review" for August, 1811.) + +That laudable curiosity concerning the remains of classical +antiquity, which has of late years increased among our countrymen, is +in no traveller or author more conspicuous than in Mr. Gell. Whatever +difference of opinion may yet exist with regard to the success of the +several disputants in the famous Trojan controversy[1], or, indeed, +relating to the present author's merits as an inspector of the Troad, +it must universally be acknowledged that any work, which more +forcibly impresses on our imaginations the scenes of heroic action, +and the subjects of immortal song, possesses claims on the attention +of every scholar. + +[Footnote 1: We have it from the best authority that the venerable +leader of the Anti-Homeric sect, Jacob Bryant, several years before +his death, expressed regret for his ungrateful attempt to destroy +some of the most pleasing associations of our youthful studies. One +of his last wishes was--"_Trojaque nunc stares," &c._] + +Of the two works which now demand our report, we conceive the former +to be by far the most interesting to the reader, as the latter is +indisputably the most serviceable to the traveller. Excepting, +indeed, the running commentary which it contains on a number of +extracts from Pausanias and Strabo, it is, as the title imports, a +mere itinerary of Greece, or rather of Argolis only, in its present +circumstances. This being the case, surely it would have answered +every purpose of utility much better by being printed as a pocket +road-book of that part of the Morea; for a quarto is a very +unmanageable travelling companion. The maps[1] and drawings, we shall +be told, would not permit such an arrangement: but as to the +drawings, they are not in general to be admired as specimens of the +art; and several of them, as we have been assured by eye-witnesses of +the scenes which they describe, do not compensate for their +mediocrity in point of execution, by any extraordinary fidelity of +representation. Others, indeed, are more faithful, according to our +informants. The true reason, however, for this costly mode of +publication is in course to be found in a desire of gratifying the +public passion for large margins, and all the luxury of typography; +and we have before expressed our dissatisfaction with Mr. Gell's +aristocratical mode of communicating a species of knowledge, which +ought to be accessible to a much greater portion of classical +students than can at present acquire it by his means:--but, as such +expostulations are generally useless, we shall be thankful for what +we can obtain, and that in the manner in which Mr. Gell has chosen to +present it. + +[Footnote 1: Or, rather, _Map_; for we have only one in the volume, +and that is on too small a scale to give more than a general idea of +the relative position of places. The excuse about a larger map not +folding well is trifling; see, for instance, the author's own map of +Ithaca.] + +The former of these volumes, we have observed, is the most attractive +in the closet. It comprehends a very full survey of the far-famed +island which the hero of the Odyssey has immortalized; for we really +are inclined to think that the author has established the identity of +the modern _Theaki_ with the _Ithaca_ of Homer. At all events, if it +be an illusion, it is a very agreeable deception, and is effected by +an ingenious interpretation of the passages in Homer that are +supposed to be descriptive of the scenes which our traveller has +visited. We shall extract some of these adaptations of the ancient +picture to the modern scene, marking the points of resemblance which +appear to be strained and forced, as well as those which are more +easy and natural: but we must first insert some preliminary matter +from the opening chapter. + +The following passage conveys a sort of general sketch of the book, +which may give our readers a tolerably adequate notion of its +contents:-- + + "The present work may adduce, by a simple and correct survey + of the island, coincidences in its geography, in its natural + productions, and moral state, before unnoticed. Some will be + directly pointed out; the fancy or ingenuity of the reader may + be employed in tracing others; the mind familiar with the + imagery of the Odyssey will recognise with satisfaction the + scenes themselves; and this volume is offered to the public, + not entirely without hopes of vindicating the poem of Homer + from the scepticism of those critics who imagine that the + Odyssey is a mere poetical composition, unsupported by + history, and unconnected with the localities of any particular + situation. + + "Some have asserted that, in the comparison of places now + existing with the descriptions of Homer, we ought not to + expect coincidence in minute details; yet it seems only by + these that the kingdom of Ulysses, or any other, can be + identified, as, if such as idea be admitted, every small and + rocky island in the Ionian Sea, containing a good port, might, + with equal plausibility, assume the appellation of Ithaca. + + "The Venetian geographers have in a great degree contributed + to raise those doubts which have existed on the identity of + the modern with the ancient Ithaca, by giving, in their + charts, the name of Val di Compare to the island. That name + is, however, totally unknown in the country, where the isle is + invariably called Ithaca by the upper ranks, and Theaki by the + vulgar. The Venetians have equally corrupted the name of + almost every place in Greece; yet, as the natives of Epactos + or Naupactos never heard of Lepanto, those of Zacynthos of + Zante, or the Athenians of Settines, it would be as unfair to + rob Ithaca of its name, on such authority, as it would be to + assert that no such island existed, because no tolerable + representation of its form can be found in the Venetian + surveys. + + "The rare medals of the Island, of which three are represented + in the title-page, might be adduced as a proof that the name + of Ithaca was not lost during the reigns of the Roman + emperors. They have the head of Ulysses, recognised by the + pileum, or pointed cap, while the reverse of one presents the + figure of a cock, the emblem of his vigilance, with the legend + [Greek: ITHAKON]. A few of these medals are preserved in the + cabinets of the curious, and one also, with the cock, found in + the island, is in the possession of Signor Zavo, of Bathi. The + uppermost coin is in the collection of Dr. Hunter; the + second is copied from Newman, and the third is the property of + R.P. Knight, Esq. + + "Several inscriptions, which will be hereafter produced, will + tend to the confirmation of the idea that Ithaca was inhabited + about the time when the Romans were masters of Greece; yet + there is every reason to believe that few, if any, of the + present proprietors of the soil are descended from ancestors + who had long resided successively in the island. Even those + who lived, at the time of Ulysses, in Ithaca, seem to have + been on the point of emigrating to Argos, and no chief + remained, after the second in descent from that hero, worthy + of being recorded in history. It appears that the isle has + been twice colonised from Cephalonia in modern times, and I + was informed that a grant had been made by the Venetians, + entitling each settler in Ithaca to as much land as his + circumstances would enable him to cultivate." + +Mr. Gell then proceeds to invalidate the authority of previous +writers on the subject of Ithaca. Sir George Wheeler and M. le +Chevalier fall under his severe animadversion; and, indeed, according +to his account, neither of these gentlemen had visited the island, +and the description of the latter is "absolutely too absurd for +refutation." In another place, he speaks of M. le C. "disgracing a +work of such merit by the introduction of such fabrications;" again, +of the inaccuracy of the author's maps; and, lastly, of his inserting +an island at the southern entry of the Channel between Cephalonia and +Ithaca, which has no existence. This observation very nearly +approaches to the use of that monosyllable which Gibbon[1], without +expressing it, so adroitly applied to some assertion of his +antagonist, Mr. Davies. In truth, our traveller's words are rather +bitter towards his brother tourist: but we must conclude that their +justice warrants their severity. + +[Footnote 1: See his Vindication of the 15th and 16th chapters of the +_Decline and Fall_, &c.] + +In the second chapter, the author describes his landing in Ithaca, +and arrival at the rock Korax and the fountain Arethusa, as he +designates it with sufficient positiveness.--This rock, now known by +the name of Korax, or Koraka Petra, he contends to be the same with +that which Homer mentions as contiguous to the habitation of Eumæus, +the faithful swine-herd of Ulysses.--We shall take the liberty of +adding to our extracts from Mr. Gell some of the passages in Homer to +which he _refers_ only, conceiving this to be the fairest method of +exhibiting the strength or the weakness of his argument. "Ulysses," +he observes, "came to the extremity of the isle to visit Eumusæ, and +that extremity was the most southern; for Telemachus, coming from +Pylos, touched at the first south-eastern part of Ithaca with the +same intention." + + [Greek: Kai tote dê r' Odusêa kakos pothen êgage daimôn + Agrou ep' eschatiên, hothi domata naie subôtês; + Enth' êlthen philos uios Odussêos theioio, + Ek Pulou êmathoenios iôn sun nêi melainê; + Odussei O. + + Autar epên prôtên aktên Ithakês aphikêai, + Nêa men es polin otrunai kai panlas hetairous; + Autos de prôtisa subôtên eisaphikesthai, + k.t.l. Odussei O.] + +These citations, we think, appear to justify the author in his +attempt to identify the situation of his rock and fountain with the +place of those mentioned by Homer. But let us now follow him in the +closer description of the scene.--After some account of the subjects +in the plate affixed, Mr. Gell remarks: "It is impossible to visit +this sequestered spot without being struck with the recollection of +the Fount of Arethusa and the Rock Korax, which the poet mentions in +the same line, adding, that there the swine eat the _sweet_[1] +acorns, and drank the black water." + +[Footnote 1: "_Sweet_ acorns." Does Mr. Gell translate from the +Latin? To avoid similar cause of mistake, [Greek: menoeikea] should +not be rendered _suavem_ but _gratam_, as Barnes has given it.] + + [Greek: Dêeis ton ge suessi parêmenon; ai de nemontai + Par Korakos petrê, epi te krênê Arethousê, + Esthousai balanon menoeikea, kai melan hudôr + Pinousai; Odussei N.] + +"Having passed some time at the fountain, taken a drawing, and made +the necessary observations on the situation of the place, we +proceeded to an examination of the precipice, climbing over the +terraces above the source, among shady fig-trees, which, however, did +not prevent us from feeling the powerful effects of the mid-day sun. +After a short but fatiguing ascent, we arrived at the rock, which +extends in a vast perpendicular semicircle, beautifully fringed with +trees, facing to the southeast. Under the crag we found two caves of +inconsiderable extent, the entrance of one of which, not difficult of +access, is seen in the view of the fount. They are still the resort +of sheep and goats, and in one of them are small natural receptacles +for the water, covered by a stalagmitic incrustation. + +"These caves, being at the extremity of the curve formed by the +precipice, open toward the south, and present us with another +accompaniment of the fount of Arethusa, mentioned by the poet, who +informs us that the swineherd Eumæus left his guests in the house, +whilst he, putting on a thick garment, went to sleep near the herd, +under the hollow of the rock, which sheltered him from the northern +blast. Now we know that the herd fed near the fount; for Minerva +tells Ulysses that he is to go first to Eumæus, whom he should find +with the swine, near the rock Korax and the fount of Arethusa. As the +swine then fed at the fountain, so it is necessary that a cavern +should be found in its vicinity; and this seems to coincide, in +distance and situation, with that of the poem. Near the fount also +was the fold or stathmos of Eumæus; for the goddess informs Ulysses +that he should find his faithful servant at or above the fount. + +"Now the hero meets the swineherd close to the fold, which was +consequently very near that source. At the top of the rock, and just +above the spot where the waterfall shoots down the precipice, is at +this day a stagni or pastoral dwelling, which the herdsmen of Ithaca +still inhabit, on account of the water necessary for their cattle. +One of these people walked on the verge of the precipice at the time +of our visit to the place, and seemed so anxious to know how we had +been conveyed to the spot, that his enquiries reminded us of a +question probably not uncommon in the days of Homer, who more than +once represents the Ithacences demanding of strangers what ship had +brought them to the island, it being evident they could not come on +foot. He told us that there was, on the summit where he stood, a +small cistern of water, and a kalybea, or shepherd's hut. There are +also vestiges of ancient habitations, and the place is now called +Amarâthia. + +"Convenience, as well as safety, seems to have pointed out the lofty +situation of Amarathia as a fit place for the residence of the +herdsmen of this part of the island from the earliest ages. A small +source of water is a treasure in these climates; and if the +inhabitants of Ithaca now select a rugged and elevated spot, to +secure them from the robbers of the Echinades, it is to be +recollected that the Taphian pirates were not less formidable, even +in the days of Ulysses, and that a residence in a solitary part of +the island, far from the fortress, and close to a celebrated +fountain, must at all times have been dangerous, without some such +security as the rocks of Korax. Indeed, there can be no doubt that +the house of Eumæus was on the top of the precipice; for Ulysses, in +order to evince the truth of his story to the swineherd, desires to +be thrown from the summit if his narration does not prove correct. + +"Near the bottom of the precipice is a curious natural gallery, about +seven feet high, which is expressed in the plate. It may be fairly +presumed, from the very remarkable coincidence between this place and +the Homeric account, that this was the scene designated by the poet +as the fountain of Arethusa, and the residence of Eumæus; and, +perhaps, it would be impossible to find another spot which bears, at +this day, so strong a resemblance to a poetic description composed at +a period so very remote. There is no other fountain in this part of +the island, nor any rock which bears the slightest resemblance to the +Korax of Homer. + +"The stathmos of the good Eumæus appears to have been little +different, either in use or construction, from the stagni and kalybea +of the present day. The poet expressly mentions that other herdsmen +drove their flocks into the city at sunset,--a custom which still +prevails throughout Greece during the winter, and that was the season +in which Ulysses visited Eumæus. Yet Homer accounts for this +deviation from the prevailing custom, by observing that he had +retired from the city to avoid the suitors of Penelope. These +trifling occurrences afford a strong presumption that the Ithaca of +Homer was something more than the creature of his own fancy, as some +have supposed it; for though the grand outline of a fable may be +easily imagined, yet the consistent adaptation of minute incidents to +a long and elaborate falsehood is a task of the most arduous and +complicated nature." + +After this long extract, by which we have endeavoured to do justice +to Mr. Gell's argument, we cannot allow room for any farther +quotations of such extent; and we must offer a brief and imperfect +analysis of the remainder of the work. + +In the third chapter, the traveller arrives at the capital, and in +the fourth, he describes it in an agreeable manner. We select his +account of the mode of celebrating a Christian festival in the Greek +church:-- + + "We were present at the celebration of the feast of the + Ascension, when the citizens appeared in their gayest dresses, + and saluted each other in the streets with demonstrations of + pleasure. As we sate at breakfast in the house of Zignor Zavo, + we were suddenly roused by the discharge of a gun, succeeded + by a tremendous crash of pottery, which fell on the tiles, + steps, and pavements, in every direction. The bells of the + numerous churches commenced a most discordant jingle; colours + were hoisted on every mast in the port, and a general shout of + joy announced some great event. Our host informed us that the + feast of the Ascension was annually commemorated in this + manner at Bathi, the populace exclaiming [Greek: anesê o + Chrisos, alêthinos o Theos,] Christ is risen, the true God." + +In another passage, he continues this account as follows:--"In the +evening of the festival, the inhabitants danced before their houses; +and at one we saw the figure which is said to have been first used by +the youths and virgins of Delos, at the happy return of Theseus from +the expedition of the Cretan Labyrinth. It has now lost much of that +intricacy which was supposed to allude to the windings of the +habitation of the Minotaur," &c. &c. This is rather too much for even +the inflexible gravity of our censorial muscles. When the author +talks, with all the _reality_ (if we may use the expression) of a +Lempriere, on the stories of the fabulous ages, we cannot refrain +from indulging a momentary smile; nor can we seriously accompany him +in the learned architectural detail by which he endeavours to give +us, from the Odyssey, the ground-plot of the house of Ulysses.--of +which he actually offers a plan in drawing! "showing how the +description of the house of Ulysses in the Odyssey may be supposed to +correspond with the foundations yet visible on the hill of +Aito!"--Oh, Foote! Foote! why are you lost to such inviting subjects +for your ludicrous pencil!--In his account of this celebrated +mansion, Mr. Gell says, one side of the court seems to have been +occupied by the Thalamos, or sleeping apartments of the men, &c. &c.; +and, in confirmation of this hypothesis, he refers to the 10th +Odyssey, line 340. On examining his reference, we read, + + [Greek: Es thalamon t ienai, kai sês epibêmenai eunês.] + +where Ulysses records an invitation which he received from Circe to +take a part of her bed. How this illustrates the above conjecture, we +are at a loss to divine: but we suppose that some numerical error has +occurred in the reference, as we have detected a trifling mistake or +two of the same nature. + +Mr. G. labours hard to identify the cave of Dexia near Bathi (the +capital of the island), with the grotto of the Nymphs described in +the 13th Odyssey. We are disposed to grant that he has succeeded: but +we cannot here enter into the proofs by which he supports his +opinion; and we can only extract one of the concluding sentences of +the chapter, which appears to us candid and judicious:-- + + "Whatever opinion may be formed as to the identity of the cave + of Dexia with the grotto of the Nymphs, it is fair to state, + that Strabo positively asserts that no such cave as that + described by Homer existed in his time, and that geographer + thought it better to assign a physical change, rather than + ignorance in Homer, to account for a difference which he + imagined to exist between the Ithaca of his time and that of + the poet. But Strabo, who was an uncommonly accurate observer + with respect to countries surveyed by himself, appears to have + been wretchedly misled by his informers on many occasions. + + "That Strabo had never visited this country is evident, not + only from his inaccurate account of it, but from his citation + of Appollodorus and Scepsius, whose relations are in direct + opposition to each other on the subject of Ithaca, as will be + demonstrated on a future opportunity." + +We must, however, observe that "demonstration" is a strong term.--In +his description of the Leucadian Promontory (of which we have a +pleasing representation in the plate), the author remarks that it is +"celebrated for the _leap_ of Sappho, and the _death_ of Artemisia." +From this variety in the expression, a reader would hardly conceive +that both the ladies perished in the same manner: in fact, the +sentence is as proper as it would be to talk of the decapitation of +Russell, and the death of Sidney. The view from this promontory +includes the island of Corfu; and the name suggests to Mr. Gell the +following note, which, though rather irrelevant, is of a curious +nature, and we therefore conclude our citations by transcribing it:-- + + "It has been generally supposed that Corfu, or Corcyra, was + the Phæacia of Homer; but Sir Henry Englefield thinks the + position of that island inconsistent with the voyage of + Ulysses as described in the Odyssey. That gentleman has also + observed a number of such remarkable coincidences between the + courts of Alcinous and Solomon, that they may be thought + curious and interesting. Homer was familiar with the names of + Tyre, Sidon, and Egypt; and, as he lived about the time of + Solomon, it would not have been extraordinary if he had + introduced some account of the magnificence of that prince + into his poem. As Solomon was famous for wisdom, so the name + of Alcinous signifies strength of knowledge; as the gardens of + Solomon were celebrated, so are those of Alcinous (Od. + 7.112.); as the kingdom of Solomon was distinguished by twelve + tribes under twelve princes (1 Kings, ch. 4.), so that of + Alcinous (Od. 8. 390.) was ruled by an equal number; as the + throne of Solomon was supported by lions of gold (1 Kings, ch. + 10.), so that of Alcinous was placed on dogs of silver and + gold (Od, 7. 91.); as the fleets of Solomon were famous, so + were those of Alcinous. It is perhaps worthy of remark, that + Neptune sate on the mountains of the SOLYMI, as he returned + from Æthiopia to Ægæ, while he raised the tempest which threw + Ulysses on the coast of Phæacia; and that the Solymi of + Pamphylia are very considerably distant from the route.--The + suspicious character, also, which Nausicaa attributes to her + countryman agrees precisely with that which the Greeks and + Romans gave of the Jews." + +The seventh chapter contains a description of the Monastery of +Kathara, and several adjacent places. The eighth, among other +curiosities, fixes on an imaginary site for the Farm of Laertes: but +this is the agony of conjecture indeed!--and the ninth chapter +mentions another Monastery, and a rock still called the School of +Homer. Some sepulchral inscriptions of a very simple nature are +included.--The tenth and last chapter brings us round to the Port of +Schoenus, near Bathi; after we have completed, seemingly in a very +minute and accurate manner, the tour of the island. + +We can certainly recommend a perusal of this volume to every lover of +classical scene and story. If we may indulge the pleasing belief that +Homer sang of a real kingdom, and that Ulysses governed it, though we +discern many feeble links in Mr. Gell's chain of evidence, we are on +the whole induced to fancy that this is the Ithaca of the bard and of +the monarch. At all events, Mr. Gell has enabled every future +traveller to form a clearer judgment on the question than he could +have established without such a "Vade-mecum to Ithaca," or a "Have +with you, to the House of Ulysses," as the present. With Homer in his +pocket, and Gell on his sumpter-horse or mule, the Odyssean tourist +may now make a very classical and delightful excursion; and we doubt +not that the advantages accruing to the Ithacences, from the +increased number of travellers who will visit them in consequence of +Mr. Gell's account of their country, will induce them to confer on +that gentleman any heraldic honours which they may have to bestow, +should he ever look in upon them again.--_Baron Bathi _ would be a +pretty title:-- + + "_Hoc_ Ithacus _velit, et magno mercentur Atridæ_."--Virgil. + +For ourselves, we confess that all our old Grecian feelings would be +alive on approaching the fountain of Melainudros, where, as the +tradition runs, or as the priests relate, Homer was restored to +sight. + +We now come to the "Grecian Patterson," or "Cary," which Mr. Gell has +begun to publish; and really he has carried the epic rule of +concealing the person of the author to as great a length as either of +the above-mentioned heroes of itinerary writ. We hear nothing of his +"hair-breadth 'scapes" by sea or land; and we do not even know, for +the greater part of his journey through Argolis, whether he relates +what he has seen or what he has heard. Prom other parts of the book, +we find the former to be the case: but, though there have been +tourists and "strangers" in other countries, who have kindly +permitted their readers to learn rather too much of their sweet +selves, yet it is possible to carry delicacy, or cautious silence, or +whatever it may be called, to the contrary extreme. We think that Mr. +Gell has fallen into this error, so opposite to that of his numerous +brethren. It is offensive, indeed, to be told what a man has eaten +for dinner, or how pathetic he was on certain occasions; but we like +to know that there is a being yet living who describes the scenes to +which he introduces us; and that it is not a mere translation from +Strabo or Pausanias which we are reading, or a commentary on those +authors. This reflection leads us to the concluding remark in Mr. +Gell's preface (by much the most interesting part of his book) to his +Itinerary of Greece, in which he thus expresses himself:-- + + "The confusion of the modern with the ancient names of places + in this volume is absolutely unavoidable; they are, however, + mentioned in such a manner, that the reader will soon be + accustomed to the indiscriminate use of them. The necessity of + applying the ancient appellations to the different routes, + will be evident from the total ignorance of the public on the + subject of the modern names, which, having never appeared in + print, are only known to the few individuals who have visited + the country. + + "What could appear less intelligible to the reader, or less + useful to the traveller, than a route from Chione and Zaracca + to Kutchukmadi, from thence to Krabata to Schoenochorio, and + by the mills of Peali, while every one is in some degree + acquainted with the names of Stymphalus, Nemea, Mycenæ, + Lyrceia, Lerna, and Tegea?" + +Although this may be very true inasmuch as it relates to the reader, +yet to the traveller we must observe, in opposition to Mr. Gell, that +nothing can be less useful than the designation of his route +according to the ancient names. We might as well, and with as much +chance of arriving at the place of our destination, talk to a +Hounslow post-boy about making haste to _Augusta_, as apply to our +Turkish guide in modern Greece for a direction to Stymphalus, Nemea, +Mycenæ, &c. &c. This is neither more nor less than classical +affectation; and it renders Mr. Gell's book of much more confined use +than it would otherwise have been:--but we have some other and more +important remarks to make on his general directions to Grecian +tourists; and we beg leave to assure our readers that they are +derived from travellers who have lately visited Greece. In the first +place, Mr. Gell is absolutely incautious enough to recommend an +interference on the part of English travellers with the Minister at +the Porte, in behalf of the Greeks. "The folly of such neglect (page +16. preface,) in many instances, where the emancipation of a district +might often be obtained by the present of a snuff-box or a watch, at +Constantinople, _and without the smallest danger of exciting the +jealousy of such a court as that of Turkey,_ will be acknowledged +when we are no longer able to rectify the error." We have every +reason to believe, on the contrary, that the folly of half a dozen +travellers, taking this advice, might bring us into a war. "Never +interfere with any thing of the kind," is a much sounder and more +political suggestion to all English travellers in Greece. + +Mr. Gell apologises for the introduction of "his panoramic designs," +as he calls them, on the score of the great difficulty of giving any +tolerable idea of the face of a country in writing, and the ease with +which a very accurate knowledge of it may be acquired by maps and +panoramic designs. We are informed that this is not the case with +many of these designs. The small scale of the single map we have +already censured; and we have hinted that some of the drawings are +not remarkable for correct resemblance of their originals. The two +nearer views of the Gate of the Lions at Mycenæ are indeed good +likenesses of their subject, and the first of them is unusually well +executed; but the general view of Mycenæ is not more than tolerable +in any respect; and the prospect of Larissa, &c. is barely equal to +the former. The view _from_ this last place is also indifferent; and +we are positively assured that there are no windows at Nauplia which +look like a box of dominos,--the idea suggested by Mr. Gell's plate. +We must not, however, be too severe on these picturesque bagatelles, +which, probably, were very hasty sketches; and the circumstances of +weather, &c. may have occasioned some difference in the appearance of +the same objects to different spectators. We shall therefore return +to Mr. Gell's preface; endeavouring to set him right in his +directions to travellers, where we think that he is erroneous, and +adding what appears to have been omitted. In his first sentence, he +makes an assertion which is by no means correct. He says, "_We_ are +at present as ignorant of Greece, as of the interior of Africa." +Surely not quite so ignorant; or several of our Grecian _Mungo Parks_ +have travelled in vain, and some very sumptuous works have been +published to no purpose! As we proceed, we find the author observing +that "Athens is _now_ the most polished city of Greece," when we +believe it to be the most barbarous, even to a proverb-- + + [Greek: O Athêna, protê chora, + Ti gaidarous trepheis tora[1]?] + +[Footnote 1: We write these lines from the _recitation_ of the +travellers to whom we have alluded; but we cannot vouch for the +correctness of the Romaic.] + +is a couplet of reproach _now_ applied to this once famous city; +whose inhabitants seem little worthy of the inspiring call which was +addressed to them within these twenty years, by the celebrated +Riga:-- + + [Greek: Deute paides tôn Ellênôn--k.t.l.] + +Iannina, the capital of Epirus, and the seat of Ali Pacha's +government, _is_ in truth deserving of the honours which Mr. Gell has +improperly bestowed on degraded Athens. As to the correctness of the +remark concerning the fashion of wearing the hair cropped in +_Molossia,_ as Mr. Gell informs us, our authorities cannot depose: +but why will he use the classical term of Eleuthero-Lacones, when +that people are so much better known by their modern name of +Mainotes? "The court of the Pacha of Tripolizza" is said "to realise +the splendid visions of the Arabian Nights." This is true with regard +to the _court_: but surely the traveller ought to have added that the +city and palace are most miserable, and form an extraordinary +contrast to the splendour of the court.--Mr. Gell mentions _gold_ +mines in Greece: he should have specified their situation, as it +certainly is not universally known. When, also, he remarks that "the +first article of necessity _in Greece_ is a firman, or order from the +Sultan, permitting the traveller to pass unmolested," we are much +misinformed if he be right. On the contrary, we believe this to be +almost the only part of the Turkish dominions in which a firman is +not necessary; since the passport of the Pacha is absolute within his +territory (according to Mr. G.'s own admission), and much more +effectual than a firman.--"Money," he remarks, "is easily procured at +Salonica, or Patrass, where the English have Consuls." It is much +better procured, we understand, from the Turkish governors, who never +charge discount. The Consuls for the English are not of the most +magnanimous order of Greeks, and far from being so liberal, generally +speaking; although there are, in course, some exceptions, and Strune +of Patrass has been more honourably mentioned.--After having observed +that "horses seem the best mode of conveyance in Greece," Mr. Gell +proceeds: "Some travellers would prefer an English saddle; but a +saddle of this sort is always objected to by the owner of the horse, +_and not without reason_" &c. This, we learn, is far from being the +case; and, indeed, for a very simple reason, an English saddle must +seem to be preferable to one of the country, because it is much +lighter. When, too, Mr. Gell calls the _postilion_ "Menzilgi," he +mistakes him for his betters: _Serrugees_ are postilions; _Mensilgis_ +are postmasters.--Our traveller was fortunate in his Turks, who are +hired to walk by the side of the baggage-horses. They "are certain," +he says, "of performing their engagement without grumbling." We +apprehend that this is by no means certain:--but Mr. Gell is +perfectly right in preferring a Turk to a Greek for this purpose; and +in his general recommendation to take a Janissary on the tour: who, +we may add, should be suffered to act as he pleases, since nothing is +to be done by gentle means, or even by offers of money, at the places +of accommodation. A courier, to be sent on before to the place at +which the traveller intends to sleep, is indispensable to comfort: +but no tourist should be misled by the author's advice to suffer the +Greeks to gratify their curiosity, in permitting them to remain for +some time about him on his arrival at an inn. They should be removed +as soon as possible; for, as to the remark that "no stranger would +think of intruding when a room is pre-occupied," our informants were +not so well convinced of that fact. + +Though we have made the above exceptions to the accuracy of Mr. +Gell's information, we are most ready to do justice to the general +utility of his directions, and can certainly concede the praise which +he is desirous of obtaining,--namely, "of having facilitated the +researches of future travellers, by affording that local information +which it was before impossible to obtain." This book, indeed, is +absolutely necessary to any person who wishes to explore the Morea +advantageously; and we hope that Mr. Gell will continue his Itinerary +over that and over every other part of Greece. He allows that his +volume "is only calculated to become a book of reference, and not of +general entertainment:" but we do not see any reason against the +compatibility of both objects in a survey of the most celebrated +country of the ancient world. To that country, we trust, the +attention not only of our travellers, but of our legislators, will +hereafter be directed. The greatest caution will, indeed, be +required, as we have premised, in touching on so delicate a subject +as the amelioration of the possessions of an ally: but the field for +the exercise of political sagacity is wide and inviting in this +portion of the globe; and Mr. Gell, and all other writers who +interest us, however remotely, in its extraordinary _capabilities_, +deserve well of the British empire. We shall conclude by an extract +from the author's work: which, even if it fails of exciting that +general interest which we hope most earnestly it may attract, towards +its important subject, cannot, as he justly observes, "be entirely +uninteresting to the scholar;" since it is a work "which gives him a +faithful description of the remains of cities, the very existence of +which was doubtful, as they perished before the æra of authentic +history." The subjoined quotation is a good specimen of the author's +minuteness of research as a topographer; and we trust that the credit +which must accrue to him from the present performance will ensure the +completion of his Itinerary:-- + + "The inaccuracies of the maps of Anacharsis are in many + respects very glaring. The situation of Phlius is marked by + Strabo as surrounded by the territories of Sicyon, Argos, + Cleonæ, and Stymphalus. Mr. Hawkins observed, that Phlius, the + ruins of which still exist near Agios Giorgios, lies in a + direct line between Cleonæ and Stymphalus, and another from + Sicyon to Argos; so that Strabo was correct in saying that it + lay between those four towns; yet we see Phlius, in the map of + Argolis by M. Barbie du Bocage, placed ten miles to the north + of Stymphalus, contradicting both history and fact. D'Anville + is guilty of the same error. + + "M. du Bocage places a town named Phlius, and by him Phlionte, + on the point of land which forms the port of Drepano: there + are not at present any ruins there. The maps of D'Anville are + generally more correct than any others where + ancient geography is concerned. A mistake occurs on the + subject of Tiryns, and a place named by him Vathia, but of + which nothing can be understood. It is possible that Vathi, or + the profound valley, may be a name sometimes used for the + valley of Barbitsa, and that the place named by D'Anville + Claustra may be the outlet of that valley called Kleisoura, + which has a corresponding signification. + + "The city of Tiryns is also placed in two different positions, + once by its Greek name, and again as Tirynthus. The mistake + between the islands of Sphæria and Calaura has been noticed in + page 135. The Pontinus, which D'Anville represents as a river, + and the Erasinus are equally ill placed in his map. There was + a place called Creopolis, somewhere toward Cynouria; but its + situation is not easily fixed. The ports called Bucephalium + and Piræus seem to have been nothing more than little bays in + the country between Corinth and Epidaurus. The town called + Athenæ, in Cynouria, by Pausanias, is called Anthena by + _Thucydides_, book 5. 41. + + "In general, the map of D'Anville will be found more accurate + than those which have been published since his time; indeed + the mistakes of that geographer are in general such as could + not be avoided without visiting the country. Two errors of + D'Anville may be mentioned, lest the opportunity of publishing + the itinerary of Arcadia should never occur. The first is, + that the rivers Malætas and Mylaon, near Methydrium, are + represented as running toward the south, whereas they flow + northwards to the Ladon; and the second is, that the Aroanius, + which falls into the Erymanthus at Psophis, is represented as + flowing from the lake of Pheneos; a mistake which arises from + the ignorance of the ancients themselves who have written on + the subject. The fact is that the Ladon receives the waters of + the lakes of Orchomenos and Pheneos: but the Aroanius rises at + a spot not two hours distant from Psophis." + +In furtherance of our principal object in this critique, we have only +to add a wish that some of our Grecian tourists, among the fresh +articles of information concerning Greece which they have lately +imported, would turn their minds to the language of the country. So +strikingly similar to the ancient Greek is the modern Romaic as a +written language, and so dissimilar in sound, that even a few general +rules concerning pronunciation would be of most extensive use. + + + + +PARLIAMENTARY SPEECHES. + + * * * * * + +DEBATE ON THE FRAME-WORK BILL, IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS, FEBRUARY 27, 1812. + + +The order of the day for the second reading of this Bill being read, + +Lord BYRON rose, and (for the first time) addressed their Lordships +as follows:-- + +My Lords; the subject now submitted to your Lordships for the first +time, though new to the House, is by no means new to the country. I +believe it had occupied the serious thoughts of all descriptions of +persons, long before its introduction to the notice of that +legislature, whose interference alone could be of real service. As a +person in some degree connected with the suffering county, though a +stranger not only to this House in general, but to almost every +individual whose attention I presume to solicit, I must claim some +portion of your Lordships' indulgence, whilst I offer a few +observations on a question in which I confess myself deeply +interested. + +To enter into any detail of the riots would be superfluous: the House +is already aware that every outrage short of actual bloodshed has +been perpetrated, and that the proprietors of the Frames obnoxious to +the rioters, and all persons supposed to be connected with them, have +been liable to insult and violence. During the short time I recently +passed in Nottinghamshire, not twelve hours elapsed without some +fresh act of violence; and on the day I left the county I was +informed that forty Frames had been broken the preceding evening, as +usual, without resistance and without detection. + +Such was then the state of that county, and such I have reason to +believe it to be at this moment. But whilst these outrages must be +admitted to exist to an alarming extent, it cannot be denied that +they have arisen from circumstances of the most unparalleled +distress: the perseverance of these miserable men in their +proceedings, tends to prove that nothing but absolute want could have +driven a large, and once honest and industrious, body of the people, +into the commission of excesses so hazardous to themselves, their +families, and the community. At the time to which I allude, the town +and county were burdened with large detachments of the military; the +police was in motion, the magistrates assembled, yet all the +movements, civil and military, had led to--nothing. Not a single +instance had occurred of the apprehension of any real delinquent +actually taken in the fact, against whom there existed legal evidence +sufficient for conviction. But the police, however useless, were by +no means idle: several notorious delinquents had been detected; men, +liable to conviction, on the clearest evidence, of the capital crime +of poverty; men, who had been nefariously guilty of lawfully +begetting several children, whom, thanks to the times! they were +unable to maintain. Considerable injury has been done to the +proprietors of the improved Frames. These machines were to them an +advantage, inasmuch as they superseded the necessity of employing a +number of workmen, who were left in consequence to starve. By the +adoption of one species of Frame in particular, one man performed the +work of many, and the superfluous labourers were thrown out of +employment. Yet it is to be observed, that the work thus executed was +inferior in quality; not marketable at home, and merely hurried over +with a view to exportation. It was called, in the cant of the trade, +by the name of "Spider work." The rejected workmen, in the blindness +of their ignorance, instead of rejoicing at these improvements in +arts so beneficial to mankind, conceived themselves to be sacrificed +to improvements in mechanism. In the foolishness of their hearts they +imagined, that the maintenance and well doing of the industrious +poor, were objects of greater consequence than the enrichment of a +few individuals by any improvement, in the implements of trade, which +threw the workmen out of employment, and rendered the labourer +unworthy of his hire. And it must be confessed that although the +adoption of the enlarged machinery in that state of our commerce +which the country once boasted, might have been beneficial to the +master without being detrimental to the servant; yet, in the present +situation of our manufactures, rotting in warehouses, without a +prospect of exportation, with the demand for work and workmen equally +diminished, Frames of this description tend materially to aggravate +the distress and discontent of the disappointed sufferers. But the +real cause of these distresses and consequent disturbances lies +deeper. When we are told that these men are leagued together not only +for the destruction of their own comfort, but of their very means of +subsistence, can we forget that it is the bitter policy, the +destructive warfare of the last eighteen years, which has destroyed +their comfort, your comfort, all men's comfort? That policy, which, +originating with "great statesmen now no more," has survived the dead +to become a curse on the living, unto the third and fourth +generation! These men never destroyed their looms till they were +become useless, worse than useless; till they were become actual +impediments to their exertions in obtaining their daily bread. Can +you, then, wonder that in times like these, when bankruptcy, +convicted fraud, and imputed felony, are found in a station not far +beneath that of your Lordships, the lowest, though once most useful +portion of the people, should forget their duty in their distresses, +and become only less guilty than one of their representatives? But +while the exalted offender can find means to baffle the law, new +capital punishments must be devised, new snares of death must be +spread for the wretched mechanic, who is famished into guilt. These +men were willing to dig, but the spade was in other hands: they were +not ashamed to beg, but there was none to relieve them: their own +means of subsistence were cut off, all other employments +pre-occupied; and their excesses, however to be deplored and +condemned, can hardly be subject of surprise. + +It has been stated that the persons in the temporary possession of +frames connive at their destruction; if this be proved upon enquiry, +it were necessary that such material accessories to the crime should +be principles in the punishment. But I did hope, that any measure +proposed by his Majesty's government, for your Lordships' decision, +would have had conciliation for its basis; or, if that were hopeless, +that some previous enquiry, some deliberation would have been deemed +requisite; not that we should have been called at once without +examination, and without cause, to pass sentences by wholesale, and +sign death-warrants blindfold. But, admitting that these men had no +cause of complaint; that the grievances of them and their employers +were alike groundless; that they deserved the worst; what +inefficiency, what imbecility has been evinced in the method chosen +to reduce them! Why were the military called out to be made a mockery +of, if they were to be called out at all? As far as the difference of +seasons would permit, they have merely parodied the summer campaign +of Major Sturgeon; and, indeed, the whole proceedings, civil and +military, seemed on the model of those of the mayor and corporation +of Garratt.--Such marchings and counter-marchings! from Nottingham to +Bullwell, from Bullwell to Banford, from Banford to Mansfield! and +when at length the detachments arrived at their destination, in all +"the pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war," they came just +in time to witness the mischief which had been done, and ascertain +the escape of the perpetrators, to collect the "_spolia opima_" in +the fragments of broken frames, and return to their quarters amidst +the derision of old women, and the hootings of children. Now, though, +in a free country, it were to be wished, that our military should +never be too formidable, at least to ourselves, I cannot see the +policy of placing them in situations where they can only be made +ridiculous. As the sword is the worst argument that can be used, so +should it be the last. In this instance it has been the first; but +providentially as yet only in the scabbard. The present measure will, +indeed, pluck it from the sheath; yet had proper meetings been held +in the earlier stages of these riots, had the grievances of these men +and their masters (for they also had their grievances) been fairly +weighed and justly examined, I do think that means might have been +devised to restore these workmen to their avocations, and +tranquillity to the county. At present the county suffers from the +double infliction of an idle military and a starving population. In +what state of apathy have we been plunged so long, that now for the +first time the house has been officially apprised of these +disturbances? All this has been transacting within 130 miles of +London, and yet we, "good easy men, have deemed full sure our +greatness was a ripening," and have sat down to enjoy our foreign +triumphs in the midst of domestic calamity. But all the cities you +have taken, all the armies which have retreated before your leaders, +are but paltry subjects of self-congratulation, if your land divides +against itself, and your dragoons and your executioners must be let +loose against your fellow-citizens.--You call these men a mob, +desperate, dangerous, and ignorant; and seem to think that the only +way to quiet the "_Bellua multorum capitum_" is to lop off a few of +its superfluous heads. But even a mob may be better reduced to reason +by a mixture of conciliation and firmness, than by additional +irritation and redoubled penalties. Are we aware of our obligations +to a mob? It is the mob that labour in your fields and serve in your +houses,--that man your navy, and recruit your army,--that have +enabled you to defy all the world, and can also defy you when neglect +and calamity have driven them to despair! You may call the people a +mob; but do not forget, that a mob too often speaks the sentiments of +the people. And here I must remark, with what alacrity you are +accustomed to fly to the succour of your distressed allies, leaving +the distressed of your own country to the care of Providence or--the +parish. When the Portuguese suffered under the retreat of the French, +every arm was stretched out, every hand was opened, from the rich +man's largess to the widow's mite, all was bestowed, to enable them +to rebuild their villages and replenish their granaries. And at this +moment, when thousands of misguided but most unfortunate +fellow-countrymen are struggling with the extremes of hardships and +hunger, as your charity began abroad it should end at home. A much +less sum, a tithe of the bounty bestowed on Portugal, even if those +men (which I cannot admit without enquiry) could not have been +restored to their employments, would have rendered unnecessary the +tender mercies of the bayonet and the gibbet. But doubtless our +friends have too many foreign claims to admit a prospect of domestic +relief; though never did such objects demand it. I have traversed the +seat of war in the Peninsula, I have been in some of the most +oppressed provinces of Turkey, but never under the most despotic of +infidel governments did I behold such squalid wretchedness as I have +seen since my return in the very heart of a Christian country. And +what are your remedies? After months of inaction, and months of +action worse than inactivity, at length comes forth the grand +specific, the never-failing nostrum of all state physicians, from the +days of Draco to the present time. After feeling the pulse and +shaking the head over the patient, prescribing the usual course of +warm water and bleeding, the warm water of your mawkish police, and +the lancets of your military, these convulsions must terminate in +death, the sure consummation of the prescriptions of all political +Sangrados. Setting aside the palpable injustice and the certain +inefficiency of the bill, are there not capital punishments +sufficient in your statutes? Is there not blood enough upon your +penal code, that more must be poured forth to ascend to Heaven and +testify against you? How will you carry the bill into effect? Can you +commit a whole county to their own prisons? Will you erect a gibbet +in every field, and hang up men like scarecrows? or will you proceed +(as you must to bring this measure into effect) by decimation? place +the county under martial law? depopulate and lay waste all around +you? and restore Sherwood Forest as an acceptable gift to the crown, +in its former condition of a royal chase and an asylum for outlaws? +Are these the remedies for a starving and desperate populace? Will +the famished wretch who has braved your bayonets be appalled by your +gibbets? When death is a relief, and the only relief it appears that +you will afford him, will he be dragooned into tranquillity? Will +that which could not be effected by your grenadiers, be accomplished +by your executioners? If you proceed by the forms of law, where is +your evidence? Those who have refused to impeach their accomplices, +when transportation only was the punishment, will hardly be tempted +to witness against them when death is the penalty. With all due +deference to the noble lords opposite, I think a little +investigation, some previous enquiry would induce even them to change +their purpose. That most favourite state measure, so marvellously +efficacious in many and recent instances, temporising, would not be +without its advantages in this. When a proposal is made to emancipate +or relieve, you hesitate, you deliberate for years, you temporise and +tamper with the minds of men; but a death-bill must be passed off +hand, without a thought of the consequences. Sure I am, from what I +have heard, and from what I have seen, that to pass the hill under +all the existing circumstances, without enquiry, without +deliberation, would only be to add injustice to irritation, and +barbarity to neglect. The framers of such a bill must be content to +inherit the honours of that Athenian lawgiver whose edicts were said +to be written not in ink but in blood. But suppose it past; suppose +one of these men, as I have seen them,--meagre with famine, sullen +with despair, careless of a life which your Lordships are perhaps +about to value at something less than the price of a +stocking-frame;--suppose this man surrounded by the children for whom +he is unable to procure bread at the hazard of his existence, about +to be torn for ever from a family which he lately supported in +peaceful industry, and which it is not his fault that he can no +longer so support;--suppose this man, and there are ten thousand such +from whom you may select your victims, dragged into court, to be +tried for this new offence, by this new law; still, there are two +things wanting to convict and condemn him; and these are, in my +opinion,--twelve butchers for a jury, and a Jefferies for a judge! + + + +DEBATE ON THE EARL OF DONOUGHMORE'S MOTION FOR A COMMITTEE ON THE +ROMAN CATHOLIC CLAIMS, APRIL 21. 1812. + +Lord BYRON rose and said:-- + +My Lords,--The question before the House has been so frequently, +fully, and ably discussed, and never perhaps more ably than on this +night, that it would be difficult to adduce new arguments for or +against it. But with each discussion, difficulties have been removed, +objections have been canvassed and refuted, and some of the former +opponents of Catholic emancipation have at length conceded to the +expediency of relieving the petitioners. In conceding thus much, +however, a new objection is started; it is not the time, say they, or +it is an improper time, or there is time enough yet. In some degree I +concur with those who say, it is not the time exactly; that time is +passed; better had it been for the country, that the Catholics +possessed at this moment their proportion of our privileges, that +their nobles held their due weight in our councils, than that we +should be assembled to discuss their claims. It had indeed been +better-- + + "Non tempore tali + "Cogere concilium cum muros obsidet hostis." + +The enemy is without, and distress within. It is too late to cavil on +doctrinal points, when we must unite in defence of things more +important than the mere ceremonies of religion. It is indeed +singular, that we are called together to deliberate, not on the God +we adore, for in that we are agreed; not about the king we obey, for +to him we are loyal; but how far a difference in the ceremonials of +worship, how far believing not too little, but too much (the worst +that can be imputed to the Catholics), how far too much devotion to +their God may incapacitate our fellow-subjects from effectually +serving their king. + +Much has been said, within and without doors, of church and state, +and although those venerable words have been too often prostituted to +the most despicable of party purposes, we cannot hear them too often; +all, I presume, are the advocates of church and state,--the church of +Christ, and the state of Great Britain; but not a state of exclusion +and despotism, not an intolerant church, not a church militant, which +renders itself liable to the very objection urged against the Romish +communion, and in a greater degree, for the Catholic merely withholds +its spiritual benediction (and even that is doubtful), but our +church, or rather our churchmen, not only refuse to the Catholic +their spiritual grace, but all temporal blessings whatsoever. It was +an observation of the great Lord Peterborough, made within these +walls, or within the walls where the Lords then assembled, that he +was for a "parliamentary king and a parliamentary constitution, but +not a parliamentary God and a parliamentary religion." The interval +of a century has not weakened the force of the remark. It is indeed +time that we should leave off these petty cavils on frivolous points, +these Lilliputian sophistries, whether our "eggs are best broken at +the broad or narrow end." + +The opponents of the Catholics may be divided into two classes; those +who assert that the Catholics have too much already, and those who +allege that the lower orders, at least, have nothing more to require. +We are told by the former, that the Catholics never will be +contented: by the latter, that they are already too happy. The last +paradox is sufficiently refuted by the present as by all past +petitions; it might as well be said, that the negroes did not desire +to be emancipated, but this is an unfortunate comparison, for you +have already delivered them out of the house of bondage without any +petition on their part, but many from their task-masters to a +contrary effect; and for myself, when I consider this, I pity the +Catholic peasantry for not having the good fortune to be born black. +But the Catholics are contented, or at least ought to be, as we are +told; I shall, therefore, proceed to touch on a few of those +circumstances which so marvellously contribute to their exceeding +contentment. They are not allowed the free exercise of their religion +in the regular army; the Catholic soldier cannot absent himself from +the service of the Protestant clergyman, and unless he is quartered +in Ireland, or in Spain, where can he find eligible opportunities of +attending his own? The permission of Catholic chaplains to the Irish +militia regiments was conceded as a special favour, and not till +after years of remonstrance, although an act, passed in 1793, +established it as a right. But are the Catholics properly protected +in Ireland? Can the church purchase a rood of land whereon to erect a +chapel? No! all the places of worship are built on leases of trust or +sufferance from the laity, easily broken, and often betrayed. The +moment any irregular wish, any casual caprice of the benevolent +landlord meets with opposition, the doors are barred against the +congregation. This has happened continually, but in no instance more +glaringly, than at the town of Newton-Barry, in the county of +Wexford. The Catholics enjoying no regular chapel, as a temporary +expedient, hired two barns; which, being thrown into one, served for +public worship. At this time, there was quartered opposite to the +spot an officer whose mind appears to have been deeply imbued with +those prejudices which the Protestant petitions now on the table +prove to have been fortunately eradicated from the more rational +portion of the people; and when the Catholics were assembled on the +Sabbath as usual, in peace and good-will towards men, for the worship +of their God and yours, they found the chapel door closed, and were +told that if they did not immediately retire (and they were told this +by a yeoman officer and a magistrate), the riot act should be read, +and the assembly dispersed at the point of the bayonet! This was +complained of to the middle man of government, the secretary at the +castle in 1806, and the answer was (in lieu of redress), that he +would cause a letter to be written to the colonel, to prevent, if +possible, the recurrence of similar disturbances. Upon this fact, no +very great stress need be laid; but it tends to prove that while the +Catholic church has not power to purchase land for its chapels to +stand upon, the laws for its protection are of no avail. In the mean +time, the Catholics are at the mercy of every "pelting petty +officer," who may choose to play his "fantastic tricks before high +heaven," to insult his God, and injure his fellow-creatures. + +Every school-boy, any foot-boy (such have held commissions in our +service), any foot-boy who can exchange his shoulder-knot for an +epaulette, may perform all this and more against the Catholic by +virtue of that very authority delegated to him by his sovereign, for +the express purpose of defending his fellow subjects to the last drop +of his blood, without discrimination or distinction between Catholic +and Protestant. + +Have the Irish Catholics the full benefit of trial by jury? They have +not; they never can have until they are permitted to share the +privilege of serving as sheriffs and under-sheriffs. Of this a +striking example occurred at the last Enniskillen assizes. A yeoman +was arraigned for the murder of a Catholic named Macvournagh: three +respectable, uncontradicted witnesses deposed that they saw the +prisoner load, take aim, fire at, and kill the said Macvournagh. This +was properly commented on by the judge: but to the astonishment of +the bar, and indignation of the court, the Protestant jury acquitted +the accused. So glaring was the partiality, that Mr. Justice Osborne +felt it his duty to bind over the acquitted, but not absolved +assassin, in large recognizances; thus for a time taking away his +license to kill Catholics. + +Are the very laws passed in their favour observed? They are rendered +nugatory in trivial as in serious cases. By a late act, Catholic +chaplains are permitted in gaols, but in Fermanagh county the grand +jury lately persisted in presenting a suspended clergyman for the +office, thereby evading the statute, notwithstanding the most +pressing remonstrances of a most respectable magistrate, named +Fletcher, to the contrary. Such is law, such is justice, for the +happy, free, contented Catholic! + +It has been asked, in another place, Why do not the rich Catholics +endow foundations for the education of the priesthood? Why do you not +permit them to do so? Why are all such bequests subject to the +interference, the vexatious, arbitrary, peculating interference of +the Orange commissioners for charitable donations? + +As to Maynooth college, in no instance, except at the time of its +foundation, when a noble Lord (Camden), at the head of the Irish +administration, did appear to interest himself in its advancement; +and during the government of a noble Duke (Bedford), who, like his +ancestors, has ever been the friend of freedom and mankind, and who +has not so far adopted the selfish policy of the day as to exclude +the Catholics from the number of his fellow-creatures; with these +exceptions, in no instance has that institution been properly +encouraged. There was indeed a time when the Catholic clergy were +conciliated, while the Union was pending, that Union which could not +be carried without them, while their assistance was requisite in +procuring addresses from the Catholic counties; then they were +cajoled and caressed, feared and flattered, and given to understand +that "the Union would do every thing;" but the moment it was passed, +they were driven back with contempt into their former obscurity. + +In the conduct pursued towards Maynooth college, every thing is done +to irritate and perplex--every thing is done to efface the slightest +impression of gratitude from the Catholic mind; the very hay made +upon the lawn, the fat and tallow of the beef and mutton allowed, +must be paid for and accounted upon oath. It is true, this economy in +miniature cannot sufficiently be commended, particularly at a time +when only the insect defaulters of the Treasury, your Hunts and your +Chinnerys, when only those "gilded bugs" can escape the microscopic +eye of ministers. But when you come forward, session after session, +as your paltry pittance is wrung from you with wrangling and +reluctance, to boast of your liberality, well might the Catholic +exclaim, in the words of Prior:-- + + "To John I owe some obligation, + But John unluckily thinks fit + To publish it to all the nation, + So John and I are more than quit." + +Some persons have compared the Catholics to the beggar in Gil Bias: +who made them beggars? Who are enriched with the spoils of their +ancestors? And cannot you relieve the beggar when your fathers have +made him such? If you are disposed to relieve him at all, cannot you +do it without flinging your farthings in his face? As a contrast, +however, to this beggarly benevolence, let us look at the Protestant +Charter Schools; to them you have lately granted 41,000_l_.: thus are +they supported, and how are they recruited? Montesquieu observes on +the English constitution, that the model may be found in Tacitus, +where the historian describes the policy of the Germans, and adds, +"This beautiful system was taken from the woods;" so in speaking of +the charter schools, it may be observed, that this beautiful system +was taken from the gipsies. These schools are recruited in the same +manner as the Janissaries at the time of their enrolment under +Amurath, and the gipsies of the present day with stolen children, +with children decoyed and kidnapped from their Catholic connections +by their rich and powerful Protestant neighbours: this is notorious, +and one instance may suffice to show in what manner:--The sister of a +Mr. Carthy (a Catholic gentleman of very considerable property) died, +leaving two girls, who were immediately marked out as proselytes, and +conveyed to the charter school of Coolgreny; their uncle, on being +apprised of the fact, which took place during his absence, applied +for the restitution of his nieces, offering to settle an independence +on these his relations; his request was refused, and not till after +five years' struggle, and the interference of very high authority, +could this Catholic gentleman obtain back his nearest of kindred from +a charity charter school. In this manner are proselytes obtained, and +mingled with the offspring of such Protestants as may avail +themselves of the institution. And how are they taught? A catechism +is put into their hands, consisting of, I believe, forty-five pages, +in which are three questions relative to the Protestant religion; one +of these queries is, "Where was the Protestant religion before +Luther?" + +Answer, "In the Gospel." The remaining forty-four pages and a half +regard the damnable idolatry of Papists! + +Allow me to ask our spiritual pastors and masters, is this training +up a child in the way which he should go? Is this the religion of the +Gospel before the time of Luther? that religion which preaches "Peace +on earth, and glory to God?" Is it bringing up infants to be men or +devils? Better would it be to send them any where than teach them +such doctrines; better send them to those islands in the South Seas, +where they might more humanely learn to become cannibals; it would be +less disgusting that they were brought up to devour the dead, than +persecute the living. Schools do you call them? call them rather +dunghills, where the viper of intolerance deposits her young, that +when their teeth are cut and their poison is mature, they may issue +forth, filthy and venomous, to sting the Catholic. But are these the +doctrines of the Church of England, or of churchmen? No, the most +enlightened churchmen are of a different opinion. What says Paley? "I +perceive no reason why men of different religious persuasions should +not sit upon the same bench, deliberate in the same council, or fight +in the same ranks, as well as men of various religious opinions, upon +any controverted topic of natural history, philosophy, or ethics." It +may be answered, that Paley was not strictly orthodox; I know nothing +of his orthodoxy, but who will deny that he was an ornament to the +church, to human nature, to Christianity? + +I shall not dwell upon the grievance of tithes, so severely felt by +the peasantry, but it may be proper to observe, that there is an +addition to the burden, a per centage to the gatherer, whose interest +it thus becomes to rate them as highly as possible, and we know that +in many large livings in Ireland the only resident Protestants are +the tithe proctor and his family. + +Amongst many causes of irritation, too numerous for recapitulation, +there is one in the militia not to be passed over,--I mean the +existence of Orange lodges amongst the privates. Can the officers +deny this? And if such lodges do exist, do they, can they, tend to +promote harmony amongst the men, who are thus individually separated +in society, although mingled in the ranks? And is this general system +of persecution to be permitted; or is it to be believed that with +such a system the Catholics can or ought to be contented? If they +are, they belie human nature; they are then, indeed, unworthy to be +any thing but the slaves you have made them. The facts stated are +from most respectable authority, or I should not have dared in this +place, or any place, to hazard this avowal. If exaggerated, there are +plenty as willing, as I believe them to be unable, to disprove them. +Should it be objected that I never was in Ireland, I beg leave to +observe, that it is as easy to know something of Ireland without +having been there, as it appears with some to have been born, bred, +and cherished there, and yet remain ignorant of its best interests. + +But there are who assert that the Catholics have already been too +much indulged. See (cry they) what has been done: we have given them +one entire college, we allow them food and raiment, the full +enjoyment of the elements, and leave to fight for us as long as they +have limbs and lives to offer, and yet they are never to be +satisfied!--Generous and just declaimers! To this, and to this only, +amount the whole of your arguments, when stript of their sophistry. +Those personages remind me of a story of a certain drummer, who, +being called upon in the course of duty to administer punishment to a +friend tied to the halberts, was requested to flog high, he did--to +flog low, he did--to flog in the middle, he did,--high, low, down the +middle, and up again, but all in vain; the patient continued his +complaints with the most provoking pertinacity, until the drummer, +exhausted and angry, flung down his scourge, exclaiming, "The devil +burn you, there's no pleasing you, flog where one will!" Thus it is, +you have flogged the Catholic high, low, here, there, and every +where, and then you wonder he is not pleased. It is true that time, +experience, and that weariness which attends even the exercise of +barbarity, have taught you to flog a little more gently; but still +you continue to lay on the lash, and will so continue, till perhaps +the rod may be wrested from your hands, and applied to the backs of +yourselves and your posterity. + +It was said by somebody in a former debate, (I forget by whom, and am +not very anxious to remember,) if the Catholics are emancipated, why +not the Jews? If this sentiment was dictated by compassion for the +Jews, it might deserve attention, but as a sneer against the +Catholic, what is it but the language of Shylock transferred from his +daughter's marriage to Catholic emancipation-- + + "Would any of the tribe of Barabbas + Should have it rather than a Christian." + +I presume a Catholic is a Christian, even in the opinion of him whose +taste only can be called in question for his preference of the Jews. + +It is a remark often quoted of Dr. Johnson, (whom I take to be almost +as good authority as the gentle apostle of intolerance, Dr. +Duigenan,) that he who could entertain serious apprehensions of +danger to the church in these times, would have "cried fire in the +deluge." This is more than a metaphor; for a remnant of these +antediluvians appear actually to have come down to us, with fire in +their mouths and water in their brains, to disturb and perplex +mankind with their whimsical outcries. And as it is an infallible +symptom of that distressing malady with which I conceive them to be +afflicted (so any doctor will inform your Lordships), for the unhappy +invalids to perceive a flame perpetually flashing before their eyes, +particularly when their eyes are shut (as those of the persons to +whom I allude have long been), it is impossible to convince these +poor creatures, that the fire against which they are perpetually +warning us and themselves is nothing but an _ignis fatuus_ of their +own drivelling imaginations. What rhubarb, senna, or "what purgative +drug can scour that fancy thence?"--It is impossible, they are given +over, theirs is the true + + "Caput insanabile tribus Anticyris." + +These are your true Protestants. Like Bayle, who protested against +all sects whatsoever, so do they protest against Catholic petitions, +Protestant petitions, all redress, all that reason, humanity, policy, +justice, and common sense, can urge against the delusions of their +absurd delirium. These are the persons who reverse the fable of the +mountain that brought forth a mouse; they are the mice who conceive +themselves in labour with mountains. + +To return to the Catholics; suppose the Irish were actually contented +under their disabilities; suppose them capable of such a bull as not +to desire deliverance, ought we not to wish it for ourselves? Have we +nothing to gain by their emancipation? What resources have been +wasted? What talents have been lost by the selfish system of +exclusion? You already know the value of Irish aid; at this moment +the defence of England is intrusted to the Irish militia; at this +moment, while the starving people are rising in the fierceness of +despair, the Irish are faithful to their trust. But till equal energy +is imparted throughout by the extension of freedom, you cannot enjoy +the full benefit of the strength which you are glad to interpose +between you and destruction. Ireland has done much, but will do more. +At this moment the only triumph obtained through long years of +continental disaster has been achieved by an Irish general: it is +true he is not a Catholic; had he been so, we should have been +deprived of his exertions: but I presume no one will assert that his +religion would have impaired his talents or diminished his +patriotism; though, in that case, he must have conquered in the +ranks, for he never could have commanded an army. + +But he is fighting the battles of the Catholics abroad; his noble +brother has this night advocated their cause, with an eloquence which +I shall not depreciate by the humble tribute of my panegyric; whilst +a third of his kindred, as unlike as unequal, has been combating +against his Catholic brethren in Dublin, with circular letters, +edicts, proclamations, arrests, and dispersions;--all the vexatious +implements of petty warfare that could be wielded by the mercenary +guerillas of government, clad in the rusty armour of their obsolete +statutes. Your Lordships will, doubtless, divide new honours between +the Saviour of Portugal, and the Dispenser of Delegates. It is +singular, indeed, to observe the difference between our foreign and +domestic policy; if Catholic Spain, faithful Portugal, or the no less +Catholic and faithful king of the one Sicily, (of which, by the by, +you have lately deprived him,) stand in need of succour, away goes a +fleet and an army, an ambassador and a subsidy, sometimes to fight +pretty hardly, generally to negotiate very badly, and always to pay +very dearly for our Popish allies. But let four millions of +fellow-subjects pray for relief, who fight and pay and labour in your +behalf, they must be treated as aliens; and although their "father's +house has many mansions," there is no resting-place for them. Allow +me to ask, are you not fighting for the emancipation of Ferdinand +VII., who certainly is a fool, and, consequently, in all probability +a bigot? and have you more regard for a foreign sovereign than your +own fellow-subjects, who are not fools, for they know your interest +better than you know your own; who are not bigots, for they return +you good for evil; but who are in worse durance than the prison of a +usurper, inasmuch as the fetters of the mind are more galling than +those of the body? + +Upon the consequences of your not acceding to the claims of the +petitioners, I shall not expatiate; you know them, you will feel +them, and your children's children when you are passed away. Adieu to +that Union so called, as "_Lucus a non lucendo_," a Union from never +uniting, which in its first operation gave a death-blow to the +independence of Ireland, and in its last may be the cause of her +eternal separation from this country. If it must be called a Union, +it is the union of the shark with his prey; the spoiler swallows up +his victim, and thus they become one and indivisible. Thus has Great +Britain swallowed up the parliament, the constitution, the +independence of Ireland, and refuses to disgorge even a single +privilege, although for the relief of her swollen and distempered +body politic. + +And now, my Lords, before I sit down, will his Majesty's ministers +permit me to say a few words, not on their merits, for that would be +superfluous, but on the degree of estimation in which they are held +by the people of these realms? The esteem in which they are held has +been boasted of in a triumphant tone on a late occasion within these +walls, and a comparison instituted between their conduct and that of +noble lords on this side of the House. + +What portion of popularity may have fallen to the share of my noble +friends (if such I may presume to call them), I shall not pretend to +ascertain; but that of his Majesty's ministers it were vain to deny. +It is, to be sure, a little like the wind, "no one knows whence it +cometh or whither it goeth," but they feel it, they enjoy it, they +boast of it. Indeed, modest and unostentatious as they are, to what +part of the kingdom, even the most remote, can they flee to avoid the +triumph which pursues them? If they plunge into the midland counties, +there will they be greeted by the manufacturers, with spurned +petitions in their hands, and those halters round their necks +recently voted in their behalf, imploring blessings on the heads of +those who so simply, yet ingeniously, contrived to remove them from +their miseries in this to a better world. If they journey on to +Scotland, from Glasgow to Johnny Groats, every where will they +receive similar marks of approbation. If they take a trip from +Portpatrick to Donaghadee, there will they rush at once into the +embraces of four Catholic millions, to whom their vote of this night +is about to endear them for ever. When they return to the metropolis, +if they can pass under Temple Bar without unpleasant sensations at +the sight of the greedy niches over that ominous gateway, they cannot +escape the acclamations of the livery, and the more tremulous, but +not less sincere, applause, the blessings, "not loud but deep," of +bankrupt merchants and doubting stock-holders. If they look to the +army, what wreaths, not of laurel, but of nightshade, are preparing +for the heroes of Walcheren. It is true, there are few living +deponents left to testify to their merits on that occasion; but a +"cloud of witnesses" are gone above from that gallant army which they +so generously and piously despatched, to recruit the "noble army of +martyrs." + +What if in the course of this triumphal career (in which they will +gather as many pebbles as Caligula's army did on a similar triumph, +the prototype of their own,) they do not perceive any of those +memorials which a grateful people erect in honour of their +benefactors; what although not even a sign-post will condescend to +depose the Saracen's head in favour of the likeness of the conquerors +of Walcheren, they will not want a picture who can always have a +caricature; or regret the omission of a statue who will so often see +themselves exalted in effigy. But their popularity is not limited to +the narrow bounds of an island; there are other countries where their +measures, and above all, their conduct to the Catholics, must render +them preeminently popular. If they are beloved here, in France they +must be adored. There is no measure more repugnant to the designs and +feelings of Bonaparte than Catholic emancipation; no line of conduct +more propitious to his projects, than that which has been pursued, is +pursuing, and, I fear, will be pursued, towards Ireland. What is +England without Ireland, and what is Ireland without the Catholics? +It is on the basis of your tyranny Napoleon hopes to build his own. +So grateful must oppression of the Catholics be to his mind, that +doubtless (as he has lately permitted some renewal of intercourse) +the next cartel will convey to this country cargoes of seve-china and +blue ribands, (things in great request, and of equal value at this +moment,) blue ribands of the Legion of Honour for Dr. Duigenan and +his ministerial disciples. Such is that well-earned popularity, the +result of those extraordinary expeditions, so expensive to ourselves, +and so useless to our allies; of those singular enquiries, so +exculpatory to the accused and so dissatisfactory to the people; of +those paradoxical victories, so honourable, as we are told, to the +British name, and so destructive to the best interests of the British +nation: above all, such is the reward of a conduct pursued by +ministers towards the Catholics. + +I have to apologise to the House, who will, I trust, pardon one, not +often in the habit of intruding upon their indulgence, for so long +attempting to engage their attention. My most decided opinion is, as +my vote will be, in favour of the motion. + + * * * * * + +DEBATE ON MAJOR CARTWRIGHT'S PETITION, JUNE 1. 1813. + +Lord BYRON rose and said:-- + +My Lords,--The petition which I now hold for the purpose of +presenting to the House, is one which I humbly conceive requires the +particular attention of your Lordships, inasmuch as, though signed +but by a single individual, it contains statements which (if not +disproved) demand most serious investigation. The grievance of which +the petitioner complains is neither selfish nor imaginary. It is not +his own only, for it has been, and is still felt by numbers. No one +without these walls, nor indeed within, but may to-morrow be made +liable to the same insult and obstruction, in the discharge of an +imperious duty for the restoration of the true constitution of these +realms, by petitioning for reform in parliament. The petitioner, my +Lords, is a man whose long life has been spent in one unceasing +struggle for the liberty of the subject, against that undue influence +which has increased, is increasing, and ought to be diminished; and +whatever difference of opinion may exist as to his political tenets, +few will be found to question the integrity of his intentions. Even +now oppressed with years, and not exempt from the infirmities +attendant on his age, but still unimpaired in talent, and unshaken in +spirit--"_frangas non fleetes_"--he has received many a wound in the +combat against corruption; and the new grievance, the fresh insult of +which he complains, may inflict another scar, but no dishonour. The +petition is signed by John Cartwright, and it was in behalf of the +people and parliament, in the lawful pursuit of that reform in the +representation, which is the best service to be rendered both to +parliament and people, that he encountered the wanton outrage which +forms the subject-matter of his petition to your Lordships. It is +couched in firm, yet respectful language--in the language of a man, +not regardless of what is due to himself, but at the same time, I +trust, equally mindful of the deference to be paid to this House. The +petitioner states, amongst other matter of equal, if not greater +importance, to all who are British in their feelings, as well as +blood and birth, that on the 21st January, 1813, at Huddersfield, +himself and six other persons, who, on hearing of his arrival, had +waited on him merely as a testimony of respect, were seized by a +military and civil force, and kept in close custody for several +hours, subjected to gross and abusive insinuation from the commanding +officer, relative to the character of the petitioner; that he (the +petitioner) was finally carried before a magistrate, and not released +till an examination of his papers proved that there was not only no +just, but not even statutable charge against him; and that, +notwithstanding the promise and order from the presiding magistrates +of a copy of the warrant against your petitioner, it was afterwards +withheld on divers pretexts, and has never until this hour been +granted. The names and condition of the parties will be found in the +petition. To the other topics touched upon in the petition, I shall +not now advert, from a wish not to encroach upon the time of the +House; but I do most sincerely call the attention of your Lordships +to its general contents--it is in the cause of the parliament and +people that the rights of this venerable freeman have been violated, +and it is, in my opinion, the highest mark of respect that could be +paid to the House, that to your justice, rather than by appeal to any +inferior court, he now commits, himself. Whatever may be the fate of +his remonstrance, it is some satisfaction to me, though mixed with +regret for the occasion, that I have this opportunity of publicly +stating the obstruction to which the subject is liable, in the +prosecution of the most lawful and imperious of his duties, the +obtaining by petition reform in parliament. I have shortly stated his +complaint; the petitioner has more fully expressed it. Your Lordships +will, I hope, adopt some measure fully to protect and redress him, +and not him alone, but the whole body of the people, insulted and +aggrieved in his person, by the interposition of an abused civil, and +unlawful military force between them and their right of petition to +their own representatives. + +His Lordship then presented the petition from Major Cartwright, which +was read, complaining of the circumstances at Huddersfield, and of +interruptions given to the right of petitioning in several places in +the northern parts of the kingdom, and which his Lordship moved +should be laid on the table. + +Several lords having spoken on the question, + +Lord Byron replied, that he had, from motives of duty, presented this +petition to their Lordships' consideration. The noble Earl had +contended, that it was not a petition, but a speech; and that, as it +contained no prayer, it should not be received. What was the +necessity of a prayer? If that word were to be used in its proper +sense, their Lordships could not expect that any man should pray to +others. He had only to say, that the petition, though in some parts +expressed strongly perhaps, did not contain any improper mode of +address, but was couched in respectful language towards their +Lordships; he should therefore trust their Lordships would allow the +petition to be received. + + + + +A FRAGMENT.[1] + +[Footnote 1: During a week of rain at Diodati, in the summer of 1816, +the party having amused themselves with reading German ghost stories, +they agreed at last to write something in imitation of them. "You and +I," said Lord Byron to Mrs. Shelley, "will publish ours together." He +then began his tale of the Vampire; and, having the whole arranged in +his head, repeated to them a sketch of the story one evening;--but, +from the narrative being in prose, made but little progress in +filling up his outline. The most memorable result, indeed, of their +storytelling compact, was Mrs. Shelley's wild and powerful romance of +Frankenstein.--MOORE. + +"I began it," says Lord Byron, "in an old account book of Miss +Milbanke's, which I kept because it contains the word 'Household,' +written by her twice on the inside blank page of the covers; being +the only two scraps I have in the world in her writing, except her +name to the Deed of Separation."] + + +_June_ 17. 1816. + +In the year 17--, having for some time determined on a journey +through countries not hitherto much frequented by travellers, I set +out, accompanied by a friend, whom I shall designate by the name of +Augustus Darvell. He was a few years my elder, and a man of +considerable fortune and ancient family; advantages which an +extensive capacity prevented him alike from undervaluing or +overrating. Some peculiar circumstances in his private history had +rendered him to me an object of attention, of interest, and even of +regard, which neither the reserve of his manners, nor occasional +indications of an inquietude at times nearly approaching to +alienation of mind, could extinguish. + +I was yet young in life, which I had begun early; but my intimacy +with him was of a recent date: we had been educated at the same +schools and university; but his progress through these had preceded +mine, and he had been deeply initiated, into what is called the +world, while I was yet in my noviciate. While thus engaged, I heard +much both of his past and present life; and, although in these +accounts there were many and irreconcileable contradictions, I could +still gather from the whole that he was a being of no common order, +and one who, whatever pains he might take to avoid remark, would +still be remarkable. I had cultivated his acquaintance subsequently, +and endeavoured to obtain his friendship, but this last appeared to +be unattainable; whatever affections he might have possessed, seemed +now, some to have been extinguished, and others to be concentred: +that his feelings were acute, I had sufficient opportunities of +observing; for, although he could control, he could not altogether +disguise them: still he had a power of giving to one passion the +appearance of another, in such a manner that it was difficult to +define the nature of what was working within him; and the expressions +of his features would vary so rapidly, though slightly, that it was +useless to trace them to their sources. It was evident that he was a +prey to some cureless disquiet; but whether it arose from ambition, +love, remorse, grief, from one or all of these, or merely from a +morbid temperament akin to disease, I could not discover: there were +circumstances alleged, which might have justified the application to +each of these causes; but, as I have before said, these were so +contradictory and contradicted, that none could be fixed upon with +accuracy. Where there is mystery, it is generally supposed that there +must also be evil: I know not how this may be, but in him there +certainly was the one, though I could not ascertain the extent of the +other--and felt loth, as far as regarded himself, to believe in its +existence. My advances were received with sufficient coldness; but I +was young, and not easily discouraged, and at length succeeded in +obtaining, to a certain degree, that common-place intercourse and +moderate confidence of common and every-day concerns, created and +cemented by similarity of pursuit and frequency of meeting, which is +called intimacy, or friendship, according to the ideas of him who +uses those words to express them. + +Darvell had already travelled extensively; and to him I had applied +for information with regard to the conduct of my intended journey. It +was my secret wish that he might be prevailed on to accompany me; it +was also a probable hope, founded upon the shadowy restlessness which +I observed in him, and to which the animation which he appeared to +feel on such subjects, and his apparent indifference to all by which +he was more immediately surrounded, gave fresh strength. This wish I +first hinted, and then expressed: his answer, though I had partly +expected it, gave me all the pleasure of surprise--he consented; and, +after the requisite arrangement, we commenced our voyages. After +journeying through various countries of the south of Europe, our +attention was turned towards the East, according to our original +destination; and it was in my progress through those regions that the +incident occurred upon which will turn what I may have to relate. + +The constitution of Darvell, which must from his appearance have been +in early life more than usually robust, had been for some time +gradually giving way, without the intervention of any apparent +disease: he had neither cough nor hectic, yet he became daily more +enfeebled: his habits were temperate, and he neither declined nor +complained of fatigue; yet he was evidently wasting away: he became +more and more silent and sleepless, and at length so seriously +altered, that my alarm grew proportionate to what I conceived to be +his danger. + +We had determined, on our arrival at Smyrna, on an excursion to the +ruins of Ephesus and Sardis, from which I endeavoured to dissuade him +in his present state of indisposition--but in vain: there appeared to +be an oppression on his mind, and a solemnity in his manner, which +ill corresponded with his eagerness to proceed on what I regarded as +a mere party of pleasure, little suited to a valetudinarian; but I +opposed him no longer--and in a few days we set off together, +accompanied only by a serrugee and a single janizary. + +We had passed halfway towards the remains of Ephesus, leaving behind +us the more fertile environs of Smyrna, and were entering upon that +wild and tenantless track through the marshes and defiles which lead +to the few huts yet lingering over the broken columns of Diana--the +roofless walls of expelled Christianity, and the still more recent +but complete desolation of abandoned mosques--when the sudden and +rapid illness of my companion obliged us to halt at a Turkish +cemetery, the turbaned tombstones of which were the sole indication +that human life had ever been a sojourner in this wilderness. The +only caravansera we had seen was left some hours behind us, not a +vestige of a town or even cottage was within sight or hope, and this +"city of the dead" appeared to be the sole refuge for my unfortunate +friend, who seemed on the verge of becoming the last of its +inhabitants. + +In this situation, I looked round for a place where he might most +conveniently repose:--contrary to the usual aspect of Mahometan +burial-grounds, the cypresses were in this few in number, and these +thinly scattered over its extent: the tombstones were mostly fallen, +and worn with age:--upon one of the most considerable of these, and +beneath one of the most spreading trees, Darvell supported himself, +in a half-reclining posture, with great difficulty. He asked for +water. I had some doubts of our being able to find any, and prepared +to go in search of it with hesitating despondency: but he desired me +to remain; and turning to Suleiman, our janizary, who stood by us +smoking with great tranquillity, he said, "Suleiman, verbana su," +(_i.e._ bring some water,) and went on describing the spot where it +was to be found with great minuteness, at a small well for camels, a +few hundred yards to the right: the janizary obeyed. I said to +Darvell, "How did you know this?"--He replied, "From our situation; +you must perceive that this place was once inhabited, and could not +have been so without springs: I have also been here before." + +"You have been here before!--How came you never to mention this to +me? and what could you be doing in a place where no one would remain +a moment longer than they could help it?" + +To this question I received no answer. In the mean time Suleiman +returned with the water, leaving the serrugee and the horses at the +fountain. The quenching of his thirst had the appearance of reviving +him for a moment; and I conceived hopes of his being able to proceed, +or at least to return, and I urged the attempt. He was silent--and +appeared to be collecting his spirits for an effort to speak. He +began. + +"This is the end of my journey, and of my life;--I came here to die: +but I have a request to make, a command--for such my last words must +be.--You will observe it?" + +"Most certainly; but have better hopes." + +"I have no hopes, nor wishes, but this--conceal my death from every +human being." + +"I hope there will be no occasion; that you will recover, and----" + +"Peace!--it must be so: promise this." + +"I do." + +"Swear it, by all that"----He here dictated an oath of great +solemnity. + +"There is no occasion for this--I will observe your request; and to +doubt me is----" + +"It cannot be helped,--you must swear." + +I took the oath: it appeared to relieve him. He removed a seal ring +from his finger, on which were some Arabic characters, and presented +it to me. He proceeded-- + +"On the ninth day of the month, at noon precisely (what month you +please, but this must be the day), you must fling this ring into the +salt springs which run into the Bay of Eleusis: the day after, at the +same hour, you must repair to the ruins of the temple of Ceres, and +wait one hour." + +"Why?" + +"You will see." + +"The ninth day of the month, you say?" + +"The ninth." + +As I observed that the present was the ninth day of the month; his +countenance changed, and he paused. As he sat, evidently becoming +more feeble, a stork, with a snake in her beak, perched upon a +tombstone near us; and, without devouring her prey, appeared to be +steadfastly regarding us. I know not what impelled me to drive it +away, but the attempt was useless; she made a few circles in the air, +and returned exactly to the same spot. Darvell pointed to it, and +smiled: he spoke--I know not whether to himself or to me--but the +words were only, "'Tis well!" + +"What is well? what do you mean?" + +"No matter: you must bury me here this evening, and exactly where +that bird is now perched. You know the rest of my injunctions." + +He then proceeded to give me several directions as to the manner in +which his death might be best concealed. After these were finished, +he exclaimed, "You perceive that bird?" + +"Certainly." + +"And the serpent writhing in her beak?" + +"Doubtless: there is nothing uncommon in it; it is her natural prey. +But it is odd that she does not devour it." + +He smiled in a ghastly manner, and said, faintly, "It is not yet +time!" As he spoke, the stork flew away. My eyes followed it for a +moment--it could hardly be longer than ten might be counted. I felt +Darvell's weight, as it were, increase upon my shoulder, and, turning +to look upon his face, perceived that he was dead! + +I was shocked with the sudden certainty which could not be +mistaken--his countenance in a few minutes became nearly black. I +should have attributed so rapid a change to poison, had I not been +aware that he had no opportunity of receiving it unperceived. The day +was declining, the body was rapidly altering, and nothing remained +but to fulfil his request. With the aid of Suleiman's ataghan and my +own sabre, we scooped a shallow grave upon the spot which Darvell had +indicated: the earth easily gave way, having already received some +Mahometan tenant. We dug as deeply as the time permitted us, and +throwing the dry earth upon all that remained of the singular being +so lately departed, we cut a few sods of greener turf from the less +withered soil around us, and laid them upon his sepulchre. + +Between astonishment and grief, I was tearless. + + * * * * * + + + + +LETTER + +TO JOHN MURRAY, ESQ. ON THE REV. W.L. BOWLES'S STRICTURES ON THE LIFE +AND WRITINGS OF POPE. + + * * * * * + + "I'll play at _Bowls_ with the sun and moon."--OLD SONG. + + "My mither's auld, Sir, and she has rather forgotten hersel in + speaking to my Leddy, that canna weel bide to be contradickit, + (as I ken nobody likes it, if they could help themsels.)" + + TALES OF MY LANDLORD, _Old Mortality_, vol. ii. p. 163. + + * * * * * + +Ravenna, February 7. 1821. + +Dear Sir, + +In the different pamphlets which you have had the goodness to send +me, on the Pope and Bowles' controversy, I perceive that my name is +occasionally introduced by both parties. Mr. Bowles refers more than +once to what he is pleased to consider "a remarkable circumstance," +not only in his letter to Mr. Campbell, but in his reply to the +Quarterly. The Quarterly also and Mr. Gilchrist have conferred on me +the dangerous honour of a quotation; and Mr. Bowles indirectly makes +a kind of appeal to me personally, by saying, "Lord Byron, _if he +remembers_ the circumstance, will _witness_"--_(witness_ IN ITALICS, +an ominous character for a testimony at present). + +I shall not avail myself of a "non mi ricordo," even after so long a +residence in Italy;--I _do_ "remember the circumstance,"--and have no +reluctance to relate it (since called upon so to do), as correctly as +the distance of time and the impression of intervening events will +permit me. In the year 1812, more than three years after the +publication of "English Bards and Scotch Reviewers," I had the honour +of meeting Mr. Bowles in the house of our venerable host of "Human +Life," &c. the last Argonaut of classic English poetry, and the +Nestor of our inferior race of living poets. Mr. Bowles calls this +"soon after" the publication; but to me three years appear a +considerable segment of the immortality of a modern poem. I recollect +nothing of "the rest of the company going into another room,"--nor, +though I well remember the topography of our host's elegant and +classically furnished mansion, could I swear to the very room where +the conversation occurred, though the "taking _down_ the poem" seems +to fix it in the library. Had it been "taken _up_" it would probably +have been in the drawing-room. I presume also that the "remarkable +circumstance" took place _after_ dinner; as I conceive that neither +Mr. Bowles's politeness nor appetite would have allowed him to detain +"the rest of the company" standing round their chairs in the "other +room," while we were discussing "the Woods of Madeira," instead of +circulating its vintage. Of Mr. Bowles's "good humour" I have a full +and not ungrateful recollection; as also of his gentlemanly manners +and agreeable conversation. I speak of the _whole_, and not of +particulars; for whether he did or did not use the precise words +printed in the pamphlet, I cannot say, nor could he with accuracy. Of +"the tone of seriousness" I certainly recollect nothing: on the +contrary, I thought Mr. Bowles rather disposed to treat the subject +lightly: for he said (I have no objection to be contradicted if +incorrect), that some of his good-natured friends had come to him and +exclaimed, "Eh! Bowles! how came you to make the Woods of Madeira?" +&c. &c. and that he had been at some pains and pulling down of the +poem to convince them that he had never made "the Woods" do any thing +of the kind. He was right, and _I was wrong,_ and have been wrong +still up to this acknowledgment; for I ought to have looked twice +before I wrote that which involved an inaccuracy capable of giving +pain. The fact was, that, although I had certainly before read "the +Spirit of Discovery," I took the quotation from the review. But the +mistake was mine, and not the _review's,_ which quoted the passage +correctly enough, I believe. I blundered--God knows how--into +attributing the tremors of the lovers to "the Woods of Madeira," by +which they were surrounded. And I hereby do fully and freely declare +and asseverate, that the Woods did _not_ tremble to a kiss, and that +the lovers did. I quote from memory-- + + ------"A kiss + Stole on the listening silence, &c. &c. + They [the lovers] trembled, even as if the power," &c. + +And if I had been aware that this declaration would have been in the +smallest degree satisfactory to Mr. Bowles, I should not have waited +nine years to make it, notwithstanding that "English Bards and Scotch +Reviewers" had been suppressed some time previously to my meeting him +at Mr. Rogers's. Our worthy host might indeed have told him as much, +as it was at his representation that I suppressed it. A new edition +of that lampoon was preparing for the press, when Mr. Rogers +represented to me, that "I was _now_ acquainted with many of the +persons mentioned in it, and with some on terms of intimacy;" and +that he knew "one family in particular to whom its suppression would +give pleasure." I did not hesitate one moment, it was cancelled +instantly; and it is no fault of mine that it has ever been +republished. When I left England, in April, 1816, with no very +violent intentions of troubling that country again, and amidst scenes +of various kinds to distract my attention,--almost my last act, I +believe, was to sign a power of attorney, to yourself, to prevent or +suppress any attempts (of which several had been made in Ireland) at +a republication. It is proper that I should state, that the persons +with whom I was subsequently acquainted, whose names had occurred in +that publication, were made my acquaintances at their own desire, or +through the unsought intervention of others. I never, to the best of +my knowledge, sought a personal introduction to any. Some of them to +this day I know only by correspondence; and with one of those it was +begun by myself, in consequence, however, of a polite verbal +communication from a third person. + +I have dwelt for an instant on these circumstances, because it has +sometimes been made a subject of bitter reproach to me to have +endeavoured to _suppress_ that satire. I never shrunk, as those who +know me know, from any personal consequences which could be attached +to its publication. Of its subsequent suppression, as I possessed the +copyright, I was the best judge and the sole master. The +circumstances which occasioned the suppression I have now stated; of +the motives, each must judge according to his candour or malignity. +Mr. Bowles does me the honour to talk of "noble mind," and "generous +magnanimity;" and all this because "the circumstance would have been +explained had not the book been suppressed." I see no "nobility of +mind" in an act of simple justice; and I hate the word +"_magnanimity,"_ because I have sometimes seen it applied to the +grossest of impostors by the greatest of fools; but I would have +"explained the circumstance," notwithstanding "the suppression of the +book," if Mr. Bowles had expressed any desire that I should. As the +"gallant Galbraith" says to "Baillie Jarvie," "Well, the devil take +the mistake, and all that occasioned it." I have had as great and +greater mistakes made about me personally and poetically, once a +month for these last ten years, and never cared very much about +correcting one or the other, at least after the first eight and forty +hours had gone over them. + +I must now, however, say a word or two about Pope, of whom you have +my opinion more at large in the unpublished letter _on_ or _to_ (for +I forget which) the editor of "Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine;"--and +here I doubt that Mr. Bowles will not approve of my sentiments. + +Although I regret having published "English Bards and Scotch +Reviewers," the part which I regret the least is that which regards +Mr. Bowles with reference to Pope. Whilst I was writing that +publication, in 1807 and 1808, Mr. Hobhouse was desirous that I +should express our mutual opinion of Pope, and of Mr. Bowles's +edition of his works. As I had completed my outline, and felt lazy, I +requested that _he_ would do so. He did it. His fourteen lines on +Bowles's Pope are in the first edition of "English Bards and Scotch +Reviewers;" and are quite as severe and much more poetical than my +own in the second. On reprinting the work, as I put my name to it, I +omitted Mr. Hobhouse's lines, and replaced them with my own, by which +the work gained less than Mr. Bowles. I have stated this in the +preface to the second edition. It is many years since I have read +that poem; but the Quarterly Review, Mr. Octavius Gilchrist, and Mr. +Bowles himself, have been so obliging as to refresh my memory, and +that of the public. I am grieved to say, that in reading over those +lines, I repent of their having so far fallen short of what I meant +to express upon the subject of Bowles's edition of Pope's Works. Mr. +Bowles says, that "Lord Byron _knows_ he does _not_ deserve this +character." I know no such thing. I have met Mr. Bowles occasionally, +in the best society in London; he appeared to me an amiable, +well-informed, and extremely able man. I desire nothing better than +to dine in company with such a mannered man every day in the week: +but of "his character" I know nothing personally; I can only speak to +his manners, and these have my warmest approbation. But I never judge +from manners, for I once had my pocket picked by the civilest +gentleman I ever met with; and one of the mildest persons I ever saw +was All Pacha. Of Mr. Bowles's "_character_" I will not do him the +_injustice_ to judge from the edition of Pope, if he prepared it +heedlessly; nor the _justice,_ should it be otherwise, because I +would neither become a literary executioner nor a personal one. Mr. +Bowles the individual, and Mr. Bowles the editor, appear the two most +opposite things imaginable. + + "And he himself one--antithesis." + +I won't say "vile," because it is harsh; nor "mistaken," because it +has two syllables too many: but every one must fill up the blank as +he pleases. + +What I saw of Mr. Bowles increased my surprise and regret that he +should ever have lent his talents to such a task. If he had been a +fool, there would have been some excuse for him; if he had been a +needy or a bad man, his conduct would have been intelligible: but he +is the opposite of all these; and thinking and feeling as I do of +Pope, to me the whole thing is unaccountable. However, I must call +things by their right names. I cannot call his edition of Pope a +"candid" work; and I still think that there is an affectation of that +quality not only in those volumes, but in the pamphlets lately +published. + + "Why _yet_ he doth _deny_ his prisoners." + +Mr. Bowles says, that "he has seen passages in his letters to Martha +Blount which were never published by me, and I _hope never will_ be +by others; which are so _gross_ as to imply the _grossest_ +licentiousness." Is this fair play? It may, or it may not be that +such passages exist; and that Pope, who was not a monk, although a +Catholic, may have occasionally sinned in word and deed with woman in +his youth: but is this a sufficient ground for such a sweeping +denunciation? Where is the unmarried Englishman of a certain rank of +life, who (provided he has not taken orders) has not to reproach +himself between the ages of sixteen and thirty with far more +licentiousness than has ever yet been traced to Pope? Pope lived in +the public eye from his youth upwards; he had all the dunces of his +own time for his enemies, and, I am sorry to say, some, who have not +the apology of dulness for detraction, since his death; and yet to +what do all their accumulated hints and charges amount?--to an +equivocal _liaison_ with Martha Blount, which might arise as much +from his infirmities as from his passions; to a hopeless flirtation +with Lady Mary W. Montagu; to a story of Cibber's; and to two or +three coarse passages in his works. _Who_ could come forth clearer +from an invidious inquest on a life of fifty-six years? Why are we to +be officiously reminded of such passages in his letters, provided +that they exist. Is Mr. Bowles aware to what such rummaging among +"letters" and "stories" might lead? I have myself seen a collection +of letters of another eminent, nay, pre-eminent, deceased poet, so +abominably gross, and elaborately coarse, that I do not believe that +they could be paralleled in our language. What is more strange, is, +that some of these are couched as _postscripts_ to his serious and +sentimental letters, to which are tacked either a piece of prose, or +some verses, of the most hyperbolical indecency. He himself says, +that if "obscenity (using a much coarser word) be the sin against the +Holy Ghost, he most certainly cannot be saved." These letters are in +existence, and have been seen by many besides myself; but would his +_editor_ have been "_candid_" in even alluding to them? Nothing would +have even provoked _me_, an indifferent spectator, to allude to them, +but this further attempt at the depreciation of Pope. + +What should we say to an editor of Addison, who cited the following +passage from Walpole's letters to George Montagu? "Dr. Young has +published a new book, &c. Mr. Addison sent for the young Earl of +Warwick, as he was dying, to show him in what peace a Christian could +die; unluckily he died of _brandy:_ nothing makes a Christian die in +peace like being maudlin! but don't say this in Gath where you are." +Suppose the editor introduced it with this preface: "One circumstance +is mentioned by Horace Walpole, which, if true, was indeed +_flagitious_. Walpole informs Montagu that Addison sent for the young +Earl of Warwick, when dying, to show him in what peace a Christian +could die; but unluckily he died drunk," &c. &c. Now, although there +might occur on the subsequent, or on the same page, a faint show of +disbelief, seasoned with the expression of "the _same candour_" (the +_same_ exactly as throughout the book), I should say that this editor +was either foolish or false to his trust; such a story ought not to +have been admitted, except for one brief mark of crushing +indignation, unless it were _completely proved._ Why the words "_if +true_?" that "_if"_ is not a peacemaker. Why talk of "Cibber's +testimony" to his licentiousness? to what does this amount? that Pope +when very young was _once_ decoyed by some noblemen and the player to +a house of carnal recreation. Mr. Bowles was not always a clergyman; +and when he was a very young man, was he never seduced into as much? +If I were in the humour for story-telling, and relating little +anecdotes, I could tell a much better story of Mr. Bowles than +Cibber's, upon much better authority, viz. that of Mr. Bowles +himself. It was not related by _him_ in my presence, but in that of a +third person, whom Mr. Bowles names oftener than once in the course +of his replies. This gentleman related it to me as a humorous and +witty anecdote; and so it was, whatever its other characteristics +might be. But should I, for a youthful frolic, brand Mr. Bowles with +a "libertine sort of love," or with "licentiousness?" is he the less +now a pious or a good man, for not having always been a priest? No +such thing; I am willing to believe him a good man, almost as good a +man as Pope, but no better. + +The truth is, that in these days the grand "_primum mobile"_ of +England is _cant;_ cant political, cant poetical, cant religious, +cant moral; but always cant, multiplied through all the varieties of +life. It is the fashion, and while it lasts will be too powerful for +those who can only exist by taking the tone of the time. I say +_cant,_ because it is a thing of words, without the smallest +influence upon human actions; the English being no wiser, no better, +and much poorer, and more divided amongst themselves, as well as far +less moral, than they were before the prevalence of this verbal +decorum. This hysterical horror of poor Pope's not very well +ascertained, and never fully proved amours (for even Cibber owns that +he prevented the somewhat perilous adventure in which Pope was +embarking) sounds very virtuous in a controversial pamphlet; but all +men of the world who know what life is, or at least what it was to +them in their youth, must laugh at such a ludicrous foundation of the +charge of "a libertine sort of love;" while the more serious will +look upon those who bring forward such charges upon an insulated fact +as fanatics or hypocrites, perhaps both. The two are sometimes +compounded in a happy mixture. + +Mr. Octavius Gilchrist speaks rather irreverently of a "second +tumbler of _hot_ white-wine negus." What does he mean? Is there any +harm in negus? or is it the worse for being _hot_? or does Mr. Bowles +drink negus? I had a better opinion of him. I hoped that whatever +wine he drank was neat; or, at least, that, like the ordinary in +Jonathan Wild, "he preferred _punch,_ the rather as there was nothing +against it in Scripture." I should be sorry to believe that Mr. +Bowles was fond of negus; it is such a "candid" liquor, so like a +wishy-washy compromise between the passion for wine and the propriety +of water. But different writers have divers tastes. Judge Blackstone +composed his "Commentaries" (he was a poet too in his youth) with a +bottle of port before him. Addison's conversation was not good for +much till he had taken a similar dose. Perhaps the prescription of +these two great men was not inferior to the very different one of a +soi-disant poet of this day, who, after wandering amongst the hills, +returns, goes to bed, and dictates his verses, being fed by a +by-stander with bread and butter during the operation. + +I now come to Mr. Bowles's "invariable principles of poetry." These +Mr. Bowles and some of his correspondents pronounce "unanswerable;" +and they are "unanswered," at least by Campbell, who seems to have +been astounded by the title. The sultan of the time being offered to +ally himself to a king of France because "he hated the word league;" +which proves that the Padishan understood French. Mr. Campbell has no +need of my alliance, nor shall I presume to offer it; but I do hate +that word "_invariable_." What is there of _human_, be it poetry, +philosophy, wit, wisdom, science, power, glory, mind, matter, life, +or death, which is "_invariable_?" Of course I put things divine out +of the question. Of all arrogant baptisms of a book, this title to a +pamphlet appears the most complacently conceited. It is Mr. +Campbell's part to answer the contents of this performance, and +especially to vindicate his own "Ship," which Mr. Bowles most +triumphantly proclaims to have struck to his very first fire. + + "Quoth he, there was a _Ship;_ + Now let me go, thou grey-haired loon, + Or my staff shall make thee skip." + +It is no affair of mine, but having once begun, (certainly not by my +own wish, but called upon by the frequent recurrence to my name in +the pamphlets,) I am like an Irishman in a "row," "any body's +customer." I shall therefore say a word or two on the "Ship." + +Mr. Bowles asserts that Campbell's "Ship of the Line" derives all its +poetry, not from "_art_," but from "_nature_." "Take away the waves, +the winds, the sun, &c. &c. _one_ will become a stripe of blue +bunting; and the other a piece of coarse canvass on three tall +poles." Very true; take away the "waves," "the winds," and there will +be no ship at all, not only for poetical, but for any other purpose; +and take away "the sun," and we must read Mr. Bowles's pamphlet by +candle-light. But the "poetry" of the "Ship" does _not_ depend on +"the waves," &c.; on the contrary, the "Ship of the Line" confers its +own poetry upon the waters, and heightens _theirs._ I do not deny, +that the "waves and winds," and above all "the sun," are highly +poetical; we know it to our cost, by the many descriptions of them in +verse: but if the waves bore only the foam upon their bosoms, if the +winds wafted only the sea-weed to the shore, if the sun shone neither +upon pyramids, nor fleets, nor fortresses, would its beams be equally +poetical? I think not: the poetry is at least reciprocal. Take away +"the Ship of the line" "swinging round" the "calm water," and the +calm water becomes a somewhat monotonous thing to look at, +particularly if not transparently _clear_; witness the thousands who +pass by without looking on it at all. What was it attracted the +thousands to the launch? they might have seen the poetical "calm +water" at Wapping, or in the "London Dock," or in the Paddington +Canal, or in a horse-pond, or in a slop-basin, or in any other vase. +They might have heard the poetical winds howling through the chinks +of a pigsty, or the garret window; they might have seen the sun +shining on a footman's livery, or on a brass warming pan; but could +the "calm water," or the "wind," or the "sun," make all, or any of +these "poetical?" I think not. Mr. Bowles admits "the Ship" to be +poetical, but only from those accessaries: now if they _confer_ +poetry so as to make one thing poetical, they would make other things +poetical; the more so, as Mr. Bowles calls a "ship of the line" +without them,--that is to say, its "masts and sails and +streamers,"--"blue bunting," and "coarse canvass," and "tall poles." +So they are; and porcelain is clay, and man is dust, and flesh is +grass, and yet the two latter at least are the subjects of much +poesy. + +Did Mr. Bowles ever gaze upon the sea? I presume that he has, at +least upon a sea-piece. Did any painter ever paint the sea _only_, +without the addition of a ship, boat, wreck, or some such adjunct? Is +the sea itself a more attractive, a more moral, a more poetical +object, with or without a vessel, breaking its vast but fatiguing +monotony? Is a storm more poetical without a ship? or, in the poem of +the Shipwreck, is it the storm or the ship which most interests? both +_much_ undoubtedly; but without the vessel, what should we care for +the tempest? It would sink into mere descriptive poetry, which in +itself was never esteemed a high order of that art. + +I look upon myself as entitled to talk of naval matters, at least to +poets:--with the exception of Walter Scott, Moore, and Southey, +perhaps, who have been voyagers, I have _swam_ more miles than all +the rest of them together now living ever _sailed_, and have lived +for months and months on shipboard; and, during the whole period of +my life abroad, have scarcely ever passed a month out of sight of the +ocean: besides being brought up from two years till ten on the brink +of it. I recollect, when anchored off Cape Sigeum in 1810, in an +English frigate, a violent squall coming on at sunset, so violent as +to make us imagine that the ship would part cable, or drive from her +anchorage. Mr. Hobhouse and myself, and some officers, had been up +the Dardanelles to Abydos, and were just returned in time. The aspect +of a storm in the Archipelago is as poetical as need be, the sea +being particularly short, dashing, and dangerous, and the navigation +intricate and broken by the isles and currents. Cape Sigeum, the +tumuli of the Troad, Lemnos, Tenedos, all added to the associations +of the time. But what seemed the most "_poetical_" of all at the +moment, were the numbers (about two hundred) of Greek and Turkish +craft, which were obliged to "cut and run" before the wind, from +their unsafe anchorage, some for Tenedos, some for other isles, some +for the main, and some it might be for eternity. The sight of these +little scudding vessels, darting over the foam in the twilight, now +appearing and now disappearing between the waves in the cloud of +night, with their peculiarly _white_ sails, (the Levant sails not +being of "_coarse canvass_," but of white cotton,) skimming along as +quickly, but less safely than the sea-mews which hovered over them; +their evident distress, their reduction to fluttering specks in the +distance, their crowded succession, their _littleness_, as contending +with the giant element, which made our stout forty-four's _teak_ +timbers (she was built in India) creak again; their aspect and their +motion, all struck me as something far more "poetical" than the mere +broad, brawling, shipless sea, and the sullen winds, could possibly +have been without them. + +The Euxine is a noble sea to look upon, and the port of +Constantinople the most beautiful of harbours, and yet I cannot but +think that the twenty sail of the line, some of one hundred and forty +guns, rendered it more "poetical" by day in the sun, and by night +perhaps still more, for the Turks illuminate their vessels of war in +a manner the most picturesque, and yet all this is _artificial_. As +for the Euxine, I stood upon the Symplegades--I stood by the broken +altar still exposed to the winds upon one of them--I felt all the +"_poetry_" of the situation, as I repeated the first lines of Medea; +but would not that "poetry" have been heightened by the _Argo_? It +was so even by the appearance of any merchant vessel arriving from +Odessa. But Mr. Bowles says, "Why bring your ship off the stocks?" +for no reason that I know, except that ships are built to be +launched. The water, &c. undoubtedly HEIGHTENS the poetical +associations, but it does not _make_ them; and the ship amply repays +the obligation: they aid each other; the water is more poetical with +the ship--the ship less so without the water. But even a ship laid up +in dock, is a grand and a poetical sight. Even an old boat, keel +upwards, wrecked upon the barren sand, is a "poetical" object, (and +Wordsworth, who made a poem about a washing tub and a blind boy, may +tell you so as well as I,) whilst a long extent of sand and unbroken +water, without the boat, would be as like dull prose as any pamphlet +lately published. + +What makes the poetry in the image of the "_marble waste of Tadmor_," +or Grainger's "Ode to Solitude," so much admired by Johnson? Is it +the "_marble_" or the "_waste,_" the _artificial_ or the _natural_ +object? The "waste" is like all other _wastes_; but the "_marble_" of +Palmyra makes the poetry of the passage as of the place. + +The beautiful but barren Hymettus, the whole coast of Attica, her +hills and mountains, Pentelicus, Anchesmus, Philopappus, &c. &c. are +in themselves poetical, and would be so if the name of Athens, of +Athenians, and her very ruins, were swept from the earth. But am I to +be told that the "nature" of Attica would be _more_ poetical without +the "art" of the Acropolis? of the Temple of Theseus? and of the +still all Greek and glorious monuments of her exquisitely artificial +genius? Ask the traveller what strikes him as most poetical, the +Parthenon, or the rock on which it stands? The COLUMNS of Cape +Colonna, or the Cape itself? The rocks at the foot of it, or the +recollection that Falconer's _ship_ was bulged upon them? There are a +thousand rocks and capes far more picturesque than those of the +Acropolis and Cape Sunium in themselves; what are they to a thousand +scenes in the wilder parts of Greece, of Asia Minor, Switzerland, or +even of Cintra in Portugal, or to many scenes of Italy, and the +Sierras of Spain? But it is the "_art_," the columns, the temples, +the wrecked vessel, which give them their antique and their modern +poetry, and not the spots themselves. Without them, the _spots_ of +earth would be unnoticed and unknown; buried, like Babylon and +Nineveh, in indistinct confusion, without poetry, as without +existence; but to whatever spot of earth these ruins were +transported, if they were _capable_ of transportation, like the +obelisk, and the sphinx, and the Memnon's head, _there_ they would +still exist in the perfection of their beauty, and in the pride of +their poetry. I opposed, and will ever oppose, the robbery of ruins +from Athens, to instruct the English in sculpture; but why did I do +so? The _ruins_ are as poetical in Piccadilly as they were in the +Parthenon; but the Parthenon and its rock are less so without them. +Such is the poetry of art. + +Mr. Bowles contends again that the pyramids of Egypt are poetical, +because of "the association with boundless deserts," and that a +"pyramid of the same dimensions" would not be sublime in "Lincoln's +Inn Fields:" not _so_ poetical certainly; but take away the +"pyramids," and what is the "_desert?"_ Take away Stone-henge from +Salisbury plain, and it is nothing more than Hounslow heath, or any +other unenclosed down. It appears to me that St. Peter's, the +Coliseum, the Pantheon, the Palatine, the Apollo, the Laocoon, the +Venus di Medicis, the Hercules, the dying Gladiator, the Moses of +Michael Angelo, and all the higher works of Canova, (I have already +spoken of those of ancient Greece, still extant in that country, or +transported to England,) are as _poetical_ as Mont Blanc or Mount +Ætna, perhaps still more so, as they are direct manifestations of +mind, and _presuppose_ poetry in their very conception; and have, +moreover, as being such, a something of actual life, which cannot +belong to any part of inanimate nature, unless we adopt the system of +Spinosa, that the world is the Deity. There can be nothing more +poetical in its aspect than the city of Venice: does this depend upon +the sea, or the canals?-- + + "The dirt and sea-weed whence proud Venice rose?" + +Is it the canal which runs between the palace and the prison, or the +"Bridge of Sighs," which connects them, that render it poetical? Is +it the "Canal Grande," or the Rialto which arches it, the churches +which tower over it, the palaces which line, and the gondolas which +glide over the waters, that render this city more poetical than Rome +itself? Mr. Bowles will say, perhaps, that the Rialto is but marble, +the palaces and churches only stone, and the gondolas a "coarse" +black cloth, thrown over some planks of carved wood, with a shining +bit of fantastically formed iron at the prow, "_without_" the water. +And I tell him that without these, the water would be nothing but a +clay-coloured ditch; and whoever says the contrary, deserves to be at +the bottom of that, where Pope's heroes are embraced by the mud +nymphs. There would be nothing to make the canal of Venice more +poetical than that of Paddington, were it not for the artificial +adjuncts above mentioned; although it is a perfectly natural canal, +formed by the sea, and the innumerable islands which constitute the +site of this extraordinary city. + +The very Cloaca of Tarquin at Rome are as poetical as Richmond Hill; +many will think more so: take away Rome, and leave the Tibur and the +seven hills, in the nature of Evander's time. Let Mr. Bowles, or Mr. +Wordsworth, or Mr. Southey, or any of the other "naturals," make a +poem upon them, and then see which is most poetical, their +production, or the commonest guide-book, which tells you the road +from St. Peter's to the Coliseum, and informs you what you will see +by the way. The ground interests in Virgil, because it _will_ be +_Rome_, and not because it is Evander's rural domain. + +Mr. Bowles then proceeds to press Homer into his service, in answer +to a remark of Mr. Campbell's, that "Homer was a great describer of +works of art." Mr. Bowles contends, that all his great power, even in +this, depends upon their connection with nature. The "shield of +Achilles derives its poetical interest from the subjects described on +it." And from what does the _spear_ of Achilles derive its interest? +and the helmet and the mail worn by Patroclus, and the celestial +armour, and the very brazen greaves of the well-booted Greeks? Is it +solely from the legs, and the back, and the breast, and the human +body, which they enclose? In that case, it would have been more +poetical to have made them fight naked; and Gulley and Gregson, as +being nearer to a state of nature, are more poetical boxing in a pair +of drawers than Hector and Achilles in radiant armour, and with +heroic weapons. + +Instead of the clash of helmets, and the rushing of chariots, and the +whizzing of spears, and the glancing of swords, and the cleaving of +shields, and the piercing of breast-plates, why not represent the +Greeks and Trojans like two savage tribes, tugging and tearing, and +kicking and biting, and gnashing, foaming, grinning, and gouging, in +all the poetry of martial nature, unencumbered with gross, prosaic, +artificial arms; an equal superfluity to the natural warrior, and his +natural poet. Is there any thing unpoetical in Ulysses striking the +horses of Rhesus with _his bow_ (having forgotten his thong), or +would Mr. Bowles have had him kick them with his foot, or smack them +with his hand, as being more unsophisticated? + +In Gray's Elegy, is there an image more striking than his "shapeless +sculpture?" Of sculpture in general, it may be observed, that it is +more poetical than nature itself, inasmuch as it represents and +bodies forth that ideal beauty and sublimity which is never to be +found in actual nature. This at least is the general opinion. But, +always excepting the Venus di Medicis, I differ from that opinion, at +least as far as regards female beauty; for the head of Lady +Charlemont (when I first saw her nine years ago) seemed to possess +all that sculpture could require for its ideal. I recollect seeing +something of the same kind in the head of an Albanian girl, who was +actually employed in mending a road in the mountains, and in some +Greek, and one or two Italian, faces. But of _sublimity_, I have +never seen any thing in human nature at all to approach the +expression of sculpture, either in the Apollo, the Moses, or other of +the sterner works of ancient or modern art. + +Let us examine a little further this "babble of green fields" and of +bare nature in general as superior to artificial imagery, for the +poetical purposes of the fine arts. In landscape painting, the great +artist does not give you a literal copy of a country, but he invents +and composes one. Nature, in her actual aspect, does not furnish him +with such existing scenes as he requires. Even where he presents you +with some famous city, or celebrated scene from mountain or other +nature, it must be taken from some particular point of view, and with +such light, and shade, and distance, &c. as serve not only to +heighten its beauties, but to shadow its deformities. The poetry of +nature alone, _exactly_ as she appears, is not sufficient to bear him +out. The very sky of his painting is not the _portrait_ of the sky of +nature; it is a composition of different _skies_, observed at +different times, and not the whole copied from any _particular_ day. +And why? Because nature is not lavish of her beauties; they are +widely scattered, and occasionally displayed, to be selected with +care, and gathered with difficulty. + +Of sculpture I have just spoken. It is the great scope of the +sculptor to heighten nature into heroic beauty, _i.e._ in plain +English, to surpass his model. When Canova forms a statue, he takes a +limb from one, a hand from another, a feature from a third, and a +shape, it may be, from a fourth, probably at the same time improving +upon all, as the Greek of old did in embodying his Venus. + +Ask a portrait painter to describe his agonies in accommodating the +faces with which nature and his sitters have crowded his +painting-room to the principles of his art: with the exception of +perhaps ten faces in as many millions, there is not one which he can +venture to give without shading much and adding more. Nature, +exactly, simply, barely nature, will make no great artist of any +kind, and least of all a poet--the most artificial, perhaps, of all +artists in his very essence. With regard to natural imagery, the +poets are obliged to take some of their best illustrations from +_art_. You say that a "fountain is as clear or clearer than _glass_" +to express its beauty:-- + + "O fons Bandusiæ, splendidior vitro!" + +In the speech of Mark Antony, the body of Cæsar is displayed, but so +also is his _mantle_:-- + + "You all do know this _mantle_," &c. + + * * * * * + + "Look! in this place ran Cassius' _dagger_ through." + +If the poet had said that Cassius had run his _fist_ through the rent +of the mantle, it would have had more of Mr. Bowles's "nature" to +help it; but the artificial _dagger_ is more poetical than any +natural _hand_ without it. In the sublime of sacred poetry, "Who is +this that cometh from Edom? with _dyed garments_ from Bozrah?" Would +"the comer" be poetical without his "_dyed garments?_" which strike +and startle the spectator, and identify the approaching object. + +The mother of Sisera is represented listening for the "_wheels of his +chariot_." Solomon, in his Song, compares the nose of his beloved to +"a tower," which to us appears an eastern exaggeration. If he had +said, that her stature was like that of a "tower's," it would have +been as poetical as if he had compared her to a tree. + + "The virtuous Marcia _towers_ above her sex," + +is an instance of an artificial image to express a _moral_ +superiority. But Solomon, it is probable, did not compare his +beloved's nose to a "tower" on account of its length, but of its +symmetry; and making allowance for eastern hyperbole, and the +difficulty of finding a discreet image for a female nose in nature, +it is perhaps as good a figure as any other. + +Art is _not_ inferior to nature for poetical purposes. What makes a +regiment of soldiers a more noble object of view than the same mass +of mob? Their arms, their dresses, their banners, and the _art_ and +artificial symmetry of their position and movements. A Highlander's +plaid, a Mussulman's turban, and a Roman toga, are more poetical than +the tattooed or untattooed buttocks of a New Sandwich savage, +although they were described by William Wordsworth himself like the +"idiot in his glory." + +I have seen as many mountains as most men, and more fleets than the +generality of landsmen; and, to my mind, a large convoy with a few +sail of the line to conduct them is as noble and as poetical a +prospect as all that inanimate nature can produce. I prefer the "mast +of some great ammiral," with all its tackle, to the Scotch fir or the +alpine tannen; and think that _more_ poetry _has been_ made out of +it. In what does the infinite superiority of "Falconer's Shipwreck" +over all other shipwrecks consist? In his admirable application of +the terms of his art; in a poet-sailor's description of the sailor's +fate. These _very terms_, by his application, make the strength and +reality of his poem. Why? because he was a poet, and in the hands of +a poet, _art_ will not be found less ornamental than nature. It is +precisely in general nature, and in stepping out of his element, that +Falconer fails; where he digresses to speak of ancient Greece, and +"such branches of learning." + +In Dyer's Grongar Hill, upon which his fame rests, the very +appearance of nature herself is moralised into an artificial image: + + "Thus is nature's _vesture_ wrought, + To instruct our wandering thought; + Thus she _dresses green and gay_, + To disperse our cares away." + +And here also we have the telescope; the misuse of which, from +Milton, has rendered Mr. Bowles so triumphant over Mr. Campbell:-- + + "So we mistake the future's face, + Eyed through Hope's deluding _glass_." + +And here a word en passant to Mr. Campbell:-- + + "As yon summits, soft and fair + Clad in colours of the air, + Which to those who journey near + Barren, brown, and rough appear, + Still we tread the same coarse way-- + The present's still a cloudy day." + +Is not this the original of the far-famed-- + + "'Tis distance lends enchantment to the view, + And robes the mountain in its azure hue?" + +To return once more to the sea. Let any one look on the long wall of +Malamocco, which curbs the Adriatic, and pronounce between the sea +and its master. Surely that Roman work (I mean _Roman_ in conception +and performance), which says to the ocean, "Thus far shalt thou come, +and no further," and is obeyed, is not less sublime and poetical than +the angry waves which vainly break beneath it. + +Mr. Bowles makes the chief part of a ship's poesy depend upon the +"_wind:_" then why is a ship under sail more poetical than a hog in a +high wind? The hog is all nature, the ship is all art, "coarse +canvass," "blue bunting," and "tall poles;" both are violently acted +upon by the wind, tossed here and there, to and fro, and yet nothing +but excess of hunger could make me look upon the pig as the more +poetical of the two, and then only in the shape of a griskin. + +Will Mr. Bowles tell us that the poetry of an aqueduct consist in the +_water_ which it conveys? Let him look on that of Justinian, on those +of Rome, Constantinople, Lisbon, and Elvas, or even at the remains of +that in Attica. + +We are asked, "What makes the venerable towers of Westminster Abbey +more poetical, as objects, than the tower for the manufactory of +patent shot, surrounded by the same scenery?" I will answer--the +_architecture_. Turn Westminster Abbey, or Saint Paul's into a powder +magazine, their poetry, as objects, remains the same; the Parthenon +was actually converted into one by the Turks, during Morosini's +Venetian siege, and part of it destroyed in consequence. Cromwell's +dragoons stalled their steeds in Worcester cathedral; was it less +poetical as an object than before? Ask a foreigner on his approach to +London, what strikes him as the most poetical of the towers before +him: he will point out Saint Paul's and Westminster Abbey, without, +perhaps, knowing the names or associations of either, and pass over +the "tower for patent shot,"--not that, for any thing he knows to the +contrary, it might not be the mausoleum of a monarch, or a Waterloo +column, or a Trafalgar monument, but because its architecture is +obviously inferior. + +To the question, "Whether the description of a game of cards be as +poetical, supposing the execution of the artists equal, as a +description of a walk in a forest?" it may be answered, that the +_materials_ are certainly not equal; but that "the _artist_," who has +rendered the "game of cards poetical," is _by far the greater_ of the +two. But all this "ordering" of poets is purely arbitrary on the part +of Mr. Bowles. There may or may not be, in fact, different "orders" +of poetry, but the poet is always ranked according to his execution, +and not according to his branch of the art. + +Tragedy is one of the highest presumed orders. Hughes has written a +tragedy, and a very successful one; Fenton another; and Pope none. +Did any man, however,--will even Mr. Bowles himself,--rank Hughes and +Fenton as poets above _Pope_? Was even Addison (the author of Cato), +or Rowe (one of the higher order of dramatists as far as success +goes), or Young, or even Otway and Southerne, ever raised for a +moment to the same rank with Pope in the estimation of the reader or +the critic, before his death or since? If Mr. Bowles will contend for +classifications of this kind, let him recollect that descriptive +poetry has been ranked as among the lowest branches of the art, and +description as a mere ornament, but which should never form the +"subject" of a poem. The Italians, with the most poetical language, +and the most fastidious taste in Europe, possess now five _great_ +poets, they say, Dante, Petrarch, Ariosto, Tasso, and, lastly, +Alfieri[1]; and whom do they esteem one of the highest of these, and +some of them the very highest? Petrarch the _sonneteer_: it is true +that some of his Canzoni are _not less_ esteemed, but _not_ more; who +ever dreams of his Latin Africa? + +[Footnote 1: Of these there is one ranked with the others for his +SONNETS, and _two_ for compositions which belong to _no class_ at +all? Where is Dante? His poem is not an epic; then what is it? He +himself calls it a "divine comedy;" and why? This is more than all +his thousand commentators have been able to explain. Ariosto's is not +an _epic_ poem; and if poets are to be _classed_ according to the +_genus_ of their poetry, where is he to be placed? Of these five, +Tasso and Alfieri only come within Aristotle's arrangement, and Mr. +Bowles's class-book. But the whole position is false. Poets are +classed by the power of their performance, and not according to its +rank in a gradus. In the contrary case, the forgotten epic poets of +all countries would rank above Petrarch, Dante, Ariosto, Burns, Gray, +Dryden, and the highest names of various countries. Mr. Bowles's +title of "_invariable_ principles of poetry," is, perhaps, the most +arrogant ever prefixed to a volume. So far are the principles of +poetry from being "_invariable_," that they never were nor ever will +be settled. These "principles" mean nothing more than the +predilections of a particular age; and every age has its own, and a +different from its predecessor. It is now Homer, and now Virgil; once +Dryden, and since Walter Scott; now Corneille, and now Racine; now +Crebillon, now Voltaire. The Homerists and Virgilians in France +disputed for half a century. Not fifty years ago the Italians +neglected Dante--Bettinelli reproved Monti for reading "that +barbarian;" at present they adore him. Shakspeare and Milton have had +their rise, and they will have their decline. Already they have more +than once fluctuated, as must be the case with all the dramatists and +poets of a living language. This does not depend upon their merits, +but upon the ordinary vicissitudes of human opinions. Schlegel and +Madame de Stael have endeavoured also to reduce poetry to _two_ +systems, classical and romantic. The effect is only beginning.] + +Were Petrarch to be ranked according to the "order" of his +compositions, where would the best of sonnets place him? with Dante +and the others? no; but, as I have before said, the poet who +_executes_ best, is the highest, whatever his department, and will +ever be so rated in the world's esteem. + +Had Gray written nothing but his Elegy, high as he stands, I am not +sure that he would not stand higher; it is the corner-stone of his +glory: without it, his odes would be insufficient for his fame. The +depreciation of Pope is partly founded upon a false idea of the +dignity of his order of poetry, to which he has partly contributed by +the ingenuous boast, + + "That not in fancy's maze he wandered long, + But _stoop'd_ to truth, and moralised his song." + +He should have written "rose to truth." In my mind, the highest of +all poetry is ethical poetry, as the highest of all earthly objects +must be moral truth. Religion does not make a part of my subject; it +is something beyond human powers, and has failed in all human hands +except Milton's and Dante's, and even Dante's powers are involved in +his delineation of human passions, though in supernatural +circumstances. What made Socrates the greatest of men? His moral +truth--his ethics. What proved Jesus Christ the Son of God hardly +less than his miracles? His moral precepts. And if ethics have made a +philosopher the first of men, and have not been disdained as an +adjunct to his Gospel by the Deity himself, are we to be told that +ethical poetry, or didactic poetry, or by whatever name you term it, +whose object is to make men better and wiser, is not the _very first +order_ of poetry; and are we to be told this too by one of the +priesthood? It requires more mind, more wisdom, more power, than all +the "forests" that ever were "walked" for their "description," and +all the epics that ever were founded upon fields of battle. The +Georgics are indisputably, and, I believe, _undisputedly_ even a +finer poem than the Æneid. Virgil knew this; he did not order _them_ +to be burnt. + + "The proper study of mankind is man." + +It is the fashion of the day to lay great stress upon what they call +"imagination" and "invention," the two commonest of qualities: an +Irish peasant with a little whiskey in his head will imagine and +invent more than would furnish forth a modern poem. If Lucretius had +not been spoiled by the Epicurean system, we should have had a far +superior poem to any now in existence. As mere poetry, it is the +first of Latin poems. What then has ruined it? His ethics. Pope has +not this defect; his moral is as pure as his poetry is glorious. + +In speaking of artificial objects, I have omitted to touch upon one +which I will now mention. Cannon may be presumed to be as highly +poetical as art can make her objects. Mr. Bowles will, perhaps, tell +me that this is because they resemble that grand natural article of +sound in heaven, and simile upon earth--thunder. I shall be told +triumphantly, that Milton made sad work with his artillery, when he +armed his devils therewithal. He did so; and this artificial object +must have had much of the sublime to attract his attention for such a +conflict. He _has_ made an absurd use of it; but the absurdity +consists not in using _cannon_ against the angels of God, but any +_material_ weapon. The thunder of the clouds would have been as +ridiculous and vain in the hands of the devils, as the "villanous +saltpetre:" the angels were as impervious to the one as to the other. +The thunderbolts become sublime in the hands of the Almighty not as +such, but because _he_ deigns to use them as a means of repelling the +rebel spirits; but no one can attribute their defeat to this grand +piece of natural electricity: the Almighty willed, and they fell; his +word would have been enough; and Milton is as absurd, (and, in fact, +_blasphemous_,) in putting material lightnings into the hands of the +Godhead, as in giving him hands at all. + +The artillery of the demons was but the first step of his mistake, +the thunder the next, and it is a step lower. It would have been fit +for Jove, but not for Jehovah. The subject altogether was essentially +unpoetical; he has made more of it than another could, but it is +beyond him and all men. + +In a portion of his reply, Mr. Bowles asserts that Pope "envied +Phillips," because he quizzed his pastorals in the Guardian, in that +most admirable model of irony, his paper on the subject. If there was +any thing enviable about Phillips, it could hardly be his pastorals. +They were despicable, and Pope expressed his contempt. If Mr. +Fitzgerald published a volume of sonnets, or a "Spirit of Discovery," +or a "Missionary," and Mr. Bowles wrote in any periodical journal an +ironical paper upon them, would this be "envy?" The authors of the +"Rejected Addresses" have ridiculed the sixteen or twenty "first +living poets" of the day, but do they "envy" them? "Envy" writhes, it +don't laugh. The authors of the Rejected Addresses may despise some, +but they can hardly "envy" any of the persons whom they have +parodied; and Pope could have no more envied Phillips than he did +Welsted, or Theobald, or Smedley, or any other given hero of the +Dunciad. He could not have envied him, even had he himself _not_ been +the greatest poet of his age. Did Mr. Ings "_envy_" Mr. Phillips when +he asked him, "How came your Pyrrhus to drive oxen and say, I am +_goaded_ on by love?" This question silenced poor Phillips; but it no +more proceeded from "envy" than did Pope's ridicule. Did he envy +Swift? Did he envy Bolingbroke? Did he envy Gay the unparalleled +success of his "Beggar's Opera?" We may be answered that these were +his friends--true: but does _friendship_ prevent _envy_? Study the +first woman you meet with, or the first scribbler, let Mr. Bowles +himself (whom I acquit fully of such an odious quality) study some of +his own poetical intimates: the most envious man I ever heard of is a +poet, and a high one; besides, it is an _universal_ passion. +Goldsmith envied not only the puppets for their dancing, and broke +his shins in the attempt at rivalry, but was seriously angry because +two pretty women received more attention than he did. _This is envy;_ +but where does Pope show a sign of the passion? In that case Dryden +envied the hero of his Mac Flecknoe. Mr. Bowles compares, when and +where he can, Pope with Cowper--(the same Cowper whom in his edition +of Pope he laughs at for his attachment to an old woman, Mrs. Unwin; +search and you will find it; I remember the passage, though not the +page;) in particular he requotes Cowper's Dutch delineation of a +wood, drawn up, like a seedsman's catalogue[1], with an affected +imitation of Milton's style, as burlesque as the "Splendid Shilling." +These two writers, for Cowper is no poet, come into comparison in one +great work, the translation of Homer. Now, with all the great, and +manifest, and manifold, and reproved, and acknowledged, and +uncontroverted faults of Pope's translation, and all the scholarship, +and pains, and time, and trouble, and blank verse of the other, who +can ever read Cowper? and who will ever lay down Pope, unless for the +original? Pope's was "not Homer, it was Spondanus;" but Cowper's is +not Homer either, it is not even Cowper. As a child I first read +Pope's Homer with a rapture which no subsequent work could ever +afford, and children are not the worst judges of their own language. +As a boy I read Homer in the original, as we have all done, some of +us by force, and a few by favour; under which description I come is +nothing to the purpose, it is enough that I read him. As a man I have +tried to read Cowper's version, and I found it impossible. Has any +human reader ever succeeded? + +[Footnote 1: I will submit to Mr. Bowles's own judgment a passage +from another poem of Cowper's, to be compared with the same writer's +Sylvan Sampler. In the lines to Mary,-- + + "Thy _needles_, once a shining store, + For my sake restless heretofore, + Now rust disused, and shine no more, + My Mary," + +contain a simple, household, "_indoor_," artificial, and ordinary +image; I refer Mr. Bowles to the stanza, and ask if these three lines +about "_needles_" are not worth all the boasted twaddling about +trees, so triumphantly re-quoted? and yet, in _fact_, what do they +convey? A homely collection of images and ideas, associated with the +darning of stockings, and the hemming of shirts, and the mending of +breeches; but will any one deny that they are eminently poetical and +pathetic as addressed by Cowper to his nurse? The trash of trees +reminds me of a saying of Sheridan's. Soon after the "Rejected +Address" scene in 1812, I met Sheridan. In the course of dinner, he +said, "Lord Byron, did you know that, amongst the writers of +addresses, was Whitbread himself?" I answered by an enquiry of what +sort of an address he had made. "Of that," replied Sheridan, "I +remember little, except that there was a _phoenix_ in it."--"A +phoenix!! Well, how did he describe it?"--"_Like a poulterer_," +answered Sheridan: "it was green, and yellow, and red, and blue: he +did not let us off for a single feather." And just such as this +poulterer's account of a phoenix is Cowper's stick-picker's detail of +a wood, with all its petty minutiæ of this, that, and the other.] + +And now that we have heard the Catholic repreached with envy, +duplicity, licentiousness, avarice--what was the Calvinist? He +attempted the most atrocious of crimes in the Christian code, viz. +suicide--and why? because he was to be examined whether he was fit +for an office which he seems to wish to have made a sinecure. His +connection with Mrs. Unwin was pure enough, for the old lady was +devout, and he was deranged; but why then is the infirm and then +elderly Pope to be reproved for his connection with Martha Blount: +Cowper was the almoner of Mrs. Throgmorton; but Pope's charities were +his own, and they were noble and extensive, far beyond his fortune's +warrant. Pope was the tolerant yet steady adherent of the most +bigoted of sects; and Cowper the most bigoted and despondent sectary +that ever anticipated damnation to himself or others. Is this harsh? +I know it is, and I do not assert it as my opinion of Cowper +_personally_, but to _show what might_ be said, with just as great an +appearance of truth and candour, as all the odium which has been +accumulated upon Pope in similar speculations. Cowper was a good man, +and lived at a fortunate time for his works. + +[Footnote: One more poetical instance of the power of art, and even +its _superiority_ over nature, in poetry; and I have done:--the bust +of _Antinous_! Is there any thing in nature like this marble, +excepting the Venus? Can there be more _poetry_ gathered into +existence than in that wonderful creation of perfect beauty? But the +poetry of this bust is in no respect derived from nature, nor from +any association of moral exaltedness; for what is there in common +with moral nature, and the male minion of Adrian? The very execution +is _not natural_, but _super_-natural, or rather _super-artificial,_ +for nature has never done so much. + +Away, then, with this cant about nature, and "invariable principles +of poetry!" A great artist will make a block of stone as sublime as a +mountain, and a good poet can imbue a pack of cards with more poetry +than inhabits the forests of America. It is the business and the +proof of a poet to give the lie to the proverb, and sometimes to +"_make a silken purse out of a sow's ear_;" and to conclude with +another homely proverb, "a good workman will not find fault with his +tools."] + +Mr. Bowles, apparently not relying entirely upon his own arguments, +has, in person or by proxy, brought forward the names of Southey and +Moore. Mr. Southey "agrees entirely with Mr. Bowles in his +_invariable_ principles of poetry." The least that Mr. Bowles can do +in return is to approve the "invariable principles of Mr. Southey." I +should have thought that the word "_invariable_" might have stuck in +Southey's throat, like Macbeth's "Amen!" I am sure it did in mine, +and I am not the least consistent of the two, at least as a voter. +Moore _(et tu, Brute!_) also approves, and a Mr. J. Scott. There is a +letter also of two lines from a gentleman in asterisks, who, it +seems, is a poet of "the highest rank:"--who _can_ this be? not my +friend, Sir Walter, surely. Campbell it can't be; Rogers it won't be. + + "You have _hit the nail in_ the head, and * * * * + [Pope, I presume] _on_ the head also. + + "I _remain_ yours, affectionately, + "(Five _Asterisks_.)" + +And in asterisks let him remain. Whoever this person may be, he +deserves, for such a judgment of Midas, that "the nail" which Mr. +Bowles has "hit _in_ the head," should he driven through his own +ears; I am sure that they are long enough. + +The attempt of the poetical populace of the present day to obtain an +ostracism against Pope is as easily accounted for as the Athenian's +shell against Aristides; they are tired of hearing him always called +"the Just." They are also fighting for life; for, if he maintains his +station, they will reach their own by falling. They have raised a +mosque by the side of a Grecian temple of the purest architecture; +and, more barbarous than the barbarians from whose practice I have +borrowed the figure, they are not contented with their own grotesque +edifice, unless they destroy the prior, and purely beautiful fabric +which preceded, and which shames them and theirs for ever and ever. I +shall be told that amongst those I _have_ been (or it may be, still +_am_) conspicuous--true, and I am ashamed of it. I _have_ been +amongst the builders of this Babel, attended by a confusion of +tongues, but _never_ amongst the envious destroyers of the classic +temple of our predecessor. I have loved and honoured the fame and +name of that illustrious and unrivalled man, far more than my own +paltry renown, and the trashy jingle of the crowd of "Schools" and +upstarts, who pretend to rival, or even surpass him. Sooner than a +single leaf should be torn from his laurel, it were better that all +which these men, and that I, as one of their set, have ever written, +should + + "Line trunks, clothe spice, or, fluttering in a row, + Befringe the rails of Bedlam, or Soho!" + +There are those who will believe this, and those who will not. You, +sir, know how far I am sincere, and whether my opinion, not only in +the short work intended for publication, and in private letters which +can never be published, has or has not been the same. I look upon +this as the declining age of English poetry; no regard for others, no +selfish feeling, can prevent me from seeing this, and expressing the +truth. There can be no worse sign for the taste of the times than the +depreciation of Pope. It would be better to receive for proof Mr. +Cobbett's rough but strong attack upon Shakspeare and Milton, than to +allow this smooth and "candid" undermining of the reputation of the +most _perfect_ of our poets, and the purest of our moralists. Of his +power in the _passions_, in description, in the mock heroic, I leave +others to descant. I take him on his strong ground as an _ethical_ +poet: in the former, none excel; in the mock heroic and the ethical, +none equal him; and in my mind, the latter is the highest of all +poetry, because it does that in _verse_, which the greatest of men +have wished to accomplish in prose. If the essence of poetry must be +a _lie_, throw it to the dogs, or banish it from your republic, as +Plato would have done. He who can reconcile poetry with truth and +wisdom, is the only true "_poet_" in its real sense, "the _maker_" +"the _creator_,"--why must this mean the "liar," the "feigner," the +"tale-teller?" A man may make and create better things than these. + +I shall not presume to say that Pope is as high a poet as Shakspeare +and Milton, though his enemy, Warton, places him immediately under +them.[1] I would no more say this than I would assert in the mosque +(once Saint Sophia's), that Socrates was a greater man than Mahomet. +But if I say that he is very near them, it is no more than has been +asserted of Burns, who is supposed + + "To rival all but Shakspeare's name below." + +[Footnote 1: If the opinions cited by Mr. Bowles, of Dr. Johnson +_against_ Pope, are to be taken as decisive authority, they will also +hold good against Gray, Milton, Swift, Thomson, and Dryden: in that +case what becomes of Gray's poetical, and Milton's moral character? +even of Milton's _poetical_ character, or, indeed, of _English_ +poetry in general? for Johnson strips many a leaf from every laurel. +Still Johnson's is the finest critical work extant, and can never be +read without instruction and delight.] + +I say nothing against this opinion. But of what "_order_," according +to the poetical aristocracy, are Burns's poems? There are his _opus +magnum_, "Tam O'Shanter," a _tale_; the Cotter's Saturday Night, a +descriptive sketch; some others in the same style: the rest are +songs. So much for the _rank_ of his _productions_; the _rank_ of +_Burns_ is the very first of his art. Of Pope I have expressed my +opinion elsewhere, as also of the effect which the present attempts +at poetry have had upon our literature. If any great national or +natural convulsion could or should overwhelm your country in such +sort, as to sweep Great Britain from the kingdoms of the earth, and +leave only that, after all, the most living of human things, a _dead +language_, to be studied and read, and imitated by the wise of future +and far generations, upon foreign shores; if your literature should +become the learning of mankind, divested of party cabals, temporary +fashions, and national pride and prejudice; an Englishman, anxious +that the posterity of strangers should know that there had been such +a thing as a British Epic and Tragedy, might wish for the +preservation of Shakspeare and Milton; but the surviving world would +snatch Pope from the wreck, and let the rest sink with the people. He +is the moral poet of all civilisation; and as such, let us hope that +he will one day be the national poet of mankind. He is the only poet +that never shocks; the only poet whose _faultlessness_ has been made +his reproach. Cast your eye over his productions; consider their +extent, and contemplate their variety:--pastoral, passion, mock +heroic, translation, satire, ethics,--all excellent, and often +perfect. If his great charm be his _melody_, how comes it that +foreigners adore him even in their diluted translations? But I have +made this letter too long. Give my compliments to Mr. Bowles. + +Yours ever, very truly, + +BYRON. + +_To John Murray, Esq_. + +_Post Scriptum_.--Long as this letter has grown, I find it necessary +to append a postscript; if possible, a short one. Mr. Bowles denies +that he has accused Pope of "a sordid money-getting passion;" but, he +adds, "if I had ever done so, I should be glad to find any testimony +that, might show he was _not_ so." This testimony he may find to his +heart's content in Spence and elsewhere. First, there is Martha +Blount, who, Mr. Bowles charitably says, "probably thought he did not +save enough for her, as legatee." Whatever she _thought_ upon this +point, her words are in Pope's favour. Then there is Alderman Barber; +see Spence's Anecdotes. There is Pope's cold answer to Halifax when +he proposed a pension; his behaviour to Craggs and to Addison upon +like occasions, and his own two lines-- + + "And, thanks to Homer, since I live and thrive, + Indebted to no prince or peer alive;" + +written when princes would have been proud to pension, and peers to +promote him, and when the whole army of dunces were in array against +him, and would have been but too happy to deprive him of this boast +of independence. But there is something a little more serious in Mr. +Bowles's declaration, that he "_would_ have spoken" of his "noble +generosity to the outcast Richard Savage," and other instances of a +compassionate and generous heart, "_had they occurred to his +recollection when he wrote_." What! is it come to this? Does Mr. +Bowles sit down to write a minute and laboured life and edition of a +great poet? Does he anatomise his character, moral and poetical? Does +he present us with his faults and with his foibles? Does he sneer at +his feelings, and doubt of his sincerity? Does he unfold his vanity +and duplicity? and then omit the good qualities which might, in part, +have "covered this multitude of sins?" and then plead that "_they did +not occur to his recollection_?" Is this the frame of mind and of +memory with which the illustrious dead are to be approached? If Mr. +Bowles, who must have had access to all the means of refreshing his +memory, did not recollect these facts, he is unfit for his task; but +if he _did_ recollect and omit them, I know not what he is fit for, +but I know what would be fit for him. Is the plea of "not +recollecting" such prominent facts to be admitted? Mr. Bowles has +been at a public school, and as I have been publicly educated also, I +can sympathise with his predilection. When we were in the third form +even, had we pleaded on the Monday morning, that we had not brought +up the Saturday's exercise, because "we had forgotten it," what would +have been the reply? And is an excuse, which would not be pardoned to +a schoolboy, to pass current in a matter which so nearly concerns the +fame of the first poet of his age, if not of his country? If Mr. +Bowles so readily forgets the virtues of others, why complain so +grievously that others have a better memory for his own faults? They +are but the faults of an author; while the virtues he omitted from +his catalogue are essential to the justice due to a man. + +Mr. Bowles appears, indeed, to be susceptible beyond the privilege of +authorship. There is a plaintive dedication to Mr. Gifford, in which +_he_ is made responsible for all the articles of the Quarterly. Mr. +Southey, it seems, "the most able and eloquent writer in that +Review," approves of Mr. Bowles's publication. Now it seems to me the +more impartial, that notwithstanding that "the great writer of the +Quarterly" entertains opinions opposite to the able article on +Spence, nevertheless that essay was permitted to appear. Is a review +to be devoted to the opinions of any _one_ man? + +Must it not vary according to circumstances, and according to the +subjects to be criticised? I fear that writers must take the sweets +and bitters of the public journals as they occur, and an author of so +long a standing as Mr. Bowles might have become accustomed to such +incidents; he might be angry, but not astonished. I have been +reviewed in the Quarterly almost as often as Mr. Bowles, and have had +as pleasant things said, and some _as unpleasant_, as could well be +pronounced. In the review of "The Fall of Jerusalem" it is stated, +that I have devoted "my powers, &c. to the worst parts of +Manicheism;" which, being interpreted, means that I worship the +devil. Now, I have neither written a reply, nor complained to +Gifford. I believe that I observed in a letter to you, that I thought +"that the critic might have praised Milman without finding it +necessary to abuse me;" but did I not add at the same time, or soon +after, (à propos, of the note in the book of Travels,) that I would +not, if it were even in my power, have a single line cancelled on my +account in that nor in any other publication? Of course, I reserve to +myself the privilege of response when necessary. Mr. Bowles seems in +a whimsical state about the author of the article on Spence. You know +very well that I am not in your confidence, nor in that of the +conductor of the journal. The moment I saw that article, I was +morally certain that I knew the author "by his style." You will tell +me that I do _not know_ him: that is all as it should be; keep the +secret, so shall I, though no one has ever intrusted it to me. He is +not the person whom Mr. Bowles denounces. Mr. Bowles's extreme +sensibility reminds me of a circumstance which occurred on board of a +frigate in which I was a passenger and guest of the captain's for a +considerable time. The surgeon on board, a very gentlemanly young +man, and remarkably able in his profession, wore a _wig_. Upon this +ornament he was extremely tenacious. As naval jests are sometimes a +little rough, his brother officers made occasional allusions to this +delicate appendage to the doctor's person. One day a young +lieutenant, in the course of a facetious discussion, said, "Suppose +now, doctor, I should take off your _hat_,"--"Sir," replied the +doctor, "I shall talk no longer with you; you grow _scurrilous_." He +would not even admit so near an approach as to the hat which +protected it. In like manner, if any body approaches Mr. Bowles's +laurels, even in his outside capacity of an _editor_, "they grow +_scurrilous_." You say that you are about to prepare an edition of +Pope; you cannot do better for your own credit as a publisher, nor +for the redemption of Pope from Mr. Bowles, and of the public taste +from rapid degeneracy. + + + + +OBSERVATIONS UPON "OBSERVATIONS" + + +A SECOND LETTER TO JOHN MURRAY, ESQ. ON THE REV. W.L. BOWLES'S +STRICTURES ON THE LIFE AND WRITINGS OF POPE. + + * * * * * + +_Now first published_. + + * * * * * + +Ravenna, March 25. 1821. + +Dear Sir, + +In the further "Observations" of Mr. Bowles, in rejoinder to the +charges brought against his edition of Pope, it is to be regretted +that he has lost his temper. Whatever the language of his antagonists +may have been, I fear that his replies have afforded more pleasure to +them than to the public. That Mr. Bowles should not be pleased is +natural, whether right or wrong; but a temperate defence would have +answered his purpose in the former case--and, in the latter, no +defence, however violent, can tend to any thing but his discomfiture. +I have read over this third pamphlet, which you have been so obliging +as to send me, and shall venture a few observations, in addition to +those upon the previous controversy. + +Mr. Bowles sets out with repeating his "_confirmed conviction_," that +"what he said of the moral part of Pope's character was, generally +speaking, true; and that the principles of _poetical_ criticism which +he has laid down are _invariable_ and _invulnerable_," &c.; and that +he is the _more_ persuaded of this by the "_exaggerations_ of his +opponents." This is all very well, and highly natural and sincere. +Nobody ever expected that either Mr. Bowles, or any other author, +would be convinced of human fallibility in their own persons. But it +is nothing to the purpose--for it is not what Mr. Bowles thinks, but +what is to be thought of Pope, that is the question. It is what he +has asserted or insinuated against a name which is the patrimony of +posterity, that is to be tried; and Mr. Bowles, as a party, can be no +judge. The more _he_ is persuaded, the better for himself, if it give +him any pleasure; but he can only persuade others by the proofs +brought out in his defence. + +After these prefatory remarks of "conviction," &c. Mr. Bowles +proceeds to Mr. Gilchrist; whom he charges with "slang" and +"slander," besides a small subsidiary indictment of "abuse, +ignorance, malice," and so forth. Mr. Gilchrist has, indeed, shown +some anger; but it is an honest indignation, which rises up in +defence of the illustrious dead. It is a generous rage which +interposes between our ashes and their disturbers. There appears also +to have been some slight personal provocation. Mr. Gilchrist, with a +chivalrous disdain of the fury of an incensed poet, put his name to a +letter avowing the production of a former essay in defence of Pope, +and consequently of an attack upon Mr. Bowles. Mr. Bowles appears to +be angry with Mr. Gilchrist for four reasons:--firstly, because he +wrote an article in "The London Magazine;" secondly, because he +afterwards avowed it; thirdly, because he was the author of a still +more extended article in "The Quarterly Review;" and, fourthly, +because he was NOT the author of the said Quarterly article, and had +the audacity to disown it--for no earthly reason but because he had +NOT written it. + +Mr. Bowles declares, that "he will not enter into a particular +examination of the pamphlet," which by a _misnomer_ is called +"Gilchrist's Answer to Bowles," when it should have been called +"Gilchrist's Abuse of Bowles." On this error in the baptism of Mr. +Gilchrist's pamphlet, it may be observed, that an answer may be +abusive and yet no less an answer, though indisputably a temperate +one might be the better of the two: but if _abuse_ is to cancel all +pretensions to reply, what becomes of Mr. Bowles's answers to Mr. +Gilchrist? + +Mr. Bowles continues:--"But as Mr. Gilchrist derides my _peculiar +sensitiveness to criticism_, before I show how _destitute of truth is +this representation_, I will here explicitly declare the only +grounds," &c. &c. &c.--Mr. Bowles's sensibility in denying his +"sensitiveness to criticism" proves, perhaps, too much. But if he has +been so charged, and truly--what then? There is no moral turpitude in +such acuteness of feeling: it has been, and may be, combined with +many good and great qualities. Is Mr. Bowles a poet, or is he not? If +he be, he must, from his very essence, be sensitive to criticism; and +even if he be not, he need not be ashamed of the common repugnance to +being attacked. All that is to be wished is, that he had considered +how disagreeable a thing it is, before he assailed the greatest moral +poet of any age, or in any language. + +Pope himself "sleeps well,"--nothing can touch him further; but those +who love the honour of their country, the perfection of her +literature, the glory of her language--are not to be expected to +permit an atom of his dust to be stirred in his tomb, or a leaf to be +stripped from the laurel which grows over it. + +Mr. Bowles assigns several reasons why and when "an author is +justified in appealing to every _upright_ and _honourable_ mind in +the kingdom." If Mr. Bowles limits the perusal of his defence to the +"upright and honourable" only, I greatly fear that it will not be +extensively circulated. I should rather hope that some of the +downright and dishonest will read and be converted, or convicted. But +the whole of his reasoning is here superfluous--"_an author is +justified in appealing_," &c. when and why he pleases. Let him make +out a tolerable case, and few of his readers will quarrel with his +motives. + +Mr. Bowles "will now plainly set before the literary public all the +circumstances which have led to _his name_ and Mr. Gilchrist's being +brought together," &c. Courtesy requires, in speaking of others and +ourselves, that we should place the name of the former first--and not +"_Ego_ et Rex meus." Mr. Bowles should have written "Mr. Gilchrist's +name and his." + +This point he wishes "particularly to address to those _most +respectable characters_, who have the direction and management of the +periodical critical press." That the press may be, in some instances, +conducted by respectable characters is probable enough; but if they +are so, there is no occasion to tell them of it; and if they are not, +it is a base adulation. In either case, it looks like a kind of +flattery, by which those gentry are not very likely to be softened; +since it would be difficult to find two passages in fifteen pages +more at variance, than Mr. Bowles's prose at the beginning of this +pamphlet, and his verse at the end of it. In page 4. he speaks of +"those most respectable characters who have the direction, &c. of the +periodical press," and in page 10. we find-- + + "Ye _dark inquisitors_, a monk-like band, + Who o'er some shrinking victim-author stand, + A solemn, secret, and _vindictive brand, + Only_ terrific in your cowl and hood." + +And so on--to "bloody law" and "red scourges," with other similar +phrases, which may not be altogether agreeable to the above-mentioned +"most respectable characters." Mr. Bowles goes on, "I concluded my +observations in the last Pamphleteer with feelings _not unkind_ +towards Mr. Gilchrist, or" [it should be _nor_] "to the author of the +review of Spence, be he whom he might."--"I was in hopes, _as I have +always been ready to admit any errors_ I might have been led into, or +prejudice I might have entertained, that even Mr. Gilchrist might be +disposed to a more _amicable_ mode of discussing what I had advanced +in regard to Pope's moral character." As Major Sturgeon observes, +"There never was a set of more _amicable_ officers--with the +exception of a boxing-bout between Captain Shears and the Colonel." + +A page and a half--nay only a page before--Mr. Bowles re-affirms his +conviction, that "what he has said of Pope's moral character is +_(generally speaking) true,_ and that his "poetical principles are +_invariable_ and _invulnerable_." He has also published three +pamphlets,--ay, four of the same tenour,--and yet, with this +declaration and these declamations staring him and his adversaries in +the face, he speaks of his "readiness to admit errors or to abandon +prejudices!!!" His use of the word "amicable" reminds me of the Irish +Institution (which I have somewhere heard or read of) called the +"_Friendly_ Society," where the president always carried pistols in +his pocket, so that when one amicable gentleman knocked down another, +the difference might be adjusted on the spot, at the harmonious +distance of twelve paces. + +But Mr. Bowles "has since read a publication by him (Mr. Gilchrist) +containing such vulgar slander, affecting private life and +character," &c. &c.; and Mr. Gilchrist has also had the advantage of +reading a publication by Mr. Bowles sufficiently imbued with +personality; for one of the first and principal topics of reproach is +that he is a _grocer_, that he has a "pipe in his mouth, ledger-book, +green canisters, dingy shop-boy, half a hogshead of brown treacle," +&c. Nay, the same delicate raillery is upon the very title-page. When +controversy has once commenced upon this footing, as Dr. Johnson said +to Dr. Percy, "Sir, there is an end of politeness--we are to be as +rude as we please--Sir, you said that I was _short-sighted_." As a +man's profession is generally no more in his own power than his +person--both having been made out for him--it is hard that he should +be reproached with either, and still more that an honest calling +should be made a reproach. If there is any thing more honourable to +Mr. Gilchrist than another it is, that being engaged in commerce he +has had the taste, and found the leisure, to become so able a +proficient in the higher literature of his own and other countries. +Mr. Bowles, who will be proud to own Glover, Chatterton, Burns, and +Bloomfleld for his peers, should hardly have quarrelled with Mr. +Gilchrist for his critic. Mr. Gilchrist's station, however, which +might conduct him to the highest civic honours, and to boundless +wealth, has nothing to require apology; but even if it had, such a +reproach was not very gracious on the part of a clergyman, nor +graceful on that of a gentleman. The allusion to "_Christian_ +criticism" is not particularly happy, especially where Mr. Gilchrist +is accused of having "_set the first example of this mode in +Europe_." What _Pagan_ criticism may have been we know but little; +the names of Zoilus and Aristarchus survive, and the works of +Aristotle, Longinus, and Quintilian: but of "Christian criticism" we +have already had some specimens in the works of Philelphus, Poggius, +Scaliger, Milton, Salmasius, the Cruscanti (versus Tasso), the French +Academy (against the Cid), and the antagonists of Voltaire and of +Pope--to say nothing of some articles in most of the reviews, since +their earliest institution in the person of their respectable and +still prolific parent, "The Monthly." Why, then, is Mr. Gilchrist to +be singled out "as having set the first example?" A sole page of +Milton or Salmasius contains more abuse--rank, rancorous, +_unleavened_ abuse--than all that can be raked forth from the whole +works of many recent critics. There are some, indeed, who still keep +up the good old custom; but fewer English than foreign. It is a pity +that Mr. Bowles cannot witness some of the Italian controversies, or +become the subject of one. He would then look upon Mr. Gilchrist as a +panegyrist. + +In the long sentence quoted from the article in "The London +Magazine," there is one coarse image, the justice of whose +application I shall not pretend to determine:--"The pruriency with +which his nose is laid to the ground" is an expression which, whether +founded or not, might have been omitted. But the "anatomical +minuteness" appears to me justified even by Mr. Bowles's own +subsequent quotation. To the point:--"_Many facts_ tend to prove the +peculiar susceptibility of his passions; nor can we implicitly +believe that the connexion between him and Martha Blount was of a +nature so pure and innocent as his panegyrist Ruffhead would have us +believe," &c.--"At _no time_ could she have regarded _Pope +personally_ with attachment," &c.--"But the most extraordinary +circumstance in regard to his connexion with female society, was the +strange mixture of _indecent_ and even _profane_ levity which his +conduct and language often exhibited. The cause of this particularity +may be sought, perhaps, in his consciousness of physical defect, +which made him affect a character uncongenial, and a language +opposite to the truth."--If this is not "minute moral anatomy," I +should be glad to know what is! It is dissection in all its branches. +I shall, however, hazard a remark or two upon this quotation. + +To me it appears of no very great consequence whether Martha Blount +was or was not Pope's mistress, though I could have wished him a +better. She appears to have been a cold-hearted, interested, +ignorant, disagreeable woman, upon whom the tenderness of Pope's +heart in the desolation of his latter days was cast away, not knowing +whither to turn as he drew towards his premature old age, childless +and lonely,--like the needle which, approaching within a certain +distance of the pole, becomes helpless and useless, and, ceasing to +tremble, rusts. She seems to have been so totally unworthy of +tenderness, that it is an additional proof of the kindness of Pope's +heart to have been able to love such a being. But we must love +something. I agree with Mr. B. that _she_ "could at no time have +regarded _Pope personally_ with attachment," because she was +incapable of attachment; but I deny that Pope could not be regarded +with personal attachment by a worthier woman. It is not probable, +indeed, that a woman would have fallen in love with him as he walked +along the Mall, or in a box at the opera, nor from a balcony, nor in +a ball-room; but in society he seems to have been as amiable as +unassuming, and, with the greatest disadvantages of figure, his head +and face were remarkably handsome, especially his eyes. He was adored +by his friends--friends of the most opposite dispositions, ages, and +talents--by the old and wayward Wycherley, by the cynical Swift, the +rough Atterbury, the gentle Spence, the stern attorney-bishop +Warburton, the virtuous Berkeley, and the "cankered Bolingbroke." +Bolingbroke wept over him like a child; and Spence's description of +his last moments is at least as edifying as the more ostentatious +account of the deathbed of Addison. The soldier Peterborough and the +poet Gay, the witty Congreve and the laughing Rowe, the eccentric +Cromwell and the steady Bathurst, were all his intimates. The man who +could conciliate so many men of the most opposite description, not +one of whom but was a remarkable or a celebrated character, might +well have pretended to all the attachment which a reasonable man +would desire of an amiable woman. + +Pope, in fact, wherever he got it, appears to have understood the sex +well, Bolingbroke, "a judge of the subject," says Warton, thought his +"Epistle on the Characters of Women" his "masterpiece." And even with +respect to the grosser passion, which takes occasionally the name of +"_romantic_," accordingly as the degree of sentiment elevates it +above the definition of love by Buffon, it may be remarked, that it +does not always depend upon personal appearance, even in a woman. +Madame Cottin was a plain woman, and might have been virtuous, it may +be presumed, without much interruption. Virtuous she was, and the +consequences of this inveterate virtue were that two different +admirers (one an elderly gentleman) killed themselves in despair (see +Lady Morgan's "France"). I would not, however, recommend this rigour +to plain women in general, in the hope of securing the glory of two +suicides apiece. I believe that there are few men who, in the course +of their observations on life, may not have perceived that it is not +the greatest female beauty who forms the longest and the strongest +passions. + +But, apropos of Pope.--Voltaire tells us that the Marechal Luxembourg +(who had precisely Pope's figure) was not only somewhat too amatory +for a great man, but fortunate in his attachments. La Valière, the +passion of Louis XIV., had an unsightly defect. The Princess of +Eboli, the mistress of Philip II. of Spain, and Maugiron, the minion +of Henry III. of France, had each of them lost an eye; and the famous +Latin epigram was written upon them, which has, I believe, been +either translated or imitated by Goldsmith:-- + + "Lumine Acon dextro, capta est Leonilla sinistro, + Et potis est forma vincere uterque Deos; + Blande puer, lumen quod habes concede sorrori, + Sic tu cæcus Amor, sic erit illa Venus." + +Wilkes, with his ugliness, used to say that "he was but a quarter of +an hour behind the handsomest man in England;" and this vaunt of his +is said not to have been disproved by circumstances. Swift, when +neither young, nor handsome, nor rich, nor even amiable, inspired the +two most extraordinary passions upon record, Vanessa's and Stella's. + + "Vanessa, aged scarce a score, + Sighs for a gown of _forty-four_." + +He requited them bitterly; for he seems to have broken the heart of +the one, and worn out that of the other; and he had his reward, for +he died a solitary idiot in the hands of servants. + +For my own part, I am of the opinion of Pausanias. that success in +love depends upon Fortune. "They particularly renounce Celestial +Venus, into whose temple, &c. &c. &c. I remember, too, to have seen a +building in Ægina in which there is a statue of Fortune, holding a +horn of Amalthea; and near her there is a winged Love. The meaning of +this is, that the success of men in love affairs depends more on the +assistance of Fortune than the charms of beauty. I am persuaded, too, +with Pindar (to whose opinion I submit in other particulars), that +Fortune is one of the Fates, and that in a certain respect she is +more powerful than her sisters."--See Pausanias, Achaics, book vii. +chap.26. p.246. Taylor's "Translation." + +Grimm has a remark of the same kind on the different destinies of the +younger Crebillon and Rousseau. The former writes a licentious novel, +and a young English girl of some fortune and family (a Miss +Strafford) runs away, and crosses the sea to marry him; while +Rousseau, the most tender and passionate of lovers, is obliged to +espouse his chambermaid. If I recollect rightly, this remark was also +repeated in the Edinburgh Review of Grimm's correspondence, seven or +eight years ago. + +In regard "to the strange mixture of indecent, and sometimes +_profane_ levity, which his conduct and language _often_ exhibited," +and which so much shocks Mr. Bowles, I object to the indefinite word +"_often_;" and in extenuation of the occasional occurrence of such +language it is to be recollected, that it was less the tone of +_Pope_, than the tone of the _time_. With the exception of the +correspondence of Pope and his friends, not many private letters of +the period have come down to us; but those, such as they are--a few +scattered scraps from Farquhar and others--are more indecent and +coarse than any thing in Pope's letters. The comedies of Congreve, +Vanbrugh, Farquhar, Cibber, &c., which naturally attempted to +represent the manners and conversation of private life, are decisive +upon this point; as are also some of Steele's papers, and even +Addison's. We all know what the conversation of Sir R. Walpole, for +seventeen years the prime minister of the country, was at his own +table, and his excuse for his licentious language, viz. "that every +body understood _that_, but few could talk rationally upon less +common topics." The refinement of latter days,--which is perhaps the +consequence of vice, which wishes to mask and soften itself, as much +as of virtuous civilisation,--had not yet made sufficient progress. +Even Johnson, in his "London," has two or three passages which cannot +be read aloud, and Addison's "Drummer" some indelicate allusions. + +The expression of Mr. Bowles, "his consciousness of physical defect," +is not very clear. It may mean deformity or debility. If it alludes +to Pope's deformity, it has been attempted to be shown that this was +no insuperable objection to his being beloved. If it alludes to +debility, as a consequence of Pope's peculiar conformation, I believe +that it is a physical and known fact that hump-backed persons are of +strong and vigorous passions. Several years ago, at Mr. Angelo's +fencing rooms, when I was a pupil of him and of Mr. Jackson, who had +the use of his rooms in Albany on the alternate days, I recollect a +gentleman named B--ll--gh--t, remarkable for his strength, and the +fineness of his figure. His skill was not inferior, for he could +stand up to the great Captain Barclay himself, with the muffles +on;--a task neither easy nor agreeable to a pugilistic aspirant. As +the by-standers were one day admiring his athletic proportions, he +remarked to us, that he had five brothers as tall and strong as +himself, and that their _father and mother were both crooked, and of +very small stature_;--I think he said, neither of them five feet +high. It would not be difficult to adduce similar instances; but I +abstain, because the subject is hardly refined enough for this +immaculate period, this moral millenium of expurgated editions in +books, manners, and royal trials of divorce. + +This laudable delicacy--this crying-out elegance of the day--reminds +me of a little circumstance which occurred when I was about eighteen +years of age. There was then (and there may be still) a famous French +"entremetteuse," who assisted young gentlemen in their youthful +pastimes. We had been acquainted for some time, when something +occurred in her line of business more than ordinary, and the refusal +was offered to me (and doubtless to many others), probably because I +was in cash at the moment, having taken up a decent sum from the +Jews, and not having spent much above half of it. The adventure on +the tapis, it seems, required some caution and circumspection. +Whether my venerable friend doubted my politeness I cannot tell; but +she sent me a letter couched in such English as a short residence of +sixteen years in England had enabled her to acquire. After several +precepts and instructions, the letter closed. But there was a +postscript. It contained these words:--"Remember, Milor, that +_delicaci ensure_ everi succés." The _delicacy_ of the day is +exactly, in all its circumstances, like that of this respectable +foreigner. "It ensures every _succès_," and is not a whit more moral +than, and not half so honourable as, the coarser candour of our less +polished ancestors. + +To return to Mr. Bowles. "If what is here extracted can excite in the +mind (I will not say of any 'layman', of any 'Christian', but) of any +_human being_," &c. &c. Is not Mr. Gilchrist a "human being?" Mr. +Bowles asks "whether in _attributing_ an article," &c. &c, "to the +critic, he had _any reason_ for distinguishing him with that +courtesy," &c. &c. But Mr. Bowles was wrong in "attributing the +article" to Mr. Gilchrist at all; and would not have been right in +calling him a dunce and a grocer, if he had written it. + +Mr. Bowles is here "peremptorily called upon to speak of a +circumstance which gives him the greatest pain,--the mention of a +letter he received from the editor of 'The London Magazine.'" Mr. +Bowles seems to have embroiled himself on all sides; whether by +editing, or replying, or attributing, or quoting,--it has been an +awkward affair for him. + +Poor Scott is now no more. In the exercise of his vocation, he +contrived at last to make himself the subject of a coroner's inquest. +But he died like a brave man, and he lived an able one. I knew him +personally, though slightly. Although several years my senior, we had +been schoolfellows together at the "grammar-schule" (or, as the +Aberdonians pronounce it, "_squeel_") of New Aberdeen. He did not +behave to me quite handsomely in his capacity of editor a few years +ago, but he was under no obligation to behave otherwise. The moment +was too tempting for many friends and for all enemies. At a time when +all my relations (save one) fell from me like leaves from the tree in +autumn winds, and my few friends became still fewer,--when the whole +periodical press (I mean the daily and weekly, _not_ the _literary_ +press) was let loose against me in every shape of reproach, with the +two strange exceptions (from their usual opposition) of "The Courier" +and "The Examiner,"--the paper of which Scott had the direction was +neither the last nor the least vituperative. Two years ago I met him +at Venice, when he was bowed in griefs by the loss of his son, and +had known, by experience, the bitterness of domestic privation. He +was then earnest with me to return to England; and on my telling him, +with a smile, that he was once of a different opinion, he replied to +me, 'that he and others had been greatly misled; and that some pains, +and rather extraordinary means, had been taken to excite them.' Scott +is no more, but there are more than one living who were present at +this dialogue. He was a man of very considerable talents, and of +great acquirements. He had made his way, as a literary character, +with high success, and in a few years. Poor fellow! I recollect his +joy at some appointment which he had obtained, or was to obtain, +through Sir James Mackintosh, and which prevented the further +extension (unless by a rapid run to Rome) of his travels in Italy. I +little thought to what it would conduct him. Peace be with him!--and +may all such other faults as are inevitable to humanity be as readily +forgiven him, as the little injury which he had done to one who +respected his talents, and regrets his loss. + +I pass over Mr. Bowles's page of explanation, upon the correspondence +between him and Mr. S----. It is of little importance in regard to +Pope, and contains merely a re-contradiction of a contradiction of +Mr. Gilchrist's. We now come to a point where Mr. Gilchrist has, +certainly, rather exaggerated matters; and, of course, Mr. Bowles +makes the most of it. Capital letters, like Kean's name, "large upon +the bills," are made use of six or seven times to express his sense +of the outrage. The charge is, indeed, very boldly made; but, like +"Ranold of the Mist's" practical joke of putting the bread and cheese +into a dead man's mouth, is, as Dugald Dalgetty says, "somewhat too +wild and salvage, besides wasting the good victuals." + +Mr. Gilchrist charges Mr. Bowles with "suggesting" that Pope +"attempted" to commit "a rape" upon Lady M. Wortley Montague. There +are two reasons why this could not be true. The first is, that like +the chaste Letitia's prevention of the intended ravishment by +Fireblood (in Jonathan Wild), it might have been impeded by a timely +compliance. The second is, that however this might be, Pope was +probably the less robust of the two; and (if the Lines on Sappho were +really intended for this lady) the asserted consequences of her +acquiescence in his wishes would have been a sufficient punishment. +The passage which Mr. Bowles quotes, however, insinuates nothing of +the kind: it merely charges her with encouragement, and him with +wishing to profit by it,--a slight attempt at seduction, and no more. +The phrase is, "a step beyond decorum." Any physical violence is so +abhorrent to human nature, that it recoils in cold blood from the +very idea. But, the seduction of a woman's mind as well as person is +not, perhaps, the least heinous sin of the two in morality. Dr. +Johnson commends a gentleman who having seduced a girl who said, "I +am afraid we have done wrong," replied, "Yes, we _have_ done +wrong,"--"for I would not _pervert_ her mind also." Othello would not +"kill Desdemona's _soul_." Mr. Bowles exculpates himself from Mr. +Gilchrist's charge; but it is by substituting another charge against +Pope. "A step beyond decorum," has a soft sound, but what does it +express? In all these cases, "ce n'est que le premier pas qui coute." +Has not the Scripture something upon "the lusting after a woman" +being no less criminal than the crime? "A step beyond decorum," in +short, any step beyond the instep, is a step from a precipice to the +lady who permits it. For the gentleman who makes it it is also rather +hazardous if he does not succeed, and still more so if he does. + +Mr. Bowles appeals to the "Christian reader!" upon this +"_Gilchristian_ criticism." Is not this play upon such words "a step +beyond decorum" in a clergyman? But I admit the temptation of a pun +to be irresistible. + +But "a hasty pamphlet was published, in which some personalities +respecting Mr. Gilchrist were suffered to appear." If Mr. Bowles will +write "hasty pamphlets," why is he so surprised on receiving short +answers? The grand grievance to which he perpetually returns is a +charge of "_hypochondriacism_," asserted or insinuated in the +Quarterly. I cannot conceive a man in perfect health being much +affected by such a charge, because his complexion and conduct must +amply refute it. But were it true, to what does it amount?--to an +impeachment of a liver complaint. "I will tell it to the world," +exclaimed the learned Smelfungus.--"You had better," said I, "tell it +to your physician." There is nothing dishonourable in such a +disorder, which is more peculiarly the malady of students. It has +been the complaint of the good, and the wise, and the witty, and even +of the gay. Regnard, the author of the last French comedy after +Molière, was atrabilious; and Molière himself, saturnine. Dr. +Johnson, Gray, and Burns, were all more or less affected by it +occasionally. It was the prelude to the more awful malady of Collins, +Cowper, Swift, and Smart; but it by no means follows that a partial +affliction of this disorder is to terminate like theirs. But even +were it so,-- + + "Nor best, nor wisest, are exempt from thee; + Folly--Folly's only free." PENROSE. + +If this be the criterion of exemption, Mr. Bowles's last two +pamphlets form a better certificate of sanity than a physician's. +Mendehlson and Bayle were at times so overcome with this depression, +as to be obliged to recur to seeing "puppet-shows, and counting tiles +upon the opposite houses," to divert themselves. Dr. Johnson at times +"would have given a limb to recover his spirits." Mr. Bowles, who is +(strange to say) fond of quoting Pope, may perhaps answer,-- + + "Go on, obliging creatures, let me see + All which disgrac'd my betters met in me." + +But the charge, such as it is, neither disgraces them nor him. It is +easily disproved if false; and even if proved true, has nothing in it +to make a man so very indignant. Mr. Bowles himself appears to be a +little ashamed of his "hasty pamphlet;" for he attempts to excuse it +by the "great provocation;" that is to say, by Mr. Bowles's supposing +that Mr. Gilchrist was the writer of the article in the Quarterly, +which he was _not_. + +"But, in extenuation, not only the _great_ provocation should be +remembered, but it ought to be said, that orders were sent to the +London booksellers, that the most direct personal passages should be +_omitted entirely_," &c. This is what the proverb calls "breaking a +head and giving a plaster;" but, in this instance, the plaster was +not spread in time, and Mr. Gilchrist does not seem at present +disposed to regard Mr. Bowles's courtesies like the rust of the spear +of Achilles, which had such "skill in surgery." + +But "Mr. Gilchrist has _no right_ to object, as the reader will see." +I am a reader, a "gentle reader," and I see nothing of the kind. Were +I in Mr. Gilchrist's place, I should object exceedingly to being +abused; firstly, for what I _did_ write, and, secondly, for what I +did _not_ write; merely because it is Mr. Bowles's will and pleasure +to be as angry with me for having written in the London Magazine, as +for not having written in the Quarterly Review. + +"Mr. Gilchrist has had ample revenge; for he has, in his answer, said +so and so," &c. &c. There is no great revenge in all this; and I +presume that nobody either seeks or wishes it. What revenge? Mr. +Bowles calls names, and he is answered. But Mr. Gilchrist and the +Quarterly Reviewer are not poets, nor pretenders to poetry; therefore +they can have no envy nor malice against Mr. Bowles: they have no +acquaintance with Mr. Bowles, and can have no personal pique; they do +not cross his path of life, nor he theirs. There is no political feud +between them. What, then, can be the motive of their discussion of +his deserts as an editor?--veneration for the genius of Pope, love +for his memory, and regard for the classic glory of their country. +Why would Mr. Bowles edite? Had he limited his honest endeavours to +poetry, very little would have been said upon the subject, and +nothing at all by his present antagonists. + +Mr. Bowles calls the pamphlet a "mud-cart," and the writer a +"scavenger." Afterward he asks, "Shall he fling dirt and receive +_rose-water_?" This metaphor, by the way, is taken from Marmontel's +Memoirs; who, lamenting to Chamfort the shedding of blood during the +French revolution, was answered, "Do you think that revolutions are +to be made with _rose-water_?" + +For my own part, I presume that "rose-water" would be infinitely more +graceful in the hands of Mr. Bowles than the substance which he has +substituted for that delicate liquid. It would also more confound his +adversary, supposing him a "scavenger." I remember, (and do you +remember, reader, that it was in my earliest youth, "Consule +Planco,")--on the morning of the great battle, (the second)--between +Gulley and Gregson,--_Cribb_, who was matched against Horton for the +second fight, on the same memorable day, awaking me (a lodger at the +inn in the next room) by a loud remonstrance to the waiter against +the abomination of his towels, which had been laid in _lavender_. +Cribb was a coal-heaver--and was much more discomfited by this +odoriferous effeminacy of fine linen, than by his adversary Horton, +whom, he "finished in style," though with some reluctance; for I +recollect that he said, "he disliked hurting him, he looked so +pretty,"--Horton being a very fine fresh-coloured young man. + +To return to "rose-water"--that is, to gentle means of rebuke. Does +Mr. Bowles know how to revenge himself upon a hackney-coachman, when +he has overcharged his fare? In case he should not, I will tell him. +It is of little use to call him "a rascal, a scoundrel, a thief, an +impostor, a blackguard, a villain, a raggamuffin, a--what you +please;" all that he is used to--it is his mother-tongue, and +probably his mother's. But look him steadily and quietly in the face, +and say--"Upon my word, I think you are the _ugliest fellow_ I ever +saw in my life," and he will instantly roll forth the brazen thunders +of the charioteer Salmoneus as follows:--"_Hugly_! what the h--ll are +_you_? _You_ a _gentleman_! Why ----!" So much easier it is to +_provoke_--and therefore to vindicate--(for passion punishes him who +_feels_ it more than those whom the passionate would excruciate)--by +a few quiet words the aggressor, than by retorting violently. The +"coals of fire" of the Scripture are _benefits_;--but they are not +the less "coals of _fire_." + +I pass over a page of quotation and reprobation--"Sin up to my +song"--"Oh let my little bark"--"Arcades ambo"--"Writer in the +Quarterly Review and himself"--"In-door avocations, indeed"--"King of +Brentford"--"One nosegay"--"Perennial nosegay"--"Oh Juvenes,"--and +the like. + +Page 12. produces "more reasons,"--(the task ought not to have been +difficult, for as yet there were none)--"to show why Mr. Bowles +attributed the critique in the Quarterly to Octavius Gilchrist." All +these "reasons" consist of _surmises_ of Mr. Bowles, upon the +presumed character of his opponent. "He did not suppose there could +exist a man in the kingdom so _impudent_, &c. &c. except Octavius +Gilchrist."--"He did not think there was a man in the kingdom who +would _pretend ignorance_, &c. &c. except Octavius Gilchrist."--"He +did not conceive that one man in the kingdom would utter such stupid +flippancy, &c. &c. except Octavius Gilchrist."--"He did not think +there was one man in the kingdom who, &c. &c. could so utterly show +his ignorance, _combined with conceit_, &c. as Octavius +Gilchrist."--"He did not believe there was a man in the kingdom so +perfect in Mr. Gilchrist's 'old lunes,'" &c. &c.--"He did not think +the _mean mind_ of any one in the kingdom," &c. and so on; always +beginning with "any one in the kingdom," and ending with "Octavius +Gilchrist," like the word in a catch. I am not "in the kingdom," and +have not been much in the kingdom since I was one and twenty, (about +five years in the whole, since I was of age,) and have no desire to +be in the kingdom again, whilst I breathe, nor to sleep there +afterwards; and I regret nothing more than having ever been "in the +kingdom" at all. But though no longer a man "in the kingdom," let me +hope that when I have ceased to exist, it may be said, as was +answered by the master of Clanronald's henchman, his day after the +battle of Sheriff-Muir, when he was found watching his chief's body. +He was asked, "who that was?" he replied--"it was a man yesterday." +And in this capacity, "in or out of the kingdom," I must own that I +participate in many of the objections urged by Mr. Gilchrist. I +participate in his love of Pope, and in his not understanding, and +occasionally finding fault with, the last editor of our last truly +great poet. + +One of the reproaches against Mr. Gilchrist is, that he is (it is +sneeringly said) an F. S. _A_. If it will give Mr. Bowles any +pleasure, I am not an F. S. A. but a Fellow of the Royal Society at +his service, in case there should be any thing in that association +also which may point a paragraph. + +"There are some other reasons," but "the author is now _not_ +unknown." Mr. Bowles has so totally exhausted himself upon Octavius +Gilchrist, that he has not a word left for the real quarterer of his +edition, although now "deterré." + +The following page refers to a mysterious charge of "duplicity, in +regard to the publication of Pope's letters." Till this charge is +made in proper form, we have nothing to do with it: Mr. Gilchrist +hints it--Mr. Bowles denies it; there it rests for the present. Mr. +Bowles professes his dislike to "Pope's duplicity, _not_ to Pope"--a +distinction apparently without a difference. However, I believe that +I understand him. We have a great dislike to Mr. Bowles's edition of +Pope, but _not_ to Mr. Bowles; nevertheless, he takes up the subject +as warmly as if it was personal. With regard to the fact of "Pope's +duplicity," it remains to be proved--like Mr. Bowles's benevolence +towards his memory. + +In page 14. we have a large assertion, that "the 'Eloisa' alone is +sufficient to convict him of _gross licentiousness_." Thus, out it +comes at last. Mr. Bowles _does_ accuse Pope of "_gross_ +licentiousness," and grounds the charge upon a poem. The +_licentiousness_ is a "grand peut-être," according to the turn of the +times being. The grossness I deny. On the contrary, I do believe that +such a subject never was, nor ever could be, treated by any poet with +so much delicacy, mingled with, at the same time, such true and +intense passion. Is the "Atys" of Catullus _licentious_? No, nor even +gross; and yet Catullus is often a coarse writer. The subject is +nearly the same, except that Atys was the suicide of his manhood, and +Abelard the victim. + +The "licentiousness" of the story was _not_ Pope's,--it was a fact. +All that it had of gross, he has softened;--all that it had of +indelicate, he has purified;--all that it had of passionate, he has +beautified;--all that it had of holy, he has hallowed. Mr. Campbell +has admirably marked this in a few words (I quote from memory), in +drawing the distinction between Pope and Dryden, and pointing out +where Dryden was wanting "I fear," says he, "that had the subject of +'Eloisa' fallen into his (Dryden's) hands, that he would have given +us but a _coarse_ draft of her passion." Never was the delicacy of +Pope so much shown as in this poem. With the facts and the letters of +"Eloisa" he has done what no other mind but that of the best and +purest of poets could have accomplished with such materials. Ovid, +Sappho (in the Ode called hers)--all that we have of ancient, all +that we have of modern poetry, sinks into nothing compared with him +in this production. + +Let us hear no more of this trash about "licentiousness." Is not +"Anacreon" taught in our schools?--translated, praised, and edited? +Are not his Odes the amatory praises of a boy? Is not Sappho's Ode on +a girl? Is not this sublime and (according to Longinus) fierce love +for one of her own sex? And is not Phillips's translation of it in +the mouths of all your women? And are the English schools or the +English women the more corrupt for all this? When you have thrown the +ancients into the fire it will be time to denounce the moderns. +"Licentiousness!"--there is more real mischief and sapping +licentiousness in a single French prose novel, in a Moravian hymn, or +a German comedy, than in all the actual poetry that ever was penned, +or poured forth, since the rhapsodies of Orpheus. The sentimental +anatomy of Rousseau and Mad. de S. are far more formidable than any +quantity of verse. They are so, because they sap the principles, by +_reasoning_ upon the _passions_; whereas poetry is in itself passion, +and does not systematise. It assails, but does not argue; it may be +wrong, but it does not assume pretensions to Optimism. + +Mr. Bowles now has the goodness "to point out the difference between +a _traducer_ and him who sincerely states what he sincerely +believes." He might have spared himself the trouble. The one is a +liar, who lies knowingly; the other (I speak of a scandal-monger of +course) lies, charitably believing that he speaks truth, and very +sorry to find himself in falsehood;--because he + + "Would rather that the dean should die, + Than his prediction prove a lie." + +After a definition of a "traducer," which was quite superfluous +(though it is agreeable to learn that Mr. Bowles so well understands +the character), we are assured, that "he feels equally indifferent, +Mr. Gilchrist, for what your malice can invent, or your impudence +utter." This is indubitable; for it rests not only on Mr. Bowles's +assurance, but on that of Sir Fretful Plagiary, and nearly in the +same words,--"and I shall treat it with exactly the same calm +indifference and philosophical contempt, and so your servant." + +"One thing has given Mr. Bowles concern." It is "a passage which +might seem to reflect on the patronage a young man has received." +MIGHT seem!! The passage alluded to expresses, that if Mr. Gilchrist +be the reviewer of "a certain poet of nature," his praise and blame +are equally contemptible."--Mr. Bowles, who has a peculiarly +ambiguous style, where it suits him, comes off with a "_not_ to the +_poet_, but the critic," &c. In my humble opinion, the passage +referred to both. Had Mr. Bowles really meant fairly, he would have +said so from the first--he would have been eagerly transparent.--"A +certain poet of nature" is not the style of commendation. It is the +very prologue to the most scandalous paragraphs of the newspapers, +when + + "Willing to wound, and yet afraid to strike." + +"A certain high personage,"--"a certain peeress,"--"a certain +illustrious foreigner,"--what do these words ever precede, but +defamation? Had he felt a spark of kindling kindness for John Clare, +he would have named him. There is a sneer in the sentence as it +stands. How a favourable review of a deserving poet can "rather +injure than promote his cause" is difficult to comprehend. The +article denounced is able and amiable, and it _has_ "served" the +poet, as far as poetry can be served by judicious and honest +criticism. + +With the two next paragraphs of Mr. Bowles's pamphlet it is pleasing +to concur. His mention of "Pennie," and his former patronage of +"Shoel," do him honour. I am not of those who may deny Mr. Bowles to +be a benevolent man. I merely assert, that he is not a candid editor. + +Mr. Bowles has been "a writer occasionally upwards of thirty years," +and never wrote one word in reply in his life "to criticisms, merely +_as_ criticisms." This is Mr. Lofty in Goldsmith's Good-natured Man; +"and I vow by all that's honourable, my resentment has never done the +men, as mere men, any manner of harm,--that is, _as mere men_." + +"The letter to the editor of the newspaper" is owned; but "it was not +on account of the criticism. It was because the criticism came down +in a frank _directed_ to Mrs. Bowles!!!"--(the italics and three +notes of admiration appended to Mrs. Bowles are copied verbatim from +the quotation), and Mr. Bowles was not displeased with the criticism, +but with the frank and the address. I agree with Mr. Bowles that the +intention was to annoy him; but I fear that this was answered by his +notice of the reception of the criticism. An anonymous letter-writer +has but one means of knowing the effect of his attack. In this he has +the superiority over the viper; he knows that his poison has taken +effect, when he hears the victim cry;--the adder is _deaf_. The best +reply to an anonymous intimation is to take no notice directly nor +indirectly. I wish Mr. Bowles could see only one or two of the +thousand which I have received in the course of a literary life, +which, though begun early, has not yet extended to a third part of +his existence as an author. I speak of _literary_ life only. Were I +to add _personal_, I might double the amount of _anonymous_ letters. +If he could but see the violence, the threats, the absurdity of the +whole thing, he would laugh, and so should I, and thus be both +gainers. + +To keep up the farce,--within the last month of this present writing +(1821), I have had my life threatened in the same way which menaced +Mr. Bowles's fame,--excepting that the anonymous denunciation was +addressed to the Cardinal Legate of Romagna, instead of to Mrs. +Bowles. The Cardinal is, I believe, the elder lady of the two. I +append the menace in all its barbaric but literal Italian, that Mr. +Bowles may be convinced; and as this is the only "promise to pay," +which the Italians ever keep, so my person has been at least as much +exposed to a "shot in the gloaming," from "John Heatherblutter" (see +Waverley), as ever Mr. Bowles's glory was from an editor. I am, +nevertheless, on horseback and lonely for some hours (_one_ of them +twilight) in the forest daily; and this, because it was my "custom in +the afternoon," and that I believe if the tyrant cannot escape amidst +his guards (should it be so written?), so the humbler individual +would find precautions useless. + +Mr. Bowles has here the humility to say, that "he must succumb; for +with Lord Byron turned against him, he has no chance,"--a declaration +of self-denial not much in unison with his "promise," five lines +afterwards, that "for every twenty-four lines quoted by Mr. +Gilchrist, or his friend, to greet him with as many from the +'Gilchrisiad';" but so much the better. Mr. Bowles has no reason to +"succumb" but to Mr. Bowles. As a poet, the author of "The +Missionary" may compete with the foremost of his cotemporaries. Let +it be recollected, that all my previous opinions of Mr. Bowles's +poetry were _written_ long before the publication of his last and +best poem; and that a poet's _last_ poem should be his best, is his +highest praise. But, however, he may duly and honourably rank with +his living rivals. There never was so complete a proof of the +superiority of Pope, as in the lines with which Mr. Bowles closes his +"_to be concluded in our next_." + +Mr. Bowles is avowedly the champion and the poet of nature. Art and +the arts are dragged, some before, and others behind his chariot. +Pope, where he deals with passion, and with the nature of the +naturals of the day, is allowed even by themselves to be sublime; but +they complain that too soon-- + + "He stoop'd to truth and moralised his song," + +and _there_ even _they_ allow him to be unrivalled. He has succeeded, +and even surpassed them, when he chose, in their own _pretended_ +province. Let us see what their Coryphæus effects in Pope's. But it +is too pitiable, it is too melancholy, to see Mr. Bowles "_sinning_" +not "_up_" but "_down_" as a poet to his lowest depth as an editor. +By the way, Mr. Bowles is always quoting Pope. I grant that there is +no poet--not Shakspeare himself--who can be so often quoted, with +reference to life;--but his editor is so like the devil quoting +Scripture, that I could wish Mr. Bowles in his proper place, quoting +in the pulpit. + +And now for his lines. But it is painful--painful--to see such a +suicide, though at the shrine of Pope. I can't copy them all:-- + + "Shall the rank, loathsome miscreant of the age + Sit, like a night-mare, grinning o'er a page." + + "Whose pye-bald character so aptly suit + The two extremes of Bantam and of Brute, + Compound grotesque of sullenness and show, + The chattering magpie, and the croaking crow." + + "Whose heart contends with thy Saturnian head, + A root of hemlock, and a lump of lead. + Gilchrist proceed," &c. &c. + + "And thus stand forth, spite of thy venom'd foam, + To give thee _bite for bite_, or lash thee limping home." + +With regard to the last line, the only one upon which I shall venture +for fear of infection, I would advise Mr. Gilchrist to keep out of +the way of such reciprocal morsure--unless he has more faith in the +"Ormskirk medicine" than most people, or may wish to anticipate the +pension of the recent German professor, (I forget his name, but it is +advertised and full of consonants,) who presented his memoir of an +infallible remedy for the hydrophobia to the German diet last month, +coupled with the philanthropic condition of a large annuity, provided +that his cure cured. Let him begin with the editor of Pope, and +double his demand. + +Yours ever, + +BYRON. + + +_To John Murray, Esq_. + +P.S. Amongst the above-mentioned lines there occurs the following, +_applied_ to Pope-- + + "The assassin's vengeance, and the coward's lie." + +And Mr. Bowles persists that he is a well-wisher to Pope!!! He has, +then, edited an "assassin" and a "coward" wittingly, as well as +lovingly. In my former letter I have remarked upon the editor's +forgetfulness of Pope's benevolence. But where he mentions his faults +it is "with sorrow"--his tears drop, but they do not blot them out. +The "recording angel" differs from the recording clergyman. A fulsome +editor is pardonable though tiresome, like a panegyrical son whose +pious sincerity would demi-deify his father. But a detracting editor +is a paricide. He sins against the nature of his office, and +connection--he murders the life to come of his victim. If his author +is not worthy to be mentioned, do not edit at all: if he be, edit +honestly, and even flatteringly. The reader will forgive the weakness +in favour of mortality, and correct your adulation with a smile. But +to sit down "mingere in patrios cineres," as Mr. Bowles has done, +merits a reprobation so strong, that I am as incapable of expressing +as of ceasing to feel it. + + +_Further Addenda_. + +It is worthy of remark that, after all this outcry about "_in-door_ +nature" and "artificial images," Pope was the principal inventor of +that boast of the English, _Modern Gardening_. He divides this honour +with Milton. Hear Warton:--"It hence appears, that this _enchanting_ +art of modern gardening, in which this kingdom claims a preference +over every nation in Europe, chiefly owes _its origin_ and its +improvements to two great poets, Milton and _Pope_." + +Walpole (no friend to Pope) asserts that Pope formed _Kent's_ taste, +and that Kent was the artist to whom the English are chiefly indebted +for diffusing "a taste in laying out grounds." The design of the +Prince of Wales's garden was copied from _Pope's_ at Twickenham. +Warton applauds "his singular effort of art and taste, in impressing +so much variety and scenery on a spot of five acres." Pope was the +_first_ who ridiculed the "formal, French, Dutch, false and unnatural +taste in gardening," both in _prose_ and verse. (See, for the former, +"The Guardian.") + +"Pope has given not only some of our _first_ but _best_ rules and +observations on _Architecture_ and _Gardening_." (See Warton's Essay, +vol. ii. p. 237, &c. &c.) + +Now, is it not a shame, after this, to hear our Lakers in "Kendal +Green," and our Bucolical Cockneys, crying out (the latter in a +wilderness of bricks and mortar) about "Nature," and Pope's +"artificial in-door habits?" Pope had seen all of nature that +_England_ alone can supply. He was bred in Windsor Forest, and amidst +the beautiful scenery of Eton; he lived familiarly and frequently at +the country seats of Bathurst, Cobham, Burlington, Peterborough, +Digby, and Bolingbroke; amongst whose seats was to be numbered +_Stowe_. He made his own little "five acres" a model to princes, and +to the first of our artists who imitated nature. Warton thinks "that +the most engaging of _Kent_'s works was also planned on the model of +Pope's,--at least in the opening and retiring shades of Venus's +Vale." + +It is true that Pope was infirm and deformed; but he could walk, and +he could ride (he rode to Oxford from London at a stretch), and he +was famous for an exquisite eye. On a tree at Lord Bathurst's is +carved "Here Pope sang,"--he composed beneath it. Bolingbroke, in one +of his letters, represents them both writing in the hay-field. No +poet ever admired Nature more, or used her better, than Pope has +done, as I will undertake to prove from his works, _prose_ and +_verse_, if not anticipated in so easy and agreeable a labour. I +remember a passage in Walpole, somewhere, of a gentleman who wished +to give directions about some willows to a man who had long served +Pope in his grounds: "I understand, sir," he replied: "you would have +them hang down, sir, _somewhat poetical_." Now, if nothing existed +but this little anecdote, it would suffice to prove Pope's taste for +_Nature_, and the impression which he had made on a common-minded +man. But I have already quoted Warton and Walpole (_both_ his +enemies), and, were it necessary, I could amply quote Pope himself +for such tributes to _Nature_ as no poet of the present day has even +approached. + +His various excellence is really wonderful: architecture, painting, +_gardening_, all are alike subject to his genius. Be it remembered, +that English _gardening_ is the purposed perfectioning of niggard +_Nature_, and that without it England is but a hedge-and-ditch, +double-post-and-rail, Hounslow Heath and Clapham Common sort of +country, since the principal forests have been felled. It is, in +general, far from a picturesque country. The case is different with +Scotland, Wales, and Ireland; and I except also the lake counties and +Derbyshire, together with Eton, Windsor, and my own dear Harrow on +the Hill, and some spots near the coast. In the present rank +fertility of "great poets of the age," and "schools of poetry"--a +word which, like "schools of eloquence" and of "philosophy," is never +introduced till the decay of the art has increased with the number of +its professors--in the present day, then, there have sprung up two +sorts of Naturals;--the Lakers, who whine about Nature because they +live in Cumberland; and their _under-sect_ (which some one has +maliciously called the "Cockney School"), who are enthusiastical for +the country because they live in London. It is to be observed, that +the rustical founders are rather anxious to disclaim any connexion +with their metropolitan followers, whom they ungraciously review, and +call cockneys, atheists, foolish fellows, bad writers, and other hard +names not less ungrateful than unjust. I can understand the +pretensions of the aquatic gentlemen of Windermere to what Mr. Braham +terms "_entusumusy_," for lakes, and mountains, and daffodils, and +buttercups; but I should be glad to be apprised of the foundation of +the London propensities of their imitative brethren to the same "high +argument." Southey, Wordsworth, and Coleridge have rambled over half +Europe, and seen Nature in most of her varieties (although I think +that they have occasionally not used her very well); but what on +earth--of earth, and sea, and Nature--have the others seen? Not a +half, nor a tenth part so much as Pope. While they sneer at his +Windsor Forest, have they ever seen any thing of Windsor except its +_brick_? + +The most rural of these gentlemen is my friend Leigh Hunt, who lives +at Hampstead. I believe that I need not disclaim any personal or +poetical hostility against that gentleman. A more amiable man in +society I know not; nor (when he will allow his sense to prevail over +his sectarian principles) a better writer. When he was writing his +"Rimini," I was not the last to discover its beauties, long before it +was published. Even then I remonstrated against its vulgarisms; which +are the more extraordinary, because the author is any thing but a +vulgar man. Mr. Hunt's answer was, that he wrote them upon principle; +they made part of his "_system!!_" I then said no more. When a man +talks of his system, it is like a woman's talking of her _virtue_. I +let them talk on. Whether there are writers who could have written +"Rimini," as it might have been written, I know not; but Mr. Hunt is, +probably, the only poet who could have had the heart to spoil his own +Capo d'Opera. + +With the rest of his young people I have no acquaintance, except +through some things of theirs (which have been sent out without my +desire), and I confess that till I had read them I was not aware of +the full extent of human absurdity. Like Garrick's "Ode to +Shakspeare," _they "defy criticism_." These are of the personages who +decry Pope. One of them, a Mr. John Ketch, has written some lines +against him, of which it were better to be the subject than the +author. Mr. Hunt redeems himself by occasional beauties; but the rest +of these poor creatures seem so far gone that I would not "march +through Coventry with them, that's flat!" were I in Mr. Hunt's place. +To be sure, he has "led his ragamuffins where they will be well +peppered;" but a system-maker must receive all sorts of proselytes. +When they have really seen life--when they have felt it--when they +have travelled beyond the far distant boundaries of the wilds of +Middlesex--when they have overpassed the Alps of Highgate, and traced +to its sources the Nile of the New River--then, and not till then, +can it properly he permitted to them to despise Pope; who had, if not +_in Wales_, been _near_ it, when he described so beautifully the +"_artificial_" works of the Benefactor of Nature and mankind, the +"Man of Ross," whose picture, still suspended in the parlour of the +inn, I have so often contemplated with reverence for his memory, and +admiration of the poet, without whom even his own still existing good +works could hardly have preserved his honest renown. + +I would also observe to my friend Hunt, that I shall be very glad to +see him at Ravenna, not only for my sincere pleasure in his company, +and the advantage which a thousand miles or so of travel might +produce to a "natural" poet, but also to point out one or two little +things in "Rimini," which he probably would not have placed in his +opening to that poem, if he had ever seen Ravenna;--unless, indeed, +it made "part of his system!!" I must also crave his indulgence for +having spoken of his disciples--by no means an agreeable or +self-sought subject. If they had said nothing of _Pope_, they might +have remained "alone with their glory" for aught I should have said +or thought about them or their nonsense. But if they interfere with +the "little Nightingale" of Twickenham, they may find others who will +bear it--_I_ won't. Neither time, nor distance, nor grief, nor age, +can ever diminish my veneration for him, who is the great moral poet +of all times, of all climes, of all feelings, and of all stages of +existence. The delight of my boyhood, the study of my manhood, +perhaps (if allowed to me to attain it) he may be the consolation of +my age. His poetry is the Book of Life. Without canting, and yet +without neglecting religion, he has assembled all that a good and +great man can gather together of moral wisdom clothed in consummate +beauty. Sir William Temple observes, "that of all the members of +mankind that live within the compass of a thousand years, for one man +that is born capable of making a _great poet_, there may be a +_thousand_ born capable of making as great generals and ministers of +state as any in story." Here is a statesman's opinion of poetry: it +is honourable to him and to the art. Such a "poet of a thousand +years" was _Pope_. A thousand years will roll away before such +another can be hoped for in our literature. But it can _want_ +them--he himself is a literature. + +One word upon his so brutally abused translation of Homer. "Dr. +Clarke, whose critical exactness is well known, has _not been_ able +to point out above three or four mistakes _in the sense_ through the +whole Iliad. The real faults of the translation are of a different +kind." So says Warton, himself a scholar. It appears by this, then, +that he avoided the chief fault of a translator. As to its other +faults, they consist in his having made a beautiful English poem of a +sublime Greek one. It will always hold. Cowper and all the rest of +the blank pretenders may do their best and their worst: they will +never wrench Pope from the hands of a single reader of sense and +feeling. + +The grand distinction of the under forms of the new school of poets +is their _vulgarity_. By this I do not mean that they are _coarse_, +but "shabby-genteel," as it is termed. A man may be _coarse_ and yet +not _vulgar_, and the reverse. Burns is often coarse, but never +_vulgar_. Chatterton is never vulgar, nor Wordsworth, nor the higher +of the Lake school, though they treat of low life in all its +branches. It is in their _finery_ that the new under school are +_most_ vulgar, and they may be known by this at once; as what we +called at Harrow "a Sunday blood" might be easily distinguished from +a gentleman, although his clothes might be the better cut, and his +boots the best blackened, of the two;--probably because he made the +one, or cleaned the other, with his own hands. + +In the present case, I speak of writing, not of persons. Of the +latter, I know nothing; of the former, I judge as it is found. Of my +friend Hunt, I have already said, that he is any thing but vulgar in +his manners; and of his disciples, therefore, I will not judge of +their manners from their verses. They may be honourable and +_gentlemanly_ men, for what I know; but the latter quality is +studiously excluded from their publications. They remind me of Mr. +Smith and the Miss Broughtons at the Hampstead Assembly, in +"Evelina." In these things (in private life, at least,) I pretend to +some small experience; because, in the course of my youth, I have +seen a little of all sorts of society, from the Christian prince and +the Mussulman sultan and pacha, and the higher ranks of their +countries, down to the London boxer, the "_flash and the swell_," the +Spanish muleteer, the wandering Turkish dervise, the Scotch +highlander, and the Albanian robber;--to say nothing of the curious +varieties of Italian social life. Far be it from me to presume that +there ever was, or can be, such a thing as an _aristocracy_ of +_poets_; but there _is_ a nobility of thought and of style, open to +all stations, and derived partly from talent, and partly from +education,--which is to be found in Shakspeare, and Pope, and Burns, +no less than in Dante and Alfieri, but which is nowhere to be +perceived in the mock birds and bards of Mr. Hunt's little chorus. If +I were asked to define what this gentlemanliness is, I should say +that it is only to be defined by _examples_--of those who have it, +and those who have it not. In _life_, I should say that most +_military_ men have it, and few _naval_;--that several men of rank +have it, and few lawyers;--that it is more frequent among authors +than divines (when they are not pedants); that _fencing_-masters have +more of it than dancing-masters, and singers than players; and that +(if it be not an Irishism to say so) it is far more generally +diffused among women than among men. In poetry, as well as writing in +general, it will never _make_ entirely a poet or a poem; but neither +poet nor poem will ever be good for any thing without it. It is the +_salt_ of society, and the seasoning of composition. _Vulgarity_ is +far worse than downright _blackguardism_; for the latter comprehends +wit, humour, and strong sense at times; while the former is a sad +abortive attempt at all things, "signifying nothing." It does not +depend upon low themes, or even low language, for Fielding revels in +both;--but is he ever _vulgar_? No. You see the man of education, the +gentleman, and the scholar, sporting with his subject,--its master, +not its slave. Your vulgar writer is always most vulgar, the higher, +his subject; as the man who showed the menagerie at Pidcock's was +wont to say,--"This, gentlemen, is the _eagle_ of the _sun_, from +Archangel, in Russia; the _otterer_ it is, the _igherer_ he flies." +But to the proofs. It is a thing to be felt more than explained. Let +any man take up a volume of Mr. Hunt's subordinate writers, read (if +possible) a couple of pages, and pronounce for himself, if they +contain not the kind of writing which may be likened to +"shabby-genteel" in actual life. When he has done this, let him take +up Pope;--and when he has laid him down, take up the cockney +again--if he can. + + * * * * * + + _Note to the passage in page_ 396. _relative to Pope's + lines upon Lady Mary W. Montague_.] I think that I could + show, if necessary, that Lady Mary W. Montague was also + greatly to blame in that quarrel, _not_ for having + rejected, but for having encouraged him: but I would rather + decline the task--though she should have remembered her own + line, "_He comes too near, that comes to be denied_." I + admire her so much--her beauty, her talents--that I should do + this reluctantly. I, besides, am so attached to the very name + of _Mary_, that as Johnson once said, "If you called a + dog _Harvey_, I should love him;" so, if you were to call + a female of the same species "Mary," I should love it better + than others (biped or quadruped) of the same sex with a + different appellation. She was an extraordinary woman: she + could translate _Epictetus_, and yet write a song worthy + of Aristippus. The lines, + + "And when the long hours of the public are past, + And we meet, with champaigne and a chicken, at last, + May every fond pleasure that moment endear! + Be banish'd afar both discretion and fear! + Forgetting or scorning the airs of the crowd, + He may cease to be formal, and I to be proud, + Till," &c. &c. + + There, Mr. Bowles!--what say you to such a supper with such a + woman? and her own description too? Is not her "_champaigne + and chicken_" worth a forest or two? Is it not poetry? It + appears to me that this stanza contains the "_purée_" of + the whole philosophy of Epicurus:--I mean the _practical_ + philosophy of his school, not the precepts of the master; for + I have been too long at the university not to know that the + philosopher was himself a moderate man. But, after all, would + not some of us have been as great fools as Pope? For my part, + I wonder that, with his quick feelings, her coquetry, and his + disappointment, he did no more,--instead of writing some + lines, which are to be condemned if false, and regretted if + true. + + + + +INDEX. + + * * * * * + +The Roman letters refer to the Volume; the Arabic figures to the Page. + + * * * * * + +A. + +ABERDEEN, Mrs. Byron's residence at + the day school there at which Lord Byron was a pupil + his allusion to the localities of + affection of the people of, for his memory +Absence, consolations in +Abstinence, the sole remedy for plethora +Abydos, Lord Byron's swimming feat from Sestos to + See Bride of Abydos +Abyssinia, Lord Byron's project of visiting +Academical studies, effect of, on the imaginative faculty +Acerbi, Giuseppe +Acland, Mr., Lord Byron's school-fellow at Harrow +Acting, no immaterial sensuality so delightful +Actium, remains of the town of +Actors, an impracticable race +Ada + See Byron, Augusta-Ada +Adair, Robert, esq. +Adams, John, the Southwell carrier + Lord Byron's epitaph on +Addison, Joseph, his character as a poet + His conversation + His 'Drummer' +'Adolphe,' Benjamin Constant's +Adversity +'Æneid, the,' written for political purposes +Æschylus + His 'Prometheus' + His 'Seven before Thebes' +'Agathon,' Wieland's history of +Aglietti, Dr., MS. letters in his profession offered to Mr. Murray +Albania +Albanians, their character and manners +Alberoni, Cardinal +Albrizzi, Countess, some account of + Her conversazioni + Her 'Ritratti di Uomini Illustri' + Her portrait of Lord Byron +Alder, Mr +Alexander the Great, his exclamation to the Athenians +Alfieri, Vittorio, his description of his first love + Effect of the representation of his 'Mira' on Lord Byron + His conduct to his mother + His tomb in the church of Santa Croce + Coincidences between the disposition and habits of Lord Byron and + His 'Life' quoted +Alfred Club +Algarotti, Francesco, his treatment of Lady M.W. Montagu +Ali Pacha of Yanina, account of + Lord Byron's visit to + His letter in Latin to Lord Byron +Allegra (Lord Byron's natural daughter) + Her death + Inscription for a tablet to her memory +Allen, John, esq., a 'Helluo of books' +Althorp, Viscount +Alvanley (William Arden), second Lord +Ambrosian library at Milan, Lord Byron's visit to +'Americani,' patriotic society so called +Americans, their freedom acquired by firmness without excess +Amurath, Sultan +'Anastasius,' Mr. Hope's, his character +'Anatomy of Melancholy,' a most amusing medley of quotations and + classical anecdotes +Ancestry, pride of, one of the most decided features of Lord Byron's + character +Andalusian nobleman, adventures of a young +Animal food +Annesley, the residence of Miss Chaworth +Annesley, Mr., Lord Byron's schoolfellow at Harrow +Anstey's 'Bath Guide' +'Anti-Byron,' a satire +Anti-Jacobin Review +Antiloctius, tomb of +Antinous, the bust of, super-natural +'Antiquary,' character of Scott's novel so called +'Antony and Cleopatra,' observations on the play of +Apollo Belvidere +Arethusa, fountain of, Lord Byron's visit to +Argenson, Marquis d', his advice to Voltaire +Argyle Institution +Ariosto, Lord Byron's imitation of + his portrait by Titian + Measure of his poetry + spared by the robber who had read his 'Orlando Furioso' + his courage +Aristides +Aristophanes, Mitchell's translation of +'Armageddon,' Townshend's poem so called +Armenian Convent of St. Lazarus + Language + Grammar +Art, not inferior to nature, for poetical purposes +Arts, gulf of +Ash, Thomas, author of 'The Book' + Lord Byron's generous conduct towards +Athens, Lord Byron's first visit to + account of the maid of +Atticus, Herodes +Aubonne +Augusta, stanzas to +Augustus Cæsar, his times +'Auld lang syne' +Authors, an irritable set +Avarice +'Away, away, ye notes of woe' +'A year ago you swore,' &c. + + +B. + +Bacon, Lord, on the celibacy of men of genius + Inaccuracies in his Apophthegms +Baillie, Joanna, the only woman capable of writing tragedy +Baillie, Dr., Lord Byron put under his care +----, Dr. Matthew, consulted on Lord Byron's supposed insanity +Baillie 'Long' +Baillie, Mr. D. +Balgounie, brig of +Ballater, a residence of Lord Byron in his youth +Bandello, his history of Romeo and Juliet +Bankes, William, esq. + Letters to +Barbarossa, Aruck +Barber, J.T., the painter +Barff, Mr., Lord Byron's letters to, on the Greek cause +Barlow, Joel, character of his 'Columbiad' +Barnes, Thomas, esq. +Barry, Mr., the banker of Genoa +Bartley, George, the comedian +----, Mrs., the actress +Bartolini, the sculptor, his bust of Lord Byron +Bartorini, princess, her monument at Bologna +Bath, Lord Byron at +'Bath Guide,' Anstey's +Baths of Penelope, Lord Byron's visit to +'Baviad and Mæviad,' extinguishment of the Delia Cruscans by the +Bay of Biscay +Bayes, Mr., caricature of Dryden +Beattie, Dr., his 'Minstrel' +Beaumarchais, his singular good fortune +Beaumont, Sir George +Beauvais, Bishop of +Beccaria, anecdote of +Becher, Rev. John, Lord Byron's friend + His epilogue to the 'Wheel of Fortune' + His influence over Lord Byron + Letters to +Beckford, William, esq., his 'Tales' in continuation of 'Vathek' +Beggar's Opera,' Gay's, a St. Giles's lampoon +Behmen, Jacob, his reverses +Bellingham, Lord Byron present at his execution +Beloe, Rev. William, character of his 'Sexagenarian' +Bembo, Cardinal, amatory correspondence between Lucretia Borgia and +Benacus, the (now the Lago di Garda) +Bentham, Jeremy, quackery of his followers +Benzoni, Countess, her conversazioni + Some account of +'Beppo, a Venetian Story' + See also +Bergami, the Princess of Wales's courier and chamberlain +Bernadotte, Jean-Baptiste-Jules, King of Sweden +Berni, the father of the Beppo style of writing +Berry, Miss +'Bertram,' Mathurin's tragedy of +Bettesworth, Captain (cousin of Lord Byron), the only officer in the + navy who had more wounds than Lord Nelson +Betty, William Henry West (the young Roscius) +Beyle, M., his 'Histoire de la Peinture en Italie' + His account of an interview with Lord Byron at Milan +Bible, the, read through by Lord Byron before he was eight years old +Biography +'Bioscope, or Dial of Life,' Mr. Grenville Penn's +Birch, Alderman +Blackett, Joseph, the poetical cobbler + His posthumous writings +Blackstone, Judge, composed his Commentaries with a bottle of port + before him +Blackwood's Magazine +Blake, the fashionable tonsor +Bland, Rev. Robert +Blaquiere, Mr. +Bleeding, Lord Byron's prejudice against +Blessington, Earl of + Letters to +----, Countess of + Impromptu on her taking a villa called 'Il Paradiso' + Lines written at the request of + Letters to +Blinkensop, Rev. Mr., his Sermon on Christianity +Bloomfield, Nathaniel +----, Robert +Blount, Martha, Pope's attachment to +Blucher, Marshal +'BLUES, THE; a Literary Eclogue' +'Boatswain,' Lord Byron's favourite dog +Boisragon, Dr. +Bolivar, Simon +Bolder, Mr., Lord Byron's schoolfellow at Harrow +Bologna, Lord Byron's visit to the cemetery of +Bolton, Mr., letters of Lord Byron to, respecting his will +Bonneval, Claudius Alexander, Count de +Bonstetten, M. +Books, list of, read by Lord Byron before the age of 15 +Borgia, Lucretia, her amatory correspondence with Cardinal Bembo +'Born in a garret +Borromean Islands +'Bosquet de Julie' +'Bosworth Field,' Lord Byron's projected epic entitled +Botzari, Marco, his letter to Lord Byron + His death +Bowers, Mr. (Lord Byron's school-master at Aberdeen) +Bowles, Rev. William Lisle, his controversy concerning Pope + His 'Spirit of Discovery,' + His 'invariable principles of poetry,' + His hypochondriacism + His 'Missionary,' + Lord Byron's 'Letter on his Strictures on the Life and Writings of + Pope,' + Lord Byron's 'Observations upon Observations; a Second Letter,' &c. +Bowring, Dr., Lord Byron's letters to, on the Greek cause, and his + intention to embark in it +Boxing +Bradshaw, Hon. Cavendish +Braham, John, the singer +Breme, Marquis de +'BRIDE OF ABYDOS; a Turkish Tale' +Bridge of Sighs at Venice, account of +Brientz, town and lake of +'Brig of Balgounie' +'British Critic' +'British Review' +----, 'my Grandmother's Review' + Lord Byron's letter to the editor +Broglie, Duchess of (daughter of Mad. de Staël), her character + Anecdote of + Her remark on the errors of clever people +Brooke, Lord (Sir Fulke Greville), account of a MS. poem by +Brougham, Henry, esq. (afterwards Lord Brougham and Vaux), a candidate + for Westminster against Sheridan +Broughton, the regicide, his monument at Vevay +Brown, Isaac Hawkins, his 'Pipe of Tobacco' + his 'lava buttons' +Browne, Sir Thomas, his 'Religio Medici' quoted +Bruce, Mr. +Brummell, William, esq. +Bruno, Dr., Lord Byron's medical attendant in Greece + Anecdote of +Brussels +Bryant, Jacob, on the existence of Troy +Brydges, Sir Egerton, his 'Letters on the Character and Poetical Genius + of Byron' + His 'Ruminator' +Buchanan, Rev. Dr. +Bucke, Rev. Charles +Buonaparte, Lucien, his 'Charlemagne' +----, Napoleon, one of the most extraordinary of men + that anakim of anarchy + poor little pagod + ode on his fall + fortune's favourite +Burdett, Sir Francis + His style of eloquence +Burgage Manor, Notts, the residence of Lord Byron +Burgess, Sir James Bland +Burke, Rt. Hon. Edmund, his oratory +Burns, Robert, his habit of reading at meals + His elegy on Maillie + 'What would he have been + His unpublished letters + His rank among poets + 'Often coarse, but never vulgar' +Burton's 'Anatomy of Melancholy,' 'a most amusing and instructive + medley' +Burun, Ralph de, mentioned in Doomsday Book +Busby, Dr., Dryden's reverential regard for +----, Thomas, Mus. Doct., his monologue on the opening of Drury Lane + Theatre + His translation of Lucretius +Butler, Dr. (headmaster at Harrow) + Reconciliation between Lord Byron and +BYRON, Sir John, the Little, with the great beard +----, Sir John, 1st Lord, his high and honourable services +----, Sir Richard, tribute to his valour and fidelity +----, Admiral John (the grand-father of the poet), his shipwreck + and sufferings +----, William, fifth Lord (grand-uncle of the poet) + His trial for killing Mr. Chaworth in a duel + His death + His eccentric and unsocial habits +BYRON, John (father of the poet), his elopement with Lady Carmarthen + His marriage with Miss Catherine Gordon + His death at Valenciennes +----, Mrs. (mother of the poet), descended from the Gordons of Gight + Vehemence of her feelings + Ballad on the occasion of her marriage + Her fortune + Separates from her husband + Her capricious excesses of fondness and of anger + Her death + Lord Byron's Letters to + See also +----, Honourable Augusta (sister of the poet) + See Leigh, Honourable Augusta +----, (GEORGE-GORDON-BYRON), sixth Lord-- + 1788. Born Jan. 22 + 1790--1791. Taken by his mother to Aberdeen + Impetuosity of his temper + Affectionate sweetness and playfulness of his disposition + The malformation of his foot a source of pain and uneasiness to him + His early acquaintance with the Sacred Writings + Instances of his quickness and energy + Death of his father + 1792--1795; Sent to a day-school at Aberdeen + His own account of the progress of his infantine studies + His sports and exercises + 1796--1797. Removed into the Highlands + His visits to Lachin-y-gair + First awakening of his poetic talent + His early love of mountain scenery + Attachment for Mary Duff + 1798. Succeeds to the title + Made a ward of Chancery, under the guardianship of the Earl of + Carlisle, and removed to Newstead + Placed under the care of an empiric at Nottingham for the cure of + his lameness + 1799. First symptom of a tendency towards rhyming + Removed to London, and put under the care of Dr. Baillie + Becomes the pupil of Dr. Glennie, at Dulwich + 1800-1804. His boyish love for his cousin, Margaret Parker + His 'first dash into poetry' + Is sent to Harrow + Notices of his school-life + His first Harrow verses + His school friendships + His mode of life as a schoolboy + Accompanies his mother to Bath + His early attachment to Miss Chaworth + Heads a 'rebelling' at Harrow + Passes the vacation at Southwell + 1805. Removed to Cambridge + His college friendships + 1806. Aug.-Nov., prepares a collection of his poems for the press + His visit to Harrowgate + Southwell private theatricals + Prints a volume of his poems; but, at the entreaty of Mr. Becher + commits the edition to the flames + 1807. Publishes 'Hours of Idleness' + List of historical writers whose works he had perused at the age + of nineteen + Reviews Wordsworth's Poems + Begins 'Bosworth Field,' an epic. Writes part of a novel + 1808. His early scepticism + Effect produced on his mind by the critique on 'Hours of Idleness,' + in the Edinburgh Review + Passes his time between the dissipations of London and Cambridge + Takes up his residence at Newstead + Forms the design of visiting India + Prepares 'English Bards and Scotch Reviewers,' for the press + 1809. His coming of age celebrated at Newstead + Takes his seat in the House of Lords + Loneliness of his position at this period + Sets out on his travels + State of mind in which he took leave of England + Visits Lisbon, Seville, Cadiz, Gibraltar, Malta, Prevesa, Zitza + Tepaleen + Is introduced to Ali Pacha + Begins 'Childe Harold' at Ioannina + Visits Actium, Nicopolis; nearly lost in a Turkish ship of war + proceeds through Acarnania and Ætolia towards the Morea + Reaches Missolonghi + Visits Patras, Vostizza, Mount Parnassus, Delphi, Lepanto, Thebes + Mount Cithæron + Arrives, on Christmas-day, at Athens + 1810. Spends ten weeks in visiting the monuments of Athens; makes + excursions to several parts of Attica + The Maid of Athens + Leaves Athens for Smyrna + Visits ruins of Ephesus + Concludes, at Smyrna, the second canto of 'Childe Harold' + April, leaves Smyrna for Constantinople + Visits the Troad + Swims from Sestos to Abydos + May, arrives at Constantinople + June, expedition through the Bosphorus to the Black Sea + July + Aug.--Sept., makes a tour of the Morea + Returns to Athens + 1811. Writes 'Hints from Horace,' and 'Curse of Minerva.' + Returns to England + Effect of travel on the general character of his mind and + disposition + His first connection with Mr. Murray + Death of his mother + Of his college friends, Matthews and Wingfield + And of 'Thyrza' + Origin of his acquaintance with Mr. Moore + Act of generosity towards Mr. Hodgson + 1812. Feb. 27., makes his first speech in the House of Lords + Feb. 29., publishes the first and second cantos of 'Childe Harold,' + Presents the copyright of the poem to Mr. Dallas + Although far advanced in a fifth edition of 'English Bards,' + determines to commit it to the flames + Presented to the Prince Regent + Writes the Address for the opening of Drury Lane Theatre + 1813. April, brings out anonymously 'The Waltz' + May, publishes the 'Giaour' + His intercourse, through Mr. Moore, with Mr. Leigh Hunt + Makes preparations for a voyage to the East + Projects a journey to Abyssinia + Dec., publishes the 'Bride of Abydos' + Is an unsuccessful suitor for the hand of Miss Milbanke + 1814. Jan., publishes the 'Corsair' + April, writes 'Ode on the Fall of Napoleon Buonaparte' + Comes to the resolution, not only of writing no more, but of + suppressing all he had ever written + May, writes 'Lara;' makes a second proposal for the hand of Miss + Milbanke, and is accepted + Dec., writes 'Hebrew Melodies' + 1815. Jan 2., marries Miss Milbanke + April, becomes personally acquainted with Sir Walter Scott + May, becomes a member of the sub-committee of Drury Lane + theatre + Pressure of pecuniary embarrassments + 1816. Jan., Lady Byron adopts the resolution of separating from him + Samples of the abuse lavished on him + March, writes 'Fare thee well,' and 'A Sketch' + April, leaves England + His route--Brussels, Waterloo, &c. + Takes up his abode at the Campagne Diodati + Finishes, June 27, the third canto of 'Childe Harold' + Writes, June 28, 'The Prisoner of Chillon' + Writes + 'Darkness,' 'Epistle to Augusta,' 'Churchill's Grave,' + 'Prometheus,' 'Could I remount,' 'Sonnet to Lake Leman,' + and part of 'Manfred' + August, an unsuccessful negotiation for a domestic reconciliation + Sept., makes a tour of the Bernese Alps + His intercourse with Mr. Shelley + Oct., proceeds to Italy--route, Martiguy, the Simplon, Milan + Verona + Nov., takes up his residence at Venice + Marianna Segati + Studies the Armenian language + 1817. Feb., finishes 'Manfred' + March, translates from the Armenian, a correspondence between + St. Paul and the Corinthians + April + Makes a short visit to Rome, and writes there a new third act to + 'Manfred' + July, writes, at Venice, the fourth canto of 'Childe Harold' + Oct., writes 'Beppo' + 1818. The Fornarina, Margaritta Cogni + July, writes 'Ode on Venice' + Nov., finishes 'Mazeppa' + 1819. Jan., finishes second canto of 'Don Juan' + April, beginning of his acquaintance with the Countess Guiccioli + June, writes 'Stanzas to the Po' + Dec., completes the third and fourth cantos of 'Don Juan' + Removes to Ravenna + 1820. Jan., domesticated with Countess Guiccioli + Feb., translates first canto of the 'Morgante Maggiore' + March, finishes 'Prophecy of Dante' + Translates 'Francesa of Rimini' + And writes 'Observations upon an Article in Blackwood's + Magazine' + April--July, writes 'Marino Faliero' + Oct.--Nov., writes fifth canto of 'Don Juan' + 1821. Feb., writes 'Letter on the Rev. W.L. Bowles's Strictures on + the Life of Pope' + March, 'Second Letter,' &c. + May, finishes 'Sardanapalus' + July, 'The Two Foscari' + Sept., 'Cain' + Oct., writes 'Heaven and Earth, a Mystery' + and 'Vision of Judgment' + Removes to Pisa + 1822. Jan., finishes 'Werner' + Sept, removes to Genoa + His coalition with Hunt in the 'Liberal' + 1823. April, turns his views towards Greece + Receives a communication from the London committee + May, offers to proceed to Greece, and to devote his resources + to the object in view + Preparations for his departure + July 14., sails for Greece + Reaches Argostoli + Excursion to Ithaca + Waits, at Cephalonia, the arrival of the Greek fleet + His conversations on religion with Dr. Kennedy at Mataxata + His letters to Madame Guiccioli + His address to the Greek government + And remonstrance to Prince Mavrocordati + Testimonies to the benevolence and soundness of his views + Instances of his humanity and generosity while at Cephalonia + 1824. Jan. 5., arrives at Missolonghi + Writes 'Lines on completing my thirty-sixth year' + Intended attack upon Lepanto + Is made commander-in-chief of the expedition + Rupture with the Suliotes + The expedition suspended + His last illness + His death + His funeral + Inscription on his monument + His will + His person + His sensitiveness on the subject of his lameness + His abstemiousness + His habitual melancholy + His tendency to make the worst of his own obliquities + His generosity and kind-heartedness + His politics + His religious opinions + His tendency to superstition + Portraits of him +Byron, Lady + Her remarks on Mr. Moore's Life of Lord Byron + Lord Byron's letters to + ----, Honourable Augusta Ada + Byron, (George) seventh lord + ----, Eliza + ----, Henry + + +C. + +Cadiz, described +Cæsar, Julius, his times +Cahir, Lady +'CAIN, a Mystery,' alleged blasphemies + See also +Caledonian meeting, 'Address intended to be recited at' +Calvert, Mr., Lord Byron's schoolfellow at Harrow +Cambridge, Lord Byron's entry into Trinity College + A chaos of din and drunkenness + Lord Byron's distaste to +Camoens, distinguished himself in war +Campbell, Thomas, esq., his first introduction to Lord Byron + Coleridge lecturing against him + His 'Pleasures of Hope' + The best of judges + His unpublished poem on a scene in Germany + Inadvertencies in his 'Lives of the Poets' + His 'Gertrude of Wyoming' full of false scenery + See, also +Canning, Right Hon. George + His oratory +----, Sir Stratford, his poem entitled 'Buonaparte' +Canova + His early love +Cant, 'the grand primum mobile of England' +Cantemir, Demetrius, his 'History of the Ottoman Empire,' +Carlile, Richard, folly of his trial +Carlisle (Frederick Howard), fifth Earl of, becomes Lord Byron's + guardian + His alleged neglect of his ward + Proposed reconciliation between Lord Byron and +Caroline, Queen of England +Carmarthen, Marchioness of +Caro, Annibale, his translations from the classics +Carpenter, James, the bookseller +Carr, Sir John, the traveller +Cartwright, Major +Cary, Rev. Henry Francis, his translation of Dante +Castanos, General +Castellan, A.L., his 'Moeurs des Ottomans' +Castlereagh, Viscount, (Robert Stewart, Marquis of Londonderry) +Catholic emancipation +'Cato,' Pope's prologue to +Catullus, his 'Atys' not licentious +'Cavalier Servente' +Cawthorn, Mr., the bookseller +Caylus, Count de +'Cecilia,' Miss Burney's +Celibacy of eminent philosophers +Centlivre, Mrs., character of her comedies + Drove Congreve from the stage +'Cenci,' Shelley's +Chamouni, remarks on the scenery of +Charlemont, Lady, Lord Byron's admiration of +----, Mrs. +Charles the Fifth +Charlotte, the Princess, attacks upon Lord Byron in consequence of his + verses to + Death of +Chatham, Lord, a notice of + His oratory +Chatterton, Thomas, self-educated + Never vulgar +Chaucer, Geoffrey, character of his poetry +Chauncy, Captain +Chaworth, Mary Anne (afterwards Mrs. Musters), Lord Byron's early + attachment to + His last farewell of her + Her marriage + Interview with, after her marriage +Cheltenham, Lord Byron at +Childe Alarique +'CHILDE HAROLD'S PILGRIMAGE,' the poem commenced + first produced to Mr. Dallas + The author's false judgment concerning + Identification of Lord Byron's character with + Mr. Gifford's opinion of the poem + Preparations for publication + Its progress through the press + Mr. Moore's opinion + Its publication and instantaneous success + alleged resemblance to Marmion in it + The 3d Canto written + Progress of the 4th Canto + 2500 guineas asked for it + The translation confiscated in Italy + 'The sublimest poetical achievement of mortal pen' +Chillon, Castle of +'CHILLON, PRISONER OF +Christ, what proved him the Son of God +'Christabel', Lord Byron's admiration of +Cicero, Antony's treatment of +Cid +Cigars +Cintra, the most beautiful village in the world +Clare (John Fitzgibbon), Earl of +Clare, John, the poet +Clarens +Claridge, Mr. +'Clarissa Harlowe.' +Clarke, Rev. James Stanier, his 'Naufragia.' +Clarke, Hewson +Classical education +Claudian, the 'ultimus Romanorum.' +Claughton, Mr. +Clayton, Mr. +Clitumnus, the river +Clubs +Coates, Romeo, his Lothario +Cobbett, William +Cochrane, Lord +'Cockney school' of poetry +Cogni, Margarita (the Fornarina), story of +Coldham, Mr. +Coleridge, Samuel Taylor, esq., his 'Devil's Walk' + His 'Remorse' + His 'Zopolia' + His 'Biographia Literaria' + His 'Christabel' + Lord Byron's letters to + See also +Colman, George, esq., his prologue to 'Philaster' +----, George, jun., esq., parallel between Sheridan and +Colocotroni +Colonna, Cape + Columns of +Comedy more difficult to compose than Tragedy +Concanen, Mr. +Congreve, self-educated + His comedies + Driven from the stage by Mrs. Centlivre +Constance (a German lady) +Constant, Benjamin de, his 'Adolphe' +Constantinople, St. Sophia + The seraglio + The first sea view +Cooke, George Frederick, tragedian, an American Life of + The most natural of actors +Coolidge, Mr., of Boston +Copet +Cordova, Admiral +----, Sennorita +'Corinne,' notes written by Lord Byron in +Corinth +----, capture of + See 'SIEGE OF CORINTH.' +Cork, Countess of +Cornwall, Barry (Bryan Walter Proctor) +'CORSAIR, the; a Tale' +'Cosmopolite,' an amusing little volume full of French flippancy +Cotin, L'Abbé +Cottin, Madame +'Could I remount the river of my years' +'Courier' +Courtenay, John, esq., anecdotes of +Cowell, Mr. John, Letters to +Cowley, Abraham, his 'Essays' quoted + His character +Cowper, Earl +----, Countess +----, William, famous at cricket and football + His remark on the English system of education + His spaniel 'Beau' + An example of filial tenderness + 'No poet' + His translation of Homer +Crabbe, Rev. George, the just tribute to + His 'Resentment' + His quality as a poet + 'The father of present poesy' +Crebillon, the younger, his marriage +Cribb, Tom, the pugilist +Cricketing, one of Lord Byron's most favourite sports +'Critic,' Sheridan's, 'too good for a farce' +'Critical Review' +Croker, Right Hon. John Wilson, his query concerning the title of the + 'Bride of Abydos' + His 'guess' as to the origin of 'Beppo' + Lord Byron's letter to + His 'Boswell' quoted +Crosby, Benjamin +Crowe, Rev, William, his criticism in 'English Bards' +Curioni, Signor, singer +Curran, Right Hon. John Philpot, Lord Byron's enthusiastic praise +'Curse of Kebama' +'CURSE OF MINERVA' +Curzon, Mr. +Cuvìer, Baron + + +D. + +Dallas, Robert Charles, commencement of his acquaintance with Lord + Byron + Childe Harold first shown to him + Copywright of the Corsair presented to him + His ingratitude + See also + Lord Byron's letters to +Dalrymple, Sir Hew +D'Alton, John, esq., his 'Dermid' +Dandies +Dante, his early passion for Beatrice + His infelicitous marriage + His poem celebrated long before his death + His popularity + His gentle feelings + Lord Byron's resemblance to + See also + 'PROPHECY OF' +D'Arblay, Madame (Miss Burney), 1000 guineas asked for one of her + novels + Her 'Cecilia' + See also +Darnley, death of, a fine subject for a drama +'DARKNESS' +Darwin, Dr. Erasmus, put down by the Anti-Jacobin +Davies, Scrope, esq. +Davy, Sir Humphry +Dawkins, Mr. +'DEAR DOCTOR, I have read your play' +Death +Death +De Bath, Lord +Deformity, an incentive to distinction +D'Egville, John, the ballet-master +Delaval, Sir Francis Blake +Delawarr (George-John West), fifth Earl +Delia, poetical epistle from, to Lord Byron +Delladecima, Count + His opinion of Lord Byron's conduct in Greece +Delphi, fountain of +Demetrius +Denham, his 'Cowper's Hill' +Dent de Jument +Dervish Tahiri, Lord Byron's faithful Arnaout guide +'Devil's Drive,' the +Devil's Walk,' Porson's +Devonshire, Duchess of (Lady Elizabeth Foster), her character of the + Roman government +'Diary of an Invalid,' Matthews's +Dibdin, Thomas, play-wright +Dick, Mr. +Diderot, his definition of sensibility +Digestion +Dioclesian +Dionysius at Corinth +D'Israeli, J., esq. his 'Essay on the Literary Character' + His 'Quarrels of Authors' + His remark on the effect of medicine upon the mind and spirits +'Distrest Mother,' excellence of the epilogue to +D'Ivernois, Sir Francis +Divorce +Dogs, fidelity of +-----, Lord Byron's fondness for + His epitaph on 'Boatswain' +Don, Brig of +Donegal, Lady +'DON JUAN,' a scene in it adapted from the 'Narrative of the Shipwreck + of the Juno + Commencement of the poem + The 1st canto finished + 50 copies to be printed privately + 2nd canto + 'Nonsensical prudery' against it + Mr. Murray in a fright about it + The papers not so fierce as was anticipated + Authorship to be kept anonymous + General outcry against the poem + Spurious 3rd cantos + Mr. Murray going to law + The author hurt but not frightened + A French lady's compliments + Third canto + The fifth canto hardly the beginning of the poem + The Countess Guiccioli's intercession for its discontinuance + Shelley's opinion of it + The poem all 'real life' + Errors of the press + Partiality of the Germans for + Permission from the Countess to continue it + Three more cantos + Another + The 'Quarterly' Review of the poem + An epitome of the author's character +Donna Bianca, or White Lady of Colalto the story of her supernatural + appearance +D'Orsay, Count + His 'Journal' + Lord Byron's letter to +Dorset (George-John Frederick), fourth Duke of + 'LINES occasioned by the death of' +Dorville, Mr +Dovedale, Lord Byron's eulogy of the scenery of +Dramatists, old English, 'full of gross faults' + 'Not good as models' +'DREAM,' The + The most mournful and picturesque story that ever came from the pen + and heart of man + 'One of the most interesting' of Lord Byron's poems +Dreams +Drummond, Sir William + His 'OEdipus Judaicus' +----, Mr., Lord Byron's schoolfellow at Harrow +Drury, Rev. Henry, Lord Byron's letters to +----, Rev. Dr. Joseph, his account of Lord Byron's disposition and + capabilities while at Harrow + Lord Byron's character of + His retirement from the mastership of Harrow +Drury, Mark +Drury Lane Theatre + 'ADDRESS, spoken at the opening of' +Dryden, his praise of Oxford, at the expense of Cambridge + Eulogy of his 'Fables' by Lord Byron +'Duenna,' Lord Byron's partiality for the songs in +Duff, Colonel (Lord Byron's god-father) +----, Miss Mary (afterwards Mrs. Robert Cockburn), Lord Byron's + boyish attachment for +Dulwich, Lord Byron at school there +Dumont, M +Duncan, Mr., Lord Byron's writing-master at Aberdeen +Dwyer, Mr +Dyer's 'Grongar Hill' + + +E. + +Eagles, a flight of +Eboli, Princess of, epigram on her losing an eye +Eclectic Review +Eddleston, the Cambridge chorister, Lord Byron's protegé +Edgecombe, Mr +Edgehill, Battle, seven brothers of the Byron family at +Edgeworth, Richard Lovell, esq., sketch of +----, Maria +Edinburgh Annual Register +Edinburgh Review + Its effect on the author + Its review of the 'Corsair' and 'Bride of Abydos' +Education, English system of +Elba, Isle of, Lord Byron's 'Ode to Napoleon Buonaparte' on his retreat + to +Eldon, Earl of + Anecdote of +Elgin, Earl of, severe treatment of + The 'Curse of Minerva' levelled against him +Ellice, Edward, esq., letter to +Ellis, George, esq. +Ellison, Lord Byron's school-fellow at Harrow +Elliston, Robert William, comedian, Lord Byron's wish that he should + speak his 'Address' at Drury Lane theatre +Eloquence, state of +Endurance, of more worth than talent +ENGLISH BARDS AND SCOTCH REVIEWERS, the groundwork laid before the + appearance of the critique in the 'Edinburgh Review' + Sent to Mr. Harness + Success of the satire + The author's regret in having written it + Refusal to republish it + Attempted publication of +Englishman, Otway's three requisites for an +Envy +Ephesus, ruins of +EPIGRAM on Moore's Operatic Farce, or Farcical Opera +Erskine, Lord, his eloquence + his famous pamphlet + See, also +Essex (George-Capel), fifth Earl of +Euxine, or Black Sea, description of +Ewing, Dr. +Exeter 'Change + + +F. + +Faber, Rev. George +Fainting, sensation of +Falconer, his 'Shipwreck' +Falkland (Lucius Gary), Viscount, killed in a duel by Mr. Powell +'Father of Light! Great God of Heaven!' +Falkner, Mr., Lord Byron's letter to, with a copy of his poems +Fall of Terni +Falmouth +Fame, first tidings of, to Lord Byron + See. also +'FARE THEE WELL, and if for ever' +Farrell, D., esq. +Fatalism +'Faust,' Goethe's +'Faustus,' Marlow's +Fawcett, John, comedian +'Fazio,' Milman's tragedy of +Fear +Ferrara, Lord Byron's visit to +Fersen, Count +Fidler, Ernest +Fielding, 'the prose Homer of human nature.' +Finlay, Kirkman, esq. +Fitzgerald, Lord Edward +----, William Thomas, esq., poetaster +Flemish school of painting +Fletcher, William (Lord Byron's valet) +Flood, Right Hon. Henry, his debut in the House of Commons +'Florence,' the lady addressed under this title in 'Childe Harold' + (Mrs., Spencer Smith) +Florence, Lord Byron's visits to the picture gallery +Foote, Miss, the actress (afterwards, Countess of Harrington), her + debut in the 'Child of Nature' +Forbes, Lady Adelaide +Forresti, G. +Forsyth, Joseph, esq., his 'Italy' +Fortune, Lord Byron attributed everything to + See, also +'Foscari, the Two; an Historical Tragedy' +Foscolo, Ugo + His 'Essay on Petrarch' +Fountain of Arethusa, Lord Byron's visit to +Fox, Right Hon. Charles James, notice of + poems + His Oratory +----, Henry +'Frament, A' +'FRANCESCA OF RIMINI; from the Inferno of Dante' +Francis, Sir Philip, the probable author of 'Junius' +'Frankenstein,' Mrs. Shelley's +Franklin, Benjamin +Frederick the Second, 'the only monarch worth recording in Prussian + annals' +Free press in Greece +Frere, Right Hon. John Hookham, his 'Whistlecraft' +Fribourg +Friday, supposed unluckiness of + + +G. + +Galignani, M. +Gait, John, esq., his life of Lord Byron + See, also +Gamba, Count Pietro, the Countess Guiccioli's letter to + Mr. Moore + His friendship with Lord Byron + His arrest at Ravenna + His notices of Lord Byron on his departure for Greece + Remarks on Lord Byron's death +Garrick, Sheridan's Monologue on +Gay, Madame Sophie +----, Mlle. Delphine +Gell, Sir William + Review of his 'Geography of Ithaca,' and 'Itinerary of Greece' +Geneva, Lake of +George the Third, granted a pension to Mrs. Byron +George the Fourth, his interview with Lord Byron + His indignation against 'Cain' + The 'Vault reflection' +'Georgics,' a finer poem than the Æneid +Germany and the Germans +Ghost, the Newstead +'Giaour, The; a Fragment of a Turkish Tale', the author's fears for it + First publication of, and its brilliant success + Additions to + The author's endeavours to 'beat' it + The story on which it is founded +Gibbon, Edward, esq., his remark on public schools + His acacia + His remark on his own History +Gifford, William, esq., his opinion of 'English Bards' + Lord Byron's disinclination that 'Childe Harold' should be shown to + him + Influence of his opinion on Lord Byron + And Jeffrey, monarch-makers in poetry and prose + The 'Bride of Abydos' submitted to + Lord Byron's letters to +Gilchrist, Octavius +Gillies, R.P., the author of 'Childe Alarique' +Giordani, Signor +Giorgione + His 'picture of his wife + His judgment of Solomon +Giraud, Nicolo, Lord Byron's Greek protégé +'Glenarvon,' Lady Caroline Lamb's +Glenbervie (Sylvester Douglas), first Lord, his treatise on timber + His 'Ricciardetto' +Glennie, Dr. (Lord Byron's preceptor) + His account of his pupil's studies +Glover, Mrs., actress +Godwin, William, Lord Byron's munificence to +Goethe, his 'Kennst du das Land,' &c. imitated + His saying of Lord Byron + His 'Faust + His remarks on 'Manfred.' + Dedication of 'Marino Faliero' to + His 'Werther.' + His 'Giaour' story + Lord Byron's letter to + His tribute to the memory of Byron +Goetz, Countess +Gordon, Sir John, of Bogagicht +----, Sir William, grandson of James I., an ancestor of Lord Byron's +----, Duchess of +----, Mr. +----, Lord Alexander +----, Pryce, esq. +Gordons of Gight +Gower, Lord Granville Leveson (now Earl and Viscount Granville) +'Gradus ad Parnassum,' Lord Byron's triangular +Grafton (George Henry Fitzroy), fourth Duke of +Grainger, his 'Ode to Solitude.' +Grant, David, his 'Battles and War Pieces.' +Grattan, Right Hon. Henry, his oratory + Curran's mimicry of him +Gray, his description of Cambridge + His preference for his Latin poems + An example of filial tenderness + His 'Elegy.' +----, May (Lord Byron's nurse) +Greece, past and present condition of +Small extent of +Greek islands, resources for an emigrant population in +Greeks, character of the + Cause of the purity with which they wrote their own language +Gregson, the pugilist +Grenville (William Wyndham), Lord +Greville, Colonel, challenges Lord Byron for an insinuation in + 'English Bards.' +Grey, Charles (afterwards Earl Grey), his oratory + See also +Grey de Ruthven, Lord, Newstead Abbey let to him +Grillparzer, his tragedy of Sappho + Character of his writings +Grimaldi, Joseph, Covent Garden clown +Grimm, Baron + His 'Correspondence' as valuable as Muratori or Tiraboschi +Grindenwald, the +'Grongar Hill,' Dyer's +Guerrino, a picture of his at Milan +Guiccioli, Count +----, Countess, her first introduction to Lord Byron + attacked with fever + sincerity of Lord Byron's attachment to her + accompanies Lord Byron to Venice + disinterestedness of her conduct, and + returns with the Count to Ravenna + Lord Byron follows her + efforts for a separation + the Pope pronounces for it + the Countess retires to her father's villa + arrest of her father and brother + Shelley's opinion of her connexion with Lord Byron + her intercession for the discontinuance of Don Juan + Lord Byron's unwilling departure for Greece + his letters to the Countess from Greece + See also +Guildford, Earl of +Guinguene, P.L. +Gulley, John, the pugilist (in 1832 M. P. for Pontefract) + + +H. + +Hafiz, the oriental Anacreon +Hailstone, Professor +Hall, Captain Basil, Lord Byron's attention to + his letter to +Hamilton, Lady Dalrymple +Hancock, Charles, esq. + Lord Byron's letters to +Hannibal, saying of +Hanson, John, esq. (Lord Byron's solicitor) +----, Miss (afterwards Countess of Portsmouth) + Lord Byron's presence at her marriage +'Hardyknute,' the fine poem so called +Harrington, Earl of. See Stanhope +----, Countess of. See Foote +Harley, Lady Charlotte (the 'lanthe' to whom the first and second + cantos of 'Childe Harold' are dedicated) +----, Lady Jane +Harness, Rev. William + His sermons quoted + Lord Byron's letters to +Harris, his 'Philosophical Inquiries' +Harrow, Lord Byron's entrance at + his first Harrow verses + his magnanimity in behalf of his friend Peel + 'Byron's tomb' + his attachment to Harrow +Harrowby, Earl of +Harrowgate, Lord Byron's visit to +Hartington, Marquis of (afterwards sixth Duke of Devonshire) +Harvey, Mrs. Jane +Hatchard, Mr. John +Hawke (Edward Harvey), third Lord +Hay, Captain +Hayley, his 'Triumphs of Temper,' Lord Byron's eulogy of +Hayreddin +Hazlitt, William, his style +Headfort, Marchioness of +'HEBREW MELODIES' +Helen, 'LINES on Canova's bust of' +Hellespont, Lord Byron's swimming feat from Sestos to Abydos +Hemans, Mrs., her 'Restoration' + Character of her poetry +Henley, Orator +Herbert of Cherbury, Lord, his life much interested Lord Byron +Hero and Leander +Hill, Aaron +'Hills of Annesley, bleak and barren.' +'HINTS FROM HORACE,' written at Athens + first produced to Mr. Dallas + singular preference given by the author to them + See also +Hippopotamus at Exeter Change +Historians, list of, perused by Lord Byron at nineteen +Hoare, Mr., Lord Byron's schoolfellow at Harrow +Hobbes, Thomas +Hobhouse, Right Hon. Henry +----, Right Hon. Sir John Cam, Bart., his 'Journey through + Albania' quoted + His 'Historical Notes to Childe Harold' +Hodgson, Rev. Francis, Lord Byron's well-timed assistance to + His 'Friends' + Lord Byron's letters to + See also +Hogg, James, the Ettrick shepherd +Holerott, Thomas, his 'Memoirs' +Holderness, Lady +Holland, Lord, the allusion to + commencement of Lord Byron's acquaintance with + his oratory + Lord Byron's letters to +Holland, Lady +----, Dr. +Holmes, Mr., the miniature painter +Homer, geography of, Visit to the school of +Hope, Thomas, esq., his 'Anastasius' +Hoppner, R B., esq., his account of Lord Byron's mode of life at + Venice + 'LINES on the birth of his son' + Lord Byron's letters to + see also +Horace, Lord Byron's early dislike to + Quoted +'Horace in London' + See 'Hints from Horace' +Horestan Castle, Derbyshire, held by Lord Byron's ancestors +'Horsæ Ionicæ +Homer, Francis, esq. +'HOURS OF IDLENESS,' first publication of + a review of + another in the 'Critical Review,' + furious philippic in the 'Eclectic' + Critique of the Edinburgh Review +Howard, Hon. Frederick +Hume, David, his Essays + His 'Treatise of Human Nature' +Hunt, John +----, Leigh, Lord Byron's first acquaintance with + Described + His 'Rimini' + His 'Foliage' + His 'Byron and some of his Contemporaries' + See also +Hunter, P., esq. +Hurd, Bishop, his remark on academical studies +Hutchinson, Colonel, his Memoirs +'Huzza! Hodgson, we are going' +Hymettus +Hypochondriacism + + +I + +Ida, mount +Imagination +Immortality of the soul +Improvisatore, account of one at Milan +'Ina,' Mrs. Wilmot's tragedy of +Inchbald, Mrs., her 'Simple Story' + Her 'Nature and Art' +Incledon, Charles, singer +'INEZ,' Stanzas to +Interlachen +Invention +Iris, the +'IRISH AVATAR' +Irving, Washington, esq. +Italian manners +Italians, bad translators, except from the classics +Italy, the only modern nation in Europe that has a poetical language +Ithaca, excursion to + + +J. + +Jackson, 'John, the professor of pugilism +Lord Byron's letters to +Jacobson, M. +'Jacqueline,' Mr. Rogers's +Jeffrey, Francis, esq., allusion to in 'English Bards' + his duel with Mr. Moore + his review of the 'Giaour' + his criticisms on Lord Byron's works + his review of Coleridge's 'Christabel' +Jersey, Earl of +----, Countess of +Jesus Christ +Job +Jocelyn, Lord, (afterwards Earl of Roden) +Johnson, Dr. + His prologue on opening Drury Lane theatre + His 'Vanity of Human Wishes' + His melancholy + His 'Lives of the Poets' + His 'London' + Lord Byron's high opinion of him +Jones, Mr., tutor at Cambridge +----, Richard, comedian +Jordan, Mrs., actress +Joukoffsky, the Russian poet +Joy, Henry, esq., his visit to Byron +Juliet's tomb + See Romeo +Julius Cæsar, his times +Jungfrau, the +Junius's letters +'Juno,' shipwreck of the +Jura mountains +Juvenal + + +K. + +Kay, Mr., painter +Kayo, Sir Richard +Kean, Edmund, tragedian, his Richard the Third + Lord Byron's enthusiastic admiration of + Effect of his Sir Giles Over-reach on +Keats, John, his poems + Died through bursting a blood-vessel on reading the article on his + 'Endymion' in the Quarterly Review + His depreciation of Pope +Kelly, Miss, actress +Kemble, John Philip, esq., his Coriolanus + His Hamlet + Intreats Lord Byron to write a tragedy + His acting described + His Othello + His Iago +Kennedy, Dr., his 'Conversations on religion with Lord Byron in + Cephalonia' + Lord Byron's letters to +Kent, Mr., his taste in gardening formed by Pope +Kidd, Captain + Strange story related to Lord Byron by +Kien Long, his 'Ode to Tea' +Kinnaird, Hon. Douglas + Lord Byron's letters to +Klopstock +Knight, Galley, esq. + His 'Persian Tales' +Knox, Captain (British resident at Ithaca) +Kosciusko, General +Koran, sublime poetical passages in + + +L. + +La Bruytère +Lachin-y-gair +Lago Maggiore +Lake Leman +Lake School of Poetry +'Lakers,' the +'Lalla Rookh' +Lamartine, M. +Lamb, Hon. George +----, Lady Caroline + Her 'Glenarvon' +'LAMENT OF TASSO' +Lansdowne, (Henry Fitzmaurice Pitty), fourth Marquis of +'LAKA; a Tale' +Lauderdale, Earl of, his oratory +Laura, her portrait +La Valière, Madame +Lavender, the Nottingham empiric +Lawrence, Sir Thomas +Leacroft, Mr. +----, Miss +Leake, Colonel + His 'Outlines of the Greek Revolution' +Leandor and Hero +Leckie, Gould Francis, esq. +Leigh, Mr., Lord Byron's schoolfellow at Harrow +----, Colonel +----, Hon. Augusta (Lord Byron's sister) +Leinster, Duke of +Leman, Lake +Le Man, Mr. +Leoni, Signor, his translation of Childe Harold +Lepanto, Gulf of +Lerici +Leveson-Gower, Lady Charlotte (afterwards Countess of Surrey) +Levis, Due de +Lewis, Matthew Gregory, esq. +'Liberal,' the +Liberty +Life +Likenesses +Lisbon +'Lisbon packet' +Liston, Sir Robert +----, John, comedian +Little's Poems +Liverpool, Earl of +Livy +Lloyd, Charles, esq. +Lobster nights, Pope's and Lord Byron's +Loch Leven +Locke, his treatise on education + His contempt for Oxford +Lockhart, J.G., esq., his 'Life of Burns' + His marriage with Miss Scott +----, Mrs. +Lodburgh, his 'Death Song' +Lofft, Capel +Londo, Andrea, the Greek patriot + Account of + Lord Byron's letter to +Londonderry (Robert Stewart), second Marquis of +Long, Edward Noel, esq., Lord Byron's schoolfellow at Harrow +Long, Miss (afterwards Mrs. Long Pole Wellesley) +Longevity +Longmans, Messrs. +Love, 'Not the principal passion for tragedy.' + Success in, dependent on fortune + Woman's +Low spirits +Lowe, Sir Hudson +Lucretius +Luc, Jean André de +Ludlow, General, the regicide, his monument + His domal inscription +Lushington, Dr., his letter to Lady Byron +Lutzerode, Baron +Luxembourg, Maréchal +Lyttleton, George, Lord. + Lord Byron compared to +----, Thomas, Lord + + +M. + +Machinery, effects of +Mackenzie, Henry, esq., his notice of Lord Byron's early poems +Mackintosh, Sir James, brightest of northern constellations + his review of Rogers in the Edinburgh Review + a rare instance of the union of very transcendent talent and great + good nature + his letter in the 'Morning Chronicle + high expectation of his promised history + strong impression made by him on Lord Byron +Macnamara, Arthur, esq. +Mafra, the palace of, the boast of Portugal +Mahomet +Maid of Athens + Account of +Maintenon, Madame + letters +Malamocco, wall of +'MANFRED; A DRAMATIC POEM,' finished + extracts sent to Mr. Murray + offered to him for 300 guineas + a sort of mad Drama; instructions for its title + the third act to be re-written + new third act sent to Mr. Murray + a critique on; omission of a line + critique of the 'Edinburgh Review + a menaced version of the poem + Goethe's remarks on +Mansel, Dr., Bishop of Bristol +Manton gun, Lord Byron's +'Manuel,' Mathurin's +Marden, Mrs., actress +Marianna Segati +'MARINO FALIERO, DOGE of VENICE; an Historical Tragedy.' Intention to + write the tragedy + commenced + advanced into the second act + completed + not intended for the stage + Mr. Gifford's opinion of it + a note to be introduced + the author's talent 'especially undramatic + a phrase to be altered + the poem not popular + lines to be introduced + reported representation of the play and its condemnation + a note for the next edition +Marlow, his 'Faustus.' +'Marmion.' +Marriage ceremony +Marriages, great cause of unhappy ones +'Mary,' Lord Byron's love for the name +---- of Aberdeen +Massaniello +Materialism +Mathews, Charles, comedian +Mathurin, Rev. Charles + His 'Bertram.' + His 'Manuel,' +Matlock, Lord Byron at +Matter +Matthews, John, esq., of Belmont, some account of +----, Charles Skinner, esq. + Lord Byron's account of + His visit to Newstead + Tributes to his memory +----, Henry, esq. + His 'Diary of an Invalid' + Account of +----, Rev. Arthur +Matthison, Frederic, his 'Letters from the Continent' +Maugiron, epigram on the loss of his eye +Mavrocordato, Prince + Lord Byron's letters to + Proclamation issued by him, on Lord Byron's death +Mawman, Joseph, bookseller +Mayfield, Mr. Moore's residence in Staffordshire +'MAZEPPA' +Medicine, effects of, on the mind and spirits +Medwin, Captain, his acquaintance with Lord Byron at Pisa +Meillerie +Melbourne, Lady +Mendelsohn, his habitual melancholy +Mengaldo, Chevalier +Merivale, J.H., esq. + His 'Roncesvalles' + His review of 'Grimm's Correspondence' + Lord Byron's letter to +Metastasio +Meyler, Richard, esq. +Mezzophanti, 'a monster of languages' +Milan cathedral + Ambrosian library at + Brera gallery + Napoleon's triumphal arch + State of society at +Milbanke, Sir Ralph +----, Lady. See Noel +----, Miss (afterwards Lady Byron) + See Byron +Miller, Rev. Dr., his 'Essay on Probabilities' +----, William, bookseller, refuses to publish Childe Harold +Millingen, Mr., His account of the consultation on Lord Byron's last + illness +Milman, Rev. Henry Hart, now Dean of St. Paul's, his 'Fazio' +Milnes, Robert, esq. +Milo +Milton, his imitation of Ariosto + His practice of dating his poems followed by Lord Byron + His dislike to Cambridge + His infelicitous marriage + His disregard of painting and sculpture + His politics kept him down + His 'material thunder.' +Mirabeau, his eloquence +'Mirra,' of Alfieri, effect of the representation of, on Lord Byron +Missiaglia, Venetian bookseller +Mistress, 'cannot be a friend +Mitchell, T., esq., his translation of Aristophanes +'Mobility' +Modern gardening, Pope the chief inventor of +Moira, Earl of (afterwards Marquis of Hastings) +Molière +Monçada, Marquis +'Monk,' Lewis's, 'The philtered ideas of a jaded voluptuary' +Mont Blanc +Montague, Edward Wortley +----, Lady Mary Wortley, proposed Italian translation of her letters + and new life of + three pretty notes by her + Pope's lines on her +Montbovon +'Monthly Literary Recreations,' Lord Byron's review of Wordsworth's + poems in +Monti, his Aristodemo +----, account of +Moore, Thomas, esq., his prefaces to his 'Life of Lord Byron,' + His first acquaintance with Lord Byron + Duel between Mr. Jeffrey and + His person and manners described + His poetry + 'LINES on his last Operatic Farce or Farcical Opera' + His 'Lalla Rookh' + His 'Loves of the Angels' + Lord Byron's letters to + See also +Moore, Peter, esq. +Morgan, Lady + Her 'Italy' +----, Lord Byron's school-fellow at Harrow +'MORGANTE MAGGIORE, of Pulci.' translation of the first canto + commenced + finished + not a line to be omitted + the author's opinion of it +'Morning Post' +Morosini. his siege of Athens +Mosaic chronology +Mosti, Count +Mother, future conduct of a child dependent on the +Muir, Mr., letter to +Mule, Mrs., Lord Byron's housemaid +Müller, the historian +Muloch, Muley + His 'Atheism answered' +Murat, Joachim, death of +Muratori +Murillo, Lord Byron's opinion of +Murray, John, esq, his first connection with Lord Byron + Childe Harold placed in his hands + shows the poem to Mr. Gifford + purchases the copyright + 'The [Greek: anax] of publishers' + recommended by Lord Byron to Mr. Moore as 'among the first of the + trade,' + offers 1000 guineas for the 'Giaour' and 'Bride of Abydos,' + Lord Byron's high compliment to + pays 1000 guineas for the 'Siege of Corinth' and 'Parisina' + the 'Mokanna' of publishers' + offers 1500 guineas for the 4th canto of 'Childe Harold' + poetical epistle to + 'Strahan, Tonson, Lintot, of the times' + conduct to Mr. Moore + Lord Byron's last letter to + letters and allusions to, _passim_ +Music, Lord Byron's love of simple + See, also +Musters, Mr. John, his marriage to Miss Chaworth +Musters, Mrs. + See Chaworth +'MY BOAT is on the shore' +'MY DEAR Mr. Murray' + + +N. + +Napier, Colonel + His testimony to the benevolence and soundness of Lord Byron's views + with regard to Greece +Naples, 'the second best sea view +Napoleon. See Buonaparte +Nathan, his 'Hebrew nasalities' +Nature +----, 'PRAYER of.' +'Naufragia,' Clarke's +Nelson, Southey's Life of +Nepean, Mr. +----, Sir Evan +Nerni +Newstead, granted by Henry VIII. to Sir John Byron +A prophecy of Mother Shipton's respecting +Let to Lord Grey de Ruthen +Lord Byron's affection for +Description of, and of the noble owner +Attempted sale of +Nicopolis, ruins of +Night +Nobility of thought and style defined +Noel, Lady +Norfolk (Charles Howard), twelfth Duke of +Nottingham frame breaking bill +----, Lord Byron's residence at +'Nourjahad,' a drama, falsely attributed to Lord Byron +Novels + + +O. + +Oak, the Byron +'ODE ON VENICE' +O'Donnovan, P.M., his 'Sir Proteus.' +'OH! banish care.' +'OH! Memory, torture me no more.' +O'Higgins, Mr., his Irish tragedy +Olympus +O'Neil, Miss, actress +Orators, only two thorough ones + 'Things of ages.' +Orchomenus +Orrery, Earl of, his Life of Swift quoted +Osborne, Lord Sidney +'Otello,' Rossini's +Otway, his three requisites for an Englishman +His 'Beividera.' +Ouchy +Owenson, Miss + See Morgan, Lady +Oxford, Gibbon's bitter recollections of + Dryden's praise of, at the expense of Cambridge +Oxford, Earl of +----, Countess of + +P. + +'PARISINA,' 1000 guineas offered for it and the 'Siege of Corinth,' by + Mr. Murray + Fancied resemblance between part of the poem and a similar scene in + 'Marmion.' +Parker, Sir Peter, stanzas written by Lord Byron on his death +----, Lady +----, Margaret, Lord Byron's boyish love for +Parkins, Miss Fanny +PARLIAMENT, Lord Byron's Speeches in +Parnassus, Lord Byron's visit to, and stanzas upon +Parr, Dr. +Parry, Captain +Parruca, Signor, letter to +Parthenon +Pasquali, Padre +Past, 'the best prophet of the future.' +Paterson, Mr. (Lord Byron's tutor at Aberdeen) +Patrons +Paul, St., translation from the Armenian, of correspondence between + the Corinthians and +Paul's, St., Cathedral, comparison with St. Sophia's +Pausanias, his 'Achaics' quoted +Payne, Thomas, bookseller +Peel, Right Hon. Sir Robert + Lord Byron's form-fellow at Harrow +----, William, Esq., one of Lord Byron's friends +Penelope, baths of, Lord Byron's visit to +Penn, Granville, esq., his 'Bioscope, or Dial of Life, explained +----, William, the founder of Quakerism +Perry, James, esq +Petersburgh +Petrarch, his literary and personal character interwoven + His severity to his daughter + In his youth a coxcomb + His portrait in the Manfrini palace + his popularity + See also +Phillips, Ambrose, his pastorals +----, S.M., esq +----, Thomas, esq., R.A +Philosophers, celibacy of eminent +Phoenix, Sheridan's story of the +Physic +Pictures +Pierce Plowman +Pigot, Miss + Account of her first acquaintance with Lord Byron + Lord Byron's letters to +Pigot, Dr + His account of Lord Byron's visit to Harrowgate + Lord Byron's letters to +Pigot, Mrs., Lord Byron's letter to +Pigot, family +Pindemonte, Ippolito, Lord Byron's portrait of +Pitt, Rt. Hon. William +Plagiarism +Players, an impracticable people +'Pleasures of Hope.' +'Pleasures of Memory.' +Plethora, abstinence the sole remedy for +Poetry, distasteful to Byron when a boy + When to be employed as the interpreter of feeling + Addiction to, whence resulting + New school of + 'The feeling of a former world and future' + Descriptive + Ethical, 'the highest of all + See also +Poets, self-educated ones + Lord Byron's list of celebrated poets of all nations + Unfitted for the calm affections and comforts of domestic life + Querulous and monotonous lives of + Female +See also +Polidori, Dr. + Some account of + Anecdotes of + His 'Vampire + His tragedy +Political consistency +Politics +Pomponius Atticus +Pope, Alexander, a self-educated poet +Lord Byron's enthusiastic admiration of +His youth and Byron's compared +An example of filial tenderness + His Prologue to Cato + His ineffable distance above all modern poets + The parent of real English poetry + Atrocious cant and nonsense about + The Christianity of English poetry + Ten times more poetry in his 'Essay on Man' than in the 'Excursion' + Keats' depreciation of + The most faultless of poets + His imagery + The greatest name in our poetry + His Essay upon Phillips's Pastorals a model of irony + The principal inventor of modern gardening + His 'Homer' + 'LETTER ON BOWLES'S STRICTURES ON THE LIFE AND WRITINGS OF,' + SECOND LETTER + See, also +Porson, Professor, his 'Devil's Walk' + Lord Byron's recollection of +Portrait painter, agonies of a +Pouqueville, M. de +Powerscourt, Lord, one of Lord Byron's friends +Pratt, Samuel Jackson +Priestley, Dr., his Christian materialism +Prince Regent + Lord Byron's introduction to + See George IV. +Prior's Paulo Purgante +'PRISONER OF CHILLON' +Probabilities, Dr. Miller's Essay on +Probationary Odes +Prologues, 'only two decent ones in our language' +'PROMETHEUS,' of Æschylus +'PROPHECY OF DANTE +Prophets +Pulci, his 'Morgante Maggiore' + 'Sire of the half serious rhyme' +Punctuation + + +Q. + +Quarrels of Authors, D'Israeli's +Quarterly Review +'Quentin Durward' + + +R. + +Rae, John, comedian +Rainsford, Lord Byron's schoolfellow at Harrow +Rancliffe, Lord +Raphael, his hair +Rashleigh, Lord Byron's schoolfellow at Harrow +Ravenna +Raymond, James Grant, comedian +Reading, the love of +Regnard, his hypochondriacism +Reinagle, R.R., his chained eagle +'Rejected Addresses,' 'the best of the kind since the Rolliad,' +----, the Genuine +Republics +Reviewers +Reviews +Reynolds, Sir Joshua, 'not good in history' +Reynolds, J.H., his 'Safie' +'Ricciardetto,' Lord Glenbervie's translation of +Rice, Lord Byron's schoolfellow at Harrow +Richardson, 'the vainest and luckiest of authors' +Riddel, Lady, her masquerade at Bath, at which Lord Byron appeared +Ridge, printer +Riga, the Greek patriot +Roberts, Mr. (editor of the British Review) +Robins, George, auctioneer +Robinson Crusoe, the first part said to be written by Lord Oxford +Rocca, M. de +Rochdale estate +Rochefoucault, 'always right' + Sayings of +Rogers, Samuel, esq., his 'Pleasures of Memory' + His 'Jacqueline' + 'The Tithonus of poetry' + 'The father of present poesy' + His Tribute to the memory of Lord Byron + Lord Byron's letters to + See also +----, Mr., of Nottingham (Lord Byron's Latin tutor) +Rokeby, Lord Byron's schoolfellow at Harrow +Roman Catholic religion +Romanelli, physician +Rome, 'the wonderful' + Finer than Greece +Romeo and Juliet, the story of +Rose, William Stewart, esq., his 'Animali' + His 'Lines to Lord Byron' +Rose glaciers +'Rose-water' +Ross, Rev. Mr. (Lord Byron's tutor at Aberdeen) +Rossini, his 'Otello' +Roscoe, Mr +Rossoe, Mr., story of +Roufigny, Abbé de +Rousseau, Jean Jacques, Lord Byron's resemblance to + Comparison between Lord Byron and + His marriage + His 'Héloïse' + His 'Confessions' + Force and accuracy of his descriptions +Rowcroft, Mr +Royston, Lord Byron's school-fellow at Harrow +Rubens, his style +Rushton, Robert (the 'little page' in Childe Harold) + Lord Byron's letters to +'Ruminator,' the, by Sir Egerton Brydges +Rusponi, Countess +Russell, Lord John +Rycaut, his 'History of the Turks' first drew Lord Byron's attention + to the East + See, also + + +S. + +St. Lambert, his imitation of Thomson +Sanders, Mr., his portraits of Lord Byron +'Sappho,' of Grillparzer +'SARDANAPALUS,' outline of the Tragedy sketched + Four acts completed + The play finished + A disparagement of it +Sarrazin, General +Satan, Lord Byron's opinion of his real appearance to the Creator +'Satirist' +Scaligers, tomb of the +Scamander +Schiller, his 'Thirty years War' + His 'Robbers' + His 'Fiesco' + His 'Ghost-seer' +Schlegel, Frederick, his writings + Anecdotes of +'School for Scandal' +School of Homer, Lord Byron's visit to +Scotland, the impressions on Lord Byron's mind by the mountain scenery + of + Lord Byron 'Half a Scot by birth and bred a whole one' + 'A canny Scot till ten years' old' +Scott, Sir Walter, his dog 'Maida' + His 'Rokeby' + The 'monarch of Parnassus' + His 'Lives of the Novelists' + His 'Waverley' + His first acquaintance with Byron + His 'Antiquary' + His review of 'Childe Harold' in the Quarterly + His 'Tales of my Landlord' + 'The Ariosto of the North' + The first British poet titled for his talent + His 'Ivanhoe' + His 'Monastery' + His 'Abbot' + His imitators + The 'Scotch Fielding' + His countenance + His novels 'a new literature in themselves' + His 'Kenilworth' + His 'Life of Swift' + Lord Byron's letters to + See, also +Scott, Mr., of Aberdeen +----, Mr. Alexander +----, Mr. John +'Scotticisms' +Scriptures, Lord Byron's knowledge of the + See, also, Bible +'Scourge,' proceedings against the, for a libel on Mrs. Byron +Sculpture, the most artificial of the arts + Its superiority to painting + More poetical than nature +Sécheron +Self-educated poets +Sensibility +Separation, miseries of +Seraglio at Constantinople, description of +Sestos +Settle, Elkanah, his 'Emperor of Morocco' +'Seven before Thebes' +Seville +Seward, Anne, her 'Life of Darwin' +'Sexagenarian,' Beloe's +'Shah Nameh,' the Persian Iliad +Shakspeare, his infelicitous marriage + 'The worst of models' + 'Will have his decline' +Sharp, William (the engraver, and disciple of Joanna Southcote) +Sharpe, Richard, esq. (the 'Conversationist') +Sheil, Richard, esq. +Sheldrake, Mr. +Shelley, Percy Bysshe, esq., his 'Queen Mab' + His portrait of Lord Byron + Particulars concerning + His visit to Lord Byron at Ravenna + His praise of Don Juan + Lord Byron's letters to + His letters to Lord Byron + See also +----, Mrs. + Her 'Frankenstein' + Lord Byron's letters to +Shepherd, Rev. John, his letter enclosing his wife's prayer on Lord + Byron's behalf + Lord Byron's answer +Sheridan, Right Hon. Richard Brinsley, anecdotes of + And Colman compared + His eloquence + His conversation + 'Whatever he did, was the best of its kind' + Defence of + His phoenix story + 'MONODY on the Death of' +'Shipwreck,' Falconer's +Shoel, Mr. +Shreikhorn +Shrewsbury, Earl of, his letter to Sir John Byron's grandson +Siddons, Mrs., her performance of the character of Isabella + Lord Byron's praise of + Effect of her acting at Edinburgh + An allusion to +'SIEGE OF CORINTH' +Sigeum, Cape +Simplon, the +Sinclair, George, esq., 'the prodigy' of Harrow School +Sirmium +'Sir Proteus,' a satirical ballad +'SKETCH,' a +Skull-cup +Slave trade +Slavery +Sligo, Marquis of + His letter on the origin of the 'Giaour' +Smart, Christopher +Smith, Sir Henry +----, Horace, esq., his 'Horace in London' +----, Mrs. Spencer. See 'Florence.' +----, Miss (afterwards Mrs. Oscar Byrne), dancer +Smyrna, Lord Byron's stay at +Smythe, Professor +Socrates +Sonnets, 'the most puling, petrifying, stupidly platonic compositions,' +Sorelli, his translation of Grillparzer's 'Sappho' + Sotheby, William, esq., his tragedies + his 'Ivan' accepted for Drury Lane Theatre + similarity of a passage in 'Ivan' to one in the 'Corsair' + a 'row' about 'Ivan' + the Æschylus of the age + his 'Orestes' + See also + Lord Byron's letters to +Southcote, Joanna +Southey, Robert, esq., LL.D., his person and manners + His prose and poetry + His 'Roderick' + his 'Curse of Kehama' + Lord Byron's intention to dedicate 'Don Juan' to him + his 'Joan of Arc' would have been better in rhyme + See also +Southwell, Notts, Lord Byron's residence at +Southwood, on the Divine Government +SPEECHES IN PARLIAMENT, Lord Byron's +Spence's Anecdotes (Singer's edition) +Spencer, Dowager Lady +----, William, esq. +----, Countess +Spenser, Edmund, his measure +Stäel, Madame de, her essay against suicide + Her 'De l'Allemagne' + Her personal appearance + Her death + Notes written by Lord Byron in her 'Corinne' + See also +Stafford, Marquis of (now Duke of Sutherland) +Stafford, Marchioness of (now Duchess of Sutherland) +Stanhope, Hon. Col. Leicester, (now Earl of Harrington) + his arrival in Greece to assist in effecting its liberation + His 'Greece in 1823-1824' + Lord Byron's letters to +----, Lady Hester, Lord Byron taken to task by +Steele, Sir Richard +Stella, Swift's +Sterne, his affected sensibility +Stephenson, Sir John +Stockhorn +Storm, aspect of one in the Archipelago +'STRAHAN, Tonson, Lintot of the times' +Strangford, Lord, his 'Camoens' +Strong, Mr., Lord Byron's school-fellow at Harrow +Stuart, Sir Charles (now Lord Stuart de Rothsay) +Suleyman, of Thebes +'Sunshiny day' +Supernatural appearances +Suppers + lobster nights +'Sweet Florence, could another ever share' +Swift, Dr. Jonathan + Similarity between the character of Lord Byron and + Gave away his copyrights + His Stella and Vanessa +Swoon, the sensation described +Sylla +Symplegades +Switzerland and the Swiss + + +T. + +Taaffe, Mr. + His 'Commentary on Dante' +Tahiri, Dervise +'Tales of my Landlord' +Tasso, an expert swordsman and dancer + an example of filial tenderness + his imprisonment + his popularity in his lifetime + remade the whole of his 'Jerusalem' + his sensitiveness to public favour + 'LAMENT of' +Tattersall, Rev. John Cecil (Lord Byron's school acquaintance) +Tavernier, the eastern traveller, his château at Aubonne +Tavistock, Marquis of +Taylor. John, esq., Lord Byron's letter to in respect of an allusion to +Lady Byron in the 'Sun' newspaper +Teeth +Temple, Sir William, his opinion of poetry +Tepaleen +Terni, Falls of +Terry, Daniel, comedian +Theatricals, private, at Southwell +Thirst +'This day of all our days has done' +Thomas of Ercildoune +Thompson, Mr. +Thomson, James, the poet, his 'Seasons' would have been better in + rhyme +Thorwaldsen, the sculptor, his bust of Lord Byron +'THOUGH the day of my destiny's o'er' +Thoun + 'THROUGH life's dull road, so dim and dirty' +Thurlow (Thomas Hovell Thurlow) second Lord +Thyrza +Tiberius +Tiraboschi +''Tis done and shivering in the gale.' + Lord Byron's stanzas to Mrs. Musters on leaving England +Titian, his portrait of Ariosto + His pictures at Florence +Toderinus, his 'Storia della Letteratura Turchesca' +Town life +Townshend, Rev. George, his 'Armageddon' +Travelling, Lord Byron's opinion of the advantages of +Travis, the Venetian Jew +Trelawney, Edward, esq. +Troad, the +Troy + Authenticity of the tale of +Tuite, Lady, her stanzas to Memory +Tally's 'Tripoli' +Turkey, women of +Turner, W., esq., his 'Tour in the Levant' +Twiss, Horace, esq. +Tyranny + + +U. + +Ulissipont +Unities, the +Usurers + + +V. + +Vacca, Dr. +Valentia, Lord (now Earl of Mountnorris) +Valière, Madame la +'VAMPIRE, The, a Fragment' + Superstition +Vanbrugh, his comedies +Vanessa, Swift's +'Vanity of Human Wishes,' Johnson's +Vascillie +'Vathek' +'VAULT REFLECTIONS' +Velasquez +Veli Pacha +Venetian dialect +Venice, the gondolas + St. Mark's + Theatres + Women + Carnival + Morals and manners in + Nobility of + Riaito + Manfrini palace + Bridge of Sighs +'VENICE, Ode on' +Venus de Medici, more for admiration than love +Verona, how much Catullus, Claudian, and Shakspeare have done for it + Amphitheatre of + Juliet's tomb at + Tombs of the Scaligers +Versatility +Vestris, Italian comedian +Vevay +Vicar of Wakefield +Voltaire, gave away his copyrights + D'Argenson's advice to +Voluptuary +Vondel, the Dutch Shakspeare +Vostizza +Vulgarity of style + + +W. + +Waite, Mr. (Lord Byron's dentist) +Wales, Princess of (afterwards Queen Caroline) +Wallace, the Scottish chief +Wallace-nook +Walpole, Sir Robert, his conversation at table +'WALTZ, THE; an Apostrophic Hymn' + The authorship of it denied by Lord Byron +Ward, Hon. John William (afterwards Earl of Dudley), his review +of Horne Tooke's Life in the Quarterly + His style of speaking + Lord Byron's pun on + His review of Fox's Correspondence + Epigrams on +Warren, Sir John +Washington, George +Waterloo, Lord Byron's verses on the battle of +Wathen, Mr. +Watier's club +'Waverley,' character of +Way, William, esq. +Webster, Sir Godfrey +Webster, Wedderburn, esq. +'WEEP, daughter of a royal line' +Wellesley, Sir Arthur. See Wellington +----, Richard, esq. +Wellington, Duke of, 'the Scipio of our Hannibal' +Wengen Alps +Wentworth, Lord + 'WERNER; or, THE INHERITANCE; a Tragedy' + 'Werther,' Goethe's effects of + Mad. de Stäel's character of +West, Mr. (American artist), his conversations with Lord Byron +Westall, Richard, esq.. R.A. +Westminster Abbey +Westmoreland, Lady +Wetterhorn +'What matter the pangs' +'When man expelled from Eden's bowers' +'When Time, who steals our years away' +Whigs +'Whistlecraft' +Whitbread, Samuel, esq. + 'The Demosthenes of bad taste' +Whitby, Captain +White, Henry Kirke, esq. +----, Lydia +'White Lady of Avenel' +'White Lady of Colalto' +'Who killed John Keats?' +'Why, how now, saucy Tom?' +Wieland + His history of 'Agathon' + Resemblance between Byron and +Wilberforce, William, esq., his style of speaking + Personified by Sheridan +Wildman, Thomas, esq. +----, Colonel, present proprietor of Newstead +Wilkes, John, esq. +Will, Lord Byron's + His last +Williams, Captain +Williams, Mrs., the fortune-teller, her prediction concerning Byron +Wilmot, Mrs., her tragedy +Wilson, Professor +Windham, Right Hon. William +'WINDSOR POETICS' +Wingfield, Hon. John + His death +Women, society of + Cannot write tragedy + State of, under the ancient Greeks +Woodhouselee, Lord, his opinion of Lord Byron's early poems +Woolriche, Dr. +Wordsworth, William, esq., Lord Byron's review of his early poems + The allusion to + His 'Excursion' + His powers to do 'anything' + Influence of his poetry on Lord Byron + Never vulgar + See also +Wrangham, Rev. Francis +Wright, Walter Rodwell, esq., his 'Horæ Ionicæ' +Writers, tragic, generally mirthful persons + +Y. + +Yanina +York, Duke of +Young, Dr. E. +Yussuff, Pacha +Yverdun + +Z. + +Zitza +Zograffo, Demetrius + + + + +THE END. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Life of Lord Byron, Vol. 6 (of 6), by Thomas Moore + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LIFE OF LORD BYRON, VOL. 6 (OF 6) *** + +***** This file should be named 14841-8.txt or 14841-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/4/8/4/14841/ + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Leonard Johnson and the PG Online +Distributed Proofreading Team. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + Life of Lord Byron, Vol. 6, by Thomas Moore + </title> +<style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[*/ + + <!-- + + body {margin-left:8%; margin-right:7%; max-width: 40em;} + + p { /* all paragraphs unless overridden */ + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 0; + line-height: 1.4em; + } + + body > p { /* paras at <body> level - not in <div> or <table> */ + text-align: justify; + } + + p.break { margin-top: 2em; } /* use for some thought-breaks */ + + .title3 { text-align: center; font-style: bold; font-size: 1.5em;} + .title4 { text-align: center; font-style: bold; font-size: 1.1em;} + + dd, li {/* loosen spacing in list items */ + margin-top: 0.33em; + line-height: 1.2em; } + + h1, h2, h4, h5 {text-align: center} + + blockquote { + margin-left: 5%; + margin-right: 5%; + text-align: justify; + } + p.citation { /* author citation at end of blockquote or poem */ + text-align: right; + font-style: normal; + } + p.quotdate { /* date of a letter aligned right */ + text-align: right; + } + p.quotsig { /* author signature at end of letter */ + margin-left: 35%; + text-indent: -4em; /* gimmick to move 2nd line right */ + } + + ul.TOC { /* styling the Table of Contents */ + list-style-type: none; /* a list with no symbol */ + position: relative; /* makes a "container" for span.tocright */ + margin-right: 5%; /* pulls the page#s in a skosh */ + } + span.tocright { /* use absolute positioning to move page# right */ + position: absolute; right: 0; + } + + ul {list-style-type: none;} + ul.IX { /* styling the IndeX */ + list-style-type: none; + font-size: 90%; + } + ul.IX li { /* list items in an index list: compressed */ + margin-top: 0; + } + + hr { + width:45%; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-left: auto; /* these two ensure a.. */ + margin-right: auto; /* ..centered rule */ + clear: both; /* don't let sidebars & floats overlap rule */ + } + + div.ctr { text-align: center; } + + .poem { + text-align: left; + margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 5%; margin-top: 1em; + position: relative; 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+ margin: 0 0 0 0; + position: absolute; right: 1%;} + + + .fnref { + font-size: smaller; /* discreet [X] */ + vertical-align: 2px; /* bumped up a trace from baseline */ + } + + .footnote { + font-size: 90%; /* somewhat smaller */ + margin: 0 1em 1em 2em; + text-align: justify; + } + + a:link {color:#0000ff; + text-decoration:none} + link {color:#0000ff; + text-decoration:none} + a:visited {color:#0000ff; + text-decoration:none} + a:hover {color:#ff0000} + + pre {font-size: 8pt;} + + --> + +/*]]>*/ +</style> + </head> + <body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's Life of Lord Byron, Vol. 6 (of 6), by Thomas Moore + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Life of Lord Byron, Vol. 6 (of 6) + With his Letters and Journals + +Author: Thomas Moore + +Release Date: January 30, 2005 [EBook #14841] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LIFE OF LORD BYRON, VOL. 6 (OF 6) *** + + + + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Leonard Johnson and the PG Online +Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + + + +</pre> + + <h1> + LIFE + </h1> + <h1> + OF + </h1> + <h1> + LORD BYRON: + </h1> + <h1 class="title3"> + WITH HIS LETTERS AND JOURNALS. + </h1> + <p class="title3"> + BY THOMAS MOORE, ESQ. + </p> + <p class="title4"> + IN SIX VOLUMES.—VOL. VI. + </p> + <p class="title4"> + NEW EDITION. + </p> + <p class="title4"> + 1854. + </p> + <hr /> + <h2> + CONTENTS OF VOL. VI. + </h2> + <ul class="TOC"> + <li>LETTERS AND JOURNALS OF LORD BYRON, with NOTICES OF HIS LIFE, + from February, 1823, to his Death in April, 1824; <span class= + "tocright"><a href="#pg001">1</a></span> + </li> + <li>APPENDIX; <span class="tocright"><a href= + "#pg269">269</a></span> + </li> + </ul> + <h3> + MISCELLANEOUS PIECES IN PROSE. + </h3> + <ul class="TOC"> + <li>REVIEW OF WORDSWORTH'S POEMS. 1807; <span class= + "tocright"><a href="#pg293">293</a></span> + </li> + <li>REVIEW OF GELL'S GEOGRAPHY OF ITHACA, AND ITINERARY OF + GREECE. 1811; <span class="tocright"><a href= + "#pg296">296</a></span> + </li> + <li>PARLIAMENTARY SPEECHES. 1812, 1813; <span class= + "tocright"><a href="#pg314">314</a></span> + </li> + <li>FRAGMENT. 1816; <span class="tocright"><a href= + "#pg339">339</a></span> + </li> + <li>LETTER TO JOHN MURRAY, ESQ., ON THE REV. W.L. BOWLES'S + STRICTURES ON THE LIFE AND WRITINGS OF POPE. 1821; <span class= + "tocright"><a href="#pg346">346</a></span> + </li> + <li>OBSERVATIONS UPON "OBSERVATIONS" OF THE REV. W.L. BOWLES ON + THE POETICAL CHARACTER OF POPE; IN A SECOND LETTER TO JOHN + MURRAY, ESQ. 1821; <span class="tocright"><a href= + "#pg382">382</a></span> + </li> + </ul> + <hr /> + <p> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg001" id="pg001">001</a></span> + </p> + <h2> + NOTICES + <br /> + OF THE + <br /> + LIFE OF LORD BYRON. + </h2> + <hr /> + + + + <h3> + LETTER 508. TO MR. MOORE. + </h3> + <p class="quotdate"> + "Genoa, February 20. 1823. + </p> + <p> + "My Dear Tom, + </p> + <p> + "I must again refer you to those two letters addressed to you at + Passy before I read your speech in Galignani, &amp;c., and + which you do not seem to have received.<span class= + "fnref">[1]</span> + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: I was never lucky enough to recover these two + letters, though frequent enquiries were made about them at the + French post-office.] + </p> + </div> + <p> + "Of Hunt I see little—once a month or so, and then on his + own business, generally. You may easily suppose that I know too + little of Hampstead and his satellites to have much communion or + community with him. My whole present relation to him arose from + Shelley's unexpected wreck. You would not have had me leave him + in the street with his family, would you? and as to the other + plan you mention, you forget how it would <i>humiliate</i> + him—that his writings should be supposed to be dead + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg002" id="pg002">002</a></span> + weight!<span class="fnref">[1]</span> Think a moment—he is + perhaps the vainest man on earth, at least his own friends say so + pretty loudly; and if he were in other circumstances, I might be + tempted to take him down a peg; but not now,—it would be + cruel. It is a cursed business; but neither the motive nor the + means rest upon my conscience, and it happens that he and his + brother <i>have</i> been so far benefited by the publication in a + pecuniary point of view. His brother is a steady, bold fellow, + such as <i>Prynne</i>, for example, and full of moral, and, I + hear, physical courage. + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: The passage in one of my letters to which he here + refers shall be given presently.] + </p> + </div> + <p> + "And <i>you</i> are <i>really</i> recanting, or softening to the + clergy! It will do little good for you—it is <i>you</i>, + not the poem, they are at. They will say they frightened + you—forbid it, Ireland! + </p> + <p class="quotsig"> + "Yours ever, + <br /> + "N.B." + </p> + + + <p> + Lord Byron had now, for some time, as may be collected from his + letters, begun to fancy that his reputation in England was on the + wane. The same thirst after fame, with the same sensitiveness to + every passing change of popular favour, which led Tasso at last + to look upon himself as the most despised of writers<span class= + "fnref">[1]</span>, had more than once disposed <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg003" id="pg003">003</a></span> Lord Byron, + in the midst of all his triumphs, if not to doubt their reality, + at least to distrust their continuance; and sometimes even, with + that painful skill which sensibility supplies, to extract out of + the brightest tributes of success some omen of future failure, or + symptom of decline. New successes, however, still came to + dissipate these bodings of diffidence; nor was it till after his + unlucky coalition with Mr. Hunt in the Liberal, that any grounds + for such a suspicion of his having declined in public favour + showed themselves. + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: In one of his letters this poet says:—"Non + posso negare che io mi doglio oltramisura di esser stato tanto + disprezzato dal mondo quanto non e altro scrittore di questo + secolo." In another letter, however, after complaining of being + "perseguitato da molti più che non era convenevole," he adds, + with a proud prescience of his future fame, "Laondé stimo di + poter mene ragionevolmente richiamare alla posterità."] + </p> + </div> + <p> + The chief inducements, on the part of Lord Byron, to this + unworthy alliance were, in the first place, a wish to second the + kind views of his friend Shelley in inviting Mr. Hunt to join him + in Italy; and, in the next, a desire to avail himself of the aid + of one so experienced, as an editor, in the favourite project he + had now so long contemplated, of a periodical work, in which all + the various offspring of his genius might be received fast as + they sprung to light. With such opinions, however, as he had long + entertained of Mr. Hunt's character and talents<span class= + "fnref">[1]</span>, the facility with which he now admitted + him—<i>not</i> certainly to any degree of confidence or + intimacy, but to a declared fellowship of fame and interest in + the eyes of the world, is, I own, an inconsistency not easily to + be accounted for, and argued, at all events, <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg004" id="pg004">004</a></span> a strong + confidence in the antidotal power of his own name to resist the + ridicule of such an association. + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: See Letter 317. p. 103.] + </p> + </div> + <p> + As long as Shelley lived, the regard which Lord Byron entertained + for him extended its influence also over his relations with his + friend; the suavity and good-breeding of Shelley interposing a + sort of softening medium in the way of those unpleasant + collisions which afterwards took place, and which, from what is + known of both parties, may be easily conceived to have been alike + trying to the patience of the patron and the vanity of the + dependent. That even, however, during the lifetime of their + common friend, there had occurred some of those humiliating + misunderstandings which money engenders,—humiliating on + both sides, as if from the very nature of the dross that gives + rise to them,—will appear from the following letter of + Shelley's which I find among the papers in my hands. + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <h3> + TO LORD BYRON. + </h3> + <p class="quotdate"> + "February 15. 1823. + </p> + <p> + "My dear Lord Byron. + </p> + <p> + "I enclose you a letter from Hunt, which annoys me on more than + one account. You will observe the postscript, and you know me + well enough to feel how painful a task is set me in commenting + upon it. Hunt had urged me more than once to ask you to lend him + this money. My answer consisted in sending him all I could spare, + which I have now literally done. Your kindness in fitting up a + part of <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg005" id= + "pg005">005</a></span> your own house for his accommodation I + sensibly felt, and willingly accepted from you on his part, but, + believe me, without the slightest intention of imposing, or, if I + could help it, allowing to be imposed, any heavier task on your + purse. As it has come to this in spite of my exertions, I will + not conceal from you the low ebb of my own money affairs in the + present moment,—that is, my absolute incapacity of + assisting Hunt farther. + </p> + <p> + "I do not think poor Hunt's promise to pay in a given time is + worth very much; but mine is less subject to uncertainty, and I + should be happy to be responsible for any engagement he may have + proposed to you. I am so much annoyed by this subject that I + hardly know what to write, and much less what to say; and I have + need of all your indulgence in judging both my feelings and + expressions. + </p> + <p> + "I shall see you by and by. Believe me + </p> + <p class="quotsig"> + "Yours most faithfully and sincerely, + <br /> + "P.B. SHELLEY." + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + Of the book in which Mr. Hunt has thought it decent to revenge + upon the dead the pain of those obligations he had, in his hour + of need, accepted from the living, I am luckily saved from the + distaste of speaking at any length, by the utter and most + deserved oblivion into which his volume has fallen. Never, + indeed, was the right feeling of the world upon such subjects + more creditably displayed than in the reception given universally + to that ungenerous book;—even those the least disposed to + think approvingly of Lord Byron having shrunk back from such a + corroboration <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg006" id= + "pg006">006</a></span> of their own opinion as could be afforded + by one who did not blush to derive his authority, as an accuser, + from those facilities of observation which he had enjoyed by + having been sheltered and fed under the very roof of the man whom + he maligned. + </p> + <p> + With respect to the hostile feeling manifested in Mr. Hunt's work + towards myself, the sole revenge I shall take is, to lay before + my readers the passage in one of my letters which provoked it; + and which may claim, at least, the merit of not being a covert + attack, as throughout the whole of my remonstrances to Lord Byron + on the subject of his new literary allies, not a line did I ever + write respecting either Mr. Shelley or Mr. Hunt which I was not + fully prepared, from long knowledge of my correspondent, to find + that he had instantly, and as a matter of course, communicated to + them. That this want of retention was a fault in my noble friend, + I am not inclined to deny; but, being undisguised, it was easily + guarded against, and, when guarded against, harmless. Besides, + such is the penalty generally to be paid for frankness of + character; and they who could have flattered themselves that one + so open about his own affairs as Lord Byron would be much more + discreet where the confidences of others were concerned, would + have had their own imprudence, not his, to blame for any injury + that their dependence upon his secrecy had brought on them. + </p> + <p> + The following is the passage, which Lord Byron, as I take for + granted, showed to Mr. Hunt, and to which one of his letters to + myself (February 20.) refers:— + </p> + <p> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg007" id="pg007">007</a></span> + "I am most anxious to know that you mean to emerge out of the + Liberal. It grieves me to urge any thing so much against Hunt's + interest; but I should not hesitate to use the same language to + himself, were I near him. I would, if I were you, serve him in + every possible way but this—I would give him (if he would + accept of it) the profits of the same works, published + separately—but I would <i>not</i> mix myself up in this way + with others. I would <i>not</i> become a partner in this sort of + miscellaneous '<i>pot au feu</i>,' where the bad flavour of one + ingredient is sure to taint all the rest. I would be, if I were + <i>you</i>, alone, single-handed, and, as such, invincible." + </p> + <p> + While on the subject of Mr. Hunt, I shall avail myself of the + opportunity it affords me of introducing some portions of a + letter addressed to a friend of that gentleman by Lord Byron, in + consequence of an appeal made to the feelings of the latter on + the score of his professed "friendship" for Mr. Hunt. The avowals + he here makes are, I own, startling, and must be taken with more + than the usual allowance, not only for the particular mood of + temper or spirits in which the letter was written, but for the + influence also of such slight casual piques and resentments as + might have been, just then, in their darkening transit through + his mind,—indisposing him, for the moment, to those among + his friends whom, in a sunnier mood, he would have proclaimed as + his most chosen and dearest. + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg008" id="pg008">008</a></span> + </p> + <h3> + LETTER 509. TO MRS. ——. + </h3> + <p> + "I presume that you, at least, know enough of me to be sure that + I could have no intention to insult Hunt's poverty. On the + contrary, I honour him for it; for I know what it is, having been + as much embarrassed as ever he was, without perceiving aught in + it to diminish an honourable man's self-respect. If you mean to + say that, had he been a wealthy man, I would have joined in this + Journal, I answer in the negative. * * * I engaged in the Journal + from good-will towards him, added to respect for his character, + literary and personal; and no less for his political courage, as + well as regret for his present circumstances: I did this in the + hope that he might, with the same aid from literary friends of + literary contributions (which is requisite for all journals of a + mixed nature), render himself independent. + </p> + <p> + "I have always treated him, in our personal intercourse, with + such scrupulous delicacy, that I have forborne intruding advice + which I thought might be disagreeable, lest he should impute it + to what is called 'taking advantage of a man's situation.' + </p> + <p> + "As to friendship, it is a propensity in which my genius is very + limited. I do not know the <i>male</i> human being, except Lord + Clare, the friend of my infancy, for whom I feel any thing that + deserves the name. All my others are men-of-the-world + friendships. I did not even feel it for Shelley, however much I + admired and esteemed him, so that you see not even vanity could + bribe me into it, for, of all <span class="pagenum"><a name= + "pg009" id="pg009">009</a></span> men, Shelley thought highest of + my talents,—and, perhaps, of my disposition. + </p> + <p> + "I will do my duty by my intimates, upon the principle of doing + as you would be done by. I have done so, I trust, in most + instances. I may be pleased with their conversation—rejoice + in their success—be glad to do them service, or to receive + their counsel and assistance in return. But as for friends and + friendship, I have (as I already said) named the only remaining + male for whom I feel any thing of the kind, excepting, perhaps, + Thomas Moore. I have had, and may have still, a thousand friends, + as they are called, in <i>life</i>, who are like one's partners + in the waltz of this world—not much remembered when the + ball is over, though very pleasant for the time. Habit, business, + and companionship in pleasure or in pain, are links of a similar + kind, and the same faith in politics is another." * * * + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <h3> + LETTER 510. TO LADY ——. + </h3> + <p class="quotdate"> + "Genoa, March 28. 1823. + </p> + <p> + "Mr. Hill is here: I dined with him on Saturday before last; and + on leaving his house at S. P. d'Arena, my carriage broke down. I + walked home, about three miles,—no very great feat of + pedestrianism; but either the coming out of hot rooms into a + bleak wind chilled me, or the walking up-hill to Albaro heated + me, or something or other set me wrong, and next day I had an + inflammatory attack in the face, to which I have been subject + this winter for the first time, and I suffered a good deal of + pain, but no peril. <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg010" id= + "pg010">010</a></span> My health is now much as usual. Mr. Hill + is, I believe, occupied with his diplomacy. I shall give him your + message when I see him again. + </p> + <p> + "My name, I see in the papers, has been dragged into the unhappy + Portsmouth business, of which all that I know is very succinct. + Mr. H—— is my solicitor. I found him so when I was + ten years old—at my uncle's death—and he was + continued in the management of my legal business. He asked me, by + a civil epistle, as an old acquaintance of his family, to be + present at the marriage of Miss H——. I went very + reluctantly, one misty morning (for I had been up at two balls + all night), to witness the ceremony, which I could not very well + refuse without affronting a man who had never offended me. I saw + nothing particular in the marriage. Of course I could not know + the preliminaries, except from what he said, not having been + present at the wooing, nor after it, for I walked home, and they + went into the country as soon as they had promised and vowed. Out + of this simple fact I hear the Debats de Paris has quoted Miss H. + as 'autrefois trés liée avec le célebre,' &amp;c. &amp;c. + I am obliged to him for the celebrity, but beg leave to decline + the liaison, which is quite untrue; my liaison was with the + father, in the unsentimental shape of long lawyers' bills, + through the medium of which I have had to pay him ten or twelve + thousand pounds within these few years. She was not pretty, and I + suspect that the indefatigable Mr. A—— was (like all + her people) more attracted by her title than her charms. I regret + very much that I was present at the prologue to the happy + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg011" id="pg011">011</a></span> + state of horse-whipping and black jobs, &amp;c. &amp;c.; + but I could not foresee that a man was to turn out mad, who had + gone about the world for fifty years, as competent to vote, and + walk at large; nor did he seem to me more insane than any other + person going to be married. + </p> + <p> + "I have no objection to be acquainted with the Marquis + Palavicini, if he wishes it. Lately I have gone little into + society, English or foreign, for I had seen all that was worth + seeing in the former before I left England, and at the time of + life when I was more disposed to like it; and of the latter I had + a sufficiency in the first few years of my residence in + Switzerland, chiefly at Madame de Staël's, where I went + sometimes, till I grew tired of <i>conversazioni</i> and + carnivals, with their appendages; and the bore is, that if you go + once, you are expected to be there daily, or rather nightly. I + went the round of the most noted soirées at Venice or elsewhere + (where I remained not any time) to the Benzona, and the Albrizzi, + and the Michelli, &c. &c. and to the Cardinals and the + various potentates of the Legation in Romagna, (that is, + Ravenna,) and only receded for the sake of quiet when I came into + Tuscany. Besides, if I go into society, I generally get, in the + long run, into some scrape of some kind or other, which don't + occur in my solitude. However, I am pretty well settled now, by + time and temper, which is so far lucky, as it prevents + restlessness; but, as I said before, as an acquaintance of yours, + I will be ready and willing to know your friends. He may be a + sort of connection for aught I know; for a Palavicini, of + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg012" id="pg012">012</a></span> + <i>Bologna</i>, I believe, married a distant relative of mine + half a century ago. I happen to know the fact, as he and his + spouse had an annuity of five hundred pounds on my uncle's + property, which ceased at his demise; though I recollect hearing + they attempted, naturally enough, to make it survive him. If I + can do any thing for you here or elsewhere, pray order, and be + obeyed." + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <h3> + LETTER 511. TO MR. MOORE. + </h3> + <p class="quotdate"> + "Genoa, April 2. 1823. + </p> + <p> + "I have just seen some friends of yours, who paid me a visit + yesterday, which, in honour of them and of you, I returned + to-day;—as I reserve my bear-skin and teeth, and paws and + claws, for our enemies. + </p> + <p> + "I have also seen Henry F——, Lord H——'s + son, whom I had not looked upon since I left him a pretty, mild + boy, without a neckcloth, in a jacket, and in delicate health, + seven long years agone, at the period of mine eclipse—the + third, I believe, as I have generally one every two or three + years. I think that he has the softest and most amiable + expression of countenance I ever saw, and manners correspondent. + If to those he can add hereditary talents, he will keep the name + of F—— in all its freshness for half a century more, + I hope. I speak from a transient glimpse—but I love still + to yield to such impressions; for I have ever found that those I + liked longest and best, I took to at first sight; and I always + liked that boy—perhaps, in part, from some resemblance in + the less fortunate part of our destinies—I mean, to avoid + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg013" id="pg013">013</a></span> + mistakes, his lameness. But there is this difference, that + <i>he</i> appears a halting angel, who has tripped against a + star; whilst I am <i>Le Diable Boiteux</i>,—a soubriquet, + which I marvel that, amongst their various <i>nominis umbræ</i>, + the Orthodox have not hit upon. + </p> + <p> + "Your other allies, whom I have found very agreeable personages, + are Milor B—— and <i>épouse</i>, travelling with a + very handsome companion, in the shape of a 'French Count' (to use + Farquhar's phrase in the Beaux Stratagem), who has all the air of + a <i>Cupidon déchainé,</i> and is one of the few specimens I have + seen of our ideal of a Frenchman <i>before</i> the + Revolution—an old friend with a new face, upon whose like I + never thought that we should look again. Miladi seems highly + literary,—to which, and your honour's acquaintance with the + family, I attribute the pleasure of having seen them. She is also + very pretty, even in a morning,—a species of beauty on + which the sun of Italy does not shine so frequently as the + chandelier. Certainly, English-women wear better than their + continental neighbours of the same sex. M—— seems + very good-natured, but is much tamed, since I recollect him in + all the glory of gems and snuff-boxes, and uniforms, and + theatricals, and speeches in our house—'I mean, of + peers,'—(I must refer you to Pope—who you don't read + and won't appreciate—for that quotation, which you must + allow to be poetical,) and sitting to Stroeling, the painter, (do + you remember our visit, with Leckie, to the German?) to be + depicted as one of the <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg014" id= + "pg014">014</a></span> heroes of Agincourt, 'with his long sword, + saddle, bridle, Whack fal de, &c. &c.' + </p> + <p> + "I have been unwell—caught a cold and inflammation, which + menaced a conflagration, after dining with our ambassador, + Monsieur Hill,—not owing to the dinner, but my carriage + broke down in the way home, and I had to walk some miles, up hill + partly, after hot rooms, in a very bleak, windy evening, and + over-hotted, or over-colded myself. I have not been so robustious + as formerly, ever since the last summer, when I fell ill after a + long swim in the Mediterranean, and have never been quite right + up to this present writing. I am thin,—perhaps thinner than + you saw me, when I was nearly transparent, in 1812,—and am + obliged to be moderate of my mouth; which, nevertheless, won't + prevent me (the gods willing) from dining with your friends the + day after to-morrow. + </p> + <p> + "They give me a very good account of you, and of your nearly + 'Emprisoned Angels.' But why did you change your title?—you + will regret this some day. The bigots are not to be conciliated; + and, if they were—are they worth it? I suspect that I am a + more orthodox Christian than you are; and, whenever I see a real + Christian, either in practice or in theory, (for I never yet + found the man who could produce either, when put to the proof,) I + am his disciple. But, till then, I cannot truckle to + tithe-mongers,—nor can I imagine what has made <i>you</i> + circumcise your Seraphs. + </p> + <p> + "I have been far more persecuted than you, as you may judge by my + present decadence,—for I <span class="pagenum"><a name= + "pg015" id="pg015">015</a></span> take it that I am as low in + popularity and book-selling as any writer can be. At least, so my + friends assure me—blessings on their benevolence! This they + attribute to Hunt; but they are wrong—it must be, partly at + least, owing to myself; be it so. As to Hunt, I prefer <i>not</i> + having turned him to starve in the streets to any personal honour + which might have accrued from such genuine philanthropy. I really + act upon principle in this matter, for we have nothing much in + common; and I cannot describe to you the despairing sensation of + trying to do something for a man who seems incapable or unwilling + to do any thing further for himself,—at least, to the + purpose. It is like pulling a man out of a river who directly + throws himself in again. For the last three or four years Shelley + assisted, and had once actually extricated him. I have since his + demise,—and even before,—done what I could: but it is + not in my power to make this permanent. I want Hunt to return to + England, for which I would furnish him with the means in comfort; + and his situation <i>there</i>, on the whole, is bettered, by the + payment of a portion of his debts, &c.; and he would be on + the spot to continue his Journal, or Journals, with his brother, + who seems a sensible, plain, sturdy, and enduring person." * * + </p> + <p> + The new intimacy of which he here announces the commencement, and + which it was gratifying to me, as the common friend of all, to + find that he had formed, was a source of much pleasure to him + during the stay of his noble acquaintances at Genoa. So long, + indeed, <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg016" id= + "pg016">016</a></span> had he persuaded himself that his + countrymen abroad all regarded him in no other light than as an + outlaw or a show, that every new instance he met of friendly + reception from them was as much a surprise as pleasure to him; + and it was evident that to his mind the revival of English + associations and habitudes always brought with it a sense of + refreshment, like that of inhaling his native air. + </p> + <p> + With the view of inducing these friends to prolong their stay at + Genoa, he suggested their taking a pretty villa called "Il + Paradiso," in the neighbourhood of his own, and accompanied them + to look at it. Upon that occasion it was that, on the lady + expressing some intentions of residing there, he produced the + following impromptu, which—but for the purpose of showing + that he was not so "chary of his fame" as to fear failing in such + trifles—I should have thought hardly worth transcribing. + </p> + <div class="poem"> + <p class="i4"> + "Beneath ——'s eyes + </p> + <p class="i4"> + The reclaim'd Paradise + </p> + <p> + Should be free as the former from evil; + </p> + <p class="i4"> + But, if the new Eve + </p> + <p class="i4"> + For an apple should grieve, + </p> + <p> + What mortal would not play the devil?"<span class= + "fnref">[1]</span> + </p> + </div> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: The Genoese wits had already applied this + threadbare jest to himself. Taking it into their heads that + this villa (which was also, I believe, a Casa Saluzzo) had been + the one fixed on for his own residence, they said "Il Diavolo é + ancora entrato in Paradise."] + </p> + </div> + <p> + Another copy of verses addressed by him to the same lady, whose + beauty and talent might well have <span class="pagenum"><a name= + "pg017" id="pg017">017</a></span> claimed a warmer tribute from + such a pen, is yet too interesting, as descriptive of the + premature feeling of age now stealing upon him, to be omitted in + these pages. + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <div class="poem"> + <h4> + "TO THE COUNTESS OF B——. + </h4> + <div class="stanza"> + <p class="i6"> + 1. + </p> + <p> + "You have ask'd for a verse:—the request + </p> + <p class="i2"> + In a rhymer 'twere strange to deny, + </p> + <p> + But my Hippocrene was but my breast, + </p> + <p class="i2"> + And my feelings (its fountain) are dry. + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p class="i6"> + 2. + </p> + <p> + "Were I now as I was, I had sung + </p> + <p class="i2"> + What Lawrence has painted so well; + </p> + <p> + But the strain would expire on my tongue, + </p> + <p class="i2"> + And the theme is too soft for my shell. + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p class="i6"> + 3. + </p> + <p> + "I am ashes where once I was fire, + </p> + <p class="i2"> + And the bard in my bosom is dead; + </p> + <p> + What I loved I <i>now</i> merely admire, + </p> + <p class="i2"> + And my heart is as grey as my head. + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p class="i6"> + 4. + </p> + <p> + "My life is not dated by years— + </p> + <p class="i2"> + There are <i>moments</i> which act as a plough, + </p> + <p> + And there is not a furrow appears + </p> + <p class="i2"> + But is deep in my soul as my brow. + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p class="i6"> + 5. + </p> + <p> + "Let the young and the brilliant aspire + </p> + <p class="i2"> + To sing what I gaze on in vain; + </p> + <p> + For sorrow has torn from my lyre + </p> + <p class="i2"> + The string which was worthy the strain. + </p> + </div> + <p class="citation"> + "B." + </p> + </div> + <p> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg018" id= + "pg018">018</a></span>The following letters written during the + stay of this party at Genoa will be found,—some of them at + least,—not a little curious. + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <h3> + LETTER 512. TO THE EARL OF B——. + </h3> + <p class="quotdate"> + "April 5. 1823. + </p> + <p> + "My dear Lord, + </p> + <p> + "How is your gout? or rather, how are you? I return the Count + ——'s Journal, which is a very extraordinary + production<span class="fnref">[1]</span>, and of a most + melancholy truth in all that regards high life in England. I + know, or knew personally, most of the personages and societies + which he describes; and after reading his remarks, have the + sensation fresh upon me as if I had seen them yesterday. I would + however plead in behalf of some few exceptions, which I will + mention by and by. The most singular thing is, <i>how</i> he + should have penetrated <i>not</i> the <i>fact</i>, but the + <i>mystery</i> of the English ennui, at two-and-twenty. I was + about the same age when I made the same discovery, in almost + precisely the same circles,—(for there is scarcely a person + mentioned whom I did not see nightly or daily, and was acquainted + more or less intimately with most of them,)—but I never + could have described it so well. <i>Il faut étre Français</i>, to + effect this. + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: In another letter to Lord B—— he says + of this gentleman, "he seems to have all the qualities + requisite to have figured in his brother-in-law's ancestor's + Memoirs."] + </p> + </div> + <p> + "But he ought also to have been in the country during the hunting + season, with 'a select party of <span class="pagenum"><a name= + "pg019" id="pg019">019</a></span> distinguished guests,' as the + papers term it. He ought to have seen the gentlemen after dinner + (on the hunting days), and the soiree ensuing + thereupon,—and the women looking as if they had hunted, or + rather been hunted; and I could have wished that he had been at a + dinner in town, which I recollect at Lord + C——'s—small, but select, and composed of the + most amusing people. The dessert was hardly on the table, when, + out of twelve, I counted <i>five asleep;</i> of that five, there + were <i>Tierney</i>, Lord ——, and Lord —— + —I forget the other two, but they were either wits or + orators—perhaps poets. + </p> + <p> + "My residence in the East and in Italy has made me somewhat + indulgent of the siesta;—but then they set regularly about + it in warm countries, and perform it in solitude (or at most in a + tête-à-tête with a proper companion), and retire quietly to their + rooms to get out of the sun's way for an hour or two. + </p> + <p> + "Altogether, your friend's Journal is a very formidable + production. Alas! our dearly beloved countrymen have only + discovered that they are tired, and not that they are tiresome; + and I suspect that the communication of the latter unpleasant + verity will not be better received than truths usually are. I + have read the whole with great attention and instruction. I am + too good a patriot to say <i>pleasure</i>—at least I won't + say so, whatever I may think. I showed it (I hope no breach of + confidence) to a young Italian lady of rank, <i>très + instruite</i> also; and who passes, or passed, for being one of + the three most celebrated belles in the district of Italy, where + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg020" id="pg020">020</a></span> + her family and connections resided in less troublesome times as + to politics, (which is not Genoa, by the way,) and she was + delighted with it, and says that she has derived a better notion + of English society from it than from all Madame de Staël's + metaphysical disputations on the same subject, in her work on the + Revolution. I beg that you will thank the young philosopher, and + make my compliments to Lady B. and her sister. + </p> + <p class="quotsig"> + "Believe me your very obliged and faithful + <br /> + "N. B. + </p> + <p> + "P.S. There is a rumour in letters of some disturbance or complot + in the French Pyrenean army—generals suspected or + dismissed, and ministers of war travelling to see what's the + matter. 'Marry (as David says), this hath an angry favour.' + </p> + <p> + "Tell Count —— that some of the names are not quite + intelligible, especially of the clubs; he speaks of + <i>Watts</i>—perhaps he is right, but in my time + <i>Watiers</i> was the Dandy Club, of which (though no dandy) I + was a member, at the time too of its greatest glory, when + Brummell and Mildmay, Alvanley and Pierrepoint, gave the Dandy + Balls; and we (the club, that is,) got up the famous masquerade + at Burlington House and Garden, for Wellington. He does not speak + of the <i>Alfred</i>, which was the most <i>recherché</i> and + most tiresome of any, as I know by being a member of that too." + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg021" id="pg021">021</a></span> + </p> + <h3> + LETTER 513. TO THE EARL OF B——. + </h3> + <p class="quotdate"> + "April 6. 1823. + </p> + <p> + "It <i>would</i> be worse than idle, knowing, as I do, the utter + worthlessness of words on such occasions, in me to attempt to + express what I ought to feel, and do feel for the loss you have + sustained<span class="fnref">[1]</span>; and I must thus dismiss + the subject, for I dare not trust myself further with it <i>for + your</i> sake, or for my own. I shall <i>endeavour</i> to see you + as soon as it may not appear intrusive. Pray excuse the levity of + my yesterday's scrawl—I little thought under what + circumstances it would find you. + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: The death of Lord B——'s son, which had + been long expected, but of which the account had just then + arrived.] + </p> + </div> + <p> + "I have received a very handsome and flattering note from Count + ——. He must excuse my apparent rudeness and real + ignorance in replying to it in English, through the medium of + your kind interpretation. I would not on any account deprive him + of a production, of which I really think more than I have even + <i>said</i>, though you are good enough not to be dissatisfied + even with that; but whenever it is completed, it would give me + the greatest pleasure to have a <i>copy</i>—but <i>how</i> + to keep it secret? literary secrets are like others. By changing + the names, or at least omitting several, and altering the + circumstances indicative of the writer's real station or + situation, the author would render it a most amusing publication. + His countrymen have not been treated, either in a literary or + personal point of view, with <span class="pagenum"><a name= + "pg022" id="pg022">022</a></span> such deference in English + recent works, as to lay him under any very great national + obligation of forbearance; and really the remarks are so true and + piquante, that I cannot bring myself to wish their suppression; + though, as Dangle says, 'He is <i>my</i> friend,' many of these + personages 'were <i>my friends</i>, but much such friends as + Dangle and his allies. + </p> + <p> + "I return you Dr. Parr's letter—I have met him at Payne + Knight's and elsewhere, and he did me the honour once to be a + patron of mine, although a great friend of the other branch of + the House of Atreus, and the Greek teacher (I believe) of my + <i>moral</i> Clytemnestra—I say <i>moral</i>, because it is + true, and is so useful to the virtuous, that it enables them to + do any thing without the aid of an Ægisthus. + </p> + <p> + "I beg my compliments to Lady B., Miss P., and to your + <i>Alfred</i>. I think, since his Majesty of the same name, there + has not been such a learned surveyor of our Saxon society. + </p> + <p class="quotsig"> + "Ever yours most truly, N. B." + </p> + <p> + "April 9. 1823. + </p> + <p> + "P.S. I salute Miledi, Mademoiselle Mama, and the illustrious + Chevalier Count ——; who, I hope, will continue his + history of 'his own times.' There are some strange coincidences + between a part of his remarks and a certain work of mine, now in + MS. in England, (I do not mean the hermetically sealed Memoirs, + but a continuation of certain Cantos of a certain poem,) + especially in <i>what</i> a <i>man</i> may do in London with + impunity while he is 'à la mode;' which I think it well to state, + that he may not suspect me <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg023" + id="pg023">023</a></span> of taking advantage of his confidence. + The observations are very general." + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <h3> + LETTER 514. TO THE EARL OF B——. + </h3> + <p class="quotdate"> + "April 14. 1823. + </p> + <p> + "I am truly sorry that I cannot accompany you in your ride this + morning, owing to a violent pain in my face, arising from a wart + to which I by medical advice applied a caustic. Whether I put too + much, I do not know, but the consequence is, that not only I have + been put to some pain, but the peccant part and its immediate + environ are as black as if the printer's devil had marked me for + an author. As I do not wish to frighten your horses, or their + riders, I shall postpone waiting upon you until six o'clock, when + I hope to have subsided into a more christian-like resemblance to + my fellow-creatures. My infliction has partially extended even to + my fingers; for on trying to get the black from off my upper lip + at least, I have only transfused a portion thereof to my right + hand, and neither lemon-juice nor eau de Cologne, nor any other + eau, have been able as yet to redeem it also from a more inky + appearance than is either proper or pleasant. But 'out, damn'd + spot'—you may have perceived something of the kind + yesterday, for on my return, I saw that during my visit it had + increased, was increasing, and ought to be diminished; and I + could not help laughing at the figure I must have cut before you. + At any rate, I shall be with you at six, with the advantage of + twilight. + </p> + <p class="quotsig"> + Ever most truly, &c. + </p> + <p> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg024" id= + "pg024">024</a></span>"Eleven o'clock. + </p> + <p> + "P.S. I wrote the above at three this morning. I regret to say + that the whole of the skin of about an <i>inch</i> square above + my upper lip has come off, so that I cannot even shave or + masticate, and I am equally unfit to appear at your table, and to + partake of its hospitality. Will you therefore pardon me, and not + mistake this rueful excuse for a '<i>make-believe</i>,' as you + will soon recognise whenever I have the pleasure of meeting you + again, and I will call the moment I am, in the nursery phrase, + 'fit to be seen.' Tell Lady B. with my compliments, that I am + rummaging my papers for a MS. worthy of her acceptation. I have + just seen the younger Count Gamba, and as I cannot prevail on his + infinite modesty to take the field without me, I must take this + piece of diffidence on myself also, and beg your indulgence for + both." + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <h3> + LETTER 515. TO THE COUNT ——. + </h3> + <p class="quotdate"> + "April 22. 1823. + </p> + <p> + "My dear Count —— (if you will permit me to address + you so familiarly), you should be content with writing in your + own language, like Grammont, and succeeding in London as nobody + has succeeded since the days of Charles the Second and the + records of Antonio Hamilton, without deviating into our barbarous + language,—which you understand and write, however, much + better than it deserves. + </p> + <p> + "My 'approbation,' as you are pleased to term it, was very + sincere, but perhaps not very impartial; <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg025" id="pg025">025</a></span> for, though I + love my country, I do not love my countrymen—at least, such + as they now are. And, besides the seduction of talent and wit in + your work, I fear that to me there was the attraction of + vengeance. I have <i>seen</i> and <i>felt</i> much of what you + have described so well. I have known the persons, and the + re-unions so described,—(many of them, that is to say,) and + the portraits are so like that I cannot but admire the painter no + less than his performance. + </p> + <p> + "But I am sorry for you; for if you are so well acquainted with + life at your age, what will become of you when the illusion is + still more dissipated? But never mind—<i>en + avant!</i>—live while you can; and that you may have the + full enjoyment of the many advantages of youth, talent, and + figure, which you possess, is the wish of + an—Englishman,—I suppose, but it is no treason; for + my mother was Scotch, and my name and my family are both Norman; + and as for myself, I am of no country. As for my 'Works,' which + you are pleased to mention, let them go to the Devil, from whence + (if you believe many persons) they came. + </p> + <p class="quotsig"> + "I have the honour to be your obliged," &c. &c. + </p> + <p> + During this period a circumstance occurred which shows, most + favourably for the better tendencies of his nature, how much + allayed and softened down his once angry feeling, upon the + subject of his matrimonial differences, had now grown. It has + been seen that his daughter Ada,—more especially since his + late loss of the only tie of blood which he could <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg026" id="pg026">026</a></span> have a hope + of attaching to himself,—had become the fond and constant + object of his thoughts; and it was but natural, in a heart kindly + as his was, that, dwelling thus with tenderness upon the child, + he should find himself insensibly subdued into a gentler tone of + feeling towards the mother. A gentleman, whose sister was known + to be the confidential friend of Lady Byron, happening at this + time to be at Genoa, and in the habit of visiting at the house of + the poet's new intimates, Lord Byron took one day an opportunity, + in conversing with Lady ——, to say, that she would + render him an essential kindness if, through the mediation of + this gentleman and his sister, she could procure for him from + Lady Byron, what he had long been most anxious to possess, a copy + of her picture. It having been represented to him, in the course + of the same, or a similar conversation, that Lady Byron was said + by her friends to be in a state of constant alarm lest he should + come to England to claim his daughter, or, in some other way, + interfere with her, he professed his readiness to give every + assurance that might have the effect of calming such + apprehensions; and the following letter, in reference to both + these subjects, was soon after sent by him. + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <h3> + LETTER 516. TO THE COUNTESS OF B——. + </h3> + <p class="quotdate"> + "May 3. 1823. + </p> + <p> + "Dear Lady ——, + </p> + <p> + "My request would be for a copy of the miniature of Lady B. which + I have seen in possession of <span class="pagenum"><a name= + "pg027" id="pg027">027</a></span> the late Lady Noel, as I have + no picture, or indeed memorial of any kind of Lady B., as all her + letters were in her own possession before I left England, and we + have had no correspondence since—at least on her part. + </p> + <p> + My message, with regard to the infant, is simply to this + effect—that in the event of any accident occurring to the + mother, and my remaining the survivor, it would be my wish to + have her plans carried into effect, both with regard to the + education of the child, and the person or persons under whose + care Lady B. might be desirous that she should be placed. It is + not my intention to interfere with her in any way on the subject + during her life; and I presume that it would be some consolation + to her to know,(if she is in ill health, as I am given to + understand,) that in <i>no</i> case would any thing be done, as + far as I am concerned, but in strict conformity with Lady B.'s + own wishes and intentions—left in what manner she thought + proper. + </p> + <p class="quotsig"> + "Believe me, dear Lady B., your obliged," &c. + </p> + <p> + This negotiation, of which I know not the results, nor whether, + indeed, it ever ended in any, led naturally and frequently to + conversations on the subject of his marriage,—a topic he + was himself always the first to turn to,—and the account + which he then gave, as well of the circumstances of the + separation, as of his own entire unconsciousness of the immediate + causes that provoked it, was, I find, exactly such as, upon every + occasion when the subject presented itself, he, with an air of + sincerity in which it was <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg028" + id="pg028">028</a></span> impossible not to confide, promulgated. + "Of what really led to the separation (said he, in the course of + one of these conversations,) I declare to you that, even at this + moment, I am wholly ignorant; as Lady Byron would never assign + her motives, and has refused to answer my letters. I have written + to her repeatedly, and am still in the habit of doing so. Some of + these letters I have sent, and others I did not, simply because I + despaired of their doing any good. You may, however, see some of + them if you like;—they may serve to throw some light upon + my feelings." + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + In a day or two after, accordingly, one of these withheld letters + was sent by him, enclosed in the following, to Lady + ——. + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <h3> + LETTER 517. TO THE COUNTESS OF ——. + </h3> + <p class="quotdate"> + "Albaro, May 6.1828. + </p> + <p> + My dear Lady ——, + </p> + <p> + I send you the letter which I had forgotten, and the + book<span class="fnref">[1]</span>, which I ought to have + remembered. It contains (the book, I mean,) some melancholy + truths; though I believe that it is too triste a work ever to + have been popular. The first time I ever read it (not the edition + I send you,—for I got it since,) was at the desire of + Madame de Staël, who was supposed by the good-natured world to be + the heroine;—which she was not, however, and was furious at + the supposition. This occurred in Switzerland, <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg029" id="pg029">029</a></span> in the summer + of 1816, and the last season in which I ever saw that celebrated + person. + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: Adolphe, by M. Benjamin Constant.] + </p> + </div> + <p> + "I have a request to make to my friend Alfred (since he has not + disdained the title), viz. that he would condescend to add a + <i>cap</i> to the gentleman in the jacket,—it would + complete his costume,—and smooth his brow, which is + somewhat too inveterate a likeness of the original, God help me!" + </p> + <p> + "I did well to avoid the water-party,—<i>why</i>, is a + mystery, which is not less to be wondered at than all my other + mysteries. Tell Milor that I am deep in his MS., and will do him + justice by a diligent perusal." + </p> + <p> + "The letter which I enclose I was prevented from sending by my + despair of its doing any good. I was perfectly sincere when I + wrote it, and am so still. But it is difficult for me to + withstand the thousand provocations on that subject, which both + friends and foes have for seven years been throwing in the way of + a man whose feelings were once quick, and whose temper was never + patient. But 'returning were as tedious as go o'er.' I feel this + as much as ever Macbeth did; and it is a dreary sensation, which + at least avenges the real or imaginary wrongs of one of the two + unfortunate persons whom it concerns." + </p> + <p> + "But I am going to be gloomy;—so 'to bed, to bed.' Good + night,—or rather morning. One of the reasons why I wish to + avoid society is, that I can never sleep after it, and the + pleasanter it has been the less I rest." + </p> + <p class="quotsig"> + "Ever most truly," &c. &c. <span class="pagenum"><a name= + "pg030" id="pg030">030</a></span> + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + I shall now produce the enclosure contained in the above; and + there are few, I should think, of my readers who will not agree + with me in pronouncing, that if the author of the following + letter had not <i>right</i> on his side, he had at least most of + those good feelings which are found in general to accompany it. + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <h3> + LETTER 518. TO LADY BYRON. + </h3> + <p> + (TO THE CARE OF THE HON. MRS. LEIGH, LONDON.) + </p> + <p class="quotdate"> + Pisa, November 17. 1821. + </p> + <p> + I have to acknowledge the receipt of 'Ada's hair,'which is very + soft and pretty, and nearly as dark already as mine was at twelve + years old, if I may judge from what I recollect of some in + Augusta's possession, taken at that age. But it don't + curl,—perhaps from its being let grow. + </p> + <p> + "I also thank you for the inscription of the date and name, and I + will tell you why;—I believe that they are the only two or + three words of your handwriting in my possession. For your + letters I returned, and except the two words, or rather the one + word, 'Household,' written twice in an old account book, I have + no other. I burnt your last note, for two reasons:—firstly, + it was written in a style not very agreeable; and, secondly, I + wished to take your word without documents, which are the worldly + resources of suspicious people. + </p> + <p> + I suppose that this note will reach you somewhere about Ada's + birthday—the 10th of December, I believe. She will then be + six, so that in about <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg031" id= + "pg031">031</a></span> twelve more I shall have some chance of + meeting her;—perhaps sooner, if I am obliged to go to + England by business or otherwise. Recollect, however, one thing, + either in distance or nearness;—every day which keeps us + asunder should, after so long a period, rather soften our mutual + feelings, which must always have one rallying-point as long as + our child exists, which I presume we both hope will be long after + either of her parents. + </p> + <p> + The time which has elapsed since the separation has been + considerably more than the whole brief period of our union, and + the not much longer one of our prior acquaintance. We both made a + bitter mistake; but now it is over, and irrevocably so. For, at + thirty-three on my part, and a few years less on yours, though it + is no very extended period of life, still it is one when the + habits and thought are generally so formed as to admit of no + modification; and as we could not agree when younger, we should + with difficulty do so now. + </p> + <p> + I say all this, because I own to you, that, notwithstanding every + thing, I considered our re-union as not impossible for more than + a year after the separation;—but then I gave up the hope + entirely and for ever. But this very impossibility of re-union + seems to me at least a reason why, on all the few points of + discussion which can arise between us, we should preserve the + courtesies of life, and as much of its kindness as people who are + never to meet may preserve perhaps more easily than nearer + connections. For my own part, I am violent, but not malignant; + for only fresh provocations can awaken my resentments. + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg032" id="pg032">032</a></span> + To you, who are colder and more concentrated, I would just hint, + that you may sometimes mistake the depth of a cold anger for + dignity, and a worse feeling for duty. I assure you that I bear + you <i>now</i> (whatever I may have done) no resentment whatever. + Remember, that <i>if you have injured me</i> in aught, this + forgiveness is something; and that, if I have <i>injured you</i>, + it is something more still, if it be true, as the moralists say, + that the most offending are the least forgiving. + </p> + <p> + "Whether the offence has been solely on my side, or reciprocal, + or on yours chiefly, I have ceased to reflect upon any but two + things,—viz. that you are the mother of my child, and that + we shall never meet again. I think if you also consider the two + corresponding points with reference to myself, it will be better + for all three. + </p> + <p class="quotsig"> + "Yours ever, + <br /> + "NOEL BYRON." + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + It has been my plan, as must have been observed, wherever my + materials have furnished me with the means, to leave the subject + of my Memoir to relate his own story; and this object, during the + two or three years of his life just elapsed, I have been enabled + by the rich resources in my hands, with but few interruptions, to + attain. Having now, however, reached that point of his career + from which a new start was about to be taken by his excursive + spirit, and a course, glorious as it was brief and fatal, entered + upon,—a moment of pause may be permitted while we look back + through the last few years, and <span class="pagenum"><a name= + "pg033" id="pg033">033</a></span> for a while dwell upon the + spectacle, at once grand and painful, which his life during that + most unbridled period of his powers exhibited. + </p> + <p> + In a state of unceasing excitement, both of heart and + brain,—for ever warring with the world's will, yet living + but in the world's breath,—with a genius taking upon itself + all shapes, from Jove down to Scapin, and a disposition veering + with equal facility to all points of the moral compass,—not + even the ancient fancy of the existence of two souls within one + bosom would seem at all adequately to account for the varieties, + both of power and character, which the course of his conduct and + writings during these few feverish years displayed. Without going + back so far as the Fourth Canto of Childe Harold, which one of + his bitterest and ablest assailants has pronounced to be, "in + point of execution, the sublimest poetical achievement of mortal + pen," we have, in a similar strain of strength and splendour, the + Prophecy of Dante, Cain, the Mystery of Heaven and Earth, + Sardanapalus,—all produced during this wonderful period of + his genius. To these also are to be added four other dramatic + pieces, which, though the least successful of his compositions, + have yet, as Poems, few equals in our literature; while, in a + more especial degree, they illustrate the versatility of taste + and power so remarkable in him, as being founded, and to this + very circumstance, perhaps, owing their failure, on a severe + classic model, the most uncongenial to his own habits and + temperament, and the most remote from that bold, unshackled + license which it had been <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg034" + id="pg034">034</a></span> the great mission of his genius, + throughout the whole realms of Mind, to assert. + </p> + <p> + In contrast to all these high-toned strains, and struck off + during the same fertile period, we find his Don Juan—in + itself an epitome of all the marvellous contrarieties of his + character—the Vision of Judgment, the Translation from + Pulci, the Pamphlets on Pope, on the British Review, on + Blackwood,—together with a swarm of other light, humorous + trifles, all flashing forth carelessly from the same mind that + was, almost at the same moment, personating, with a port worthy + of such a presence, the mighty spirit of Dante, or following the + dark footsteps of Scepticism over the ruins of past worlds, with + Cain. + </p> + <p> + All this time, too, while occupied with these ideal creations, + the demands upon his active sympathies, in real life, were such + as almost any mind but his own would have found sufficient to + engross its every thought and feeling. An amour, not of that + light, transient kind which "goes without a burden," but, on the + contrary, deep-rooted enough to endure to the close of his days, + employed as restlessly with its first hopes and fears a portion + of this period as with the entanglements to which it led, + political and domestic, it embarrassed the remainder. Scarcely, + indeed, had this disturbing passion begun to calm, when a new + source of excitement presented itself in that conspiracy into + which he flung himself so fearlessly, and which ended, as we have + seen, but in multiplying the objects of his sympathy and + protection, and driving him to a new change of home and scene. + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg035" id="pg035">035</a></span> + </p> + <p> + When we consider all these distractions that beset him, taking + into account also the frequent derangement of his health, and the + time and temper he must have thrown away on the minute drudgery + of watching over every item of his household expenditure, the + mind is lost in almost incredulous astonishment at the wonders he + was able to achieve under such circumstances—at the variety + and prodigality of power with which, in the midst of such + interruptions and hinderances, his "bright soul broke out on + every side," and not only held on its course, unclogged, through + all these difficulties, but even extracted out of the very + struggles and annoyances it encountered new nerve for its + strength, and new fuel for its fire. + </p> + <p> + While thus at this period, more remarkably than at any other + during his life, the unparalleled versatility of his genius was + unfolding itself, those quick, cameleon-like changes of which his + character, too, was capable were, during the same time, most + vividly, and in strongest contrast, drawn out. To the world, and + more especially to England,—the scene at once of his + glories and his wrongs,—he presented himself in no other + aspect than that of a stern, haughty misanthrope, self-banished + from the fellowship of men, and, most of all, from that of + Englishmen. The more genial and beautiful inspirations of his + muse were, in this point of view, looked upon but as lucid + intervals between the paroxysms of an inherent malignancy of + nature; and even the laughing effusions of his wit and humour got + credit for no other aim than that which Swift boasted of, as the + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg036" id="pg036">036</a></span> + end of all his own labours, "to vex the world rather than divert + it." + </p> + <p> + How totally all this differed from the Byron of the social hour, + they who lived in familiar intercourse with him may be safely + left to tell. The sort of ferine reputation which he had acquired + for himself abroad prevented numbers, of course, of his + countrymen, whom he would have most cordially welcomed, from + seeking his acquaintance. But, as it was, no English gentleman + ever approached him, with the common forms of introduction, that + did not come away at once surprised and charmed by the kind + courtesy and facility of his manners, the unpretending play of + his conversation, and, on a nearer intercourse, the frank, + youthful spirits, to the flow of which he gave way with such a + zest, as even to deceive some of those who best knew him into the + impression, that gaiety was after all the true bent of his + disposition. + </p> + <p> + To these contrasts which he presented, as viewed publicly and + privately, is to be added also the fact, that, while braving the + world's ban so boldly, and asserting man's right to think for + himself with a freedom and even daringness unequalled, the + original shyness of his nature never ceased to hang about him; + and while at a distance he was regarded as a sort of autocrat in + intellect, revelling in all the confidence of his own great + powers, a somewhat nearer observation enabled a common + acquaintance at Venice<span class="fnref">[1]</span> to + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg037" id="pg037">037</a></span> + detect, under all this, traces of that self-distrust and + bashfulness which had marked him as a boy, and which never + entirely forsook him through the whole of his career. + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: The Countess Albrizzi—see her Sketch of his + Character.] + </p> + </div> + <p> + Still more singular, however, than this contradiction between the + public and private man,—a contradiction not unfrequent, + and, in some cases, more apparent than real, as depending upon + the relative position of the observer,—were those + contrarieties and changes not less startling, which his character + so often exhibited, as compared with itself. He who, at one + moment, was seen intrenched in the most absolute self-will, + would, at the very next, be found all that was docile and + amenable. To-day, storming the world in its strong-holds, as a + misanthrope and satirist—to-morrow, learning, with implicit + obedience, to fold a shawl, as a Cavaliere—the same man who + had so obstinately refused to surrender, either to friendly + remonstrance or public outcry, a single line of Don Juan, at the + mere request of a gentle Donna agreed to cease it altogether; nor + would venture to resume this task (though the chief darling of + his muse) till, with some difficulty, he had obtained leave from + the same ascendant quarter. Who, indeed, is there that, without + some previous clue to his transformations, could have been at all + prepared to recognise the coarse libertine of Venice in that + romantic and passionate lover who, but a few months after, stood + weeping before the fountain in the garden at Bologna? or, who + could have expected to find in the close calculator of sequins + and baiocchi, that generous champion <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg038" id="pg038">038</a></span> of Liberty + whose whole fortune, whose very life itself were considered by + him but as trifling sacrifices for the advancement, but by a day, + of her cause? + </p> + <p> + And here naturally our attention is drawn to the consideration of + another feature of his character, connected more intimately with + the bright epoch of his life now before us. Notwithstanding his + strongly marked prejudices in favour of rank and high birth, we + have seen with what ardour,—not only in fancy and theory, + bet practically, as in the case of the Italian + Carbonari,—he embarked his sympathies unreservedly on the + current of every popular movement towards freedom. Though of the + sincerity of this zeal for liberty the seal set upon it so + solemnly by his death leaves us no room to doubt, a question may + fairly arise whether that general love of excitement, let it flow + from whatever source it might, by which, more or less, every + pursuit of his whole life was actuated, was not predominant among + the impulses that governed him in this; and, again, whether it is + not probable that, like Alfieri and other aristocratic lovers of + freedom, he would not ultimately have shrunk from the result of + his own equalising doctrines; and, though zealous enough in + lowering those <i>above</i> his own level, rather recoil from the + task of raising up those who were <i>below</i> it. + </p> + <p> + With regard to the first point, it may be conceded, without + deducting much from his sincere zeal in the cause, that the + gratification of his thirst of fame, and, above all, perhaps, + that supply of excitement so necessary to him, to whet, as it + were, the edge of his self-wearing spirit, were not the least of + the attractions <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg039" id= + "pg039">039</a></span> and incitements which a struggle under the + banners of Freedom presented to him. It is also but too certain + that, destined as he was to endless disenchantment, from that + singular and painful union which existed in his nature of the + creative imagination that calls up illusions, and the cool, + searching sagacity that, at once, detects their hollowness, he + could not long have gone on, even in a path so welcome to him, + without finding the hopes with which his fancy had strewed it + withering away beneath him at every step. + </p> + <p> + In politics, as in every other pursuit, his ambition was to be + among the first; nor would it have been from the want of a due + appreciation of all that is noblest and most disinterested in + patriotism, that he would ever have stooped his flight to any + less worthy aim. The following passage in one of his Journals + will be remembered by the reader:—"To be the first man + <i>(not</i> the Dictator), not the Sylla, but the Washington, or + Aristides, the leader in talent and truth, is to be next to the + Divinity." With such high and pure notions of political eminence, + he could not be otherwise than fastidious as to the means of + attaining it; nor can it be doubted that with the sort of vulgar + and sometimes sullied instruments which all popular leaders must + stoop to employ, his love of truth, his sense of honour, his + impatience of injustice, would have led him constantly into such + collisions as must have ended in repulsion and disgust; while the + companionship of those beneath him, a tax all demagogues must + pay, would, as soon as it had ceased to amuse his fancy for the + new and the <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg040" id= + "pg040">040</a></span> ridiculous, have shocked his taste and + mortified his pride. The distaste with which, as appears from + more than one of his letters, he was disposed to view the + personal, if not the political, attributes of what is commonly + called the Radical party in England, shows how unsuited he was + naturally to mix in that kind of popular fellowship which, even + to those far less aristocratic in their notions and feelings, + must be sufficiently trying. + </p> + <p> + But, even granting that all these consequences might safely be + predicted as almost certain to result from his engaging in such a + career, it by no means the more necessarily follows that, + <i>once</i> engaged, he would not have persevered in it + consistently and devotedly to the last; nor that, even if reduced + to say, with Cicero, "nil boni præter causam," he could not have + so far abstracted the principle of the cause from its unworthy + supporters as, at the same time, to uphold the one and despise + the others. Looking back, indeed, from the advanced point where + we are now arrived through the whole of his past career, we + cannot fail to observe, pervading all its apparent changes and + inconsistencies, an adherence to the original bias of his nature, + a general consistency in the main, however shifting and + contradictory the details, which had the effect of preserving, + from first to last, all his views and principles, upon the great + subjects that interested him through life, essentially + unchanged.<span class="fnref">[1]</span> + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: Colonel Stanhope, who saw clearly this leading + character of Byron's mind, has thus justly described + it:—"Lord Byron's was a versatile and still a stubborn + mind; it wavered, but always returned to certain fixed + principles."] + </p> + </div> + <p> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg041" id="pg041">041</a></span>At + the worst, therefore, though allowing that, from disappointment + or disgust, he might have been led to withdraw all personal + participation in such a cause, in no case would he have shown + himself a recreant to its principles; and though too proud to + have ever descended, like Egalité, into the ranks of the people, + he would have been far too consistent to pass, like Alfieri, into + those of their enemies. + </p> + <p> + After the failure of those hopes with which he had so sanguinely + looked forward to the issue of the late struggle between Italy + and her rulers, it may be well conceived what a relief it was to + him to turn his eyes to Greece, where a spirit was now rising + such as he had himself imaged forth in dreams of song, but hardly + could have even dreamed that he should live to see it realised. + His early travels in that country had left a lasting impression + on his mind; and whenever, as I have before remarked, his fancy + for a roving life returned, it was to the regions about the "blue + Olympus" he always fondly looked back. Since his adoption of + Italy as a home, this propensity had in a great degree subsided. + In addition to the sedatory effects of his new domestic r, there + had, at this time, grown upon him a degree of inertness, or + indisposition to change of residence, which, in the instance of + his departure from Ravenna, was with some difficulty surmounted. + </p> + <p> + The unsettled state of life he was from thenceforward thrown + into, by the precarious fortunes of those with whom he had + connected himself, conspired with one or two other causes to + revive within him all his former love of change and adventure; + nor is it wonderful <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg042" id= + "pg042">042</a></span> that to Greece, as offering <i>both</i> in + their most exciting form, he should turn eagerly his eyes, and at + once kindle with a desire not only to witness, but perhaps share + in, the present triumphs of Liberty on those very fields where he + had already gathered for immortality such memorials of her day + long past. + </p> + <p> + Among the causes that concurred with this sentiment to determine + him to the enterprise he now meditated, not the least powerful, + undoubtedly, was the supposition in his own mind that the high + tide of his poetical popularity had been for some time on the + ebb. The utter failure of the Liberal,—in which, splendid + as were some of his own contributions to it, there were yet + others from his pen hardly to be distinguished from the + surrounding dross,—confirmed him fully in the notion that + he had at last wearied out his welcome with the world; and, as + the voice of fame had become almost as necessary to him as the + air he breathed, it was with a proud consciousness of the yet + untouched reserves of power within him he now saw that, if + arrived at the end of <i>one</i> path of fame, there were yet + others for him to strike into, still more glorious. + </p> + <p> + That some such vent for the resources of his mind had long been + contemplated by him appears from a letter of his to myself, in + which it will be recollected he says,—"If I live ten years + longer, you will see that it is not over with me. I don't mean in + literature, for that is nothing; and—it may seem odd enough + to say—I do not think it was my vocation. But you will see + that I shall do something,—the times and Fortune + permitting,—that 'like the <span class="pagenum"><a name= + "pg043" id="pg043">043</a></span> cosmogony of the world will + puzzle the philosophers of all ages.'" He then adds this but too + true and sad prognostic:—"But I doubt whether my + constitution will hold out." + </p> + <p> + His zeal in the cause of Italy, whose past history and literature + seemed to call aloud for redress of her present vassalage and + wrongs, would have, no doubt, led him to the same chivalrous + self-devotion in her service, as he displayed afterwards in that + of Greece. The disappointing issue, however, of that brief + struggle is but too well known; and this sudden wreck of a cause + so promising pained him the more deeply from his knowledge of + some of the brave and true hearts embarked in it. The disgust, + indeed, which that abortive effort left behind, coupled with the + opinion he had early formed of the "hereditary bonds-men" of + Greece, had kept him for some time in a state of considerable + doubt and misgiving as to their chances of ever working out their + own enfranchisement; nor was it till the spring of this year, + when, rather by the continuance of the struggle than by its + actual success, some confidence had begun to be inspired in the + trust-worthiness of the cause, that he had nearly made up his + mind to devote himself to its aid. The only difficulty that still + remained to retard or embarrass this resolution was the necessity + it imposed of a temporary separation from Madame Guiccioli, who + was herself, as might be expected, anxious to participate his + perils, but whom it was impossible he could think of exposing to + the chances of a life, even for men, so rude. + </p> + <p> + At the beginning of the month of April he received <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg044" id="pg044">044</a></span> a visit from + Mr. Blaquiere, who was then proceeding on a special mission to + Greece, for the purpose of procuring for the Committee lately + formed in London correct information as to the state and + prospects of that country. It was among the instructions of this + gentleman that he should touch at Genoa and communicate with Lord + Byron; and the following note will show how cordially the noble + poet was disposed to enter into all the objects of the Committee. + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <h3> + LETTER 519. TO MR. BLAQUIERE. + </h3> + <p class="quotdate"> + "Albaro, April 5. 1823. + </p> + <p> + "Dear Sir, + </p> + <p> + "I shall be delighted to see you and your Greek friend, and the + sooner the better. I have been expecting you for some + time,—you will find me at home. I cannot express to you how + much I feel interested in the cause, and nothing but the hopes I + entertained of witnessing the liberation of Italy itself + prevented me long ago from returning to do what little I could, + as an individual, in that land which it is an honour even to have + visited. + </p> + <p class="quotsig"> + "Ever yours truly, NOEL BYRON." + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + Soon after this interview with their agent, a more direct + communication on the subject was opened between his Lordship and + the Committee itself. + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <h3> + LETTER 520. TO MR. BOWRING. + </h3> + <p class="quotdate"> + "Genoa, May 12. 1823 + </p> + <p> + "Sir, + </p> + <p> + "I have great pleasure in acknowledging your letter, and the + honour which the Committee have <span class="pagenum"><a name= + "pg045" id="pg045">045</a></span> done me:—I shall + endeavour to deserve their confidence by every means in my power. + My first wish is to go up into the Levant in person, where I + might be enabled to advance, if not the cause, at least the means + of obtaining information which the Committee might be desirous of + acting upon; and my former residence in the country, my + familiarity with the Italian language, (which is there + universally spoken, or at least to the same extent as French in + the more polished parts of the Continent,) and my <i>not</i> + total ignorance of the Romaic, would afford me some advantages of + experience. To this project the only objection is of a domestic + nature, and I shall try to get over it;—if I fail in this, + I must do what I can where I am; but it will be always a source + of regret to me, to think that I might perhaps have done more for + the cause on the spot. + </p> + <p> + "Our last information of Captain Blaquiere is from Ancona, where + he embarked with a fair wind for Corfu, on the 15th ult.; he is + now probably at his destination. My last letter <i>from</i> him + personally was dated Rome; he had been refused a passport through + the Neapolitan territory, and returned to strike up through + Romagna for Ancona:—little time, however, appears to have + been lost by the delay. + </p> + <p> + "The principal material wanted by the Greeks appears to be, + first, a park of field artillery—light, and fit for + mountain-service; secondly, gunpowder; thirdly, hospital or + medical stores. The readiest mode of transmission is, I hear, by + Idra, addressed to Mr. Negri, the minister. I meant to send up a + certain quantity of the two latter—no great deal—but + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg046" id="pg046">046</a></span> + enough for an individual to show his good wishes for the Greek + success,—but am pausing, because, in case I should go + myself, I can take them with me. I do not want to limit my own + contribution to this merely, but more especially, if I can get to + Greece myself, I should devote whatever resources I can muster of + my own, to advancing the great object. I am in correspondence + with Signor Nicolas Karrellas (well known to Mr. Hobhouse), who + is now at Pisa; but his latest advice merely stated, that the + Greeks are at present employed in organising their + <i>internal</i> government, and the details of its + administration: this would seem to indicate <i>security</i>, but + the war is however far from being terminated. + </p> + <p> + "The Turks are an obstinate race, as all former wars have proved + them, and will return to the charge for years to come, even if + beaten, as it is to be hoped they will be. But in no case can the + labours of the Committee be said to be in vain; for in the event + even of the Greeks being subdued, and dispersed, the funds which + could be employed in succouring and gathering together the + remnant, so as to alleviate in part their distresses, and enable + them to find or make a country (as so many emigrants of other + nations have been compelled to do), would 'bless both those who + gave and those who took,' as the bounty both of justice and of + mercy. + </p> + <p> + "With regard to the formation of a brigade, (which Mr. Hobhouse + hints at in his short letter of this day's receipt, enclosing the + one to which I have the honour to reply,) I would presume to + suggest—but merely as an opinion, resulting rather from the + melancholy <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg047" id= + "pg047">047</a></span> experience of the brigades embarked in the + Columbian service than from any experiment yet fairly tried in + GREECE,—that the attention of the Committee had better + perhaps be directed to the employment of <i>officers</i> of + experience than the enrolment of <i>raw British</i> soldiers, + which latter are apt to be unruly, and not very serviceable, in + irregular warfare, by the side of foreigners. A small body of + good officers, especially artillery; an engineer, with quantity + (such as the Committee might deem requisite) of stores of the + nature which Captain Blaquiere indicated as most wanted, would, I + should conceive, be a highly useful accession. Officers, also, + who had previously served in the Mediterranean would be + preferable, as some knowledge of Italian is nearly indispensable. + </p> + <p> + "It would also be as well that they should be aware, that they + are not going 'to rough it on a beef-steak and bottle of + port,'—but that Greece—never, of late years, very + plentifully stocked for a <i>mess</i>—is at present the + country of all kinds of <i>privations</i>. This remark may seem + superfluous; but I have been led to it, by observing that many + <i>foreign</i> officers, Italian, French, and even Germans + (but<i>fewer</i> of the <i>latter</i>), have returned in disgust, + imagining either that they were going up to make a party of + pleasure, or to enjoy full pay, speedy promotion, and a very + moderate degree of duty. They complain, too, of having been ill + received by the Government or inhabitants; but numbers of these + complainants were mere adventurers, attracted by a hope of + command and plunder, and disappointed of both. Those <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg048" id="pg048">048</a></span> Greeks I have + seen strenuously deny the charge of inhospitality, and declare + that they shared their pittance to the last crum with their + foreign volunteers. + </p> + <p> + "I need not suggest to the Committee the very great advantage + which must accrue to Great Britain from the success of the + Greeks, and their probable commercial relations with England in + consequence; because I feel persuaded that the first object of + the Committee is their EMANCIPATION, without any interested + views. But the consideration might weigh with the English people + in general, in their present passion for every kind of + speculation,—they need not cross the American seas, for one + much better worth their while, and nearer home. The resources + even for an emigrant population, in the Greek islands alone, are + rarely to be paralleled; and the cheapness of every kind of, not + <i>only necessary</i>, but <i>luxury</i>, (that is to say, + <i>luxury</i> of <i>nature</i>,) fruits, wine, oil, &c. in a + state of peace, are far beyond those of the Cape, and Van + Dieman's Land, and the other places of refuge, which the English + people are searching for over the waters. + </p> + <p> + "I beg that the Committee will command me in any and every way. + If I am favoured with any instructions, I shall endeavour to obey + them to the letter, whether conformable to my own private opinion + or not. I beg leave to add, personally, my respect for the + gentleman whom I have the honour of addressing, + </p> + <p class="quotsig"> + "And am, Sir, your obliged, &c. + </p> + <p> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg049" id= + "pg049">049</a></span>"P.S. The best refutation of Gell will be + the active exertions of the Committee;—I am too warm a + controversialist; and I suspect that if Mr. Hobhouse have taken + him in hand, there will be little occasion for me to 'encumber + him with help.' If I go up into the country, I will endeavour to + transmit as accurate and impartial an account as circumstances + will permit. + </p> + <p> + "I shall write to Mr. Karrellas. I expect intelligence from + Captain Blaquiere, who has promised me some early intimation from + the seat of the Provisional Government. I gave him a letter of + introduction to Lord Sydney Osborne, at Corfu; but as Lord S. is + in the government service, of course his reception could only be + a <i>cautious</i> one." + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <h3> + LETTER 521. TO MR. BOWRING. + </h3> + <p class="quotdate"> + "Genoa, May 21. 1823. + </p> + <p> + "Sir, + </p> + <p> + "I received yesterday the letter of the Committee, dated the 14th + of March. What has occasioned the delay, I know not. It was + forwarded by Mr. Galignani, from Paris, who stated that he had + only had it in his charge four days, and that it was delivered to + him by a Mr. Grattan. I need hardly say that I gladly accede to + the proposition of the Committee, and hold myself highly honoured + by being deemed worthy to be a member. I have also to return my + thanks, particularly to yourself, for the accompanying letter, + which is extremely flattering. <span class="pagenum"><a name= + "pg050" id="pg050">050</a></span> + </p> + <p> + "Since I last wrote to you, through the medium of Mr. Hobhouse, I + have received and forwarded a letter from Captain Blaquiere to + me, from Corfu, which will show how he gets on. Yesterday I fell + in with two young Germans, survivors of General Normann's band. + They arrived at Genoa in the most deplorable state—without + food—without a soul—without shoes. The Austrians had + sent them out of their territory on their landing at Trieste; and + they had been forced to come down to Florence, and had travelled + from Leghorn here, with four Tuscan <i>livres</i> (about three + francs) in their pockets. I have given them twenty Genoese scudi + (about a hundred and thirty-three livres, French money,) and new + shoes, which will enable them to get to Switzerland, where they + say that they have friends. All that they could raise in Genoa, + besides, was thirty <i>sous</i>. They do not complain of the + Greeks, but say that they have suffered more since their landing + in Italy. + </p> + <p> + "I tried their veracity, 1st, by their passports and papers; + 2dly, by topography, cross-questioning them about Arta, Argos, + Athens, Missolonghi, Corinth, c.; and, 3dly, in <i>Romaic</i>, of + which I found one of them, at least, knew more than I do. One of + them (they are both of good families) is a fine handsome young + fellow of three-and-twenty—a Wirtembergher, and has a look + of <i>Sandt</i> about him—the other a Bavarian, older and + flat-faced, and less ideal, but a great, sturdy, soldier-like + personage. The Wirtembergher was in the action at Arta, where the + Philhellenists were cut to pieces after killing six hundred + Turks, they themselves being only a hundred and <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg051" id="pg051">051</a></span> fifty in + number, opposed to about six or seven thousand; only eight + escaped, and of them about three only survived; so that General + Normann 'posted his ragamuffins where they were well + peppered—not three of the hundred and fifty left + alive—and they are for the town's end for life.' + </p> + <p> + "These two left Greece by the direction of the Greeks. When + Churschid Pacha over-run the Morea, the Greeks seem to have + behaved well, in wishing to save their allies, when they thought + that the game was up with themselves. This was in September last + (1822): they wandered from island to island, and got from Milo to + Smyrna, where the French consul gave them a passport, and a + charitable captain a passage to Ancona, whence they got to + Trieste, and were turned back by the Austrians. They complain + only of the minister (who has always been an indifferent + character); say that the Greeks fight very well in their own way, + but were at <i>first</i> afraid to <i>fire</i> their own + cannon—but mended with practice. + </p> + <p> + "Adolphe (the younger) commanded at Navarino for a short time; + the other, a more material person, 'the bold Bavarian in a + luckless hour,' seems chiefly to lament a fast of three days at + Argos, and the loss of twenty-five paras a day of pay in arrear, + and some baggage at Tripolitza; but takes his wounds, and + marches, and battles in very good part. Both are very simple, + full of naïveté, and quite unpretending: they say the foreigners + quarrelled among themselves, particularly the French with the + Germans, which produced duels. <span class="pagenum"><a name= + "pg052" id="pg052">052</a></span> + </p> + <p> + "The Greeks accept muskets, but throw away <i>bayonets</i>, and + will <i>not</i> be disciplined. When these lads saw two + Piedmontese regiments yesterday, they said, 'Ah! if we had but + <i>these</i> two, we should have cleared the Morea:' in that case + the Piedmontese must have behaved better than they did against + the Austrians. They seem to lay great stress upon a few regular + troops—say that the Greeks have arms and powder in plenty, + but want victuals, hospital stores, and lint and linen, &c. + and money, very much. Altogether, it would be difficult to show + more practical philosophy than this remnant of our 'puir hill + folk' have done; they do not seem the least cast down, and their + way of presenting themselves was as simple and natural as could + be. They said, a Dane here had told them that an Englishman, + friendly to the Greek cause, was here, and that, as they were + reduced to beg their way home, they thought they might as well + begin with me. I write in haste to snatch the post. + </p> + <p class="quotsig"> + "Believe me, and truly, + <br /> + "Your obliged, &c. + </p> + <p> + "P.S. I have, since I wrote this, seen them again. Count P. Gamba + asked them to breakfast. One of them means to publish his Journal + of the campaign. The Bavarian wonders a little that the Greeks + are not quite the same with them of the time of Themistocles, + (they were not then very tractable, by the by,) and at the + difficulty of disciplining them; but he is a 'bon homme' and a + tactician, and a little like Dugald Dalgetty, who would insist + upon the erection of 'a sconce on the hill of <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg053" id="pg053">053</a></span> Drumsnab,' or + whatever it was;—the other seems to wonder at nothing." + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <h3> + LETTER 522. TO LADY ——. + </h3> + <p class="quotdate"> + "May 17. 1823. + </p> + <p> + "My voyage to Greece will depend upon the Greek Committee (in + England) partly, and partly on the instructions which some + persons now in Greece on a private mission may be pleased to send + me. I am a member, lately elected, of the said Committee; and my + object in going up would be to do any little good in my + power;—but as there are some <i>pros</i> and <i>cons</i> on + the subject, with regard to how far the intervention of strangers + may be advisable, I know no more than I tell you; but we shall + probably hear something soon from England and Greece, which may + be more decisive. + </p> + <p> + "With regard to the late person (Lord Londonderry), whom you hear + that I have attacked, I can only say that a bad minister's memory + is as much an object of investigation as his conduct while + alive,—for his measures do not die with him like a private + individual's notions. He is a matter of <i>history</i>; and, + wherever I find a tyrant or a villain, <i>I will mark him.</i> I + attacked him no more than I had been wont to do. As to the + Liberal,—it was a publication set up for the advantage of a + persecuted author and a very worthy man. But it was foolish in me + to engage in it; and so it has turned out—for I have hurt + myself without doing much good to those for whose benefit it was + intended. <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg054" id= + "pg054">054</a></span> + </p> + <p> + "Do <i>not defend</i> me—it will never do—you will + only make <i>yourself</i> enemies. + </p> + <p> + "Mine are neither to be diminished nor softened, but they may be + overthrown; and there are events which may occur, less improbable + than those which have happened in our time, that may reverse the + present state of things—<i>nous verrons</i>. + </p> + <p> + "I send you this gossip that you may laugh at it, which is all it + is good for, if it is even good for so much. I shall be delighted + to see you again; but it will be melancholy, should it be only + for a moment. + </p> + <p class="quotsig"> + "Ever yours, N. B." + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + It being now decided that Lord Byron should proceed forthwith to + Greece, all the necessary preparations for his departure were + hastened. One of his first steps was to write to Mr. Trelawney, + who was then at Rome, to request that he would accompany him. + "You must have heard," he says, "that I am going to + Greece—why do you not come to me? I can do nothing without + you, and am exceedingly anxious to see you. Pray, come, for I am + at last determined to go to Greece:—it is the only place I + was ever contented in. I am serious; and did not write before, as + I might have given you a journey for nothing. They all say I can + be of use to Greece; I do not know how—nor do they; but, at + all events, let us go." + </p> + <p> + A physician, acquainted with surgery, being considered a + necessary part of his suite, he requested of his own medical + attendant at Genoa, Dr. Alexander, <span class="pagenum"><a name= + "pg055" id="pg055">055</a></span> to provide him with such a + person; and, on the recommendation of this gentleman, Dr. Bruno, + a young man who had just left the university with considerable + reputation, was engaged. Among other preparations for his + expedition, he ordered three splendid helmets to be + made,—with his never forgotten crest engraved upon + them,—for himself and the two friends who were to accompany + him. In this little circumstance, which in England (where the + ridiculous is so much better understood than the heroic) excited + some sneers at the time, we have one of the many instances that + occur amusingly through his life, to confirm the quaint but, as + applied to him, true observation, that "the child is father to + the man;"—the characteristics of these two periods of life + being in him so anomalously transposed, that while the passions + and ripened views of the man developed themselves in his boyhood, + so the easily pleased fancies and vanities of the boy were for + ever breaking out among the most serious moments of his manhood. + The same schoolboy whom we found, at the beginning of the first + volume, boasting of his intention to raise, at some future time, + a troop of horse in black armour, to be called Byron's Blacks, + was now seen trying on with delight his fine crested helmet, and + anticipating the deeds of glory he was to achieve under its + plumes. + </p> + <p> + At the end of May a letter arrived from Mr. Blaquiere + communicating to him very favourable intelligence, and requesting + that he would as much as possible hasten his departure, as he was + now anxiously looked for, and would be of the <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg056" id="pg056">056</a></span> greatest + service. However encouraging this summons, and though Lord Byron, + thus called upon from all sides, had now determined to give + freely the aid which all deemed so essential, it is plain from + his letters that, in the cool, sagacious view which he himself + took of the whole subject, so far from agreeing with these + enthusiasts in their high estimate of his personal services, he + had not yet even been able to perceive any definite way in which + those services could, with any prospect of permanent utility, be + applied. + </p> + <p> + For an insight into the true state of his mind at this crisis, + the following observations of one who watched him with eyes + quickened by anxiety will be found, perhaps, to afford the + clearest and most certain clue. "At this time," says the Contessa + Guiccioli, "Lord Byron again turned his thoughts to Greece; and, + excited on every side by a thousand combining circumstances, + found himself, almost before he had time to form a decision, or + well know what he was doing, obliged to set out for that country. + But, notwithstanding his affection for those + regions,—notwithstanding the consciousness of his own moral + energies, which made him say always that 'a man ought to do + something more for society than write + verses,'—notwithstanding the attraction which the object of + this voyage must necessarily have for his noble mind, and that, + moreover, he was resolved to return to Italy within a few + months,—notwithstanding all this, every person who was near + him at the time can bear witness to the struggle which his mind + underwent (however much he endeavoured <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg057" id="pg057">057</a></span> to hide it), + as the period fixed for his departure approached."<span class= + "fnref">[1]</span> + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: "Fu allora che Lord Byron rivolse i suoi pensieri + alla Grecia; e stimolato poi da ogni parte per mille + combinazioni egli si trovo quasi senza averlo deciso, e senza + saperlo, obbligato di partire per la Grecia. Ma, non ostante il + suo affetto per quelle contrade,—non ostante il + sentimento delle sue forze morali che gli faceva dire sempre + 'che un uomo e obbligato a fare per la societa qualche cosa di + piu che dei versi,—non ostante le attrative che doveva + avere pel nobile suo animo l'oggetto di que viaggio,—e + non ostante che egli fosse determinato di ritornare in Italia + fra non molti mesi,—pure in quale combattimento si + trovasse il suo cuore mentre si avvanzava l'epoca della sua + parenza (sebbene cercasse occultarlo) ognuno che lo ha + avvicinato allora puù dirlo."] + </p> + </div> + <p> + In addition to the vagueness which this want of any defined + object so unsatisfactorily threw round the enterprise before him, + he had also a sort of ominous presentiment—natural, + perhaps, to one of his temperament under such + circumstances—that he was but fulfilling his own doom in + this expedition, and should die in Greece. On the evening before + the departure of his friends, Lord and Lady B——, from + Genoa, he called upon them for the purpose of taking leave, and + sat conversing for some time. He was evidently in low spirits, + and after expressing his regret that they should leave Genoa + before his own time of sailing, proceeded to speak of his + intended voyage in a tone full of despondence. "Here," said he, + "we are all now together—but when, and where, shall we meet + again? I have a sort of boding that we see each other for the + last time; as something tells me I shall never again return from + Greece." <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg058" id= + "pg058">058</a></span> Having continued a little longer in this + melancholy strain, he leaned his head upon the arm of the sofa on + which they were seated, and, bursting into tears, wept for some + minutes with uncontrollable feeling. Though he had been talking + only with Lady B——, all who were present in the room + observed, and were affected by his emotion, while he himself, + apparently ashamed of his weakness, endeavoured to turn off + attention from it by some ironical remark, spoken with a sort of + hysterical laugh, upon the effects of "nervousness." + </p> + <p> + He had, previous to this conversation, presented to each of the + party some little farewell gift—a book to one, a print from + his bust by Bartolini to another, and to Lady B—— a + copy of his Armenian Grammar, which had some manuscript remarks + of his own on the leaves. In now parting with her, having begged, + as a memorial, some trifle which she had worn, the lady gave him + one of her rings; in return for which he took a pin from his + breast, containing a small cameo of Napoleon, which he said had + long been his companion, and presented it to her Ladyship. + </p> + <p> + The next day Lady B—— received from him the following + note. + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <h3> + TO THE COUNTESS OF B——. + </h3> + <p class="quotdate"> + "Albaro, June 2. 1823. + </p> + <p> + "My dear Lady B——, 'I am <i>superstitious</i>, and + have recollected that memorials with a <i>point</i> are of less + fortunate augury; I will, therefore, request you to accept, + instead of the <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg059" id= + "pg059">059</a></span> <i>pin</i>, the enclosed chain, which is + of so slight a value that you need not hesitate. As you wished + for something <i>worn</i>, I can only say, that it has been worn + oftener and longer than the other. It is of Venetian manufacture; + and the only peculiarity about it is, that it could only be + obtained at or from Venice. At Genoa they have none of the same + kind. I also enclose a ring, which I would wish <i>Alfred</i> to + keep; it is too large to <i>wear</i>; but is formed of + <i>lava</i>, and so far adapted to the fire of his years and + character. You will perhaps have the goodness to acknowledge the + receipt of this note, and send back the pin (for good luck's + sake), which I shall value much more for having been a night in + your custody. + </p> + <p class="quotsig"> + "Ever and faithfully your obliged, &c. + </p> + <p> + "P.S. I hope your <i>nerves</i> are well to-day, and will + continue to flourish." + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + In the mean time the preparations for his romantic expedition + were in progress. With the aid of his banker and very sincere + friend, Mr. Barry, of Genoa, he was enabled to raise the large + sums of money necessary for his supply;—10,000 crowns in + specie, and 40,000 crowns in bills of exchange, being the amount + of what he took with him, and a portion of this having been + raised upon his furniture and books, on which Mr. Barry, as I + understand, advanced a sum far beyond their worth. An English + brig, the Hercules, had been freighted to convey himself and his + suite, which consisted, at this time, of Count Gamba, Mr. + Trelawney, Dr. Bruno, and eight <span class="pagenum"><a name= + "pg060" id="pg060">060</a></span> domestics. There were also + aboard five horses, sufficient arms and ammunition for the use of + his own party, two one-pounders belonging to his schooner, the + Bolivar, which he had left at Genoa, and medicine enough for the + supply of a thousand men for a year. + </p> + <p> + The following letter to the Secretary of the Greek Committee + announces his approaching departure. + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <h3> + LETTER 523. TO MR. BOWRING. + </h3> + <p class="quotdate"> + "July 7. 1823. + </p> + <p> + "We sail on the 12th for Greece.—I have had a letter from + Mr, Blaquiere, too long for present transcription, but very + satisfactory. The Greek Government expects me without delay. + </p> + <p> + "In conformity to the desires of Mr. B. and other correspondents + in Greece, I have to suggest, with all deference to the + Committee, that a remittance of even '<i>ten thousand pounds + only</i>' (Mr. B.'s expression) would be of the greatest service + to the Greek Government at present. I have also to recommend + strongly the attempt of a loan, for which there will be offered a + sufficient security by deputies now on their way to England. In + the mean time, I hope that the Committee will be enabled to do + something effectual. + </p> + <p> + "For my own part, I mean to carry up, in cash or credits, above + eight, and nearly nine thousand pounds sterling, which I am + enabled to do by funds I have in Italy, and credits in England. + Of this sum I <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg061" id= + "pg061">061</a></span> must necessarily reserve a portion for the + subsistence of myself and suite; the rest I am willing to apply + in the manner which seems most likely to be useful to the + cause—having of course some guarantee or assurance, that it + will not be misapplied to any individual speculation. + </p> + <p> + "If I remain in Greece, which will mainly depend upon the + presumed probable utility of my presence there, and of the + opinion of the Greeks themselves as to its propriety—in + short, if I am welcome to them, I shall continue, during my + residence at least, to apply such portions of my income, present + and future, as may forward the object—that is to say, what + I can spare for that purpose. Privations I can, or at least could + once bear—abstinence I am accustomed to—and as to + fatigue, I was once a tolerable traveller. What I may be now, I + cannot tell—but I will try. + </p> + <p> + "I await the commands of the Committee—Address to + Genoa—the letters will be forwarded me, wherever I may be, + by my bankers, Messrs. Webb and Barry. It would have given me + pleasure to have had some more <i>defined</i> instructions before + I went, but these, of course, rest at the option of the + Committee. + </p> + <p class="quotsig"> + I have the honour to be, + <br /> + "Yours obediently, &c. + </p> + <p> + "P.S. Great anxiety is expressed for a printing press and types, + &c. I have not the time to provide them, but recommend this + to the notice of the Committee. I presume the types must, partly + at least, be <i>Greek</i>: they wish to publish papers, and + perhaps <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg062" id= + "pg062">062</a></span> a Journal, probably in Romaic, with + Italian translations." + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + All was now ready; and on the 13th of July himself and his whole + party slept on board the Hercules. About sunrise the next morning + they succeeded in clearing the port; but there was little wind, + and they remained in sight of Genoa the whole day. The night was + a bright moonlight, but the wind had become stormy and adverse, + and they were, for a short time, in serious danger. Lord Byron, + who remained on deck during the storm, was employed anxiously, + with the aid of such of his suite as were not disabled by + sea-sickness from helping him in preventing further mischief to + the horses, which, having been badly secured, had broken loose + and injured each other. After making head against the wind for + three or four hours, the captain was at last obliged to steer + back to Genoa, and re-entered the port at six in the morning. On + landing again, after this unpromising commencement of his voyage, + Lord Byron (says Count Gamba) "appeared thoughtful, and remarked + that he considered a bad beginning a favourable omen." + </p> + <p> + It has been already, I believe, mentioned that, among the + superstitions in which he chose to indulge, the supposed + unluckiness of Friday, as a day for the commencement of any work, + was one by which he, almost always, allowed himself to be + influenced. Soon after his arrival at Pisa, a lady of his + acquaintance happening to meet him on the road from her house as + she was herself returning thither, and supposing <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg063" id="pg063">063</a></span> that he had + been to make her a visit, requested that he would go back with + her. "I have not been to your house," he answered; "for, just + before I got to the door, I remembered that it was Friday; and, + not liking to make my first visit on a Friday, I turned back." It + is even related of him that he once sent away a Genoese tailor + who brought him home a new coat on the same ominous day. + </p> + <p> + With all this, strange to say, he set sail for Greece on a + Friday:—and though, by those who have any leaning to this + superstitious fancy, the result maybe thought but too sadly + confirmatory of the omen, it is plain that either the influence + of the superstition over his own mind was slight, or, in the + excitement of self-devotion under which he now acted, was + forgotten, In truth, notwithstanding his encouraging speech to + Count Gamba, the forewarning he now felt of his approaching doom + seems to have been far too deep and serious to need the aid of + any such accessory. Having expressed a wish, on relanding, to + visit his own palace, which he had left to the care of Mr. Barry + during his absence, and from which Madame Guiccioli had early + that morning departed, he now proceeded thither, accompanied by + Count Gamba alone. "His conversation," says this gentleman, "was + somewhat melancholy on our way to Albaro: he spoke much of his + past life, and of the uncertainty of the future. 'Where,' said + he, 'shall we be in a year?'—It looked (adds his friend) + like a melancholy foreboding; for, on the same day, of the same + month, in the next year, he was carried to the tomb of his + ancestors." <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg064" id= + "pg064">064</a></span> + </p> + <p> + It took nearly the whole of the day to repair the damages of + their vessel; and the greater part of this interval was passed by + Lord Byron, in company with Mr. Barry, at some gardens near the + city. Here his conversation, as this gentleman informs me, took + the same gloomy turn. That he had not fixed to go to England, in + preference, seemed one of his deep regrets; and so hopeless were + the views he expressed of the whole enterprise before him, that, + as it appeared to Mr. Barry, nothing but a devoted sense of duty + and honour could have determined him to persist in it. + </p> + <p> + In the evening of that day they set sail;—and now, fairly + launched in the cause, and disengaged, as it were, from his + former state of existence, the natural power of his spirit to + shake off pressure, whether from within or without, began + instantly to display itself. According to the report of one of + his fellow-voyagers, though so clouded while on shore, no sooner + did he find himself, once more, bounding over the waters, than + all the light and life of his better nature shone forth. In the + breeze that now bore him towards his beloved Greece, the voice of + his youth seemed again to speak. Before the titles of hero, of + benefactor, to which he now aspired, that of poet, however + pre-eminent, faded into nothing. His love of freedom, his + generosity, his thirst for the new and adventurous,—all + were re-awakened; and even the bodings that still lingered at the + bottom of his heart but made the course before him more precious + from his consciousness of its brevity, and from the high + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg065" id="pg065">065</a></span> + and self-ennobling resolution he had now taken to turn what yet + remained of it gloriously to account. + </p> + <div class="poem"> + <p> + "Parte, e porta un desio d'eterna ed alma + </p> + <p> + Gloria che a nobil cuor e sferza e sprone; + </p> + <p> + A magnanime imprese intenta ha l'alma, + </p> + <p> + Ed <i>insolite cose oprar</i> dispone. + </p> + <p> + Gir fra i nemici—<i>ivi o cipresso o palma</i> + </p> + <p> + Acquistar." + </p> + </div> + <p> + After a passage of five days, they reached Leghorn, at which + place it was thought necessary to touch, for the purpose of + taking on board a supply of gunpowder, and other English goods, + not to be had elsewhere. + </p> + <p> + It would have been the wish of Lord Byron, in the new path he had + now marked out for himself, to disconnect from his name, if + possible, all those poetical associations, which, by throwing a + character of romance over the step he was now taking, might have + a tendency, as he feared, to impair its practical utility; and it + is, perhaps, hardly saying too much for his sincere zeal in the + cause to assert, that he would willingly at this moment have + sacrificed his whole fame, as poet, for even the prospect of an + equivalent renown, as philanthropist and liberator. How vain, + however, was the thought that he could thus supersede his own + glory, or cause the fame of the lyre to be forgotten in that of + the sword, was made manifest to him by a mark of homage which + reached him, while at Leghorn, from the hands of one of the only + two men of the age who could contend with him in the universality + of his literary fame. + </p> + <p> + Already, as has been seen, an exchange of courtesies, + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg066" id="pg066">066</a></span> + founded upon mutual admiration, had taken place between Lord + Byron and the great poet of Germany, Goethe. Of this intercourse + between two such men,—the former as brief a light in the + world's eyes, as the latter has been long and steadily + luminous,—an account has been by the venerable survivor put + on record, which, as a fit preliminary to the letter I am about + to give, I shall here insert in as faithful a translation as it + has been in my power to procure. + <br /> + <br /> + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <h3> + "GOETHE AND BYRON. + </h3> + <p> + "The German poet, who, down to the latest period of his long + life, had been always anxious to acknowledge the merits of his + literary predecessors and contemporaries, because he has always + considered this to be the surest means of cultivating his own + powers, could not but have his attention attracted to the great + talent of the noble Lord almost from his earliest appearance, and + uninterruptedly watched the progress of his mind throughout the + great works which he unceasingly produced. It was immediately + perceived by him that the public appreciation of his poetical + merits kept pace with the rapid succession of his writings. The + joyful sympathy of others would have been perfect, had not the + poet, by a life marked by self-dissatisfaction, and the + indulgence of strong passions, disturbed the enjoyment which his + infinite genius produced. But his German admirer was not led + astray by this, or prevented from following with close attention + both his works and his life in all their eccentricity. These + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg067" id="pg067">067</a></span> + astonished him the more, as he found in the experience of past + ages no element for the calculation of so eccentric an orbit. + </p> + <p> + "These endeavours of the German did not remain unknown to the + Englishman, of which his poems contain unambiguous proofs; and he + also availed himself of the means afforded by various travellers, + to forward some friendly salutation to his unknown admirer. At + length a manuscript Dedication of <i>Sardanapaius</i>, in the + most complimentary terms, was forwarded to him, with an obliging + enquiry whether it might be prefixed to the tragedy. The German, + who, at his advanced age, was conscious of his own powers and of + their effects, could only gratefully and modestly consider this + Dedication as the expression of an inexhaustible intellect, + deeply feeling and creating its own object. He was by no means + dissatisfied when, after a long delay, Sardanapaius appeared + without the Dedication; and was made happy by the possession of a + fac-simile of it, engraved on stone, which he considered a + precious memorial. + </p> + <p> + The noble Lord, however, did not abandon his purpose of + proclaiming to the world his valued kindness towards his German + contemporary and brother poet, a precious evidence of which was + placed in front of the tragedy of Werner. It will be readily + believed, when so unhoped for an honour was conferred upon the + German poet,—one seldom experienced in life, and that too + from one himself so highly distinguished,—he was by no + means reluctant to express the high esteem and sympathising + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg068" id="pg068">068</a></span> + sentiment with which his unsurpassed contemporary had inspired + him. The task was difficult, and was found the more so, the more + it was contemplated;—for what can be said of one whose + unfathomable qualities are not to be reached by words? But when a + young gentleman, Mr. Sterling, of pleasing person and excellent + character, in the spring of 1823, on a journey from Genoa to + Weimar, delivered a few lines under the hand of the great man as + an introduction, and when the report was soon after spread that + the noble Peer was about to direct his great mind and various + power to deeds of sublime daring beyond the ocean, there appeared + to be no time left for further delay, and the following lines + were hastily written<span class="fnref">[1]</span>:— + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: I insert the verses in the original language, as + an English version gives but a very imperfect notion of their + meaning.] + </p> + </div> + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + "Ein freundlich Wort kommt eines nach dem andern + </p> + <p> + Von Süden her und bringt uns frohe Stunden; + </p> + <p> + Es ruft uns auf zum Edelsten zu wandern, + </p> + <p> + Nich ist der Geist, doch ist der Fuss gebunden. + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + "Wie soil ich dem, den ich so lang begleitet, + </p> + <p> + Nun etwas Traulich's in die Ferne sagen? + </p> + <p> + Ihm der sich selbst im Innersten bestreitet, + </p> + <p> + Stark angewohnt das tiefste Weh zu tragen. + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + "Wohl sey ihm doch, wenn er sich selbst empfindet! + </p> + <p> + Er wage selbst sich hoch beglückt zu nennen, + </p> + <p> + Wenn Musenkraft die Schmerzen überwindet, + </p> + <p> + Und wie ich ihn erkannt mög' er sich kennen. + </p> + </div> + </div> + <p> + "The verses reached Genoa, but the excellent friend to whom they + were addressed was already <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg069" + id="pg069">069</a></span> gone, and to a distance, as it + appeared, inaccessible. Driven back, however, by storms, he + landed at Leghorn, where these cordial lines reached him just as + he was about to embark, on the 24th of July, 1823. He had barely + time to answer by a well-filled page, which the possessor has + preserved among his most precious papers, as the worthiest + evidence of the connection that had been formed. Affecting and + delightful as was such a document, and justifying the most lively + hopes, it has acquired now the greatest, though most painful + value, from the untimely death of the lofty writer, which adds a + peculiar edge to the grief felt generally throughout the whole + moral and poetical world at his loss: for we were warranted in + hoping, that when his great deeds should have been achieved, we + might personally have greeted in him the pre-eminent intellect, + the happily acquired friend, and the most humane of conquerors. + At present we can only console ourselves with the conviction that + his country will at last recover from that violence of invective + and reproach which has been so long raised against him, and will + learn to understand that the dross and lees of the age and the + individual, out of which even the best have to elevate + themselves, are but perishable and transient, while the wonderful + glory to which he in the present and through all future ages has + elevated his country, will be as boundless in its splendour as it + is incalculable in its consequences. Nor can there be any doubt + that the nation, which can boast of so many great names, will + class him among <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg070" id= + "pg070">070</a></span> the first of those through whom she has + acquired such glory." + </p> + <p> + The following is Lord Byron's answer to the communication above + mentioned from Goethe:— + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <h3> + LETTER 524. TO GOETHE. + </h3> + <p class="quotdate"> + "Leghorn, July 24. 1823. + </p> + <p> + "Illustrious Sir, + </p> + <p> + "I cannot thank you as you ought to be thanked for the lines + which my young friend, Mr. Sterling, sent me of yours; and it + would but ill become me to pretend to exchange verses with him + who, for fifty years, has been the undisputed sovereign of + European literature. You must therefore accept my most sincere + acknowledgments in prose—and in hasty prose too; for I am + at present on my voyage to Greece once more, and surrounded by + hurry and bustle, which hardly allow a moment even to gratitude + and admiration to express themselves. + </p> + <p> + "I sailed from Genoa some days ago, was driven back by a gale of + wind, and have since sailed again and arrived here, 'Leghorn,' + this morning, to receive on board some Greek passengers for their + struggling country. + </p> + <p> + "Here also I found your lines and Mr. Sterling's letter; and I + could not have had a more favourable omen, a more agreeable + surprise, than a word of Goethe, written by his own hand. + </p> + <p> + "I am returning to Greece, to see if I can be of <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg071" id="pg071">071</a></span> any little + use there: if ever I come back, I will pay a visit to Weimar, to + offer the sincere homage of one of the many millions of your + admirers. I have the honour to be, ever and most, + </p> + <p class="quotsig"> + "Your obliged, + <br /> + "NOEL BYRON." + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + From Leghorn, where his Lordship was joined by Mr. Hamilton + Browne, he set sail on the 24th of July, and, after about ten + days of most favourable weather, cast anchor at Argostoli, the + chief port of Cephalonia. + </p> + <p> + It had been thought expedient that Lord Byron should, with the + view of informing himself correctly respecting Greece, direct his + course, in the first instance, to one of the Ionian islands, from + whence, as from a post of observation, he might be able to + ascertain the exact position of affairs before he landed on the + continent. For this purpose it had been recommended that either + Zante or Cephalonia should be selected; and his choice was + chiefly determined towards the latter island by his knowledge of + the talents and liberal feelings of the Resident, Colonel Napier. + Aware, however, that, in the yet doubtful aspect of the foreign + policy of England, his arrival thus on an expedition so + declaredly in aid of insurrection might have the effect of + embarrassing the existing authorities, he resolved to adopt such + a line of conduct as would be the least calculated either to + compromise or offend them. It was with this view he now thought + it prudent not to land at Argostoli, but to await on board his + vessel such information <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg072" id= + "pg072">072</a></span> from the Government of Greece as should + enable him to decide upon his further movements. + </p> + <p> + The arrival of a person so celebrated at Argostoli excited + naturally a lively sensation, as well among the Greeks as the + English of that place; and the first approaches towards + intercourse between the latter and their noble visiter were + followed instantly, on both sides, by that sort of agreeable + surprise which, from the false notions they had preconceived of + each other, was to be expected. His countrymen, who, from the + exaggerated stories they had so often heard of his misanthropy + and especial horror of the English, expected their courtesies to + be received with a haughty, if not insulting coldness, found, on + the contrary, in all his demeanour a degree of open and cheerful + affability which, calculated, as it was, to charm under any + circumstances, was to them, expecting so much the reverse, + peculiarly fascinating;—while he, on his side, even still + more sensitively prepared, by a long course of brooding over his + own fancies, for a cold and reluctant reception from his + countrymen, found himself greeted at once with a welcome so + cordial and respectful as not only surprised and flattered, but, + it was evident, sensibly touched him. Among other hospitalities + accepted by him was a dinner with the officers of the garrison, + at which, on his health being drunk, he is reported to have said, + in returning thanks, that "he was doubtful whether he could + express his sense of the obligation as he ought, having been so + long in the practice of speaking a foreign language <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg073" id="pg073">073</a></span> that it was + with some difficulty he could convey the whole force of what he + felt in his own." + </p> + <p> + Having despatched messengers to Corfu and Missolonghi in quest of + information, he resolved, while waiting their return, to employ + his time in a journey to Ithaca, which island is separated from + that of Cephalonia but by a narrow strait. On his way to Vathi, + the chief city of the island, to which place he had been invited, + and his journey hospitably facilitated, by the Resident, Captain + Knox, he paid a visit to the mountain-cave in which, according to + tradition, Ulysses deposited the presents of the Phæacians. "Lord + Byron (says Count Gamba) ascended to the grotto, but the + steepness and height prevented him from reaching the remains of + the Castle. I myself experienced considerable difficulty in + gaining it. Lord Byron sat reading in the grotto, but fell + asleep. I awoke him on my return, and he said that I had + interrupted dreams more pleasant than ever he had before in his + life." + </p> + <p> + Though unchanged, since he first visited these regions, in his + preference of the wild charms of Nature to all the classic + associations of Art and History, he yet joined with much interest + in any pilgrimage to those places which tradition had sanctified. + At the Fountain of Arethusa, one of the spots of this kind which + he visited, a repast had been prepared for himself and his party + by the Resident; and at the School of Homer,—as some + remains beyond Chioni are called,—he met with an old + refugee bishop, whom he had known thirteen years before in + Livadia, and with whom he now <span class="pagenum"><a name= + "pg074" id="pg074">074</a></span> conversed of those times, with + a rapidity and freshness of recollection with which the memory of + the old bishop could but ill keep pace. Neither did the + traditional Baths of Penelope escape his research; and "however + sceptical (says a lady, who, soon after, followed his footsteps,) + he might have been as to these supposed localities, he never + offended the natives by any objection to the reality of their + fancies. On the contrary, his politeness and kindness won the + respect and admiration of all those Greek gentlemen who saw him; + and to me they spoke of him with enthusiasm." + </p> + <p> + Those benevolent views by which, even more, perhaps, than by any + ambition of renown, he proved himself to be actuated in his + present course, had, during his short stay at Ithaca, + opportunities of disclosing themselves. On learning that a number + of poor families had fled thither from Scio, Patras, and other + parts of Greece, he not only presented to the Commandant three + thousand piastres for their relief, but by his generosity to one + family in particular, which had once been in a state of affluence + at Patras, enabled them to repair their circumstances and again + live in comfort. "The eldest girl (says the lady whom I have + already quoted) became afterwards the mistress of the school + formed at Ithaca; and neither she, her sister, nor mother, could + ever speak of Lord Byron without the deepest feeling of + gratitude, and of regret for his too premature death." + </p> + <p> + After occupying in this excursion about eight days, he had again + established himself on board the Hercules, when one of the + messengers whom he had <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg075" id= + "pg075">075</a></span> despatched returned, bringing a letter to + him from the brave Marco Botzari, whom he had left among the + mountains of Agrafa, preparing for that attack in which he so + gloriously fell. The following are the terms in which this heroic + chief wrote to Lord Byron:— + </p> + <p> + "Your letter, and that of the venerable Ignazio, have filled me + with joy. Your Excellency is exactly the person of whom we stand + in need. Let nothing prevent you from coming into this part of + Greece. The enemy threatens us in great number; but, by the help + of God and your Excellency, they shall meet a suitable + resistance. I shall have something to do to-night against a corps + of six or seven thousand Albanians, encamped close to this place. + The day after to-morrow I will set out with a few chosen + companions, to meet your Excellency. Do not delay. I thank you + for the good opinion you have of my fellow-citizens, which God + grant you will not find ill-founded; and I thank you still more + for the care you have so kindly taken of them. + </p> + <p class="quotsig"> + "Believe me," &c. + </p> + <p> + In the expectation that Lord Byron would proceed forthwith to + Missolonghi, it had been the intention of Botzari, as the above + letter announces, to leave the army, and hasten, with a few of + his brother warriors, to receive their noble ally on his landing + in a manner worthy of the generous mission on which he came. The + above letter, however, preceded but by a few hours his death. + That very night he penetrated, <span class="pagenum"><a name= + "pg076" id="pg076">076</a></span> with but a handful of + followers, into the midst of the enemy's camp, whose force was + eight thousand strong, and after leading his heroic band over + heaps of dead, fell, at last, close to the tent of the Pasha + himself. + </p> + <p> + The mention made in this brave Suliote's letter of Lord Byron's + care of his fellow-citizens refers to a popular act done recently + by the noble poet at Cephalonia, in taking into his pay, as a + body-guard, forty of this now homeless tribe. On finding, + however, that for want of employment they were becoming restless + and turbulent, he despatched them off soon after, armed and + provisioned, to join in the defence of Missolonghi, which was at + that time besieged on one side by a considerable force, and + blockaded on the other by a Turkish squadron. Already had he, + with a view to the succour of this place, made a generous offer + to the Government, which he thus states himself in one of his + letters:—"I offered to advance a thousand dollars a month + for the succour of Missolonghi, and the Suliotes under Botzari + (since killed); but the Government have answered me, that they + wish to confer with me previously, which is in fact saying they + wish me to expend my money in some other direction. I will take + care that it is for the public cause, otherwise I will not + advance a para. The opposition say they want to cajole me, and + the party in power say the others wish to seduce me, so between + the two I have a difficult part to play; however, I will have + nothing to do with the factions unless to reconcile them if + possible." <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg077" id= + "pg077">077</a></span> + </p> + <p> + In these last few sentences is described briefly the position in + which Lord Byron was now placed, and in which the coolness, + foresight, and self-possession he displayed sufficiently refute + the notion that even the highest powers of imagination, whatever + effect they may sometimes produce on the moral temperament, are + at all incompatible with the sound practical good sense, the + steadily balanced views, which the business of active life + requires. + </p> + <p> + The great difficulty, to an observer of the state of Greece at + this crisis, was to be able clearly to distinguish between what + was real and what was merely apparent in those tests by which the + probability of her future success or failure was to be judged. + With a Government little more than nominal, having neither + authority nor resources, its executive and legislative branches + being openly at variance, and the supplies that ought to fill its + exchequer being intercepted by the military Chiefs, who, as they + were, in most places, collectors of the revenue, were able to rob + by authority;—with that curse of all popular enterprises, a + multiplicity of leaders, each selfishly pursuing his own objects, + and ready to make the sword the umpire of their + claims;—with a fleet furnished by private adventure, and + therefore precarious; and an army belonging rather to its Chiefs + than to the Government, and, accordingly, trusting more to + plunder than to pay;—with all these principles of mischief, + and, as it would seem, ruin at the very heart of the struggle, it + had yet persevered, which was in itself victory, through three + trying campaigns; and at this moment presented, <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg078" id="pg078">078</a></span> in the midst + of all its apparent weakness and distraction, some elements of + success which both accounted for what had hitherto been effected, + and gave a hope, with more favouring circumstances, of something + nobler yet to come. + </p> + <p> + Besides the never-failing encouragement which the incapacity of + their enemies afforded them, the Greeks derived also from the + geographical conformation of their country those same advantages + with which nature had blessed their great ancestors, and which + had contributed mainly perhaps to the formation, as well as + maintenance, of their high national character. Islanders and + mountaineers, they were, by their very position, heirs to the + blessings of freedom and commerce; nor had the spirit of either, + through all their long slavery and sufferings, ever wholly died + away. They had also, luckily, in a political as well as religious + point of view, preserved that sacred line of distinction between + themselves and their conquerors which a fond fidelity to an + ancient church could alone have maintained for + them;—keeping thus holily in reserve, against the hour of + struggle, that most stirring of all the excitements to which + Freedom can appeal when she points to her flame rising out of the + censer of Religion. In addition to these, and all the other moral + advantages included in them, for which the Greeks were indebted + to their own nature and position, is to be taken also into + account the aid and sympathy they had every right to expect from + others, as soon as their exertions in their own cause should + justify the confidence that it would be something <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg079" id="pg079">079</a></span> more than the + mere chivalry of generosity to assist them.<span class= + "fnref">[1]</span> + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: For a clear and concise sketch of the state of + Greece at this crisis, executed with all that command of the + subject which a long residence in the country alone could give, + see Colonel Leake's "Historical Outline of the Greek + Revolution."] + </p> + </div> + <p> + Such seem to have been the chief features of hope which the state + of Greece, at this moment, presented. But though giving promise, + perhaps, of a lengthened continuance of the struggle, they, in + that very promise, postponed indefinitely the period of its + success; and checked and counteracted as were these auspicious + appearances by the manifold and inherent evils above + enumerated,—by a consideration, too, of the resources and + obstinacy of the still powerful Turk, and of the little favour + with which it was at all probable that the Courts of Europe would + ever regard the attempt of any people, under any circumstances, + to be their own emancipators,—none, assuredly, but a most + sanguine spirit could indulge in the dream that Greece would be + able to work out her own liberation, or that aught, indeed, but a + fortuitous concurrence of political circumstances could ever + accomplish it. Like many other such contests between right and + might, it was a cause destined, all felt, to be successful, but + at its own ripe hour;—a cause which individuals might keep + alive, but which events, wholly independent of them, alone could + accomplish, and which, after the hearts, and hopes, and lives of + all its bravest defenders had been wasted upon it, would at last + to other hands, and <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg080" id= + "pg080">080</a></span> even to other means than those + contemplated by its first champions, owe its completion. + </p> + <p> + That Lord Byron, on a nearer view of the state of Greece, saw it + much in the light I have here regarded it in, his letters leave + no room to doubt. Neither was the impression he had early + received of the Greeks themselves at all improved by the present + renewal of his acquaintance with them. Though making full + allowance for the causes that had produced their degeneracy, he + still saw that they were grossly degenerate, and must be dealt + with and counted upon accordingly. "I am of St. Paul's opinion," + said he, "that there is no difference between Jews and + Greeks,—the character of both being equally vile." With + such means and materials, the work of regeneration, he knew, must + be slow; and the hopelessness he therefore felt as to the chances + of ever connecting his name with any essential or permanent + benefit to Greece, gives to the sacrifice he now made of himself + a far more touching interest than had the consciousness of dying + for some great object been at once his incitement and reward. He + but looked upon himself,—to use a favourite illustration of + his own,—as one of the many waves that must break and die + upon the shore, before the tide they help to advance can reach + its full mark. "What signifies Self," was his generous thought, + "if a single spark of that which would be worthy of the past can + be bequeathed unquenchedly to the future?"<span class= + "fnref">[1]</span> Such <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg081" id= + "pg081">081</a></span> was the devoted feeling with which he + embarked in the cause of Italy; and these words, which, had they + remained <i>only</i> words, the unjust world would have + pronounced but an idle boast, have now received from his whole + course in Greece a practical comment, which gives them all the + right of truth to be engraved solemnly on his tomb. + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: <i>Diary of</i> 1821.—The same distrustful + and, as it turned out, just view of the chances of success were + taken by him also on that occasion:—"I shall not," he + says, "fall back;—though I don't think them in force or + heart sufficient to make much of it."] + </p> + </div> + <p> + Though with so little hope of being able to serve signally the + cause, the task of at least lightening, by his interposition, + some of the manifold mischiefs that pressed upon it, might yet, + he thought, be within his reach. To convince the Government and + the Chiefs of the paralysing effect of their + dissensions;—to inculcate that spirit of union among + themselves which alone could give strength against their + enemies;—to endeavour to humanise the feelings of the + belligerents on both sides, so as to take from the war that + character of barbarism which deterred the more civilised friends + of freedom through Europe from joining in it;—such were, in + addition to the now essential aid of his money, the great objects + which he proposed to effect by his interference; and to these he + accordingly, with all the candour, clear-sightedness, and courage + which so pre-eminently distinguished his great mind, applied + himself. + </p> + <p> + Aware that, to judge deliberately of the state of parties, he + must keep out of their vortex, and warned, by the very impatience + and rivalry with which the <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg082" + id="pg082">082</a></span> different chiefs courted his presence, + of the risk he should run by connecting himself with any, he + resolved to remain, for some time longer, in his station at + Cephalonia, and there avail himself of the facilities afforded by + the position for collecting information as to the real state of + affairs, and ascertaining in what quarter his own presence and + money would be most available. During the six weeks that had + elapsed since his arrival at Cephalonia, he had been living in + the most comfortless manner, pent up with pigs and poultry, on + board the vessel which brought him. Having now come, however, to + the determination of prolonging his stay, he decided also upon + fixing his abode on shore; and, for the sake of privacy, retired + to a small village, called Metaxata, about seven miles from + Argostoli, where he continued to reside during the remainder of + his stay on the island. + </p> + <p> + Before this change of residence, he had despatched Mr. Hamilton + Browne and Mr. Trelawney with a letter to the existing Government + of Greece, explanatory of his own views and those of the + Committee whom he represented; and it was not till a month after + his removal to Metaxata that intelligence from these gentlemen + reached him. The picture they gave of the state of the country + was, in most respects, confirmatory of what has already been + described as his own view of it;—incapacity and selfishness + at the head of affairs, disorganisation throughout the whole body + politic, but still, with all this, the heart of the nation sound, + and bent on resistance. Nor could he have failed to be struck + with <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg083" id= + "pg083">083</a></span> the close family resemblance to the + ancient race of the country which this picture + exhibited;—that great people, in the very midst of their + own endless dissensions, having been ever ready to face round in + concert against the foe. + </p> + <p> + His Lordship's agents had been received with all due welcome by + the Government, who were most desirous that he should set out for + the Morea without delay; and pressing letters to the same + purport, both from the Legislative and Executive bodies, + accompanied those which reached him from Messrs. Browne and + Trelawney. He was, however, determined not to move till his own + selected time, having seen reason, the farther insight he + obtained into their intrigues, to congratulate himself but the + more on his prudence in not plunging into the maze without being + first furnished with those guards against deception which the + information he was now acquiring supplied him. + </p> + <p> + To give an idea, as briefly as possible, of the sort of + conflicting calls that were from various scenes of action, + reaching him in his retirement, it may be sufficient to mention + that, while by Metaxa, the present governor of Missolonghi, he + was entreated earnestly to hasten to the relief of that place, + which the Turks were now blockading both by land and by sea, the + head of the military chiefs, Colocotroni, was no less earnestly + urging that he should present himself at the approaching congress + of Salamis, where, under the dictation of these rude warriors, + the affairs of the country were to be settled,—while at the + same time, from another quarter, the great opponent of + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg084" id="pg084">084</a></span> + these chieftains, Mavrocordato, was, with more urgency, as well + as more ability than any, endeavouring to impress upon him his + own views, and imploring his presence at Hydra, whither he + himself had just been forced to retire. + </p> + <p> + The mere knowledge, indeed, that a noble Englishman had arrived + in those regions, so unprepossessed by any party as to inspire a + hope of his alliance in all, and with money, by common rumour, as + abundant as the imaginations of the needy chose to make it, was, + in itself, fully sufficient, without any of the more elevated + claims of his name, to attract towards him all thoughts. "It is + easier to conceive," says Count Gamba, "than to relate the + various means employed to engage him in one faction or the other: + letters, messengers, intrigues, and recriminations,—nay, + each faction had its agents exerting every art to degrade its + opponent." He then adds a circumstance strongly illustrative of a + peculiar feature in the noble poet's character:—"He + occupied himself in discovering the truth, hidden as it was under + these intrigues, and <i>amused himself in confronting the agents + of the different factions."</i> + </p> + <p> + During all these occupations he went on pursuing his usual simple + and uniform course of life,—rising, however, for the + despatch of business, at an early hour, which showed how capable + he was of conquering even long habit when necessary. Though so + much occupied, too, he was, at all hours, accessible to visitors; + and the facility with which he allowed even the dullest people to + break in upon him was exemplified, <span class="pagenum"><a name= + "pg085" id="pg085">085</a></span> I am told, strongly in the case + of one of the officers of the garrison, who, without being able + to understand any thing of the poet but his good-nature, used to + say, whenever he found his time hang heavily on his + hands,—"I think I shall ride out and have a little talk + with Lord Byron." + </p> + <p> + The person, however, whose visits appeared to give him most + pleasure, as well from the interest he took in the subject on + which they chiefly conversed, as from the opportunities, + sometimes, of pleasantry which the peculiarities of his visiter + afforded him, was a medical gentleman named Kennedy, who, from a + strong sense of the value of religion to himself, had taken up + the benevolent task of communicating his own light to others. The + first origin of their intercourse was an undertaking, on the part + of this gentleman, to convert to a firm belief in Christianity + some rather sceptical friends of his, then at Argostoli. + Happening to hear of the meeting appointed for this purpose, Lord + Byron begged that he might be allowed to attend, saying to the + person through whom he conveyed his request, "You know I am + reckoned a black sheep,—yet, after all, not so black as the + world believes me." He had promised to convince Dr. Kennedy that, + "though wanting, perhaps, in faith, he at least had patience:" + but the process of so many hours of lecture,—no less than + twelve, without interruption, being stipulated for,—was a + trial beyond his strength; and, very early in the operation, as + the Doctor informs us, he began to show evident signs of a wish + to exchange the part of hearer for that of speaker. + Notwithstanding <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg086" id= + "pg086">086</a></span> this, however, there was in all his + deportment, both as listener and talker, such a degree of + courtesy, candour, and sincere readiness to be taught, as excited + interest, if not hope, for his future welfare in the good Doctor; + and though he never after attended the more numerous meetings, + his conferences, on the same subject, with Dr. Kennedy alone, + were not infrequent during the remainder of his stay at + Cephalonia. + </p> + <p> + These curious conversations are now published; and to the value + which they possess as a simple and popular exposition of the + chief evidences of Christianity, is added the charm that must + ever dwell round the character of one of the interlocutors, and + the almost fearful interest attached to every word that, on such + a subject, he utters. In the course of the first conversation, it + will be seen that Lord Byron expressly disclaimed being one of + those infidels "who deny the Scriptures, and wish to remain in + unbelief." On the contrary, he professed himself "desirous to + believe; as he experienced no happiness in having his religious + opinions so unfixed." He was unable, however, he added, "to + understand the Scriptures. Those who conscientiously believed + them he could always respect, and was always disposed to trust in + them more than in others; but he had met with so many whose + conduct differed from the principles which they professed, and + who seemed to profess those principles either because they were + paid to do so, or from some other motive which an intimate + acquaintance with their character would enable one to detect, + that altogether he had seen <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg087" + id="pg087">087</a></span> few, if any, whom he could rely upon as + truly and conscientiously believing the Scriptures." + </p> + <p> + We may take for granted that these Conversations,—more + especially the first, from the number of persons present who + would report the proceedings,—excited considerable interest + among the society of Argostoli. It was said that Lord Byron had + displayed such a profound knowledge of the Scriptures as + astonished, and even puzzled, the polemic Doctor; while in all + the eminent writers on theological subjects he had shown himself + far better versed than his more pretending opponent. All this Dr. + Kennedy strongly denies; and the truth seems to be, that on + neither side were there much stores of theological learning. The + confession of the lecturer himself, that he had not read the + works of Stillingfleet or Barrow, shows that, in his researches + after orthodoxy, he had not allowed himself any very extensive + range; while the alleged familiarity of Lord Byron with the same + authorities must be taken with a similar abatement of credence + and wonder to that which his own account of his youthful studies, + already given, requires;—a rapid eye and retentive memory + having enabled him, on this as on most other subjects, to catch, + as it were, the salient points on the surface of knowledge, and + the recollections he thus gathered being, perhaps, the livelier + from his not having encumbered himself with more. To any regular + train of reasoning, even on this his most favourite topic, it was + not possible to lead him. He would start objections to the + arguments of others, and detect their fallacies; but of + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg088" id="pg088">088</a></span> + any consecutive ratiocination on his own side he seemed, if not + incapable, impatient. In this, indeed, as in many other + peculiarities belonging to him,—his caprices, fits of + weeping, sudden affections and dislikes,—may be observed + striking traces of a feminine cast of character;—it being + observable that the discursive faculty is rarely exercised by + women; but that nevertheless, by the mere instinct of truth (as + was the case with Lord Byron), they are often enabled at once to + light upon the very conclusion to which man, through all the + forms of reasoning, is, in the mean time, puzzling, and, perhaps, + losing his way:— + </p> + <div class="poem"> + <p> + "And strikes each point with native force of mind, + </p> + <p> + While puzzled logic blunders far behind." + </p> + </div> + <p> + Of the Scriptures, it is certain that Lord Byron was a frequent + and almost daily reader,—the small pocket Bible which, on + his leaving England, had been given him by his sister, being + always near him. How much, in addition to his natural solicitude + on the subject of religion, the taste of the poet influenced him + in this line of study, may be seen in his frequently expressed + admiration of "the ghost-scene," as he called it, in Samuel, and + his comparison of this supernatural appearance with the + Mephistopheles of Goethe. In the same manner, his imagination + appears to have been much struck by the notion of his lecturer, + that the circumstance mentioned in Job of the Almighty summoning + Satan into his presence was to be interpreted, not, as he + thought, allegorically and poetically, but literally. More than + once we find him expressing to Dr. Kennedy "how much this + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg089" id="pg089">089</a></span> + belief of the real appearance of Satan to hear and obey the + commands of God added to his views of the grandeur and majesty of + the Creator." + </p> + <p> + On the whole, the interest of these Conversations, as far as + regards Lord Byron, arises not so much from any new or certain + lights they supply us with on the subject of his religious + opinions, as from the evidence they afford of his amiable + facility of intercourse, the total absence of bigotry or + prejudice from even his most favourite notions, and—what + may be accounted, perhaps, the next step in conversion to belief + itself—his disposition to believe. As far, indeed, as a + frank submission to the charge of being wrong may be supposed to + imply an advance on the road to being right, few persons, it must + be acknowledged, under a process of proselytism, ever showed more + of this desired symptom of change than Lord Byron. "I own," says + a witness to one of these conversations<span class= + "fnref">[1]</span>, "I felt astonished to hear Lord Byron submit + to lectures on his life, his vanity, and the uselessness of his + talents, which made me stare." + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: Mr. Finlay.] + </p> + </div> + <p> + As most persons will be tempted to refer to the work itself, + there are but one or two other opinions of his Lordship recorded + in it which I shall think necessary to notice here. A frequent + question of his to Dr. Kennedy was,—"What, then, you think + me in a very bad way?"—the usual answer to which being in + the affirmative, he, on one occasion, replied,—"I am now, + however, in a fairer way. I <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg090" + id="pg090">090</a></span> already believe in predestination, + which I know you believe, and in the depravity of the human heart + in general, and of my own in particular:—thus you see there + are two points in which we agree. I shall get at the others by + and by; but you cannot expect me to become a perfect Christian at + once." On the subject of Dr. Southwood's amiable and, it is to be + hoped for the sake of Christianity and the human race, + <i>orthodox</i> work on "The Divine Government," he thus + spoke:—"I cannot decide the point; but to my present + apprehension it would be a most desirable thing could it be + proved, that ultimately all created beings were to be happy. This + would appear to be most consistent with God, whose power is + omnipotent, and whose chief attribute is Love. I cannot yield to + your doctrine of the eternal duration of punishment. This + author's opinion is more humane, and I think he supports it very + strongly from Scripture." + </p> + <p> + I shall now insert, with such explanatory remarks as they may + seem to require, some of the letters, official as well as + private, which his Lordship wrote while at Cephalonia; and from + which the reader may collect, in a manner far more interesting + than through the medium of any narrative, a knowledge both of the + events now passing in Greece, and of the views and feelings with + which they were regarded by Lord Byron. + </p> + <p> + To Madame Guiccioli he wrote frequently, but briefly, and, for + the first time, in English; adding always a few lines in her + brother Pietro's letters to her. The following are extracts. + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg091" id="pg091">091</a></span> + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="quotdate"> + "October 7. + </p> + <p> + "Pietro has told you all the gossip of the island,—our + earthquakes, our politics, and present abode in a pretty village. + As his opinions and mine on the Greeks are nearly similar, I need + say little on that subject. I was a fool to come here; but, being + here, I must see what is to be done." + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="quotdate"> + "October ——. + </p> + <p> + "We are still in Cephalonia, waiting for news of a more accurate + description; for all is contradiction and division in the reports + of the state of the Greeks. I shall fulfil the object of my + mission from the Committee, and then return into Italy; for it + does not seem likely that, as an individual, I can be of use to + them;—at least no other foreigner has yet appeared to be + so, nor does it seem likely that any will be at present. + </p> + <p> + "Pray be as cheerful and tranquil as you can; and be assured that + there is nothing here that can excite any thing but a wish to be + with you again,—though we are very kindly treated by the + English here of all descriptions. Of the Greeks, I can't say much + good hitherto, and I do not like to speak ill of them, though + they do of one another." + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="quotdate"> + "October 29. + </p> + <p> + "You may be sure that the moment I can join you again, will be as + welcome to me as at any period of our recollection. There is + nothing very attractive here to divide my attention; but I must + attend to the Greek cause, both from honour and inclination. + Messrs. B. and T. are both in the Morea, where they have been + very well received, and both of them write <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg092" id="pg092">092</a></span> in good + spirits and hopes. I am anxious to hear how the Spanish cause + will be arranged, as I think it may have an influence on the + Greek contest. I wish that both were fairly and favourably + settled, that I might return to Italy, and talk over with you + <i>our</i>, or rather Pietro's adventures, some of which are + rather amusing, as also some of the incidents of our voyages and + travels. But I reserve them, in the hope that we may laugh over + them together at no very distant period." + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <h3> + LETTER 525. TO MR. BOWRING. + </h3> + <p class="quotdate"> + "9bre 29. 1823. + </p> + <p> + "This letter will be presented to you by Mr. Hamilton Browne, who + precedes or accompanies the Greek deputies. He is both capable + and desirous of rendering any service to the cause, and + information to the Committee. He has already been of considerable + advantage to both, of my own knowledge. Lord Archibald Hamilton, + to whom he is related, will add a weightier recommendation than + mine. + </p> + <p> + "Corinth is taken, and a Turkish squadron said to be beaten in + the Archipelago. The public progress of the Greeks is + considerable, but their internal dissensions still continue. On + arriving at the seat of Government, I shall endeavour to mitigate + or extinguish them—though neither is an easy task. I have + remained here till now, partly in expectation of the squadron in + relief of Missolonghi, partly of Mr. Parry's detachment, and + partly to receive from <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg093" id= + "pg093">093</a></span> Malta or Zante the sum of four thousand + pounds sterling, which I have advanced for the payment of the + expected squadron. The bills are negotiating, and will be cashed + in a short time, as they would have been immediately in any other + mart; but the miserable Ionian merchants have little money, and + no great credit, and are besides <i>politically shy</i> on this + occasion; for although I had letters of Messrs. Webb (one of the + strongest houses of the Mediterranean), and also of Messrs. + Ransom, there is no business to be done on <i>fair</i> terms + except through English merchants. These, however, have proved + both able and willing,—and upright as usual.<span class= + "fnref">[1]</span> + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: The English merchants whom he thus so justly + describes, are Messrs. Barff and Hancock, of Zante, whose + conduct, not only in the instance of Lord Byron, but throughout + the whole Greek struggle, has been uniformly most zealous and + disinterested.] + </p> + </div> + <p> + "Colonel Stanhope has arrived, and will proceed immediately; he + shall have my co-operation in all his endeavours: but, from every + thing that I can learn, the formation of a brigade at present + will be extremely difficult, to say the least of it. With regard + to the reception of foreigners,—at least of foreign + officers,—I refer you to a passage in Prince Mavrocordato's + recent letter, a copy of which is enclosed in my packet sent to + the Deputies. It is my intention to proceed by sea to Napoli di + Romania as soon as I have arranged this business for the Greeks + themselves—I mean the advance of two hundred thousand + piastres for their fleet. + </p> + <p> + "My time here has not been entirely lost,—as <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg094" id="pg094">094</a></span> you will + perceive by some former documents that any advantage from my + <i>then</i> proceeding to the Morea was doubtful. We have at last + moved the Deputies, and I have made a strong remonstrance on + their divisions to Mavrocordato, which, I understand, was + forwarded by the Legislative to the Prince. With a loan they + <i>may</i> do much, which is all that <i>I</i>, for particular + reasons, can say on the subject. + </p> + <p> + "I regret to hear from Colonel Stanhope that the Committee have + exhausted their funds. Is it supposed that a brigade can be + formed without them? or that three thousand pounds would be + sufficient? It is true that money will go farther in Greece than + in most countries; but the regular force must be rendered a + <i>national concern</i>, and paid from a national fund; and + neither individuals nor committees, at least with the usual means + of such as now exist, will find the experiment practicable. + </p> + <p> + "I beg once more to recommend my friend, Mr. Hamilton Browne, to + whom I have also personal obligations, for his exertions in the + common cause, and have the honour to be + </p> + <p class="quotsig"> + "Yours very truly." + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + His remonstrance to Prince Mavrocordato, here mentioned, was + accompanied by another, addressed to the existing Government; and + Colonel Stanhope, who was about to proceed to Napoli and Argos, + was made the bearer of both. The wise and noble spirit that + pervades these two papers must, of itself, without any further + comment, be appreciated by all readers.<span class= + "fnref">[1]</span> + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: The originals of both are in Italian.] + </p> + </div> + <p> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg095" id="pg095">095</a></span> + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <h3> + LETTER 526. + </h3> + <p> + TO THE GENERAL GOVERNMENT OF GREECE. + </p> + <p class="quotdate"> + "Cephalonia, November 30. 1823. + </p> + <p> + "The affair of the Loan, the expectations so long and vainly + indulged of the arrival of the Greek fleet, and the danger to + which Missolonghi is still exposed, have detained me here, and + will still detain me till some of them are removed. But when the + money shall be advanced for the fleet, I will start for the + Morea; not knowing, however, of what use my presence can be in + the present state of things. We have heard some rumours of new + dissensions, nay, of the existence of a civil war. With all my + heart I pray that these reports may be false or exaggerated, for + I can imagine no calamity more serious than this; and I must + frankly confess, that unless union and order are established, all + hopes of a Loan will be vain; and all the assistance which the + Greeks could expect from abroad—an assistance neither + trifling nor worthless—will be suspended or destroyed; and, + what is worse, the great powers of Europe, of whom no one was an + enemy to Greece, but seemed to favour her establishment of an + independent power, will be persuaded that the Greeks are unable + to govern themselves, and will, perhaps, themselves undertake to + settle your disorders in such a way as to blast the brightest + hopes of yourselves and of your friends. + </p> + <p> + "Allow me to add, once for all,—I desire the well-being of + Greece, and nothing else; I will do all I can to secure it; but I + cannot consent, I never will <span class="pagenum"><a name= + "pg096" id="pg096">096</a></span> consent, that the English + public, or English individuals, should be deceived as to the real + state of Greek affairs. The rest, Gentlemen, depends on you. You + have fought gloriously;—act honourably towards your + fellow-citizens and the world, and it will then no more be said, + as has been repeated for two thousand years with the Roman + historians, that Philopoemen was the last of the Grecians. Let + not calumny itself (and it is difficult, I own, to guard against + it in so arduous a struggle,) compare the patriot Greek, when + resting from his labours, to the Turkish pacha, whom his + victories have exterminated. + </p> + <p> + "I pray you to accept these my sentiments as a sincere proof of + my attachment to your real interests, and to believe that I am + and always shall be + </p> + <p class="quotsig"> + "Yours," &c. + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <h3> + LETTER 527. TO PRINCE MAVROCORDATO. + </h3> + <p class="quotdate"> + "Cephalonia, Dec. 2. 1823. + </p> + <p> + "Prince, + </p> + <p> + "The present will be put into your hands by Colonel Stanhope, son + of Major-General the Earl of Harrington, &c. &c. He has + arrived from London in fifty days, after having visited all the + Committees of Germany. He is charged by our Committee to act in + concert with me for the liberation of Greece. I conceive that his + name and his mission will be a sufficient recommendation, without + the necessity of any other from a foreigner, although one who, in + common with all Europe, respects and admires the <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg097" id="pg097">097</a></span> courage, the + talents, and, above all, the probity of Prince Mavrocordato. + </p> + <p> + "I am very uneasy at hearing that the dissensions of Greece still + continue, and at a moment when she might triumph over every thing + in general, as she has already triumphed in part. Greece is, at + present, placed between three measures: either to reconquer her + liberty, to become a dependence of the sovereigns of Europe, or + to return to a Turkish province. She has the choice only of these + three alternatives. Civil war is but a road which leads to the + two latter. If she is desirous of the fate of Walachia and the + Crimea, she may obtain it to-morrow; if of that of Italy, the day + after; but if she wishes to become truly Greece, free and + independent, she must resolve to-day, or she will never again + have the opportunity. + </p> + <p> + "I am, with all respect, + </p> + <p class="quotsig"> + "Your Highness's obedient servant, + <br /> + "N. B. + </p> + <p> + "P.S. Your Highness will already have known that I have sought to + fulfil the wishes of the Greek government, as much as it lay in + my power to do so: but I should wish that the fleet so long and + so vainly expected were arrived, or, at least, that it were on + the way; and especially that your Highness should approach these + parts, either on board the fleet, with a public mission, or in + some other manner." <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg098" id= + "pg098">098</a></span> + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <h3> + LETTER 528. TO MR. BOWRING. + </h3> + <p class="quotdate"> + "10bre 7. 1823. + </p> + <p> + "I confirm the above<span class="fnref">[1]</span>: it is + certainly my opinion that Mr. Millingen is entitled to the same + salary with Mr. Tindall, and his service is likely to be harder. + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: He here alludes to a letter, forwarded with his + own, from Mr. Millingen, who was about to join, in his medical + capacity, the Suliotes, near Fatras, and requested of the + Committee an increase of pay. This gentleman, having mentioned + in his letter "that the retreat of the Turks from before + Missolonghi had rendered unnecessary the appearance of the + Greek fleet," Lord Byron, in a note on this passage, says, "By + the special providence of the Deity, the Mussulmans were seized + with a panic, and fled; but no thanks to the fleet, which ought + to have been here months ago, and has no excuse to the + contrary, lately—at least since I had the money ready to + pay." + </p> + <p> + On another passage, in which Mr. Millingen complains that his + hope of any remuneration from the Greeks has "turned out + perfectly chimerical," Lord Byron remarks, in a note, "and + <i>will</i> do so, till they obtain a loan. They have not a + rap, nor credit (in the islands) to raise one. A medical man + may succeed better than others; but all these penniless + officers had better have stayed at home. Much money may not be + required, but some must."] + </p> + </div> + <p> + "I have written to you (as to Mr. Hobhouse <i>for</i> your + perusal) by various opportunities, mostly private; also by the + Deputies, and by Mr. Hamilton Browne. + </p> + <p> + "The public success of the Greeks has been + considerable,—Corinth taken, Missolonghi nearly safe, and + some ships in the Archipelago taken from the <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg099" id="pg099">099</a></span> Turks; but + there is not only dissension in the Morea, but <i>civil war</i>, + by the latest accounts<span class="fnref">[1]</span>; to what + extent we do not yet know, but hope trifling. + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: The Legislative and Executive bodies having been + for some time at variance, the latter had at length resorted to + violence, and some skirmishes had already taken place between + the factions.] + </p> + </div> + <p> + "For six weeks I have been expecting the fleet, <i>which has not + arrived</i>, though I have, at the request of the Greek + Government, advanced—that is, prepared, and have in hand + two hundred thousand piastres (deducting the commission and + bankers' charges) of my own monies to forward their projects. The + Suliotes (now in Acarnania) are very anxious that I should take + them under my directions, and go over and put things to rights in + the Morea, which, without a force, seems impracticable; and, + really, though very reluctant (as my letters will have shown you) + to take such a measure, there seems hardly any milder remedy. + However, I will not do any thing rashly, and have only continued + here so long in the hope of seeing things reconciled, and have + done all in my power thereto. Had <i>I gone sooner, they would + have forced me into one party or other</i>, and I doubt as much + now; but we will do our best. + </p> + <p class="quotsig"> + "Yours," &c. + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <h3> + LETTER 529. TO MR. BOWRING. + </h3> + <p class="quotdate"> + "October 10. 1823. + </p> + <p> + "Colonel Napier will present to you this letter. Of his military + character it were superfluous to speak: <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg100" id="pg100">100</a></span> of his + personal, I can say, from my own knowledge, as well as from all + public rumour or private report, that it is as excellent as his + military: in short, a better or a braver man is not easily to be + found. <i>He</i> is our man to lead a regular force, or to + organise a national one for the Greeks. Ask the army—ask + any one. He is besides a personal friend of both Prince + Mavrocordato, Colonel Stanhope, and myself, and in such concord + with all three that we should all pull together—an + indispensable, as well as a rare point, especially in Greece at + present. + </p> + <p> + "To enable a regular force to be properly organised, it will be + requisite for the loan-holders to set apart at least + 50,000<i>l</i>. sterling for that particular + purpose—perhaps more; but by so doing they will guarantee + their own monies, 'and make assurance doubly sure.' They can + appoint commissioners to see that part property + expended—and I recommend a similar precaution for the + whole. + </p> + <p> + "I hope that the deputies have arrived, as well as some of my + various despatches (chiefly addressed to Mr. Hobhouse) for the + Committee. Colonel Napier will tell you the recent special + interposition of the gods, in behalf of the Greeks—who seem + to have no enemies in heaven or on earth to be dreaded but their + own tendency to discord amongst themselves. But these, too, it is + to be hoped, will be mitigated, and then we can take the field on + the offensive, instead of being reduced to the <i>petite + guerre</i> of defending the same fortresses year after year, and + taking a few ships, and starving out a castle, and making more + fuss about them than Alexander in his cups, or <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg101" id="pg101">101</a></span> Buonaparte in + a bulletin. Our friends have done something in the way of the + <i>Spartans</i>—(though not one tenth of what is + told)—but have not yet inherited <i>their</i> style. + </p> + <p class="quotsig"> + "Believe me yours," &c. + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <h3> + LETTER 530 TO MR. BOWRING. + </h3> + <p class="quotdate"> + "October 13. 1823. + </p> + <p> + "Since I wrote to you on the 10th instant, the long-desired + squadron has arrived in the waters of Missolonghi and intercepted + two Turkish corvettes—ditto transports—destroying or + taking all four—except some of the crews escaped on shore + in Ithaca—and an unarmed vessel, with passengers, chased + into a port on the opposite side of Cephalonia. The Greeks had + fourteen sail, the Turks <i>four</i>—but the odds don't + matter—the victory will make a very good <i>puff</i>, and + be of some advantage besides. I expect momentarily advices from + Prince Mavrocordato, who is on board, and has (I understand) + despatches from the Legislative for me; in consequence of which, + after paying the squadron, (for which I have prepared, and am + preparing,) I shall probably join him at sea or on shore. + </p> + <p> + "I add the above communication to my letter by Col. Napier, who + will inform the Committee of every thing in detail much better + than I can do. + </p> + <p> + "The mathematical, medical, and musical preparations of the + Committee have arrived, and in good condition, abating some + damage from wet, and some ditto from a portion of the + letter-press <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg102" id= + "pg102">102</a></span> being spilt in landing—(I ought not + to have omitted the press—but forgot it a + moment—excuse the same)—they are excellent of their + kind, but till we have an engineer and a trumpeter (we have + chirurgeons already) mere 'pearls to swine,' as the Greeks are + quite ignorant of mathematics, and have a bad ear for <i>our</i> + music. The maps, &c. I will put into use for them, and take + care that <i>all</i> (with proper caution) are turned to the + intended uses of the Committee—but I refer you to Colonel + Napier, who will tell you, that much of your really valuable + supplies should be removed till proper persons arrive to adapt + them to actual service. + </p> + <p class="quotsig"> + "Believe me, my dear Sir, to be, &c. + </p> + <p> + "P.S. <i>Private</i>—I have written to our friend Douglas + Kinnaird on my own matters, desiring him to send me out all the' + further credits I can command,—and I have a year's income, + and the sale of a manor besides, he tells me, before + me,—for till the Greeks get <i>their</i> Loan, it is + probable that I shall have to stand partly paymaster—as far + as I am 'good upon <i>Change</i>,' that is to say. I pray you to + repeat as much to <i>him</i>, and say that I must in the interim + draw on Messrs. Ransom most formidably. To say the truth, I do + not grudge it now the fellows have begun to fight + <i>again</i>—and still more welcome shall they be if they + will go on. But they have had, or are to have, some four thousand + pounds (besides some private extraordinaries for widows, orphans, + refugees, and rascals of all descriptions,) of mine at one + 'swoop;' and it is to be expected the next will be at least as + much more. And how can I refuse it <span class="pagenum"><a name= + "pg103" id="pg103">103</a></span> if they <i>will</i> + fight?—and especially if I should happen ever to be in + their company? I therefore request and require that you should + apprise my trusty and trust-worthy trustee and banker, and crown + and sheet-anchor, Douglas Kinnaird the Honourable, that he + prepare all monies of mine, including the purchase money of + Rochdale manor and mine income for the year ensuing, A.D. 1824, + to answer, or anticipate, any orders or drafts of mine for the + good cause, in good and lawful money of Great Britain, &c. + &c. May you live a thousand years I which is nine hundred and + ninety-nine longer than the Spanish Cortes' Constitution." + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <h3> + LETTER 531. + </h3> + <p> + TO THE HON. MR. DOUGLAS KINNAIRD. + </p> + <p class="quotdate"> + "Cephalonia, December 23. 1823. + </p> + <p> + "I shall be as saving of my purse and person as you recommend; + but you know that it is as well to be in readiness with one or + both, in the event of either being required. + </p> + <p> + "I presume that some agreement has been concluded with Mr. Murray + about 'Werner.' Although the copyright should only be worth two + or three hundred pounds, I will tell you what can be done with + them. For three hundred pounds I can maintain in Greece, at more + than the <i>fullest pay</i> of the Provisional Government, + rations included, one hundred armed men for <i>three months</i>. + You may judge of this when I tell you, that the four thousand + pounds advanced by me to the Greeks is likely to set a fleet and + an army in motion for some months. <span class="pagenum"><a name= + "pg104" id="pg104">104</a></span> + </p> + <p> + "A Greek vessel has arrived from the squadron to convey me to + Missolonghi, where Mavrocordato now is, and has assumed the + command, so that I expect to embark immediately. Still address, + however, to Cephalonia, through Messrs. Welch and Barry of Genoa, + as usual; and get together all the means and credit of mine you + can, to face the war establishment, for it is 'in for a penny, in + for a pound,' and I must do all that I can for the ancients. + </p> + <p> + "I have been labouring to reconcile these parties, and there is + <i>now</i> some hope of succeeding. Their public affairs go on + well. The Turks have retreated from Acarnania without a battle, + after a few fruitless attempts on Anatoliko. Corinth is taken, + and the Greeks have gained a battle in the Archipelago. The + squadron here, too, has taken a Turkish corvette with some money + and a cargo. In short, if they can obtain a Loan, I am of opinion + that matters will assume and preserve a steady and favourable + aspect for their independence. + </p> + <p> + "In the mean time I stand paymaster, and what not; and lucky it + is that, from the nature of the warfare and of the country, the + resources even of an individual can be of a partial and temporary + service. + </p> + <p> + "Colonel Stanhope is at Missolonghi. Probably we shall attempt + Patras next. The Suliotes, who are friends of mine, seem anxious + to have me with them, and so is Mavrocordato. If I can but + succeed in reconciling the two parties (and I have left no stone + unturned), it will be something; and if not, we roust go over to + the Morea with the Western Greeks—who <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg105" id="pg105">105</a></span> are the + bravest, and at present the strongest, having beaten back the + Turks—and try the effect of a little <i>physical</i> + advice, should they persist in rejecting <i>moral</i> persuasion. + </p> + <p> + "Once more recommending to you the reinforcement of my strong box + and credit from all lawful sources and resources of mine to their + practicable extent—for, after all, it is better playing at + nations than gaming at Almack's or Newmarket—and requesting + you to write to me as often as you can, + </p> + <p> + "I remain ever," &c. + </p> + <p> + The squadron, so long looked for, having made its appearance at + last in the waters of Missolonghi, and Mavrocordato, the only + leader of the cause worthy the name of statesman, having been + appointed, with full powers, to organise Western Greece, the fit + moment for Lord Byron's presence on the scene of action seemed to + have arrived. The anxiety, indeed, with which he was expected at + Missolonghi was intense, and can be best judged from the + impatient language of the letters written to hasten him. "I need + not tell you, my Lord," says Mavrocordato, "how much I long for + your arrival, to what a pitch your presence is desired by every + body, or what a prosperous direction it will give to all our + affairs. Your counsels will be listened to like oracles." Colonel + Stanhope, with the same urgency, writes from + Missolonghi,—"The Greek ship sent for your Lordship has + returned; your arrival was anticipated, and the disappointment + has been great indeed. The Prince is in a state of anxiety, the + Admiral <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg106" id= + "pg106">106</a></span> looks gloomy, and the sailors grumble + aloud." He adds at the end, "I walked along the streets this + evening, and the people asked me after Lord Byron !!!" In a + Letter to the London Committee of the same date, Colonel Stanhope + says, "All are looking forward to Lord Byron's arrival, as they + would to the coming of the Messiah." + </p> + <p> + Of this anxiety, no inconsiderable part is doubtless to be + attributed to their great impatience for the possession of the + loan which he had promised them, and on which they wholly + depended for the payment of the fleet—"Prince Mavrocordato + and the Admiral (says the same gentleman) are in a state of + extreme perplexity: they, it seems, relied on your loan for the + payment of the fleet; that loan not having been received, the + sailors will depart immediately. This will be a fatal event + indeed, as it will place Missolonghi in a state of blockade; and + will prevent the Greek troops from acting against the fortresses + of Nepacto and Patras." + </p> + <p> + In the mean time Lord Byron was preparing busily for his + departure, the postponement of which latterly had been, in a + great measure, owing to that repugnance to any new change of + place which had lately so much grown upon him, and which neither + love, as we have seen, nor ambition, could entirely conquer. + There had been also considerable pains taken by some of his + friends at Argostoli to prevent his fixing upon a place of + residence so unhealthy as Missolonghi; and Mr. Muir, a very able + medical officer, on whose talents he had much dependence, + endeavoured most earnestly to dissuade him from such an imprudent + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg107" id="pg107">107</a></span> + step. His mind, however, was made up,—the proximity of that + port, in some degree, tempting him,—and having hired, for + himself and suite, a light, fast-sailing vessel, called the + Mistico, with a boat for part of his baggage, and a larger vessel + for the remainder, the horses, &c. he was, on the 26th of + December, ready to sail. The wind, however, being contrary, he + was detained two days longer, and in this interval the following + letters were written. + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <h3> + LETTER 532. TO MR. BOWRING. + </h3> + <p class="quotdate"> + "10bre 26. 1823. + </p> + <p> + "Little need be added to the enclosed, which arrived this day, + except that I embark to-morrow for Missolonghi. The intended + operations are detailed in the annexed documents. I have only to + request that the Committee will use every exertion to forward our + views by all its influence and credit. + </p> + <p> + "I have also to request you <i>personally</i> from myself to urge + my friend and trustee, Douglas Kinnaird (from whom I have not + heard these four months nearly), to forward to me all the + resources of my <i>own</i> we can muster for the ensuing year; + since it is no time to ménager <i>purse</i>, or, perhaps, + <i>person</i>. I have advanced, and am advancing, all that I have + in hand, but I shall require all that can be got + together;—and (if Douglas has completed the sale of + Rochdale, <i>that</i> and my year's income for next year ought to + form a good round sum,)—as you may perceive that there will + be little cash of their own amongst the Greeks (unless they get + the Loan), it is the more necessary <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg108" id="pg108">108</a></span> that those of + their friends who have any should risk it. + </p> + <p> + "The supplies of the Committee are, some, useful, and all + excellent in their kind, but occasionally hardly <i>practical</i> + enough, in the present state of Greece; for instance, the + mathematical instruments are thrown away—none of the Greeks + know a problem from a poker—we must conquer first, and plan + afterwards. The use of the trumpets, too, may be doubted, unless + Constantinople were Jericho, for the Helenists have no ears for + bugles, and you must send us somebody to listen to them. + </p> + <p> + "We will do our best—and I pray you to stir your English + hearts at home to more <i>general</i> exertion; for my part, I + will stick by the cause while a plank remains which can be + <i>honourably</i> clung to. If I quit it, it will be by the + Greeks' conduct, and not the Holy Allies or holier + Mussulmans—but let us hope better things. + </p> + <p class="quotsig"> + "Ever yours, N. B. + </p> + <p> + "P.S. I am happy to say that Colonel Leicester Stanhope and + myself are acting in perfect harmony together—he is likely + to be of great service both to the cause and to the Committee, + and is publicly as well as personally a very valuable acquisition + to our party on every account. He came up (as they all do who + have not been in the country before) with some high-flown notions + of the sixth form at Harrow or Eton, &c.; but Col. Napier and + I set him to rights on those points, which is absolutely + necessary to prevent disgust, or perhaps return; but now we can + set our shoulders <i>soberly</i> to the <i>wheel</i>, without + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg109" id="pg109">109</a></span> + quarrelling with the mud which may clog it occasionally. + </p> + <p> + "I can assure you that Col. Napier and myself are as decided for + the cause as any German student of them all; but like men who + have seen the country and human life, there and elsewhere, we + must be permitted to view it in its truth, with its defects as + well as beauties,—more especially as success will remove + the former <i>gradually</i>. N. B. + </p> + <p> + "P.S. As much of this letter as you please is for the Committee, + the rest may be 'entre nous.'" + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <h3> + LETTER 533. TO MR. MOORE. + </h3> + <p class="quotdate"> + "Cephalonia, December 27. 1823. + </p> + <p> + "I received a letter from you some time ago. I have been too much + employed latterly to write as I could wish, and even now must + write in haste. + </p> + <p> + "I embark for Missolonghi to join Mavrocordato in four-and-twenty + hours. The state of parties (but it were a long story) has kept + me here till <i>now</i>; but now that Mavrocordato (their + Washington, or their Kosciusko) is employed again, I can act with + a <i>safe conscience.</i> I carry money to pay the squadron, + &c., and I have influence with the Suliotes, <i>supposed</i> + sufficient to keep them in harmony with some of the + dissentients;—for there are plenty of differences, but + trifling. + </p> + <p> + "It is imagined that we shall attempt either Patras or the + castles on the Straits; and it seems, by most accounts, that the + Greeks, at any rate, the Suliotes, who are in affinity with me of + 'bread and <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg110" id= + "pg110">110</a></span> salt,'—expect that I should march + with them, and—be it even so! If any thing in the way of + fever, fatigue, famine, or otherwise, should cut short the middle + age of a brother warbler,—like Garcilasso de la Vega, + Kleist, Korner, Joukoffsky<span class="fnref">[1]</span> (a + Russian nightingale—see Bowring's Anthology), or + Thersander, or,—or somebody else—but never + mind—I pray you to remember me in your 'smiles and wine.' + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: One of the most celebrated of the living poets of + Russia, who fought at Borodino, and has commemorated that + battle in a poem of much celebrity among his countrymen.] + </p> + </div> + <p> + "I have hopes that the cause will triumph; but whether it does or + no, still 'honour must be minded as strictly as milk diet,' I + trust to observe both, + </p> + <p class="quotsig"> + "Ever," &c. + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + It is hardly necessary to direct the attention of the reader to + the sad, and but too true anticipation expressed in this + letter—the last but one I was ever to receive from my + friend. Before we accompany him to the closing scene of all his + toils, I shall here, as briefly as possible, give a selection + from the many characteristic anecdotes told of him, while at + Cephalonia, where (to use the words of Colonel Stanhope, in a + letter from thence to the Greek committee,) he was "beloved by + Cephalonians, by English, and by Greeks;" and where, approached + as he was familiarly by persons of all classes and countries, not + an action, not a word is recorded of him that does not bear + honourable testimony to the benevolence and soundness + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg111" id="pg111">111</a></span> + of his views, his ever ready but discriminating generosity, and + the clear insight, at once minute and comprehensive, which he had + acquired into the character and wants of the people and the cause + he came to serve. "Of all those who came to help the Greeks," + says Colonel Napier, (a person himself the most qualified to + judge, as well from long local knowledge, as from the acute, + straightforward cast of his own mind,) "I never knew one, except + Lord Byron and Mr. Gordon, that seemed to have justly estimated + their character. All came expecting to find the Peloponnesus + filled with Plutarch's men, and all returned thinking the + inhabitants of Newgate more moral. Lord Byron judged them fairly: + he knew that half-civilised men are full of vices, and that great + allowance must be made for emancipated slaves. He, therefore, + proceeded, bridle in hand, not thinking them good, but hoping to + make them better."<span class="fnref">[1]</span> + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: A similar tribute was paid to him by Count + Delladecima, a gentleman of some literary acquirements, of whom + he saw a good deal at Cephalonia, and to whom he was attracted + by that sympathy which never failed to incline him towards + those who laboured, like himself, under any personal defects. + "Of all the men," said this gentleman, "whom I have had an + opportunity of conversing with, on the means of establishing + the independence of Greece, and regenerating the character of + the natives, Lord Byron appears to entertain the most + enlightened and correct views."] + </p> + </div> + <p> + In speaking of the foolish charge of avarice brought against Lord + Byron by some who resented thus his not suffering them to impose + on his generosity, <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg112" id= + "pg112">112</a></span> Colonel Napier says, "I never knew a + single instance of it while he was here. I saw only a judicious + generosity in all that he did. He would not allow himself to be + <i>robbed</i>, but he gave profusely where he thought he was + doing good. It was, indeed, because he would not allow himself to + be <i>fleeced</i>, that he was called stingy by those who are + always bent upon giving money from any purses but their own. Lord + Byron had no idea of this; and would turn sharply and + unexpectedly on those who thought their game sure. He gave a vast + deal of money to the Greeks in various ways." + </p> + <p> + Among the objects of his bounty in this way were many poor + refugee Greeks from the Continent and the Isles. He not only + relieved their present distresses, but allotted a certain sum + monthly to the most destitute. "A list of these poor pensioners," + says Dr. Kennedy, "was given me by the nephew of Professor + Bambas." + </p> + <p> + One of the instances mentioned of his humanity while at + Cephalonia will show how prompt he was at the call of that + feeling, and how unworthy, sometimes, were the objects of it. A + party of workmen employed upon one of those fine roads projected + by Colonel Napier having imprudently excavated a high bank, the + earth fell in, and overwhelmed nearly a dozen persons; the news + of which accident instantly reaching Metaxata, Lord Byron + despatched his physician Bruno to the spot, and followed with + Count Gamba, as soon as their horses could be saddled. They found + a crowd of women and children wailing round the ruins; while the + workmen, who had just dug out <span class="pagenum"><a name= + "pg113" id="pg113">113</a></span> three or four of their maimed + companions, stood resting themselves unconcernedly, as if nothing + more was required of them; and to Lord Byron's enquiry whether + there were not still some other persons below the earth, answered + coolly that "they did not know, but believed that there were." + Enraged at this brutal indifference, he sprang from his horse, + and seizing a spade himself, began to dig with all his strength; + but it was not till after being threatened with the horsewhip + that any of the peasants could be brought to follow his example. + "I was not present at this scene myself," says Colonel Napier, in + the Notices with which he has favoured me, "but was told that + Lord Byron's attention seemed quite absorbed in the study of the + faces and gesticulations of those whose friends were missing. The + sorrow of the Greeks is, in appearance, very frantic, and they + shriek and howl, as in Ireland. + </p> + <p> + It was in alluding to the above incident that the noble poet is + stated to have said that he had come out to the Islands + prejudiced against Sir T. Maitland's government of the Greeks: + "but," he added, "I have now changed my opinion. They are such + barbarians, that if I had the government of them, I would pave + these very roads with them." + </p> + <p> + While residing at Metaxata, he received an account of the illness + of his daughter Ada, which "made him anxious and melancholy (says + Count Gamba) for several days." Her indisposition he understood + to have been caused by a determination of blood to the head; and + on his remarking to Dr. Kennedy, as curious, that it was a + complaint to which <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg114" id= + "pg114">114</a></span> he himself was subject, the physician + replied, that he should have been inclined to infer so, not only + from his habits of intense and irregular study, but from the + present state of his eyes,—the right eye appearing to be + inflamed. I have mentioned this latter circumstance as perhaps + justifying the inference that there was in Lord Byron's state of + health at this moment a predisposition to the complaint of which + he afterwards died. To Dr. Kennedy he spoke frequently of his + wife and daughter, expressing the Strongest affection for the + latter, and respect towards the former, and while declaring as + usual his perfect ignorance of the causes of the separation, + professing himself fully disposed to welcome any prospect of + reconcilement. + </p> + <p> + The anxiety with which, at all periods of his life, but + particularly at the present, he sought to repel the notion that, + except when under the actual inspiration of writing, he was at + all influenced by poetical associations, very frequently + displayed itself. "You must have been highly gratified (said a + gentleman to him) by the classical remains and recollections + which you met with in your visit to Ithaca."—"You quite + mistake me," answered Lord Byron—"I have no poetical humbug + about me; I am too old for that. Ideas of that sort are confined + to rhyme." + </p> + <p> + For the two days during which he was delayed by contrary winds, + he took up his abode at the house of Mr. Hancock, his banker, and + passed the greater part of the time in company with the English + authorities of the Island. At length the wind becoming fair, he + prepared to embark. "I called upon him to take <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg115" id="pg115">115</a></span> leave," says + Dr. Kennedy, "and found him alone, reading Quentin Durward. He + was, as usual, in good spirits." In a few hours after the party + set sail,—Lord Byron himself on board the Mistico, and + Count Gamba, with the horses and heavy baggage, in the larger + vessel, or Bombarda. After touching at Zante, for the purpose of + some pecuniary arrangements with Mr. Barff, and taking on board a + considerable sum of money in specie, they, on the evening of the + 29th, proceeded towards Missolonghi. Their last accounts from + that place having represented the Turkish fleet as still in the + Gulf of Lepanto, there appeared not the slightest grounds for + apprehending any interruption in their passage. Besides, knowing + that the Greek squadron was now at anchorage near the entrance of + the Gulf, they had little doubt of soon falling in with some + friendly vessel, either in search, or waiting for them. + </p> + <p> + "We sailed together," says Count Gamba, in a highly picturesque + and affecting passage, "till after ten at night; the wind + favourable—a clear sky, the air fresh but not sharp. Our + sailors sang alternately patriotic songs, monotonous indeed, but + to persons in our situation extremely touching, and we took part + in them. We were all, but Lord Byron particularly, in excellent + spirits. The Mistico sailed the fastest. When the waves divided + us, and our voices could no longer reach each other, we made + signals by firing pistols and carabines—'To-morrow we meet + at Missolonghi—to-morrow.' Thus, full of confidence and + spirits, we sailed along. At twelve we were out of sight of each + other." <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg116" id= + "pg116">116</a></span> + </p> + <p> + In waiting for the other vessel, having more than once shortened + sail for that purpose, the party on board the Mistico were upon + the point of being surprised into an encounter which might, in a + moment, have changed the future fortunes of Lord Byron. Two or + three hours before daybreak, while steering towards Missolonghi, + they found themselves close under the stern of a large vessel, + which they at first took to be Greek, but which, when within + pistol shot, they discovered to be a Turkish frigate. By good + fortune, they were themselves, as it appears, mistaken for a + Greek brulot by the Turks, who therefore feared to fire, but with + loud shouts frequently hailed them, while those on board Lord + Byron's vessel maintained the most profound silence; and even the + dogs (as I have heard his Lordship's valet mention), though they + had never ceased to bark during the whole of the night, did not + utter, while within reach of the Turkish frigate, a + sound;—a no less lucky than a curious accident, as, from + the information the Turks had received of all the particulars of + his Lordship's departure from Zante, the harking of the dogs, at + that moment, would have been almost certain to betray him. Under + the favour of these circumstances, and the darkness, they were + enabled to bear away without further molestation, and took + shelter among the Scrofes, a cluster of rocks but a few hours' + sail from Missolonghi. From this place the following letter, + remarkable, considering his situation at the moment, for the + light, careless tone that pervades it, was despatched to Colonel + Stanhope. <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg117" id= + "pg117">117</a></span> + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <h3> + LETTER 534. + </h3> + <p> + TO THE HONOURABLE COLONEL STANHOPE. + </p> + <p class="quotdate"> + "Scrofer (or some such name), on board a + <br /> + Cephaloniote Mistico, Dec. 31. 1823. + </p> + <p> + "My dear Stanhope, + </p> + <p> + "We are just arrived here, that is, part of my people and I, with + some things, &c., and which it may be as well not to specify + in a letter (which has a risk of being intercepted, + perhaps);—but Gamba, and my horses, negro, steward, and the + press, and all the Committee things, also some eight thousand + dollars of mine, (but never mind, we have more left, do you + understand?) are taken by the Turkish frigates, and my party and + myself, in another boat, have had a narrow escape last night, + (being close under their stern and hailed, but we would not + answer, and bore away,) as well as this morning. Here we are, + with the sun and clearing weather, within a pretty little port + enough; but whether our Turkish friends may not send in their + boats and take us out (for we have no arms except two carbines + and some pistols, and, I suspect, not more than four fighting + people on board,) is another question, especially if we remain + long here, since we are blocked out of Missolonghi by the direct + entrance. + </p> + <p> + "You had better send my friend George Drake (Draco), and a body + of Suliotes, to escort us by land or by the canals, with all + convenient speed. Gamba and our Bombard are taken into Patras, I + suppose; and we must take a turn at the Turks to get them out: + but where the devil is the fleet gone?—the Greek, I mean; + leaving us to get in without the least <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg118" id="pg118">118</a></span> intimation to + take heed that the Moslems were out again. + </p> + <p> + "Make my respects to Mavrocordato, and say that I am here at his + disposal. I am uneasy at being here: not so much on my own + account as on that of a Greek boy with me, for you know what his + fate would be; and I would sooner cut him in pieces, and myself + too, than have him taken out by those barbarians. We are all very + well. N. B. + </p> + <p> + "The Bombard was twelve miles out when taken; at least, so it + appeared to us (if taken she actually be, for it is not certain); + and we had to escape from another vessel that stood right between + us and the port." + </p> + <p> + Finding that his position among the rocks of the Scrofes would be + untenable in the event of an attack by armed boats, he thought it + right to venture out again, and making all sail, got safe to + Dragomestri, a small sea-port town on the coast of Acarnania; + from whence the annexed letters to two of the most valued of his + Cephalonian friends were written. + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <h3> + LETTER 535. TO MR. MUIR. + </h3> + <p class="quotdate"> + "Dragomestri, January 2. 1824. + </p> + <p> + "My dear Muir, + </p> + <p> + "I wish you many returns of the season, and happiness + therewithal. Gamba and the Bombard (there is a strong reason to + believe) are carried into Patras by a Turkish frigate, which we + saw chase them at dawn on the 31st: we had been close under the + stern in the night, believing her a Greek till <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg119" id="pg119">119</a></span> within pistol + shot, and only escaped by a miracle of all the Saints (our + captain says), and truly I am of his opinion, for we should never + have got away of ourselves. They were signalising their consort + with lights, and had illuminated the ship between decks, and were + shouting like a mob;—but then why did they not fire? + Perhaps they took us for a Greek brulot, and were afraid of + kindling us—they had no colours flying even at dawn nor + after. + </p> + <p> + "At daybreak my boat was on the coast, but the wind unfavourable + for <i>the port</i>;—a large vessel with the wind in her + favour standing between us and the Gulf, and another in chase of + the Bombard about twelve miles off, or so. Soon after they stood + (<i>i.e.</i> the Bombard and frigate) apparently towards Patras, + and a Zantiote boat making signals to us from the shore to get + away. Away we went before the wind, and ran into a creek called + Scrofes, I believe, where I landed Luke<span class= + "fnref">[1]</span> and another (as Luke's life was in most + danger), with some money for themselves, and a letter for + Stanhope, and sent them up the country to Missolonghi, where they + would be in safety, as the place where we were could be assailed + by armed boats in a moment, and Gamba had all our arms except two + carbines, a fowling-piece, and some pistols. + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: A Greek youth whom he had brought with him, in his + suite, from Cephalonia.] + </p> + </div> + <p> + "In less than an hour the vessel in chase neared us, and we + dashed out again, and showing our stern (our boat sails very + well), got in before night to Dragomestri, where we now are. But + where is the <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg120" id= + "pg120">120</a></span> Greek fleet? I don't know—do you? I + told our master of the boat that I was inclined to think the two + large vessels (there were none else in sight) Greeks. But he + answered, 'They are too large—why don't they show their + colours?' and his account was confirmed, be it true or false, by + several boats which we met or passed, as we could not at any rate + have got in with that wind without beating about for a long time; + and as there was much property, and some lives to risk (the boy's + especially) without any means of defence, it was necessary to let + our boatmen have their own way. + </p> + <p> + "I despatched yesterday another messenger to Missolonghi for an + escort, but we have yet no answer. We are here (those of my boat) + for the fifth day without taking our clothes off, and sleeping on + deck in all weathers, but are all very well, and in good spirits. + It is to be supposed that the Government will send, for their own + sakes, an escort, as I have 16,000 dollars on board, the greater + part for their service. I had (besides personal property to the + amount of about 5000 more) 8000 dollars in specie of my own, + without reckoning the Committee's stores, so that the Turks will + have a good thing of it, if the prize be good. + </p> + <p> + "I regret the detention of Gamba, &c., but the rest we can + make up again; so tell Hancock to set my bills into cash as soon + as possible, and Corgialegno to prepare the remainder of my + credit with Messrs. Webb to be turned into monies. I shall remain + here, unless something extraordinary occurs, till Mavrocordato + sends, and then go on, and act <span class="pagenum"><a name= + "pg121" id="pg121">121</a></span> according to circumstances. My + respects to the two colonels, and remembrances to all friends. + Tell '<i>Ultima Anahse</i>'<span class="fnref">[1]</span> that + his friend Raidi did not make his appearance with the brig, + though I think that he might as well have spoken with us + <i>in</i> or <i>off</i> Zante, to give us a gentle hint of what + we had to expect. + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: Count Delladecima, to whom he gives this name in + consequence of a habit which that gentleman had of using the + phrase "in ultima analise" frequently in conversation.] + </p> + </div> + <p class="quotsig"> + "Yours, ever affectionately, N. B. + </p> + <p> + "P.S. Excuse my scrawl on account of the pen and the frosty + morning at daybreak. I write in haste, a boat starting for + Kalamo. I do not know whether the detention of the Bombard (if + she be detained, for I cannot swear to it, and I can only judge + from appearances, and what all these fellows say,) be an affair + of the Government, and neutrality, and &c.—but <i>she + was stopped at least</i> twelve miles distant from any port, and + had all her papers regular from <i>Zante</i> for <i>Kalamo</i> + and <i>we also</i>. I did not land at Zante, being anxious to + lose as little time as possible, but Sir F. S. came off to invite + me, &c. and every body was as kind as could be, even in + Cephalonia." + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <h3> + LETTER 536. TO MR. C. HANCOCK. + </h3> + <p class="quotdate"> + "Dragomestri, January 2. 1824. + </p> + <p> + "Dear Sir 'Ancock<span class="fnref">[1]</span>,' + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: This letter is, more properly, a postscript to one + which Dr. Bruno had, by his orders, written to Mr. Hancock, + with some particulars of their voyage; and the Doctor having + begun his letter, "Pregiat'mo. Sig'r. Ancock," Lord Byron thus + parodies his mode of address.] + </p> + </div> + <p> + "Remember me to Dr. Muir and every body else. I have still the + 16,000 dollars with me, the rest were <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg122" id="pg122">122</a></span> on board the + Bombarda. Here we are—the Bombarda taken, or at least + missing, with all the Committee stores, my friend Gamba, the + horses, negro, bull-dog, steward, and domestics, with all our + implements of peace and war, also 8000 dollars; but whether she + will be lawful prize or no, is for the decision of the Governor + of the Seven Islands. I have written to Dr. Muir, by way of + Kalamo, with all particulars. We are in good condition; and what + with wind and weather, and being hunted or so, little sleeping on + deck, &c. are in tolerable seasoning for the country and + circumstances. But I foresee that we shall have occasion for all + the cash I can muster at Zante and elsewhere. Mr. Barff gave us + 8000 and odd dollars; so there is still a balance in my favour. + We are not quite certain that the vessels were Turkish which + chased; but there is strong presumption that they were, and no + news to the contrary. At Zante, every body, from the Resident + downwards, were as kind as could be, especially your worthy and + courteous partner. + </p> + <p> + "Tell our friends to keep up their spirits, and we may yet do + well. I disembarked the boy and another Greek, who were in most + terrible alarm—the boy, at least, from the Morea—on + shore near Anatoliko, I believe, which put them in safety; and, + as for me and mine, we must stick by our goods. + </p> + <p> + "I hope that Gamba's detention will only be <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg123" id="pg123">123</a></span> temporary. As + for the effects and monies, if we have them,—well; if + otherwise, patience. I wish you a happy new year, and all our + friends the same. + </p> + <p class="quotsig"> + "Yours," &c. + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + During these adventures of Lord Byron, Count Gamba, having been + brought to by the Turkish frigate, had been carried, with his + valuable charge, into Patras, where the Commander of the Turkish + fleet was stationed. Here, after an interview with the Pacha, by + whom he was treated, during his detention, most courteously, he + had the good fortune to procure the release of his vessel and + freight; and, on the 4th of January, reached Missolonghi. To his + surprise, however, he found that Lord Byron had not yet arrived; + for,—as if everything connected with this short voyage were + doomed to deepen whatever ill bodings there were already in his + mind,—on his Lordship's departure from Dragomestri, a + violent gale of wind had come on; his vessel was twice driven on + the rocks in the passage of the Scrofes, and, from the force of + the wind, and the captain's ignorance of those shoals, the danger + was by all on board considered to be most serious. "On the second + time of striking," says Count Gamba, "the sailors, losing all + hope of saving the vessel, began to think of their own safety. + But Lord Byron persuaded them to remain; and by his firmness, and + no small share of nautical skill, got them out of danger, and + thus saved the vessel and several lives, with 25,000 dollars, the + greater part in specie." + </p> + <p> + The wind still blowing right against their course <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg124" id="pg124">124</a></span> to + Missolonghi, they again anchored between two of the numerous + islets by which this part of the coast is lined; and here Lord + Byron, as well for refreshment as ablution, found himself tempted + into an indulgence which, it is not improbable, may have had some + share in producing the fatal illness that followed. Having put + off in a boat to a small rock at some distance, he sent back a + messenger for the nankeen trowsers which he usually wore in + bathing; and, though the sea was rough and the night cold, it + being then the 3d of January, swam back to the vessel. "I am + fully persuaded," says his valet, in relating this imprudent + freak, "that it injured my Lord's health. He certainly was not + taken ill at the time, but in the course of two or three days his + Lordship complained of a pain in all his bones, which continued, + more or less, to the time of his death." + </p> + <p> + Setting sail again next morning with the hope of reaching + Missolonghi before sunset, they were still baffled by adverse + winds, and, arriving late at night in the port, did not land till + the morning of the 5th. + </p> + <p> + The solicitude, in the mean time, of all at Missolonghi, knowing + that the Turkish fleet was out, and Lord Byron on his way, may + without difficulty be conceived, and is most livelily depicted in + a letter written during the suspense of that moment, by an + eye-witness. "The Turkish fleet," says Colonel Stanhope, "has + ventured out, and is, at this moment, blockading the port. Beyond + these again are seen the Greek ships, and among the rest the one + that was sent for Lord Byron. Whether he is on board or not is a + question. You will allow that this is an <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg125" id="pg125">125</a></span> eventful + day." Towards the end of the letter, he adds, "Lord Byron's + servants have just arrived; he himself will be here to-morrow. If + he had not come, we had need have prayed for fair weather; for + both fleet and army are hungry and inactive. Parry has not + appeared. Should he also arrive to-morrow, all Missolonghi will + go mad with pleasure." + </p> + <p> + The reception their noble visiter experienced on his arrival was + such as, from the ardent eagerness with which he had been looked + for, might be expected. The whole population of the place crowded + to the shore to welcome him: the ships anchored off the fortress + fired a salute as he passed; and all the troops and dignitaries + of the place, civil and military, with the Prince Mavrocordato at + their head, met him on his landing, and accompanied him, amidst + the mingled din of shouts, wild music, and discharges of + artillery, to the house that had been prepared for him. "I cannot + easily describe," says Count Gamba, "the emotions which such a + scene excited. I could scarcely refrain from tears." + </p> + <p> + After eight days of fatigue such as Lord Byron had endured, some + short interval of rest might fairly have been desired by him. But + the scene on which he had now entered was one that precluded all + thoughts of repose. He on whom the eyes and hopes of all others + were centred, could but little dream of indulging any care for + himself. There were, at this particular moment, too, collected + within the precincts of that town as great an abundance of the + materials of unquiet and misrule as had been ever brought + together in so small a space. In every <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg126" id="pg126">126</a></span> quarter; both + public and private, disorganisation and dissatisfaction presented + themselves. Of the fourteen brigs of war which had come to the + succour of Missolonghi, and which had for some time actually + protected it against a Turkish fleet double its number, nine had + already, hopeless of pay, returned to Hydra, while the sailors of + the remaining five, from the same cause of complaint, had just + quitted their ships, and were murmuring idly on shore. The + inhabitants, seeing themselves thus deserted or preyed upon by + their defenders, with a scarcity of provisions threatening them, + and the Turkish fleet before their eyes, were no less ready to + break forth into riot and revolt; while, at the same moment, to + complete the confusion, a General Assembly was on the point of + being held in the town, for the purpose of organising the forces + of Western Greece, and to this meeting all the wild mountain + chiefs of the province, ripe, of course, for dissension, were now + flocking with their followers. Mavrocordato himself, the + President of the intended Congress, had brought in his train no + less than 5000 armed men, who were at this moment in the town. + Ill provided, too, with either pay or food by the Government, + this large military mob were but little less discontented and + destitute than the sailors; and in short, in every direction, the + entire population seems to have presented such a fermenting mass + of insubordination and discord as was far more likely to produce + warfare among themselves than with the enemy. + </p> + <p> + Such was the state of affairs when Lord Byron arrived at + Missolonghi;—such the evils he had now <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg127" id="pg127">127</a></span> to encounter, + with the formidable consciousness that to him, and him alone, all + looked for the removal of them. + </p> + <p> + Of his proceedings during the first weeks after his arrival, the + following letters to Mr. Hancock (which by the great kindness of + that gentleman I am enabled to give) will, assisted by a few + explanatory notes, supply a sufficiently ample account. + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <h3> + LETTER 537. TO MR. CHARLES HANCOCK. + </h3> + <p class="quotdate"> + "Missolonghi, January 13. 1824. + </p> + <p> + "Dear Sir, + </p> + <p> + "Many thanks for yours of the fifth; ditto to Muir for his. You + will have heard that Gamba and my vessel got out of the hands of + the Turks safe and intact; nobody knows well how or why, for + there's a mystery in the story somewhat melodramatic. Captain + Valsamachi has, I take it, spun a long yarn by this time in + Argostoli. I attribute their release entirely to Saint Dionisio, + of Zante, and the Madonna of the Rock, near Cephalonia. + </p> + <p> + "The adventures of my separate luck were also not finished at + Dragomestri; we were conveyed out by some Greek gun-boats, and + found the Leonidas brig-of-war at sea to look after us. But + blowing weather coming on, we were driven on the rocks + <i>twice</i> in the passage of the Scrofes, and the dollars had + another narrow escape. Two thirds of the crew got ashore over the + bowsprit: the rocks were rugged enough, but water very deep close + in shore, so that she was, after much swearing and some exertion, + got off again, and away we went with a third <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg128" id="pg128">128</a></span> of our crew, + leaving the rest on a desolate island, where they might have been + now, had not one of the gun-boats taken them off, for we were in + no condition to take them off again. + </p> + <p> + "Tell Muir that Dr. Bruno did not show much fight on the + occasion; for besides stripping to his flannel waistcoat, and + running about like a rat in an emergency, when I was talking to a + Greek boy (the brother of the Greek girls in Argostoli), and + telling him of the fact that there was no danger for the + passengers, whatever there might be for the vessel, and assuring + him that I could save both him and myself without + difficulty<span class="fnref">[1]</span> (though he can't swim), + as the water, though deep, was not very rough,—the wind + <i>not</i> blowing <i>right</i> on shore (it was a blunder of the + Greeks who missed stays),—the Doctor exclaimed, 'Save + <i>him</i>, indeed! by G—d! save <i>me</i> + rather—I'll be first if I can'—a piece of egotism + which he pronounced with such emphatic simplicity as to set all + who had leisure to hear him laughing<span class= + "fnref">[2]</span>, and in a <span class="pagenum"><a name= + "pg129" id="pg129">129</a></span> minute after the vessel drove + off again after striking twice. She sprung a small leak, but + nothing further happened, except that the captain was very + nervous afterwards. + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: He meant to have taken the boy on his shoulders + and swum with him to shore. This feat would have been but a + repetition of one of his early sports at Harrow; where it was a + frequent practice of his thus to mount one of the smaller boys + on his shoulders, and, much to the alarm of the urchin, dive + with him into the water.] + </p> + </div> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 2: In the Doctor's own account this scene is + described, as might be expected, somewhat + differently:—"Ma nel di lui passaggio marittimo una + fregata Turca insegui la di lui nave, obligandola di + ricoverarsi dentro le <i>Scrofes</i>, dove per l'impeto dei + venti fù gettata sopra i scogli: tutti i marinari dell' + equipaggio saltarono a terra per salvare la loro vita: Milord + solo col di lui Medico Dottr. Bruno rimasero sulla nave che + ognuno vedeva colare a fondo: ma dopo qualche tempo non + essendosi visto che ciò avveniva, le persone fuggite a terra + respinsero la nave nell' acque: ma il tempestoso mare la + ribastò una seconda volta contro i scogli, ed allora si aveva + per certo che la nave coll' illustre personaggio, una grande + quantità di denari, e molti preziosi effetti per i Greci + anderebbero a fondo. Tuttavia Lord Byron non si perturbò per + nulla; anzi disse al di lui medico che voleva gettarsi al nuoto + onde raggiungere la spiaggia: 'Non abbandonate la nave finchè + abbiamo forze per direggerla: allorchè saremo coperti dall' + acque, allora gettatevi pure, che io vi salvo.'"] + </p> + </div> + <p> + "To be brief, we had bad weather almost always, though not + contrary; slept on deck in the wet generally for seven or eight + nights, but never was in better health (I speak + personally)—so much so that I actually bathed for a quarter + of an hour on the evening of the 4th instant in the sea, (to kill + the fleas, and other &c.) and was all the better for it. + </p> + <p> + "We were received at Missolonghi with all kinds of kindness and + honours; and the sight of the fleet saluting, &c. and the + crowds and different costumes, was really picturesque. We think + of undertaking an expedition soon, and I expect to be ordered + with the Suliotes to join the army. + </p> + <p> + "All well at present. We found Gamba already arrived, and every + thing in good condition. Remember me to all friends. + </p> + <p class="quotsig"> + "Yours ever, N. B. <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg130" id= + "pg130">130</a></span> + </p> + <p> + "P.S. You will, I hope, use every exertion to realise the + <i>assets</i>. For besides what I have already advanced, I have + undertaken to maintain the Suliotes for a year, (and will + accompany them either as a Chief, or whichever is most agreeable + to the Government,) besides sundries. I do not understand Brown's + '<i>letters of credit</i>.' I neither gave nor ordered a letter + of credit that I know of; and though of course, if you have done + it, I will be responsible, I was not aware of any thing, except + that I would have backed his bills, which you said was + unnecessary. As to <i>orders</i>—I ordered nothing but some + <i>red cloth</i> and <i>oil cloths</i>, both of which I am ready + to receive; but if Gamba has exceeded my commission, <i>the other + things must be sent back, for I cannot permit any thing of the + kind, nor will</i>. The servants' journey will of course be paid + for, though <i>that</i> is exorbitant. As for Brown's letter, I + do not know any thing more than I have said, and I really cannot + defray the charges of half Greece and the Frank adventurers + besides. Mr. Barff must send us some dollars soon, for the + expenses fall on me for the present. + </p> + <p class="quotdate"> + "January 14. 1824. + </p> + <p> + "P.S. Will you tell Saint (Jew) Geronimo Corgialegno that I mean + to draw for the balance of my credit with Messrs. Webb and Co. I + shall draw for two thousand dollars (that being about the amount, + more or less); but, to facilitate the business, I shall make the + draft payable also at Messrs. Ransom and Co., Pall-Mall East, + London. I believe I already showed you my letters, (but if not, I + have them to <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg131" id= + "pg131">131</a></span> show,) by which, besides the credits now + realising, you will have perceived that I am not limited to any + particular amount of credit with my bankers. The Honourable + Douglas, my friend and trustee, is a principal partner in that + house, and having the direction of my affairs, is aware to what + extent my present resources may go, and the letters in question + were from him. I can merely say, that within the <i>current</i> + year, 1824, besides the money already advanced to the Greek + Government, and the credits now in your hands and your partner's + (Mr. Barff), which are all from the income of 1823, I have + anticipated nothing from that of the present year hitherto. I + shall or ought to have at my disposition upwards of one hundred + thousand dollars, (including my income, and the purchase-monies + of a manor lately sold,) and perhaps more, without infringing on + my income for 1825, and not including the remaining balance of + 1823. + </p> + <p class="quotsig"> + Yours ever, N. B." + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <h3> + LETTER 538. TO MR. CHARLES HANCOCK. + </h3> + <p class="quotdate"> + "Missolonghi, January 17, 1824. + </p> + <p> + "I have answered, at some length, your obliging letter, and trust + that you have received my reply by means of Mr. Tindal. I will + also thank you to remind Mr. Tindal that I would thank him to + furnish you, on my account, with <i>an order of the Committee</i> + for one hundred dollars, which I advanced to him on their account + through Signor Corgialegno's agency at Zante on his arrival in + October, as it is but fair that the said Committee should pay + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg132" id="pg132">132</a></span> + their own expenses. An order will be sufficient, as the money + might be inconvenient for Mr. T. at present to disburse. + </p> + <p> + "I have also advanced to Mr. Blackett the sum of fifty + dollars,-which I will thank Mr. Stevens to pay to you, on my + account, from monies of Mr. Blackett now in his hands. I have Mr. + B.'s acknowledgment in writing. + </p> + <p> + "As the wants of the State here are still pressing, and there + seems very little specie stirring except mine, I will stand + paymaster; and must again request you and Mr. Barff to forward by + a <i>safe</i> channel (if possible) all the dollars you can + collect upon the bills now negotiating. I have also written to + Corgialegno for two thousand dollars, being about the balance of + my separate letter from Messrs. Webb and Co., making the bills + also payable at Ransom's in London. + </p> + <p> + "Things are going on better, if not well; there is some order, + and considerable preparation. I expect to accompany the troops on + an expedition shortly, which makes me particularly anxious for + the remaining remittance, as 'money is the sinew of war,' and of + peace, too, as far as I can see, for I am sure there would be no + peace here without it. However, a little does go a good way, + which is a comfort. The Government of the Morea and of Candia + have written to me for a further advance from my own peculium of + 20 or 30,000 dollars, to which I demur for the present, (having + undertaken to pay the Suliotes as a free gift and other things + already, besides the loan which I have already advanced,) till I + receive <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg133" id= + "pg133">133</a></span> letters from England, which I have reason + to expect. + </p> + <p> + "When the expected credits arrive, I hope that you will bear a + hand, otherwise I must have recourse to Malta, which will be + losing time and taking trouble; but I do not wish you to do more + than is perfectly agreeable to Mr. Barffand to yourself. I am + very well, and have no reason to be dissatisfied with my personal + treatment, or with the posture of public affairs—others + must speak for themselves. Yours ever and truly, &c. + </p> + <p> + "P.S. Respects to Colonels Wright and Duffie, and the officers + civil and military; also to my friends Muir and Stevens + particularly, and to Delladecima." + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <h3> + LETTER 539. TO MR. CHARLES HANCOCK. + </h3> + <p class="quotdate"> + "Missolonghi, January 19. 1824. + </p> + <p> + "Since I wrote on the 17th, I have received a letter from Mr. + Stevens, enclosing an account from Corfu, which is so exaggerated + in price and quantity, that I am at a loss whether most to admire + Gamba's folly, or the merchant's knavery. All that <i>I</i> + requested Gamba to order was red cloth enough to make a + <i>jacket</i>, and some oil-skin for trowsers, &c.—the + latter has not been sent—the whole could not have amounted + to fifty dollars. The account is six hundred and forty-five!!! I + will guarantee Mr. Stevens against any loss, of course, but I am + not disposed to take the articles (which I never ordered), nor to + pay the amount. I will take one hundred dollars' worth; the rest + may be sent back, and I will make the merchant an allowance of so + much per-cent.; <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg134" id= + "pg134">134</a></span> or, if that is not to be done, you must + sell the whole by auction at what price the things may fetch; for + I would rather incur the dead loss of <i>part</i>, than be + encumbered with a quantity of things, to me at present + superfluous or useless. Why, I could have maintained three + hundred men for a month for the sum in Western Greece. + </p> + <p> + "When the dogs, and the dollars, and the negro; and the horses, + fell into the hands of the Turks, I acquiesced with patience, as + you may have perceived, because it was the work of the elements + of war, or of Providence: but this is a piece of mere human + knavery or folly, or both, and I neither can nor will submit to + it.<span class="fnref">[1]</span> I have occasion for every + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg135" id="pg135">135</a></span> + dollar I can muster to keep the Greeks together, and I do not + grudge any expense for the cause; but to throw away as much as + would equip, or at least maintain, a corps of excellent + ragamuffins with arms in their hands, to furnish Gamba and the + Doctor with blank bills (see list), broad cloth, Hessian boots, + and horsewhips (the <i>latter</i> I own that they have richly + earned), is rather beyond my endurance, though a pacific person, + as all the world knows, or at least my acquaintances. I pray you + to try to help me out of this damnable commercial speculation of + Gamba's, for it is one of those pieces of impudence or folly + which I don't forgive him in a hurry. I will of course see + Stevens free of expense out of the transaction;—by the way, + the Greek of a Corfiote has thought proper to draw a bill, and + get it discounted at 24 dollars: if I had been there, it should + have been <i>protested</i> also. + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: We have here as striking an instance as could be + adduced of that peculiar feature of his character which shallow + or malicious observers have misrepresented as avarice, but + which in reality was the result of a strong sense of justice + and fairness, and an indignant impatience of being stultified + or over-reached. Colonel Stanhope, in referring to the + circumstance mentioned above, has put Lord Byron's angry + feeling respecting it in the true light. + </p> + <p> + "He was constantly attacking Count Gamba, sometimes, indeed, + playfully, but more often with the bitterest satire, for having + purchased for the use of his family, while in Greece, + <i>500</i> dollars' worth of cloth. This he used to mention as + an instance of the Count's imprudence and extravagance. Lord + Byron told me one day, with a tone of great gravity, that this + 500 dollars would have been most serviceable in promoting the + siege of Lepanto; and that he never would, to the last moment + of his existence, forgive Gamba, for having squandered away his + money in the purchase of cloth. No one will suppose that Lord + Byron could be serious in such a denunciation: he entertained, + in reality, the highest opinion of Conant Gamba, who, both on + account of his talents and devotedness to his friend, merited + his Lordship's esteem. As to Lord Byron's generosity, it is + before the world; he promised to devote his large income to the + cause of Greece, and he honestly acted up to his pledge."] + </p> + </div> + <p> + "Mr. Blackett is here ill, and will soon set out for Cephalonia. + He came to me for some pills, and I gave him some reserved for + particular friends, and which I never knew any body recover from + under several months; but he is no better, and, what is odd, no + worse; and as the doctors have had no better success with him + than I, he goes to Argostoli, sick of the Greeks and of a + constipation. + </p> + <p> + "I must reiterate my request for <i>specie</i>, and that + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg136" id="pg136">136</a></span> + speedily, otherwise public affairs will be at a standstill here. + I have undertaken to pay the Suliotes for a year, to advance in + March 3000 dollars, besides, to the Government for a balance due + to the troops, and some other smaller matters for the Germans, + and the press, &c. &c. &c.; so what with these, and + the expenses of my suite, which, though not extravagant, is + expensive, with Gamba's d—d nonsense, I shall have occasion + for all the monies I can muster; and I have credits wherewithal + to face the undertakings, if realised, and expect to have more + soon. + </p> + <p class="quotsig"> + "Believe me ever and truly yours," &c. + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + On the morning of the 22d of January, his birthday,—the + last my poor friend was ever fated to see,—he came from his + bedroom into the apartment where Colonel Stanhope and some others + were assembled, and said with a smile, "You were complaining the + other day that I never write any poetry now. This is my birthday, + and I have just finished something which, I think, is better than + what I usually write." He then produced to them those beautiful + stanzas, which, though already known to most readers, are far too + affectingly associated with this closing scene of his life to be + omitted among its details. Taking into consideration, indeed, + every thing connected with these verses,—the last tender + aspirations of a loving spirit which they breathe, the + self-devotion to a noble cause which they so nobly express, and + that consciousness of a near grave glimmering sadly through the + whole,—there is perhaps <span class="pagenum"><a name= + "pg137" id="pg137">137</a></span> no production within the range + of mere human composition round which the circumstances and + feelings under which it was written cast so touching an interest. + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <div class="poem"> + <h4> + "JANUARY 22D. + <br /> + "ON THIS DAY I COMPLETE MY THIRTY-SIXTH YEAR. + </h4> + <div class="stanza"> + <p class="i6"> + 1. + </p> + <p> + "'Tis time this heart should be unmoved, + </p> + <p class="i2"> + Since others it hath ceased to move; + </p> + <p> + Yet though I cannot be beloved, + </p> + <p class="i2"> + Still let me love! + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p class="i6"> + 2. + </p> + <p> + "My days are in the yellow leaf; + </p> + <p class="i2"> + The flowers and fruits of love are gone; + </p> + <p> + The worm, the canker, and the grief + </p> + <p class="i2"> + Are mine alone! + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p class="i6"> + 3. + </p> + <p> + "The fire that on my bosom preys + </p> + <p class="i2"> + Is lone as some volcanic isle; + </p> + <p> + No torch is kindled at its blaze— + </p> + <p class="i2"> + A funeral pile! + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p class="i6"> + 4. + </p> + <p> + "The hope, the fear, the jealous care, + </p> + <p class="i2"> + The exalted portion of the pain + </p> + <p> + And power of love, I cannot share, + </p> + <p class="i2"> + But wear the chain. + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p class="i6"> + 5. + </p> + <p> + "But 'tis not <i>thus</i>—and 'tis not + <i>here</i>— + </p> + <p class="i2"> + Such thoughts should shake my soul, nor <i>now</i>, + </p> + <p> + Where glory decks the hero's bier, + </p> + <p class="i2"> + Or binds his brow. + </p> + </div><span class="pagenum"><a name="pg138" id= + "pg138">138</a></span> + <div class="stanza"> + <p class="i6"> + 6. + </p> + <p> + "The sword, the banner, and the field, + </p> + <p class="i2"> + Glory and Greece, around roe see! + </p> + <p> + The Spartan, borne upon his shield, + </p> + <p class="i2"> + Was not more free. + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p class="i6"> + 7. + </p> + <p> + "Awake! (not Greece—she <i>is</i> awake!) + </p> + <p class="i2"> + Awake, my spirit! Think through <i>whom</i> + </p> + <p> + Thy life-blood tracks its parent lake, + </p> + <p class="i2"> + And then strike home! + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p class="i6"> + 8. + </p> + <p> + "Tread those reviving passions down, + </p> + <p class="i2"> + Unworthy manhood!—unto thee + </p> + <p> + Indifferent should the smile or frown + </p> + <p class="i2"> + Of beauty be. + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p class="i6"> + 9. + </p> + <p> + "If thou regret'st thy youth, <i>why live</i>? + </p> + <p class="i2"> + The land of honourable death + </p> + <p> + Is here:—up to the field, and give + </p> + <p class="i2"> + Away thy breath! + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p class="i6"> + 10. + </p> + <p> + "Seek out—less often sought than found— + </p> + <p class="i2"> + A soldier's grave, for thee the best; + </p> + <p> + Then look around, and choose thy ground,— + </p> + <p class="i2"> + And take thy rest." + </p> + </div> + </div> + <p> + "We perceived," says Count Gamba, "from these lines, as well as + from his daily conversations, that his ambition and his hope were + irrevocably fixed upon the glorious objects of his expedition to + Greece, and that he had made up his mind to 'return victorious, + or return no more.' Indeed, he often said <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg139" id="pg139">139</a></span> to me, + 'Others may do as they please—they may go—but I stay + here, <i>that is certain</i>.' The same determination was + expressed in his letters to his friends; and this resolution was + not unaccompanied with the very natural presentiment—that + he should never leave Greece alive. He one day asked his faithful + servant, Tita, whether he thought of returning to Italy? 'Yes,' + said Tita: 'if your Lordship goes, I go.' Lord Byron smiled, and + said, 'No, Tita, I shall never go back from Greece—either + the Turks, or the Greeks, or the climate, will prevent that.'" + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <h3> + LETTER 540. TO MR. CHARLES HANCOCK. + </h3> + <p class="quotdate"> + "Missolonghi, February 5. 1824. + </p> + <p> + "Dr. Muir's letter and yours of the 23d reached me some days ago. + Tell Muir that I am glad of his promotion for his sake, and of + his remaining near us for all our sakes; though I cannot but + regret Dr. Kennedy's departure, which accounts for the previous + earthquakes and the present English weather in this climate. With + all respect to my medical pastor, I have to announce to him, that + amongst other fire-brands, our firemaster Parry (just landed) has + disembarked an elect blacksmith, intrusted with three hundred and + twenty-two Greek Testaments. I have given him all facilities in + my power for his works spiritual and temporal; and if he can + settle matters as easily with the Greek Archbishop and hierarchy, + I trust that neither the heretic nor the supposed sceptic will be + accused of intolerance. <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg140" id= + "pg140">140</a></span> + </p> + <p> + "By the way, I met with the said Archbishop at Anatolico (where I + went by invitation of the Primates a few days ago, and was + received with a heavier cannonade than the Turks, probably,) for + the second time (I had known him here before); and he and P. + Mavrocordato, and the Chiefs and Primates and I, all dined + together, and I thought the metropolitan the merriest of the + party, and a very good Christian for all that. But Gamba (we got + wet through on our way back) has been ill with a fever and + cholic; and Luke has been out of sorts too, and so have some + others of the people, and I have been very well,—except + that I caught cold yesterday, with swearing too much in the rain + at the Greeks, who would not bear a hand in landing the Committee + stores, and nearly spoiled our combustibles; but I turned out in + person, and made such a row as set them in motion, blaspheming at + them from the Government downwards, till they actually did + <i>some</i> part of what they ought to have done several days + before, and this is esteemed, as it deserves to be, a wonder. + </p> + <p> + "Tell Muir that, notwithstanding his remonstrances, which I + receive thankfully, it is perhaps best that I should advance with + the troops; for if we do not do something soon, we shall only + have a third year of defensive operations and another siege, and + all that. We hear that the Turks are coming down in force, and + sooner than usual; and as these fellows do mind me a little, it + is the opinion that I should go,—firstly, because they will + sooner listen to a foreigner than one of their own people, out of + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg141" id="pg141">141</a></span> + native jealousies; secondly, because the Turks will sooner treat + or capitulate (if such occasion should happen) with a Frank than + a Greek; and, thirdly, because nobody else seems disposed to take + the responsibility—Mavrocordato being very busy here, the + foreign military men too young or not of authority enough to be + obeyed by the natives, and the Chiefs (as aforesaid) inclined to + obey any one except, or rather than, one of their own body. As + for me, I am willing to do what I am bidden, and to follow my + instructions. I neither seek nor shun that nor any thing else + they may wish me to attempt: as for personal safety, besides that + it ought not to be a consideration, I take it that a man is on + the whole as safe in one place as another; and, after all, he had + better end with a bullet than bark in his body. If we are not + taken off with the sword, we are like to march off with an ague + in this mud basket; and to conclude with a very bad pun, to the + ear rather than to the eye, better <i>martially</i> than + <i>marsh-ally:</i>—the situation of Missolonghi is not + unknown to you. The dykes of Holland when broken down are the + Deserts of Arabia for dryness, in comparison. + </p> + <p> + "And now for the sinews of war. I thank you and Mr. Barff for + your ready answers, which, next to ready money, is a pleasant + thing. Besides the assets and balance, and the relics of the + Corgialegno correspondence with Leghorn and Genoa, (I sold the + dog flour, tell him, but not at <i>his</i> price,) I shall + request and require, from the beginning of March ensuing, about + five thousand dollars every two months, <i>i.e.</i>, about + twenty-five thousand within the <span class="pagenum"><a name= + "pg142" id="pg142">142</a></span> current year, at regular + intervals, independent of the sums now negotiating. I can show + you documents to prove that these are considerably <i>within</i> + my supplies for the year in more ways than one; but I do not like + to tell the Greeks exactly what I <i>could</i> or would advance + on an emergency, because otherwise, they will double and triple + their demands, (a disposition that they have already sufficiently + shown): and though I am willing to do all I can <i>when</i> + necessary, yet I do not see why they should not help a little; + for they are not quite so bare as they pretend to be by some + accounts. + </p> + <p class="quotdate"> + "February 7. 1824. + </p> + <p> + "I have been interrupted by the arrival of Parry and afterwards + by the return of Hesketh, who has not brought an answer to my + epistles, which rather surprises me. You will write soon, I + suppose. Parry seems a fine rough subject, but will hardly be + ready for the field these three weeks; he and I will (I think) be + able to draw together,—at least, <i>I</i> will not + interfere with or contradict him in his own department. He + complains grievously of the mercantile and <i>enthusymusy</i> + part of the Committee, but greatly praises Gordon and Hume. + Gordon <i>would</i> have given three or four thousand pounds and + come out <i>himself</i>, but Kennedy or somebody else disgusted + him, and thus they have spoiled part of their subscription and + cramped their operations. Parry says B—— is a humbug, + to which I say nothing. He sorely laments the printing and + civilising expenses, and wishes that there was not a + Sunday-school in <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg143" id= + "pg143">143</a></span> the world, or <i>any</i> school + <i>here</i> at present, save and except always an academy for + artilleryship. + </p> + <p> + "He complained also of the cold, a little to my surprise; + firstly, because, there being no chimneys, I have used myself to + do without other warmth than the animal heat and one's cloak, in + these parts; and, secondly, because I should as soon have + expected to hear a volcano sneeze, as a firemaster (who is to + burn a whole fleet) exclaim against the atmosphere. I fully + expected that his very approach would have scorched up the town + like the burning-glasses of Archimedes. + </p> + <p> + "Well, it seems that I am to be Commander-in-Chief, and the post + is by no means a sinecure, for we are not what Major Sturgeon + calls 'a set of the most amicable officers.' Whether we shall + have 'a boxing bout between Captain Sheers and the Colonel,' I + cannot tell; but, between Suliote chiefs, German barons, English + volunteers, and adventurers of all nations, we are likely to form + as goodly an allied army as ever quarrelled beneath the same + banner. + </p> + <p class="quotdate"> + "February 8. 1824. + </p> + <p> + "Interrupted again by business yesterday, and it is time to + conclude my letter. I drew some time since on Mr. Barff for a + thousand dollars, to complete some money wanted by the + Government. The said Government got cash on that bill + <i>here</i>, and at a profit; but the very same fellow who gave + it to them, after proposing to give me money for other bills on + Barff to the amount of thirteen hundred dollars, either could + not, or thought better of it. I had written to <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg144" id="pg144">144</a></span> Barff + advising him, but had afterwards to write to tell him of the + fellow's having not come up to time. You must really send me the + balance soon. I have the artillerists and my Suliotes to pay, and + Heaven knows what besides; and as every thing depends upon + punctuality, all our operations will be at a standstill unless + you use despatch. I shall send to Mr. Barff or to you further + bills on England for three thousand pounds, to be negotiated as + speedily as you can. I have already stated here and formerly the + sums I can command at home within the year,—without + including my credits, or the bills already negotiated or + negotiating, as Corgialegno's balance of Mr. Webb's + letter,—and my letters from my friends (received by Mr. + Parry's vessel) confirm what I have already stated. How much I + may require in the course of the year I can't tell, but I will + take care that it shall not exceed the means to supply it. + </p> + <p class="quotsig"> + Yours ever, N.B. + </p> + <p> + "P.S. I have had, by desire of a Mr. <i>Jerostati</i>, to draw on + Demetrius Delladecima (is it our friend in ultima analise?) to + pay the Committee expenses. I really do not understand what the + Committee mean by some of their freedoms. Parry and I get on very + well <i>hitherto</i>: how long this may last, Heaven knows, but I + hope it will, for a good deal for the Greek service depends upon + it; but he has already had some" <i>miffs</i> with Col. S. and I + do all I can to keep the peace amongst them. However, Parry is a + fine fellow, extremely active, and of strong, sound, practical + talents, by all accounts. Enclosed are bills for three thousand + pounds, drawn in the mode directed <span class="pagenum"><a name= + "pg145" id="pg145">145</a></span> (<i>i.e.</i> parcelled out in + smaller bills). A good opportunity occurring for Cephalonia to + send letters on, I avail myself of it. Remember me to Stevens and + to all friends. Also my compliments and every thing kind to the + colonels and officers. + </p> + <p class="quotdate"> + "February 9. 1824. + </p> + <p> + "P.S. 2d or 3d. I have reason to expect a person from England + directed with papers (on business) for me to sign, somewhere in + the Islands, by and by: if such should arrive, would you forward + him to me by a safe conveyance, as the papers regard a + transaction with regard to the adjustment of a lawsuit, and a sum + of several thousand pounds, which I, or my bankers and trustees + for me, may have to receive (in England) in consequence. The time + of the probable arrival I cannot state, but the date of my + letters is the 2d Nov. and I suppose that he ought to arrive + soon." + </p> + <p> + How strong were the hopes which even those who watched him most + observingly conceived from the whole tenor of his conduct since + his arrival at Missolonghi, will appear from the following words + of Colonel Stanhope, in one of his letters to the Greek + Committee:— + </p> + <p> + "Lord Byron possesses all the means of playing a great part in + the glorious revolution of Greece. He has talent; he professes + liberal principles; he has money, and is inspired with fervent + and chivalrous feelings. He has commenced his career by two good + measures: 1st, by recommending union, <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg146" id="pg146">146</a></span> and declaring + himself of no party; and, 2dly, by taking five hundred Suliotes + into pay, and acting as their chief. These acts cannot fail to + render his Lordship universally popular, and proportionally + powerful. Thus advantageously circumstanced, his Lordship will + have an opportunity of realising all his professions." + </p> + <p> + That the inspirer, however, of these hopes was himself far from + participating in them is a fact manifest from all he said and + wrote on the subject, and but adds painfully to the interest + which his position at this moment excites. Too well, indeed, did + he both understand and feel the difficulties into which he was + plunged to deceive himself into any such sanguine delusions. In + one only of the objects to which he had looked forward with any + hope,—that of endeavouring to humanise, by his example, the + system of warfare on both sides,—had he yet been able to + gratify himself. Not many days after his arrival an opportunity, + as we have seen, had been afforded him of rescuing an unfortunate + Turk out of the hands of some Greek sailors; and, towards the end + of the month, having learned that there were a few Turkish + prisoners in confinement at Missolonghi, he requested of the + Government to place them at his disposal, that he might send them + to Yussuff Pacha. In performing this act of humane policy, he + transmitted with the rescued captives the following + letter:— <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg147" id= + "pg147">147</a></span> + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <h3> + LETTER 541. TO HIS HIGHNESS YUSSUFF PACHA. + </h3> + <p class="quotdate"> + "Missolonghi, January 23. 1824. + </p> + <p> + "Highness! + </p> + <p> + "A vessel, in which a friend and some domestics of mine were + embarked, was detained a few days ago, and released by order of + your Highness. I have now to thank you; not for liberating the + vessel, which, as carrying a neutral flag, and being under + British protection, no one had a right to detain; but for having + treated my friends with so much kindness while they were in your + hands. + </p> + <p> + "In the hope, therefore, that it may not be altogether + displeasing to your Highness, I have requested the governor of + this place to release four Turkish prisoners, and he has humanely + consented to do so. I lose no time, therefore, in sending them + back, in order to make as early a return as I could for your + courtesy on the late occasion. These prisoners are liberated + without any conditions: but should the circumstance find a place + in your recollection, I venture to beg, that your Highness will + treat such Greeks as may henceforth fall into your hands with + humanity; more especially since the horrors of war are + sufficiently great in themselves, without being aggravated by + wanton cruelties on either side. NOEL BYRON." + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + Another favourite and, as it appeared for some time, practicable + object, on which he had most ardently set his heart, was the + intended attack upon <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg148" id= + "pg148">148</a></span> Lepanto—a fortified town<span class= + "fnref">[1]</span> which, from its command of the navigation of + the Gulf of Corinth, is a position of the first importance. "Lord + Byron," says Colonel Stanhope, in a letter dated January 14., + "burns with military ardour and chivalry, and will accompany the + expedition to Lepanto." The delay of Parry, the engineer, who had + been for some months anxiously expected with the supplies + necessary for the formation of a brigade of artillery, had + hitherto paralysed the preparations for this important + enterprise; though, in the mean time, whatever little could be + effected, without his aid, had been put in progress both by the + appointment of a brigade of Suliotes to act under Lord Byron, and + by the formation, at the joint expense of his Lordship and + Colonel Stanhope, of a small corps of artillery. + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: The ancient Naupactus, called Epacto by the modern + Greeks, and Lepauto by the Italians.] + </p> + </div> + <p> + It was towards the latter end of January, as we have seen, that + Lord Byron received his regular commission from the Government, + as Commander of the expedition. In conferring upon him full + powers, both civil and military, they appointed, at the same + time, a Military Council to accompany him, composed of the most + experienced Chieftains of the army, with Nota Bozzari, the uncle + of the famous warrior, at their head. + </p> + <p> + It had been expected that, among the stores sent with Parry, + there would be a supply of Congreve rockets,—an instrument + of warfare of which <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg149" id= + "pg149">149</a></span> such wonders had been related to the + Greeks as filled their imaginations with the most absurd ideas of + its powers. Their disappointment, therefore, on finding that the + engineer had come unprovided with these missiles was excessive. + Another hope, too,—that of being enabled to complete an + artillery corps by the accession of those Germans who had been + sent for into the Morea,—was found almost equally + fallacious; that body of men having, from the death or retirement + of those who originally composed it, nearly dwindled away; and + the few officers that now came to serve being, from their + fantastic notions of rank and etiquette, far more troublesome + than useful. In addition to these discouraging circumstances, the + five Speziot ships of war which had for some time formed the sole + protection of Missolonghi were now returned to their home, and + had left their places to be filled by the enemy's squadron. + </p> + <p> + Perplexing as were all these difficulties in the way of the + expedition, a still more formidable embarrassment presented + itself in the turbulent and almost mutinous disposition of those + Suliote troops on whom he mainly depended for success in his + undertaking. Presuming as well upon his wealth and generosity as + upon their own military importance, these unruly warriors had + never ceased to rise in the extravagance of their demands upon + him;—the wholly destitute and homeless state of their + families at this moment affording but too well founded a pretext + both for their exaction and discontent. Nor were their leaders + much more amenable to management than themselves. "There were," + says Count Gamba, <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg150" id= + "pg150">150</a></span> "six heads of families among them, all of + whom had equal pretensions both by their birth and their + exploits; and none of whom would obey any one of his comrades." + </p> + <p> + A serious riot to which, about the middle of January, these + Suliotes had given rise, and in which some lives were lost, had + been a source of much irritation and anxiety to Lord Byron, as + well from the ill-blood it was likely to engender between his + troops and the citizens, as from the little dependence it gave + him encouragement to place upon materials so unmanageable. + Notwithstanding all this, however, neither his eagerness nor his + efforts for the accomplishment of this sole personal object of + his ambition ever relaxed a single instant. To whatever little + glory was to be won by the attack upon Lepanto, he looked forward + as his only reward for all the sacrifices he was making. In his + conversations with Count Gamba on the subject, "though he joked a + good deal," says this gentleman, "about his post of + 'Archistrategos,' or Commander in Chief, it was plain that the + romance and the peril of the undertaking were great allurements + to him." When we combine, indeed, his determination to stand, at + all hazards, by the cause, with the very faint hopes his + sagacious mind would let him indulge as to his power of serving + it, I have little doubt that the "soldier's grave" which, in his + own beautiful verses, he marked out for himself, was no idle + dream of poetry; but that, on the contrary, his "wish was father + to the thought," and that to an honourable death, in some such + achievement as that of storming <span class="pagenum"><a name= + "pg151" id="pg151">151</a></span> Lepanto, he looked forward, not + only as the sole means of redeeming worthily the great pledge he + had now given, but as the most signal and lasting service that a + name like his,—echoed, as it would then be, among the + watch-words of Liberty, from age to age,—could bequeath to + her cause. + </p> + <p> + In the midst of these cares he was much gratified by the receipt + of a letter from an old friend of his, Andrea Londo, whom he had + made acquaintance with in his early travels in 1809, and who was + at that period a rich proprietor, under the Turks, in the + Morca.<span class="fnref">[1]</span> This patriotic Greek was one + of the foremost to raise the standard of the Cross; and at the + present moment stood distinguished among the supporters of the + Legislative Body and of the new national Government. The + following is a translation of Lord Byron's answer to his letter. + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: This brave Moriote, when Lord Byron first knew + him, was particularly boyish in his aspect and manners, but + still cherished, under this exterior, a mature spirit of + patriotism which occasionally broke forth; and the noble poet + used to relate that, one day, while they were playing at + draughts together, on the name of Riga being pronounced, Londo + leaped from the table, and clapping violently his hands, began + singing the famous song of that ill-fated patriot:— + </p> + <div class="poem"> + <p> + "Sons of the Greeks, arise! + </p> + <p> + The glorious hour's gone forth."] + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + </div> + </div> + <h3> + LETTER 542. TO LONDO. + </h3> + <p> + "Dear Friend, + </p> + <p> + "The sight of your handwriting gave me the greatest pleasure. + Greece has ever been for me, as <span class="pagenum"><a name= + "pg152" id="pg152">152</a></span> it must be for all men of any + feeling or education, the promised land of valour, of the arts, + and of liberty; nor did the time I passed in my youth in + travelling among her ruins at all chill my affection for the + birthplace of heroes. In addition to this, I am bound to yourself + by ties of friendship and gratitude for the hospitality which I + experienced from you during my stay in that country, of which you + are now become one of the first defenders and ornaments. To see + myself serving, by your side and under your eyes, in the cause of + Greece, will be to me one of the happiest events of my life. In + the mean time, with the hope of our again meeting, + </p> + <p class="quotsig"> + "I am, as ever," &c. + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + Among the less serious embarrassments of his position at this + period, may be mentioned the struggle maintained against him by + his colleague, Colonel Stanhope,—with a degree of + conscientious perseverance which, even while thwarted by it, he + could not but respect, on the subject of a Free Press, which it + was one of the favourite objects of his fellow-agent to bring + instantly into operation in all parts of Greece. On this + important point their opinions differed considerably; and the + following report, by Colonel Stanhope, of one of their many + conversations on the subject, may be taken as a fair and concise + statement of their respective views:—"Lord Byron said that + he was an ardent friend of publicity and the press: but that he + feared it was not applicable to this society in its present + combustible state. I answered that I thought it applicable + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg153" id="pg153">153</a></span> + to all countries, and essential here, in order to put an end to + the state of anarchy which at present prevailed. Lord B. feared + libels and licentiousness. I said that the object of a free press + was to check public licentiousness, and to expose libellers to + odium. Lord B. had mentioned his conversation with + Mavrocordato<span class="fnref">[1]</span> to show that the + Prince was not hostile to the press. I declared that I knew him + to be an enemy to the press, although he dared not openly to avow + it. His Lordship then said that he had not made up his mind about + the liberty of the press in Greece, but that he thought the + experiment worth trying." + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: Lord Byron had, it seems, acknowledged, on the + preceding evening, his having remarked to Prince Blavrocordato + that "if he were in his situation, he would have placed the + press under a censor;" to which the Prince had replied, "No; + the liberty of the press is guaranteed by the Constitution."] + </p> + </div> + <p> + That between two men, both eager in the service of one common + cause, there should arise a difference of opinion as to the + <i>means</i> of serving it is but a natural result of the + varieties of human judgment, and detracts nothing from the zeal + or sincerity of either. But by those who do not suffer themselves + to be carried away by a theory, it will be conceded, I think, + that the scruples professed by Lord Byron, with respect to the + expedience or safety of introducing what is called a Free Press + into a country so little advanced in civilisation as Greece, were + founded on just views of human nature and practical good sense. + To endeavour to force upon a state of society, so unprepared for + them, such full grown institutions; to <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg154" id="pg154">154</a></span> think of + engrafting, at once, on an ignorant people the fruits of long + knowledge and cultivation,—of importing among them, ready + made, those advantages and blessings which no nation ever + attained but by its own working out, nor ever was fitted to enjoy + but by having first struggled for them; to harbour even a dream + of the success of such an experiment, implies a sanguineness + almost incredible, and such as, though, in the present instance, + indulged by the political economist and soldier, was, as we have + seen, beyond the poet. + </p> + <p> + The enthusiastic and, in many respects, well founded confidence + with which Colonel Stanhope appealed to the authority of Mr. + Bentham on most of the points at issue between himself and Lord + Byron, was, from that natural antipathy which seems to exist + between political economists and poets, but little sympathised in + by the latter;—such appeals being always met by him with + those sallies of ridicule, which he found the best-humoured vent + for his impatience under argument, and to which, notwithstanding + the venerable name and services of Mr. Bentham himself, the + quackery of much that is promulgated by his followers presented, + it must be owned, ample scope. Romantic, indeed, as was Lord + Byron's sacrifice of himself to the cause of Greece, there was in + the views he took of the means of serving her not a tinge of the + unsubstantial or speculative. The grand practical task of freeing + her from her tyrants was his first and main object. He knew that + slavery was the great bar to knowledge, and must be broken + through before her light could <span class="pagenum"><a name= + "pg155" id="pg155">155</a></span> come; that the work of the + sword must therefore precede that of the pen, and camps be the + first schools of freedom. + </p> + <p> + With such sound and manly views of the true exigencies of the + crisis, it is not wonderful that he should view with impatience, + and something, perhaps, of contempt, all that premature apparatus + of printing-presses, pedagogues, &c. with which the + Philhellenes of the London Committee were, in their rage for + "utilitarianism," encumbering him. Nor were some of the + correspondents of this body much more solid in their speculations + than themselves; one intelligent gentleman having suggested, as a + means of conferring signal advantages on the cause, an alteration + of the Greek alphabet. + </p> + <p> + Though feeling, as strongly, perhaps, as Lord Byron, the + importance of the great object of their mission,—that of + rousing and, what was far more difficult, combining against the + common foe the energies of the country,—Colonel Stanhope + was also one of those who thought that the lights of their great + master, Bentham, and the operations of a press unrestrictedly + free, were no less essential instruments towards the advancement + of the struggle; and in this opinion, as we have seen, the poet + and man of literature differed from the soldier. But it was such + a difference as, between men of frank and fair minds, may arise + without either reproach to themselves, or danger to their + cause,—a strife of opinion which; though maintained with + heat, may be remembered without bitterness, and which, in the + present instance, neither prevented Byron, at the close of one + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg156" id="pg156">156</a></span> + of their warmest altercations, from exclaiming generously to his + opponent, "Give me that honest right hand," nor withheld the + other from pouring forth, at the grave of his colleague, a strain + of eulogy<span class="fnref">[1]</span> not the less cordial for + being discriminatingly shaded with censure, nor less honourable + to the illustrious dead for being the tribute of one who had once + manfully differed with him. + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: Sketch of Lord Byron.—See Colonel Stanhope's + "Greece in 1823, 1824," &c.] + </p> + </div> + <p> + Towards the middle of February, the indefatigable activity of Mr. + Parry having brought the artillery brigade into such a state of + forwardness as to be almost ready for service, an inspection of + the Suliote corps took place, preparatory to the expedition; and + after much of the usual deception and unmanageableness on their + part, every obstacle appeared to be at length surmounted. It was + agreed that they should receive a month's pay in + advance;—Count Gamba, with 300 of their corps, as a + vanguard, was to march next day and take up a position under + Lepanto, and Lord Byron with the main body and the artillery was + speedily to follow. + </p> + <p> + New difficulties, however, were soon started by these untractable + mercenaries; and under the instigation, as was discovered + afterwards, of the great rival of Mavrocordato, Colocotroni, who + had sent emissaries into Missolonghi for the purpose of seducing + them, they now put forward their exactions in a new shape, by + requiring of the Government to appoint, out of their number, two + generals, two colonels, <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg157" id= + "pg157">157</a></span> two captains, and inferior officers in the + same proportion:—"in short," says Count Gamba, "that, out + of three or four hundred actual Suliotes, there should be about + one hundred and fifty above the rank of common soldiers." The + audacious dishonesty of this demand,—beyond what he could + have expected even from Greeks,—roused all Lord Byron's + rage, and he at once signified to the whole body, through Count + Gamba, that all negotiation between them and himself was at an + end; that he could no longer have any confidence in persons so + little true to their engagements; and that though the relief + which he had afforded to their families should still be + continued, all his agreements with them, as a body, must be + thenceforward void. + </p> + <p> + It was on the 14th of February that this rupture with the + Suliotes took place; and though, on the following day, in + consequence of the full submission of their Chiefs, they were + again received into his Lordship's service on his own terms, the + whole affair, combined with the various other difficulties that + now beset him, agitated his mind considerably. He saw with pain + that he should but place in peril both the cause of Greece and + his own character, by at all relying, in such an enterprise, upon + troops whom any intriguer could thus seduce from their duty; and + that, till some more regular force could be organised, the + expedition against Lepanto must be suspended. + </p> + <p> + While these vexatious events were occurring, the interruption of + his accustomed exercise by the rains but increased the + irritability that such delays were <span class="pagenum"><a name= + "pg158" id="pg158">158</a></span> calculated to excite; and the + whole together, no doubt, concurred with whatever predisposing + tendencies were already in his constitution, to bring on that + convulsive fit,—the forerunner of his death,—which, + on the evening of the 15th of February, seized him. He was + sitting, at about eight o'clock, with only Mr. Parry and Mr. + Hesketh, in the apartment of Colonel Stanhope,—talking + jestingly upon one of his favourite topics, the differences + between himself and this latter gentleman, and saying that "he + believed, after all, the author's brigade would be ready before + the soldier's printing-press." There was an unusual flush in his + face, and from the rapid changes of his countenance it was + manifest that he was suffering under some nervous agitation. He + then complained of being thirsty, and, calling for some cider, + drank of it; upon which, a still greater change being observable + over his features, he rose from his seat, but was unable to walk, + and, after staggering forward a step or two, fell into Mr. + Parry's arms. In another minute, his teeth were closed, his + speech and senses gone, and he was in strong convulsions. So + violent, indeed, were his struggles, that it required all the + strength both of Mr. Parry and his servant Tita to hold him + during the fit. His face, too, was much distorted; and, as he + told Count Gamba afterwards, "so intense were his sufferings + during the convulsion, that, had it lasted but a minute longer, + he believed he must have died." The fit was, however, as short as + it was violent; in a few minutes his speech and senses returned; + his features, though still pale and haggard, resumed their + natural shape, and no effect remained from the attack but + excessive <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg159" id= + "pg159">159</a></span> weakness. "As soon as he could speak," + says Count Gamba, "he showed himself perfectly free from all + alarm; but he very coolly asked whether his attack was likely to + prove fatal. 'Let me know,' he said; 'do not think I am afraid to + die—I am not.'" + </p> + <p> + This painful event had not occurred more than half an hour, when + a report was brought that the Suliotes were up in arms, and about + to attack the seraglio, for the purpose of seizing the magazines. + Instantly Lord Byron's friends ran to the arsenal; the + artillery-men were ordered under arms; the sentinels doubled, and + the cannon loaded and pointed on the approaches to the gates. + Though the alarm proved to be false, the very likelihood of such + an attack shows sufficiently how precarious was the state of + Missolonghi at this moment, and in what a scene of peril, + confusion, and uncomfort, the now nearly numbered days of + England's poet were to close. + </p> + <p> + On the following morning he was found to be better, but still + pale and weak, and complained much of a sensation of weight in + his head. The doctors, therefore, thought it right to apply + leeches to his temples; but found it difficult, on their removal, + to stop the blood, which continued to flow so copiously, that + from exhaustion he fainted. It must have been on this day that + the scene thus described by Colonel Stanhope occurred:— + </p> + <p> + "Soon after his dreadful paroxysm, when, faint with + over-bleeding, he was lying on his sick bed, with his whole + nervous system completely shaken, <span class="pagenum"><a name= + "pg160" id="pg160">160</a></span> the mutinous Suliotes, covered + with dirt and splendid attires, broke into his apartment, + brandishing their costly arms, and loudly demanding their wild + rights. Lord Byron, electrified by this unexpected act, seemed to + recover from his sickness; and the more the Suliotes raged, the + more his calm courage triumphed. The scene was truly sublime." + </p> + <p> + Another eye-witness, Count Gamba, bears similar testimony to the + presence of mind with which he fronted this and all other such + dangers. "It is impossible," says this gentleman, "to do justice + to the coolness and magnanimity which he displayed upon every + trying occasion. Upon trifling occasions he was certainly + irritable; but the aspect of danger calmed him in an instant, and + restored to him the free exercise of all the powers of his noble + nature. A more undaunted man in the hour of peril never + breathed." + </p> + <p> + The letters written by him during the few following weeks form, + as usual, the best record of his proceedings, and, besides the + sad interest they possess as being among the latest from his + hand, are also precious, as affording proof that neither illness + nor disappointment, neither a worn-out frame nor even a hopeless + spirit, could lead him for a moment to think of abandoning the + great cause he had espoused; while to the last, too, he preserved + unbroken the cheerful spring of his mind, his manly endurance of + all ills that affected but himself, and his ever-wakeful + consideration for the wants of others. <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg161" id="pg161">161</a></span> + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <h3> + LETTER 543. TO MR. BARFF. + </h3> + <p class="quotdate"> + "February 21. + </p> + <p> + "I am a good deal better, though of course weakly; the leeches + took too much blood from my temples the day after, and there was + some difficulty in stopping it, but I have since been up daily, + and out in boats of on horseback. To-day I have taken a warm + bath, and live as temperately as can well be, without any liquid + but water, and without animal food. + </p> + <p> + "Besides the four Turks sent to Patras, I have obtained the + release of four-and-twenty women and children, and sent them at + my own expense to Prevesa, that the English Consul-General may + consign them to their relations. I did this by their own desire. + Matters here are a little embroiled with the Suliotes and + foreigners, &c., but I still hope better things, and will + stand by the cause as long as my health and circumstances will + permit me to be supposed useful.<span class="fnref">[1]</span> + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: In a letter to the same gentleman, dated January + 27., he had already said, "I hope that things here will go on + well some time or other. I will stick by the cause as long as a + cause exists—first or second."] + </p> + </div> + <p> + "I am obliged to support the Government here for the present." + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + The prisoners mentioned in this letter as having been released by + him and sent to Prevesa, had been held in captivity at + Missolonghi since the beginning <span class="pagenum"><a name= + "pg162" id="pg162">162</a></span> of the Revolution. The + following was the letter which he forwarded with them to the + English Consul at Prevesa. + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <h3> + LETTER 544. TO MR. MAYER. + </h3> + <p> + "Sir, + </p> + <p> + "Coming to Greece, one of my principal objects was to alleviate + as much as possible the miseries incident to a warfare so cruel + as the present. When the dictates of humanity are in question, I + know no difference between Turks and Greeks. It is enough that + those who want assistance are men, in order to claim the pity and + protection of the meanest pretender to humane feelings. I have + found here twenty-four Turks, including women and children, who + have long pined in distress, far from the means of support and + the consolations of their home. The Government has consigned them + to me; I transmit them to Prevesa, whither they desire to be + sent. I hope you will not object to take care that they may be + restored to a place of safety, and that the Governor of your town + may accept of my present. The best recompense I can hope for + would be to find that I had inspired the Ottoman commanders with + the same sentiments towards those unhappy Greeks who may + hereafter fall into their hands. + </p> + <p class="quotsig"> + "I beg you to believe me," &c. + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg163" id="pg163">163</a></span> + </p> + <h3> + LETTER 545. + </h3> + <p> + TO THE HONOURABLE DOUGLAS KINNAIRD. + </p> + <p class="quotdate"> + "Missolonghi, February 21. 1824. + </p> + <p> + "I have received yours of the 2d of November. It is essential + that the money should be paid, as I have drawn for it all, and + more too, to help the Greeks. Parry is here, and he and I agree + very well; and all is going on hopefully for the present, + considering circumstances. + </p> + <p> + "We shall have work this year, for the Turks are coming down in + force; and, as for me, I must stand by the cause. I shall shortly + march (according to orders) against Lepanto, with two thousand + men. I have been here some time, after some narrow escapes from + the Turks, and also from being ship-wrecked. We were twice upon + the rocks; but this you will have heard, truly or falsely, + through other channels, and I do not wish to bore you with a long + story. + </p> + <p> + "So far I have succeeded in supporting the Government of Western + Greece, which would otherwise have been dissolved. If you have + received the eleven thousand and odd pounds, these, with what I + have in hand, and my income for the current year, to say nothing + of contingencies, will, or might, enable me to keep the 'sinews + of war' properly strung. If the deputies be honest fellows, and + obtain the loan, they will repay the 4000,'. as agreed upon; and + even then I shall save little, or indeed less than little, since + I am maintaining nearly the whole machine—in this place, at + least—at my own <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg164" id= + "pg164">164</a></span> cost. But let the Greeks only succeed, and + I don't care for myself. + </p> + <p> + "I have been very seriously unwell, but am getting better, and + can ride about again; so pray quiet our friends on that score. + </p> + <p> + "It is not true that I ever <i>did, will, would, could,</i> or + <i>should</i> write a satire against Gifford, or a hair of his + head. I always considered him as my literary father, and myself + as his 'prodigal son;' and if I have allowed his 'fatted calf' to + grow to an ox before, he kills it on my return, it is only + because I prefer beef to veal. + </p> + <p class="quotsig"> + Yours," &c + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <h3> + LETTER 546. TO MR. BARFF. + </h3> + <p class="quotdate"> + "February 23. + </p> + <p> + "My health seems improving, especially from riding and the warm + bath. Six Englishmen will be soon in quarantine at Zante; they + are artificers<span class="fnref">[1]</span>, and have had enough + of Greece in fourteen days. If you could recommend them to a + passage home, I would thank you; they are good men enough, but do + not quite understand the little discrepancies in these countries, + and are not used to see shooting and slashing in a domestic quiet + way, or (as it forms here) a part of housekeeping. + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: The workmen who came out with Parry; and who, + alarmed by the scene of confusion and danger they found at + Missolonghi, had resolved to return home.] + </p> + </div> + <p> + "If they should want any thing during their quarantine, you can + advance them not more than a dollar a day (amongst them) for that + period, to <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg165" id= + "pg165">165</a></span> purchase them some little extras as + comforts (as they are quite out of their element). I cannot + afford them more at present." + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + The following letter to Mr. Murray,—which it is most + gratifying to have to produce, as the last completing link of a + long friendship and correspondence which had been but for a short + time, and through the fault only of others, + interrupted,—contains such a summary of the chief events + now passing round Lord Byron, as, with the assistance of a few + notes, will render any more detailed narrative unnecessary. + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <h3> + LETTER 547. TO MR. MURRAY. + </h3> + <p class="quotdate"> + "Missolonghi, February 25. 1824. + </p> + <p> + "I have heard from Mr. Douglas Kinnaird that you state 'a report + of a satire on Mr. Gifford having arrived from Italy, <i>said</i> + to be written by <i>me</i>! but that <i>you</i> do not believe + it.' I dare say you do not, nor anybody else, I should think. + Whoever asserts that I am the author or abettor of any thing of + the kind on Gifford lies in his throat. If any such composition + exists it is none of mine. <i>You</i> know as well as any body + upon <i>whom</i> I have or have not written; and <i>you</i> also + know whether they do or did not deserve that same. And so much + for such matters. + </p> + <p> + "You will perhaps be anxious to hear some news from this part of + Greece (which is the most liable to invasion); but you will hear + enough through public and private channels. I will, however, give + you the <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg166" id= + "pg166">166</a></span> events of a week, mingling my own private + peculiar with the public; for we are here a little jumbled + together at present. + </p> + <p> + "On Sunday (the 15th, I believe,) I had a strong and sudden + convulsive attack, which left me speechless, though not + motionless—for some strong men could not hold me; but + whether it was epilepsy, catalepsy, cachexy, or apoplexy, or what + other <i>exy</i> or <i>epsy</i>, the doctors have not decided; or + whether it was spasmodic or nervous, &c.; but it was very + unpleasant, and nearly carried me off, and all that. On Monday, + they put leeches to my temples, no difficult matter, but the + blood could not be stopped till eleven at night (they had gone + too near the temporal artery for my temporal safety), and neither + styptic nor caustic would cauterise the orifice till after a + hundred attempts. + </p> + <p> + "On Tuesday, a Turkish brig of war ran on shore. On Wednesday, + great preparations being made to attack her, though protected by + her consorts<span class="fnref">[1]</span>, the Turks burned her + and retired to Patras. On Thursday a quarrel ensued between the + Suliotes and the Frank guard at the arsenal: a Swedish + officer<span class="fnref">[2]</span> was <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg167" id="pg167">167</a></span> killed, and a + Suliote severely wounded, and a general fight expected, and with + some difficulty prevented. On Friday, the officer was buried; and + Captain Parry's English artificers mutinied, under pretence that + their lives are in danger, and are for quitting the + country:—they may.<span class="fnref">[3]</span> + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: "Early in the morning we prepared for our attack + on the brig. Lord Byron, notwithstanding his weakness, and an + inflammation that threatened his eyes, was most anxious to be + of our party; but the physicians would not suffer him to + go."—COUNT GAMBA'S <i>Narrative</i>. + </p> + <p> + His Lordship had promised a reward for every Turk taken alive + in the proposed attack on this vessel.] + </p> + </div> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 2: Captain Sasse, an officer esteemed as one of the + best and bravest of the foreigners in the Greek service. + "This," says Colonel Stanhope, in a letter, February 18th, to + the Committee, "is a serious affair. The Suliotes have no + country, no home for their families; arrears of pay are owing + to them; the people of Missolonghi hate and pay them + exorbitantly. Lord Byron, who was to have led them to Lepanto, + is much shaken by his fit, and will probably be obliged to + retire from Greece. In short, all our hopes in this quarter are + damped for the present. I am not a little fearful, too, that + these wild warriors will not forget the blood that has been + spilt. I this morning told Prince Mavrocordato and Lord Byron + that they must come to some resolution about compelling the + Suliotes to quit the place."] + </p> + </div> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 3: This was a fresh, and, as may be conceived, + serious disappointment to Lord Byron. "The departure of these + men," says Count Gamba, "made us fear that our laboratory would + come to nothing; for, if we tried to supply the place of the + artificers with native Greeks, we should make but little + progress.] + </p> + </div> + <p> + "On Saturday we had the smartest shock of an earthquake which I + remember, (and I have felt thirty, slight or smart, at different + periods; they are common in the Mediterranean,) and the whole + army discharged their arms, upon the same principle that savages + beat drums, or howl, during an eclipse of the moon:—it was + a rare scene altogether—if you had but seen the English + Johnnies, who had never been out of a cockney workshop + before!—or will again, if they can help it—and on + Sunday, we heard <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg168" id= + "pg168">168</a></span> that the Vizier is come down to Larissa, + with one hundred and odd thousand men. + </p> + <p> + "In coming here, I had two escapes, one from the Turks, + <i>(one</i> of my vessels was taken, but afterwards released,) + and the other from shipwreck. We drove twice on the rocks near + the Scrophes (islands near the coast). + </p> + <p> + "I have obtained from the Greeks the release of eight-and-twenty + Turkish prisoners, men, women, and children, and sent them to + Patras and Prevesa at my own charges. One little girl of nine + years old, who prefers remaining with me, I shall (if I live) + send, with her mother, probably, to Italy, or to England. Her + name is Hato, or Hatagee. She is a very pretty, lively child. All + her brothers were killed by the Greeks, and she herself and her + mother merely spared by special favour and owing to her extreme + youth, she being then but five or six years old. + </p> + <p> + "My health is now better, and I ride about again. My office here + is no sinecure, so many parties and difficulties of every kind; + but I will do what I can. Prince Mavrocordato is an excellent + person, and does all in his power, but his situation is + perplexing in the extreme. Still we have great hopes of the + success of the contest. You will hear, however, more of public + news from plenty of quarters; for I have little time to write. + </p> + <p class="quotsig"> + "Believe me yours, &c. &c. N. BN." + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + The fierce lawlessness of the Suliotes had now risen to such a + height that it became necessary, for the <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg169" id="pg169">169</a></span> safety of the + European population, to get rid of them altogether; and, by some + sacrifices on the part of Lord Byron, this object was at length + effected. The advance of a month's pay by him, and the discharge + of their arrears by the Government, (the latter, too, with money + lent for that purpose by the same universal paymaster,) at length + induced these rude warriors to depart from the town, and with + them vanished all hopes of the expedition against Lepanto. + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <h3> + LETTER 548. TO MR. MOORE. + </h3> + <p class="quotdate"> + "Missolonghi, Western Greece, March 4. 1824. + </p> + <p> + "My dear Moore, + </p> + <p> + "Your reproach is unfounded—I have received two letters + from you, and answered both previous to leaving Cephalonia. I + have not been 'quiet' in an Ionian island, but much occupied with + business,—as the Greek deputies (if arrived) can tell you. + Neither have I continued 'Don Juan,' nor any other poem. You go, + as usual, I presume, by some newspaper report or + other.<span class="fnref">[1]</span> + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: Proceeding, as he here rightly supposes, upon + newspaper authority, I had in my letter made some allusion to + his imputed occupations, which, in his present sensitiveness on + the subject of authorship, did not at all please him. To this + circumstance Count Gamba alludes in a passage of his Narrative; + where, after mentioning a remark of Byron's, that "Poetry + should only occupy the idle, and that in more serious affairs + it would be ridiculous," he adds— "——, at + this time writing to him, said, that he had heard that 'instead + of pursuing heroic and warlike adventures, he was residing in a + delightful villa, continuing Don Juan.' This offended him for + the moment, and he was sorry that such a mistaken judgment had + been formed of him." + </p> + <p> + It is amusing to observe that, while thus anxious, and from a + highly noble motive, to throw his authorship into the shade + while engaged in so much more serious pursuits, it was yet an + author's mode of revenge that always occurred to him, when + under the influence of any of these passing resentments. Thus, + when a little angry with Colonel Stanhope one day, he + exclaimed, "I will libel you in your own Chronicle;" and in + this brief burst of humour I was myself the means of provoking + in him, I have been told, on the authority of Count Gamba, that + he swore to "write a satire" upon me. + </p> + <p> + Though the above letter shows how momentary was any little + spleen he may have felt, there not unfrequently, I own, comes + over me a short pang of regret to think that a feeling of + displeasure, however slight, should have been among the latest + I awakened in him.] + </p> + </div> + <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="pg170" id= + "pg170">170</a></span> + "When the proper moment to be of some use arrived, I came here; + and am told that my arrival (with some other circumstances) + <i>has</i> been of, at least, temporary advantage to the cause. I + had a narrow escape from the Turks, and another from Shipwreck on + my passage. On the 15th (or 16th) of February I had an attack of + apoplexy, or epilepsy,—the physicians have not exactly + decided which, but the alternative is agreeable. My constitution, + therefore, remains between the two opinions, like Mahomet's + sarcophagus between the magnets. All that I can say is, that they + nearly bled me to death, by placing the leeches too near the + temporal artery, so that the blood could with difficulty be + stopped, even with caustic, I am supposed to be getting better, + slowly, <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg171" id= + "pg171">171</a></span> however. But my homilies will, I presume, + for the future, be like the Archbishop of Grenada's—in this + case, 'I order you a hundred ducats from my treasurer, and wish + you a little more taste.' + </p> + <p> + "For public matters I refer you to Colonel Stanhope's and Capt. + Parry's reports,—and to all other reports whatsoever. There + is plenty to do—war without, and tumult within—they + 'kill a man a week,' like Bob Acres in the country. Parry's + artificers have gone away in alarm, on account of a dispute in + which some of the natives and foreigners were engaged, and a + Swede was killed, and a Suliote wounded. In the middle of their + fright there was a strong shock of an earthquake; so, between + that and the sword, they boomed off in a hurry, in despite of all + dissuasions to the contrary. A Turkish brig run ashore, &c. + &c. &c.<span class="fnref">[1]</span> + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: What I have omitted here is but a repetition of + the various particulars, respecting all that had happened since + his arrival, which have already been given in the letters to + his other correspondents.] + </p> + </div> + <p> + "You, I presume, are either publishing or meditating that same. + Let me hear from and of you, and believe me, in all events, + </p> + <p class="quotsig"> + "Ever and affectionately yours, + <br /> + "N. B. + </p> + <p> + "P.S. Tell Mr. Murray that I wrote to him the other day, and hope + that he has received, or will receive, the letter." <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg172" id="pg172">172</a></span> + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <h3> + LETTER 549. TO DR. KENNEDY. + </h3> + <p class="quotdate"> + "Missolonghi, March 4. 1824. + </p> + <p> + "My dear Doctor, + </p> + <p> + "I have to thank you for your two very kind letters, both + received at the same time, and one long after its date. I am not + unaware of the precarious state of my health, nor am, nor have + been, deceived on that subject. But it is proper that I should + remain in Greece; and it were better to die doing something than + nothing. My presence here has been supposed so far useful as to + have prevented confusion from becoming worse confounded, at least + for the present. Should I become, or be deemed useless or + superfluous, I am ready to retire; but in the interim I am not to + consider personal consequences; the rest is in the hands of + Providence,—as indeed are all things. I shall, however, + observe your instructions, and indeed did so, as far as regards + abstinence, for some time past. + </p> + <p> + "Besides the tracts, &c. which you have sent for + distribution, one of the English artificers (hight Brownbill, a + tinman,) left to my charge a number of Greek Testaments, which I + will endeavour to distribute properly. The Greeks complain that + the translation is not correct, nor in <i>good</i> Romaic: Bambas + can decide on that point. I am trying to reconcile the clergy to + the distribution, which (without due regard to their hierarchy) + they might contrive to impede or neutralise in the effect, from + their power over their people. Mr. Brownbill has gone to the + Islands, having some apprehension for his life, (not <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg173" id="pg173">173</a></span> from the + priests, however,) and apparently preferring rather to be a saint + than a martyr, although his apprehensions of becoming the latter + were probably unfounded. All the English artificers accompanied + him, thinking themselves in danger on account of some troubles + here, which have apparently subsided. + </p> + <p> + "I have been interrupted by a visit from Prince Mavrocordato and + others since I began this letter, and must close it hastily, for + the boat is announced as ready to sail. Your future convert, + Hato, or Hatagée, appears to me lively, and intelligent, and + promising, and possesses an interesting countenance. With regard + to her disposition, I can say little, but Millingen, who has the + mother (who is a middle-aged woman of good character) in his + house as a domestic (although their family was in good worldly + circumstances previous to the Revolution), speaks well of both, + and he is to be relied on. As far as I know, I have only seen the + child a few times with her mother, and what I have seen is + favourable, or I should not take so much interest in her behalf. + If she turns out well, my idea would be to send her to my + daughter in England (if not to respectable persons in Italy), and + so to provide for her as to enable her to live with reputation + either singly or in marriage, if she arrive at maturity. I will + make proper arrangements about her expenses through Messrs. Barff + and Hancock, and the rest I leave to your discretion and to Mrs. + K.'s, with a great sense of obligation for your kindness in + undertaking her temporary superintendence. + </p> + <p> + "Of public matters here, I have little to add to <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg174" id="pg174">174</a></span> what you will + already have heard. We are going on as well as we can, and with + the hope and the endeavour to do better. Believe me, + </p> + <p class="quotsig"> + "Ever and truly," &c. + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <h3> + LETTER 550. TO MR. BARFF. + </h3> + <p class="quotdate"> + "March 5. 1824. + </p> + <p> + "If Sisseni<span class="fnref">[1]</span> is sincere, he will be + treated with, and well treated; if he is not, the sin and the + shame may lie at his own door. One great object is to heal those + internal dissensions for the future, without exacting too + rigorous an account of the past. Prince Mavrocordato is of the + same opinion, and whoever is disposed to act fairly will be + fairly dealt with. I <i>have</i> heard a <i>good deal</i> of + Sisseni, but not a <i>deal</i> of <i>good</i>: however, I never + judge from report, particularly in a Revolution. + <i>Personally</i>, I am rather obliged to him, for he has been + very hospitable to all friends of mine who have passed through + his district. You may therefore assure him that any overture for + the advantage of Greece and its internal pacification will be + readily and sincerely met <i>here</i>. I hardly think that he + would have ventured <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg175" id= + "pg175">175</a></span> a deceitful proposition to me through + <i>you</i>, because he must be sure that in such a case it would + eventually be exposed. At any rate, the healing of these + dissensions is so important a point, that something must be + risked to obtain it." + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: This Sisseni, who was the <i>Capitano</i> of the + rich district about Gastouni, and had for some time held out + against the general Government, was now, as appears by the + above letter, making overtures, through Mr. Barff, of adhesion. + As a proof of his sincerity, it was required by Lord Byron that + he should surrender into the hands of the Government the + fortress of Chiarenza.] + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + </div> + <h3> + LETTER 551. TO MR. BARFF. + </h3> + <p class="quotdate"> + "March 10. + </p> + <p> + "Enclosed is an answer to Mr. Parruca's letter, and I hope that + you will assure him from me, that I have done and am doing all I + can to re-unite the Greeks with the Greeks. + </p> + <p> + "I am extremely obliged by your offer of your country house (as + for all other kindness) in case that my health should require my + removal; but I cannot quit Greece while there is a chance of my + being of any (even supposed) utility:—there is a stake + worth millions such as I am, and while I can stand at all, I must + stand by the cause. When I say this, I am at the same time aware + of the difficulties and dissensions and defects of the Greeks + themselves; but allowance must be made for them by all reasonable + people. + </p> + <p> + "My chief, indeed <i>nine tenths</i> of my expenses here are + solely in advances to or on behalf of the Greeks<span class= + "fnref">[1]</span>, and objects connected with their + independence." + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: "At this time (February 14th)," says Mr. Parry, + who kept the accounts of his Lordship's disbursements, "the + expenses of Lord Byron in the cause of the Greeks did not + amount to less than two thousand dollars per week in rations + alone." In another place this writer says, "The Greeks seemed + to think he was a mine from which they could extract gold at + their pleasure. One person represented that a supply of 20,000 + dollars would save the island of Candia from falling into the + hands of the Pacha of Egypt; and there not being that sum in + hand, Lord Byron gave him authority to raise it if he could in + the Islands, and he would guarantee its repayment. I believe + this person did not succeed."] + </p> + </div> + <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="pg176" id= + "pg176">176</a></span> + <br /> + <br /> + The letter of Parruca, to which the foregoing alludes, contained + a pressing invitation to Lord Byron to present himself in the + Peloponnesus, where, it was added, his influence would be sure to + bring about the Union of all parties. So general, indeed, was the + confidence placed in their noble ally, that, by every Chief of + every faction, he seems to have been regarded as the only + rallying point round which there was the slightest chance of + their now split and jarring interests being united. A far more + flattering, as well as more authorised, invitation soon after + reached him, through an express envoy, from the Chieftain, + Colocotroni, recommending a National Council, where his Lordship, + it was proposed, should act as mediator, and pledging this Chief + himself and his followers to abide by the result. To this + application an answer was returned similar to that which he sent + to Parruca, and which was in terms as follows:— + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg177" id="pg177">177</a></span> + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <h3> + LETTER 552. TO SR. PARRUCA. + </h3> + <p class="quotdate"> + "March 10. 1824. + </p> + <p> + "Sir, + </p> + <p> + "I have the honour of answering your letter. My first wish has + always been to bring the Greeks to agree amongst themselves. I + came here by the invitation of the Greek Government, and I do not + think that I ought to abandon Roumelia for the Peloponnesus until + that Government shall desire it; and the more so, as this part is + exposed in a greater degree to the enemy. Nevertheless, if my + presence can really be of any assistance in uniting two or more + parties, I am ready to go any where, either as a mediator, or, if + necessary, as a hostage. In these affairs I have neither private + views, nor private dislike of any individual, but the sincere + wish of deserving the name of the friend of your country, and of + her patriots. I have the honour," &c. + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <h3> + LETTER 553. TO MR. CHARLES HANCOCK. + </h3> + <p class="quotdate"> + "Missolonghi, March 10. 1824. + </p> + <p> + "Sir, + </p> + <p> + "I sent by Mr. J.M. Hodges a bill drawn on Signer C. Jerostatti + for three hundred and eighty-six pounds, on account of the Hon. + the Greek Committee, for carrying on the service at this place. + But Count Delladecima sent no more than two hundred dollars until + he should receive instructions from C. Jerostatti. Therefore I am + obliged to advance <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg178" id= + "pg178">178</a></span> that sum to prevent a positive stop being + put to the Laboratory service at this place, &c. &c. + </p> + <p> + "I beg you will mention this business to Count Delladecima, who + has the draft and every account, and that Mr. Barff, in + conjunction with yourself, will endeavour to arrange this money + account, and, when received, forward the same to Missolonghi. + </p> + <p class="quotsig"> + "I am, Sir, yours very truly. + </p> + <p> + "So far is written by Captain Parry; but I see that I must + continue the letter myself. I understand little or nothing of the + business, saving and except that, like most of the present + affairs here, it will be at a stand-still if monies be not + advanced, and there are few here so disposed; so that I must take + the chance, as usual. + </p> + <p> + "You will see what can be done with Delladecima and Jerostatti, + and remit the sum, that we may have some quiet; for the Committee + have somehow embroiled their matters, or chosen Greek + correspondents more Grecian than ever the Greeks are wont to be. + </p> + <p class="quotsig"> + "Yours ever, NL. BN. + </p> + <p> + "P.S. A thousand thanks to Muir for his cauliflower, the finest I + ever saw or tasted, and, I believe, the largest that ever grew + out of Paradise, or Scotland. I have written to quiet Dr. Kennedy + about the newspaper (with which I have nothing to do as a writer, + please to recollect and say). I told the fools of conductors that + their motto would play the devil; but, like all mountebanks, they + persisted. Gamba, who is any thing but <i>lucky</i>, had + something to do with it; and, as usual, the moment he had, + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg179" id="pg179">179</a></span> + matters went wrong. <span class="fnref">[1]</span> It will be + better, perhaps, in time. But I write in haste, and have only + time to say, before the boat sails, that I am ever + </p> + <p class="quotsig"> + "Yours, N. BN. + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: He had a notion that Count Gamba was destined to + be unfortunate,—that he was one of those ill-starred + persons with whom every thing goes wrong. In speaking of this + newspaper to Parry, he said, "I have subscribed to it to get + rid of importunity, and, it may be, keep Gamba out of mischief. + At any rate, he can mar nothing that is of less importance."] + </p> + </div> + <p> + "P.S. Mr. Findlay is here, and has received his money." + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <h3> + LETTER 554. TO DR. KENNEDY. + </h3> + <p class="quotdate"> + "Missolonghi, March 10. 1824. + </p> + <p> + "Dear Sir, + </p> + <p> + "You could not disapprove of the motto to the Telegraph more than + I did, and do; but this is the land of liberty, where most people + do as they please, and few as they ought. + </p> + <p> + "I have not written, nor am inclined to write, for that or for + any other paper, but have suggested to them, over and over, a + change of the motto and style. However, I do not think that it + will turn out either an irreligious or a levelling publication, + and they promise due respect to both churches and things, + <i>i.e.</i> the editors do. + </p> + <p> + "If Bambas would write for the Greek Chronicle, he might have his + own price for articles. + </p> + <p> + "There is a slight demur about Hato's voyage, her mother wishing + to go with her, which is quite <span class="pagenum"><a name= + "pg180" id="pg180">180</a></span> natural, and I have not the + heart to refuse it; for even Mahomet made a law, that in the + division of captives, the child should never be separated from + the mother. But this may make a difference in the arrangement, + although the poor woman (who has lost half her family in the war) + is, as I said, of good character, and of mature age, so as to + render her respectability not liable to suspicion. She has heard, + it seems, from Prevesa, that her husband is no longer there. I + have consigned your Bibles to Dr. Meyer; and I hope that the said + Doctor may justify your confidence; nevertheless, I shall keep an + eye upon him. You may depend upon my giving the Society as fair + play as Mr. Wilberforce himself would; and any other commission + for the good of Greece will meet with the same attention on my + part. + </p> + <p> + "I am trying, with some hope of eventual success, to re-unite the + Greeks, especially as the Turks are expected in force, and that + shortly. We must meet them as we may, and fight it out as we can. + </p> + <p> + "I rejoice to hear that your school prospers, and I assure you + that your good wishes are reciprocal. The weather is so much + finer, that I get a good deal of moderate exercise in boats and + on horseback, and am willing to hope that my health is not worse + than when you kindly wrote to me. Dr. Bruno can tell you that I + adhere to your regimen, and more, for I do not eat any meat, even + fish. + </p> + <p class="quotsig"> + "Believe me ever, &c. + </p> + <p> + "P.S. The mechanics (six in number) were all pretty much of the + same mind. Brownbill was but <span class="pagenum"><a name= + "pg181" id="pg181">181</a></span> <i>one</i>. Perhaps they are + less to blame than is imagined, since Colonel Stanhope is said to + have told them, '<i>that he could not positively say their lives + were safe.'</i> I should like to know <i>where</i> our life + <i>is</i> safe, either here or any where else? With regard to a + place of safety, at least such hermetically sealed safety as + these persons appeared to desiderate, it is not to be found in + Greece, at any rate; but Missolonghi was supposed to be the place + where they would be useful, and their risk was no greater than + that of others." + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <h3> + LETTER 555. TO COLONEL STANHOPE. + </h3> + <p class="quotdate"> + "Missolonghi, March 19. 1824. + </p> + <p> + "My dear Stanhope, + </p> + <p> + "Prince Mavrocordato and myself will go to Salona to meet + Ulysses, and you may be very sure that P.M. will accept any + proposition for the advantage of Greece. Parry is to answer for + himself on his own articles<span class="fnref">[1]</span>: if I + were to interfere with him, it would only stop the whole progress + of his exertion; and he is really doing all that can be done + without more aid from the Government. + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: Colonel Stanhope had, at the instance of the Chief + Odysseus, written to request that some stores from the + laboratory at Missolonghi might be sent to Athens. Neither + Prince Mavrocordato, however, nor Lord Byron considered it + prudent, at this time, to weaken their means for defending + Missolonghi, and accordingly sent back by the messenger but a + few barrels of powder.] + </p> + </div> + <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="pg182" id= + "pg182">182</a></span> + "What can be spared will be sent; but I refer you to Captain + Humphries's report, and to Count Gamba's letter for details upon + all subjects. + </p> + <p> + "In the hope of seeing you soon, and deferring much that will be + to be said till then, + </p> + <p class="quotsig"> + "Believe me ever, &c. + </p> + <p> + "P.S. Your two letters (to me) are sent to Mr. Barff, as you + desire. Pray remember me particularly to Trelawney, whom I shall + be very much pleased to see again." + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <h3> + LETTER 556. TO MR. BARFF. + </h3> + <p class="quotdate"> + "March 19. + </p> + <p> + "As Count Mercati is under some apprehensions of a <i>direct</i> + answer to <i>him</i> personally on Greek affairs, I reply (as you + authorised me) to you, who will have the goodness to communicate + to him the enclosed. It is the joint answer of Prince + Mavrocordato and of myself, to Signor Georgio Sisseni's + propositions. You may also add, both to him and to Parruca, that + I am perfectly sincere in desiring the most amicable termination + of their internal dissensions, and that I believe P. Mavrocordato + to be so also; otherwise I would not act with him, or any other, + whether native or foreigner. + </p> + <p> + "If Lord Guilford is at Zante, or, if he is not, if Signor + Tricupi is there, you would oblige me by presenting my respects + to one or both, and by telling them, that from the very first I + foretold to Col. Stanhope and to P. Mavrocordato that a Greek + newspaper (or indeed any other) in <i>the present state</i> of + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg183" id="pg183">183</a></span> + Greece might and probably <i>would</i> tend to much mischief and + misconstruction, unless under some restrictions, nor have I ever + had any thing to do with either, as a writer or otherwise, except + as a pecuniary contributor to their support in the outset, which + I could not refuse to the earnest request of the projectors. Col. + Stanhope and myself had considerable differences of opinion on + this subject, and (what will appear laughable enough) to such a + degree, that he charged me with <i>despotic</i> principles, and I + <i>him</i> with ultra radicalism. + </p> + <p> + "Dr. ——, the editor, with his unrestrained freedom of + the press, and who has the freedom to exercise an unlimited + discretion,—not allowing any article but his own and those + like them to appear,—and in declaiming against + restrictions, cuts, carves, and restricts (as they tell me) at + his own will and pleasure. He is the author of an article against + Monarchy, of which he may have the advantage and fame—but + they (the editors) will get themselves into a scrape, if they do + not take care. + </p> + <p> + "Of all petty tyrants, he is one of the pettiest, as are most + demagogues, that ever I knew. He is a Swiss by birth, and a Greek + by assumption, having married a wife and changed his religion. + </p> + <p> + "I shall be very glad, and am extremely anxious for some + favourable result to the recent pacific overtures of the + contending parties in the Peloponnese." <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg184" id="pg184">184</a></span> + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <h3> + LETTER 557. TO MR. BARFF. + </h3> + <p class="quotdate"> + "March 23. + </p> + <p> + "If the Greek deputies (as seems probable) have obtained the + Loan, the sums I have advanced may perhaps be repaid; but it + would make no great difference, as I should still spend that in + the cause, and more to boot—though I should hope to better + purpose than paying off arrears of fleets that sail away, and + Suliotes that won't march, which, they say, what has hitherto + been advanced has been employed in. But that was not my affair, + but of those who had the disposal of affairs, and I could not + decently say to them, 'You shall do so and so, because, &c. + &c. &c.' + </p> + <p> + "In a few days P. Mavrocordato and myself, with a considerable + escort, intend to proceed to Salona at the request of Ulysses and + the Chiefs of Eastern Greece, and take measures offensive and + defensive for the ensuing campaign. Mavrocordato is <i>almost</i> + recalled by the <i>new</i> Government to the Morea, (to take the + lead, I rather think,) and they have written to propose to me to + go either to the Morea with him, or to take the general direction + of affairs in this quarter—with General Londo, and any + other I may choose, to form a council. A. Londo is my old friend + and acquaintance since we were lads in Greece together. It would + be difficult to give a positive answer till the Salona meeting is + over<span class="fnref">[1]</span>; but I am willing to + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg185" id="pg185">185</a></span> + serve them in any capacity they please, either commanding or + commanded—it is much the same to me, as long as I can be of + any presumed use to them. + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: To this offer of the Government to appoint him + Governor-General of Greece, (that is, of the enfranchised part + of the continent, with the exception of the Morea and the + Islands,) his answer was, that "he was first going to Salona, + and that afterwards he would be at their commands; that he + could have no difficulty in accepting any office, provided he + could persuade himself that any good would result from it."] + </p> + </div> + <p> + "Excuse haste; it is late, and I have been several hours on + horseback in a country so miry after the rains, that every + hundred yards brings you to a ditch, of whose depth, width, + colour, and contents, both my horses and their riders have + brought away many tokens." + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <h3> + LETTER 558. TO ME. BARFF. + </h3> + <p class="quotdate"> + "March 26. + </p> + <p> + "Since your intelligence with regard to the Greek loan, P. + Mavrocordato has shown to me an extract from some correspondence + of his, by which it would appear that three commissioners are to + be named to see that the amount is placed in proper hands for the + service of the country, and that my name is amongst the number. + Of this, however, we have as yet only the report. + </p> + <p> + "This commission is apparently named by the Committee or the + contracting parties in England. I am of opinion that such a + commission will be necessary, but the office will be both + delicate and difficult. The weather, which has lately been + equinoctial, has flooded the country, and will probably retard + our <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg186" id= + "pg186">186</a></span> proceeding to Salona for some days, till + the road becomes more practicable. + </p> + <p> + "You were already apprised that P. Mavrocordato and myself had + been invited to a conference by Ulysses and the Chiefs of Eastern + Greece. I hear (and am indeed consulted on the subject) that in + case the remittance of the first advance of the Loan should not + arrive immediately, the Greek General Government mean to try to + raise some thousand dollars in the islands in the interim, to be + repaid from the earliest instalments on their arrival. What + prospect of success they may have, or on what conditions, you can + tell better than me: I suppose, if the Loan be confirmed, + something might be done by them, but subject of course to the + usual terms. You can let them and me know your opinion. There is + an imperious necessity for some national fund, and that speedily, + otherwise what is to be done? The auxiliary corps of about two + hundred men, paid by me, are, I believe, the sole regularly and + properly furnished with the money, due to them weekly, and the + officers monthly. It is true that the Greek Government give their + rations; but we have had three mutinies, owing to the badness of + the bread, which neither native nor stranger could masticate (nor + dogs either), and there is still great difficulty in obtaining + them even provisions of any kind. + </p> + <p> + "There is a dissension among the Germans about the conduct of the + agents of <i>their</i> Committee, and an examination amongst + themselves instituted. What the result may be cannot be + anticipated, except that it will end in <i>a row</i>, of course, + as usual. <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg187" id= + "pg187">187</a></span> + </p> + <p> + "The English are all very amicable as far as I know; we get on + too with the Greeks very tolerably, always making allowance for + circumstances; and we have no quarrels with the foreigners." + </p> + <p> + During the month of March there occurred but little, besides what + is mentioned in these letters, that requires to be dwelt upon at + any length, or in detail. After the failure of his design against + Lepanto, the two great objects of his daily thoughts were, the + repairs of the fortifications of Missolonghi <span class= + "fnref">[1]</span>, and the formation of a brigade;—the + one, with a view to such defensive measures as were alone likely + to be called for during the present campaign; and the other in + preparation for those more active enterprises, which he still + fondly flattered himself he should undertake in the next. "He + looked forward (says Mr. Parry) for the recovery of his health + and spirits, to the return of the fine weather, and the + commencement of the campaign, when he proposed to take the field + at the head of his own brigade, and the troops which the + Government of Greece were to place under his orders." + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: The generous zeal with which he applied himself to + this important object will be understood from the following + statement:—"On reporting to Lord Byron what I thought + might be done, he ordered me to draw up a plan for putting the + fortifications in thorough repair, and to accompany it with an + estimate of the expense. It was agreed that I should make the + estimate only one third of what I thought would be the actual + expense; and if that third could be procured from the + magistrates, Lord Byron undertook secretly to pay the + remainder."] + </p> + </div> + <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="pg188" id= + "pg188">188</a></span> + With that thanklessness which too often waits on disinterested + actions, it has been sometimes tauntingly remarked, and in + quarters from whence a more generous judgment might be expected + <span class="fnref">[1]</span>, that, after all, Lord Byron + effected but little for Greece:—as if much <i>could</i> be + effected by a single individual, and in so short a time, for a + cause which, fought as it has been almost incessantly through the + six years since his death, has required nothing less than the + intervention of all the great Powers of Europe to give it a + chance of success, and, even so, has not yet succeeded. That + Byron himself was under no delusion as to the importance of his + own solitary aid,—that he knew, in a struggle like this, + there must be the same prodigality of means towards one great end + as is observable in the still grander operations of nature, where + individuals are as nothing in the tide of events,—that such + was his, at once, philosophic and melancholy view of his own + sacrifices, I have, I trust, clearly shown. But that, during this + short period of action, he did not do well and wisely all that + man could achieve in the time, and under the circumstances, is an + assertion which the noble facts here recorded fully and + triumphantly disprove. He knew that, placed as he was, his + measures, to be wise, must be prospective, and from the nature of + the seeds thus sown by him, the benefits that were to be expected + must be judged. To reconcile the rude chiefs to the Government + and to each other;—to <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg189" + id="pg189">189</a></span> infuse a spirit of humanity, by his + example, into their warfare;—to prepare the way for the + employment of the expected Loan, in a manner most calculated to + call forth the resources of the country;—to put the + fortifications of Missolonghi in such a state of repair as might, + and eventually <i>did</i>, render it proof against the + besieger;—to prevent those infractions of neutrality, so + tempting to the Greeks, which brought their Government in + collision with the Ionian authorities<span class= + "fnref">[2]</span>, and to restrain all such license of the Press + as might indispose the Courts of Europe to their + cause:—such were the important objects which he had + proposed to himself to accomplish, and towards which, in this + brief interval, and in the midst of such dissensions and + hinderances, he had already made considerable and most promising + progress. But it would be unjust to close even here the bright + catalogue of his services. It is, after all, <i>not</i> with the + span of mortal life that the good achieved by a name immortal + ends. The charm acts into the future,—it is an auxiliary + through all time; and the inspiring example of Byron, as a martyr + of liberty, is for ever freshly embalmed in his glory as a poet. + From the period of his attack in February he had <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg190" id="pg190">190</a></span> been, from + time to time, indisposed; and, more than once, had complained of + vertigos, which made him feel, he said, as if intoxicated. He was + also frequently affected with nervous sensations, with shiverings + and tremors, which, though apparently the effects of excessive + debility, he himself attributed to fulness of habit. Proceeding + upon this notion, he had, ever since his arrival in Greece, + abstained almost wholly from animal food, and ate of little else + but dry toast, vegetables, and cheese. With the same fear of + becoming fat, which had in his young days haunted him, he almost + every morning measured himself round the wrist and waist, and + whenever he found these parts, as he thought, enlarged, took a + strong dose of medicine. + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: Articles in the Times newspaper, Foreign Quarterly + Review, &c.] + </p> + </div> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 2: In a letter which he addressed to Lord Sidney + Osborne, enclosing one, on the subject of these infractions, + from Prince Mavrocordato to Sir T. Maitland, Lord Byron + says,—"You must all be persuaded how difficult it is, + under existing circumstances, for the Greeks to keep up + discipline, however they may be all disposed to do so, I am + doing all I can to convince them of the necessity of the + strictest observance of the regulations of the Islands, and, I + trust, with some effect"] + </p> + </div> + <p> + Exertions had, as we have seen, been made by his friends at + Cephalonia, to induce him, without delay, to return to that + island, and take measures, while there was yet time, for the + re-establishment of his health. "But these entreaties (says Count + Gamba) produced just the contrary effect; for in proportion as + Byron thought his position more perilous, he the more resolved + upon remaining where he was." In the midst of all this, too, the + natural flow of his spirits in society seldom deserted him; and + whenever a trick upon any of his attendants, or associates, + suggested itself, he was as ready to play the mischief-loving boy + as ever. His engineer, Parry, having been much alarmed by the + earthquake they had experienced, and still continuing in constant + apprehension of its return, Lord Byron contrived, as they were + all sitting together one evening, to have <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg191" id="pg191">191</a></span> some barrels + full of cannon-balls trundled through the room above them; and + laughed heartily, as he would have done when a Harrow boy, at the + ludicrous effect which this deception produced on the poor + frightened engineer. + </p> + <p> + Every day, however, brought new trials both to his health and + temper. The constant rains had rendered the swamps of Missolonghi + almost impassable;—an alarm of plague, which, about the + middle of March, was circulated, made it prudent, for some time, + to keep within doors; and he was thus, week after week, deprived + of his accustomed air and exercise. The only recreation he had + recourse to was that of playing with his favourite dog, Lion; + and, in the evening, going through the exercise of drilling with + his officers, or practising at single-stick. + </p> + <p> + At the same time, the demands upon his exertions, personal and + pecuniary, poured in from all sides, while the embarrassments of + his public position every day increased. The chief obstacle in + the way of his plan for the reconciliation of all parties had + been the rivalry so long existing between Mavrocordato and the + Eastern Chiefs; and this difficulty was now not a little + heightened by the part taken by Colonel Stanhope and Mr. + Trelawney, who, having allied themselves with Odysseus, the most + powerful of these Chieftains, were endeavouring actively to + detach Lord Byron from Mavrocordato, and enlist him in their own + views. This schism was,—to say the least of + it,—ill-timed and unfortunate. For, as Prince Mavrocordato + and Lord Byron were now acting in complete harmony with the + Government, <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg192" id= + "pg192">192</a></span> a co-operation of all the other English + agents on the same side would have had the effect of assuring a + preponderance to this party (which was that of the civil and + commercial interests all through Greece), that might, by + strengthening the hands of the ruling power, have afforded some + hope of vigour and consistency in its movements. By this + division, however, the English lost their casting weight; and not + only marred whatever little chance they might have had of + extinguishing the dissensions of the Greeks, but exhibited, most + unseasonably, an example of dissension among themselves. + </p> + <p> + The visit to Salona, in which, though distrustful of the intended + Military Congress, Mavrocordato had consented to accompany Lord + Byron, was, as the foregoing letters have mentioned, delayed by + the floods,—the river Fidari having become so swollen as + not to be fordable. In the mean time, dangers, both from within + and without, threatened Missolonghi. The Turkish fleet had again + come forth from the Gulf, while, in concert, it was apprehended, + with this resumption of the blockade, insurrectionary movements, + instigated, as was afterwards known, by the malcontents of the + Morea, manifested themselves formidably both in the town and its + neighbourhood. The first cause for alarm was the landing, in + canoes, from Anatolico, of a party of armed men, the followers of + Cariascachi of that place, who came to demand retribution from + the people of Missolonghi for some injury that, in a late affray, + had been inflicted on one of their clan. It was also rumoured + that 300 Suliotes were marching upon the town; and <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg193" id="pg193">193</a></span> the following + morning, news came that a party of these wild warriors had + actually seized upon Basiladi, a fortress that commands the port + of Missolonghi, while some of the soldiers of Cariascachi had, in + the course of the night, arrested two of the Primates, and + carried them to Anatolico. The tumult and indignation that this + intelligence produced was universal. All the shops were shut, and + the bazaars deserted. "Lord Byron," says Count Gamba, "ordered + his troops to continue under arms; but to preserve the strictest + neutrality, without mixing in any quarrel, either by actions or + words." + </p> + <p> + During this crisis, the weather had become sufficiently + favourable to admit of his paying the visit to Salona, which he + had purposed. But, as his departure at such a juncture might have + the appearance of abandoning Missolonghi, he resolved to wait the + danger out. At this time the following letters were written. + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <h3> + LETTER 559. TO MR. BARFF. + </h3> + <p class="quotdate"> + "April 3. + </p> + <p> + "There is a quarrel, not yet settled, between the citizens and + some of Cariascachi's people, which has already produced some + blows. I keep my people quite neutral; but have ordered them to + be on their guard. + </p> + <p> + "Some days ago we had an Italian private soldier drummed out for + thieving. The German officers wanted to flog him; but I flatly + refused to permit the use of the stick or whip, and delivered him + over <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg194" id= + "pg194">194</a></span> to the police.<span class= + "fnref">[1]</span> Since then a Prussian officer rioted in his + lodgings; and I put him under arrest, according to the order. + This, it appears, did not please his German confederation: but I + stuck by my text; and have given them plainly to understand, that + those who do not choose to be amenable to the laws of the country + and service, may retire; but that in all that I have to do, I + will see them obeyed by foreigner or native. + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: "Lord Byron declared that, as far as he was + concerned, no barbarous usages, however adopted even by some + civilised people, should be introduced into Greece; especially + as such a mode of punishment would disgust rather than reform. + We hit upon an expedient which favoured our military + discipline: but it required not only all Lord Byron's + eloquence, but his authority, to prevail upon our Germans to + accede to it. The culprit had his uniform stripped off his + back, in presence of his comrades, and was afterwards marched + through the town with a label on his back, describing, both in + Greek and Italian, the nature of his offence; after which he + was given up to the regular police. This example of severity, + tempered by a humane spirit, produced the best effect upon our + soldiers, as well as upon the citizens of the town. But it was + very near causing a most disagreeable circumstance; for, in the + course of the evening, some very high words passed on the + subject between three Englishmen, two of them officers of our + brigade, in consequence of which cards were exchanged, and two + duels were to have been fought the next morning. Lord Byron did + not hear of this till late at night: but he immediately ordered + me to arrest both parties, which I according did; and, after + some difficulty, prevailed on them to shake hands."—COUNT + GAMBA'S <i>Narrative</i>.] + </p> + </div> + <p> + "I wish something was heard of the arrival of <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg195" id="pg195">195</a></span> part of the + Loan, for there is a plentiful dearth of every thing at present." + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <h3> + LETTER 560. TO MR. BARFF. + </h3> + <p class="quotdate"> + "April 6. + </p> + <p> + "Since I wrote, we have had some tumult here with the citizens + and Cariascachi's people, and all are under arms, our boys and + all. They nearly fired on me and fifty of my lads<span class= + "fnref">[1]</span>, by mistake, as we were taking our usual + excursion into the country. To-day matters are settled or + subsiding; but, about an hour ago, the father-in-law of the + landlord of the house where I am lodged (one of the Primates the + said landlord is) was arrested for high treason. + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: A corps of fifty Suliotes which he had, almost + ever since his arrival at Missolonghi, kept about him as a + body-guard. A large outer room of his house was appropriated to + these troops; and their carbines were suspended along the + walls. "In this room (says Mr. Parry), and among these rude + soldiers, Lord Byron was accustomed to walk a great deal, + particularly in wet weather, accompanied by his favourite dog, + Lion." + </p> + <p> + When he rode out, these fifty Suliotes attended him on foot; + and though they carried their carbines, "they were always," + says the same authority, "able to keep up with the horses at + full speed. The captain, and a certain number, preceded his + Lordship, who rode accompanied on one side by Count Gamba, and + on the other by the Greek interpreter. Behind him, also on + horseback, came two of his servants,—generally his black + groom, and Tita,—both dressed like the chasseurs usually + seen behind the carriages of ambassadors, and another division + of his guard closed the cavalcade."—PARRY'S <i>Last Days + of Lord Byron</i>.] + </p> + </div> + <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="pg196" id= + "pg196">196</a></span> + "They are in conclave still with Mavrocordato; and we have a + number of new faces from the hills, come to assist, they say. + Gun-boats and batteries all ready, &c. + </p> + <p> + "The row has had one good effect—it has put them on the + alert. What is to become of the father-in-law, I do not know: nor + what he has done, exactly<span class="fnref">[1]</span>: but + </p> + <div class="poem"> + <p> + "''Tis a very fine thing to be father-in-law + </p> + <p> + To a very magnificent three-tail'd bashaw,' + </p> + </div> + <p> + as the man in Bluebeard says and sings. I wrote to you upon + matters at length, some days ago; the letter, or letters, you + will receive with this. We are desirous to hear more of the Loan; + and it is some time since I have had any letters (at least of an + interesting description) from England, excepting one of 4th + February, from Bowring (of no great importance). My latest dates + are of 9bre, or of the 6th 10bre, four months exactly. I hope you + get on well in the islands: here most of us are, or have been, + more or less indisposed, natives as well as foreigners." + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: This man had, it seems, on his way from Ioannina, + passed by Anatolico, and held several conferences with + Cariascachi. He had long been suspected of being a spy; and the + letters found upon him confirmed the suspicion.] + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + </div> + <h3> + LETTER 561. TO MR. BARFF. + </h3> + <p class="quotdate"> + "April 7. + </p> + <p> + "The Greeks here of the Government have been boring me for more + money.<span class="fnref">[1]</span> As I have the brigade + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg197" id="pg197">197</a></span> + to maintain, and the campaign is apparently now to open, and as I + have already spent 30,000 dollars in three months upon them in + one way or another, and more especially as their public loan has + succeeded, so that they ought not to draw from individuals at + that rate, I have given them a refusal, and—as they would + not take <i>that,—another</i> refusal in terms of + considerable sincerity. + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: In consequence of the mutinous proceedings of + Cariascachi's people, most of the neighbouring chieftains + hastened to the assistance of the Government, and had already + with this view marched to Anatolico near 2000 men. But, however + opportune the arrival of such a force, they were a cause of + fresh embarrassment, as there was a total want of provisions + for their daily maintenance. It was in this emergency that the + Governor, Primates, and Chieftains had recourse, as here + stated, to their usual source of supply.] + </p> + </div> + <p> + "They wish now to try in the Islands for a few thousand dollars + on the ensuing Loan. If you can serve them, perhaps you will, (in + the way of information, at any rate,) and I will see that you + have fair play; but still I do not <i>advise</i> you, except to + act as you please. Almost every thing depends upon the arrival, + and the speedy arrival, of a portion of the Loan to keep peace + among themselves. If they can but have sense to do this, I think + that they will be a match and better for any force that can be + brought against them for the present. We are all doing as well as + we can." + </p> + <p> + It will be perceived from these letters, that besides the great + and general interests of the cause, which were in themselves + sufficient to absorb all his thoughts, he was also met on every + side, in the <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg198" id= + "pg198">198</a></span> details of his duty, by every possible + variety of obstruction and distraction that rapacity, turbulence, + and treachery could throw in his way. Such vexations, too, as + would have been trying to the most robust health, here fell upon + a frame already marked out for death; nor can we help feeling, + while we contemplate this last scene of his life, that, much as + there is in it to admire, to wonder at, and glory in, there is + also much that awakens sad and most distressful thoughts. In a + situation more than any other calling for sympathy and care, we + see him cast among strangers and mercenaries, without either + nurse or friend;—the self-collectedness of woman being, as + we shall find, wanting for the former office, and the youth and + inexperience of Count Gamba unfitting him wholly for the other. + The very firmness with which a position so lone and disheartening + was sustained, serves, by interesting us more deeply in the man, + to increase our sympathy, till we almost forget admiration in + pity, and half regret that he should have been great at such a + cost. + </p> + <p> + The only circumstances that had for some time occurred to give + him pleasure were, as regarded public affairs, the news of the + successful progress of the Loan, and, in his personal relations, + some favourable intelligence which he had received, after a long + interruption of communication, respecting his sister and + daughter. The former, he learned, had been seriously indisposed + at the very time of his own fit, but had now entirely recovered. + While delighted at this news, he could not help, at the + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg199" id="pg199">199</a></span> + same time, remarking, with his usual tendency to such + superstitious feelings, how strange and striking was the + coincidence. + </p> + <p> + To those who have, from his childhood, traced him through these + pages, it must be manifest, I think, that Lord Byron was not + formed to be long-lived. Whether from any hereditary defect in + his organisation,—as he himself, from the circumstance of + both his parents having died young, concluded,—or from + those violent means he so early took to counteract the natural + tendency of his habit, and reduce himself to thinness, he was, + almost every year, as we have seen, subject to attacks of + indisposition, by more than one of which his life was seriously + endangered. The capricious course which he at all times pursued + respecting diet,—his long fastings, his expedients for the + allayment of hunger, his occasional excesses in the most + unwholesome food, and, during the latter part of his residence in + Italy, his indulgence in the use of spirituous + beverages,—all this could not be otherwise than hurtful and + undermining to his health; while his constant recourse to + medicine,—daily, as it appears, and in large + quantities,—both evinced and, no doubt, increased the + derangement of his digestion. When to all this we add the + wasteful wear of spirits and strength from the slow corrosion of + sensibility, the warfare of the passions, and the workings of a + mind that allowed itself no sabbath, it is not to be wondered at + that the vital principle in him should so soon have burnt out, or + that, at the age of thirty-three, he should have had—as he + himself drearily <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg200" id= + "pg200">200</a></span> expresses it—"an old feel." To feed + the flame, the all-absorbing flame, of his genius, the whole + powers of his nature, physical as well as moral, were + sacrificed;—to present that grand and costly conflagration + to the world's eyes, in which, + </p> + <div class="poem"> + <p> + "Glittering, like a palace set on fire, + </p> + <p> + His glory, while it shone, but ruin'd him!"<span class= + "fnref">[1]</span> + </p> + </div> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: Beaumont and Fletcher.] + </p> + </div> + <p> + It was on the very day when, as I have mentioned, the + intelligence of his sister's recovery reached him, that, having + been for the last three or four days prevented from taking + exercise by the rains, he resolved, though the weather still + looked threatening, to venture out on horseback. Three miles from + Missolonghi Count Gamba and himself were overtaken by a heavy + shower, and returned to the town walls wet through and in a state + of violent perspiration. It had been their usual practice to + dismount at the walls and return to their house in a boat, but, + on this day, Count Gamba, representing to Lord Byron how + dangerous it would be, warm as he then was, to sit exposed so + long to the rain in a boat, entreated of him to go back the whole + way on horseback. To this however, Lord Byron would not consent; + but said, laughingly, "I should make a pretty soldier indeed, if + I were to care for such a trifle." They accordingly dismounted + and got into the boat as usual. + </p> + <p> + About two hours after his return home he was seized with a + shuddering, and complained of fever and rheumatic pains. "At + eight that evening," <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg201" id= + "pg201">201</a></span> says Count Gamba, "I entered his room. He + was lying on a sofa restless and melancholy. He said to me, 'I + suffer a great deal of pain. I do not care for death, but these + agonies I cannot bear.'" + </p> + <p> + The following day he rose at his accustomed + hour,—transacted business, and was even able to take his + ride in the olive woods, accompanied, as usual, by his long train + of Suliotes. He complained, however, of perpetual shudderings, + and had no appetite. On his return home he remarked to Fletcher + that his saddle, he thought, had not been perfectly dried since + yesterday's wetting, and that he felt himself the worse for it. + This was the last time he ever crossed the threshold alive. In + the evening Mr. Finlay and Mr. Millingen called upon him. "He was + at first (says the latter gentleman) gayer than usual; but on a + sudden became pensive." + </p> + <p> + On the evening of the 11th his fever, which was pronounced to be + rheumatic, increased; and on the 12th he kept his bed all day, + complaining that he could not sleep, and taking no nourishment + whatever. The two following days, though the fever had apparently + diminished, he became still more weak, and suffered much from + pains in the head. + </p> + <p> + It was not till the 14th that his physician, Dr. Bruno, finding + the sudorifics which he had hitherto employed to be unavailing, + began to urge upon his patient the necessity of being bled. Of + this, however, Lord Byron would not hear. He had evidently but + little reliance on his medical attendant; and from the specimens + this young man has since given of his intellect to the world, it + is, indeed, lamentable,—supposing <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg202" id="pg202">202</a></span> skill to have + been, at this moment, of any avail,—that a life so precious + should have been intrusted to such ordinary hands. "It was on + this day, I think," says Count Gamba, "that, as I was sitting + near him, on his sofa, he said to me, 'I was afraid I was losing + my memory, and, in order to try, I attempted to repeat some Latin + verses with the English translation, which I have not endeavoured + to recollect since I was at school. I remembered them all except + the last word of one of the hexameters.'" + </p> + <p> + To the faithful Fletcher, the idea of his master's life being in + danger seems to have occurred some days before it struck either + Count Gamba or the physician. So little, according to his + friend's narrative, had such a suspicion crossed Lord Byron's own + mind, that he even expressed himself "rather glad of his fever, + as it might cure him of his tendency to epilepsy." To Fletcher, + however, it appears, he had professed, more than once, strong + doubts as to the nature of his complaint being so slight as the + physician seemed to suppose it, and on his servant renewing his + entreaties that he would send for Dr. Thomas to Zante, made no + further opposition; though still, out of consideration for those + gentlemen, he referred him on the subject to Dr. Bruno and Mr. + Millingen. Whatever might have been the advantage or satisfaction + of this step, it was now rendered wholly impossible by the + weather,—such a hurricane blowing into the port that not a + ship could get out. The rain, too, descended in torrents, and + between the floods on the land-side and the <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg203" id="pg203">203</a></span> sirocco from + the sea, Missolonghi was, for the moment, a pestilential prison. + </p> + <p> + It was at this juncture that Mr. Millingen was, for the first + time, according to his own account, invited to attend Lord Byron + in his medical capacity,—his visit on the 10th being so + little, as he states, professional, that he did not even, on that + occasion, feel his Lordship's pulse. The great object for which + he was now called in, and rather, it would seem, by Fletcher than + Dr. Bruno, was for the purpose of joining his representations and + remonstrances to theirs, and prevailing upon the patient to + suffer himself to be bled,—an operation now become + absolutely necessary from the increase of the fever, and which + Dr. Bruno had, for the last two days, urged in vain. + </p> + <p> + Holding gentleness to be, with a disposition like that of Byron, + the most effectual means of success, Mr. Millingen tried, as he + himself tells us, all that reasoning and persuasion could suggest + towards attaining his object. But his efforts were + fruitless:—Lord Byron, who had now become morbidly + irritable, replied angrily, but still with all his accustomed + acuteness and spirit, to the physician's observations. Of all his + prejudices, he declared, the strongest was that against bleeding. + His mother had obtained from him a promise never to consent to + being bled; and whatever argument might be produced, his + aversion, he said, was stronger than reason. "Besides, is it + not," he asked, "asserted by Dr. Reid, in his Essays, that less + slaughter is effected by the lance than the lancet:—that + minute instrument of mighty <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg204" + id="pg204">204</a></span> mischief!" On Mr. Millingen observing + that this remark related to the treatment of nervous, but not of + inflammatory complaints, he rejoined, in an angry tone, "Who is + nervous, if I am not? And do not those other words of his, too, + apply to my case, where he says that drawing blood from a nervous + patient is like loosening the chords of a musical instrument, + whose tones already fail for want of sufficient tension? Even + before this illness, you yourself know how weak and irritable I + had become;—and bleeding, by increasing this state, will + inevitably kill me. Do with me whatever else you like, but bleed + me you shall not. I have had several inflammatory fevers in my + life, and at an age when more robust and plethoric: yet I got + through them without bleeding. This time, also, will I take my + chance."<span class="fnref">[1]</span> + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: It was during the same, or some similar + conversation, that Dr. Bruno also reports him to have said, "If + my hour is come, I shall die, whether I lose my blood or keep + it."] + </p> + </div> + <p> + After much reasoning and repeated entreaties, Mr. Millingen at + length succeeded in obtaining from him a promise, that should he + feel his fever increase at night, he would allow Dr. Bruno to + bleed him. + </p> + <p> + During this day he had transacted business and received several + letters; particularly one that much pleased him from the Turkish + Governor, to whom he had sent the rescued prisoners, and who, in + this communication, thanked him for his humane interference, and + requested a repetition of it. <span class="pagenum"><a name= + "pg205" id="pg205">205</a></span> + </p> + <p> + In the evening he conversed a good deal with Parry, who remained + some hours by his bedside. "He sat up in his bed (says this + officer), and was then calm and collected. He talked with me on a + variety of subjects connected with himself and his family; he + spoke of his intentions as to Greece, his plans for the campaign, + and what he should ultimately do for that country. He spoke to me + about my own adventures. He spoke of death also with great + composure; and though he did not believe his end was so very + near, there was something about him so serious and so firm, so + resigned and composed, so different from any thing I had ever + before seen in him, that my mind misgave me, and at times + foreboded his speedy dissolution." + </p> + <p> + On revisiting his patient early next morning, Mr. Millingen + learned from him, that having passed, as he thought, on the + whole, a better night, he had not considered it necessary to ask + Dr. Bruno to bleed him. What followed, I shall, in justice to Mr. + Millingen, give in his own words.<span class="fnref">[1]</span> + "I thought it my duty now to put aside all consideration of his + feelings, and to declare solemnly to him, how deeply I lamented + to see him trifle thus with his life, and show so little + resolution. His pertinacious refusal had already, I said, caused + most precious time to be lost;—but few hours of hope now + remained, and, unless he submitted immediately to be bled, we + could not answer for the consequences. It was true, he cared + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg206" id="pg206">206</a></span> + not for life; but who could assure him that, unless he changed + his resolution, the uncontrolled disease might not operate such + disorganisation in his system as utterly and for ever to deprive + him of reason?—I had now hit at last on the sensible chord; + and, partly annoyed by our importunities, partly persuaded, he + cast at us both the fiercest glance of vexation, and throwing out + his arm, said, in the angriest tone, 'There,—you are, I + see, a d—d set of butchers,—take away as much blood + as you like, but have done with it.' + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: MS.—This gentleman is, I understand, about + to publish the Narrative from which the above extract is + taken.] + </p> + </div> + <p> + "We seized the moment (adds Mr. Millingen), and drew about twenty + ounces. On coagulating, the blood presented a strong buffy coat; + yet the relief obtained did not correspond to the hopes we had + formed, and during the night the fever became stronger than it + had been hitherto. The restlessness and agitation increased, and + the patient spoke several times in an incoherent manner." + </p> + <p> + On the following morning, the 17th, the bleeding was repeated; + for, although the rheumatic symptoms had been completely removed, + the appearances of inflammation on the brain were now hourly + increasing. Count Gamba, who had not for the last two days seen + him, being confined to his own apartment by a sprained ankle, now + contrived to reach his room. "His countenance," says this + gentleman, "at once awakened in me the most dreadful suspicions. + He was very calm; he talked to me in the kindest manner about my + accident, but in a hollow, sepulchral tone. 'Take care of your + foot,' said he; 'I know by experience how painful it must be.' I + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg207" id="pg207">207</a></span> + could not stay near his bed: a flood of tears rushed into my + eyes, and I was obliged to withdraw." Neither Count Gamba, + indeed, nor Fletcher, appear to have been sufficiently masters of + themselves to do much else than weep during the remainder of this + afflicting scene. + </p> + <p> + In addition to the bleeding, which was repeated twice on the + 17th, it was thought right also to apply blisters to the soles of + his feet. "When on the point of putting them on," says Mr. + Millingen, "Lord Byron asked me whether it would answer the + purpose to apply both on the same leg. Guessing immediately the + motive that led him to ask this question, I told him that I would + place them above the knees. 'Do so,' he replied." + </p> + <p> + It is painful to dwell on such details,—but we are now + approaching the close. In addition to most of those sad varieties + of wretchedness which surround alike the grandest and humblest + deathbeds, there was also in the scene now passing around the + dying Byron such a degree of confusion and uncomfort as renders + it doubly dreary to contemplate. There having been no person + invested, since his illness, with authority over the household, + neither order nor quiet was maintained in his apartment. Most of + the comforts necessary in such an illness were wanting; and those + around him, either unprepared for the danger, were, like Bruno, + when it came, bewildered by it; or, like the kind-hearted + Fletcher and Count Gamba, were by their feelings rendered no less + helpless. + </p> + <p> + "In all the attendants," says Parry, "there was <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg208" id="pg208">208</a></span> the + officiousness of zeal; but, owing to their ignorance of each + other's language, their zeal only added to the confusion. This + circumstance, and the want of common necessaries, made Lord + Byron's apartment such a picture of distress and even anguish + during the two or three last days of his life, as I never before + beheld, and wish never again to witness." + </p> + <p> + The 18th being Easter day,—a holiday which the Greeks + celebrate by firing off muskets and artillery,—it was + apprehended that this noise might be injurious to Lord Byron; + and, as a means of attracting away the crowd from the + neighbourhood, the artillery brigade were marched out by Parry, + to exercise their guns at some distance from the town; while, at + the same time, the town-guard patrolled the streets, and + informing the people of the danger of their benefactor, entreated + them to preserve all possible quiet. + </p> + <p> + About three o'clock in the afternoon, Lord Byron rose and went + into the adjoining room. He was able to walk across the chamber, + leaning on his servant Tita; and, when seated, asked for a book, + which the servant brought him. After reading, however, for a few + minutes, he found himself faint; and, again taking Tita's arm, + tottered into the next room, and returned to bed. + </p> + <p> + At this time the physicians, becoming still more alarmed, + expressed a wish for a consultation; and proposed calling in, + without delay, Dr. Freiber, the medical assistant of Mr. + Millingen, and Luca Vaya, a Greek, the physician of Mavrocordato. + On hea[r]ing <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg209" id= + "pg209">209</a></span> this, Lord Byron at first refused to see + them; but being informed that Mavrocordato advised it, he + said,—"Very well, let them come; but let them look at me + and say nothing." This they promised, and were admitted; but when + one of them, on feeling his pulse, showed a wish to + speak—"Recollect," he said, "your promise, and go away." + </p> + <p> + It was after this consultation of the physicians<span class= + "fnref">[1]</span>, that, as it appeared to Count Gamba, Lord + Byron was, for the first time, aware of his approaching end. Mr. + Millingen, Fletcher, and Tita had been standing round his bed; + but the two first, unable to restrain their tears, left the room. + Tita also wept; but, as Byron held his hand, could not retire. + He, however, turned away his face; while Byron, looking at him + steadily, said, half smiling, "Oh questa è una bella scena!" He + then seemed to reflect a moment, and exclaimed, "Call Parry." + Almost immediately afterwards, a fit of delirium ensued; and he + began to talk wildly, as if he were mounting a breach in an + assault,—calling out, half in English, half in Italian, + "Forwards—forwards—courage—follow my example," + &c. &c. + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: For Mr. Millingen's account of this consultation, + see Appendix.] + </p> + </div> + <p> + On coming again to himself, he asked Fletcher, who had then + returned into the room, "whether he had sent for Dr. Thomas, as + he desired?" and the servant answering in the affirmative, he + replied, "You have done right, for I should like to know what is + the matter with me." He had, a short time before, with + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg210" id="pg210">210</a></span> + that kind consideration for those about him which was one of the + great sources of their lasting attachment to him, said to + Fletcher, "I am afraid you and Tita will be ill with sitting up + night and day." It was now evident that he knew he was dying; and + between his anxiety to make his servant understand his last + wishes, and the rapid failure of his powers of utterance, a most + painful scene ensued. On Fletcher asking whether he should bring + pen and paper to take down his words—"Oh no," he + replied—"there is no time—it is now nearly over. Go + to my sister—tell her—go to Lady Byron—you will + see her, and say ——" Here his voice faltered, and + became gradually indistinct; notwithstanding which he continued + still to mutter to himself, for nearly twenty minutes, with much + earnestness of manner, but in such a tone that only a few words + could be distinguished. These, too, were only + names,—"Augusta,"—"Ada,"—"Hobhouse,"—"Kinnaird." + He then said, "Now, I have told you all." "My Lord," replied + Fletcher, "I have not understood a word your Lordship has been + saying."—"Not understand me?" exclaimed Lord Byron, with a + look of the utmost distress, "what a pity!—then it is too + late; all is over."—"I hope not," answered Fletcher; "but + the Lord's will be done!"—"Yes, not mine," said Byron. He + then tried to utter a few words, of which none were intelligible, + except "my sister—my child." + </p> + <p> + The decision adopted at the consultation had been, contrary to + the opinion of Mr. Millingen and Dr. Freiber, to administer to + the patient a strong antispasmodic <span class="pagenum"><a name= + "pg211" id="pg211">211</a></span> potion, which, while it + produced sleep, but hastened perhaps death. In order to persuade + him into taking this draught, Mr. Parry was sent for<span class= + "fnref">[1]</span>, and, without any difficulty, induced him to + swallow a few mouthfuls. "When he took my hand," says Parry, "I + found his hands were deadly cold. With the assistance of Tita I + endeavoured gently to create a little warmth in them; and also + loosened the bandage which was tied round his head. Till this was + done he seemed in great pain, clenched his hands at times, + gnashed his teeth, and uttered the Italian exclamation of 'Ah + Christi!' He bore the loosening of the band passively, and, after + it was loosened, shed tears; then taking my hand again, uttered a + faint good night, and sunk into a slumber." + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: From this circumstance, as well as from the terms + in which he is mentioned by Lord Byron, it is plain that this + person had, by his blunt, practical good sense, acquired far + more influence over his Lordship's mind than was possessed by + any of the other persons about him.] + </p> + </div> + <p> + In about half an hour he again awoke, when a second dose of the + strong infusion was administered to him. "From those about him," + says Count Gamba, who was not able to bear this scene himself, "I + collected that, either at this time, or in his former interval of + reason, he could be understood to say—'Poor + Greece!—poor town!—my poor servants!' Also, 'Why was + I not aware of this sooner?' and 'My hour is come!—I do not + care for death—but why did I not go home before I came + here?' At another time he said, 'There are <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg212" id="pg212">212</a></span> things which + make the world dear to me <i>Io lascio qualche cosa di caro nel + mondo</i>: for the rest, I am content to die.' He spoke also of + Greece, saying, 'I have given her my time, my means, my + health—and now I give her my life!—what could I do + more?'"<span class="fnref">[1]</span> + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: It is but right to remind the reader, that for the + sayings here attributed to Lord Byron, however natural and + probable they may appear, there is not exactly the same + authority of credible witnesses by which all the other details + I have given of his last hours are supported.] + </p> + </div> + <p> + It was about six o'clock on the evening of this day when he said, + "Now I shall go to sleep;" and then turning round fell into that + slumber from which he never awoke. For the next twenty-four hours + he lay incapable of either sense or motion,—with the + exception of, now and then, slight symptoms of suffocation, + during which his servant raised his head,—and at a quarter + past six o'clock on the following day, the 19th, he was seen to + open his eyes and immediately shut them again. The physicians + felt his pulse—he was no more! + </p> + <p> + To attempt to describe how the intelligence of this sad event + struck upon all hearts would be as difficult as it is + superfluous. He, whom the whole world was to mourn, had on the + tears of Greece peculiar claim,—for it was at her feet he + now laid down the harvest of such a life of fame. To the people + of Missolonghi, who first felt the shock that was soon to spread + through all Europe, the event seemed almost incredible. It was + but the other day that he had come among them, radiant with + renown,—inspiring <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg213" id= + "pg213">213</a></span> faith, by his very name, in those miracles + of success that were about to spring forth at the touch of his + ever-powerful genius. All this had now vanished like a short + dream:—nor can we wonder that the poor Greeks, to whom his + coming had been such a glory, and who, on the last evening of his + life, thronged the streets, enquiring as to his state, should + regard the thunder-storm which, at the moment he died, broke over + the town, as a signal of his doom, and, in their superstitious + grief, cry to each other, "The great man is gone!"<span class= + "fnref">[1]</span> + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: Parry's "Last Days of Lord Byron," p. 128.] + </p> + </div> + <p> + Prince Mavrocordato, who of all best knew and felt the extent of + his country's loss, and who had to mourn doubly the friend of + Greece and of himself, on the evening of the 19th issued this + melancholy proclamation:— + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + "PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT OF WESTERN GREECE. + </p> + <p> + "ART. 1185. + </p> + <p> + "The present day of festivity and rejoicing has become one of + sorrow and of mourning. The Lord Noel Byron departed this life at + six o'clock in the afternoon, after an illness of ten days; his + death being caused by an inflammatory fever. Such was the effect + of his Lordship's illness on the public mind, that all classes + had forgotten their usual recreations of Easter, even before the + afflicting event was apprehended. <span class="pagenum"><a name= + "pg214" id="pg214">214</a></span> + </p> + <p> + "The loss of this illustrious individual is undoubtedly to be + deplored by all Greece; but it must be more especially a subject + of lamentation at Missolonghi, where his generosity has been so + conspicuously displayed, and of which he had even become a + citizen, with the further determination of participating in all + the dangers of the war. + </p> + <p> + "Every body is acquainted with the beneficent acts of his + Lordship, and none can cease to hail his name as that of a real + benefactor. + </p> + <p> + "Until, therefore, the final determination of the National + Government be known, and by virtue of the powers with which it + has been pleased to invest me, I hereby decree,— + </p> + <p> + "1st, To-morrow morning, at daylight, thirty seven minute guns + will be fired from the Grand Battery, being the number which + corresponds with the age of the illustrious deceased. + </p> + <p> + "2d, All the public offices, even the tribunals, are to remain + closed for three successive days. + </p> + <p> + "3d, All the shops, except those in which provisions or medicines + are sold, will also be shut; and it is strictly enjoined that + every species of public amusement, and other demonstrations of + festivity at Easter, shall be suspended. + </p> + <p> + "4th, A general mourning will be observed for twenty-one days. + </p> + <p> + "5th, Prayers and a funeral service are to be offered up in all + the churches. + </p> + <p class="quotsig"> + (Signed) "A. MAVROCORDATO. + <br /> + "GEORGE PRAIDIS, Secretary. + </p> + <p> + "Given at Missolonghi, + <br /> + this 19th day of April, 1824." + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg215" id= + "pg215">215</a></span>Similar honours were paid to his memory at + many other places through Greece. At Salona, where the Congress + had assembled, his soul was prayed for in the Church; after which + the whole garrison and the citizens went out into the plain, + where another religious ceremony took place, under the shade of + the olive trees. This being concluded, the troops fired; and an + oration, full of the warmest praise and gratitude, was pronounced + by the High Priest. + </p> + <p> + When such was the veneration shown towards him by strangers, what + must have been the feelings of his near associates and + attendants? Let one speak for all:—"He died (says Count + Gamba) in a strange land, and amongst strangers; but more loved, + more sincerely wept he never could have been, wherever he had + breathed his last. Such was the attachment, mingled with a sort + of reverence and enthusiasm, with which he inspired those around + him, that there was not one of us who would not, for his sake, + have willingly encountered any danger in the world." + </p> + <p> + Colonel Stanhope, whom the sad intelligence reached at Salona, + thus writes to the Committee:—"A courier has just arrived + from the Chief Scalza. Alas! all our fears are realised. The soul + of Byron has taken its last flight. England has lost her + brightest genius, Greece her noblest friend. To console them for + the loss, he has left behind the emanations of his splendid mind. + If Byron had faults, he had redeeming virtues too—he + sacrificed his comfort, fortune, health, and life, to the cause + of an oppressed nation. Honoured be his memory!" + </p> + <p> + Mr. Trelawney, who was on his way to Missolonghi <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg216" id="pg216">216</a></span> at the time, + describes as follows the manner in which he first heard of his + friend's death:—"With all my anxiety I could not get here + before the third day. It was the second, after having crossed the + first great torrent, that I met some soldiers from Missolonghi. I + had let them all pass me, ere I had resolution enough to enquire + the news from Missolonghi. I then rode back, and demanded of a + straggler the news. I heard nothing more than—Lord Byron is + dead,—and I proceeded on in gloomy silence." The writer + adds, after detailing the particulars of the poet's illness and + death, "Your pardon, Stanhope, that I have thus turned aside from + the great cause in which I am embarked. But this is no private + grief. The world has lost its greatest man; I my best friend." + </p> + <p> + Among his servants the same feeling of sincere grief + prevailed:—"I have in my possession (says Mr. Hoppner, in + the Notices with which he has favoured me,) a letter written by + his gondolier Tita, who had accompanied him from Venice, giving + an account to his parents of his master's decease. Of this event + the poor fellow speaks in the most affecting manner, telling them + that in Lord Byron he had lost a father rather than a master; and + expatiating upon the indulgence with which he had always treated + his domestics, and the care he expressed for their comfort and + welfare." + </p> + <p> + His valet Fletcher, too, in a letter to Mr. Murray, announcing + the event, says, "Please to excuse all defects, for I scarcely + know what I either say or do; for, after twenty years' service + with my Lord, he <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg217" id= + "pg217">217</a></span> was more to me than a father, and I am too + much distressed to give now a correct account of every + particular." + </p> + <p> + In speaking of the effect produced on the friends of Greece by + this event, Mr. Trelawney says,—"I think Byron's name was + the great means of getting the Loan. A Mr. Marshall, with + 8000<i>l</i>. per annum, was as far as Corfu, and turned back on + hearing of Lord Byron's death. Thousands of people were flocking + here: some had arrived as far as Corfu, and hearing of his death, + confessed they came out to devote their fortunes not to the + Greeks, or from interest in the cause, but to the noble poet; and + the 'Pilgrim of Eternity<span class="fnref">[1]</span>' having + departed, they turned back."<span class="fnref">[2]</span> + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: The title given by Shelley to Lord Byron in his + Elegy on the death of Keats. + </p> + <div class="poem"> + <p> + "The Pilgrim of Eternity, whose fame + </p> + <p> + Over his living head like Heaven is bent, + </p> + <p> + An early but enduring monument, + </p> + <p> + Came veiling all the lightnings of his song + </p> + <p> + In sorrow."] + </p> + </div> + </div> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 2: Parry, too, mentions an instance to the same + effect:—"While I was on the quarantine-house at Zante, a + gentleman called on me, and made numerous enquiries as to Lord + Byron. He said he was only one of fourteen English gentlemen, + then at Ancona, who had sent him on to obtain intelligence, and + only waited his return to come and join Lord Byron. They were + to form a mounted guard for him, and meant to devote their + personal services and their incomes to the Greek cause. On + hearing of Lord Byron's death, however, they turned back."] + </p> + </div> + <p> + The funeral ceremony, which, on account of the rains, had been + postponed for a day, took place in <span class="pagenum"><a name= + "pg218" id="pg218">218</a></span> the church of St. Nicholas, at + Missolonghi, on the 22d of April, and is thus feelingly described + by an eye-witness:— + </p> + <p> + "In the midst of his own brigade, of the troops of the + Government, and of the whole population, on the shoulders of the + officers of his corps, relieved occasionally by other Greeks, the + most precious portion of his honoured remains were carried to the + church, where lie the bodies of Marco Bozzari and of General + Normann. There we laid them down: the coffin was a rude, + ill-constructed chest of wood; a black mantle served for a pall; + and over it we placed a helmet and a sword, and a crown of + laurel. But no funeral pomp could have left the impression, nor + spoken the feelings, of this simple ceremony. The wretchedness + and desolation of the place itself; the wild and half-civilised + warriors around us; their deep-felt, unaffected grief; the fond + recollections; the disappointed hopes; the anxieties and sad + presentiments which might be read on every countenance;—all + contributed to form a scene more moving, more truly affecting, + than perhaps was ever before witnessed round the grave of a great + man. + </p> + <p> + "When the funeral service was over, we left the bier in the + middle of the church, where it remained until the evening of the + next day, and was guarded by a detachment of his own brigade. The + church was crowded without cessation by those who came to honour + and to regret the benefactor of Greece. In the evening of the + 23d, the bier was privately carried back by his officers to his + own house. The coffin was not closed till the 29th of the month. + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg219" id="pg219">219</a></span> + Immediately after his death, his countenance had an air of + calmness, mingled with a severity, that seemed gradually to + soften; for when I took a last look of him, the expression, at + least to my eyes, was truly sublime." + </p> + <p> + We have seen how decidedly, while in Italy, Lord Byron expressed + his repugnance to the idea of his remains resting upon English + ground; and the injunctions he so frequently gave to Mr. Hoppner + on this point show his wishes to have been,—at least, + during that period,—sincere. With one so changing, however, + in his impulses, it was not too much to take for granted that the + far more cordial feeling entertained by him towards his + countrymen at Cephalonia would have been followed by a + correspondent change in this antipathy to England as a last + resting-place. It is, at all events, fortunate that by no such + spleen of the moment has his native country been deprived of her + natural right to enshrine within her own bosom one of the noblest + of her dead, and to atone for any wrong she may have inflicted + upon him, while living, by making his tomb a place of pilgrimage + for her sons through all ages. + </p> + <p> + By Colonel Stanhope and others it was suggested that, as a + tribute to the land he celebrated and died for, his remains + should be deposited at Athens, in the Temple of Theseus; and the + Chief Odysseus despatched an express to Missolonghi to enforce + this wish. On the part of the town, too, in which he breathed his + last, a similar request had been made by the citizens; and it was + thought advisable so far to accede to their desires as to leave + with them, for <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg220" id= + "pg220">220</a></span> interment, one of the vessels, in which + his remains, after embalmment, were enclosed. + </p> + <p> + The first step taken, before any decision as to its ultimate + disposal, was to have the body conveyed to Zante; and every + facility having been afforded by the Resident, Sir Frederick + Stoven, in providing and sending transports to Missolonghi for + that purpose, on the morning of the 2d of May the remains were + embarked, under a mournful salute from the guns of the + fortress:—"How different," says Count Gamba, "from that + which had welcomed the arrival of Byron only four months ago!" + </p> + <p> + At Zante, the determination was taken to send the body to + England; and the brig Florida, which had just arrived there with + the first instalment of the Loan, was engaged for the purpose. + Mr. Blaquiere, under whose care this first portion of the Loan + had come, was also the bearer of a Commission for the due + management of its disposal in Greece, in which Lord Byron was + named as the principal Commissioner. The same ship, however, that + brought this honourable mark of confidence was to return with him + a corpse. To Colonel Stanhope, who was then at Zante, on his way + homeward, was intrusted the charge of his illustrious colleague's + remains; and on the 25th of May he embarked with them on board + the Florida for England. + </p> + <p> + In the letter which, on his arrival in the Downs, June 29th, this + gentleman addressed to Lord Byron's executors, there is the + following passage:—"With respect to the funeral ceremony, I + am of opinion that his Lordship's family should be immediately + consulted, <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg221" id= + "pg221">221</a></span> and that sanction should be obtained for + the public burial of his body either in the great Abbey or + Cathedral of London." It has been asserted, and I fear too truly, + that on some intimation of the wish suggested in this last + sentence being conveyed to one of those Reverend persons who have + the honours of the Abbey at their disposal, such an answer was + returned as left but little doubt that a refusal would be the + result of any more regular application.<span class= + "fnref">[1]</span> + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: A former Dean of Westminster went so far, we know, + in his scruples as to exclude an epitaph from the Abbey, + because it contained the name of Milton:—"a name, in his + opinion," says Johnson, "too detestable to be read on the wall + of a building dedicated to devotion."—<i>Life of</i> + MILTON.] + </p> + </div> + <p> + There is an anecdote told of the poet Hafiz, in Sir William + Jones's Life, which, in reporting this instance of illiberality, + recurs naturally to the memory. After the death of the great + Persian bard, some of the religious among his countrymen + protested strongly against allowing to him the right of + sepulture, alleging, as their objection, the licentiousness of + his poetry. After much controversy, it was agreed to leave the + decision of the question to a mode of divination, not uncommon + among the Persians, which consisted in opening the poet's book at + random and taking the first verses that occurred. They happened + to be these:— + </p> + <div class="poem"> + <p> + "Oh turn not coldly from the poet's bier, + </p> + <p> + Nor check the sacred drops by Pity given; + </p> + <p> + For though in sin his body slumbereth here, + </p> + <p> + His soul, absolved, already wings to heaven." + </p> + </div> + <p> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg222" id= + "pg222">222</a></span>These lines, says the legend, were looked + upon as a divine decree; the religionists no longer enforced + their objections, and the remains of the bard were left to take + their quiet sleep by that "sweet bower of Mosellay" which he had + so often celebrated in his verses. + </p> + <p> + Were our Byron's right of sepulture to be decided in the same + manner, how few are there of his pages, thus taken at hazard, + that would not, by some genial touch of sympathy with virtue, + some glowing tribute to the bright works of God, or some gush of + natural devotion more affecting than any homily, give him a title + to admission into the purest temple of which Christian Charity + ever held the guardianship. + </p> + <p> + Let the decision, however, of these Reverend authorities have + been, finally, what it might, it was the wish, as is understood, + of Lord Byron's dearest relative to have his remains laid in the + family vault at Hucknall, near Newstead. On being landed from the + Florida, the body had, under the direction of his Lordship's + executors, Mr. Hobhouse and Mr. Hanson, been removed to the house + of Sir Edward Knatchbull in Great George Street, Westminster, + where it lay in state during Friday and Saturday, the 9th and + 10th of July, and on the following Monday the funeral procession + took place. Leaving Westminster at eleven o'clock in the morning, + attended by most of his Lordship's personal friends and by the + carriages of several persons of rank, it proceeded through + various streets of the metropolis towards the North Road. At + Pancras Church, the ceremonial of the procession being at an end, + the carriages returned; <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg223" id= + "pg223">223</a></span> and the hearse continued its way, by slow + stages, to Nottingham. + </p> + <p> + It was on Friday the 16th of July that, in the small village + church of Hucknall, the last duties were paid to the remains of + Byron, by depositing them, close to those of his mother, in the + family vault. Exactly on the same day of the same month in the + preceding year, he had said, it will be recollected, + despondingly, to Count Gamba, "Where shall we be in another + year?" The gentleman to whom this foreboding speech was addressed + paid a visit, some months after the interment, to Hucknall, and + was much struck, as I have heard, on approaching the village, by + the strong likeness it seemed to him to bear to his lost friend's + melancholy deathplace, Missolonghi. + </p> + <p> + On a tablet of white marble in the chancel of the Church of + Hucknall is the following inscription:— + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <div class="ctr"> + <p> + IN THE VAULT BENEATH, + <br /> + WHERE MANY OF HIS ANCESTORS AND HIS MOTHER ARE + <br /> + BURIED, + <br /> + LIE THE REMAINS OF + </p> + <h3> + GEORGE GORDON NOEL BYRON, + </h3> + <p> + LORD BYRON, OF ROCHDALE, + <br /> + IN THE COUNTY OF LANCASTER, + <br /> + THE AUTHOR OF "CHILDE HAROLD'S PILGRIMAGE." + <br /> + HE WAS BORN IN LONDON ON THE + <br /> + 22D OF JANUARY, 1788. + <br /> + HE DIED AT MISSOLONGHI, IN WESTERN GREECE, ON THE + <br /> + 19TH OF APRIL, 1824, + <br /> + ENGAGED IN THE GLORIOUS ATTEMPT TO RESTORE THAT + <br /> + COUNTRY TO HER ANCIENT FREEDOM AND RENOWN. + </p> + </div> + <hr /> + <div class="ctr"> + <p> + HIS SISTER, THE HONOURABLE + <br /> + AUGUSTA MARIA LEIGH, + <br /> + PLACED THIS TABLET TO HIS MEMORY. + </p> + </div> + <p> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg224" id= + "pg224">224</a></span>From among the tributes that have been + offered, in prose and verse, and in almost every language of + Europe, to his memory, I shall select two which appear to me + worthy of peculiar notice, as being, one of them,—so far as + my limited scholarship will allow me to judge,—a simple and + happy imitation of those laudatory inscriptions with which the + Greece of other times honoured the tombs of her heroes; and the + other as being the production of a pen, once engaged + controversially against Byron, but not the less ready, as these + affecting verses prove, to offer the homage of a manly sorrow and + admiration at his grave. + </p> + <p> + [Greek: + </p> + <div class="poem"> + <p class="i5"> + Eis + </p> + <p> + Ton en tê Helladi têleutêsanta + </p> + <p class="i4"> + Poiêtên + </p> + </div> + <hr /> + <div class="poem"> + <p> + Ou to zên tanaon biou euklees oud' enarithmein + </p> + <p class="i2"> + Arxaiax progonôn eunxneôn aretas + </p> + <p> + Ton d' eudaimonias moir' amphepei, hosper apantôn + </p> + <p class="i2"> + Aien aristeuôn gignetai athanatos.— + </p> + <p> + Eudeis oun su, teknon, xaritôn ear? ouk eti thallei + </p> + <p class="i2"> + Akmaios meleôn hêdupnoôn stephanos?— + </p> + <p> + Alla teon, tripophête, moron penphousin Aphênê, + </p> + <p class="i2"> + Mousai, patris, Arês, Ellas, eleupheria.<span class= + "fnref">[1]</span>] + </p> + </div> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: By John Williams, Esq.—The following + translation of this inscription will not be unacceptable to my + readers:— + </p> + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + "Not length of life—not an illustrious birth, + </p> + <p> + Rich with the noblest blood of all the earth;— + </p> + <p> + Nought can avail, save deeds of high emprize, + </p> + <p> + Our mortal being to immortalise. + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + "Sweet child of song, thou deepest!—ne'er again + </p> + <p> + Shall swell the notes of thy melodious strain: + </p> + <p> + Yet, with thy country wailing o'er thy urn, + </p> + <p> + Pallas, the Muse, Mars, Greece, and Freedom mourn." + </p> + </div> + <p class="citation"> + H.H. JOY.] + </p> + </div> + </div> + <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="pg225" id="pg225">225</a></span></p> + <div class="poem"> + <h4> + "CHILDE HAROLD'S LAST PILGRIMAGE. + <br /> + "BY THE REV. W.L. BOWLES. + </h4> + <div class="stanza"> + <p class="i2"> + "SO ENDS CHILDE HAROLD HIS LAST PILGRIMAGE!— + </p> + <p class="i2"> + Upon the shores of Greece he stood, and cried + </p> + <p class="i2"> + 'LIBERTY!' and those shores, from age to age + </p> + <p class="i2"> + Renown'd, and Sparta's woods and rocks replied + </p> + <p class="i2"> + 'Liberty!' But a Spectre, at his side, + </p> + <p class="i2"> + Stood mocking;—and its dart, uplifting high, + </p> + <p class="i2"> + Smote him;—he sank to earth in life's fair pride: + </p> + <p class="i2"> + SPARTA! thy rocks then heard another cry, + </p> + <p> + And old Ilissus sigh'd—'Die, generous exile, die!' + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p class="i2"> + "I will not ask sad Pity to deplore + </p> + <p class="i2"> + His wayward errors, who thus early died; + </p> + <p class="i2"> + Still less, CHILDE HAROLD, now thou art no more, + </p> + <p class="i2"> + Will I say aught of genius misapplied; + </p> + <p class="i2"> + Of the past shadows of thy spleen or pride:— + </p> + <p class="i2"> + But I will bid th' Arcadian cypress wave, + </p> + <p class="i2"> + Pluck the green laurel from Peneus' side, + </p> + <p class="i2"> + And pray thy spirit may such quiet have, + </p> + <p> + That not one thought unkind be murmur'd o'er thy grave. + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p class="i2"> + "SO HAROLD ENDS, IN GREECE, HIS PILGRIMAGE!— + </p> + <p class="i2"> + There fitly ending,—in that land renown'd, + </p> + <p class="i2"> + Whose mighty genius lives in Glory's page,— + </p> + <p class="i2"> + He, on the Muses' consecrated ground, + </p> + <p class="i2"> + Sinking to rest, while his young brows are bound + </p> + <p class="i2"> + With their unfading wreath!—To bands of mirth, + </p> + <p class="i2"> + No more in TEMPE let the pipe resound! + </p> + <p class="i2"> + HAROLD, I follow to thy place of birth + </p> + <p> + The slow hearse—and thy LAST sad PILGRIMAGE on earth. + </p><span class="pagenum"><a name="pg226" id= + "pg226">226</a></span> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p class="i2"> + "Slow moves the plumed hearse, the mourning train,— + </p> + <p class="i2"> + I mark the sad procession with a sigh, + </p> + <p class="i2"> + Silently passing to that village fane, + </p> + <p class="i2"> + Where, HAROLD, thy forefathers mouldering lie;— + </p> + <p class="i2"> + There sleeps THAT MOTHER, who with tearful eye, + </p> + <p class="i2"> + Pondering the fortunes of thy early road, + </p> + <p class="i2"> + Hung o'er the slumbers of thine infancy; + </p> + <p class="i2"> + Her son, released from mortal labour's load, + </p> + <p> + Now comes to rest, with her, in the same still abode. + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p class="i2"> + "Bursting Death's silence—could that mother + speak— + </p> + <p class="i2"> + (Speak when the earth was heap'd upon his head)— + </p> + <p class="i2"> + In thrilling, but with hollow accent weak, + </p> + <p class="i2"> + She thus might give the welcome of the dead:— + </p> + <p class="i2"> + 'Here rest, my son, with me;—the dream is fled;— + </p> + <p class="i2"> + The motley mask and the great stir is o'er: + </p> + <p class="i2"> + Welcome to me, and to this silent bed, + </p> + <p class="i2"> + Where deep forgetfulness succeeds the roar + </p> + <p> + Of life, and fretting passions waste the heart no more.'" + </p> + </div> + </div> + <p> + By his Lordship's Will, a copy of which will be found in the + Appendix, he bequeathed to his executors in trust for the benefit + of his sister, Mrs. Leigh, the monies arising from the sale of + all his real estates at Rochdale and elsewhere, together with + such part of his other property as was not settled upon Lady + Byron and his daughter Ada, to be by Mrs. Leigh enjoyed, free + from her husband's control, during her life, and, after her + decease, to be inherited by her children. + </p> + <p> + We have now followed to its close a life which, brief as was its + span, may be said, perhaps, to have comprised within itself a + greater variety of those excitements and interest which spring + out of the <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg227" id= + "pg227">227</a></span> deep workings of passion and of intellect + than any that the pen of biography has ever before commemorated. + As there still remain among the papers of my friend some curious + gleanings which, though in the abundance of our materials I have + not hitherto found a place for them, are too valuable towards the + illustration of his character to be lost, I shall here, in + selecting them for the reader, avail myself of the opportunity of + trespassing, for the last time, on his patience with a few + general remarks. + </p> + <p> + It must have been observed, throughout these pages, and by some, + perhaps, with disappointment, that into the character of Lord + Byron, as a poet, there has been little, if any, critical + examination; but that, content with expressing generally the + delight which, in common with all, I derive from his poetry, I + have left the task of analysing the sources from which this + delight springs to others.<span class="fnref">[1]</span> In thus + evading, if it <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg228" id= + "pg228">228</a></span> must be so considered, one of my duties as + a biographer, I have been influenced no less by a sense of my own + inaptitude for the office of critic than by recollecting with + what assiduity, throughout the whole of the poet's career, every + new rising of his genius was watched from the great observatories + of Criticism, and the ever changing varieties of its course and + splendour tracked out and recorded with a degree of skill and + minuteness which has left but little for succeeding observers to + discover. It is, moreover, into the character and conduct of Lord + Byron, as a man, not distinct from, but forming, on the contrary, + the best illustration of his character, as a writer, that it has + been the more immediate purpose of these volumes to enquire; and + if, in the course of them, any satisfactory clue has been + afforded to those anomalies, moral and intellectual, which his + life exhibited,—still more, should it have been the effect + of my humble labours to clear away some of those mists that hung + round my friend, and show him, in most respects, as worthy of + love as he was, in all, of admiration, then will the chief and + sole aim of this work have been accomplished. + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: It may be making too light of criticism to say + with Gray that "even a bad verse is as good a thing or better + than the best observation that ever was made upon it;" but + there are surely few tasks that appear more thankless and + superfluous than that of following, as Criticism sometimes + does, in the rear of victorious genius (like the commentators + on a field of Blenheim or of Waterloo), and either labouring to + point out to us <i>why</i> it has triumphed, or still more + unprofitably contending that it <i>ought</i> to have failed. + The well-known passage of La Bruyère, which even Voltaire's + adulatory application of it to some work of the King of Prussia + has not spoiled for use, puts, perhaps, in its true point of + view the very subordinate rank which Criticism must be content + to occupy in the train of successful Genius:—"Quand une + lecture vous élève l'esprit et qu'elle vous inspire des + sentimens nobles, ne cherehez pas une autre règle pour juger de + l'ouvrage; il est bon et fait de main de l'ouvrier: La + Critique, après ça, peut s'exercer sur les petites choses, + relever quelques expressions, corriger des phrases, parler de + syntaxe," &c. &c.] + </p> + </div> + <p> + Having devoted to this object so large a portion of my own share + of these pages, and, yet more fairly, enabled the world to form a + judgment for itself, by placing the man, in his own person, and + without <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg229" id= + "pg229">229</a></span> disguise, before all eyes, there would + seem to remain now but an easy duty in summing up the various + points of his character, and, out of the features, already + separately described, combining one complete portrait. The task, + however, is by no means so easy as it may appear. There are few + characters in which a near acquaintance does not enable us to + discover some one leading principle or passion consistent enough + in its operations to be taken confidently into account in any + estimate of the disposition in which they are found. Like those + points in the human face, or figure, to which all its other + proportions are referable, there is in most minds some one + governing influence, from which chiefly,—though, of course, + biassed on some occasions by others,—all its various + impulses and tendencies will be found to radiate. In Lord Byron, + however, this sort of pivot of character was almost wholly + wanting. Governed as he was at different moments by totally + different passions, and impelled sometimes, as during his short + access of parsimony in Italy, by springs of action never before + developed in his nature, in him this simple mode of tracing + character to its sources must be often wholly at fault; and if, + as is not impossible, in trying to solve the strange variances of + his mind, I should myself be found to have fallen into + contradictions and inconsistencies, the extreme difficulty of + analysing, without dazzle or bewilderment, such an unexampled + complication of qualities must be admitted as my excuse. + </p> + <p> + So various, indeed, and contradictory, were his attributes, both + moral and intellectual, that he may <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg230" id="pg230">230</a></span> be pronounced + to have been not one, but many: nor would it be any great + exaggeration of the truth to say, that out of the mere partition + of the properties of his single mind a plurality of characters, + all different and all vigorous, might have been furnished. It was + this multiform aspect exhibited by him that led the world, during + his short wondrous career, to compare him with that medley host + of personages, almost all differing from each other, which he + thus playfully enumerates in one of his Journals:— + </p> + <p> + "I have been thinking over, the other day, on the various + comparisons, good or evil, which I have seen published of myself + in different journals, English and foreign. This was suggested to + me by accidentally turning over a foreign one lately,—for I + have made it a rule latterly never to <i>search</i> for any thing + of the kind, but not to avoid the perusal, if presented by + chance. + </p> + <p> + "To begin, then: I have seen myself compared, personally or + poetically, in English, French, <i>German</i> (<i>as</i> + interpreted to me), Italian, and Portuguese, within these nine + years, to Rousseau, Goethe, Young, Aretine, Timon of Athens, + Dante, Petrarch, 'an alabaster vase, lighted up within,' Satan, + Shakspeare, Buonaparte, Tiberius, Æschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, + Harlequin, the Clown, Sternhold and Hopkins, to the + phantasmagoria, to Henry the Eighth, to Chenier, to Mirabeau, to + young R. Dallas (the schoolboy), to Michael Angelo, to Raphael, + to a petit-maître, to Diogenes, to Childe Harold, to Lara, to the + Count in Beppo, to Milton, to Pope, to Dryden, to Burns, to + Savage, to Chatterton, to 'oft have I <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg231" id="pg231">231</a></span> heard of + thee, my Lord Biron,' in Shakspeare, to Churchill the poet, to + Kean the actor, to Alfieri, &c. &c. &c. + </p> + <p> + "The likeness to Alfieri was asserted very seriously by an + Italian who had known him in his younger days. It of course + related merely to our apparent personal dispositions. He did not + assert it to <i>me</i> (for we were not then good friends), but + in society. + </p> + <p> + "The object of so many contradictory comparisons must probably be + like something different from them all; but what <i>that</i> is, + is more than <i>I</i> know, or any body else." + </p> + <p> + It would not be uninteresting, were there either space or time + for such a task, to take a review of the names of note in the + preceding list, and show in how many points, though differing so + materially among themselves, it might be found that each + presented a striking resemblance to Lord Byron. We have seen, for + instance, that wrongs and sufferings were, through life, the main + sources of Byron's inspiration. Where the hoof of the critic + struck, the fountain was first disclosed; and all the tramplings + of the world afterwards but forced out the stream stronger and + brighter. The same obligations to misfortune, the same debt to + the "oppressor's wrong," for having wrung out from bitter + thoughts the pure essence of his genius, was due no less deeply + by Dante!—"quum illam sub amarâ cogitatione excitatam, + occulti divinique ingenii vim exacuerit et + inflammarit."<span class="fnref">[1]</span> + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: Paulus Jovius.—Bayle, too, says of him, "Il + fit entrer plus de feu et plus de force dans ses livres qu'il + n'y en eût mis s'il avoit joui d'une condition plus + tranquille."] + </p> + </div> + <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="pg232" id= + "pg232">232</a></span> + In that contempt for the world's opinion, which led Dante to + exclaim, "Lascia dir le genti," Lord Byron also bore a strong + resemblance to that poet,—though far more, it must be + confessed, in profession than reality. For, while scorn for the + public voice was on his lips, the keenest sensitiveness to its + every breath was in his heart; and, as if every feeling of his + nature was to have some painful mixture in it, together with the + pride of Dante which led him to disdain public opinion, he + combined the susceptibility of Petrarch which placed him + shrinkingly at its mercy. + </p> + <p> + His agreement, in some other features of character, with + Petrarch, I have already had occasion to remark<span class= + "fnref">[1]</span>; and if it be true, as is often surmised, that + Byron's want of a due reverence for Shakspeare arose from some + latent and hardly conscious jealousy <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg233" id="pg233">233</a></span> of that + poet's fame, a similar feeling is known to have existed in + Petrarch towards Dante; and the same reason assigned for + it,—that from the living he had nothing to fear, while + before the shade of Dante he might have reason to feel + humbled,—is also not a little applicable<span class= + "fnref">[2]</span> in the case of Lord Byron. + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: Some passages in Foscolo's Essay on Petrarch may + be applied, with equal truth, to Lord Byron.—For + instance, "It was hardly possible with Petrarch to write a + sentence without portraying himself"—"Petrarch, allured + by the idea that his celebrity would magnify into importance + all the ordinary occurrences of his life, satisfied the + curiosity of the world," &c. &c.—and again, with + still more striking applicability,—"In Petrarch's + letters, as well as in his Poems and Treatises, we always + identify the author with the man, who felt himself irresistibly + impelled to develope his own intense feelings. Being endowed + with almost all the noble, and with some of the paltry passions + of our nature, and having never attempted to conceal them, he + awakens us to reflection upon ourselves while we contemplate in + him a being of our own species, yet different from any other, + and whose originality excites even more sympathy than + admiration."] + </p> + </div> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 2: "II Petrarca poteva credere candidamente ch'ei non + pativa d'invidia solamente, perché fra tutti i viventi non + v'era chi non s'arretrasse per cedergli il passo alla prima + gloria, ch'ei non poteva sentirsi umiliato, fuorchè dall' ombra + di Dante."] + </p> + </div> + <p> + Between the dispositions and habits of Alfieri and those of the + noble poet of England, no less remarkable coincidences might be + traced; and the sonnet in which the Italian dramatist professes + to paint his own character contains, in one comprehensive line, a + portrait of the versatile author of Don Juan,— + </p> + <div class="poem"> + <p> + "Or stimandome Achille ed or Tersite." + </p> + </div> + <p> + By the extract just given from his Journal, it will be perceived + that, in Byron's own opinion, a character which, like his, + admitted of so many contradictory comparisons, could not be + otherwise than wholly undefinable itself. It will be found, + however, on reflection, that this very versatility, which renders + it so difficult to fix, "ere it change," the fairy fabric of his + character, is, in itself, the true clue through all that fabric's + mazes,—is in itself the solution of whatever was most + dazzling in his might or startling in his levity, of all that + most <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg234" id= + "pg234">234</a></span> attracted and repelled, whether in his + life or his genius. A variety of powers almost boundless, and a + pride no less vast in displaying them,—a susceptibility of + new impressions and impulses, even beyond the usual allotment of + genius, and an uncontrolled impetuosity, as well from habit as + temperament, in yielding to them,—such were the two great + and leading sources of all that varied spectacle which his life + exhibited; of that succession of victories achieved by his + genius, in almost every field of mind that genius ever trod, and + of all those sallies of character in every shape and direction + that unchecked feeling and dominant self-will could dictate. + </p> + <p> + It must be perceived by all endowed with quick powers of + association how constantly, when any particular thought or + sentiment presents itself to their minds, its very opposite, at + the same moment, springs up there also:—if any thing + sublime occurs, its neighbour, the ridiculous, is by its + side;—across a bright view of the present or the future, a + dark one throws its shadow;—and, even in questions + respecting morals and conduct, all the reasonings and + consequences that may suggest themselves on the side of one of + two opposite courses will, in such minds, be instantly confronted + by an array just as cogent on the other. A mind of this + structure,—and such, more or less, are all those in which + the reasoning is made subservient to the imaginative + faculty,—though enabled, by such rapid powers of + association, to multiply its resources without end, has need of + the constant exercise of a controlling judgment to keep its + perceptions pure and <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg235" id= + "pg235">235</a></span> undisturbed between the contrasts it thus + simultaneously calls up; the obvious danger being that, where + matters of taste are concerned, the habit of forming such + incongruous juxtapositions—as that, for example, between + the burlesque and sublime—should at last vitiate the mind's + relish for the nobler and higher quality; and that, on the yet + more important subject of morals, a facility in finding reasons + for every side of a question may end, if not in the choice of the + worst, at least in a sceptical indifference to all. + </p> + <p> + In picturing to oneself so awful an event as a shipwreck, its + many horrors and perils are what alone offer themselves to + ordinary fancies. But the keen, versatile imagination of Byron + could detect in it far other details, and, at the same moment + with all that is fearful and appalling in such a scene, could + bring together all that is most ludicrous and low. That in this + painful mixture he was but too true to human nature, the + testimony of De Retz (himself an eye-witness of such an event) + attests:—"Vous ne pouvez vous imaginer (says the Cardinal) + l'horreur d'une grande tempête;—vous en pouvez imaginer + aussi pen le ridicule." But, assuredly, a poet less wantoning in + the variety of his power, and less proud of displaying it, would + have paused ere he mixed up, thus mockingly, the degradation of + humanity with its sufferings, and, content to probe us to the + core with the miseries of our fellow-men, would have forborne to + wring from us, the next moment, a bitter smile at their baseness. + </p> + <p> + To the moral sense so dangerous are the effects <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg236" id="pg236">236</a></span> of this + quality, that it would hardly, perhaps, be generalising too + widely to assert that wheresoever great versatility of power + exists, there will also be found a tendency to versatility of + principle. The poet Chatterton, in whose soul the seeds of all + that is good and bad in genius so prematurely ripened, said, in + the consciousness of this multiple faculty, that he "held that + man in contempt who could not write on both sides of a question;" + and it was by acting in accordance with this principle himself + that he brought one of the few stains upon his name which a life + so short afforded time to incur. Mirabeau, too, when, in the + legal warfare between his father and mother, he helped to draw up + for each the pleadings against the other, was influenced less, no + doubt, by the pleasure of mischief than by this pride of talent, + and lost sight of the unnatural perfidy of the task in the + adroitness with which he executed it. + </p> + <p> + The quality which I have here denominated versatility, as applied + to <i>power</i>, Lord Byron has himself designated by the French + word "mobility," as applied to <i>feeling</i> and <i>conduct</i>; + and, in one of the Cantos of Don Juan, has described happily some + of its lighter features. After telling us that his hero had begun + to doubt, from the great predominance of this quality in her, + "how much of Adeline was <i>real</i>," he says,— + </p> + <div class="poem"> + <p> + "So well she acted, all and every part, + </p> + <p class="i2"> + By turns,—with that vivacious versatility, + </p> + <p> + Which many people take for want of heart. + </p><span class="pagenum"><a name="pg237" id= + "pg237">237</a></span> + <p class="i2"> + They err—'tis merely what is called mobility, + </p> + <p> + A thing of temperament and not of art, + </p> + <p class="i2"> + Though seeming so, from its supposed facility; + </p> + <p> + And false—though true; for surely they're sincerest, + </p> + <p> + Who are strongly acted on by what is nearest." + </p> + </div> + <p> + That he was fully aware not only of the abundance of this quality + in his own nature, but of the danger in which it placed + consistency and singleness of character, did not require the note + on this passage, where he calls it "an unhappy attribute," to + assure us. The consciousness, indeed, of his own natural tendency + to yield thus to every chance impression, and change with every + passing impulse, was not only for ever present in his mind, + but,—aware as he was of the suspicion of weakness attached + by the world to any retractation or abandonment of long professed + opinions,—had the effect of keeping him in that general + line of consistency, on certain great subjects, which, + notwithstanding occasional fluctuations and contradictions as to + the details of these very subjects, he continued to preserve + throughout life. A passage from one of his manuscripts will show + how sagaciously he saw the necessity of guarding himself against + his own instability in this respect. "The world visits change of + politics or change of religion with a more severe censure than a + mere difference of opinion would appear to me to deserve. But + there must be some reason for this feeling;—and I think it + is that these departures from the earliest instilled ideas of our + childhood, and from the line of conduct chosen by us when we + first enter into public life, have been seen to have more + mischievous results <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg238" id= + "pg238">238</a></span> for society, and to prove more weakness of + mind than other actions, in themselves, more immoral." + </p> + <p> + The same distrust in his own steadiness, thus keeping alive in + him a conscientious self-watchfulness, concurred not a little, I + have no doubt, with the innate kindness of his nature, to + preserve so constant and unbroken the greater number of his + attachments through life;—some of them, as in the instance + of his mother, owing evidently more to a sense of duty than to + real affection, the consistency with which, so creditably to the + strength of his character, they were maintained. + </p> + <p> + But while in these respects, as well as in the sort of task-like + perseverance with which the habits and amusements of his youth + were held fast by him, he succeeded in conquering the + variableness and love of novelty so natural to him, in all else + that could engage his mind, in all the excursions, whether of his + reason or his fancy, he gave way to this versatile humour without + scruple or check,—taking every shape in which genius could + manifest its power, and transferring himself to every region of + thought where new conquests were to be achieved. + </p> + <p> + It was impossible but that such a range of will and power should + be abused. It was impossible that, among the spirits he invoked + from all quarters, those of darkness should not appear, at his + bidding, with those of light. And here the dangers of an energy + so multifold, and thus luxuriating in its own transformations, + show themselves. To this one great object of displaying + power,—various, splendid, and all-adorning + power,—every other consideration and <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg239" id="pg239">239</a></span> duty were but + too likely to be sacrificed. Let the advocate but display his + eloquence and art, no matter what the cause;—let the stamp + of energy be but left behind, no matter with what seal. + <i>Could</i> it have been expected that from such a career no + mischief would ensue, or that among these cross-lights of + imagination the moral vision could remain undisturbed? <i>Is</i> + it to be at all wondered at that in the works of one thus gifted + and carried away, we should find,—wholly, too, without any + prepense design of corrupting on his side,—a false + splendour given to Vice to make it look like Virtue, and Evil too + often invested with a grandeur which belongs intrinsically but to + Good? + </p> + <p> + Among the less serious ills flowing from this abuse of his great + versatile powers,—more especially as exhibited in his most + characteristic work, Don Juan,—it will be found that even + the strength and impressiveness of his poetry is sometimes not a + little injured by the capricious and desultory flights into which + this pliancy of wing allures him. It must be felt, indeed, by all + readers of that work, and particularly by those who, being gifted + with but a small portion of such ductility themselves, are unable + to keep pace with his changes, that the suddenness with which he + passes from one strain of sentiment to another,—from the + frolic to the sad, from the cynical to the tender,—begets a + distrust in the sincerity of one or both moods of mind which + interferes with, if not chills, the sympathy that a more natural + transition would inspire. In general such a suspicion would do + him injustice; as, among the singular combinations <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg240" id="pg240">240</a></span> which his + mind presented, that of uniting at once versatility and depth of + feeling was not the least remarkable. But, on the whole, + favourable as was all this quickness and variety of association + to the extension of the range and resources of his poetry, it may + be questioned whether a more select concentration of his powers + would not have afforded a still more grand and precious result. + Had the minds of Milton and Tasso been thus thrown open to the + incursions of light, ludicrous fancies, who can doubt that those + solemn sanctuaries of genius would have been as much injured as + profaned by the intrusion?—and it is at least a question + whether, if Lord Byron had not been so actively versatile, so + totally under the dominion of + </p> + <div class="poem"> + <p> + "A fancy, like the air, most free, + </p> + <p> + And full of mutability," + </p> + </div> + <p> + he would not have been less wonderful, perhaps, but more great. + </p> + <p> + Nor was it only in his poetical creations that this love and + power of variety showed itself:—one of the most pervading + weaknesses of his life may be traced to the same fertile source. + The pride of personating every description of character, evil as + well as good, influenced but too much, as we have seen, his + ambition, and, not a little, his conduct; and as, in poetry, his + own experience of the ill effects of passion was made to minister + materials to the workings of his imagination, so, in return, his + imagination supplied that dark colouring under which he so often + disguised his true aspect from the world. To such <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg241" id="pg241">241</a></span> a perverse + length, indeed, did he carry this fancy for self-defamation, that + if (as sometimes, in his moments of gloom, he persuaded himself,) + there was any tendency to derangement in his mental + conformation<span class="fnref">[1]</span>, on this point alone + could it be pronounced to have manifested itself.<span class= + "fnref">[2]</span> In the early part of my <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg242" id="pg242">242</a></span> acquaintance + with him, when he most gave way to this humour,—for it was + observable afterwards, when the world joined in his own opinion + of himself, he rather shrunk from the echo,—I have known + him more than once, as we have sat together after dinner, and he + was, at the time, perhaps, a little under the influence of wine, + to fall seriously into this sort of dark and self-accusing mood, + and throw out hints of his past life with an air of gloom and + mystery designed evidently to awaken curiosity and interest. He + was, however, too promptly alive to the least approaches of + ridicule not to perceive, on these occasions, that the gravity of + his hearer was only prevented from being disturbed by an effort + of politeness, and he accordingly never again tried this romantic + mystification upon me. From what I have known, however, of his + experiments upon more impressible listeners, I have little doubt + that, to produce effect at the moment, there is hardly any crime + so dark or desperate of which, in the excitement of thus acting + upon the imaginations of others, he would not have hinted that he + had been guilty; and it has sometimes occurred to me that the + occult cause of his lady's separation from him, round which + herself and her legal adviser have thrown such formidable + mystery, may have been nothing more, after all, than some + imposture of this kind, some dimly hinted confession of undefined + horrors, which, though intended by the relater but to mystify and + surprise, the hearer so little understood him as to take in sober + seriousness. + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: We have seen how often, in his Journals and + Letters, this suspicion of his own mental soundness is + intimated. A similar notion, with respect to himself, seems to + have taken hold also of the strong mind of Johnson, who, like + Byron, too, was disposed to attribute to an hereditary tinge + that melancholy which, as he said, "made him mad all his life, + at least not sober." This peculiar feature of Johnson's mind + has, in the late new edition of Boswell's Life of him, given + rise to some remarks, pregnant with all the editor's well known + acuteness, which, as bearing on a point so important in the + history of the human intellect, will be found worthy of all + attention. + </p> + <p> + In one of the many letters of Lord Byron to myself, which I + have thought right to omit, I find him tracing this supposed + disturbance of his own faculties to the marriage of Miss + Chaworth;—"a marriage," he says, "for which she + sacrificed the prospects of two very ancient families, and a + heart which was hers from ten years old, and a head which has + never been quite right since."] + </p> + </div> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 2: In his Diary of 1814 there is a passage (vol. ii. + page 270.) which I had preserved solely for the purpose of + illustrating this obliquity of his mind, intending, at the same + time, to accompany it with an explanatory note. From some + inadvertence, however, the note was omitted; and, thus left to + itself, this piece of mystification has, with the French + readers of the work, I see, succeeded most perfectly; there + being no imaginable variety of murder which the votaries of the + new romantic school have not been busily extracting out of the + mystery of that passage.] + </p> + </div> + <p> + This strange propensity with which the man was, as it were, + inoculated by the poet, re-acted back again <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg243" id="pg243">243</a></span> upon his + poetry, so as to produce, in some of his delineations of + character, that inconsistency which has not unfrequently been + noticed by his critics,—namely, the junction of one or two + lofty and shining virtues with "a thousand crimes" altogether + incompatible with them; this anomaly being, in fact, accounted + for by the two different sorts of ambition that actuated + him,—the natural one, of infusing into his personages those + high and kindly qualities he felt conscious of within himself, + and the artificial one, of investing them with those crimes which + he so boyishly wished imputed to him by the world. + </p> + <p> + Independently, however, of any such efforts towards blackening + his own name, and even after he had learned from bitter + experience the rash folly of such a system, there was still, in + the openness and over-frankness of his nature, and that + indulgence of impulse with which he gave utterance to, if not + acted upon, every chance impression of the moment, more than + sufficient to bring his character, in all its least favourable + lights, before the world. Who is there, indeed, that could bear + to be judged by even the best of those unnumbered thoughts that + course each other, like waves of the sea, through our minds, + passing away unuttered, and, for the most part, even unowned by + ourselves?—Yet to such a test was Byron's character + throughout his whole life exposed. As well from the precipitance + with which he gave way to every impulse as from the passion he + had for recording his own impressions, all those heterogeneous + thoughts, fantasies, and desires that, in other men's minds, + "come like shadows, so depart," were <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg244" id="pg244">244</a></span> by him fixed + and embodied as they presented themselves, and, at once, taking a + shape cognizable by public opinion, either in his actions or his + words, either in the hasty letter of the moment, or the poem for + all time, laid open such a range of vulnerable points before his + judges, as no one individual perhaps ever before, of himself, + presented. + </p> + <p> + With such abundance and variety of materials for portraiture, it + may easily be conceived how two professed delineators of his + character, the one over partial and the other malicious, + might,—the former, by selecting only the fairer, and the + latter only the darker, features,—produce two portraits of + Lord Byron, as much differing from each other as they would both + be, on the whole, unlike the original. + </p> + <p> + Of the utter powerlessness of retention with which he promulgated + his every thought and feeling,—more especially if at all + connected with the subject of self,—without allowing even a + pause for the almost instinctive consideration whether by such + disclosures he might not be conveying a calumnious impression of + himself, a stronger instance could hardly be given than is to be + found in a conversation held by him with Mr. Trelawney, as + reported by this latter gentleman, when they were on their way + together to Greece. After some remarks on the state of his own + health<span class="fnref">[1]</span>, mental and bodily, he said, + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg245" id="pg245">245</a></span> + "I don't know how it is, but I am so cowardly at times, that if, + this morning, you had come down and horsewhipped me, I should + have submitted without opposition. Why is this? If one of these + fits come over me when we are in Greece, what shall I + do?"—"I told him (continues Mr. Trelawney) that it was the + excessive debility of his nerves. He said, 'Yes, and of my head, + too. I was very heroic when I left Genoa, but, like Acres, I feel + my courage oozing out at my palms.'" + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: "He often mentioned," says Mr. Trelawney, "that he + thought he should not live many years, and said that he would + die in Greece." This he told me at Cephalonia. He always seemed + unmoved on these occasions, perfectly indifferent as to when he + died, only saying that he could not bear pain. On our voyage we + had been reading with great attention the life and letters of + Swift, edited by Scott, and we almost daily, or rather nightly, + talked them over; and he more than once expressed his horror of + existing in that state, and expressed some fears that it would + be his fate.] + </p> + </div> + <p> + It will hardly, by those who know any thing of human nature, be + denied that such misgivings and heart-sinkings as are here + described may, under a similar depression of spirits, have found + their way into the thoughts of some of the gallantest hearts that + ever breathed;—but then, untold and unremembered, even by + the sufferer himself, they passed off with the passing infirmity + that produced them, leaving neither to truth to record them as + proofs of want of health, nor to calumny to fasten upon them a + suspicion of want of bravery. The assertion of some one that all + men are by nature cowardly would seem to be countenanced by the + readiness with which most men believe others so. "I have lived," + says the Prince de Ligne, "to hear Voltaire called a fool, and + the <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg246" id= + "pg246">246</a></span> great Frederick a coward." The Duke of + Marlborough in his own times, and Napoleon in ours, have found + persons not only to assert but believe the same charge against + them. After such glaring instances of the tendency of some minds + to view greatness only through an inverting medium, it need + little surprise us that Lord Byron's conduct in Greece should, on + the same principle, have engendered a similar insinuation against + him; nor should I have at all noticed the weak slander, but for + the opportunity which it affords me of endeavouring to point out + what appears to me the peculiar nature of the courage by which, + on all occasions that called for it, he so strikingly + distinguished himself. + </p> + <p> + Whatever virtue may be allowed to belong to personal courage, it + is, most assuredly, they who are endowed by nature with the + liveliest imaginations, and who have therefore most vividly and + simultaneously before their eyes all the remote and possible + consequences of danger, that are most deserving of whatever + praise attends the exercise of that virtue. A bravery of this + kind, which springs more out of mind than temperament,—or + rather, perhaps, out of the conquest of the former over the + latter,—will naturally proportion its exertion to the + importance of the occasion; and the same person who is seen to + shrink with an almost feminine fear from ignoble and every-day + perils, may be found foremost in the very jaws of danger where + honour is to be either maintained or won. Nor does this remark + apply only to the imaginative class, of whom I am chiefly + treating. By the same calculating principle, it will <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg247" id="pg247">247</a></span> be found that + most men whose bravery is the result not of temperament but + reflection, are regulated in their daring. The wise De Wit, + though negligent of his life on great occasions, was not ashamed, + we are told, of dreading and avoiding whatever endangered it on + others. + </p> + <p> + Of the apprehensiveness that attends quick imaginations, Lord + Byron had, of course, a considerable share, and in all situations + of ordinary peril gave way to it without reserve. I have seldom + seen any person, male or female, more timid in a carriage; and, + in riding, his preparation against accidents showed the same + nervous and imaginative fearfulness. "His bridle," says the late + Lord B——, who rode frequently with him at Genoa, + "had, besides cavesson and martingale, various reins; and + whenever he came near a place where his horse was likely to shy, + he gathered up these said reins and fixed himself as if he was + going at a five-barred gate." None surely but the most + superficial or most prejudiced observers could ever seriously + found upon such indications of nervousness any conclusion against + the real courage of him who was subject to them. The poet + Ariosto, who was, it seems, a victim to the same fair-weather + alarms,—who, when on horseback, would alight at the least + appearance of danger, and on the water was particularly + timorous,—could yet, in the action between the Pope's + vessels and the Duke of Ferrara's, fight like a lion; and in the + same manner the courage of Lord Byron, as all his companions in + peril testify, was of that noblest kind <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg248" id="pg248">248</a></span> which rises + with the greatness of the occasion, and becomes but the more + self-collected and resisting, the more imminent the danger. + </p> + <p> + In proposing to show that the distinctive properties of Lord + Byron's character, as well moral as literary, arose mainly from + those two great sources, the unexampled versatility of his powers + and feelings, and the facility with which he gave way to the + impulses of both, it had been my intention to pursue the subject + still further in detail, and to endeavour to trace throughout the + various excellences and defects, both of his poetry and his life, + the operation of these two dominant attributes of his nature. "No + men," says Cowper, in speaking of persons of a versatile turn of + mind, "are better qualified for companions in such a world as + this than men of such temperament. Every scene of life has two + sides, a dark and a bright one; and the mind that has an equal + mixture of melancholy and vivacity is best of all qualified for + the contemplation of either." It would not be difficult to show + that to this readiness in reflecting all hues, whether of the + shadows or the lights of our variegated existence, Lord Byron + owed not only the great range of his influence as a poet, but + those powers of fascination which he possessed as a man. This + susceptibility, indeed, of immediate impressions, which in him + was so active, lent a charm, of all others the most attractive, + to his social intercourse, by giving to those who were, at the + moment, present, such ascendant influence, that they alone for + the time occupied all his thoughts and <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg249" id="pg249">249</a></span> feelings, and + brought whatever was most agreeable in his nature into + play.<span class="fnref">[1]</span> + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: In reference to his power of adapting himself to + all sorts of society, and taking upon himself all varieties of + character, I find a passage in one of my early letters to him + (from Ireland) which, though it might be expressed, perhaps, in + better taste, is worth citing for its truth:—"Though I + have not written, I have seldom ceased to think of you; for you + are that sort of being whom every thing, high or low, brings + into one's mind. Whether I am with the wise or the waggish, + among poets or among pugilists, over the book or over the + bottle, you are sure to connect yourself transcendently with + all, and come 'armed for <i>every</i> field' into my memory."] + </p> + </div> + <p> + So much did this extreme mobility,—this readiness to be + "strongly acted on by what was nearest,"—abound in his + disposition, that, even with the casual acquaintances of the + hour, his heart was upon his lips<span class="fnref">[1]</span>, + and it depended wholly upon themselves whether they might not + become at once the depositories of every secret, if it might be + so called, of his whole life. That in this convergence of all the + powers of pleasing towards present objects, those absent should + be sometimes forgotten, or, what is worse, sacrificed to the + reigning desire of the moment, <span class="pagenum"><a name= + "pg250" id="pg250">250</a></span> is unluckily one of the alloys + attendant upon persons of this temperament, which renders their + fidelity, either as lovers or confidants, not a little + precarious. But of the charm which such a disposition diffuses + through the manner there can be but little doubt,—and least + of all among those who have ever felt its influence in Lord + Byron. Neither are the instances in which he has been known to + make imprudent disclosures of what had been said or written by + others of the persons with whom he was conversing to be all set + down to this rash overflow of the social hour. In his own + frankness of spirit, and hatred of all disguise, this practice, + pregnant as it was with inconvenience, and sometimes danger, in a + great degree originated. To confront the accused with the accuser + was, in such cases, his delight,—not only as a revenge for + having been made the medium of what men durst not say openly to + each other, but as a gratification of that love of small mischief + which he had retained from boyhood, and which the confusion that + followed such exposures was always sure to amuse. This habit, + too, being, as I have before remarked, well known to his friends, + their sense of prudence, if not their fairness, was put fully on + its guard, and he himself was spared the pain of hearing what he + could not, without inflicting still worse, repeat. + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: It is curious to observe how, in all times, and + all countries, what is called the poetical temperament has, in + the great possessors, and victims, of that gift, produced + similar effects. In the following passage, the biographer of + Tasso has, in painting that poet, described Byron + also:—"There are some persons of a sensibility so + powerful, that whoever happens to be with them is, at that + moment, to them the world: their hearts involuntarily open; + they are prompted by a strong desire to please; and they thus + make confidants of their sentiments people whom they in reality + regard with indifference."] + </p> + </div> + <p> + A most apt illustration of this point of his character is to be + found in an anecdote told of him by Parry, who, though himself + the victim, had the sense and good temper to perceive the source + to which Byron's conduct was to be traced. While the Turkish + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg251" id="pg251">251</a></span> + fleet was blockading Missolonghi, his Lordship, one day, attended + by Parry, proceeded in a small punt, rowed by a boy, to the mouth + of the harbour, while in a large boat accompanying them were + Prince Mavrocordato and his attendants. In this situation, an + indignant feeling of contempt and impatience at the supineness of + their Greek friends seized the engineer, and he proceeded to vent + this feeling to Lord Byron in no very measured terms, pronouncing + Prince Mavrocordato to be "an old gentlewoman," and concluding, + according to his own statement, with the following + words:—"If I were in their place, I should be in a fever at + the thought of my own incapacity and ignorance, and should burn + with impatience to attempt the destruction of those rascal Turks. + But the Greeks and the Turks are opponents worthy, by their + imbecility, of each other." + </p> + <p> + "I had scarcely explained myself fully," adds Mr. Parry, "when + his Lordship ordered our boat to be placed alongside the other, + and actually related our whole conversation to the Prince. In + doing it, however, he took on himself the task of pacifying both + the Prince and me, and though I was at first very angry, and the + Prince, I believe, very much annoyed, he succeeded. Mavrocordato + afterwards showed no dissatisfaction with me, and I prized Lord + Byron's regard too much, to remain long displeased with a + proceeding which was only an unpleasant manner of reproving us + both." + </p> + <p> + Into these and other such branches from the main course of his + character, it might have been a task of <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg252" id="pg252">252</a></span> some interest + to investigate,—certain as we should be that, even in the + remotest and narrowest of these windings, some of the brightness + and strength of the original current would be perceptible. Enough + however has been, perhaps, said to set other minds upon supplying + what remains:—if the track of analysis here opened be the + true one, to follow it in its further bearings will not be + difficult. Already, indeed, I may be thought by some readers to + have occupied too large a portion of these pages, not only in + tracing out such "nice dependencies" and gradations of my + friend's character, but still more uselessly, as may be + conceived, in recording all the various habitudes and whims by + which the course of his every-day life was distinguished from + that of other people. That the critics of the day should think it + due to their own importance to object to trifles is naturally to + be expected; but that, in other times, such minute records of a + Byron will be read with interest, even such critics cannot doubt. + To know that Catiline walked with an agitated and uncertain gait + is, by no mean judge of human nature, deemed important as an + indication of character. But far less significant details will + satisfy the idolaters of genius. To be told that Tasso loved + malmsey and thought it favourable to poetic inspiration is a + piece of intelligence, even at the end of three centuries, not + unwelcome; while a still more amusing proof of the disposition of + the world to remember little things of the great is, that the + poet Petrarch's excessive fondness for turnips is one of the few + traditions still preserved of him at Arqua. <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg253" id="pg253">253</a></span> + </p> + <p> + The personal appearance of Lord Byron has been so frequently + described, both by pen and pencil, that were it not the bounden + duty of the biographer to attempt some such sketch, the task + would seem superfluous. Of his face, the beauty may be pronounced + to have been of the highest order, as combining at once + regularity of features with the most varied and interesting + expression. The same facility, indeed, of change observable in + the movements of his mind was seen also in the free play of his + features, as the passing thoughts within darkened or shone + through them. + </p> + <p> + His eyes, though of a light grey, were capable of all extremes of + expression, from the most joyous hilarity to the deepest sadness, + from the very sunshine of benevolence to the most concentrated + scorn or rage. Of this latter passion, I had once an opportunity + of seeing what fiery interpreters they could be, on my telling + him, thoughtlessly enough, that a friend of mine had said to + me—"Beware of Lord Byron; he will some day or other do + something very wicked."—"Was it man or woman said so?" he + exclaimed, suddenly turning round upon me with a look of such + intense anger as, though it lasted not an instant, could not + easily be forgot, and of which no better idea can be given than + in the words of one who, speaking of Chatterton's eyes, says that + "fire rolled at the bottom of them." + </p> + <p> + But it was in the mouth and chin that the great beauty as well as + expression of his fine countenance lay. "Many pictures have been + painted of him," <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg254" id= + "pg254">254</a></span> says a fair critic of his features, "with + various success; but the excessive beauty of his lips escaped + every painter and sculptor. In their ceaseless play they + represented every emotion, whether pale with anger, curled in + disdain, smiling in triumph, or dimpled with archness and love." + It would be injustice to the reader not to borrow from the same + pencil a few more touches of portraiture. "This extreme facility + of expression was sometimes painful, for I have seen him look + absolutely ugly—I have seen him look so hard and cold, that + you must hate him, and then, in a moment, brighter than the sun, + with such playful softness in his look, such affectionate + eagerness kindling in his eyes, and dimpling his lips into + something more sweet than a smile, that you forgot the man, the + Lord Byron, in the picture of beauty presented to you, and gazed + with intense curiosity—I had almost said—as if to + satisfy yourself, that thus looked the god of poetry, the god of + the Vatican, when he conversed with the sons and daughters of + man." + </p> + <p> + His head was remarkably small<span class= + "fnref">[1]</span>,—so much so as to be rather out of + proportion with his face. The forehead, though a little too + narrow, was high, and appeared more so from his having his hair + (to preserve <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg255" id= + "pg255">255</a></span> it, as he said,) shaved over the temples; + while the glossy, dark-brown curls, clustering over his head, + gave the finish to its beauty. When to this is added, that his + nose, though handsomely, was rather thickly shaped, that his + teeth were white and regular, and his complexion colourless, as + good an idea perhaps as it is in the power of mere words to + convey may be conceived of his features. + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: "Several of us, one day," says Colonel Napier, + "tried on his hat, and in a party of twelve or fourteen, who + were at dinner, <i>not one</i> could put it on, so exceedingly + small was his head. My servant, Thomas Wells, who had the + smallest head in the 90th regiment (so small that he could + hardly get a cap to fit him), was the only person who could put + on Lord Byron's hat, and him it fitted exactly."] + </p> + </div> + <p> + In height he was, as he himself has informed us, five feet eight + inches and a half, and to the length of his limbs he attributed + his being such a good swimmer. His hands were very white, + and—according to his own notion of the size of hands as + indicating birth—aristocratically small. The lameness of + his right foot<span class="fnref">[1]</span>, though an obstacle + to grace, <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg256" id= + "pg256">256</a></span> but little impeded the activity of his + movements; and from this circumstance, as well as from the skill + with which the foot was disguised by means of long trowsers, it + would be difficult to conceive a defect of this kind less + obtruding itself as a deformity; while the diffidence which a + constant consciousness of the infirmity gave to his first + approach and address made, in him, even lameness a source of + interest. + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: In speaking of this lameness at the commencement + of my work, I forbore, both from my own doubts on the subject + and the great variance I found in the recollections of others, + from stating in <i>which</i> of his feet this lameness existed. + It will, indeed, with difficulty be believed what uncertainty I + found upon this point, even among those most intimate with him. + Mr. Hunt, in his book, states it to have been the left foot + that was deformed, and this, though contrary to my own + impression, and, as it appears also, to the fact, was the + opinion I found also of others who had been much in the habit + of living with him. On applying to his early friends at + Southwell and to the shoemaker of that town who worked for him, + so little prepared were they to answer with any certainty on + the subject, that it was only by recollecting that the lame + foot "was the off one in going up the street" they at last came + to the conclusion that his right limb was the one affected; and + Mr. Jackson, his preceptor in pugilism, was, in like manner, + obliged to call to mind whether his noble pupil was a right or + left hand hitter before he could arrive at the same decision.] + </p> + </div> + <p> + In looking again into the Journal from which it was my intention + to give extracts, the following unconnected opinions, or rather + reveries, most of them on points connected with his religious + opinions, are all that I feel tempted to select. To an assertion + in the early part of this work, that "at no time of his life was + Lord Byron a confirmed unbeliever," it has been objected, that + many passages of his writings prove the direct contrary. This + assumption, however, as well as the interpretation of most of the + passages referred to in its support, proceed, as it appears to + me, upon the mistake, not uncommon in conversation, of + confounding together the meanings of the words unbeliever and + sceptic,—the former implying decision of opinion, and the + latter only doubt. I have myself, I find, not always kept the + significations of the two words distinct, and in one instance + have so far fallen into the notion of these objectors as to speak + of Byron in his youth as "an unbelieving school-boy," when the + word "doubting" would have more truly expressed my meaning. With + this necessary explanation, I shall here repeat my assertion; or + rather—to clothe its substance in a different + form—shall say that Lord Byron was, to the last, + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg257" id="pg257">257</a></span> a + sceptic, which, in itself, implies that he was, at no time, a + confirmed unbeliever. + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + "If I were to live over again, I do not know what I would change + in my life, unless it were <i>for—not to have lived at + all</i>.<span class="fnref">[1]</span> All history and + experience, and the rest, teaches us that the good and evil are + pretty equally balanced in this existence, and that what is most + to be desired is an easy passage out of it. What can it give us + but years? and those have little of good but their ending. + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: Swift "early adopted," says Sir Walter Scott, "the + custom of observing his birth-day, as a term, not of joy, but + of sorrow, and of reading, when it annually recurred, the + striking passage of Scripture, in which Job laments and + execrates the day upon which it was said in his father's house + 'that a man-child was born.'"—<i>Life of Swift.</i>] + </p> + </div> + <hr /> + <p> + "Of the immortality of the soul it appears to me that there can + be little doubt, if we attend for a moment to the action of mind: + it is in perpetual activity. I used to doubt of it, but + reflection has taught me better. It acts also so very independent + of body—in dreams, for instance;—incoherently and + <i>madly</i>, I grant you, but still it is mind, and much more + mind than when we are awake. Now that this should not act + <i>separately</i>, as well as jointly, who can pronounce? The + stoics, Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius, call the present state 'a + soul which drags a carcass,'—a heavy chain, to be sure, but + all chains being material may be shaken off. How far our future + life will be <i>individual</i>, or, rather, how far it will + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg258" id="pg258">258</a></span> + at all resemble <i>our present</i> existence, is another + question; but that the mind is eternal seems as probable as that + the body is not so. Of course I here venture upon the question + without recurring to revelation, which, however, is at least as + rational a solution of it as any other. A <i>material</i> + resurrection seems strange and even absurd, except for purposes + of punishment; and all punishment which is to <i>revenge</i> + rather than <i>correct</i> must be <i>morally wrong</i>; and + <i>when the world is at an end</i>, what moral or warning purpose + <i>can</i> eternal tortures answer? Human passions have probably + disfigured the divine doctrines here;—but the whole thing + is inscrutable. + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + "It is useless to tell me <i>not</i> to <i>reason</i>, but to + <i>believe.</i> You might as well tell a man not to wake, but + <i>sleep.</i> And then to <i>bully</i> with torments, and all + that! I cannot help thinking that the <i>menace</i> of hell makes + as many devils as the severe penal codes of inhuman humanity make + villains. + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + "Man is born <i>passionate</i> of body, but with an innate though + secret tendency to the love of good in his main-spring of mind. + But, God help us all! it is at present a sad jar of atoms. + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + "Matter is eternal, always changing, but reproduced, and, as far + as we can comprehend eternity, eternal; and why not <i>mind</i>? + Why should not the mind act with and upon the universe, as + portions of it act upon, and with, the congregated dust called + mankind? See how one man acts upon himself and others, or upon + multitudes! The same agency, in a <span class="pagenum"><a name= + "pg259" id="pg259">259</a></span> higher and purer degree, may + act upon the stars, &c. ad infinitum. + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + "I have often been inclined to materialism in philosophy, but + could never bear its introduction into <i>Christianity</i>, which + appears to me essentially founded upon the <i>soul</i>. For this + reason Priestley's Christian Materialism always struck me as + deadly. Believe the resurrection of the <i>body</i>, if you will, + but <i>not without</i> a <i>soul</i>. The deuce is in it, if + after having had a soul, (as surely the <i>mind</i>, or whatever + you call it, <i>is,</i>) in this world, we must part with it in + the <i>next</i>, even for an immortal materiality! I own my + partiality for <i>spirit</i>. + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + "I am always most religious upon a sunshiny day, as if there was + some association between an internal approach to greater light + and purity and the kindler of this dark lantern of our external + existence. + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + "The night is also a religious concern, and even more so when I + viewed the moon and stars through Herschell's telescope, and saw + that they were worlds. + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + "If, according to some speculations, you could prove the world + many thousand years older than the Mosaic chronology, or if you + could get rid of Adam and Eve, and the apple, and serpent, still, + what is to be put up in their stead? or how is the difficulty + removed? Things must have had a beginning, and what matters it + <i>when</i> or <i>how</i>? + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg260" id="pg260">260</a></span> + "I sometimes think that <i>man</i> may be the relic of some + higher material being wrecked in a former world, and degenerated + in the hardship and struggle through chaos into conformity, or + something like it,—as we see Laplanders, Esquimaux, &c. + inferior in the present state, as the elements become more + inexorable. But even then this higher pre-Adamite supposititious + creation must have had an origin and a <i>Creator</i>—for a + <i>creation</i> is a more natural imagination than a fortuitous + concourse of atoms: all things remount to a fountain, though they + may flow to an ocean. + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + "Plutarch says, in his Life of Lysander, that Aristotle observes + 'that in general great geniuses are of a melancholy turn, and + instances Socrates, Plato, and Hercules (or Heraclitus), as + examples, and Lysander, though not while young, yet as inclined + to it when approaching towards age.' Whether I am a genius or + not, I have been called such by my friends as well as enemies, + and in more countries and languages than one, and also within a + no very long period of existence. Of my genius, I can say + nothing, but of my melancholy, that it is 'increasing, and ought + to be diminished.' But how? + </p> + <p> + "I take it that most men are so at bottom, but that it is only + remarked in the remarkable. The Duchesse de Broglio, in reply to + a remark of mine on the errors of clever people, said that 'they + were not worse than others, only, being more in view, more noted, + especially in all that could reduce them <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg261" id="pg261">261</a></span> to the rest, + or raise the rest to them.' In 1816, this was. + </p> + <p> + "In fact (I suppose that) if the follies of fools were all set + down like those of the wise, the wise (who seem at present only a + better sort of fools) would appear almost intelligent. + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + "It is singular how soon we lose the impression of what ceases to + be <i>constantly</i> before us: a year impairs; a lustre + obliterates. There is little distinct left without an effort of + memory. <i>Then</i>, indeed, the lights are rekindled for a + moment; but who can be sure that imagination is not the + torch-bearer? Let any man try at the end of <i>ten</i> years to + bring before him the features, or the mind, or the sayings, or + the habits of his best friend, or his <i>greatest</i> man, (I + mean his favourite, his Buonaparte, his this, that, or t'other,) + and he will be surprised at the extreme confusion of his ideas. I + speak confidently on this point, having always passed for one who + had a good, ay, an excellent memory. I except, indeed, our + recollection of womankind; there is no forgetting <i>them</i> + (and be d—d to them) any more than any other remarkable + era, such as 'the revolution,' or 'the plague,' or 'the + invasion,' or 'the comet,' or 'the war' of such and such an + epoch,—being the favourite dates of mankind who have so + many <i>blessings</i> in their lot that they never make their + calendars from them, being too common. For instance, you see 'the + great drought,' 'the Thames frozen over,' 'the seven years' war + broke out,' 'the English, or French, or Spanish revolution + commenced,' 'the <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg262" id= + "pg262">262</a></span> Lisbon earthquake,' 'the Lima earthquake,' + 'the earthquake of Calabria,' 'the plague of London,' ditto 'of + Constantinople,' 'the sweating sickness,' 'the yellow fever of + Philadelphia,' &c. &c. &c.; but you don't see 'the + abundant harvest,' 'the fine summer,' 'the long peace,' 'the + wealthy speculation,' 'the wreckless voyage,' recorded so + emphatically! By the way, there has been a <i>thirty years' + war</i> and a <i>seventy years' war</i>; was there ever a + <i>seventy</i> or a <i>thirty years' peace</i>? or was there even + a DAY'S <i>universal</i> peace? except perhaps in China, where + they have found out the miserable happiness of a stationary and + unwarlike mediocrity. And is all this because nature is niggard + or savage? or mankind ungrateful? Let philosophers decide. I am + none. + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + "In general, I do not draw well with literary men; not that I + dislike them, but I never know what to say to them after I have + praised their last publication. There are several exceptions, to + be sure, but then they have either been men of the world, such as + Scott and Moore, &c. or visionaries out of it, such as + Shelley, &c.: but your literary every-day man and I never + went well in company, especially your foreigner, whom I never + could abide; except Giordani, and—and—and—(I + really can't name any other)—I don't remember a man amongst + them whom I ever wished to see twice, except perhaps Mezzophanti, + who is a monster of languages, the Briareus of parts of speech, a + walking Polyglott and more, who ought to have existed at the time + of the <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg263" id= + "pg263">263</a></span> Tower of Babel as universal interpreter. + He is indeed a marvel—unassuming, also. I tried him in all + the tongues of which I knew a single oath, (or adjuration to the + gods against post-boys, savages, Tartars, boatmen, sailors, + pilots, gondoliers, muleteers, camel-drivers, vetturini, + post-masters, post-horses, post-houses, post every thing,) and + egad! he astounded me—even to my English. + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + "'No man would live his life over again,' is an old and true + saying which all can resolve for themselves. At the same time, + there are probably <i>moments</i> in most men's lives which they + would live over the rest of life to <i>regain</i>. Else why do we + live at all? because Hope recurs to Memory, both + false—but—but—but—but—and this + <i>but</i> drags on till—what? I do not know; and who does? + 'He that died o' Wednesday.'" + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + In laying before the reader these last extracts from the papers + in my possession, it may be expected, perhaps, that I should say + something,—in addition to what has been already stated on + this subject,—respecting those Memoranda, or Memoirs, + which, in the exercise of the discretionary power given to me by + my noble friend, I placed, shortly after his death, at the + disposal of his sister and executor, and which they, from a sense + of what they thought due to his memory, consigned to the flames. + As the circumstances, however, connected with the surrender of + that manuscript, besides requiring much more detail than my + present limits allow, do not, in any respect, <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg264" id="pg264">264</a></span> concern the + character of Lord Byron, but affect solely my own, it is not + here, at least, that I feel myself called upon to enter into an + explanation of them. The world will, of course, continue to think + of that step as it pleases; but it is, after all, on a man's + <i>own</i> opinion of his actions that his happiness chiefly + depends, and I can only say that, were I again placed in the same + circumstances, I would—even at ten times the pecuniary + sacrifice which my conduct then cost me—again act precisely + in the same manner. + </p> + <p> + For the satisfaction of those whose regret at the loss of that + manuscript arises from some better motive than the mere + disappointment of a prurient curiosity, I shall here add, that on + the mysterious cause of the separation, it afforded no light + whatever;—that, while some of its details could never have + been published at all<span class="fnref">[1]</span>, and little, + if any, of what it contained personal towards others could have + appeared till long after the individuals concerned had left the + scene, all that materially related to Lord Byron himself was (as + I well knew when I made that sacrifice) to be found repeated in + the various Journals and Memorandum-books, which, though not all + to be made use of, were, as the reader has seen from the + preceding pages, all preserved. + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: This description applies only to the Second Part + of the Memoranda; there having been but little unfit for + publication in the First Part, which was, indeed, read, as is + well known, by many of the noble author's friends.] + </p> + </div> + <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="pg265" id= + "pg265">265</a></span> + As far as suppression, indeed, is blamable, I have had, in the + course of this task, abundantly to answer for it; having, as the + reader must have perceived, withheld a large portion of my + materials, to which Lord Byron, no doubt, in his fearlessness of + consequences, would have wished to give publicity, but which, it + is now more than probable, will never meet the light. + </p> + <p> + There remains little more to add. It has been remarked by Lord + Orford<span class="fnref">[1]</span>, as "strange, that the + writing a man's life should in general make the biographer become + enamoured of his subject, whereas one should think that the nicer + disquisition one makes into the life of any man, the less reason + one should find to love or admire him." On the contrary, may we + not rather say that, as knowledge is ever the parent of + tolerance, the more insight we gain into the springs and motives + of a man's actions, the peculiar circumstances in which he was + placed, and the influences and temptations under which he acted, + the more allowance we may be inclined to make for his errors, and + the more approbation his virtues may extort from us? + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: In speaking of Lord Herbert of Cherbury's Life of + Henry VIII.] + </p> + </div> + <p> + The arduous task of being the biographer of Byron is one, at + least, on which I have not obtruded myself: the wish of my friend + that I should undertake that office having been more than once + expressed, at a time when none but a boding imagination like his + could have foreseen much chance of the sad honour <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg266" id="pg266">266</a></span> devolving to + me. If in some instances I have consulted rather the spirit than + the exact letter of his injunctions, it was with the view solely + of doing him more justice than he would have done himself, there + being no hands in which his character could have been less safe + than his own, nor any greater wrong offered to his memory than + the substitution of what he affected to be for what he was. Of + any partiality, however, beyond what our mutual friendship + accounts for and justifies, I am by no means conscious; nor would + it be in the power, indeed, of even the most partial friend to + allege any thing more convincingly favourable of his character + than is contained in the few simple facts with which I shall here + conclude,—that, through life, with all his faults, he never + lost a friend;—that those about him in his youth, whether + as companions, teachers, or servants, remained attached to him to + the last;—that the woman, to whom he gave the love of his + maturer years, idolises his name; and that, with a single unhappy + exception, scarce an instance is to be found of any one, once + brought, however briefly, into relations of amity with him, that + did not feel towards him a kind regard in life, and retain a + fondness for his memory. + </p> + <p> + I have now done with the subject, nor shall be easily tempted to + recur to it. Any mistakes or misstatements I may be proved to + have made shall be corrected;—any new facts which it is in + the power of others to produce will speak for themselves. To mere + opinions I am not called upon to pay attention—and + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg267" id="pg267">267</a></span> + still less to insinuations or mysteries. I have here told what I + myself know and think concerning my friend; and now leave his + character, moral as well as literary, to the judgment of the + world. <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg268" id= + "pg268">268</a></span> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg269" id="pg269">269</a></span> + </p> + <h2> + APPENDIX. + </h2> + <hr /> + <h3> + TWO EPISTLES FROM THE ARMENIAN VERSION. + </h3> + <h4> + THE EPISTLE OF THE CORINTHIANS TO ST. PAUL THE + APOSTLE.<span class="fnref">[1]</span> + </h4> + <p> + 1 STEPHEN<span class="fnref">[2]</span>, and the elders with him, + Dabnus, Eubulus, Theophilus, and Xinon, to Paul, our father and + evangelist, and faithful master in Jesus Christ, + health.<span class="fnref">[3]</span> + </p> + <p> + 2 Two men have come to Corinth, Simon by name, and + Cleobus<span class="fnref">[4]</span>, who vehemently disturb the + faith of some with deceitful and corrupt words; + </p> + <p> + 3 Of which words thou shouldst inform thyself: + </p> + <p> + 4 For neither have we heard such words from thee, nor from the + other apostles: + </p> + <p> + 5 But we know only that what we have heard from thee and from + them, that we have kept firmly. + </p> + <p> + 6 But in this chiefly has our Lord had compassion, that, whilst + thou art yet with us in the flesh, we are again about to hear + from thee. + </p> + <p> + 7 Therefore do thou write to us, or come thyself amongst us + quickly. <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg270" id= + "pg270">270</a></span> + </p> + <p> + 8 We believe in the Lord, that, as it was revealed to Theonas, he + hath delivered thee from the hands of the + unrighteous.<span class="fnref">[5]</span> + </p> + <p> + 9 But these are the sinful words of these impure men, for thus do + they say and teach: + </p> + <p> + 10 That it behoves not to admit the Prophets.<span class= + "fnref">[6]</span> + </p> + <p> + 11 Neither do they affirm the omnipotence of God: + </p> + <p> + 12 Neither do they affirm the resurrection of the flesh: + </p> + <p> + 13 Neither do they affirm that man was altogether created by God: + </p> + <p> + 14 Neither do they affirm that Jesus Christ was born in the flesh + from the Virgin Mary: + </p> + <p> + 15 Neither do they affirm that the world was the work of God, but + of some one of the angels. + </p> + <p> + 16 Therefore do thou make haste<span class="fnref">[7]</span> to + come amongst us. + </p> + <p> + 17 That this city of the Corinthians may remain without scandal. + </p> + <p> + 18 And that the folly of these men may be made manifest by an + open refutation. Fare thee well.<span class="fnref">[8]</span> + </p> + <p> + The deacons Thereptus and Tichus<span class="fnref">[9]</span> + received and conveyed this Epistle to the city of the + Philippians.[10] + </p> + <p> + When Paul received the Epistle, although he was then in chains on + account of Stratonice[11], the wife of Apofolanus[12], yet, as it + were forgetting his bonds, he mourned over these words, and said, + weeping: "It were better for me to be dead, and with the Lord. + For while I am in this body, and hear <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg271" id="pg271">271</a></span> the wretched + words of such false doctrine, behold, grief arises upon grief, + and my trouble adds a weight to my chains; when I behold this + calamity, and progress of the machinations of Satan, who + searcheth to do wrong." + </p> + <p> + And thus, with deep affliction, Paul composed his reply to the + Epistle.[13] + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: Some MSS. have the title thus: <i>Epistle of + Stephen the Elder to Paul the Apostle, from the + Corinthians</i>.] + </p> + </div> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 2: In the MSS. the marginal verses published by the + Whistons are wanting.] + </p> + </div> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 3: In some MSS. we find, <i>The elders Numenus, + Eubulus, Theophilus, and Nomeson, to Paul their brother, + health</i>!] + </p> + </div> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 4: Others read, <i>There came certain men, ... and + Clobeus, who vehemently shake.</i>] + </p> + </div> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 5: Some MSS. have, <i>We believe in the Lord, that + his presence was made manifest; and by this hath the Lord + delivered as from the hands of the unrighteous.</i>] + </p> + </div> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 6: Others read, <i>To read the Prophets.</i>] + </p> + </div> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 7: Some MSS. have, <i>Therefore, brother, do thou + make haste.</i>] + </p> + </div> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 8: Others read, <i>Fare thee well in the Lord.</i>] + </p> + </div> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 9: Some MSS. have, <i>The deacons Therepus and + Techus</i>] + </p> + </div> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 10: The Whistons have, <i>To the city of + Phoenicia</i>; but in all the MSS. we find, <i>To the city of + the Philippians.</i>] + </p> + </div> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 11: Others read, <i>On account of Onotice.</i>] + </p> + </div> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 12: The Whistons have, <i>Of Apollophanus</i>: but in + all the MSS. we read, <i>Apofolanus</i>.] + </p> + </div> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 13: In the text of this Epistle there are some other + variations in the words, but the sense is the same.] + </p> + </div> + <h4> + EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS, <span class= + "fnref">[1]</span> + </h4> + <p> + 1 Paul, in bonds for Jesus Christ, disturbed by so many errors + <span class="fnref">[2]</span>, to his Corinthian brethren, + health. + </p> + <p> + 2 I nothing marvel that the preachers of evil have made this + progress. + </p> + <p> + 3 For because the Lord Jesus is about to fulfil his coming, + verily on this account do certain men pervert and despise his + words. + </p> + <p> + 4 But I, verily, from the beginning, have taught you that only + which I myself received from the former apostles, who always + remained with the Lord Jesus Christ. + </p> + <p> + 5 And I now say unto you, that the Lord Jesus Christ was born of + the Virgin Mary, who was of the seed of David, + </p> + <p> + 6 According to the annunciation of the Holy Ghost, sent to her by + our Father from heaven; + </p> + <p> + 7 That Jesus might be introduced into the world <span class= + "fnref">[3]</span>, and deliver our flesh by his flesh, and that + he might raise us up from the dead; + </p> + <p> + 8 As in this also he himself became the example: + </p> + <p> + 9 That it might be made manifest that man was created by the + Father, + </p> + <p> + 10 He has not remained in perdition unsought <span class= + "fnref">[4]</span>; <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg272" id= + "pg272">272</a></span> + </p> + <p> + 11 But he is sought for, that he might be revived by adoption. + </p> + <p> + 12 For God, who is the Lord of all, the Father of our Lord Jesus + Christ, who made heaven and earth, sent, firstly, the Prophets to + the Jews: + </p> + <p> + 13 That he would absolve them from their sins, and bring them to + his judgment. + </p> + <p> + 14 Because he wished to save, firstly, the house of Israel, he + bestowed and poured forth his Spirit upon the Prophets; + </p> + <p> + 15 That they should, for a long time, preach the worship of God, + and the nativity of Christ. + </p> + <p> + 16 But he who was the prince of evil, when he wished to make + himself God, laid his hand upon them, + </p> + <p> + 17 And bound all men in sin,<span class="fnref">[5]</span> + </p> + <p> + 18 Because the judgment of the world was approaching. + </p> + <p> + 19 But Almighty God, when he willed to justify, was unwilling to + abandon his creature; + </p> + <p> + 20 But when he saw his affliction, he had compassion upon him: + </p> + <p> + 21 And at the end of a time he sent the Holy Ghost into the + Virgin foretold by the Prophets. + </p> + <p> + 22 Who, believing readily <span class="fnref">[6]</span>, was + made worthy to conceive, and bring forth our Lord Jesus Christ. + </p> + <p> + 23 That from this perishable body, in which the evil spirit was + glorified, he should be cast out, and it should be made manifest + </p> + <p> + 24 That he was not God: For Jesus Christ, in his flesh, had + recalled and saved this perishable flesh, and drawn it into + eternal life by faith. + </p> + <p> + 25 Because in his body he would prepare a pure temple of justice + for all ages; + </p> + <p> + 26 In whom we also, when we believe, are saved. + </p> + <p> + 27 Therefore know ye that these men are not the children of + justice, but the children of wrath; + </p> + <p> + 28 Who turn away from themselves the compassion of God; + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg273" id="pg273">273</a></span> + </p> + <p> + 29 Who say that neither the heavens nor the earth were altogether + works made by the hand of the Father of all things.<span class= + "fnref">[7]</span> + </p> + <p> + 30 But these cursed men<span class="fnref">[8]</span> have the + doctrine of the serpent. + </p> + <p> + 31 But do ye, by the power of God, withdraw yourselves far from + these, and expel from amongst you the doctrine of the wicked. + </p> + <p> + 32 Because you are not the children of rebellion <span class= + "fnref">[9]</span>; but the sons of the beloved church. + </p> + <p> + 33 And on this account the time of the resurrection is preached + to all men. + </p> + <p> + 34 Therefore they who affirm that there is no resurrection of the + flesh, they indeed shall not be raised up to eternal life; + </p> + <p> + 35 But to judgment and condemnation shall the unbeliever arise in + the flesh: + </p> + <p> + 36 For to that body which denies the resurrection of the body, + shall be denied the resurrection: because such are found to + refuse the resurrection. + </p> + <p> + 37 But you also, Corinthians! have known, from the seeds of + wheat, and from other seeds, + </p> + <p> + 38 That one grain falls [10] dry into the earth, and within it + first dies, + </p> + <p> + 39 And afterwards rises again, by the will of the Lord, endued + with the same body: + </p> + <p> + 40 Neither indeed does it arise with the same simple body, but + manifold, and filled with blessing. + </p> + <p> + 41 But we produce the example not only from seeds, but from the + honourable bodies of men. [11] + </p> + <p> + 42 Ye have also known Jonas, the son of Amittai.[12] + </p> + <p> + 43 Because he delayed to preach to the Ninevites, he was + swallowed up in the belly of a fish for three days and three + nights: <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg274" id= + "pg274">274</a></span> + </p> + <p> + 44 And after three days God heard his supplication, and brought + him out of the deep abyss; + </p> + <p> + 45 Neither was any part of his body corrupted; neither was his + eyebrow bent down.[13] + </p> + <p> + 46 And how much more for you, oh men of little faith; + </p> + <p> + 47 If you believe in our Lord Jesus Christ, will he raise you up, + even as he himself hath arisen. + </p> + <p> + 48 If the bones of Elisha the prophet, falling upon the dead, + revived the dead, + </p> + <p> + 49 By how much more shall ye, who are supported by the flesh and + the blood and the Spirit of Christ, arise again on that day with + a perfect body? + </p> + <p> + 50 Elias the prophet, embracing the widow's son, raised him from + the dead: + </p> + <p> + 51 By how much more shall Jesus Christ revive you, on that day, + with a perfect body, even as he himself hath arisen? + </p> + <p> + 52 But if ye receive other things vainly [14], + </p> + <p> + 53 Henceforth no one shall cause me to travail; for I bear on my + body these fetters [15], + </p> + <p> + 54 To obtain Christ; and I suffer with patience these afflictions + to become worthy of the resurrection of the dead. + </p> + <p> + 55 And do each of you, having received the law from the hands of + the blessed Prophets and the holy gospel [16], firmly maintain + it; + </p> + <p> + 56 To the end that you may be rewarded in the resurrection of the + dead, and the possession of the life eternal. + </p> + <p> + 57 But if any of ye, not believing, shall trespass, he shall be + judged with the misdoers, and punished with those who have false + belief. + </p> + <p> + 58 Because such are the generation of vipers, and the children of + dragons and basilisks. <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg275" id= + "pg275">275</a></span> + </p> + <p> + 59 Drive far from amongst ye, and fly from such, with the aid of + our Lord Jesus Christ. + </p> + <p> + 60 And the peace and grace of the beloved Son be upon you.[17] + Amen. + </p> + <p> + <i>Done into English by me, January-February,</i> 1817, <i>at the + Convent of San Lazaro, with the aid and exposition of the + Armenian text by the Father Paschal Aucher, Armenian Friar</i>. + </p> + <p class="citation"> + BYRON. + </p> + <p class="quotdate"> + Venice, April 10, 1817. + </p> + <p> + <i>I had also the Latin text, but it is in many places very + corrupt, and with great omissions</i>. + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: Some MSS. have, <i>Paul's Epistle from prison, for + the instruction of the Corinthians</i>.] + </p> + </div> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 2: Others read, <i>Disturbed by various + compunctions.</i>] + </p> + </div> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 3: Some MSS. have. <i>That Jesus might comfort the + world.</i>] + </p> + </div> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 4: Others read, <i>He has not remained + indifferent</i>.] + </p> + </div> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 5: Some MSS have, <i>Laid his hand, and then and all + body bound in sin.</i>] + </p> + </div> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 6: Others read, <i>Believing with a pure heart</i>.] + </p> + </div> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 7: Some MSS. have, <i>Of God the Father of all + things.</i>] + </p> + </div> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 8: Others read, <i>They curse themselves in this + thing.</i>] + </p> + </div> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 9: Others read, <i>Children of the disobedient.</i>] + </p> + </div> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 10: Some MSS. have, <i>That one grain falls not dry + into the earth.</i>] + </p> + </div> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 11: Others read, <i>But we have not only produced + from seeds, but from the honourable body of man.</i>] + </p> + </div> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 12: Others read, <i>The son of Ematthius</i>.] + </p> + </div> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 13: Others add, <i>Nor did a hair of his body fall + therefrom</i>.] + </p> + </div> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 14: Some MSS. have, <i>Ye shall not receive other + things in vain</i>.] + </p> + </div> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 15: Others finished here thus, <i>Henceforth no one + can trouble me further, for I bear in my body the sufferings of + Christ. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, + my brethren. Amen</i>.] + </p> + </div> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 16: Some MSS. have, <i>Of the holy evangelist</i>.] + </p> + </div> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 17: Others add, <i>Our Lord be with ye all. + Amen</i>.] + </p> + </div> + <h3> + REMARKS ON MR. MOORE'S LIFE OF LORD BYRON, BY LADY BYRON. + </h3> + <p> + "I have disregarded various publications in which facts within my + own knowledge have been grossly misrepresented; but I am called + upon to notice some of the erroneous statements proceeding from + one who claims to be considered as Lord Byron's confidential and + authorised friend. Domestic details ought not to be intruded on + the public attention: if, however, they <i>are</i> so intruded, + the persons affected by them have a right to refute injurious + charges. Mr. Moore has promulgated his own impressions of private + events in which I was most nearly concerned, as if he possessed a + competent knowledge of the subject. Having survived Lord Byron, I + feel increased reluctance to advert to any circumstances + connected with the period of my marriage; nor is it now my + intention to disclose them, further than may be indispensably + requisite for <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg276" id= + "pg276">276</a></span> the end I have in view. Self-vindication + is not the motive which actuates me to make this appeal, and the + spirit of accusation is unmingled with it; but when the conduct + of my parents is brought forward in a disgraceful light, by the + passages selected from Lord Byron's letters, and by the remarks + of his biographer, I feel bound to justify their characters from + imputations which I <i>know</i> to be false. The passages from + Lord Byron's letters, to which I refer, are the aspersion on my + mother's character (vol. iii. p. 206. last line):—'My child + is very well, and flourishing, I hear; but I must see also. I + feel no disposition to resign it to the <i>contagian of its + grandmother's society</i>.' The assertion of her dishonourable + conduct in employing a spy (vol. iii. p. 202. l. 20, &c.), 'A + Mrs. C. (now a kind of housekeeper and <i>spy of Lady N</i>'s), + who, in her better days, was a washerwoman, is supposed to + be—by the learned—very much the occult cause of our + domestic discrepancies.' The seeming exculpation of myself, in + the extract (vol. iii. p. 205.), with the words immediately + following it,—'Her nearest relatives are a ——;' + where the blank clearly implies something too offensive for + publication. These passages tend to throw suspicion on my + parents, and give reason to ascribe the separation either to + their direct agency, or to that of 'officious spies' employed by + them.<span class="fnref">[1]</span> From the following part of + the narrative (vol. iii. p. 198.) it must also be inferred that + an undue influence was exercised by them for the accomplishment + of this purpose. 'It was in a few weeks after the latter + communication between us (Lord Byron and Mr. Moore), that Lady + Byron adopted the determination of parting from him. She had left + London at the latter end of January, on a visit to her father's + house, in Leicestershire, and Lord Byron was in a short time to + follow her. They had parted in the utmost kindness,—she + wrote him a letter full of playfulness and affection, on the + road; and immediately on her arrival at Kirkby Mallory, her + father wrote to acquaint Lord Byron that she would return to him + no more.' In my observations upon this statement, I shall, as far + as possible, <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg277" id= + "pg277">277</a></span> avoid touching on any matters relating + personally to Lord Byron and myself. The facts are:—I left + London for Kirkby Mallory, the residence of my father and mother, + on the 15th of January, 1816. Lord Byron had signified to me in + writing (Jan. 6th) his absolute desire that I should leave London + on the earliest day that I could conveniently fix. It was not + safe for me to undertake the fatigue of a journey sooner than the + 15th. Previously to my departure, it had been strongly impressed + on my mind, that Lord Byron was under the influence of insanity. + This opinion was derived in a great measure from the + communications made to me by his nearest relatives and personal + attendant, who had more opportunities than myself of observing + him during the latter part of my stay in town. It was even + represented to me that he was in danger of destroying himself. + <i>With the concurrence of his family</i>, I had consulted Dr. + Baillie, as a friend (Jan. 8th), respecting this supposed malady. + On acquainting him with the state of the case, and with Lord + Byron's desire that I should leave London, Dr. Baillie thought + that my absence might be advisable as an experiment, + <i>assuming</i> the fact of mental derangement; for Dr. Baillie, + not having had access to Lord Byron, could not pronounce a + positive opinion on that point. He enjoined, that in + correspondence with Lord Byron, I should avoid all but light and + soothing topics. Under these impressions, I left London, + determined to follow the advice given by Dr. Baillie. Whatever + might have been the nature of Lord Byron's conduct towards me + from the time of my marriage, yet, supposing him to be in a state + of mental alienation, it was not for <i>me</i>, nor for any + person of common humanity, to manifest, at that moment, a sense + of injury. On the day of my departure, and again on my arrival at + Kirkby, Jan. 16th, I wrote to Lord Byron in a kind and cheerful + tone, according to those medical directions. The last letter was + circulated, and employed as a pretext for the charge of my having + been subsequently <i>influenced</i> to 'desert<span class= + "fnref">[2]</span>' my husband. It has been argued, that I parted + from Lord Byron in perfect <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg278" + id="pg278">278</a></span> harmony; that feelings, incompatible + with any deep sense of injury, had dictated the letter which I + addressed to him; and that my sentiments must have been changed + by persuasion and interference, when I was under the roof of my + parents. These assertions and inferences are wholly destitute of + foundation. When I arrived at Kirkby Mallory, my parents were + unacquainted with the existence of any causes likely to destroy + my prospects of happiness; and when I communicated to them the + opinion which had been formed concerning Lord Byron's state of + mind, they were most anxious to promote his restoration by every + means in their power. They assured those relations who were with + him in London, that 'they would devote their whole care and + attention to the alleviation of his malady,' and hoped to make + the best arrangements for his comfort, if he could be induced to + visit them. With these intentions, my mother wrote on the 17th to + Lord Byron, inviting him to Kirkby Mallory. She had always + treated him with an affectionate consideration and indulgence, + which extended to every little peculiarity of his feelings. Never + did an irritating word escape her lips in her whole intercourse + with him. The accounts given me after I left Lord Byron by the + persons in constant intercourse with him, added to those doubts + which had before transiently occurred to my mind, as to the + reality of the alleged disease, and the reports of his medical + attendant, were far from establishing the existence of any thing + like lunacy. Under this uncertainty, I deemed it right to + communicate to my parents, that if I were to consider Lord + Byron's past conduct as that of a person of sound mind, nothing + could induce me to return to him. It therefore appeared + expedient, both to them and myself, to consult the ablest + advisers. For that object, and also to obtain still further + information respecting the appearances which seemed to indicate + mental derangement, my mother determined to go to London. She was + empowered by me to take legal opinions on a written statement of + mine, though I had then reasons for reserving a part of the case + from the knowledge even of my father and mother. Being convinced + by the result of these enquiries, and by the <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg279" id="pg279">279</a></span> tenor of Lord + Byron's proceedings, that the notion of insanity was an illusion, + I no longer hesitated to authorise such measures as were + necessary, in order to secure me from being ever again placed in + his power. Conformably with this resolution, my father wrote to + him on the 2d of February, to propose an amicable separation. + Lord Byron at first rejected this proposal; but when it was + distinctly notified to him, that if he persisted in his refusal, + recourse must be had to legal measures, he agreed to sign a deed + of separation. Upon applying to Dr. Lushington, who was + intimately acquainted with all the circumstances, to state in + writing what he recollected upon this subject, I received from + him the following letter, by which it will be manifest that my + mother cannot have been actuated by any hostile or ungenerous + motives towards Lord Byron. + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: "The officious spies of his privacy," vol. iii. p. + 211.] + </p> + </div> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 2: "The deserted husband," vol. iii. p. 212.] + </p> + </div> + <p> + <br /> + <br /> + "'My dear Lady Byron, + </p> + <p> + "'I can rely upon the accuracy of my memory for the following + statement. I was originally consulted by Lady Noel on your + behalf, whilst you were in the country; the circumstances + detailed by her were such as justified a separation, but they + were not of that aggravated description as to render such a + measure indispensable. On Lady Noel's representation, I deemed a + reconciliation with Lord Byron practicable, and felt most + sincerely a wish to aid in effecting it. There was not on Lady + Noel's part any exaggeration of the facts; nor, so far as I could + perceive, any determination to prevent a return to Lord Byron: + certainly none was expressed when I spoke of a reconciliation. + When you came to town in about a fortnight, or perhaps more, + after my first interview with Lady Noel, I was, for the first + time, informed by you of facts utterly unknown, as I have no + doubt, to Sir Ralph and Lady Noel. On receiving this additional + information, my opinion was entirely changed: I considered a + reconciliation impossible. I declared my opinion, and added, that + if such an idea should be entertained, I could not, either + professionally or otherwise, take any part towards effecting it. + Believe me, very faithfully yours, STEPH. LUSHINGTON. + </p> + <p> + "'<i>Great George-street, Jan</i>. 31. 1830.' + </p> + <p> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg280" id="pg280">280</a></span>"I + have only to observe, that if the statements on which my legal + advisers (the late Sir Samuel Komilly and Dr. Lushington) formed + their opinions were false, the responsibility and the odium + should rest with <i>me only</i>. I trust that the facts which I + have here briefly recapitulated will absolve my father and mother + from all accusations with regard to the part they took in the + separation between Lord Byron and myself. They neither + originated, instigated, nor advised, that separation; and they + cannot be condemned for having afforded to their daughter the + assistance and protection which she claimed. There is no other + near relative to vindicate their memory from insult. I am + therefore compelled to break the silence which I had hoped always + to observe, and to solicit from the readers of Lord Byron's life + an impartial consideration of the testimony extorted from me. + </p> + <p> + "A.I. NOEL BYRON. + </p> + <p> + "<i>Hanger Hill, Feb</i>. 19. 1830." + </p> + <hr /> + <h3> + LETTER OF MR. TURNER. + </h3> + <h4> + <i>Referred to in</i> vol. v. p. 129. + </h4> + <p> + "Eight months after the publication of my 'Tour in the Levant,' + there appeared in the London Magazine, and subsequently in most + of the newspapers, a letter from the late Lord Byron to Mr. + Murray. + </p> + <p> + "I naturally felt anxious at the time to meet a charge of error + brought against me in so direct a manner: but I thought, and + friends whom I consulted at the time thought with me, that I had + better wait for a more favourable opportunity than that afforded + by the newspapers of vindicating my opinion, which even so + distinguished an authority as the letter of Lord Byron left + unshaken, and which, I will venture to add, remains unshaken + still. + </p> + <p> + "I must ever deplore that I resisted my first impulse to reply + immediately. The hand of Death has snatched Lord <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg281" id="pg281">281</a></span> Byron from + his kingdom of literature and poetry, and I can only guard myself + from the illiberal imputation of attacking the mighty dead, whose + living talent I should have trembled to encounter, by + scrupulously confining myself to such facts and illustrations as + are strictly necessary to save me from the charges of error, + misrepresentation, and presumptuousness, of which every writer + must wish to prove himself undeserving. + </p> + <p> + "Lord Byron began by stating, 'The <i>tide</i> was <i>not</i> in + our favour,' and added, 'neither I nor any person on board the + frigate had any notion of a difference of the current on the + Asiatic side; I never heard of it till this moment.' His Lordship + had probably forgotten that Strabo distinctly describes the + difference in the following words;— + </p> + <p> + [Greek: 'Dio kai eupetesteron ek tês Sêstou diairousi + parallaxamenoi mikron epi ton tês Hêrous purgon, kakeithen + aphientes ta ploia sumprattontos tou rhou pros tên peraiôsin: + Tois d' ex Abudou peraioumenois parallakteon estin eis tanantia, + oktô pou stadious epi purgon tina kat' antikru tês Sêstou, epeita + diairein plagion, kai mê teleôs echousin enantion ton + rhoun.'—] Ideoque <i>facilius a Sesto, trajiciunt</i> + paululum deflexâ navigatione ad Herus turrim, atque inde + <i>navigia dimittentes adjuvante etiam fluxu trajectum</i>. Qui + ab Abydo trajiciunt, in contrarium flectunt partem ad octo stadia + ad turrim quandam e regione Sesti: hinc <i>oblique</i> + trajiciunt, non <i>prorsus</i> contrario fluxu.'<span class= + "fnref">[1]</span> + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: "Strabo, book xiii. Oxford Edition."] + </p> + </div> + <p> + "Here it is clearly asserted, that the current assists the + crossing from Sestos, and the words [Greek: 'aphientes ta + ploia']—'<i>navigia dimittentes</i>,'—'<i>letting the + vessels go of themselves</i>,' prove how considerable the + assistance of the current was; while the words [Greek: + 'plagion']—'<i>oblique</i>,' and '[Greek: + teleôs],'—'<i>prorsus</i>,' show distinctly that those who + crossed from Abydos were obliged to do so in an <i>oblique</i> + direction, or they would have the current <i>entirely</i> against + them. + </p> + <p> + "From this ancient authority, which, I own, appears to me + unanswerable, let us turn to the moderns. Baron de Tott, who, + having been for some time resident on the spot, employed as an + engineer in the construction of batteries, must be supposed + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg282" id="pg282">282</a></span> + well cognisant of the subject, has expressed himself as + follows:— + </p> + <p> + "'La surabondance des eaux que la Mer Noire reçoit, et qu'elle ne + peut evaporer, versée dans la Méditerranée par le Bosphore de + Thrace et La Propontide, forme aux Dardanelles des courans si + violens, que souvent les batimens, toutes voiles dehors, out + peine à les vaincre. Les pilotes doivent encore observer, lorsque + le vent suffit, de diriger leur route de manière à présenter le + moins de résistance possible à l'effort des eaux. On sent que + cette étude a pour base la direction des courans, qui, + <i>renvoyés d'une points à l'autre,</i> forment des obstacles à + la navigation, et feroient courir les plus grands risques si l'on + negligeoit ces connoissances hydrographiques.'—<i>Mémoires + de</i> TOTT, 3^{<i>me</i>} <i>Partie</i>. + </p> + <p> + "To the above citations, I will add the opinion of Tournefort, + who, in his description of the strait, expresses with ridicule + his disbelief of the truth of Leander's exploit; and to show that + the latest travellers agree with the earlier, I will conclude my + quotation with a statement of Mr. Madden, who is just returned + from the spot. 'It was from the European side Lord Byron swam + <i>with</i> the current, which runs about four miles an hour. But + I believe he would have found it totally impracticable to have + crossed from Abydos to Europe.'—MADDEN'S <i>Travels</i>, + vol. i. + </p> + <p> + "There are two other observations in Lord Byron's letter on which + I feel it necessary to remark. + </p> + <p> + "'Mr. Turner says, "Whatever is thrown into the stream on this + part of the European bank <i>must</i> arrive at the Asiatic + shore." This is so far from being the case, that it <i>must</i> + arrive in the Archipelago, if left to the current, although a + strong wind from the Asiatic<span class="fnref">[1]</span> side + might have such an effect occasionally.' + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: "This is evidently a mistake of the writer or + printer. His Lordship must here have meant a strong wind from + the European side, as no wind from the Asiatic side could have + the effect of driving an object to the Asiatic shore." + </p> + <p> + I think it right to remark, that it is Mr. Turner himself who + has here originated the inaccuracy of which he accuses others; + the words used by Lord Byron being, <i>not</i>, as Mr. Turner + says, "from the Asiatic side," but "in the Asiatic + direction."—T. M.] + </p> + </div> + <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="pg283" id= + "pg283">283</a></span> + "Here Lord Byron is right, and I have no hesitation in confessing + that I was wrong. But I was wrong only in the letter of my + remark, not in the spirit of it. Any <i>thing</i> thrown into the + stream on the European bank would be swept into the Archipelago, + because, after arriving so near the Asiatic-shore as to be + almost, if not quite, within a man's depth, it would be again + floated off from the coast by the current that is dashed from the + Asiatic promontory. But this would not affect a swimmer, who, + being so near the land, would of course, if he could not actually + walk to it, reach it by a slight effort. + </p> + <p> + "Lord Byron adds, in his P.S. 'The strait is, however, not + extraordinarily wide, even where it broadens above and below the + forts.' From this statement I must venture to express my dissent, + with diffidence indeed, but with diffidence diminished by the + ease with which the fact may be established. The strait is + widened so considerably above the forts by the Bay of Maytos, and + the bay opposite to it on the Asiatic coast, that the distance to + be passed by a swimmer in crossing higher up would be, in my poor + judgment, too great for any one to accomplish from Asia to + Europe, having such a current to stem. + </p> + <p> + "I conclude by expressing it as my humble opinion that no one is + bound to believe in the possibility of Leander's exploit, till + the passage has been performed by a swimmer, at least from Asia + to Europe. The sceptic is even entitled to exact, as the + condition of his belief, that the strait be crossed, as Leander + crossed it, both ways within at most fourteen hours. + </p> + <p> + "W. TURNER." + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <h3> + MR. MILLINGEN'S ACCOUNT OF THE CONSULTATION. + </h3> + <h4> + <i>Referred to in</i> vol. vi. p. 209. + </h4> + <p> + As the account given by Mr. Millingen of this consultation + differs totally from that of Dr. Bruno, it is fit that the reader + should have it in Mr. Millingen's own words:— <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg284" id="pg284">284</a></span> + </p> + <p> + "In the morning (18th) a consultation was proposed, to which Dr. + Lucca Vega and Dr. Freiber, my assistants, were invited. Dr. + Bruno and Lucca proposed having recourse to antispasmodics and + other remedies employed in the last stage of typhus. Freiber and + I maintained that they could only hasten the fatal termination, + that nothing could be more empirical than flying from one extreme + to the other; that if, as we all thought, the complaint was owing + to the metastasis of rheumatic inflammation, the existing + symptoms only depended on the rapid and extensive progress it had + made in an organ previously so weakened and irritable. + Antiphlogistic means could never prove hurtful in this case; they + would become useless only if disorganisation were already + operated; but then, since all hopes were gone, what means would + not prove superfluous? We recommended the application of numerous + leeches to the temples, behind the ears, and along the course of + the jugular vein; a large blister between the shoulders, and + sinapisms to the feet, as affording, though feeble, yet the last + hopes of success. Dr. B., being the patient's physician, had the + casting vote, and prepared the antispasmodic potion which Dr. + Lucca and he had agreed upon; it was a strong infusion of + valerian and ether, &c. After its administration, the + convulsive movement, the delirium increased; but, notwithstanding + my representations, a second dose was given half an hour after. + After articulating confusedly a few broken phrases, the patient + sunk shortly after into a comatose sleep, which the next day + terminated in death. He expired on the 19th of April, at six + o'clock in the afternoon." + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + <h3> + THE WILL OF LORD BYRON. + </h3> + <h4> + <i>Extracted from the Registry of the Prerogative Court of + Canterbury</i>. + </h4> + <p> + This is the last will and testament of me, George Gordon, Lord + Byron, Baron Byron, of Rochdale, in the county of Lancaster, as + follows:—I give and devise all that my manor <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg285" id="pg285">285</a></span> or lordship + of Rochdale, in the said county of Lancaster, with all its + rights, royalties, members, and appurtenances, and all my lands, + tenements, hereditaments, and premises situate, lying, and being + within the parish, manor, or lordship of Rochdale aforesaid, and + all other my estates, lands, hereditaments, and premises + whatsoever and wheresoever, unto my friends John Cam Hobhouse, + late of Trinity College, Cambridge, Esquire, and John Hanson, of + Chancery-lane, London, Esquire, to the use and behoof of them, + their heirs and assigns, upon trust that they the said John Cam + Hobhouse and John Hanson, and the survivor of them, and the heirs + and assigns of such survivor, do and shall, as soon as + conveniently may be after my decease, sell and dispose of all my + said manor and estates for the most money that can or may be had + or gotten for the same, either by private contract or public sale + by auction, and either together or in lots, as my said trustees + shall think proper; and for the facilitating such sale and sales, + I do direct that the receipt and receipts of my said trustees, + and the survivor of them, and the heirs and assigns of such + survivor, shall be a good and sufficient discharge, and good and + sufficient discharges to the purchaser or purchasers of my said + estates, or any part or parts thereof, for so much money as in + such receipt or receipts shall be expressed or acknowledged to be + received; and that such purchaser or purchasers, his, her, or + their heirs and assigns, shall not afterwards be in any manner + answerable or accountable for such purchase-monies, or be obliged + to see to the application thereof: And I do will and direct that + my said trustees shall stand possessed of the monies to arise by + the sale of my said estates upon such trusts and for such intents + and purposes as I have hereinafter directed of and concerning the + same: And whereas I have by certain deeds of conveyance made on + my marriage with my present wife conveyed all my manor and estate + of Newstead, in the parishes of Newstead and Limby, in the county + of Nottingham, unto trustees, upon trust to sell the same, and + apply the sum of sixty thousand pounds, part of the money to + arise by such sale; upon the trusts of my marriage settlement: + Now I do hereby <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg286" id= + "pg286">286</a></span> give and bequeath all the remainder of the + purchase-money to arise by sale of my said estate at Newstead, + and all the whole of the said sixty thousand pounds, or such part + thereof as shall not become vested and payable under the trusts + of my said marriage settlement, unto the said John Cam Hobhouse + and John Hanson, their executors, administrators, and assigns, + upon such trusts and for such ends, intents, and purposes as + hereinafter directed of and concerning the residue of my personal + estate. I give and bequeath unto the said John Cam Hobhouse and + John Hanson, the sum of one thousand pounds each, I give and + bequeath all the rest, residue, and remainder of my personal + estate whatsoever and wheresoever unto the said John Cam Hobhouse + and John Hanson, their executors, administrators, and assigns, + upon trust that they, my said trustees and the survivor of them, + and the executors and administrators of such survivor, do and + shall stand possessed of all such rest and residue of my said + personal estate and the money to arise by sale of my real estates + hereinbefore devised to them for sale, and such of the monies to + arise by sale of my said estate at Newstead as I have power to + dispose of, after payment of my debts and legacies hereby given, + upon the trusts and for the ends, intents, and purposes + hereinafter mentioned and directed of and concerning the same, + that is to say, upon trust, that they my said trustees and the + survivor of them, and the executors and administrators of such + survivor, do and shall lay out and invest the same in the public + stocks or funds, or upon government or real security at interest, + with power from time to time to change, vary, and transpose such + securities, and from time to time during the life of my sister + Augusta Mary Leigh, the wife of George Leigh, Esquire, pay, + receive, apply, and dispose of the interest, dividends, and + annual produce thereof, when and as the same shall become due and + payable, into the proper hands of the said Augusta Mary Leigh, to + and for her sole and separate use and benefit, free from the + control, debts, or engagements of her present or any future + husband, or unto such person or persons as she my said sister + shall from time to time, by any writing under her hand, + notwithstanding her <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg287" id= + "pg287">287</a></span> present or any future coverture, and + whether covert or sole, direct or appoint; and from and + immediately after the decease of my said sister, then upon trust, + that they my said trustees and the survivor of them, his + executors or administrators, do and shall assign and transfer all + my said personal estate and other the trust property hereinbefore + mentioned, or the stocks, funds, or securities wherein or upon + which the same shall or may be placed out or invested, unto and + among all and every the child and children of my said sister, if + more than one, in such parts, shares, and proportions, and to + become a vested interest, and to be paid and transferred at such + time and times, and in such manner, and with, under, and subject + to such provisions, conditions, and restrictions, as my said + sister, at any time during her life, whether covert or sole, by + any deed or deeds, instrument or instruments, in writing, with or + without power of revocation, to be sealed and delivered in the + presence of two or more credible witnesses, or by her last will + and testament in writing, or any writing of appointment in the + nature of a will, shall direct or appoint; and in default of any + such appointment, or in case of the death of my said sister in my + lifetime, then upon trust that they my said trustees and the + survivor of them, his executors, administrators, and assigns, do + and shall assign and transfer all the trust, property, and funds + unto and among the children of my said sister, if more than one, + equally to be divided between them, share and share alike, and if + only one such child, then to such only child the share and shares + of such of them as shall be a son or sons, to be paid and + transferred unto him and them when and as he or they shall + respectively attain his or their age or ages of twenty-one years; + and the share and shares of such of them as shall be a daughter + or daughters, to be paid and transferred unto her or them when + and as she or they shall respectively attain her or their age or + ages of twenty-one years, or be married, which shall first + happen; and in case any of such children shall happen to die, + being a son or sons, before he or they shall attain the age of + twenty-one years, or being a daughter or daughters, before she or + they shall attain the said age of <span class="pagenum"><a name= + "pg288" id="pg288">288</a></span> twenty-one, or be married; then + it is my will and I do direct that the share and shares of such + of the said children as shall so die shall go to the survivor or + survivors of such children, with the benefit of further accruer + in case of the death of any such surviving children before their + shares shall become vested. And I do direct that my said trustees + shall pay and apply the interest and dividends of each of the + said children's shares in the said trust funds for his, her, or + their maintenance and education during their minorities, + notwithstanding their shares may not become vested interests, but + that such interest and dividends as shall not have been so + applied shall accumulate, and follow, and go over with the + principal. And I do nominate, constitute, and appoint the said + John Cam Hobhouse and John Hanson executors of this my will. And + I do will and direct that my said trustees shall not be + answerable the one of them for the other of them, or for the + acts, deeds, receipts, or defaults of the other of them, but each + of them for his own acts, deeds, receipts, and wilful defaults + only, and that they my said trustees shall be entitled to retain + and deduct out of the monies which shall come to their hands + under the trusts aforesaid all such costs, charges, damages, and + expenses which they or any of them shall bear, pay, sustain, or + be put unto, in the execution and performance of the trusts + herein reposed in them. I make the above provision for my sister + and her children, in consequence of my dear wife Lady Byron, and + any children I may have, being otherwise amply provided for; and, + lastly, I do revoke all former wills by me at any time heretofore + made, and do declare this only to be my last will and testament. + In witness whereof, I have to this my last will, contained in + three sheets of paper, set my hand to the first two sheets + thereof, and to this third and last sheet my hand and seal this + 29th day of July, in the year of our Lord 1815. + </p> + <p class="citation"> + BYRON (L.S.) + </p> + <p> + Signed, sealed, published, and declared by the said Lord Byron, + the testator, as and for his last will and testament, in the + presence of us, who, at his request, in his presence, and in + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg289" id="pg289">289</a></span> + the presence of each other, have hereto subscribed our names as + witnesses. + </p> + <div class="poem"> + <p> + THOMAS JONES MAWSE, + </p> + <p> + EDMUND GRIFFIN, + </p> + <p> + FREDERICK JERVIS, + </p> + <p> + Clerks to Mr. Hanson, Chancery-lane. + </p> + </div> + <p> + CODICIL.—This is a Codicil to the last will and testament + of me, the Right Honourable George Gordon, Lord Byron. I give and + bequeath unto Allegra Biron, an infant of about twenty months + old, by me brought up, and now residing at Venice, the sum of + five thousand pounds, which I direct the executors of my said + will to pay to her on her attaining the age of twenty-one years, + or on the day of her marriage, on condition that she does not + marry with a native of Great Britain, which shall first happen. + And I direct my said executors, as soon as conveniently may be + after my decease, to invest the said sum of five thousand pounds + upon government or real security, and to pay and apply the annual + income thereof in or towards the maintenance and education of the + said Allegra Biron until she attains her said age of twenty-one + years, or shall be married as aforesaid; but in case she shall + die before attaining the said age and without having been + married, then I direct the said sum of five thousand pounds to + become part of the residue of my personal estate, and in all + other respects I do confirm my said will, and declare this to be + a codicil thereto. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my + hand and seal, at Venice, this 17th day of November, in the year + of our Lord 1818, + </p> + <p class="citation"> + BYRON (L.S.) + </p> + <p> + Signed, sealed, published, and declared by the said Lord Byron, + as and for a codicil to his will, in the presence of us, who, in + his presence, at his request, and in the presence of each other, + have subscribed our names as witnesses. + </p> + <div class="poem"> + <p> + NEWTON HANSON, + </p> + <p> + WILLIAM FLETCHER. + </p> + </div> + <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="pg290" id= + "pg290">290</a></span> + Proved at London (with a Codicil), 6th of July, 1824, before the + Worshipful Stephen Lushington, Doctor of Laws, and surrogate, by + the oaths of John Cam Hobhouse and John Hanson, Esquires, the + executors, to whom administration was granted, having been first + sworn duly to administer. + </p> + <div class="poem"> + <p> + NATHANIEL GOSTLING, + </p> + <p> + GEORGE JENNER, + </p> + <p> + CHARLES DYNELEY, + </p> + <p> + Deputy Registrars. + </p> + </div> + <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="pg291" id="pg291">291</a></span></p> + <hr /> + <h2> + MISCELLANEOUS PIECES + <br /> + IN PROSE. + </h2> + <p> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg292" id= + "pg292">292</a></span> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg293" id="pg293">293</a></span> + </p> + <h2> + REVIEW OF WORDSWORTH'S POEMS, + </h2> + <h4> + 2 Vols. 1807.<span class="fnref">[1]</span> + </h4> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: I have been a reviewer. In 1807, in a Magazine + called "Monthly Literary Recreations," I reviewed Wordsworth's + trash of that time. In the Monthly Review I wrote some articles + which were inserted. This was in the latter part of + 1811.—BYRON.] + </p> + </div> + <p> + (From "Monthly Literary Recreations," for August, 1807.) + </p> + <p> + The volumes before us are by the author of Lyrical Ballads, a + collection which has not undeservedly met with a considerable + share of public applause. The characteristics of Mr. W.'s muse + are simple and flowing, though occasionally inharmonious verse, + strong, and sometimes irresistible appeals to the feelings, with + unexceptionable sentiments. Though the present work may not equal + his former efforts, many of the poems possess a native elegance, + natural and unaffected, totally devoid of the tinsel + embellishments and abstract hyperboles of several contemporary + sonneteers. The last sonnet in the first volume, p. 152., is + perhaps the best, without any novelty in the sentiments, which we + hope are common to every Briton at the present crisis; the force + and expression is that of a genuine poet, feeling as he + writes:— + </p> + <div class="poem"> + <p> + "Another year! another deadly blow! + </p> + <p> + Another mighty empire overthrown! + </p> + <p> + And we are left, or shall be left, alone— + </p> + <p> + The last that dares to struggle with the foe. + </p> + <p> + 'Tis well!—from this day forward we shall know + </p> + <p> + That in ourselves our safety must be sought, + </p> + <p> + That by our own right-hands it must be wrought; + </p> + <p> + That we must stand unprop'd, or be laid low. + </p> + <p> + O dastard! whom such foretaste doth not cheer! + </p> + <p> + We shall exult, if they who rule the land + </p><span class="pagenum"><a name="pg294" id= + "pg294">294</a></span> + <p> + Be men who hold its many blessings dear, + </p> + <p> + Wise, upright, valiant, not a venal band, + </p> + <p> + Who are to judge of danger which they fear, + </p> + <p> + And honour which they do not understand." + </p> + </div> + <p> + The song at the Feast of Brougham Castle, the Seven Sisters, the + Affliction of Margaret —— of ——, possess + all the beauties, and few of the defects, of this writer: the + following lines from the last are in his first style:— + </p> + <div class="poem"> + <p> + "Ah! little doth the young one dream + </p> + <p> + When full of play and childish cares, + </p> + <p> + What power hath e'en his wildest scream, + </p> + <p> + Heard by his mother unawares: + </p> + <p> + He knows it not, he cannot guess: + </p> + <p> + Years to a mother bring distress, + </p> + <p> + But do not make her love the less." + </p> + </div> + <p> + The pieces least worthy of the author are those entitled "Moods + of my own Mind." We certainly wish these "Moods" had been less + frequent, or not permitted to occupy a place near works which + only make their deformity more obvious; when Mr. W. ceases to + please, it is by "abandoning" his mind to the most commonplace + ideas, at the same time clothing them in language not simple, but + puerile. What will any reader or auditor, out of the nursery, say + to such namby-pamby as "Lines written at the Foot of Brother's + Bridge?" + </p> + <div class="poem"> + <p> + "The cock is crowing, + </p> + <p> + The stream is flowing, + </p> + <p> + The small birds twitter, + </p> + <p> + The lake doth glitter. + </p> + <p> + The green field sleeps in the sun; + </p> + <p> + The oldest and youngest, + </p> + <p> + Are at work with the strongest; + </p> + <p> + The cattle are grazing, + </p> + <p> + Their heads never raising, + </p> + <p> + There are forty feeding like one. + </p> + <p> + Like an army defeated, + </p> + <p> + The snow hath retreated, + </p> + <p> + And now doth fare ill, + </p> + <p> + On the top of the bare hill." + </p> + </div> + <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="pg295" id= + "pg295">295</a></span> + "The plough-boy is whooping anon, anon," &c. &c. is in + the same exquisite measure. This appears to us neither more nor + less than an imitation of such minstrelsy as soothed our cries in + the cradle, with the shrill ditty of + </p> + <div class="poem"> + <p> + "Hey de diddle, + </p> + <p> + The cat and the fiddle: + </p> + <p> + The cow jump'd over the moon, + </p> + <p> + The little dog laugh'd to see such sport, + </p> + <p> + And the dish ran away with the spoon." + </p> + </div> + <p> + On the whole, however, with the exception of the above, and other + INNOCENT odes of the same cast, we think these volumes display a + genius worthy of higher pursuits, and regret that Mr. W. confines + his muse to such trifling subjects. We trust his motto will be in + future, "Paulo majora canamus." Many, with inferior abilities, + have acquired a loftier seat on Parnassus, merely by attempting + strains in which Mr. Wordsworth is more qualified to + excel.<span class="fnref">[1]</span> + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: This first attempt of Lord Byron at reviewing is + remarkable only as showing how plausibly he could assume the + established tone and phraseology of these minor judgment-seats + of criticism. If Mr. Wordsworth ever chanced to cast his eye + over this article, how little could he have expected that under + that dull prosaic mask lurked one who, in five short years from + thence, would rival even <i>him</i> in poetry!—MOORE.] + <br /> + <br /> + </p> + </div> + <h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="pg296" id= + "pg296">296</a></span> + REVIEW OF GELL'S GEOGRAPHY OF ITHACA, AND ITINERARY OF GREECE. + </h2> + <h4> + (From the "Monthly Review" for August, 1811.) + </h4> + <p> + That laudable curiosity concerning the remains of classical + antiquity, which has of late years increased among our + countrymen, is in no traveller or author more conspicuous than in + Mr. Gell. Whatever difference of opinion may yet exist with + regard to the success of the several disputants in the famous + Trojan controversy<span class="fnref">[1]</span>, or, indeed, + relating to the present author's merits as an inspector of the + Troad, it must universally be acknowledged that any work, which + more forcibly impresses on our imaginations the scenes of heroic + action, and the subjects of immortal song, possesses claims on + the attention of every scholar. + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: We have it from the best authority that the + venerable leader of the Anti-Homeric sect, Jacob Bryant, + several years before his death, expressed regret for his + ungrateful attempt to destroy some of the most pleasing + associations of our youthful studies. One of his last wishes + was—"<i>Trojaque nunc stares," &c.</i>] + </p> + </div> + <p> + Of the two works which now demand our report, we conceive the + former to be by far the most interesting to the reader, as the + latter is indisputably the most serviceable to the traveller. + Excepting, indeed, the running commentary which it contains on a + number of extracts from Pausanias and Strabo, it is, as the title + imports, a mere itinerary of Greece, or rather of Argolis only, + in its present circumstances. This being the case, surely it + would have answered every purpose of utility much better by being + printed as a pocket road-book of that part of the Morea; for a + quarto is a very unmanageable travelling companion. The + maps<span class="fnref">[1]</span> and <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg297" id="pg297">297</a></span> drawings, we + shall be told, would not permit such an arrangement: but as to + the drawings, they are not in general to be admired as specimens + of the art; and several of them, as we have been assured by + eye-witnesses of the scenes which they describe, do not + compensate for their mediocrity in point of execution, by any + extraordinary fidelity of representation. Others, indeed, are + more faithful, according to our informants. The true reason, + however, for this costly mode of publication is in course to be + found in a desire of gratifying the public passion for large + margins, and all the luxury of typography; and we have before + expressed our dissatisfaction with Mr. Gell's aristocratical mode + of communicating a species of knowledge, which ought to be + accessible to a much greater portion of classical students than + can at present acquire it by his means:—but, as such + expostulations are generally useless, we shall be thankful for + what we can obtain, and that in the manner in which Mr. Gell has + chosen to present it. + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: Or, rather, <i>Map</i>; for we have only one in + the volume, and that is on too small a scale to give more than + a general idea of the relative position of places. The excuse + about a larger map not folding well is trifling; see, for + instance, the author's own map of Ithaca.] + </p> + </div> + <p> + The former of these volumes, we have observed, is the most + attractive in the closet. It comprehends a very full survey of + the far-famed island which the hero of the Odyssey has + immortalized; for we really are inclined to think that the author + has established the identity of the modern <i>Theaki</i> with the + <i>Ithaca</i> of Homer. At all events, if it be an illusion, it + is a very agreeable deception, and is effected by an ingenious + interpretation of the passages in Homer that are supposed to be + descriptive of the scenes which our traveller has visited. We + shall extract some of these adaptations of the ancient picture to + the modern scene, marking the points of resemblance which appear + to be strained and forced, as well as those which are more easy + and natural: but we must first insert some preliminary matter + from the opening chapter. <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg298" + id="pg298">298</a></span> + </p> + <p> + The following passage conveys a sort of general sketch of the + book, which may give our readers a tolerably adequate notion of + its contents:— + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + "The present work may adduce, by a simple and correct survey of + the island, coincidences in its geography, in its natural + productions, and moral state, before unnoticed. Some will be + directly pointed out; the fancy or ingenuity of the reader may + be employed in tracing others; the mind familiar with the + imagery of the Odyssey will recognise with satisfaction the + scenes themselves; and this volume is offered to the public, + not entirely without hopes of vindicating the poem of Homer + from the scepticism of those critics who imagine that the + Odyssey is a mere poetical composition, unsupported by history, + and unconnected with the localities of any particular + situation. + </p> + <p> + "Some have asserted that, in the comparison of places now + existing with the descriptions of Homer, we ought not to expect + coincidence in minute details; yet it seems only by these that + the kingdom of Ulysses, or any other, can be identified, as, if + such as idea be admitted, every small and rocky island in the + Ionian Sea, containing a good port, might, with equal + plausibility, assume the appellation of Ithaca. + </p> + <p> + "The Venetian geographers have in a great degree contributed to + raise those doubts which have existed on the identity of the + modern with the ancient Ithaca, by giving, in their charts, the + name of Val di Compare to the island. That name is, however, + totally unknown in the country, where the isle is invariably + called Ithaca by the upper ranks, and Theaki by the vulgar. The + Venetians have equally corrupted the name of almost every place + in Greece; yet, as the natives of Epactos or Naupactos never + heard of Lepanto, those of Zacynthos of Zante, or the Athenians + of Settines, it would be as unfair to rob Ithaca of its name, + on such authority, as it would be to assert that no such island + existed, because no tolerable representation of its form can be + found in the Venetian surveys. + </p> + <p> + "The rare medals of the Island, of which three are represented + in the title-page, might be adduced as a proof that the name of + Ithaca was not lost during the reigns of the Roman emperors. + They have the head of Ulysses, recognised by the pileum, or + pointed cap, while the reverse of one presents the figure of a + cock, the emblem of his vigilance, with the legend [Greek: + ITHAKON]. A few of these medals are preserved in the cabinets + of the curious, and one also, with the cock, found in the + island, is in the possession of Signor Zavo, of Bathi. The + uppermost <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg299" id= + "pg299">299</a></span> coin is in the collection of Dr. Hunter; + the second is copied from Newman, and the third is the property + of R.P. Knight, Esq. + </p> + <p> + "Several inscriptions, which will be hereafter produced, will + tend to the confirmation of the idea that Ithaca was inhabited + about the time when the Romans were masters of Greece; yet + there is every reason to believe that few, if any, of the + present proprietors of the soil are descended from ancestors + who had long resided successively in the island. Even those who + lived, at the time of Ulysses, in Ithaca, seem to have been on + the point of emigrating to Argos, and no chief remained, after + the second in descent from that hero, worthy of being recorded + in history. It appears that the isle has been twice colonised + from Cephalonia in modern times, and I was informed that a + grant had been made by the Venetians, entitling each settler in + Ithaca to as much land as his circumstances would enable him to + cultivate." + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + Mr. Gell then proceeds to invalidate the authority of previous + writers on the subject of Ithaca. Sir George Wheeler and M. le + Chevalier fall under his severe animadversion; and, indeed, + according to his account, neither of these gentlemen had visited + the island, and the description of the latter is "absolutely too + absurd for refutation." In another place, he speaks of M. le C. + "disgracing a work of such merit by the introduction of such + fabrications;" again, of the inaccuracy of the author's maps; + and, lastly, of his inserting an island at the southern entry of + the Channel between Cephalonia and Ithaca, which has no + existence. This observation very nearly approaches to the use of + that monosyllable which Gibbon<span class="fnref">[1]</span>, + without expressing it, so adroitly applied to some assertion of + his antagonist, Mr. Davies. In truth, our traveller's words are + rather bitter towards his brother tourist: but we must conclude + that their justice warrants their severity. + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: See his Vindication of the 15th and 16th chapters + of the <i>Decline and Fall</i>, &c.] + </p> + </div> + <p> + In the second chapter, the author describes his landing in + Ithaca, and arrival at the rock Korax and the fountain Arethusa, + as he designates it with sufficient positiveness.—This + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg300" id="pg300">300</a></span> + rock, now known by the name of Korax, or Koraka Petra, he + contends to be the same with that which Homer mentions as + contiguous to the habitation of Eumæus, the faithful swine-herd + of Ulysses.—We shall take the liberty of adding to our + extracts from Mr. Gell some of the passages in Homer to which he + <i>refers</i> only, conceiving this to be the fairest method of + exhibiting the strength or the weakness of his argument. + "Ulysses," he observes, "came to the extremity of the isle to + visit Eumusæ, and that extremity was the most southern; for + Telemachus, coming from Pylos, touched at the first south-eastern + part of Ithaca with the same intention." + </p> + <p> + [Greek: + </p> + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + Kai tote dê r' Odusêa kakos pothen êgage daimôn + </p> + <p> + Agrou ep' eschatiên, hothi domata naie subôtês; + </p> + <p> + Enth' êlthen philos uios Odussêos theioio, + </p> + <p> + Ek Pulou êmathoenios iôn sun nêi melainê; + </p> + <p class="citation"> + Odussei O. + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + Autar epên prôtên aktên Ithakês aphikêai, + </p> + <p> + Nêa men es polin otrunai kai panlas hetairous; + </p> + <p> + Autos de prôtisa subôtên eisaphikesthai, + </p> + <p class="citation"> + k.t.l. Odussei O.] + </p> + </div> + </div> + <p> + These citations, we think, appear to justify the author in his + attempt to identify the situation of his rock and fountain with + the place of those mentioned by Homer. But let us now follow him + in the closer description of the scene.—After some account + of the subjects in the plate affixed, Mr. Gell remarks: "It is + impossible to visit this sequestered spot without being struck + with the recollection of the Fount of Arethusa and the Rock + Korax, which the poet mentions in the same line, adding, that + there the swine eat the <i>sweet</i><span class= + "fnref">[1]</span> acorns, and drank the black water." + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: "<i>Sweet</i> acorns." Does Mr. Gell translate + from the Latin? To avoid similar cause of mistake, [Greek: + menoeikea] should not be rendered <i>suavem</i> but + <i>gratam</i>, as Barnes has given it.] + </p> + </div> + <p> + [Greek: + </p> + <div class="poem"> + <p> + Dêeis ton ge suessi parêmenon; ai de nemontai + </p> + <p> + Par Korakos petrê, epi te krênê Arethousê, + </p> + <p> + Esthousai balanon menoeikea, kai melan hudôr + </p> + <p> + Pinousai; + </p> + <p class="citation"> + Odussei N.] + </p> + </div> + <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="pg301" id= + "pg301">301</a></span> + "Having passed some time at the fountain, taken a drawing, and + made the necessary observations on the situation of the place, we + proceeded to an examination of the precipice, climbing over the + terraces above the source, among shady fig-trees, which, however, + did not prevent us from feeling the powerful effects of the + mid-day sun. After a short but fatiguing ascent, we arrived at + the rock, which extends in a vast perpendicular semicircle, + beautifully fringed with trees, facing to the southeast. Under + the crag we found two caves of inconsiderable extent, the + entrance of one of which, not difficult of access, is seen in the + view of the fount. They are still the resort of sheep and goats, + and in one of them are small natural receptacles for the water, + covered by a stalagmitic incrustation. + </p> + <p> + "These caves, being at the extremity of the curve formed by the + precipice, open toward the south, and present us with another + accompaniment of the fount of Arethusa, mentioned by the poet, + who informs us that the swineherd Eumæus left his guests in the + house, whilst he, putting on a thick garment, went to sleep near + the herd, under the hollow of the rock, which sheltered him from + the northern blast. Now we know that the herd fed near the fount; + for Minerva tells Ulysses that he is to go first to Eumæus, whom + he should find with the swine, near the rock Korax and the fount + of Arethusa. As the swine then fed at the fountain, so it is + necessary that a cavern should be found in its vicinity; and this + seems to coincide, in distance and situation, with that of the + poem. Near the fount also was the fold or stathmos of Eumæus; for + the goddess informs Ulysses that he should find his faithful + servant at or above the fount. + </p> + <p> + "Now the hero meets the swineherd close to the fold, which was + consequently very near that source. At the top of the rock, and + just above the spot where the waterfall shoots down the + precipice, is at this day a stagni or pastoral dwelling, which + the herdsmen of Ithaca still inhabit, on account of the water + necessary for their cattle. One of these people walked on the + verge of the precipice at the time of our visit to the place, and + seemed so anxious to know how we had been conveyed to the spot, + that his enquiries reminded us of a question probably not + uncommon in the days of Homer, who more than once represents the + Ithacences demanding of strangers what ship had brought them to + the island, it being evident they could not come on foot. He told + us that there was, on the summit where he stood, a small cistern + of water, and a kalybea, or shepherd's hut. There are also + vestiges of ancient habitations, and the place is now called + Amarâthia. <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg302" id= + "pg302">302</a></span> + </p> + <p> + "Convenience, as well as safety, seems to have pointed out the + lofty situation of Amarathia as a fit place for the residence of + the herdsmen of this part of the island from the earliest ages. A + small source of water is a treasure in these climates; and if the + inhabitants of Ithaca now select a rugged and elevated spot, to + secure them from the robbers of the Echinades, it is to be + recollected that the Taphian pirates were not less formidable, + even in the days of Ulysses, and that a residence in a solitary + part of the island, far from the fortress, and close to a + celebrated fountain, must at all times have been dangerous, + without some such security as the rocks of Korax. Indeed, there + can be no doubt that the house of Eumæus was on the top of the + precipice; for Ulysses, in order to evince the truth of his story + to the swineherd, desires to be thrown from the summit if his + narration does not prove correct. + </p> + <p> + "Near the bottom of the precipice is a curious natural gallery, + about seven feet high, which is expressed in the plate. It may be + fairly presumed, from the very remarkable coincidence between + this place and the Homeric account, that this was the scene + designated by the poet as the fountain of Arethusa, and the + residence of Eumæus; and, perhaps, it would be impossible to find + another spot which bears, at this day, so strong a resemblance to + a poetic description composed at a period so very remote. There + is no other fountain in this part of the island, nor any rock + which bears the slightest resemblance to the Korax of Homer. + </p> + <p> + "The stathmos of the good Eumæus appears to have been little + different, either in use or construction, from the stagni and + kalybea of the present day. The poet expressly mentions that + other herdsmen drove their flocks into the city at + sunset,—a custom which still prevails throughout Greece + during the winter, and that was the season in which Ulysses + visited Eumæus. Yet Homer accounts for this deviation from the + prevailing custom, by observing that he had retired from the city + to avoid the suitors of Penelope. These trifling occurrences + afford a strong presumption that the Ithaca of Homer was + something more than the creature of his own fancy, as some have + supposed it; for though the grand outline of a fable may be + easily imagined, yet the consistent adaptation of minute + incidents to a long and elaborate falsehood is a task of the most + arduous and complicated nature." + </p> + <p> + After this long extract, by which we have endeavoured to do + justice to Mr. Gell's argument, we cannot allow room for any + farther quotations of such extent; and we <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg303" id="pg303">303</a></span> must offer a + brief and imperfect analysis of the remainder of the work. + </p> + <p> + In the third chapter, the traveller arrives at the capital, and + in the fourth, he describes it in an agreeable manner. We select + his account of the mode of celebrating a Christian festival in + the Greek church:— + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + "We were present at the celebration of the feast of the + Ascension, when the citizens appeared in their gayest dresses, + and saluted each other in the streets with demonstrations of + pleasure. As we sate at breakfast in the house of Zignor Zavo, + we were suddenly roused by the discharge of a gun, succeeded by + a tremendous crash of pottery, which fell on the tiles, steps, + and pavements, in every direction. The bells of the numerous + churches commenced a most discordant jingle; colours were + hoisted on every mast in the port, and a general shout of joy + announced some great event. Our host informed us that the feast + of the Ascension was annually commemorated in this manner at + Bathi, the populace exclaiming [Greek: anesê o Chrisos, + alêthinos o Theos,] Christ is risen, the true God." + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + In another passage, he continues this account as + follows:—"In the evening of the festival, the inhabitants + danced before their houses; and at one we saw the figure which is + said to have been first used by the youths and virgins of Delos, + at the happy return of Theseus from the expedition of the Cretan + Labyrinth. It has now lost much of that intricacy which was + supposed to allude to the windings of the habitation of the + Minotaur," &c. &c. This is rather too much for even the + inflexible gravity of our censorial muscles. When the author + talks, with all the <i>reality</i> (if we may use the expression) + of a Lempriere, on the stories of the fabulous ages, we cannot + refrain from indulging a momentary smile; nor can we seriously + accompany him in the learned architectural detail by which he + endeavours to give us, from the Odyssey, the ground-plot of the + house of Ulysses.—of which he actually offers a plan in + drawing! "showing how the description of the house of Ulysses in + the Odyssey may be supposed to correspond with the foundations + yet visible on the hill of Aito!"—Oh, <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg304" id="pg304">304</a></span> Foote! Foote! + why are you lost to such inviting subjects for your ludicrous + pencil!—In his account of this celebrated mansion, Mr. Gell + says, one side of the court seems to have been occupied by the + Thalamos, or sleeping apartments of the men, &c. &c.; + and, in confirmation of this hypothesis, he refers to the 10th + Odyssey, line 340. On examining his reference, we read, + </p> + <div class="poem"> + <p> + [Greek: Es thalamon t ienai, kai sês epibêmenai eunês.] + </p> + </div> + <p> + where Ulysses records an invitation which he received from Circe + to take a part of her bed. How this illustrates the above + conjecture, we are at a loss to divine: but we suppose that some + numerical error has occurred in the reference, as we have + detected a trifling mistake or two of the same nature. + </p> + <p> + Mr. G. labours hard to identify the cave of Dexia near Bathi (the + capital of the island), with the grotto of the Nymphs described + in the 13th Odyssey. We are disposed to grant that he has + succeeded: but we cannot here enter into the proofs by which he + supports his opinion; and we can only extract one of the + concluding sentences of the chapter, which appears to us candid + and judicious:— + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + "Whatever opinion may be formed as to the identity of the cave + of Dexia with the grotto of the Nymphs, it is fair to state, + that Strabo positively asserts that no such cave as that + described by Homer existed in his time, and that geographer + thought it better to assign a physical change, rather than + ignorance in Homer, to account for a difference which he + imagined to exist between the Ithaca of his time and that of + the poet. But Strabo, who was an uncommonly accurate observer + with respect to countries surveyed by himself, appears to have + been wretchedly misled by his informers on many occasions. + </p> + <p> + "That Strabo had never visited this country is evident, not + only from his inaccurate account of it, but from his citation + of Appollodorus and Scepsius, whose relations are in direct + opposition to each other on the subject of Ithaca, as will be + demonstrated on a future opportunity." + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + We must, however, observe that "demonstration" is <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg305" id="pg305">305</a></span> a strong + term.—In his description of the Leucadian Promontory (of + which we have a pleasing representation in the plate), the author + remarks that it is "celebrated for the <i>leap</i> of Sappho, and + the <i>death</i> of Artemisia." From this variety in the + expression, a reader would hardly conceive that both the ladies + perished in the same manner: in fact, the sentence is as proper + as it would be to talk of the decapitation of Russell, and the + death of Sidney. The view from this promontory includes the + island of Corfu; and the name suggests to Mr. Gell the following + note, which, though rather irrelevant, is of a curious nature, + and we therefore conclude our citations by transcribing + it:— + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + "It has been generally supposed that Corfu, or Corcyra, was the + Phæacia of Homer; but Sir Henry Englefield thinks the position + of that island inconsistent with the voyage of Ulysses as + described in the Odyssey. That gentleman has also observed a + number of such remarkable coincidences between the courts of + Alcinous and Solomon, that they may be thought curious and + interesting. Homer was familiar with the names of Tyre, Sidon, + and Egypt; and, as he lived about the time of Solomon, it would + not have been extraordinary if he had introduced some account + of the magnificence of that prince into his poem. As Solomon + was famous for wisdom, so the name of Alcinous signifies + strength of knowledge; as the gardens of Solomon were + celebrated, so are those of Alcinous (Od. 7.112.); as the + kingdom of Solomon was distinguished by twelve tribes under + twelve princes (1 Kings, ch. 4.), so that of Alcinous (Od. 8. + 390.) was ruled by an equal number; as the throne of Solomon + was supported by lions of gold (1 Kings, ch. 10.), so that of + Alcinous was placed on dogs of silver and gold (Od, 7. 91.); as + the fleets of Solomon were famous, so were those of Alcinous. + It is perhaps worthy of remark, that Neptune sate on the + mountains of the SOLYMI, as he returned from Æthiopia to Ægæ, + while he raised the tempest which threw Ulysses on the coast of + Phæacia; and that the Solymi of Pamphylia are very considerably + distant from the route.—The suspicious character, also, + which Nausicaa attributes to her countryman agrees precisely + with that which the Greeks and Romans gave of the Jews." + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + The seventh chapter contains a description of the Monastery of + Kathara, and several adjacent places. The <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg306" id="pg306">306</a></span> eighth, among + other curiosities, fixes on an imaginary site for the Farm of + Laertes: but this is the agony of conjecture indeed!—and + the ninth chapter mentions another Monastery, and a rock still + called the School of Homer. Some sepulchral inscriptions of a + very simple nature are included.—The tenth and last chapter + brings us round to the Port of Schoenus, near Bathi; after we + have completed, seemingly in a very minute and accurate manner, + the tour of the island. + </p> + <p> + We can certainly recommend a perusal of this volume to every + lover of classical scene and story. If we may indulge the + pleasing belief that Homer sang of a real kingdom, and that + Ulysses governed it, though we discern many feeble links in Mr. + Gell's chain of evidence, we are on the whole induced to fancy + that this is the Ithaca of the bard and of the monarch. At all + events, Mr. Gell has enabled every future traveller to form a + clearer judgment on the question than he could have established + without such a "Vade-mecum to Ithaca," or a "Have with you, to + the House of Ulysses," as the present. With Homer in his pocket, + and Gell on his sumpter-horse or mule, the Odyssean tourist may + now make a very classical and delightful excursion; and we doubt + not that the advantages accruing to the Ithacences, from the + increased number of travellers who will visit them in consequence + of Mr. Gell's account of their country, will induce them to + confer on that gentleman any heraldic honours which they may have + to bestow, should he ever look in upon them again.—<i>Baron + Bathi</i> would be a pretty title:— + </p> + <div class="poem"> + <p> + "<i>Hoc</i> Ithacus <i>velit, et magno mercentur + Atridæ</i>."—Virgil. + </p> + </div> + <p> + For ourselves, we confess that all our old Grecian feelings would + be alive on approaching the fountain of Melainudros, where, as + the tradition runs, or as the priests relate, Homer was restored + to sight. + </p> + <p> + We now come to the "Grecian Patterson," or "Cary," which Mr. Gell + has begun to publish; and <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg307" + id="pg307">307</a></span> really he has carried the epic rule of + concealing the person of the author to as great a length as + either of the above-mentioned heroes of itinerary writ. We hear + nothing of his "hair-breadth 'scapes" by sea or land; and we do + not even know, for the greater part of his journey through + Argolis, whether he relates what he has seen or what he has + heard. Prom other parts of the book, we find the former to be the + case: but, though there have been tourists and "strangers" in + other countries, who have kindly permitted their readers to learn + rather too much of their sweet selves, yet it is possible to + carry delicacy, or cautious silence, or whatever it may be + called, to the contrary extreme. We think that Mr. Gell has + fallen into this error, so opposite to that of his numerous + brethren. It is offensive, indeed, to be told what a man has + eaten for dinner, or how pathetic he was on certain occasions; + but we like to know that there is a being yet living who + describes the scenes to which he introduces us; and that it is + not a mere translation from Strabo or Pausanias which we are + reading, or a commentary on those authors. This reflection leads + us to the concluding remark in Mr. Gell's preface (by much the + most interesting part of his book) to his Itinerary of Greece, in + which he thus expresses himself:— + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + "The confusion of the modern with the ancient names of places + in this volume is absolutely unavoidable; they are, however, + mentioned in such a manner, that the reader will soon be + accustomed to the indiscriminate use of them. The necessity of + applying the ancient appellations to the different routes, will + be evident from the total ignorance of the public on the + subject of the modern names, which, having never appeared in + print, are only known to the few individuals who have visited + the country. + </p> + <p> + "What could appear less intelligible to the reader, or less + useful to the traveller, than a route from Chione and Zaracca + to Kutchukmadi, from thence to Krabata to Schoenochorio, and by + the mills of Peali, while every one is in some degree + acquainted with the names of Stymphalus, Nemea, Mycenæ, + Lyrceia, Lerna, and Tegea?" + </p> + </blockquote> + <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="pg308" id= + "pg308">308</a></span> + Although this may be very true inasmuch as it relates to the + reader, yet to the traveller we must observe, in opposition to + Mr. Gell, that nothing can be less useful than the designation of + his route according to the ancient names. We might as well, and + with as much chance of arriving at the place of our destination, + talk to a Hounslow post-boy about making haste to <i>Augusta</i>, + as apply to our Turkish guide in modern Greece for a direction to + Stymphalus, Nemea, Mycenæ, &c. &c. This is neither more + nor less than classical affectation; and it renders Mr. Gell's + book of much more confined use than it would otherwise have + been:—but we have some other and more important remarks to + make on his general directions to Grecian tourists; and we beg + leave to assure our readers that they are derived from travellers + who have lately visited Greece. In the first place, Mr. Gell is + absolutely incautious enough to recommend an interference on the + part of English travellers with the Minister at the Porte, in + behalf of the Greeks. "The folly of such neglect (page 16. + preface,) in many instances, where the emancipation of a district + might often be obtained by the present of a snuff-box or a watch, + at Constantinople, <i>and without the smallest danger of exciting + the jealousy of such a court as that of Turkey,</i> will be + acknowledged when we are no longer able to rectify the error." We + have every reason to believe, on the contrary, that the folly of + half a dozen travellers, taking this advice, might bring us into + a war. "Never interfere with any thing of the kind," is a much + sounder and more political suggestion to all English travellers + in Greece. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Gell apologises for the introduction of "his panoramic + designs," as he calls them, on the score of the great difficulty + of giving any tolerable idea of the face of a country in writing, + and the ease with which a very accurate knowledge of it may be + acquired by maps and panoramic designs. We are informed that this + is not the case with many of these designs. The small scale of + the single map we have already censured; and we have hinted + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg309" id="pg309">309</a></span> + that some of the drawings are not remarkable for correct + resemblance of their originals. The two nearer views of the Gate + of the Lions at Mycenæ are indeed good likenesses of their + subject, and the first of them is unusually well executed; but + the general view of Mycenæ is not more than tolerable in any + respect; and the prospect of Larissa, &c. is barely equal to + the former. The view <i>from</i> this last place is also + indifferent; and we are positively assured that there are no + windows at Nauplia which look like a box of dominos,—the + idea suggested by Mr. Gell's plate. We must not, however, be too + severe on these picturesque bagatelles, which, probably, were + very hasty sketches; and the circumstances of weather, &c. + may have occasioned some difference in the appearance of the same + objects to different spectators. We shall therefore return to Mr. + Gell's preface; endeavouring to set him right in his directions + to travellers, where we think that he is erroneous, and adding + what appears to have been omitted. In his first sentence, he + makes an assertion which is by no means correct. He says, + "<i>We</i> are at present as ignorant of Greece, as of the + interior of Africa." Surely not quite so ignorant; or several of + our Grecian <i>Mungo Parks</i> have travelled in vain, and some + very sumptuous works have been published to no purpose! As we + proceed, we find the author observing that "Athens is <i>now</i> + the most polished city of Greece," when we believe it to be the + most barbarous, even to a proverb— + </p> + <p> + [Greek: + </p> + <div class="poem"> + <p> + O Athêna, protê chora, + </p> + <p> + Ti gaidarous trepheis tora<span class="fnref">[1]</span>?] + </p> + </div> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: We write these lines from the <i>recitation</i> of + the travellers to whom we have alluded; but we cannot vouch for + the correctness of the Romaic.] + </p> + </div> + <p> + is a couplet of reproach <i>now</i> applied to this once famous + city; whose inhabitants seem little worthy of the inspiring call + which was addressed to them within these twenty years, by the + celebrated Riga:— + </p> + <div class="poem"> + <p> + [Greek: Deute paides tôn Ellênôn—k.t.l.] + </p> + </div> + <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="pg310" id= + "pg310">310</a></span> + Iannina, the capital of Epirus, and the seat of Ali Pacha's + government, <i>is</i> in truth deserving of the honours which Mr. + Gell has improperly bestowed on degraded Athens. As to the + correctness of the remark concerning the fashion of wearing the + hair cropped in <i>Molossia,</i> as Mr. Gell informs us, our + authorities cannot depose: but why will he use the classical term + of Eleuthero-Lacones, when that people are so much better known + by their modern name of Mainotes? "The court of the Pacha of + Tripolizza" is said "to realise the splendid visions of the + Arabian Nights." This is true with regard to the <i>court</i>: + but surely the traveller ought to have added that the city and + palace are most miserable, and form an extraordinary contrast to + the splendour of the court.—Mr. Gell mentions <i>gold</i> + mines in Greece: he should have specified their situation, as it + certainly is not universally known. When, also, he remarks that + "the first article of necessity <i>in Greece</i> is a firman, or + order from the Sultan, permitting the traveller to pass + unmolested," we are much misinformed if he be right. On the + contrary, we believe this to be almost the only part of the + Turkish dominions in which a firman is not necessary; since the + passport of the Pacha is absolute within his territory (according + to Mr. G.'s own admission), and much more effectual than a + firman.—"Money," he remarks, "is easily procured at + Salonica, or Patrass, where the English have Consuls." It is much + better procured, we understand, from the Turkish governors, who + never charge discount. The Consuls for the English are not of the + most magnanimous order of Greeks, and far from being so liberal, + generally speaking; although there are, in course, some + exceptions, and Strune of Patrass has been more honourably + mentioned.—After having observed that "horses seem the best + mode of conveyance in Greece," Mr. Gell proceeds: "Some + travellers would prefer an English saddle; but a saddle of this + sort is always objected to by the owner of the horse, <i>and not + without reason</i>" &c. This, we <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg311" id="pg311">311</a></span> learn, is far + from being the case; and, indeed, for a very simple reason, an + English saddle must seem to be preferable to one of the country, + because it is much lighter. When, too, Mr. Gell calls the + <i>postilion</i> "Menzilgi," he mistakes him for his betters: + <i>Serrugees</i> are postilions; <i>Mensilgis</i> are + postmasters.—Our traveller was fortunate in his Turks, who + are hired to walk by the side of the baggage-horses. They "are + certain," he says, "of performing their engagement without + grumbling." We apprehend that this is by no means + certain:—but Mr. Gell is perfectly right in preferring a + Turk to a Greek for this purpose; and in his general + recommendation to take a Janissary on the tour: who, we may add, + should be suffered to act as he pleases, since nothing is to be + done by gentle means, or even by offers of money, at the places + of accommodation. A courier, to be sent on before to the place at + which the traveller intends to sleep, is indispensable to + comfort: but no tourist should be misled by the author's advice + to suffer the Greeks to gratify their curiosity, in permitting + them to remain for some time about him on his arrival at an inn. + They should be removed as soon as possible; for, as to the remark + that "no stranger would think of intruding when a room is + pre-occupied," our informants were not so well convinced of that + fact. + </p> + <p> + Though we have made the above exceptions to the accuracy of Mr. + Gell's information, we are most ready to do justice to the + general utility of his directions, and can certainly concede the + praise which he is desirous of obtaining,—namely, "of + having facilitated the researches of future travellers, by + affording that local information which it was before impossible + to obtain." This book, indeed, is absolutely necessary to any + person who wishes to explore the Morea advantageously; and we + hope that Mr. Gell will continue his Itinerary over that and over + every other part of Greece. He allows that his volume "is only + calculated to become a book of reference, and not of general + entertainment:" but we <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg312" id= + "pg312">312</a></span> do not see any reason against the + compatibility of both objects in a survey of the most celebrated + country of the ancient world. To that country, we trust, the + attention not only of our travellers, but of our legislators, + will hereafter be directed. The greatest caution will, indeed, be + required, as we have premised, in touching on so delicate a + subject as the amelioration of the possessions of an ally: but + the field for the exercise of political sagacity is wide and + inviting in this portion of the globe; and Mr. Gell, and all + other writers who interest us, however remotely, in its + extraordinary <i>capabilities</i>, deserve well of the British + empire. We shall conclude by an extract from the author's work: + which, even if it fails of exciting that general interest which + we hope most earnestly it may attract, towards its important + subject, cannot, as he justly observes, "be entirely + uninteresting to the scholar;" since it is a work "which gives + him a faithful description of the remains of cities, the very + existence of which was doubtful, as they perished before the æra + of authentic history." The subjoined quotation is a good specimen + of the author's minuteness of research as a topographer; and we + trust that the credit which must accrue to him from the present + performance will ensure the completion of his Itinerary:— + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + "The inaccuracies of the maps of Anacharsis are in many + respects very glaring. The situation of Phlius is marked by + Strabo as surrounded by the territories of Sicyon, Argos, + Cleonæ, and Stymphalus. Mr. Hawkins observed, that Phlius, the + ruins of which still exist near Agios Giorgios, lies in a + direct line between Cleonæ and Stymphalus, and another from + Sicyon to Argos; so that Strabo was correct in saying that it + lay between those four towns; yet we see Phlius, in the map of + Argolis by M. Barbie du Bocage, placed ten miles to the north + of Stymphalus, contradicting both history and fact. D'Anville + is guilty of the same error. + </p> + <p> + "M. du Bocage places a town named Phlius, and by him Phlionte, + on the point of land which forms the port of Drepano: there are + not at present any ruins there. The maps of D'Anville are + generally more correct than any others where <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg313" id="pg313">313</a></span> ancient + geography is concerned. A mistake occurs on the subject of + Tiryns, and a place named by him Vathia, but of which nothing + can be understood. It is possible that Vathi, or the profound + valley, may be a name sometimes used for the valley of + Barbitsa, and that the place named by D'Anville Claustra may be + the outlet of that valley called Kleisoura, which has a + corresponding signification. + </p> + <p> + "The city of Tiryns is also placed in two different positions, + once by its Greek name, and again as Tirynthus. The mistake + between the islands of Sphæria and Calaura has been noticed in + page 135. The Pontinus, which D'Anville represents as a river, + and the Erasinus are equally ill placed in his map. There was a + place called Creopolis, somewhere toward Cynouria; but its + situation is not easily fixed. The ports called Bucephalium and + Piræus seem to have been nothing more than little bays in the + country between Corinth and Epidaurus. The town called Athenæ, + in Cynouria, by Pausanias, is called Anthena by + <i>Thucydides</i>, book 5. 41. + </p> + <p> + "In general, the map of D'Anville will be found more accurate + than those which have been published since his time; indeed the + mistakes of that geographer are in general such as could not be + avoided without visiting the country. Two errors of D'Anville + may be mentioned, lest the opportunity of publishing the + itinerary of Arcadia should never occur. The first is, that the + rivers Malætas and Mylaon, near Methydrium, are represented as + running toward the south, whereas they flow northwards to the + Ladon; and the second is, that the Aroanius, which falls into + the Erymanthus at Psophis, is represented as flowing from the + lake of Pheneos; a mistake which arises from the ignorance of + the ancients themselves who have written on the subject. The + fact is that the Ladon receives the waters of the lakes of + Orchomenos and Pheneos: but the Aroanius rises at a spot not + two hours distant from Psophis." + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + In furtherance of our principal object in this critique, we have + only to add a wish that some of our Grecian tourists, among the + fresh articles of information concerning Greece which they have + lately imported, would turn their minds to the language of the + country. So strikingly similar to the ancient Greek is the modern + Romaic as a written language, and so dissimilar in sound, that + even a few general rules concerning pronunciation would be of + most extensive use. <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg314" id= + "pg314">314</a></span> + </p> + <hr /> + <h2> + PARLIAMENTARY SPEECHES. + </h2> + <hr /> + <h4> + DEBATE ON THE FRAME-WORK BILL, IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS, FEBRUARY + 27, 1812. + </h4> + <p> + The order of the day for the second reading of this Bill being + read, + </p> + <p> + Lord BYRON rose, and (for the first time) addressed their + Lordships as follows:— + </p> + <p> + My Lords; the subject now submitted to your Lordships for the + first time, though new to the House, is by no means new to the + country. I believe it had occupied the serious thoughts of all + descriptions of persons, long before its introduction to the + notice of that legislature, whose interference alone could be of + real service. As a person in some degree connected with the + suffering county, though a stranger not only to this House in + general, but to almost every individual whose attention I presume + to solicit, I must claim some portion of your Lordships' + indulgence, whilst I offer a few observations on a question in + which I confess myself deeply interested. + </p> + <p> + To enter into any detail of the riots would be superfluous: the + House is already aware that every outrage short of actual + bloodshed has been perpetrated, and that the proprietors of the + Frames obnoxious to the rioters, and all persons supposed to be + connected with them, have been liable to insult and violence. + During the short time I recently passed in Nottinghamshire, not + twelve hours elapsed without some fresh act of violence; and on + the day I left the county I was informed that forty Frames had + been broken the preceding <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg315" + id="pg315">315</a></span> evening, as usual, without resistance + and without detection. + </p> + <p> + Such was then the state of that county, and such I have reason to + believe it to be at this moment. But whilst these outrages must + be admitted to exist to an alarming extent, it cannot be denied + that they have arisen from circumstances of the most unparalleled + distress: the perseverance of these miserable men in their + proceedings, tends to prove that nothing but absolute want could + have driven a large, and once honest and industrious, body of the + people, into the commission of excesses so hazardous to + themselves, their families, and the community. At the time to + which I allude, the town and county were burdened with large + detachments of the military; the police was in motion, the + magistrates assembled, yet all the movements, civil and military, + had led to—nothing. Not a single instance had occurred of + the apprehension of any real delinquent actually taken in the + fact, against whom there existed legal evidence sufficient for + conviction. But the police, however useless, were by no means + idle: several notorious delinquents had been detected; men, + liable to conviction, on the clearest evidence, of the capital + crime of poverty; men, who had been nefariously guilty of + lawfully begetting several children, whom, thanks to the times! + they were unable to maintain. Considerable injury has been done + to the proprietors of the improved Frames. These machines were to + them an advantage, inasmuch as they superseded the necessity of + employing a number of workmen, who were left in consequence to + starve. By the adoption of one species of Frame in particular, + one man performed the work of many, and the superfluous labourers + were thrown out of employment. Yet it is to be observed, that the + work thus executed was inferior in quality; not marketable at + home, and merely hurried over with a view to exportation. It was + called, in the cant of the trade, by the name of "Spider work." + The rejected workmen, in the blindness of their ignorance, + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg316" id="pg316">316</a></span> + instead of rejoicing at these improvements in arts so beneficial + to mankind, conceived themselves to be sacrificed to improvements + in mechanism. In the foolishness of their hearts they imagined, + that the maintenance and well doing of the industrious poor, were + objects of greater consequence than the enrichment of a few + individuals by any improvement, in the implements of trade, which + threw the workmen out of employment, and rendered the labourer + unworthy of his hire. And it must be confessed that although the + adoption of the enlarged machinery in that state of our commerce + which the country once boasted, might have been beneficial to the + master without being detrimental to the servant; yet, in the + present situation of our manufactures, rotting in warehouses, + without a prospect of exportation, with the demand for work and + workmen equally diminished, Frames of this description tend + materially to aggravate the distress and discontent of the + disappointed sufferers. But the real cause of these distresses + and consequent disturbances lies deeper. When we are told that + these men are leagued together not only for the destruction of + their own comfort, but of their very means of subsistence, can we + forget that it is the bitter policy, the destructive warfare of + the last eighteen years, which has destroyed their comfort, your + comfort, all men's comfort? That policy, which, originating with + "great statesmen now no more," has survived the dead to become a + curse on the living, unto the third and fourth generation! These + men never destroyed their looms till they were become useless, + worse than useless; till they were become actual impediments to + their exertions in obtaining their daily bread. Can you, then, + wonder that in times like these, when bankruptcy, convicted + fraud, and imputed felony, are found in a station not far beneath + that of your Lordships, the lowest, though once most useful + portion of the people, should forget their duty in their + distresses, and become only less guilty than one of their + representatives? But while the exalted offender can find means to + baffle <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg317" id= + "pg317">317</a></span> the law, new capital punishments must be + devised, new snares of death must be spread for the wretched + mechanic, who is famished into guilt. These men were willing to + dig, but the spade was in other hands: they were not ashamed to + beg, but there was none to relieve them: their own means of + subsistence were cut off, all other employments pre-occupied; and + their excesses, however to be deplored and condemned, can hardly + be subject of surprise. + </p> + <p> + It has been stated that the persons in the temporary possession + of frames connive at their destruction; if this be proved upon + enquiry, it were necessary that such material accessories to the + crime should be principles in the punishment. But I did hope, + that any measure proposed by his Majesty's government, for your + Lordships' decision, would have had conciliation for its basis; + or, if that were hopeless, that some previous enquiry, some + deliberation would have been deemed requisite; not that we should + have been called at once without examination, and without cause, + to pass sentences by wholesale, and sign death-warrants + blindfold. But, admitting that these men had no cause of + complaint; that the grievances of them and their employers were + alike groundless; that they deserved the worst; what + inefficiency, what imbecility has been evinced in the method + chosen to reduce them! Why were the military called out to be + made a mockery of, if they were to be called out at all? As far + as the difference of seasons would permit, they have merely + parodied the summer campaign of Major Sturgeon; and, indeed, the + whole proceedings, civil and military, seemed on the model of + those of the mayor and corporation of Garratt.—Such + marchings and counter-marchings! from Nottingham to Bullwell, + from Bullwell to Banford, from Banford to Mansfield! and when at + length the detachments arrived at their destination, in all "the + pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war," they came just in + time to witness the mischief which had been done, and ascertain + the escape of the perpetrators, <span class="pagenum"><a name= + "pg318" id="pg318">318</a></span> to collect the "<i>spolia + opima</i>" in the fragments of broken frames, and return to their + quarters amidst the derision of old women, and the hootings of + children. Now, though, in a free country, it were to be wished, + that our military should never be too formidable, at least to + ourselves, I cannot see the policy of placing them in situations + where they can only be made ridiculous. As the sword is the worst + argument that can be used, so should it be the last. In this + instance it has been the first; but providentially as yet only in + the scabbard. The present measure will, indeed, pluck it from the + sheath; yet had proper meetings been held in the earlier stages + of these riots, had the grievances of these men and their masters + (for they also had their grievances) been fairly weighed and + justly examined, I do think that means might have been devised to + restore these workmen to their avocations, and tranquillity to + the county. At present the county suffers from the double + infliction of an idle military and a starving population. In what + state of apathy have we been plunged so long, that now for the + first time the house has been officially apprised of these + disturbances? All this has been transacting within 130 miles of + London, and yet we, "good easy men, have deemed full sure our + greatness was a ripening," and have sat down to enjoy our foreign + triumphs in the midst of domestic calamity. But all the cities + you have taken, all the armies which have retreated before your + leaders, are but paltry subjects of self-congratulation, if your + land divides against itself, and your dragoons and your + executioners must be let loose against your + fellow-citizens.—You call these men a mob, desperate, + dangerous, and ignorant; and seem to think that the only way to + quiet the "<i>Bellua multorum capitum</i>" is to lop off a few of + its superfluous heads. But even a mob may be better reduced to + reason by a mixture of conciliation and firmness, than by + additional irritation and redoubled penalties. Are we aware of + our obligations to a mob? It is the mob that labour in your + fields and serve in your <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg319" + id="pg319">319</a></span> houses,—that man your navy, and + recruit your army,—that have enabled you to defy all the + world, and can also defy you when neglect and calamity have + driven them to despair! You may call the people a mob; but do not + forget, that a mob too often speaks the sentiments of the people. + And here I must remark, with what alacrity you are accustomed to + fly to the succour of your distressed allies, leaving the + distressed of your own country to the care of Providence + or—the parish. When the Portuguese suffered under the + retreat of the French, every arm was stretched out, every hand + was opened, from the rich man's largess to the widow's mite, all + was bestowed, to enable them to rebuild their villages and + replenish their granaries. And at this moment, when thousands of + misguided but most unfortunate fellow-countrymen are struggling + with the extremes of hardships and hunger, as your charity began + abroad it should end at home. A much less sum, a tithe of the + bounty bestowed on Portugal, even if those men (which I cannot + admit without enquiry) could not have been restored to their + employments, would have rendered unnecessary the tender mercies + of the bayonet and the gibbet. But doubtless our friends have too + many foreign claims to admit a prospect of domestic relief; + though never did such objects demand it. I have traversed the + seat of war in the Peninsula, I have been in some of the most + oppressed provinces of Turkey, but never under the most despotic + of infidel governments did I behold such squalid wretchedness as + I have seen since my return in the very heart of a Christian + country. And what are your remedies? After months of inaction, + and months of action worse than inactivity, at length comes forth + the grand specific, the never-failing nostrum of all state + physicians, from the days of Draco to the present time. After + feeling the pulse and shaking the head over the patient, + prescribing the usual course of warm water and bleeding, the warm + water of your mawkish police, and the lancets of your military, + these convulsions must <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg320" id= + "pg320">320</a></span> terminate in death, the sure consummation + of the prescriptions of all political Sangrados. Setting aside + the palpable injustice and the certain inefficiency of the bill, + are there not capital punishments sufficient in your statutes? Is + there not blood enough upon your penal code, that more must be + poured forth to ascend to Heaven and testify against you? How + will you carry the bill into effect? Can you commit a whole + county to their own prisons? Will you erect a gibbet in every + field, and hang up men like scarecrows? or will you proceed (as + you must to bring this measure into effect) by decimation? place + the county under martial law? depopulate and lay waste all around + you? and restore Sherwood Forest as an acceptable gift to the + crown, in its former condition of a royal chase and an asylum for + outlaws? Are these the remedies for a starving and desperate + populace? Will the famished wretch who has braved your bayonets + be appalled by your gibbets? When death is a relief, and the only + relief it appears that you will afford him, will he be dragooned + into tranquillity? Will that which could not be effected by your + grenadiers, be accomplished by your executioners? If you proceed + by the forms of law, where is your evidence? Those who have + refused to impeach their accomplices, when transportation only + was the punishment, will hardly be tempted to witness against + them when death is the penalty. With all due deference to the + noble lords opposite, I think a little investigation, some + previous enquiry would induce even them to change their purpose. + That most favourite state measure, so marvellously efficacious in + many and recent instances, temporising, would not be without its + advantages in this. When a proposal is made to emancipate or + relieve, you hesitate, you deliberate for years, you temporise + and tamper with the minds of men; but a death-bill must be passed + off hand, without a thought of the consequences. Sure I am, from + what I have heard, and from what I have seen, that to pass the + hill under all the <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg321" id= + "pg321">321</a></span> existing circumstances, without enquiry, + without deliberation, would only be to add injustice to + irritation, and barbarity to neglect. The framers of such a bill + must be content to inherit the honours of that Athenian lawgiver + whose edicts were said to be written not in ink but in blood. But + suppose it past; suppose one of these men, as I have seen + them,—meagre with famine, sullen with despair, careless of + a life which your Lordships are perhaps about to value at + something less than the price of a stocking-frame;—suppose + this man surrounded by the children for whom he is unable to + procure bread at the hazard of his existence, about to be torn + for ever from a family which he lately supported in peaceful + industry, and which it is not his fault that he can no longer so + support;—suppose this man, and there are ten thousand such + from whom you may select your victims, dragged into court, to be + tried for this new offence, by this new law; still, there are two + things wanting to convict and condemn him; and these are, in my + opinion,—twelve butchers for a jury, and a Jefferies for a + judge! + </p> + <hr /> + <h4> + DEBATE ON THE EARL OF DONOUGHMORE'S MOTION FOR A COMMITTEE ON THE + ROMAN CATHOLIC CLAIMS, APRIL 21. 1812. + </h4> + <p> + Lord BYRON rose and said:— + </p> + <p> + My Lords,—The question before the House has been so + frequently, fully, and ably discussed, and never perhaps more + ably than on this night, that it would be difficult to adduce new + arguments for or against it. But with each discussion, + difficulties have been removed, objections have been canvassed + and refuted, and some of the former opponents of Catholic + emancipation have at length conceded to the expediency of + relieving the petitioners. In conceding thus much, however, a new + objection is started; it is not the time, say they, or it is an + improper <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg322" id= + "pg322">322</a></span> time, or there is time enough yet. In some + degree I concur with those who say, it is not the time exactly; + that time is passed; better had it been for the country, that the + Catholics possessed at this moment their proportion of our + privileges, that their nobles held their due weight in our + councils, than that we should be assembled to discuss their + claims. It had indeed been better— + </p> + <div class="poem"> + <p class="i8"> + "Non tempore tali + </p> + <p> + "Cogere concilium cum muros obsidet hostis." + </p> + </div> + <p> + The enemy is without, and distress within. It is too late to + cavil on doctrinal points, when we must unite in defence of + things more important than the mere ceremonies of religion. It is + indeed singular, that we are called together to deliberate, not + on the God we adore, for in that we are agreed; not about the + king we obey, for to him we are loyal; but how far a difference + in the ceremonials of worship, how far believing not too little, + but too much (the worst that can be imputed to the Catholics), + how far too much devotion to their God may incapacitate our + fellow-subjects from effectually serving their king. + </p> + <p> + Much has been said, within and without doors, of church and + state, and although those venerable words have been too often + prostituted to the most despicable of party purposes, we cannot + hear them too often; all, I presume, are the advocates of church + and state,—the church of Christ, and the state of Great + Britain; but not a state of exclusion and despotism, not an + intolerant church, not a church militant, which renders itself + liable to the very objection urged against the Romish communion, + and in a greater degree, for the Catholic merely withholds its + spiritual benediction (and even that is doubtful), but our + church, or rather our churchmen, not only refuse to the Catholic + their spiritual grace, but all temporal blessings whatsoever. It + was an observation of the great Lord Peterborough, made within + these walls, or within the walls where the Lords then assembled, + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg323" id="pg323">323</a></span> + that he was for a "parliamentary king and a parliamentary + constitution, but not a parliamentary God and a parliamentary + religion." The interval of a century has not weakened the force + of the remark. It is indeed time that we should leave off these + petty cavils on frivolous points, these Lilliputian sophistries, + whether our "eggs are best broken at the broad or narrow end." + </p> + <p> + The opponents of the Catholics may be divided into two classes; + those who assert that the Catholics have too much already, and + those who allege that the lower orders, at least, have nothing + more to require. We are told by the former, that the Catholics + never will be contented: by the latter, that they are already too + happy. The last paradox is sufficiently refuted by the present as + by all past petitions; it might as well be said, that the negroes + did not desire to be emancipated, but this is an unfortunate + comparison, for you have already delivered them out of the house + of bondage without any petition on their part, but many from + their task-masters to a contrary effect; and for myself, when I + consider this, I pity the Catholic peasantry for not having the + good fortune to be born black. But the Catholics are contented, + or at least ought to be, as we are told; I shall, therefore, + proceed to touch on a few of those circumstances which so + marvellously contribute to their exceeding contentment. They are + not allowed the free exercise of their religion in the regular + army; the Catholic soldier cannot absent himself from the service + of the Protestant clergyman, and unless he is quartered in + Ireland, or in Spain, where can he find eligible opportunities of + attending his own? The permission of Catholic chaplains to the + Irish militia regiments was conceded as a special favour, and not + till after years of remonstrance, although an act, passed in + 1793, established it as a right. But are the Catholics properly + protected in Ireland? Can the church purchase a rood of land + whereon to erect a chapel? No! all the places of worship are + built on leases of trust or <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg324" + id="pg324">324</a></span> sufferance from the laity, easily + broken, and often betrayed. The moment any irregular wish, any + casual caprice of the benevolent landlord meets with opposition, + the doors are barred against the congregation. This has happened + continually, but in no instance more glaringly, than at the town + of Newton-Barry, in the county of Wexford. The Catholics enjoying + no regular chapel, as a temporary expedient, hired two barns; + which, being thrown into one, served for public worship. At this + time, there was quartered opposite to the spot an officer whose + mind appears to have been deeply imbued with those prejudices + which the Protestant petitions now on the table prove to have + been fortunately eradicated from the more rational portion of the + people; and when the Catholics were assembled on the Sabbath as + usual, in peace and good-will towards men, for the worship of + their God and yours, they found the chapel door closed, and were + told that if they did not immediately retire (and they were told + this by a yeoman officer and a magistrate), the riot act should + be read, and the assembly dispersed at the point of the bayonet! + This was complained of to the middle man of government, the + secretary at the castle in 1806, and the answer was (in lieu of + redress), that he would cause a letter to be written to the + colonel, to prevent, if possible, the recurrence of similar + disturbances. Upon this fact, no very great stress need be laid; + but it tends to prove that while the Catholic church has not + power to purchase land for its chapels to stand upon, the laws + for its protection are of no avail. In the mean time, the + Catholics are at the mercy of every "pelting petty officer," who + may choose to play his "fantastic tricks before high heaven," to + insult his God, and injure his fellow-creatures. + </p> + <p> + Every school-boy, any foot-boy (such have held commissions in our + service), any foot-boy who can exchange his shoulder-knot for an + epaulette, may perform all this and more against the Catholic by + virtue of that <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg325" id= + "pg325">325</a></span> very authority delegated to him by his + sovereign, for the express purpose of defending his fellow + subjects to the last drop of his blood, without discrimination or + distinction between Catholic and Protestant. + </p> + <p> + Have the Irish Catholics the full benefit of trial by jury? They + have not; they never can have until they are permitted to share + the privilege of serving as sheriffs and under-sheriffs. Of this + a striking example occurred at the last Enniskillen assizes. A + yeoman was arraigned for the murder of a Catholic named + Macvournagh: three respectable, uncontradicted witnesses deposed + that they saw the prisoner load, take aim, fire at, and kill the + said Macvournagh. This was properly commented on by the judge: + but to the astonishment of the bar, and indignation of the court, + the Protestant jury acquitted the accused. So glaring was the + partiality, that Mr. Justice Osborne felt it his duty to bind + over the acquitted, but not absolved assassin, in large + recognizances; thus for a time taking away his license to kill + Catholics. + </p> + <p> + Are the very laws passed in their favour observed? They are + rendered nugatory in trivial as in serious cases. By a late act, + Catholic chaplains are permitted in gaols, but in Fermanagh + county the grand jury lately persisted in presenting a suspended + clergyman for the office, thereby evading the statute, + notwithstanding the most pressing remonstrances of a most + respectable magistrate, named Fletcher, to the contrary. Such is + law, such is justice, for the happy, free, contented Catholic! + </p> + <p> + It has been asked, in another place, Why do not the rich + Catholics endow foundations for the education of the priesthood? + Why do you not permit them to do so? Why are all such bequests + subject to the interference, the vexatious, arbitrary, peculating + interference of the Orange commissioners for charitable + donations? + </p> + <p> + As to Maynooth college, in no instance, except at the time of its + foundation, when a noble Lord (Camden), at the head of the Irish + administration, did appear to interest <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg326" id="pg326">326</a></span> himself in + its advancement; and during the government of a noble Duke + (Bedford), who, like his ancestors, has ever been the friend of + freedom and mankind, and who has not so far adopted the selfish + policy of the day as to exclude the Catholics from the number of + his fellow-creatures; with these exceptions, in no instance has + that institution been properly encouraged. There was indeed a + time when the Catholic clergy were conciliated, while the Union + was pending, that Union which could not be carried without them, + while their assistance was requisite in procuring addresses from + the Catholic counties; then they were cajoled and caressed, + feared and flattered, and given to understand that "the Union + would do every thing;" but the moment it was passed, they were + driven back with contempt into their former obscurity. + </p> + <p> + In the conduct pursued towards Maynooth college, every thing is + done to irritate and perplex—every thing is done to efface + the slightest impression of gratitude from the Catholic mind; the + very hay made upon the lawn, the fat and tallow of the beef and + mutton allowed, must be paid for and accounted upon oath. It is + true, this economy in miniature cannot sufficiently be commended, + particularly at a time when only the insect defaulters of the + Treasury, your Hunts and your Chinnerys, when only those "gilded + bugs" can escape the microscopic eye of ministers. But when you + come forward, session after session, as your paltry pittance is + wrung from you with wrangling and reluctance, to boast of your + liberality, well might the Catholic exclaim, in the words of + Prior:— + </p> + <div class="poem"> + <p> + "To John I owe some obligation, + </p> + <p> + But John unluckily thinks fit + </p> + <p> + To publish it to all the nation, + </p> + <p> + So John and I are more than quit." + </p> + </div> + <p> + Some persons have compared the Catholics to the beggar in Gil + Bias: who made them beggars? Who <span class="pagenum"><a name= + "pg327" id="pg327">327</a></span> are enriched with the spoils of + their ancestors? And cannot you relieve the beggar when your + fathers have made him such? If you are disposed to relieve him at + all, cannot you do it without flinging your farthings in his + face? As a contrast, however, to this beggarly benevolence, let + us look at the Protestant Charter Schools; to them you have + lately granted 41,000<i>l</i>.: thus are they supported, and how + are they recruited? Montesquieu observes on the English + constitution, that the model may be found in Tacitus, where the + historian describes the policy of the Germans, and adds, "This + beautiful system was taken from the woods;" so in speaking of the + charter schools, it may be observed, that this beautiful system + was taken from the gipsies. These schools are recruited in the + same manner as the Janissaries at the time of their enrolment + under Amurath, and the gipsies of the present day with stolen + children, with children decoyed and kidnapped from their Catholic + connections by their rich and powerful Protestant neighbours: + this is notorious, and one instance may suffice to show in what + manner:—The sister of a Mr. Carthy (a Catholic gentleman of + very considerable property) died, leaving two girls, who were + immediately marked out as proselytes, and conveyed to the charter + school of Coolgreny; their uncle, on being apprised of the fact, + which took place during his absence, applied for the restitution + of his nieces, offering to settle an independence on these his + relations; his request was refused, and not till after five + years' struggle, and the interference of very high authority, + could this Catholic gentleman obtain back his nearest of kindred + from a charity charter school. In this manner are proselytes + obtained, and mingled with the offspring of such Protestants as + may avail themselves of the institution. And how are they taught? + A catechism is put into their hands, consisting of, I believe, + forty-five pages, in which are three questions relative to the + Protestant religion; one of these queries is, "Where was the + Protestant religion before Luther?" <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg328" id="pg328">328</a></span> + </p> + <p> + Answer, "In the Gospel." The remaining forty-four pages and a + half regard the damnable idolatry of Papists! + </p> + <p> + Allow me to ask our spiritual pastors and masters, is this + training up a child in the way which he should go? Is this the + religion of the Gospel before the time of Luther? that religion + which preaches "Peace on earth, and glory to God?" Is it bringing + up infants to be men or devils? Better would it be to send them + any where than teach them such doctrines; better send them to + those islands in the South Seas, where they might more humanely + learn to become cannibals; it would be less disgusting that they + were brought up to devour the dead, than persecute the living. + Schools do you call them? call them rather dunghills, where the + viper of intolerance deposits her young, that when their teeth + are cut and their poison is mature, they may issue forth, filthy + and venomous, to sting the Catholic. But are these the doctrines + of the Church of England, or of churchmen? No, the most + enlightened churchmen are of a different opinion. What says + Paley? "I perceive no reason why men of different religious + persuasions should not sit upon the same bench, deliberate in the + same council, or fight in the same ranks, as well as men of + various religious opinions, upon any controverted topic of + natural history, philosophy, or ethics." It may be answered, that + Paley was not strictly orthodox; I know nothing of his orthodoxy, + but who will deny that he was an ornament to the church, to human + nature, to Christianity? + </p> + <p> + I shall not dwell upon the grievance of tithes, so severely felt + by the peasantry, but it may be proper to observe, that there is + an addition to the burden, a per centage to the gatherer, whose + interest it thus becomes to rate them as highly as possible, and + we know that in many large livings in Ireland the only resident + Protestants are the tithe proctor and his family. + </p> + <p> + Amongst many causes of irritation, too numerous for <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg329" id="pg329">329</a></span> + recapitulation, there is one in the militia not to be passed + over,—I mean the existence of Orange lodges amongst the + privates. Can the officers deny this? And if such lodges do + exist, do they, can they, tend to promote harmony amongst the + men, who are thus individually separated in society, although + mingled in the ranks? And is this general system of persecution + to be permitted; or is it to be believed that with such a system + the Catholics can or ought to be contented? If they are, they + belie human nature; they are then, indeed, unworthy to be any + thing but the slaves you have made them. The facts stated are + from most respectable authority, or I should not have dared in + this place, or any place, to hazard this avowal. If exaggerated, + there are plenty as willing, as I believe them to be unable, to + disprove them. Should it be objected that I never was in Ireland, + I beg leave to observe, that it is as easy to know something of + Ireland without having been there, as it appears with some to + have been born, bred, and cherished there, and yet remain + ignorant of its best interests. + </p> + <p> + But there are who assert that the Catholics have already been too + much indulged. See (cry they) what has been done: we have given + them one entire college, we allow them food and raiment, the full + enjoyment of the elements, and leave to fight for us as long as + they have limbs and lives to offer, and yet they are never to be + satisfied!—Generous and just declaimers! To this, and to + this only, amount the whole of your arguments, when stript of + their sophistry. Those personages remind me of a story of a + certain drummer, who, being called upon in the course of duty to + administer punishment to a friend tied to the halberts, was + requested to flog high, he did—to flog low, he did—to + flog in the middle, he did,—high, low, down the middle, and + up again, but all in vain; the patient continued his complaints + with the most provoking pertinacity, until the drummer, exhausted + and angry, flung down his scourge, exclaiming, "The devil burn + you, there's no pleasing you, flog where <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg330" id="pg330">330</a></span> one will!" + Thus it is, you have flogged the Catholic high, low, here, there, + and every where, and then you wonder he is not pleased. It is + true that time, experience, and that weariness which attends even + the exercise of barbarity, have taught you to flog a little more + gently; but still you continue to lay on the lash, and will so + continue, till perhaps the rod may be wrested from your hands, + and applied to the backs of yourselves and your posterity. + </p> + <p> + It was said by somebody in a former debate, (I forget by whom, + and am not very anxious to remember,) if the Catholics are + emancipated, why not the Jews? If this sentiment was dictated by + compassion for the Jews, it might deserve attention, but as a + sneer against the Catholic, what is it but the language of + Shylock transferred from his daughter's marriage to Catholic + emancipation— + </p> + <div class="poem"> + <p> + "Would any of the tribe of Barabbas + </p> + <p> + Should have it rather than a Christian." + </p> + </div> + <p> + I presume a Catholic is a Christian, even in the opinion of him + whose taste only can be called in question for his preference of + the Jews. + </p> + <p> + It is a remark often quoted of Dr. Johnson, (whom I take to be + almost as good authority as the gentle apostle of intolerance, + Dr. Duigenan,) that he who could entertain serious apprehensions + of danger to the church in these times, would have "cried fire in + the deluge." This is more than a metaphor; for a remnant of these + antediluvians appear actually to have come down to us, with fire + in their mouths and water in their brains, to disturb and perplex + mankind with their whimsical outcries. And as it is an infallible + symptom of that distressing malady with which I conceive them to + be afflicted (so any doctor will inform your Lordships), for the + unhappy invalids to perceive a flame perpetually flashing before + their eyes, particularly when their eyes are shut (as those of + the persons to whom I allude have long been), it is impossible to + convince these poor creatures, that the fire against which they + are perpetually warning us and themselves <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg331" id="pg331">331</a></span> is nothing + but an <i>ignis fatuus</i> of their own drivelling imaginations. + What rhubarb, senna, or "what purgative drug can scour that fancy + thence?"—It is impossible, they are given over, theirs is + the true + </p> + <div class="poem"> + <p> + "Caput insanabile tribus Anticyris." + </p> + </div> + <p> + These are your true Protestants. Like Bayle, who protested + against all sects whatsoever, so do they protest against Catholic + petitions, Protestant petitions, all redress, all that reason, + humanity, policy, justice, and common sense, can urge against the + delusions of their absurd delirium. These are the persons who + reverse the fable of the mountain that brought forth a mouse; + they are the mice who conceive themselves in labour with + mountains. + </p> + <p> + To return to the Catholics; suppose the Irish were actually + contented under their disabilities; suppose them capable of such + a bull as not to desire deliverance, ought we not to wish it for + ourselves? Have we nothing to gain by their emancipation? What + resources have been wasted? What talents have been lost by the + selfish system of exclusion? You already know the value of Irish + aid; at this moment the defence of England is intrusted to the + Irish militia; at this moment, while the starving people are + rising in the fierceness of despair, the Irish are faithful to + their trust. But till equal energy is imparted throughout by the + extension of freedom, you cannot enjoy the full benefit of the + strength which you are glad to interpose between you and + destruction. Ireland has done much, but will do more. At this + moment the only triumph obtained through long years of + continental disaster has been achieved by an Irish general: it is + true he is not a Catholic; had he been so, we should have been + deprived of his exertions: but I presume no one will assert that + his religion would have impaired his talents or diminished his + patriotism; though, in that case, he must have conquered in the + ranks, for he never could have commanded an army. <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg332" id="pg332">332</a></span> + </p> + <p> + But he is fighting the battles of the Catholics abroad; his noble + brother has this night advocated their cause, with an eloquence + which I shall not depreciate by the humble tribute of my + panegyric; whilst a third of his kindred, as unlike as unequal, + has been combating against his Catholic brethren in Dublin, with + circular letters, edicts, proclamations, arrests, and + dispersions;—all the vexatious implements of petty warfare + that could be wielded by the mercenary guerillas of government, + clad in the rusty armour of their obsolete statutes. Your + Lordships will, doubtless, divide new honours between the Saviour + of Portugal, and the Dispenser of Delegates. It is singular, + indeed, to observe the difference between our foreign and + domestic policy; if Catholic Spain, faithful Portugal, or the no + less Catholic and faithful king of the one Sicily, (of which, by + the by, you have lately deprived him,) stand in need of succour, + away goes a fleet and an army, an ambassador and a subsidy, + sometimes to fight pretty hardly, generally to negotiate very + badly, and always to pay very dearly for our Popish allies. But + let four millions of fellow-subjects pray for relief, who fight + and pay and labour in your behalf, they must be treated as + aliens; and although their "father's house has many mansions," + there is no resting-place for them. Allow me to ask, are you not + fighting for the emancipation of Ferdinand VII., who certainly is + a fool, and, consequently, in all probability a bigot? and have + you more regard for a foreign sovereign than your own + fellow-subjects, who are not fools, for they know your interest + better than you know your own; who are not bigots, for they + return you good for evil; but who are in worse durance than the + prison of a usurper, inasmuch as the fetters of the mind are more + galling than those of the body? + </p> + <p> + Upon the consequences of your not acceding to the claims of the + petitioners, I shall not expatiate; you know them, you will feel + them, and your children's children when you are passed away. + Adieu to that Union so <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg333" id= + "pg333">333</a></span> called, as "<i>Lucus a non lucendo</i>," a + Union from never uniting, which in its first operation gave a + death-blow to the independence of Ireland, and in its last may be + the cause of her eternal separation from this country. If it must + be called a Union, it is the union of the shark with his prey; + the spoiler swallows up his victim, and thus they become one and + indivisible. Thus has Great Britain swallowed up the parliament, + the constitution, the independence of Ireland, and refuses to + disgorge even a single privilege, although for the relief of her + swollen and distempered body politic. + </p> + <p> + And now, my Lords, before I sit down, will his Majesty's + ministers permit me to say a few words, not on their merits, for + that would be superfluous, but on the degree of estimation in + which they are held by the people of these realms? The esteem in + which they are held has been boasted of in a triumphant tone on a + late occasion within these walls, and a comparison instituted + between their conduct and that of noble lords on this side of the + House. + </p> + <p> + What portion of popularity may have fallen to the share of my + noble friends (if such I may presume to call them), I shall not + pretend to ascertain; but that of his Majesty's ministers it were + vain to deny. It is, to be sure, a little like the wind, "no one + knows whence it cometh or whither it goeth," but they feel it, + they enjoy it, they boast of it. Indeed, modest and + unostentatious as they are, to what part of the kingdom, even the + most remote, can they flee to avoid the triumph which pursues + them? If they plunge into the midland counties, there will they + be greeted by the manufacturers, with spurned petitions in their + hands, and those halters round their necks recently voted in + their behalf, imploring blessings on the heads of those who so + simply, yet ingeniously, contrived to remove them from their + miseries in this to a better world. If they journey on to + Scotland, from Glasgow to Johnny Groats, every where will they + receive similar marks of approbation. If <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg334" id="pg334">334</a></span> they take a + trip from Portpatrick to Donaghadee, there will they rush at once + into the embraces of four Catholic millions, to whom their vote + of this night is about to endear them for ever. When they return + to the metropolis, if they can pass under Temple Bar without + unpleasant sensations at the sight of the greedy niches over that + ominous gateway, they cannot escape the acclamations of the + livery, and the more tremulous, but not less sincere, applause, + the blessings, "not loud but deep," of bankrupt merchants and + doubting stock-holders. If they look to the army, what wreaths, + not of laurel, but of nightshade, are preparing for the heroes of + Walcheren. It is true, there are few living deponents left to + testify to their merits on that occasion; but a "cloud of + witnesses" are gone above from that gallant army which they so + generously and piously despatched, to recruit the "noble army of + martyrs." + </p> + <p> + What if in the course of this triumphal career (in which they + will gather as many pebbles as Caligula's army did on a similar + triumph, the prototype of their own,) they do not perceive any of + those memorials which a grateful people erect in honour of their + benefactors; what although not even a sign-post will condescend + to depose the Saracen's head in favour of the likeness of the + conquerors of Walcheren, they will not want a picture who can + always have a caricature; or regret the omission of a statue who + will so often see themselves exalted in effigy. But their + popularity is not limited to the narrow bounds of an island; + there are other countries where their measures, and above all, + their conduct to the Catholics, must render them preeminently + popular. If they are beloved here, in France they must be adored. + There is no measure more repugnant to the designs and feelings of + Bonaparte than Catholic emancipation; no line of conduct more + propitious to his projects, than that which has been pursued, is + pursuing, and, I fear, will be pursued, towards Ireland. What is + England without Ireland, and what is <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg335" id="pg335">335</a></span> Ireland + without the Catholics? It is on the basis of your tyranny + Napoleon hopes to build his own. So grateful must oppression of + the Catholics be to his mind, that doubtless (as he has lately + permitted some renewal of intercourse) the next cartel will + convey to this country cargoes of seve-china and blue ribands, + (things in great request, and of equal value at this moment,) + blue ribands of the Legion of Honour for Dr. Duigenan and his + ministerial disciples. Such is that well-earned popularity, the + result of those extraordinary expeditions, so expensive to + ourselves, and so useless to our allies; of those singular + enquiries, so exculpatory to the accused and so dissatisfactory + to the people; of those paradoxical victories, so honourable, as + we are told, to the British name, and so destructive to the best + interests of the British nation: above all, such is the reward of + a conduct pursued by ministers towards the Catholics. + </p> + <p> + I have to apologise to the House, who will, I trust, pardon one, + not often in the habit of intruding upon their indulgence, for so + long attempting to engage their attention. My most decided + opinion is, as my vote will be, in favour of the motion. + </p> + <hr /> + <h4> + DEBATE ON MAJOR CARTWRIGHT'S PETITION, JUNE 1. 1813. + </h4> + <p> + Lord BYRON rose and said:— + </p> + <p> + My Lords,—The petition which I now hold for the purpose of + presenting to the House, is one which I humbly conceive requires + the particular attention of your Lordships, inasmuch as, though + signed but by a single individual, it contains statements which + (if not disproved) demand most serious investigation. The + grievance of which the petitioner complains is neither selfish + nor imaginary. It is not his own only, for it has been, and is + still felt by numbers. No one without these walls, nor indeed + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg336" id="pg336">336</a></span> + within, but may to-morrow be made liable to the same insult and + obstruction, in the discharge of an imperious duty for the + restoration of the true constitution of these realms, by + petitioning for reform in parliament. The petitioner, my Lords, + is a man whose long life has been spent in one unceasing struggle + for the liberty of the subject, against that undue influence + which has increased, is increasing, and ought to be diminished; + and whatever difference of opinion may exist as to his political + tenets, few will be found to question the integrity of his + intentions. Even now oppressed with years, and not exempt from + the infirmities attendant on his age, but still unimpaired in + talent, and unshaken in spirit—"<i>frangas non + fleetes</i>"—he has received many a wound in the combat + against corruption; and the new grievance, the fresh insult of + which he complains, may inflict another scar, but no dishonour. + The petition is signed by John Cartwright, and it was in behalf + of the people and parliament, in the lawful pursuit of that + reform in the representation, which is the best service to be + rendered both to parliament and people, that he encountered the + wanton outrage which forms the subject-matter of his petition to + your Lordships. It is couched in firm, yet respectful + language—in the language of a man, not regardless of what + is due to himself, but at the same time, I trust, equally mindful + of the deference to be paid to this House. The petitioner states, + amongst other matter of equal, if not greater importance, to all + who are British in their feelings, as well as blood and birth, + that on the 21st January, 1813, at Huddersfield, himself and six + other persons, who, on hearing of his arrival, had waited on him + merely as a testimony of respect, were seized by a military and + civil force, and kept in close custody for several hours, + subjected to gross and abusive insinuation from the commanding + officer, relative to the character of the petitioner; that he + (the petitioner) was finally carried before a magistrate, and not + released till an examination of his papers proved that + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg337" id="pg337">337</a></span> + there was not only no just, but not even statutable charge + against him; and that, notwithstanding the promise and order from + the presiding magistrates of a copy of the warrant against your + petitioner, it was afterwards withheld on divers pretexts, and + has never until this hour been granted. The names and condition + of the parties will be found in the petition. To the other topics + touched upon in the petition, I shall not now advert, from a wish + not to encroach upon the time of the House; but I do most + sincerely call the attention of your Lordships to its general + contents—it is in the cause of the parliament and people + that the rights of this venerable freeman have been violated, and + it is, in my opinion, the highest mark of respect that could be + paid to the House, that to your justice, rather than by appeal to + any inferior court, he now commits, himself. Whatever may be the + fate of his remonstrance, it is some satisfaction to me, though + mixed with regret for the occasion, that I have this opportunity + of publicly stating the obstruction to which the subject is + liable, in the prosecution of the most lawful and imperious of + his duties, the obtaining by petition reform in parliament. I + have shortly stated his complaint; the petitioner has more fully + expressed it. Your Lordships will, I hope, adopt some measure + fully to protect and redress him, and not him alone, but the + whole body of the people, insulted and aggrieved in his person, + by the interposition of an abused civil, and unlawful military + force between them and their right of petition to their own + representatives. + </p> + <p> + His Lordship then presented the petition from Major Cartwright, + which was read, complaining of the circumstances at Huddersfield, + and of interruptions given to the right of petitioning in several + places in the northern parts of the kingdom, and which his + Lordship moved should be laid on the table. + </p> + <p> + Several lords having spoken on the question, + </p> + <p> + Lord Byron replied, that he had, from motives of duty, presented + this petition to their Lordships' consideration. <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg338" id="pg338">338</a></span> The noble + Earl had contended, that it was not a petition, but a speech; and + that, as it contained no prayer, it should not be received. What + was the necessity of a prayer? If that word were to be used in + its proper sense, their Lordships could not expect that any man + should pray to others. He had only to say, that the petition, + though in some parts expressed strongly perhaps, did not contain + any improper mode of address, but was couched in respectful + language towards their Lordships; he should therefore trust their + Lordships would allow the petition to be received. <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg339" id="pg339">339</a></span> + </p> + <hr /> + <h2> + A FRAGMENT.<span class="fnref">[1]</span> + </h2> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: During a week of rain at Diodati, in the summer of + 1816, the party having amused themselves with reading German + ghost stories, they agreed at last to write something in + imitation of them. "You and I," said Lord Byron to Mrs. + Shelley, "will publish ours together." He then began his tale + of the Vampire; and, having the whole arranged in his head, + repeated to them a sketch of the story one evening;—but, + from the narrative being in prose, made but little progress in + filling up his outline. The most memorable result, indeed, of + their storytelling compact, was Mrs. Shelley's wild and + powerful romance of Frankenstein.—MOORE. + </p> + <p> + "I began it," says Lord Byron, "in an old account book of Miss + Milbanke's, which I kept because it contains the word + 'Household,' written by her twice on the inside blank page of + the covers; being the only two scraps I have in the world in + her writing, except her name to the Deed of Separation."] + </p> + </div> + <p class="quotdate"> + <i>June</i> 17. 1816. + </p> + <p> + In the year 17—, having for some time determined on a + journey through countries not hitherto much frequented by + travellers, I set out, accompanied by a friend, whom I shall + designate by the name of Augustus Darvell. He was a few years my + elder, and a man of considerable fortune and ancient family; + advantages which an extensive capacity prevented him alike from + undervaluing or overrating. Some peculiar circumstances in his + private history had rendered him to me an object of attention, of + interest, and even of regard, which neither the reserve of his + manners, nor occasional indications of an inquietude at times + nearly approaching to alienation of mind, could extinguish. + </p> + <p> + I was yet young in life, which I had begun early; but my intimacy + with him was of a recent date: we had been educated at the same + schools and university; but his progress through these had + preceded mine, and he had been deeply initiated, into what is + called the world, <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg340" id= + "pg340">340</a></span> while I was yet in my noviciate. While + thus engaged, I heard much both of his past and present life; + and, although in these accounts there were many and + irreconcileable contradictions, I could still gather from the + whole that he was a being of no common order, and one who, + whatever pains he might take to avoid remark, would still be + remarkable. I had cultivated his acquaintance subsequently, and + endeavoured to obtain his friendship, but this last appeared to + be unattainable; whatever affections he might have possessed, + seemed now, some to have been extinguished, and others to be + concentred: that his feelings were acute, I had sufficient + opportunities of observing; for, although he could control, he + could not altogether disguise them: still he had a power of + giving to one passion the appearance of another, in such a manner + that it was difficult to define the nature of what was working + within him; and the expressions of his features would vary so + rapidly, though slightly, that it was useless to trace them to + their sources. It was evident that he was a prey to some cureless + disquiet; but whether it arose from ambition, love, remorse, + grief, from one or all of these, or merely from a morbid + temperament akin to disease, I could not discover: there were + circumstances alleged, which might have justified the application + to each of these causes; but, as I have before said, these were + so contradictory and contradicted, that none could be fixed upon + with accuracy. Where there is mystery, it is generally supposed + that there must also be evil: I know not how this may be, but in + him there certainly was the one, though I could not ascertain the + extent of the other—and felt loth, as far as regarded + himself, to believe in its existence. My advances were received + with sufficient coldness; but I was young, and not easily + discouraged, and at length succeeded in obtaining, to a certain + degree, that common-place intercourse and moderate confidence of + common and every-day concerns, created and cemented by similarity + of pursuit and frequency of meeting, <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg341" id="pg341">341</a></span> which is + called intimacy, or friendship, according to the ideas of him who + uses those words to express them. + </p> + <p> + Darvell had already travelled extensively; and to him I had + applied for information with regard to the conduct of my intended + journey. It was my secret wish that he might be prevailed on to + accompany me; it was also a probable hope, founded upon the + shadowy restlessness which I observed in him, and to which the + animation which he appeared to feel on such subjects, and his + apparent indifference to all by which he was more immediately + surrounded, gave fresh strength. This wish I first hinted, and + then expressed: his answer, though I had partly expected it, gave + me all the pleasure of surprise—he consented; and, after + the requisite arrangement, we commenced our voyages. After + journeying through various countries of the south of Europe, our + attention was turned towards the East, according to our original + destination; and it was in my progress through those regions that + the incident occurred upon which will turn what I may have to + relate. + </p> + <p> + The constitution of Darvell, which must from his appearance have + been in early life more than usually robust, had been for some + time gradually giving way, without the intervention of any + apparent disease: he had neither cough nor hectic, yet he became + daily more enfeebled: his habits were temperate, and he neither + declined nor complained of fatigue; yet he was evidently wasting + away: he became more and more silent and sleepless, and at length + so seriously altered, that my alarm grew proportionate to what I + conceived to be his danger. + </p> + <p> + We had determined, on our arrival at Smyrna, on an excursion to + the ruins of Ephesus and Sardis, from which I endeavoured to + dissuade him in his present state of indisposition—but in + vain: there appeared to be an oppression on his mind, and a + solemnity in his manner, which ill corresponded with his + eagerness to <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg342" id= + "pg342">342</a></span> proceed on what I regarded as a mere party + of pleasure, little suited to a valetudinarian; but I opposed him + no longer—and in a few days we set off together, + accompanied only by a serrugee and a single janizary. + </p> + <p> + We had passed halfway towards the remains of Ephesus, leaving + behind us the more fertile environs of Smyrna, and were entering + upon that wild and tenantless track through the marshes and + defiles which lead to the few huts yet lingering over the broken + columns of Diana—the roofless walls of expelled + Christianity, and the still more recent but complete desolation + of abandoned mosques—when the sudden and rapid illness of + my companion obliged us to halt at a Turkish cemetery, the + turbaned tombstones of which were the sole indication that human + life had ever been a sojourner in this wilderness. The only + caravansera we had seen was left some hours behind us, not a + vestige of a town or even cottage was within sight or hope, and + this "city of the dead" appeared to be the sole refuge for my + unfortunate friend, who seemed on the verge of becoming the last + of its inhabitants. + </p> + <p> + In this situation, I looked round for a place where he might most + conveniently repose:—contrary to the usual aspect of + Mahometan burial-grounds, the cypresses were in this few in + number, and these thinly scattered over its extent: the + tombstones were mostly fallen, and worn with age:—upon one + of the most considerable of these, and beneath one of the most + spreading trees, Darvell supported himself, in a half-reclining + posture, with great difficulty. He asked for water. I had some + doubts of our being able to find any, and prepared to go in + search of it with hesitating despondency: but he desired me to + remain; and turning to Suleiman, our janizary, who stood by us + smoking with great tranquillity, he said, "Suleiman, verbana su," + (<i>i.e.</i> bring some water,) and went on describing the spot + where it was to be found with great minuteness, at a small well + for camels, a few hundred yards to the right: the janizary + obeyed. I <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg343" id= + "pg343">343</a></span> said to Darvell, "How did you know + this?"—He replied, "From our situation; you must perceive + that this place was once inhabited, and could not have been so + without springs: I have also been here before." + </p> + <p> + "You have been here before!—How came you never to mention + this to me? and what could you be doing in a place where no one + would remain a moment longer than they could help it?" + </p> + <p> + To this question I received no answer. In the mean time Suleiman + returned with the water, leaving the serrugee and the horses at + the fountain. The quenching of his thirst had the appearance of + reviving him for a moment; and I conceived hopes of his being + able to proceed, or at least to return, and I urged the attempt. + He was silent—and appeared to be collecting his spirits for + an effort to speak. He began. + </p> + <p> + "This is the end of my journey, and of my life;—I came here + to die: but I have a request to make, a command—for such my + last words must be.—You will observe it?" + </p> + <p> + "Most certainly; but have better hopes." + </p> + <p> + "I have no hopes, nor wishes, but this—conceal my death + from every human being." + </p> + <p> + "I hope there will be no occasion; that you will recover, + and——" + </p> + <p> + "Peace!—it must be so: promise this." + </p> + <p> + "I do." + </p> + <p> + "Swear it, by all that"——He here dictated an oath of + great solemnity. + </p> + <p> + "There is no occasion for this—I will observe your request; + and to doubt me is——" + </p> + <p> + "It cannot be helped,—you must swear." + </p> + <p> + I took the oath: it appeared to relieve him. He removed a seal + ring from his finger, on which were some Arabic characters, and + presented it to me. He proceeded— + </p> + <p> + "On the ninth day of the month, at noon precisely (what month you + please, but this must be the day), you <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg344" id="pg344">344</a></span> must fling + this ring into the salt springs which run into the Bay of + Eleusis: the day after, at the same hour, you must repair to the + ruins of the temple of Ceres, and wait one hour." + </p> + <p> + "Why?" + </p> + <p> + "You will see." + </p> + <p> + "The ninth day of the month, you say?" + </p> + <p> + "The ninth." + </p> + <p> + As I observed that the present was the ninth day of the month; + his countenance changed, and he paused. As he sat, evidently + becoming more feeble, a stork, with a snake in her beak, perched + upon a tombstone near us; and, without devouring her prey, + appeared to be steadfastly regarding us. I know not what impelled + me to drive it away, but the attempt was useless; she made a few + circles in the air, and returned exactly to the same spot. + Darvell pointed to it, and smiled: he spoke—I know not + whether to himself or to me—but the words were only, "'Tis + well!" + </p> + <p> + "What is well? what do you mean?" + </p> + <p> + "No matter: you must bury me here this evening, and exactly where + that bird is now perched. You know the rest of my injunctions." + </p> + <p> + He then proceeded to give me several directions as to the manner + in which his death might be best concealed. After these were + finished, he exclaimed, "You perceive that bird?" + </p> + <p> + "Certainly." + </p> + <p> + "And the serpent writhing in her beak?" + </p> + <p> + "Doubtless: there is nothing uncommon in it; it is her natural + prey. But it is odd that she does not devour it." + </p> + <p> + He smiled in a ghastly manner, and said, faintly, "It is not yet + time!" As he spoke, the stork flew away. My eyes followed it for + a moment—it could hardly be longer than ten might be + counted. I felt Darvell's weight, as it were, increase upon my + shoulder, <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg345" id= + "pg345">345</a></span> and, turning to look upon his face, + perceived that he was dead! + </p> + <p> + I was shocked with the sudden certainty which could not be + mistaken—his countenance in a few minutes became nearly + black. I should have attributed so rapid a change to poison, had + I not been aware that he had no opportunity of receiving it + unperceived. The day was declining, the body was rapidly + altering, and nothing remained but to fulfil his request. With + the aid of Suleiman's ataghan and my own sabre, we scooped a + shallow grave upon the spot which Darvell had indicated: the + earth easily gave way, having already received some Mahometan + tenant. We dug as deeply as the time permitted us, and throwing + the dry earth upon all that remained of the singular being so + lately departed, we cut a few sods of greener turf from the less + withered soil around us, and laid them upon his sepulchre. + </p> + <p> + Between astonishment and grief, I was tearless. + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg346" id="pg346">346</a></span> + </p> + <hr /> + <h2> + LETTER + <br /> + TO JOHN MURRAY, ESQ. + <br /> + ON + <br /> + THE REV. W.L. BOWLES'S STRICTURES + <br /> + ON THE + <br /> + LIFE AND WRITINGS OF POPE. + </h2> + <hr /> + <blockquote> + <p> + "I'll play at <i>Bowls</i> with the sun and moon."—OLD + SONG. + </p> + <p> + "My mither's auld, Sir, and she has rather forgotten hersel in + speaking to my Leddy, that canna weel bide to be contradickit, + (as I ken nobody likes it, if they could help themsels.)" + </p> + <p> + TALES OF MY LANDLORD, <i>Old Mortality</i>, vol. ii. p. 163. + </p> + </blockquote> + <hr /> + <p> + Ravenna, February 7. 1821. + </p> + <p> + Dear Sir, + </p> + <p> + In the different pamphlets which you have had the goodness to + send me, on the Pope and Bowles' controversy, I perceive that my + name is occasionally introduced by both parties. Mr. Bowles + refers more than once to what he is pleased to consider "a + remarkable circumstance," not only in his letter to Mr. Campbell, + but in his reply to the Quarterly. The Quarterly also and Mr. + Gilchrist have conferred on me the dangerous honour of a + quotation; and Mr. Bowles indirectly makes a kind of appeal to me + personally, by saying, "Lord Byron, <i>if he remembers</i> the + circumstance, will <i>witness</i>"—<i>(witness</i> IN + ITALICS, an ominous character for a testimony at present). + </p> + <p> + I shall not avail myself of a "non mi ricordo," even after so + long a residence in Italy;—I <i>do</i> "remember the + circumstance,"—and have no reluctance to relate it (since + called upon so to do), as correctly as the distance of time and + the impression of intervening events will permit me. In the year + 1812, more than three <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg347" id= + "pg347">347</a></span> years after the publication of "English + Bards and Scotch Reviewers," I had the honour of meeting Mr. + Bowles in the house of our venerable host of "Human Life," + &c. the last Argonaut of classic English poetry, and the + Nestor of our inferior race of living poets. Mr. Bowles calls + this "soon after" the publication; but to me three years appear a + considerable segment of the immortality of a modern poem. I + recollect nothing of "the rest of the company going into another + room,"—nor, though I well remember the topography of our + host's elegant and classically furnished mansion, could I swear + to the very room where the conversation occurred, though the + "taking <i>down</i> the poem" seems to fix it in the library. Had + it been "taken <i>up</i>" it would probably have been in the + drawing-room. I presume also that the "remarkable circumstance" + took place <i>after</i> dinner; as I conceive that neither Mr. + Bowles's politeness nor appetite would have allowed him to detain + "the rest of the company" standing round their chairs in the + "other room," while we were discussing "the Woods of Madeira," + instead of circulating its vintage. Of Mr. Bowles's "good humour" + I have a full and not ungrateful recollection; as also of his + gentlemanly manners and agreeable conversation. I speak of the + <i>whole</i>, and not of particulars; for whether he did or did + not use the precise words printed in the pamphlet, I cannot say, + nor could he with accuracy. Of "the tone of seriousness" I + certainly recollect nothing: on the contrary, I thought Mr. + Bowles rather disposed to treat the subject lightly: for he said + (I have no objection to be contradicted if incorrect), that some + of his good-natured friends had come to him and exclaimed, "Eh! + Bowles! how came you to make the Woods of Madeira?" &c. + &c. and that he had been at some pains and pulling down of + the poem to convince them that he had never made "the Woods" do + any thing of the kind. He was right, and <i>I was wrong,</i> and + have been wrong still up to this acknowledgment; for I ought to + have looked twice before I wrote <span class="pagenum"><a name= + "pg348" id="pg348">348</a></span> that which involved an + inaccuracy capable of giving pain. The fact was, that, although I + had certainly before read "the Spirit of Discovery," I took the + quotation from the review. But the mistake was mine, and not the + <i>review's,</i> which quoted the passage correctly enough, I + believe. I blundered—God knows how—into attributing + the tremors of the lovers to "the Woods of Madeira," by which + they were surrounded. And I hereby do fully and freely declare + and asseverate, that the Woods did <i>not</i> tremble to a kiss, + and that the lovers did. I quote from memory— + </p> + <div class="poem"> + <p> + ———"A kiss + </p> + <p> + Stole on the listening silence, &c. &c. + </p> + <p> + They [the lovers] trembled, even as if the power," &c. + </p> + </div> + <p> + And if I had been aware that this declaration would have been in + the smallest degree satisfactory to Mr. Bowles, I should not have + waited nine years to make it, notwithstanding that "English Bards + and Scotch Reviewers" had been suppressed some time previously to + my meeting him at Mr. Rogers's. Our worthy host might indeed have + told him as much, as it was at his representation that I + suppressed it. A new edition of that lampoon was preparing for + the press, when Mr. Rogers represented to me, that "I was + <i>now</i> acquainted with many of the persons mentioned in it, + and with some on terms of intimacy;" and that he knew "one family + in particular to whom its suppression would give pleasure." I did + not hesitate one moment, it was cancelled instantly; and it is no + fault of mine that it has ever been republished. When I left + England, in April, 1816, with no very violent intentions of + troubling that country again, and amidst scenes of various kinds + to distract my attention,—almost my last act, I believe, + was to sign a power of attorney, to yourself, to prevent or + suppress any attempts (of which several had been made in Ireland) + at a republication. It is proper that I should state, that the + persons with whom I was subsequently <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg349" id="pg349">349</a></span> acquainted, + whose names had occurred in that publication, were made my + acquaintances at their own desire, or through the unsought + intervention of others. I never, to the best of my knowledge, + sought a personal introduction to any. Some of them to this day I + know only by correspondence; and with one of those it was begun + by myself, in consequence, however, of a polite verbal + communication from a third person. + </p> + <p> + I have dwelt for an instant on these circumstances, because it + has sometimes been made a subject of bitter reproach to me to + have endeavoured to <i>suppress</i> that satire. I never shrunk, + as those who know me know, from any personal consequences which + could be attached to its publication. Of its subsequent + suppression, as I possessed the copyright, I was the best judge + and the sole master. The circumstances which occasioned the + suppression I have now stated; of the motives, each must judge + according to his candour or malignity. Mr. Bowles does me the + honour to talk of "noble mind," and "generous magnanimity;" and + all this because "the circumstance would have been explained had + not the book been suppressed." I see no "nobility of mind" in an + act of simple justice; and I hate the word "<i>magnanimity,"</i> + because I have sometimes seen it applied to the grossest of + impostors by the greatest of fools; but I would have "explained + the circumstance," notwithstanding "the suppression of the book," + if Mr. Bowles had expressed any desire that I should. As the + "gallant Galbraith" says to "Baillie Jarvie," "Well, the devil + take the mistake, and all that occasioned it." I have had as + great and greater mistakes made about me personally and + poetically, once a month for these last ten years, and never + cared very much about correcting one or the other, at least after + the first eight and forty hours had gone over them. + </p> + <p> + I must now, however, say a word or two about Pope, of whom you + have my opinion more at large in the unpublished letter <i>on</i> + or <i>to</i> (for I forget which) the <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg350" id="pg350">350</a></span> editor of + "Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine;"—and here I doubt that Mr. + Bowles will not approve of my sentiments. + </p> + <p> + Although I regret having published "English Bards and Scotch + Reviewers," the part which I regret the least is that which + regards Mr. Bowles with reference to Pope. Whilst I was writing + that publication, in 1807 and 1808, Mr. Hobhouse was desirous + that I should express our mutual opinion of Pope, and of Mr. + Bowles's edition of his works. As I had completed my outline, and + felt lazy, I requested that <i>he</i> would do so. He did it. His + fourteen lines on Bowles's Pope are in the first edition of + "English Bards and Scotch Reviewers;" and are quite as severe and + much more poetical than my own in the second. On reprinting the + work, as I put my name to it, I omitted Mr. Hobhouse's lines, and + replaced them with my own, by which the work gained less than Mr. + Bowles. I have stated this in the preface to the second edition. + It is many years since I have read that poem; but the Quarterly + Review, Mr. Octavius Gilchrist, and Mr. Bowles himself, have been + so obliging as to refresh my memory, and that of the public. I am + grieved to say, that in reading over those lines, I repent of + their having so far fallen short of what I meant to express upon + the subject of Bowles's edition of Pope's Works. Mr. Bowles says, + that "Lord Byron <i>knows</i> he does <i>not</i> deserve this + character." I know no such thing. I have met Mr. Bowles + occasionally, in the best society in London; he appeared to me an + amiable, well-informed, and extremely able man. I desire nothing + better than to dine in company with such a mannered man every day + in the week: but of "his character" I know nothing personally; I + can only speak to his manners, and these have my warmest + approbation. But I never judge from manners, for I once had my + pocket picked by the civilest gentleman I ever met with; and one + of the mildest persons I ever saw was All Pacha. Of Mr. Bowles's + "<i>character</i>" I will <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg351" + id="pg351">351</a></span> not do him the <i>injustice</i> to + judge from the edition of Pope, if he prepared it heedlessly; nor + the <i>justice,</i> should it be otherwise, because I would + neither become a literary executioner nor a personal one. Mr. + Bowles the individual, and Mr. Bowles the editor, appear the two + most opposite things imaginable. + </p> + <div class="poem"> + <p> + "And he himself one—antithesis." + </p> + </div> + <p> + I won't say "vile," because it is harsh; nor "mistaken," because + it has two syllables too many: but every one must fill up the + blank as he pleases. + </p> + <p> + What I saw of Mr. Bowles increased my surprise and regret that he + should ever have lent his talents to such a task. If he had been + a fool, there would have been some excuse for him; if he had been + a needy or a bad man, his conduct would have been intelligible: + but he is the opposite of all these; and thinking and feeling as + I do of Pope, to me the whole thing is unaccountable. However, I + must call things by their right names. I cannot call his edition + of Pope a "candid" work; and I still think that there is an + affectation of that quality not only in those volumes, but in the + pamphlets lately published. + </p> + <div class="poem"> + <p> + "Why <i>yet</i> he doth <i>deny</i> his prisoners." + </p> + </div> + <p> + Mr. Bowles says, that "he has seen passages in his letters to + Martha Blount which were never published by me, and I <i>hope + never will</i> be by others; which are so <i>gross</i> as to + imply the <i>grossest</i> licentiousness." Is this fair play? It + may, or it may not be that such passages exist; and that Pope, + who was not a monk, although a Catholic, may have occasionally + sinned in word and deed with woman in his youth: but is this a + sufficient ground for such a sweeping denunciation? Where is the + unmarried Englishman of a certain rank of life, who (provided he + has not taken orders) has not to reproach himself between the + ages of sixteen and thirty with far more licentiousness than has + ever yet been traced to Pope? Pope lived in the public eye from + his youth <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg352" id= + "pg352">352</a></span> upwards; he had all the dunces of his own + time for his enemies, and, I am sorry to say, some, who have not + the apology of dulness for detraction, since his death; and yet + to what do all their accumulated hints and charges + amount?—to an equivocal <i>liaison</i> with Martha Blount, + which might arise as much from his infirmities as from his + passions; to a hopeless flirtation with Lady Mary W. Montagu; to + a story of Cibber's; and to two or three coarse passages in his + works. <i>Who</i> could come forth clearer from an invidious + inquest on a life of fifty-six years? Why are we to be + officiously reminded of such passages in his letters, provided + that they exist. Is Mr. Bowles aware to what such rummaging among + "letters" and "stories" might lead? I have myself seen a + collection of letters of another eminent, nay, pre-eminent, + deceased poet, so abominably gross, and elaborately coarse, that + I do not believe that they could be paralleled in our language. + What is more strange, is, that some of these are couched as + <i>postscripts</i> to his serious and sentimental letters, to + which are tacked either a piece of prose, or some verses, of the + most hyperbolical indecency. He himself says, that if "obscenity + (using a much coarser word) be the sin against the Holy Ghost, he + most certainly cannot be saved." These letters are in existence, + and have been seen by many besides myself; but would his + <i>editor</i> have been "<i>candid</i>" in even alluding to them? + Nothing would have even provoked <i>me</i>, an indifferent + spectator, to allude to them, but this further attempt at the + depreciation of Pope. + </p> + <p> + What should we say to an editor of Addison, who cited the + following passage from Walpole's letters to George Montagu? "Dr. + Young has published a new book, &c. Mr. Addison sent for the + young Earl of Warwick, as he was dying, to show him in what peace + a Christian could die; unluckily he died of <i>brandy:</i> + nothing makes a Christian die in peace like being maudlin! but + don't say this in Gath where you are." Suppose the editor + introduced it with this preface: "One <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg353" id="pg353">353</a></span> circumstance + is mentioned by Horace Walpole, which, if true, was indeed + <i>flagitious</i>. Walpole informs Montagu that Addison sent for + the young Earl of Warwick, when dying, to show him in what peace + a Christian could die; but unluckily he died drunk," &c. + &c. Now, although there might occur on the subsequent, or on + the same page, a faint show of disbelief, seasoned with the + expression of "the <i>same candour</i>" (the <i>same</i> exactly + as throughout the book), I should say that this editor was either + foolish or false to his trust; such a story ought not to have + been admitted, except for one brief mark of crushing indignation, + unless it were <i>completely proved.</i> Why the words "<i>if + true</i>?" that "<i>if"</i> is not a peacemaker. Why talk of + "Cibber's testimony" to his licentiousness? to what does this + amount? that Pope when very young was <i>once</i> decoyed by some + noblemen and the player to a house of carnal recreation. Mr. + Bowles was not always a clergyman; and when he was a very young + man, was he never seduced into as much? If I were in the humour + for story-telling, and relating little anecdotes, I could tell a + much better story of Mr. Bowles than Cibber's, upon much better + authority, viz. that of Mr. Bowles himself. It was not related by + <i>him</i> in my presence, but in that of a third person, whom + Mr. Bowles names oftener than once in the course of his replies. + This gentleman related it to me as a humorous and witty anecdote; + and so it was, whatever its other characteristics might be. But + should I, for a youthful frolic, brand Mr. Bowles with a + "libertine sort of love," or with "licentiousness?" is he the + less now a pious or a good man, for not having always been a + priest? No such thing; I am willing to believe him a good man, + almost as good a man as Pope, but no better. + </p> + <p> + The truth is, that in these days the grand "<i>primum mobile"</i> + of England is <i>cant;</i> cant political, cant poetical, cant + religious, cant moral; but always cant, multiplied through all + the varieties of life. It is the fashion, and while it lasts will + be too powerful for those who can <span class="pagenum"><a name= + "pg354" id="pg354">354</a></span> only exist by taking the tone + of the time. I say <i>cant,</i> because it is a thing of words, + without the smallest influence upon human actions; the English + being no wiser, no better, and much poorer, and more divided + amongst themselves, as well as far less moral, than they were + before the prevalence of this verbal decorum. This hysterical + horror of poor Pope's not very well ascertained, and never fully + proved amours (for even Cibber owns that he prevented the + somewhat perilous adventure in which Pope was embarking) sounds + very virtuous in a controversial pamphlet; but all men of the + world who know what life is, or at least what it was to them in + their youth, must laugh at such a ludicrous foundation of the + charge of "a libertine sort of love;" while the more serious will + look upon those who bring forward such charges upon an insulated + fact as fanatics or hypocrites, perhaps both. The two are + sometimes compounded in a happy mixture. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Octavius Gilchrist speaks rather irreverently of a "second + tumbler of <i>hot</i> white-wine negus." What does he mean? Is + there any harm in negus? or is it the worse for being <i>hot</i>? + or does Mr. Bowles drink negus? I had a better opinion of him. I + hoped that whatever wine he drank was neat; or, at least, that, + like the ordinary in Jonathan Wild, "he preferred <i>punch,</i> + the rather as there was nothing against it in Scripture." I + should be sorry to believe that Mr. Bowles was fond of negus; it + is such a "candid" liquor, so like a wishy-washy compromise + between the passion for wine and the propriety of water. But + different writers have divers tastes. Judge Blackstone composed + his "Commentaries" (he was a poet too in his youth) with a bottle + of port before him. Addison's conversation was not good for much + till he had taken a similar dose. Perhaps the prescription of + these two great men was not inferior to the very different one of + a soi-disant poet of this day, who, after wandering amongst the + hills, returns, goes to bed, and dictates his verses, being fed + by <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg355" id= + "pg355">355</a></span> a by-stander with bread and butter during + the operation. + </p> + <p> + I now come to Mr. Bowles's "invariable principles of poetry." + These Mr. Bowles and some of his correspondents pronounce + "unanswerable;" and they are "unanswered," at least by Campbell, + who seems to have been astounded by the title. The sultan of the + time being offered to ally himself to a king of France because + "he hated the word league;" which proves that the Padishan + understood French. Mr. Campbell has no need of my alliance, nor + shall I presume to offer it; but I do hate that word + "<i>invariable</i>." What is there of <i>human</i>, be it poetry, + philosophy, wit, wisdom, science, power, glory, mind, matter, + life, or death, which is "<i>invariable</i>?" Of course I put + things divine out of the question. Of all arrogant baptisms of a + book, this title to a pamphlet appears the most complacently + conceited. It is Mr. Campbell's part to answer the contents of + this performance, and especially to vindicate his own "Ship," + which Mr. Bowles most triumphantly proclaims to have struck to + his very first fire. + </p> + <div class="poem"> + <p> + "Quoth he, there was a <i>Ship;</i> + </p> + <p> + Now let me go, thou grey-haired loon, + </p> + <p> + Or my staff shall make thee skip." + </p> + </div> + <p> + It is no affair of mine, but having once begun, (certainly not by + my own wish, but called upon by the frequent recurrence to my + name in the pamphlets,) I am like an Irishman in a "row," "any + body's customer." I shall therefore say a word or two on the + "Ship." + </p> + <p> + Mr. Bowles asserts that Campbell's "Ship of the Line" derives all + its poetry, not from "<i>art</i>," but from "<i>nature</i>." + "Take away the waves, the winds, the sun, &c. &c. + <i>one</i> will become a stripe of blue bunting; and the other a + piece of coarse canvass on three tall poles." Very true; take + away the "waves," "the winds," and there will be no ship at all, + not only for poetical, but for any other purpose; and take away + "the sun," and we must <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg356" id= + "pg356">356</a></span> read Mr. Bowles's pamphlet by + candle-light. But the "poetry" of the "Ship" does <i>not</i> + depend on "the waves," &c.; on the contrary, the "Ship of the + Line" confers its own poetry upon the waters, and heightens + <i>theirs.</i> I do not deny, that the "waves and winds," and + above all "the sun," are highly poetical; we know it to our cost, + by the many descriptions of them in verse: but if the waves bore + only the foam upon their bosoms, if the winds wafted only the + sea-weed to the shore, if the sun shone neither upon pyramids, + nor fleets, nor fortresses, would its beams be equally poetical? + I think not: the poetry is at least reciprocal. Take away "the + Ship of the line" "swinging round" the "calm water," and the calm + water becomes a somewhat monotonous thing to look at, + particularly if not transparently <i>clear</i>; witness the + thousands who pass by without looking on it at all. What was it + attracted the thousands to the launch? they might have seen the + poetical "calm water" at Wapping, or in the "London Dock," or in + the Paddington Canal, or in a horse-pond, or in a slop-basin, or + in any other vase. They might have heard the poetical winds + howling through the chinks of a pigsty, or the garret window; + they might have seen the sun shining on a footman's livery, or on + a brass warming pan; but could the "calm water," or the "wind," + or the "sun," make all, or any of these "poetical?" I think not. + Mr. Bowles admits "the Ship" to be poetical, but only from those + accessaries: now if they <i>confer</i> poetry so as to make one + thing poetical, they would make other things poetical; the more + so, as Mr. Bowles calls a "ship of the line" without + them,—that is to say, its "masts and sails and + streamers,"—"blue bunting," and "coarse canvass," and "tall + poles." So they are; and porcelain is clay, and man is dust, and + flesh is grass, and yet the two latter at least are the subjects + of much poesy. + </p> + <p> + Did Mr. Bowles ever gaze upon the sea? I presume that he has, at + least upon a sea-piece. Did any painter ever paint the sea + <i>only</i>, without the addition of a ship, boat, wreck, or some + such adjunct? Is the sea <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg357" + id="pg357">357</a></span> itself a more attractive, a more moral, + a more poetical object, with or without a vessel, breaking its + vast but fatiguing monotony? Is a storm more poetical without a + ship? or, in the poem of the Shipwreck, is it the storm or the + ship which most interests? both <i>much</i> undoubtedly; but + without the vessel, what should we care for the tempest? It would + sink into mere descriptive poetry, which in itself was never + esteemed a high order of that art. + </p> + <p> + I look upon myself as entitled to talk of naval matters, at least + to poets:—with the exception of Walter Scott, Moore, and + Southey, perhaps, who have been voyagers, I have <i>swam</i> more + miles than all the rest of them together now living ever + <i>sailed</i>, and have lived for months and months on shipboard; + and, during the whole period of my life abroad, have scarcely + ever passed a month out of sight of the ocean: besides being + brought up from two years till ten on the brink of it. I + recollect, when anchored off Cape Sigeum in 1810, in an English + frigate, a violent squall coming on at sunset, so violent as to + make us imagine that the ship would part cable, or drive from her + anchorage. Mr. Hobhouse and myself, and some officers, had been + up the Dardanelles to Abydos, and were just returned in time. The + aspect of a storm in the Archipelago is as poetical as need be, + the sea being particularly short, dashing, and dangerous, and the + navigation intricate and broken by the isles and currents. Cape + Sigeum, the tumuli of the Troad, Lemnos, Tenedos, all added to + the associations of the time. But what seemed the most + "<i>poetical</i>" of all at the moment, were the numbers (about + two hundred) of Greek and Turkish craft, which were obliged to + "cut and run" before the wind, from their unsafe anchorage, some + for Tenedos, some for other isles, some for the main, and some it + might be for eternity. The sight of these little scudding + vessels, darting over the foam in the twilight, now appearing and + now disappearing between the waves in the cloud of night, with + their peculiarly <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg358" id= + "pg358">358</a></span> <i>white</i> sails, (the Levant sails not + being of "<i>coarse canvass</i>," but of white cotton,) skimming + along as quickly, but less safely than the sea-mews which hovered + over them; their evident distress, their reduction to fluttering + specks in the distance, their crowded succession, their + <i>littleness</i>, as contending with the giant element, which + made our stout forty-four's <i>teak</i> timbers (she was built in + India) creak again; their aspect and their motion, all struck me + as something far more "poetical" than the mere broad, brawling, + shipless sea, and the sullen winds, could possibly have been + without them. + </p> + <p> + The Euxine is a noble sea to look upon, and the port of + Constantinople the most beautiful of harbours, and yet I cannot + but think that the twenty sail of the line, some of one hundred + and forty guns, rendered it more "poetical" by day in the sun, + and by night perhaps still more, for the Turks illuminate their + vessels of war in a manner the most picturesque, and yet all this + is <i>artificial</i>. As for the Euxine, I stood upon the + Symplegades—I stood by the broken altar still exposed to + the winds upon one of them—I felt all the "<i>poetry</i>" + of the situation, as I repeated the first lines of Medea; but + would not that "poetry" have been heightened by the <i>Argo</i>? + It was so even by the appearance of any merchant vessel arriving + from Odessa. But Mr. Bowles says, "Why bring your ship off the + stocks?" for no reason that I know, except that ships are built + to be launched. The water, &c. undoubtedly HEIGHTENS the + poetical associations, but it does not <i>make</i> them; and the + ship amply repays the obligation: they aid each other; the water + is more poetical with the ship—the ship less so without the + water. But even a ship laid up in dock, is a grand and a poetical + sight. Even an old boat, keel upwards, wrecked upon the barren + sand, is a "poetical" object, (and Wordsworth, who made a poem + about a washing tub and a blind boy, may tell you so as well as + I,) whilst a long extent of sand and unbroken water, <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg359" id="pg359">359</a></span> without the + boat, would be as like dull prose as any pamphlet lately + published. + </p> + <p> + What makes the poetry in the image of the "<i>marble waste of + Tadmor</i>," or Grainger's "Ode to Solitude," so much admired by + Johnson? Is it the "<i>marble</i>" or the "<i>waste,</i>" the + <i>artificial</i> or the <i>natural</i> object? The "waste" is + like all other <i>wastes</i>; but the "<i>marble</i>" of Palmyra + makes the poetry of the passage as of the place. + </p> + <p> + The beautiful but barren Hymettus, the whole coast of Attica, her + hills and mountains, Pentelicus, Anchesmus, Philopappus, &c. + &c. are in themselves poetical, and would be so if the name + of Athens, of Athenians, and her very ruins, were swept from the + earth. But am I to be told that the "nature" of Attica would be + <i>more</i> poetical without the "art" of the Acropolis? of the + Temple of Theseus? and of the still all Greek and glorious + monuments of her exquisitely artificial genius? Ask the traveller + what strikes him as most poetical, the Parthenon, or the rock on + which it stands? The COLUMNS of Cape Colonna, or the Cape itself? + The rocks at the foot of it, or the recollection that Falconer's + <i>ship</i> was bulged upon them? There are a thousand rocks and + capes far more picturesque than those of the Acropolis and Cape + Sunium in themselves; what are they to a thousand scenes in the + wilder parts of Greece, of Asia Minor, Switzerland, or even of + Cintra in Portugal, or to many scenes of Italy, and the Sierras + of Spain? But it is the "<i>art</i>," the columns, the temples, + the wrecked vessel, which give them their antique and their + modern poetry, and not the spots themselves. Without them, the + <i>spots</i> of earth would be unnoticed and unknown; buried, + like Babylon and Nineveh, in indistinct confusion, without + poetry, as without existence; but to whatever spot of earth these + ruins were transported, if they were <i>capable</i> of + transportation, like the obelisk, and the sphinx, and the + Memnon's head, <i>there</i> they would still exist in the + perfection of their beauty, and in the <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg360" id="pg360">360</a></span> pride of + their poetry. I opposed, and will ever oppose, the robbery of + ruins from Athens, to instruct the English in sculpture; but why + did I do so? The <i>ruins</i> are as poetical in Piccadilly as + they were in the Parthenon; but the Parthenon and its rock are + less so without them. Such is the poetry of art. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Bowles contends again that the pyramids of Egypt are + poetical, because of "the association with boundless deserts," + and that a "pyramid of the same dimensions" would not be sublime + in "Lincoln's Inn Fields:" not <i>so</i> poetical certainly; but + take away the "pyramids," and what is the "<i>desert?"</i> Take + away Stone-henge from Salisbury plain, and it is nothing more + than Hounslow heath, or any other unenclosed down. It appears to + me that St. Peter's, the Coliseum, the Pantheon, the Palatine, + the Apollo, the Laocoon, the Venus di Medicis, the Hercules, the + dying Gladiator, the Moses of Michael Angelo, and all the higher + works of Canova, (I have already spoken of those of ancient + Greece, still extant in that country, or transported to England,) + are as <i>poetical</i> as Mont Blanc or Mount Ætna, perhaps still + more so, as they are direct manifestations of mind, and + <i>presuppose</i> poetry in their very conception; and have, + moreover, as being such, a something of actual life, which cannot + belong to any part of inanimate nature, unless we adopt the + system of Spinosa, that the world is the Deity. There can be + nothing more poetical in its aspect than the city of Venice: does + this depend upon the sea, or the canals?— + </p> + <div class="poem"> + <p> + "The dirt and sea-weed whence proud Venice rose?" + </p> + </div> + <p> + Is it the canal which runs between the palace and the prison, or + the "Bridge of Sighs," which connects them, that render it + poetical? Is it the "Canal Grande," or the Rialto which arches + it, the churches which tower over it, the palaces which line, and + the gondolas which glide over the waters, that render this city + more poetical than Rome itself? Mr. Bowles will say, perhaps, + that the <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg361" id= + "pg361">361</a></span> Rialto is but marble, the palaces and + churches only stone, and the gondolas a "coarse" black cloth, + thrown over some planks of carved wood, with a shining bit of + fantastically formed iron at the prow, "<i>without</i>" the + water. And I tell him that without these, the water would be + nothing but a clay-coloured ditch; and whoever says the contrary, + deserves to be at the bottom of that, where Pope's heroes are + embraced by the mud nymphs. There would be nothing to make the + canal of Venice more poetical than that of Paddington, were it + not for the artificial adjuncts above mentioned; although it is a + perfectly natural canal, formed by the sea, and the innumerable + islands which constitute the site of this extraordinary city. + </p> + <p> + The very Cloaca of Tarquin at Rome are as poetical as Richmond + Hill; many will think more so: take away Rome, and leave the + Tibur and the seven hills, in the nature of Evander's time. Let + Mr. Bowles, or Mr. Wordsworth, or Mr. Southey, or any of the + other "naturals," make a poem upon them, and then see which is + most poetical, their production, or the commonest guide-book, + which tells you the road from St. Peter's to the Coliseum, and + informs you what you will see by the way. The ground interests in + Virgil, because it <i>will</i> be <i>Rome</i>, and not because it + is Evander's rural domain. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Bowles then proceeds to press Homer into his service, in + answer to a remark of Mr. Campbell's, that "Homer was a great + describer of works of art." Mr. Bowles contends, that all his + great power, even in this, depends upon their connection with + nature. The "shield of Achilles derives its poetical interest + from the subjects described on it." And from what does the + <i>spear</i> of Achilles derive its interest? and the helmet and + the mail worn by Patroclus, and the celestial armour, and the + very brazen greaves of the well-booted Greeks? Is it solely from + the legs, and the back, and the breast, and the human body, which + they enclose? In that case, it would have been more poetical to + have made them fight <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg362" id= + "pg362">362</a></span> naked; and Gulley and Gregson, as being + nearer to a state of nature, are more poetical boxing in a pair + of drawers than Hector and Achilles in radiant armour, and with + heroic weapons. + </p> + <p> + Instead of the clash of helmets, and the rushing of chariots, and + the whizzing of spears, and the glancing of swords, and the + cleaving of shields, and the piercing of breast-plates, why not + represent the Greeks and Trojans like two savage tribes, tugging + and tearing, and kicking and biting, and gnashing, foaming, + grinning, and gouging, in all the poetry of martial nature, + unencumbered with gross, prosaic, artificial arms; an equal + superfluity to the natural warrior, and his natural poet. Is + there any thing unpoetical in Ulysses striking the horses of + Rhesus with <i>his bow</i> (having forgotten his thong), or would + Mr. Bowles have had him kick them with his foot, or smack them + with his hand, as being more unsophisticated? + </p> + <p> + In Gray's Elegy, is there an image more striking than his + "shapeless sculpture?" Of sculpture in general, it may be + observed, that it is more poetical than nature itself, inasmuch + as it represents and bodies forth that ideal beauty and sublimity + which is never to be found in actual nature. This at least is the + general opinion. But, always excepting the Venus di Medicis, I + differ from that opinion, at least as far as regards female + beauty; for the head of Lady Charlemont (when I first saw her + nine years ago) seemed to possess all that sculpture could + require for its ideal. I recollect seeing something of the same + kind in the head of an Albanian girl, who was actually employed + in mending a road in the mountains, and in some Greek, and one or + two Italian, faces. But of <i>sublimity</i>, I have never seen + any thing in human nature at all to approach the expression of + sculpture, either in the Apollo, the Moses, or other of the + sterner works of ancient or modern art. + </p> + <p> + Let us examine a little further this "babble of green fields" and + of bare nature in general as superior <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg363" id="pg363">363</a></span> to artificial + imagery, for the poetical purposes of the fine arts. In landscape + painting, the great artist does not give you a literal copy of a + country, but he invents and composes one. Nature, in her actual + aspect, does not furnish him with such existing scenes as he + requires. Even where he presents you with some famous city, or + celebrated scene from mountain or other nature, it must be taken + from some particular point of view, and with such light, and + shade, and distance, &c. as serve not only to heighten its + beauties, but to shadow its deformities. The poetry of nature + alone, <i>exactly</i> as she appears, is not sufficient to bear + him out. The very sky of his painting is not the <i>portrait</i> + of the sky of nature; it is a composition of different + <i>skies</i>, observed at different times, and not the whole + copied from any <i>particular</i> day. And why? Because nature is + not lavish of her beauties; they are widely scattered, and + occasionally displayed, to be selected with care, and gathered + with difficulty. + </p> + <p> + Of sculpture I have just spoken. It is the great scope of the + sculptor to heighten nature into heroic beauty, <i>i.e.</i> in + plain English, to surpass his model. When Canova forms a statue, + he takes a limb from one, a hand from another, a feature from a + third, and a shape, it may be, from a fourth, probably at the + same time improving upon all, as the Greek of old did in + embodying his Venus. + </p> + <p> + Ask a portrait painter to describe his agonies in accommodating + the faces with which nature and his sitters have crowded his + painting-room to the principles of his art: with the exception of + perhaps ten faces in as many millions, there is not one which he + can venture to give without shading much and adding more. Nature, + exactly, simply, barely nature, will make no great artist of any + kind, and least of all a poet—the most artificial, perhaps, + of all artists in his very essence. With regard to natural + imagery, the poets are obliged to take some of their best + illustrations from <i>art</i>. You say that a <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg364" id="pg364">364</a></span> "fountain is + as clear or clearer than <i>glass</i>" to express its + beauty:— + </p> + <div class="poem"> + <p> + "O fons Bandusiæ, splendidior vitro!" + </p> + </div> + <p> + In the speech of Mark Antony, the body of Cæsar is displayed, but + so also is his <i>mantle</i>:— + </p> + <div class="poem"> + <p> + "You all do know this <i>mantle</i>," &c. + </p> + </div> + <hr /> + <div class="poem"> + <p> + "Look! in this place ran Cassius' <i>dagger</i> through." + </p> + </div> + <p> + If the poet had said that Cassius had run his <i>fist</i> through + the rent of the mantle, it would have had more of Mr. Bowles's + "nature" to help it; but the artificial <i>dagger</i> is more + poetical than any natural <i>hand</i> without it. In the sublime + of sacred poetry, "Who is this that cometh from Edom? with + <i>dyed garments</i> from Bozrah?" Would "the comer" be poetical + without his "<i>dyed garments?</i>" which strike and startle the + spectator, and identify the approaching object. + </p> + <p> + The mother of Sisera is represented listening for the "<i>wheels + of his chariot</i>." Solomon, in his Song, compares the nose of + his beloved to "a tower," which to us appears an eastern + exaggeration. If he had said, that her stature was like that of a + "tower's," it would have been as poetical as if he had compared + her to a tree. + </p> + <div class="poem"> + <p> + "The virtuous Marcia <i>towers</i> above her sex," + </p> + </div> + <p> + is an instance of an artificial image to express a <i>moral</i> + superiority. But Solomon, it is probable, did not compare his + beloved's nose to a "tower" on account of its length, but of its + symmetry; and making allowance for eastern hyperbole, and the + difficulty of finding a discreet image for a female nose in + nature, it is perhaps as good a figure as any other. + </p> + <p> + Art is <i>not</i> inferior to nature for poetical purposes. What + makes a regiment of soldiers a more noble object of view than the + same mass of mob? Their arms, their dresses, their banners, and + the <i>art</i> and artificial symmetry <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg365" id="pg365">365</a></span> of their + position and movements. A Highlander's plaid, a Mussulman's + turban, and a Roman toga, are more poetical than the tattooed or + untattooed buttocks of a New Sandwich savage, although they were + described by William Wordsworth himself like the "idiot in his + glory." + </p> + <p> + I have seen as many mountains as most men, and more fleets than + the generality of landsmen; and, to my mind, a large convoy with + a few sail of the line to conduct them is as noble and as + poetical a prospect as all that inanimate nature can produce. I + prefer the "mast of some great ammiral," with all its tackle, to + the Scotch fir or the alpine tannen; and think that <i>more</i> + poetry <i>has been</i> made out of it. In what does the infinite + superiority of "Falconer's Shipwreck" over all other shipwrecks + consist? In his admirable application of the terms of his art; in + a poet-sailor's description of the sailor's fate. These <i>very + terms</i>, by his application, make the strength and reality of + his poem. Why? because he was a poet, and in the hands of a poet, + <i>art</i> will not be found less ornamental than nature. It is + precisely in general nature, and in stepping out of his element, + that Falconer fails; where he digresses to speak of ancient + Greece, and "such branches of learning." + </p> + <p> + In Dyer's Grongar Hill, upon which his fame rests, the very + appearance of nature herself is moralised into an artificial + image: + </p> + <div class="poem"> + <p> + "Thus is nature's <i>vesture</i> wrought, + </p> + <p> + To instruct our wandering thought; + </p> + <p> + Thus she <i>dresses green and gay</i>, + </p> + <p> + To disperse our cares away." + </p> + </div> + <p> + And here also we have the telescope; the misuse of which, from + Milton, has rendered Mr. Bowles so triumphant over Mr. + Campbell:— + </p> + <div class="poem"> + <p> + "So we mistake the future's face, + </p> + <p> + Eyed through Hope's deluding <i>glass</i>." + </p> + </div> + <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="pg366" id= + "pg366">366</a></span> + And here a word en passant to Mr. Campbell:— + </p> + <div class="poem"> + <p> + "As yon summits, soft and fair + </p> + <p> + Clad in colours of the air, + </p> + <p> + Which to those who journey near + </p> + <p> + Barren, brown, and rough appear, + </p> + <p> + Still we tread the same coarse way— + </p> + <p> + The present's still a cloudy day." + </p> + </div> + <p> + Is not this the original of the far-famed— + </p> + <div class="poem"> + <p> + "'Tis distance lends enchantment to the view, + </p> + <p> + And robes the mountain in its azure hue?" + </p> + </div> + <p> + To return once more to the sea. Let any one look on the long wall + of Malamocco, which curbs the Adriatic, and pronounce between the + sea and its master. Surely that Roman work (I mean <i>Roman</i> + in conception and performance), which says to the ocean, "Thus + far shalt thou come, and no further," and is obeyed, is not less + sublime and poetical than the angry waves which vainly break + beneath it. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Bowles makes the chief part of a ship's poesy depend upon the + "<i>wind:</i>" then why is a ship under sail more poetical than a + hog in a high wind? The hog is all nature, the ship is all art, + "coarse canvass," "blue bunting," and "tall poles;" both are + violently acted upon by the wind, tossed here and there, to and + fro, and yet nothing but excess of hunger could make me look upon + the pig as the more poetical of the two, and then only in the + shape of a griskin. + </p> + <p> + Will Mr. Bowles tell us that the poetry of an aqueduct consist in + the <i>water</i> which it conveys? Let him look on that of + Justinian, on those of Rome, Constantinople, Lisbon, and Elvas, + or even at the remains of that in Attica. + </p> + <p> + We are asked, "What makes the venerable towers of Westminster + Abbey more poetical, as objects, than the tower for the + manufactory of patent shot, surrounded by the same scenery?" I + will answer—the <i>architecture</i>. Turn Westminster + Abbey, or Saint Paul's <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg367" id= + "pg367">367</a></span> into a powder magazine, their poetry, as + objects, remains the same; the Parthenon was actually converted + into one by the Turks, during Morosini's Venetian siege, and part + of it destroyed in consequence. Cromwell's dragoons stalled their + steeds in Worcester cathedral; was it less poetical as an object + than before? Ask a foreigner on his approach to London, what + strikes him as the most poetical of the towers before him: he + will point out Saint Paul's and Westminster Abbey, without, + perhaps, knowing the names or associations of either, and pass + over the "tower for patent shot,"—not that, for any thing + he knows to the contrary, it might not be the mausoleum of a + monarch, or a Waterloo column, or a Trafalgar monument, but + because its architecture is obviously inferior. + </p> + <p> + To the question, "Whether the description of a game of cards be + as poetical, supposing the execution of the artists equal, as a + description of a walk in a forest?" it may be answered, that the + <i>materials</i> are certainly not equal; but that "the + <i>artist</i>," who has rendered the "game of cards poetical," is + <i>by far the greater</i> of the two. But all this "ordering" of + poets is purely arbitrary on the part of Mr. Bowles. There may or + may not be, in fact, different "orders" of poetry, but the poet + is always ranked according to his execution, and not according to + his branch of the art. + </p> + <p> + Tragedy is one of the highest presumed orders. Hughes has written + a tragedy, and a very successful one; Fenton another; and Pope + none. Did any man, however,—will even Mr. Bowles + himself,—rank Hughes and Fenton as poets above <i>Pope</i>? + Was even Addison (the author of Cato), or Rowe (one of the higher + order of dramatists as far as success goes), or Young, or even + Otway and Southerne, ever raised for a moment to the same rank + with Pope in the estimation of the reader or the critic, before + his death or since? If Mr. Bowles will contend for + classifications of this kind, let him recollect that descriptive + poetry has been <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg368" id= + "pg368">368</a></span> ranked as among the lowest branches of the + art, and description as a mere ornament, but which should never + form the "subject" of a poem. The Italians, with the most + poetical language, and the most fastidious taste in Europe, + possess now five <i>great</i> poets, they say, Dante, Petrarch, + Ariosto, Tasso, and, lastly, Alfieri<span class= + "fnref">[1]</span>; and whom do they esteem one of the highest of + these, and some of them the very highest? Petrarch the + <i>sonneteer</i>: it is true that some of his Canzoni are <i>not + less</i> esteemed, but <i>not</i> more; who ever dreams of his + Latin Africa? + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: Of these there is one ranked with the others for + his SONNETS, and <i>two</i> for compositions which belong to + <i>no class</i> at all? Where is Dante? His poem is not an + epic; then what is it? He himself calls it a "divine comedy;" + and why? This is more than all his thousand commentators have + been able to explain. Ariosto's is not an <i>epic</i> poem; and + if poets are to be <i>classed</i> according to the <i>genus</i> + of their poetry, where is he to be placed? Of these five, Tasso + and Alfieri only come within Aristotle's arrangement, and Mr. + Bowles's class-book. But the whole position is false. Poets are + classed by the power of their performance, and not according to + its rank in a gradus. In the contrary case, the forgotten epic + poets of all countries would rank above Petrarch, Dante, + Ariosto, Burns, Gray, Dryden, and the highest names of various + countries. Mr. Bowles's title of "<i>invariable</i> principles + of poetry," is, perhaps, the most arrogant ever prefixed to a + volume. So far are the principles of poetry from being + "<i>invariable</i>," that they never were nor ever will be + settled. These "principles" mean nothing more than the + predilections of a particular age; and every age has its own, + and a different from its predecessor. It is now Homer, and now + Virgil; once Dryden, and since Walter Scott; now Corneille, and + now Racine; now Crebillon, now Voltaire. The Homerists and + Virgilians in France disputed for half a century. Not fifty + years ago the Italians neglected Dante—Bettinelli + reproved Monti for reading "that barbarian;" at present they + adore him. Shakspeare and Milton have had their rise, and they + will have their decline. Already they have more than once + fluctuated, as must be the case with all the dramatists and + poets of a living language. This does not depend upon their + merits, but upon the ordinary vicissitudes of human opinions. + Schlegel and Madame de Stael have endeavoured also to reduce + poetry to <i>two</i> systems, classical and romantic. The + effect is only beginning.] + </p> + </div> + <p><span class="pagenum"><a name="pg369" id= + "pg369">369</a></span> + Were Petrarch to be ranked according to the "order" of his + compositions, where would the best of sonnets place him? with + Dante and the others? no; but, as I have before said, the poet + who <i>executes</i> best, is the highest, whatever his + department, and will ever be so rated in the world's esteem. + </p> + <p> + Had Gray written nothing but his Elegy, high as he stands, I am + not sure that he would not stand higher; it is the corner-stone + of his glory: without it, his odes would be insufficient for his + fame. The depreciation of Pope is partly founded upon a false + idea of the dignity of his order of poetry, to which he has + partly contributed by the ingenuous boast, + </p> + <div class="poem"> + <p> + "That not in fancy's maze he wandered long, + </p> + <p> + But <i>stoop'd</i> to truth, and moralised his song." + </p> + </div> + <p> + He should have written "rose to truth." In my mind, the highest + of all poetry is ethical poetry, as the highest of all earthly + objects must be moral truth. Religion does not make a part of my + subject; it is something beyond human powers, and has failed in + all human hands except Milton's and Dante's, and even Dante's + powers are involved in his delineation of human passions, though + in supernatural circumstances. What made Socrates the greatest of + men? His moral truth—his ethics. What proved Jesus Christ + the Son of God hardly less than his miracles? His moral precepts. + And if ethics have made a philosopher the first of men, and have + not been disdained as an adjunct to his Gospel by the Deity + himself, are we to be told that ethical poetry, or didactic + poetry, or by whatever name you term it, whose object is to make + men better and wiser, is not the <i>very first order</i> of + poetry; and are we to be told this too by one of the priesthood? + It requires more mind, more wisdom, more power, than all the + "forests" that ever were "walked" for their "description," and + all the epics that ever were founded upon fields of battle. The + Georgics are indisputably, and, I believe, <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg370" id="pg370">370</a></span> + <i>undisputedly</i> even a finer poem than the Æneid. Virgil knew + this; he did not order <i>them</i> to be burnt. + </p> + <div class="poem"> + <p> + "The proper study of mankind is man." + </p> + </div> + <p> + It is the fashion of the day to lay great stress upon what they + call "imagination" and "invention," the two commonest of + qualities: an Irish peasant with a little whiskey in his head + will imagine and invent more than would furnish forth a modern + poem. If Lucretius had not been spoiled by the Epicurean system, + we should have had a far superior poem to any now in existence. + As mere poetry, it is the first of Latin poems. What then has + ruined it? His ethics. Pope has not this defect; his moral is as + pure as his poetry is glorious. + </p> + <p> + In speaking of artificial objects, I have omitted to touch upon + one which I will now mention. Cannon may be presumed to be as + highly poetical as art can make her objects. Mr. Bowles will, + perhaps, tell me that this is because they resemble that grand + natural article of sound in heaven, and simile upon + earth—thunder. I shall be told triumphantly, that Milton + made sad work with his artillery, when he armed his devils + therewithal. He did so; and this artificial object must have had + much of the sublime to attract his attention for such a conflict. + He <i>has</i> made an absurd use of it; but the absurdity + consists not in using <i>cannon</i> against the angels of God, + but any <i>material</i> weapon. The thunder of the clouds would + have been as ridiculous and vain in the hands of the devils, as + the "villanous saltpetre:" the angels were as impervious to the + one as to the other. The thunderbolts become sublime in the hands + of the Almighty not as such, but because <i>he</i> deigns to use + them as a means of repelling the rebel spirits; but no one can + attribute their defeat to this grand piece of natural + electricity: the Almighty willed, and they fell; his word would + have been enough; and Milton is as absurd, (and, in fact, + <i>blasphemous</i>,) in putting material lightnings into the + hands of the Godhead, as in giving him hands at all. <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg371" id="pg371">371</a></span> + </p> + <p> + The artillery of the demons was but the first step of his + mistake, the thunder the next, and it is a step lower. It would + have been fit for Jove, but not for Jehovah. The subject + altogether was essentially unpoetical; he has made more of it + than another could, but it is beyond him and all men. + </p> + <p> + In a portion of his reply, Mr. Bowles asserts that Pope "envied + Phillips," because he quizzed his pastorals in the Guardian, in + that most admirable model of irony, his paper on the subject. If + there was any thing enviable about Phillips, it could hardly be + his pastorals. They were despicable, and Pope expressed his + contempt. If Mr. Fitzgerald published a volume of sonnets, or a + "Spirit of Discovery," or a "Missionary," and Mr. Bowles wrote in + any periodical journal an ironical paper upon them, would this be + "envy?" The authors of the "Rejected Addresses" have ridiculed + the sixteen or twenty "first living poets" of the day, but do + they "envy" them? "Envy" writhes, it don't laugh. The authors of + the Rejected Addresses may despise some, but they can hardly + "envy" any of the persons whom they have parodied; and Pope could + have no more envied Phillips than he did Welsted, or Theobald, or + Smedley, or any other given hero of the Dunciad. He could not + have envied him, even had he himself <i>not</i> been the greatest + poet of his age. Did Mr. Ings "<i>envy</i>" Mr. Phillips when he + asked him, "How came your Pyrrhus to drive oxen and say, I am + <i>goaded</i> on by love?" This question silenced poor Phillips; + but it no more proceeded from "envy" than did Pope's ridicule. + Did he envy Swift? Did he envy Bolingbroke? Did he envy Gay the + unparalleled success of his "Beggar's Opera?" We may be answered + that these were his friends—true: but does + <i>friendship</i> prevent <i>envy</i>? Study the first woman you + meet with, or the first scribbler, let Mr. Bowles himself (whom I + acquit fully of such an odious quality) study some of his own + poetical intimates: the most envious man I ever heard of is a + poet, and a high <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg372" id= + "pg372">372</a></span> one; besides, it is an <i>universal</i> + passion. Goldsmith envied not only the puppets for their dancing, + and broke his shins in the attempt at rivalry, but was seriously + angry because two pretty women received more attention than he + did. <i>This is envy;</i> but where does Pope show a sign of the + passion? In that case Dryden envied the hero of his Mac Flecknoe. + Mr. Bowles compares, when and where he can, Pope with + Cowper—(the same Cowper whom in his edition of Pope he + laughs at for his attachment to an old woman, Mrs. Unwin; search + and you will find it; I remember the passage, though not the + page;) in particular he requotes Cowper's Dutch delineation of a + wood, drawn up, like a seedsman's catalogue<span class= + "fnref">[1]</span>, with an affected imitation of Milton's style, + as <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg373" id= + "pg373">373</a></span> burlesque as the "Splendid Shilling." + These two writers, for Cowper is no poet, come into comparison in + one great work, the translation of Homer. Now, with all the + great, and manifest, and manifold, and reproved, and + acknowledged, and uncontroverted faults of Pope's translation, + and all the scholarship, and pains, and time, and trouble, and + blank verse of the other, who can ever read Cowper? and who will + ever lay down Pope, unless for the original? Pope's was "not + Homer, it was Spondanus;" but Cowper's is not Homer either, it is + not even Cowper. As a child I first read Pope's Homer with a + rapture which no subsequent work could ever afford, and children + are not the worst judges of their own language. As a boy I read + Homer in the original, as we have all done, some of us by force, + and a few by favour; under which description I come is nothing to + the purpose, it is enough that I read him. As a man I have tried + to read Cowper's version, and I found it impossible. Has any + human reader ever succeeded? + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: I will submit to Mr. Bowles's own judgment a + passage from another poem of Cowper's, to be compared with the + same writer's Sylvan Sampler. In the lines to Mary,— + </p> + <div class="poem"> + <p> + "Thy <i>needles</i>, once a shining store, + </p> + <p> + For my sake restless heretofore, + </p> + <p> + Now rust disused, and shine no more, + </p> + <p class="i14"> + My Mary," + </p> + </div> + <p> + contain a simple, household, "<i>indoor</i>," artificial, and + ordinary image; I refer Mr. Bowles to the stanza, and ask if + these three lines about "<i>needles</i>" are not worth all the + boasted twaddling about trees, so triumphantly re-quoted? and + yet, in <i>fact</i>, what do they convey? A homely collection + of images and ideas, associated with the darning of stockings, + and the hemming of shirts, and the mending of breeches; but + will any one deny that they are eminently poetical and pathetic + as addressed by Cowper to his nurse? The trash of trees reminds + me of a saying of Sheridan's. Soon after the "Rejected Address" + scene in 1812, I met Sheridan. In the course of dinner, he + said, "Lord Byron, did you know that, amongst the writers of + addresses, was Whitbread himself?" I answered by an enquiry of + what sort of an address he had made. "Of that," replied + Sheridan, "I remember little, except that there was a + <i>phoenix</i> in it."—"A phoenix!! Well, how did he + describe it?"—"<i>Like a poulterer</i>," answered + Sheridan: "it was green, and yellow, and red, and blue: he did + not let us off for a single feather." And just such as this + poulterer's account of a phoenix is Cowper's stick-picker's + detail of a wood, with all its petty minutiæ of this, that, and + the other.] + </p> + </div> + <p> + And now that we have heard the Catholic repreached <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg374" id="pg374">374</a></span> with envy, + duplicity, licentiousness, avarice—what was the Calvinist? + He attempted the most atrocious of crimes in the Christian code, + viz. suicide—and why? because he was to be examined whether + he was fit for an office which he seems to wish to have made a + sinecure. His connection with Mrs. Unwin was pure enough, for the + old lady was devout, and he was deranged; but why then is the + infirm and then elderly Pope to be reproved for his connection + with Martha Blount: Cowper was the almoner of Mrs. Throgmorton; + but Pope's charities were his own, and they were noble and + extensive, far beyond his fortune's warrant. Pope was the + tolerant yet steady adherent of the most bigoted of sects; and + Cowper the most bigoted and despondent sectary that ever + anticipated damnation to himself or others. Is this harsh? I know + it is, and I do not assert it as my opinion of Cowper + <i>personally</i>, but to <i>show what might</i> be said, with + just as great an appearance of truth and candour, as all the + odium which has been accumulated upon Pope in similar + speculations. Cowper was a good man, and lived at a fortunate + time for his works. + </p> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote: One more poetical instance of the power of art, and + even its <i>superiority</i> over nature, in poetry; and I have + done:—the bust of <i>Antinous</i>! Is there any thing in + nature like this marble, excepting the Venus? Can there be more + <i>poetry</i> gathered into existence than in that wonderful + creation of perfect beauty? But the poetry of this bust is in + no respect derived from nature, nor from any association of + moral exaltedness; for what is there in common with moral + nature, and the male minion of Adrian? The very execution is + <i>not natural</i>, but <i>super</i>-natural, or rather + <i>super-artificial,</i> for nature has never done so much. + </p> + <p> + Away, then, with this cant about nature, and "invariable + principles of poetry!" A great artist will make a block of + stone as sublime as a mountain, and a good poet can imbue a + pack of cards with more poetry than inhabits the forests of + America. It is the business and the proof of a poet to give the + lie to the proverb, and sometimes to "<i>make a silken purse + out of a sow's ear</i>;" and to conclude with another homely + proverb, "a good workman will not find fault with his tools."] + </p> + </div> + <p> + Mr. Bowles, apparently not relying entirely upon his own + arguments, has, in person or by proxy, brought forward the names + of Southey and Moore. Mr. Southey "agrees entirely with Mr. + Bowles in his <i>invariable</i> principles of poetry." The least + that Mr. Bowles can do in return is to approve the "invariable + principles of Mr. Southey." I should have thought that the word + "<i>invariable</i>" might have stuck in Southey's throat, like + Macbeth's "Amen!" I am sure it did in mine, and I am not the + least consistent of the two, at least as a voter. Moore <i>(et + tu, Brute!</i>) also approves, and a Mr. J. Scott. There is a + letter also of two lines from a gentleman in asterisks, who, it + seems, is a poet of "the highest rank:"—who <i>can</i> this + be? not my friend, Sir Walter, surely. Campbell it can't be; + Rogers it won't be. <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg375" id= + "pg375">375</a></span> + </p> + <p> + "You have <i>hit the nail in</i> the head, and * * * * [Pope, I + presume] <i>on</i> the head also. + </p> + <p> + "I <i>remain</i> yours, affectionately, "(Five + <i>Asterisks</i>.)" + </p> + <p> + And in asterisks let him remain. Whoever this person may be, he + deserves, for such a judgment of Midas, that "the nail" which Mr. + Bowles has "hit <i>in</i> the head," should he driven through his + own ears; I am sure that they are long enough. + </p> + <p> + The attempt of the poetical populace of the present day to obtain + an ostracism against Pope is as easily accounted for as the + Athenian's shell against Aristides; they are tired of hearing him + always called "the Just." They are also fighting for life; for, + if he maintains his station, they will reach their own by + falling. They have raised a mosque by the side of a Grecian + temple of the purest architecture; and, more barbarous than the + barbarians from whose practice I have borrowed the figure, they + are not contented with their own grotesque edifice, unless they + destroy the prior, and purely beautiful fabric which preceded, + and which shames them and theirs for ever and ever. I shall be + told that amongst those I <i>have</i> been (or it may be, still + <i>am</i>) conspicuous—true, and I am ashamed of it. I + <i>have</i> been amongst the builders of this Babel, attended by + a confusion of tongues, but <i>never</i> amongst the envious + destroyers of the classic temple of our predecessor. I have loved + and honoured the fame and name of that illustrious and unrivalled + man, far more than my own paltry renown, and the trashy jingle of + the crowd of "Schools" and upstarts, who pretend to rival, or + even surpass him. Sooner than a single leaf should be torn from + his laurel, it were better that all which these men, and that I, + as one of their set, have ever written, should + </p> + <div class="poem"> + <p> + "Line trunks, clothe spice, or, fluttering in a row, + </p> + <p> + Befringe the rails of Bedlam, or Soho!" + </p> + </div> + <p> + There are those who will believe this, and those who <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg376" id="pg376">376</a></span> will not. + You, sir, know how far I am sincere, and whether my opinion, not + only in the short work intended for publication, and in private + letters which can never be published, has or has not been the + same. I look upon this as the declining age of English poetry; no + regard for others, no selfish feeling, can prevent me from seeing + this, and expressing the truth. There can be no worse sign for + the taste of the times than the depreciation of Pope. It would be + better to receive for proof Mr. Cobbett's rough but strong attack + upon Shakspeare and Milton, than to allow this smooth and + "candid" undermining of the reputation of the most <i>perfect</i> + of our poets, and the purest of our moralists. Of his power in + the <i>passions</i>, in description, in the mock heroic, I leave + others to descant. I take him on his strong ground as an + <i>ethical</i> poet: in the former, none excel; in the mock + heroic and the ethical, none equal him; and in my mind, the + latter is the highest of all poetry, because it does that in + <i>verse</i>, which the greatest of men have wished to accomplish + in prose. If the essence of poetry must be a <i>lie</i>, throw it + to the dogs, or banish it from your republic, as Plato would have + done. He who can reconcile poetry with truth and wisdom, is the + only true "<i>poet</i>" in its real sense, "the <i>maker</i>" + "the <i>creator</i>,"—why must this mean the "liar," the + "feigner," the "tale-teller?" A man may make and create better + things than these. + </p> + <p> + I shall not presume to say that Pope is as high a poet as + Shakspeare and Milton, though his enemy, Warton, places him + immediately under them.<span class="fnref">[1]</span> I would no + more <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg377" id= + "pg377">377</a></span> say this than I would assert in the mosque + (once Saint Sophia's), that Socrates was a greater man than + Mahomet. But if I say that he is very near them, it is no more + than has been asserted of Burns, who is supposed + </p> + <div class="poem"> + <p> + "To rival all but Shakspeare's name below." + </p> + </div> + <div class="footnote"> + <p> + [Footnote 1: If the opinions cited by Mr. Bowles, of Dr. + Johnson <i>against</i> Pope, are to be taken as decisive + authority, they will also hold good against Gray, Milton, + Swift, Thomson, and Dryden: in that case what becomes of Gray's + poetical, and Milton's moral character? even of Milton's + <i>poetical</i> character, or, indeed, of <i>English</i> poetry + in general? for Johnson strips many a leaf from every laurel. + Still Johnson's is the finest critical work extant, and can + never be read without instruction and delight.] + </p> + </div> + <p> + I say nothing against this opinion. But of what "<i>order</i>," + according to the poetical aristocracy, are Burns's poems? There + are his <i>opus magnum</i>, "Tam O'Shanter," a <i>tale</i>; the + Cotter's Saturday Night, a descriptive sketch; some others in the + same style: the rest are songs. So much for the <i>rank</i> of + his <i>productions</i>; the <i>rank</i> of <i>Burns</i> is the + very first of his art. Of Pope I have expressed my opinion + elsewhere, as also of the effect which the present attempts at + poetry have had upon our literature. If any great national or + natural convulsion could or should overwhelm your country in such + sort, as to sweep Great Britain from the kingdoms of the earth, + and leave only that, after all, the most living of human things, + a <i>dead language</i>, to be studied and read, and imitated by + the wise of future and far generations, upon foreign shores; if + your literature should become the learning of mankind, divested + of party cabals, temporary fashions, and national pride and + prejudice; an Englishman, anxious that the posterity of strangers + should know that there had been such a thing as a British Epic + and Tragedy, might wish for the preservation of Shakspeare and + Milton; but the surviving world would snatch Pope from the wreck, + and let the rest sink with the people. He is the moral poet of + all civilisation; and as such, let us hope that he will one day + be the national poet of mankind. He is the only poet that never + shocks; the only poet whose <i>faultlessness</i> has been made + his reproach. Cast your eye over his productions; consider their + extent, and contemplate their variety:—pastoral, passion, + mock heroic, translation, satire, ethics,—all excellent, + and often perfect. If his great charm be his <i>melody</i>, how + comes it that foreigners <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg378" + id="pg378">378</a></span> adore him even in their diluted + translations? But I have made this letter too long. Give my + compliments to Mr. Bowles. + </p> + <p class="quotsig"> + Yours ever, very truly, + <br /> + BYRON. + </p> + <p> + <i>To John Murray, Esq</i>. + </p> + <p> + <i>Post Scriptum</i>.—Long as this letter has grown, I find + it necessary to append a postscript; if possible, a short one. + Mr. Bowles denies that he has accused Pope of "a sordid + money-getting passion;" but, he adds, "if I had ever done so, I + should be glad to find any testimony that, might show he was + <i>not</i> so." This testimony he may find to his heart's content + in Spence and elsewhere. First, there is Martha Blount, who, Mr. + Bowles charitably says, "probably thought he did not save enough + for her, as legatee." Whatever she <i>thought</i> upon this + point, her words are in Pope's favour. Then there is Alderman + Barber; see Spence's Anecdotes. There is Pope's cold answer to + Halifax when he proposed a pension; his behaviour to Craggs and + to Addison upon like occasions, and his own two lines— + </p> + <div class="poem"> + <p> + "And, thanks to Homer, since I live and thrive, + </p> + <p> + Indebted to no prince or peer alive;" + </p> + </div> + <p> + written when princes would have been proud to pension, and peers + to promote him, and when the whole army of dunces were in array + against him, and would have been but too happy to deprive him of + this boast of independence. But there is something a little more + serious in Mr. Bowles's declaration, that he "<i>would</i> have + spoken" of his "noble generosity to the outcast Richard Savage," + and other instances of a compassionate and generous heart, + "<i>had they occurred to his recollection when he wrote</i>." + What! is it come to this? Does Mr. Bowles sit down to write a + minute and laboured life and edition of a great poet? Does he + anatomise his character, moral and poetical? Does he present us + with his faults and <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg379" id= + "pg379">379</a></span> with his foibles? Does he sneer at his + feelings, and doubt of his sincerity? Does he unfold his vanity + and duplicity? and then omit the good qualities which might, in + part, have "covered this multitude of sins?" and then plead that + "<i>they did not occur to his recollection</i>?" Is this the + frame of mind and of memory with which the illustrious dead are + to be approached? If Mr. Bowles, who must have had access to all + the means of refreshing his memory, did not recollect these + facts, he is unfit for his task; but if he <i>did</i> recollect + and omit them, I know not what he is fit for, but I know what + would be fit for him. Is the plea of "not recollecting" such + prominent facts to be admitted? Mr. Bowles has been at a public + school, and as I have been publicly educated also, I can + sympathise with his predilection. When we were in the third form + even, had we pleaded on the Monday morning, that we had not + brought up the Saturday's exercise, because "we had forgotten + it," what would have been the reply? And is an excuse, which + would not be pardoned to a schoolboy, to pass current in a matter + which so nearly concerns the fame of the first poet of his age, + if not of his country? If Mr. Bowles so readily forgets the + virtues of others, why complain so grievously that others have a + better memory for his own faults? They are but the faults of an + author; while the virtues he omitted from his catalogue are + essential to the justice due to a man. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Bowles appears, indeed, to be susceptible beyond the + privilege of authorship. There is a plaintive dedication to Mr. + Gifford, in which <i>he</i> is made responsible for all the + articles of the Quarterly. Mr. Southey, it seems, "the most able + and eloquent writer in that Review," approves of Mr. Bowles's + publication. Now it seems to me the more impartial, that + notwithstanding that "the great writer of the Quarterly" + entertains opinions opposite to the able article on Spence, + nevertheless that essay was permitted to appear. Is a review to + be devoted to the opinions of any <i>one</i> man? <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg380" id="pg380">380</a></span> + </p> + <p> + Must it not vary according to circumstances, and according to the + subjects to be criticised? I fear that writers must take the + sweets and bitters of the public journals as they occur, and an + author of so long a standing as Mr. Bowles might have become + accustomed to such incidents; he might be angry, but not + astonished. I have been reviewed in the Quarterly almost as often + as Mr. Bowles, and have had as pleasant things said, and some + <i>as unpleasant</i>, as could well be pronounced. In the review + of "The Fall of Jerusalem" it is stated, that I have devoted "my + powers, &c. to the worst parts of Manicheism;" which, being + interpreted, means that I worship the devil. Now, I have neither + written a reply, nor complained to Gifford. I believe that I + observed in a letter to you, that I thought "that the critic + might have praised Milman without finding it necessary to abuse + me;" but did I not add at the same time, or soon after, (à + propos, of the note in the book of Travels,) that I would not, if + it were even in my power, have a single line cancelled on my + account in that nor in any other publication? Of course, I + reserve to myself the privilege of response when necessary. Mr. + Bowles seems in a whimsical state about the author of the article + on Spence. You know very well that I am not in your confidence, + nor in that of the conductor of the journal. The moment I saw + that article, I was morally certain that I knew the author "by + his style." You will tell me that I do <i>not know</i> him: that + is all as it should be; keep the secret, so shall I, though no + one has ever intrusted it to me. He is not the person whom Mr. + Bowles denounces. Mr. Bowles's extreme sensibility reminds me of + a circumstance which occurred on board of a frigate in which I + was a passenger and guest of the captain's for a considerable + time. The surgeon on board, a very gentlemanly young man, and + remarkably able in his profession, wore a <i>wig</i>. Upon this + ornament he was extremely tenacious. As naval jests are sometimes + a little rough, his brother officers made occasional <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg381" id="pg381">381</a></span> allusions to + this delicate appendage to the doctor's person. One day a young + lieutenant, in the course of a facetious discussion, said, + "Suppose now, doctor, I should take off your + <i>hat</i>,"—"Sir," replied the doctor, "I shall talk no + longer with you; you grow <i>scurrilous</i>." He would not even + admit so near an approach as to the hat which protected it. In + like manner, if any body approaches Mr. Bowles's laurels, even in + his outside capacity of an <i>editor</i>, "they grow + <i>scurrilous</i>." You say that you are about to prepare an + edition of Pope; you cannot do better for your own credit as a + publisher, nor for the redemption of Pope from Mr. Bowles, and of + the public taste from rapid degeneracy. <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg382" id="pg382">382</a></span> + </p> + <hr /> + <h2> + OBSERVATIONS UPON "OBSERVATIONS" + <br /> + A SECOND LETTER TO JOHN MURRAY, ESQ. + <br /> + ON + <br /> + THE REV. W.L. BOWLES'S STRICTURES + <br /> + ON THE + <br /> + LIFE AND WRITINGS OF POPE. + </h2> + <hr /> + <h4> + <i>Now first published</i>. + </h4> + <hr /> + <p class="quotdate"> + Ravenna, March 25. 1821. + </p> + <p> + Dear Sir, + </p> + <p> + In the further "Observations" of Mr. Bowles, in rejoinder to the + charges brought against his edition of Pope, it is to be + regretted that he has lost his temper. Whatever the language of + his antagonists may have been, I fear that his replies have + afforded more pleasure to them than to the public. That Mr. + Bowles should not be pleased is natural, whether right or wrong; + but a temperate defence would have answered his purpose in the + former case—and, in the latter, no defence, however + violent, can tend to any thing but his discomfiture. I have read + over this third pamphlet, which you have been so obliging as to + send me, and shall venture a few observations, in addition to + those upon the previous controversy. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Bowles sets out with repeating his "<i>confirmed + conviction</i>," that "what he said of the moral part of Pope's + character was, generally speaking, true; and <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg383" id="pg383">383</a></span> that the + principles of <i>poetical</i> criticism which he has laid down + are <i>invariable</i> and <i>invulnerable</i>," &c.; and that + he is the <i>more</i> persuaded of this by the + "<i>exaggerations</i> of his opponents." This is all very well, + and highly natural and sincere. Nobody ever expected that either + Mr. Bowles, or any other author, would be convinced of human + fallibility in their own persons. But it is nothing to the + purpose—for it is not what Mr. Bowles thinks, but what is + to be thought of Pope, that is the question. It is what he has + asserted or insinuated against a name which is the patrimony of + posterity, that is to be tried; and Mr. Bowles, as a party, can + be no judge. The more <i>he</i> is persuaded, the better for + himself, if it give him any pleasure; but he can only persuade + others by the proofs brought out in his defence. + </p> + <p> + After these prefatory remarks of "conviction," &c. Mr. Bowles + proceeds to Mr. Gilchrist; whom he charges with "slang" and + "slander," besides a small subsidiary indictment of "abuse, + ignorance, malice," and so forth. Mr. Gilchrist has, indeed, + shown some anger; but it is an honest indignation, which rises up + in defence of the illustrious dead. It is a generous rage which + interposes between our ashes and their disturbers. There appears + also to have been some slight personal provocation. Mr. + Gilchrist, with a chivalrous disdain of the fury of an incensed + poet, put his name to a letter avowing the production of a former + essay in defence of Pope, and consequently of an attack upon Mr. + Bowles. Mr. Bowles appears to be angry with Mr. Gilchrist for + four reasons:—firstly, because he wrote an article in "The + London Magazine;" secondly, because he afterwards avowed it; + thirdly, because he was the author of a still more extended + article in "The Quarterly Review;" and, fourthly, because he was + NOT the author of the said Quarterly article, and had the + audacity to disown it—for no earthly reason but because he + had NOT written it. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Bowles declares, that "he will not enter into a <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg384" id="pg384">384</a></span> particular + examination of the pamphlet," which by a <i>misnomer</i> is + called "Gilchrist's Answer to Bowles," when it should have been + called "Gilchrist's Abuse of Bowles." On this error in the + baptism of Mr. Gilchrist's pamphlet, it may be observed, that an + answer may be abusive and yet no less an answer, though + indisputably a temperate one might be the better of the two: but + if <i>abuse</i> is to cancel all pretensions to reply, what + becomes of Mr. Bowles's answers to Mr. Gilchrist? + </p> + <p> + Mr. Bowles continues:—"But as Mr. Gilchrist derides my + <i>peculiar sensitiveness to criticism</i>, before I show how + <i>destitute of truth is this representation</i>, I will here + explicitly declare the only grounds," &c. &c. + &c.—Mr. Bowles's sensibility in denying his + "sensitiveness to criticism" proves, perhaps, too much. But if he + has been so charged, and truly—what then? There is no moral + turpitude in such acuteness of feeling: it has been, and may be, + combined with many good and great qualities. Is Mr. Bowles a + poet, or is he not? If he be, he must, from his very essence, be + sensitive to criticism; and even if he be not, he need not be + ashamed of the common repugnance to being attacked. All that is + to be wished is, that he had considered how disagreeable a thing + it is, before he assailed the greatest moral poet of any age, or + in any language. + </p> + <p> + Pope himself "sleeps well,"—nothing can touch him further; + but those who love the honour of their country, the perfection of + her literature, the glory of her language—are not to be + expected to permit an atom of his dust to be stirred in his tomb, + or a leaf to be stripped from the laurel which grows over it. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Bowles assigns several reasons why and when "an author is + justified in appealing to every <i>upright</i> and + <i>honourable</i> mind in the kingdom." If Mr. Bowles limits the + perusal of his defence to the "upright and honourable" only, I + greatly fear that it will not be extensively circulated. I should + rather hope that some <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg385" id= + "pg385">385</a></span> of the downright and dishonest will read + and be converted, or convicted. But the whole of his reasoning is + here superfluous—"<i>an author is justified in + appealing</i>," &c. when and why he pleases. Let him make out + a tolerable case, and few of his readers will quarrel with his + motives. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Bowles "will now plainly set before the literary public all + the circumstances which have led to <i>his name</i> and Mr. + Gilchrist's being brought together," &c. Courtesy requires, + in speaking of others and ourselves, that we should place the + name of the former first—and not "<i>Ego</i> et Rex meus." + Mr. Bowles should have written "Mr. Gilchrist's name and his." + </p> + <p> + This point he wishes "particularly to address to those <i>most + respectable characters</i>, who have the direction and management + of the periodical critical press." That the press may be, in some + instances, conducted by respectable characters is probable + enough; but if they are so, there is no occasion to tell them of + it; and if they are not, it is a base adulation. In either case, + it looks like a kind of flattery, by which those gentry are not + very likely to be softened; since it would be difficult to find + two passages in fifteen pages more at variance, than Mr. Bowles's + prose at the beginning of this pamphlet, and his verse at the end + of it. In page 4. he speaks of "those most respectable characters + who have the direction, &c. of the periodical press," and in + page 10. we find— + </p> + <div class="poem"> + <p> + "Ye <i>dark inquisitors</i>, a monk-like band, + </p> + <p> + Who o'er some shrinking victim-author stand, + </p> + <p> + A solemn, secret, and <i>vindictive brand</i>, + </p> + <p> + <i>Only</i> terrific in your cowl and hood." + </p> + </div> + <p> + And so on—to "bloody law" and "red scourges," with other + similar phrases, which may not be altogether agreeable to the + above-mentioned "most respectable characters." Mr. Bowles goes + on, "I concluded my observations in the last Pamphleteer with + feelings <i>not unkind</i> towards Mr. Gilchrist, or" [it should + be <i>nor</i>] <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg386" id= + "pg386">386</a></span> "to the author of the review of Spence, be + he whom he might."—"I was in hopes, <i>as I have always + been ready to admit any errors</i> I might have been led into, or + prejudice I might have entertained, that even Mr. Gilchrist might + be disposed to a more <i>amicable</i> mode of discussing what I + had advanced in regard to Pope's moral character." As Major + Sturgeon observes, "There never was a set of more <i>amicable</i> + officers—with the exception of a boxing-bout between + Captain Shears and the Colonel." + </p> + <p> + A page and a half—nay only a page before—Mr. Bowles + re-affirms his conviction, that "what he has said of Pope's moral + character is <i>(generally speaking) true,</i> and that his + "poetical principles are <i>invariable</i> and + <i>invulnerable</i>." He has also published three + pamphlets,—ay, four of the same tenour,—and yet, with + this declaration and these declamations staring him and his + adversaries in the face, he speaks of his "readiness to admit + errors or to abandon prejudices!!!" His use of the word + "amicable" reminds me of the Irish Institution (which I have + somewhere heard or read of) called the "<i>Friendly</i> Society," + where the president always carried pistols in his pocket, so that + when one amicable gentleman knocked down another, the difference + might be adjusted on the spot, at the harmonious distance of + twelve paces. + </p> + <p> + But Mr. Bowles "has since read a publication by him (Mr. + Gilchrist) containing such vulgar slander, affecting private life + and character," &c. &c.; and Mr. Gilchrist has also had + the advantage of reading a publication by Mr. Bowles sufficiently + imbued with personality; for one of the first and principal + topics of reproach is that he is a <i>grocer</i>, that he has a + "pipe in his mouth, ledger-book, green canisters, dingy shop-boy, + half a hogshead of brown treacle," &c. Nay, the same delicate + raillery is upon the very title-page. When controversy has once + commenced upon this footing, as Dr. Johnson said to Dr. Percy, + "Sir, there is an end of politeness—we are to be as rude as + we please—Sir, <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg387" id= + "pg387">387</a></span> you said that I was <i>short-sighted</i>." + As a man's profession is generally no more in his own power than + his person—both having been made out for him—it is + hard that he should be reproached with either, and still more + that an honest calling should be made a reproach. If there is any + thing more honourable to Mr. Gilchrist than another it is, that + being engaged in commerce he has had the taste, and found the + leisure, to become so able a proficient in the higher literature + of his own and other countries. Mr. Bowles, who will be proud to + own Glover, Chatterton, Burns, and Bloomfleld for his peers, + should hardly have quarrelled with Mr. Gilchrist for his critic. + Mr. Gilchrist's station, however, which might conduct him to the + highest civic honours, and to boundless wealth, has nothing to + require apology; but even if it had, such a reproach was not very + gracious on the part of a clergyman, nor graceful on that of a + gentleman. The allusion to "<i>Christian</i> criticism" is not + particularly happy, especially where Mr. Gilchrist is accused of + having "<i>set the first example of this mode in Europe</i>." + What <i>Pagan</i> criticism may have been we know but little; the + names of Zoilus and Aristarchus survive, and the works of + Aristotle, Longinus, and Quintilian: but of "Christian criticism" + we have already had some specimens in the works of Philelphus, + Poggius, Scaliger, Milton, Salmasius, the Cruscanti (versus + Tasso), the French Academy (against the Cid), and the antagonists + of Voltaire and of Pope—to say nothing of some articles in + most of the reviews, since their earliest institution in the + person of their respectable and still prolific parent, "The + Monthly." Why, then, is Mr. Gilchrist to be singled out "as + having set the first example?" A sole page of Milton or Salmasius + contains more abuse—rank, rancorous, <i>unleavened</i> + abuse—than all that can be raked forth from the whole works + of many recent critics. There are some, indeed, who still keep up + the good old custom; but fewer English than foreign. It is a pity + that <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg388" id= + "pg388">388</a></span> Mr. Bowles cannot witness some of the + Italian controversies, or become the subject of one. He would + then look upon Mr. Gilchrist as a panegyrist. + </p> + <p> + In the long sentence quoted from the article in "The London + Magazine," there is one coarse image, the justice of whose + application I shall not pretend to determine:—"The + pruriency with which his nose is laid to the ground" is an + expression which, whether founded or not, might have been + omitted. But the "anatomical minuteness" appears to me justified + even by Mr. Bowles's own subsequent quotation. To the + point:—"<i>Many facts</i> tend to prove the peculiar + susceptibility of his passions; nor can we implicitly believe + that the connexion between him and Martha Blount was of a nature + so pure and innocent as his panegyrist Ruffhead would have us + believe," &c.—"At <i>no time</i> could she have + regarded <i>Pope personally</i> with attachment," + &c.—"But the most extraordinary circumstance in regard + to his connexion with female society, was the strange mixture of + <i>indecent</i> and even <i>profane</i> levity which his conduct + and language often exhibited. The cause of this particularity may + be sought, perhaps, in his consciousness of physical defect, + which made him affect a character uncongenial, and a language + opposite to the truth."—If this is not "minute moral + anatomy," I should be glad to know what is! It is dissection in + all its branches. I shall, however, hazard a remark or two upon + this quotation. + </p> + <p> + To me it appears of no very great consequence whether Martha + Blount was or was not Pope's mistress, though I could have wished + him a better. She appears to have been a cold-hearted, + interested, ignorant, disagreeable woman, upon whom the + tenderness of Pope's heart in the desolation of his latter days + was cast away, not knowing whither to turn as he drew towards his + premature old age, childless and lonely,—like the needle + which, approaching within a certain distance of the pole, becomes + helpless and useless, and, ceasing to tremble, rusts. She seems + to have been so totally unworthy of <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg389" id="pg389">389</a></span> tenderness, + that it is an additional proof of the kindness of Pope's heart to + have been able to love such a being. But we must love something. + I agree with Mr. B. that <i>she</i> "could at no time have + regarded <i>Pope personally</i> with attachment," because she was + incapable of attachment; but I deny that Pope could not be + regarded with personal attachment by a worthier woman. It is not + probable, indeed, that a woman would have fallen in love with him + as he walked along the Mall, or in a box at the opera, nor from a + balcony, nor in a ball-room; but in society he seems to have been + as amiable as unassuming, and, with the greatest disadvantages of + figure, his head and face were remarkably handsome, especially + his eyes. He was adored by his friends—friends of the most + opposite dispositions, ages, and talents—by the old and + wayward Wycherley, by the cynical Swift, the rough Atterbury, the + gentle Spence, the stern attorney-bishop Warburton, the virtuous + Berkeley, and the "cankered Bolingbroke." Bolingbroke wept over + him like a child; and Spence's description of his last moments is + at least as edifying as the more ostentatious account of the + deathbed of Addison. The soldier Peterborough and the poet Gay, + the witty Congreve and the laughing Rowe, the eccentric Cromwell + and the steady Bathurst, were all his intimates. The man who + could conciliate so many men of the most opposite description, + not one of whom but was a remarkable or a celebrated character, + might well have pretended to all the attachment which a + reasonable man would desire of an amiable woman. + </p> + <p> + Pope, in fact, wherever he got it, appears to have understood the + sex well, Bolingbroke, "a judge of the subject," says Warton, + thought his "Epistle on the Characters of Women" his + "masterpiece." And even with respect to the grosser passion, + which takes occasionally the name of "<i>romantic</i>," + accordingly as the degree of sentiment elevates it above the + definition of love by Buffon, it may be remarked, that it does + not always <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg390" id= + "pg390">390</a></span> depend upon personal appearance, even in a + woman. Madame Cottin was a plain woman, and might have been + virtuous, it may be presumed, without much interruption. Virtuous + she was, and the consequences of this inveterate virtue were that + two different admirers (one an elderly gentleman) killed + themselves in despair (see Lady Morgan's "France"). I would not, + however, recommend this rigour to plain women in general, in the + hope of securing the glory of two suicides apiece. I believe that + there are few men who, in the course of their observations on + life, may not have perceived that it is not the greatest female + beauty who forms the longest and the strongest passions. + </p> + <p> + But, apropos of Pope.—Voltaire tells us that the Marechal + Luxembourg (who had precisely Pope's figure) was not only + somewhat too amatory for a great man, but fortunate in his + attachments. La Valière, the passion of Louis XIV., had an + unsightly defect. The Princess of Eboli, the mistress of Philip + II. of Spain, and Maugiron, the minion of Henry III. of France, + had each of them lost an eye; and the famous Latin epigram was + written upon them, which has, I believe, been either translated + or imitated by Goldsmith:— + </p> + <div class="poem"> + <p> + "Lumine Acon dextro, capta est Leonilla sinistro, + </p> + <p class="i2"> + Et potis est forma vincere uterque Deos; + </p> + <p> + Blande puer, lumen quod habes concede sorrori, + </p> + <p class="i2"> + Sic tu cæcus Amor, sic erit illa Venus." + </p> + </div> + <p> + Wilkes, with his ugliness, used to say that "he was but a quarter + of an hour behind the handsomest man in England;" and this vaunt + of his is said not to have been disproved by circumstances. + Swift, when neither young, nor handsome, nor rich, nor even + amiable, inspired the two most extraordinary passions upon + record, Vanessa's and Stella's. + </p> + <div class="poem"> + <p> + "Vanessa, aged scarce a score, + </p> + <p> + Sighs for a gown of <i>forty-four</i>." + </p> + </div> + <p> + He requited them bitterly; for he seems to have broken the heart + of the one, and worn out that of the <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg391" id="pg391">391</a></span> other; and he + had his reward, for he died a solitary idiot in the hands of + servants. + </p> + <p> + For my own part, I am of the opinion of Pausanias. that success + in love depends upon Fortune. "They particularly renounce + Celestial Venus, into whose temple, &c. &c. &c. I + remember, too, to have seen a building in Ægina in which there is + a statue of Fortune, holding a horn of Amalthea; and near her + there is a winged Love. The meaning of this is, that the success + of men in love affairs depends more on the assistance of Fortune + than the charms of beauty. I am persuaded, too, with Pindar (to + whose opinion I submit in other particulars), that Fortune is one + of the Fates, and that in a certain respect she is more powerful + than her sisters."—See Pausanias, Achaics, book vii. + chap.26. p.246. Taylor's "Translation." + </p> + <p> + Grimm has a remark of the same kind on the different destinies of + the younger Crebillon and Rousseau. The former writes a + licentious novel, and a young English girl of some fortune and + family (a Miss Strafford) runs away, and crosses the sea to marry + him; while Rousseau, the most tender and passionate of lovers, is + obliged to espouse his chambermaid. If I recollect rightly, this + remark was also repeated in the Edinburgh Review of Grimm's + correspondence, seven or eight years ago. + </p> + <p> + In regard "to the strange mixture of indecent, and sometimes + <i>profane</i> levity, which his conduct and language + <i>often</i> exhibited," and which so much shocks Mr. Bowles, I + object to the indefinite word "<i>often</i>;" and in extenuation + of the occasional occurrence of such language it is to be + recollected, that it was less the tone of <i>Pope</i>, than the + tone of the <i>time</i>. With the exception of the correspondence + of Pope and his friends, not many private letters of the period + have come down to us; but those, such as they are—a few + scattered scraps from Farquhar and others—are more indecent + and coarse than any thing in Pope's letters. The comedies of + Congreve, Vanbrugh, Farquhar, Cibber, &c., which <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg392" id="pg392">392</a></span> naturally + attempted to represent the manners and conversation of private + life, are decisive upon this point; as are also some of Steele's + papers, and even Addison's. We all know what the conversation of + Sir R. Walpole, for seventeen years the prime minister of the + country, was at his own table, and his excuse for his licentious + language, viz. "that every body understood <i>that</i>, but few + could talk rationally upon less common topics." The refinement of + latter days,—which is perhaps the consequence of vice, + which wishes to mask and soften itself, as much as of virtuous + civilisation,—had not yet made sufficient progress. Even + Johnson, in his "London," has two or three passages which cannot + be read aloud, and Addison's "Drummer" some indelicate allusions. + </p> + <p> + The expression of Mr. Bowles, "his consciousness of physical + defect," is not very clear. It may mean deformity or debility. If + it alludes to Pope's deformity, it has been attempted to be shown + that this was no insuperable objection to his being beloved. If + it alludes to debility, as a consequence of Pope's peculiar + conformation, I believe that it is a physical and known fact that + hump-backed persons are of strong and vigorous passions. Several + years ago, at Mr. Angelo's fencing rooms, when I was a pupil of + him and of Mr. Jackson, who had the use of his rooms in Albany on + the alternate days, I recollect a gentleman named + B—ll—gh—t, remarkable for his strength, and the + fineness of his figure. His skill was not inferior, for he could + stand up to the great Captain Barclay himself, with the muffles + on;—a task neither easy nor agreeable to a pugilistic + aspirant. As the by-standers were one day admiring his athletic + proportions, he remarked to us, that he had five brothers as tall + and strong as himself, and that their <i>father and mother were + both crooked, and of very small stature</i>;—I think he + said, neither of them five feet high. It would not be difficult + to adduce similar instances; but I abstain, because the subject + is <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg393" id= + "pg393">393</a></span> hardly refined enough for this immaculate + period, this moral millenium of expurgated editions in books, + manners, and royal trials of divorce. + </p> + <p> + This laudable delicacy—this crying-out elegance of the + day—reminds me of a little circumstance which occurred when + I was about eighteen years of age. There was then (and there may + be still) a famous French "entremetteuse," who assisted young + gentlemen in their youthful pastimes. We had been acquainted for + some time, when something occurred in her line of business more + than ordinary, and the refusal was offered to me (and doubtless + to many others), probably because I was in cash at the moment, + having taken up a decent sum from the Jews, and not having spent + much above half of it. The adventure on the tapis, it seems, + required some caution and circumspection. Whether my venerable + friend doubted my politeness I cannot tell; but she sent me a + letter couched in such English as a short residence of sixteen + years in England had enabled her to acquire. After several + precepts and instructions, the letter closed. But there was a + postscript. It contained these words:—"Remember, Milor, + that <i>delicaci ensure</i> everi succés." The <i>delicacy</i> of + the day is exactly, in all its circumstances, like that of this + respectable foreigner. "It ensures every <i>succès</i>," and is + not a whit more moral than, and not half so honourable as, the + coarser candour of our less polished ancestors. + </p> + <p> + To return to Mr. Bowles. "If what is here extracted can excite in + the mind (I will not say of any 'layman', of any 'Christian', + but) of any <i>human being</i>," &c. &c. Is not Mr. + Gilchrist a "human being?" Mr. Bowles asks "whether in + <i>attributing</i> an article," &c. &c, "to the critic, + he had <i>any reason</i> for distinguishing him with that + courtesy," &c. &c. But Mr. Bowles was wrong in + "attributing the article" to Mr. Gilchrist at all; and would not + have been right in calling him a dunce and a grocer, if he had + written it. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Bowles is here "peremptorily called upon to <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg394" id="pg394">394</a></span> speak of a + circumstance which gives him the greatest pain,—the mention + of a letter he received from the editor of 'The London + Magazine.'" Mr. Bowles seems to have embroiled himself on all + sides; whether by editing, or replying, or attributing, or + quoting,—it has been an awkward affair for him. + </p> + <p> + Poor Scott is now no more. In the exercise of his vocation, he + contrived at last to make himself the subject of a coroner's + inquest. But he died like a brave man, and he lived an able one. + I knew him personally, though slightly. Although several years my + senior, we had been schoolfellows together at the + "grammar-schule" (or, as the Aberdonians pronounce it, + "<i>squeel</i>") of New Aberdeen. He did not behave to me quite + handsomely in his capacity of editor a few years ago, but he was + under no obligation to behave otherwise. The moment was too + tempting for many friends and for all enemies. At a time when all + my relations (save one) fell from me like leaves from the tree in + autumn winds, and my few friends became still fewer,—when + the whole periodical press (I mean the daily and weekly, + <i>not</i> the <i>literary</i> press) was let loose against me in + every shape of reproach, with the two strange exceptions (from + their usual opposition) of "The Courier" and "The + Examiner,"—the paper of which Scott had the direction was + neither the last nor the least vituperative. Two years ago I met + him at Venice, when he was bowed in griefs by the loss of his + son, and had known, by experience, the bitterness of domestic + privation. He was then earnest with me to return to England; and + on my telling him, with a smile, that he was once of a different + opinion, he replied to me, 'that he and others had been greatly + misled; and that some pains, and rather extraordinary means, had + been taken to excite them.' Scott is no more, but there are more + than one living who were present at this dialogue. He was a man + of very considerable talents, and of great acquirements. He had + made his way, as a literary character, with high success, and + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg395" id="pg395">395</a></span> + in a few years. Poor fellow! I recollect his joy at some + appointment which he had obtained, or was to obtain, through Sir + James Mackintosh, and which prevented the further extension + (unless by a rapid run to Rome) of his travels in Italy. I little + thought to what it would conduct him. Peace be with + him!—and may all such other faults as are inevitable to + humanity be as readily forgiven him, as the little injury which + he had done to one who respected his talents, and regrets his + loss. + </p> + <p> + I pass over Mr. Bowles's page of explanation, upon the + correspondence between him and Mr. S——. It is of + little importance in regard to Pope, and contains merely a + re-contradiction of a contradiction of Mr. Gilchrist's. We now + come to a point where Mr. Gilchrist has, certainly, rather + exaggerated matters; and, of course, Mr. Bowles makes the most of + it. Capital letters, like Kean's name, "large upon the bills," + are made use of six or seven times to express his sense of the + outrage. The charge is, indeed, very boldly made; but, like + "Ranold of the Mist's" practical joke of putting the bread and + cheese into a dead man's mouth, is, as Dugald Dalgetty says, + "somewhat too wild and salvage, besides wasting the good + victuals." + </p> + <p> + Mr. Gilchrist charges Mr. Bowles with "suggesting" that Pope + "attempted" to commit "a rape" upon Lady M. Wortley Montague. + There are two reasons why this could not be true. The first is, + that like the chaste Letitia's prevention of the intended + ravishment by Fireblood (in Jonathan Wild), it might have been + impeded by a timely compliance. The second is, that however this + might be, Pope was probably the less robust of the two; and (if + the Lines on Sappho were really intended for this lady) the + asserted consequences of her acquiescence in his wishes would + have been a sufficient punishment. The passage which Mr. Bowles + quotes, however, insinuates nothing of the kind: it merely + charges her with encouragement, and him with wishing <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg396" id="pg396">396</a></span> to profit by + it,—a slight attempt at seduction, and no more. The phrase + is, "a step beyond decorum." Any physical violence is so + abhorrent to human nature, that it recoils in cold blood from the + very idea. But, the seduction of a woman's mind as well as person + is not, perhaps, the least heinous sin of the two in morality. + Dr. Johnson commends a gentleman who having seduced a girl who + said, "I am afraid we have done wrong," replied, "Yes, we + <i>have</i> done wrong,"—"for I would not <i>pervert</i> + her mind also." Othello would not "kill Desdemona's <i>soul</i>." + Mr. Bowles exculpates himself from Mr. Gilchrist's charge; but it + is by substituting another charge against Pope. "A step beyond + decorum," has a soft sound, but what does it express? In all + these cases, "ce n'est que le premier pas qui coute." Has not the + Scripture something upon "the lusting after a woman" being no + less criminal than the crime? "A step beyond decorum," in short, + any step beyond the instep, is a step from a precipice to the + lady who permits it. For the gentleman who makes it it is also + rather hazardous if he does not succeed, and still more so if he + does. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Bowles appeals to the "Christian reader!" upon this + "<i>Gilchristian</i> criticism." Is not this play upon such words + "a step beyond decorum" in a clergyman? But I admit the + temptation of a pun to be irresistible. + </p> + <p> + But "a hasty pamphlet was published, in which some personalities + respecting Mr. Gilchrist were suffered to appear." If Mr. Bowles + will write "hasty pamphlets," why is he so surprised on receiving + short answers? The grand grievance to which he perpetually + returns is a charge of "<i>hypochondriacism</i>," asserted or + insinuated in the Quarterly. I cannot conceive a man in perfect + health being much affected by such a charge, because his + complexion and conduct must amply refute it. But were it true, to + what does it amount?—to an impeachment of a liver + complaint. "I will tell it to the world," exclaimed the learned + Smelfungus.—"You had better," said I, "tell it to your + physician." There is nothing <span class="pagenum"><a name= + "pg397" id="pg397">397</a></span> dishonourable in such a + disorder, which is more peculiarly the malady of students. It has + been the complaint of the good, and the wise, and the witty, and + even of the gay. Regnard, the author of the last French comedy + after Molière, was atrabilious; and Molière himself, saturnine. + Dr. Johnson, Gray, and Burns, were all more or less affected by + it occasionally. It was the prelude to the more awful malady of + Collins, Cowper, Swift, and Smart; but it by no means follows + that a partial affliction of this disorder is to terminate like + theirs. But even were it so,— + </p> + <div class="poem"> + <p> + "Nor best, nor wisest, are exempt from thee; + </p> + <p> + Folly—Folly's only free." PENROSE. + </p> + </div> + <p> + If this be the criterion of exemption, Mr. Bowles's last two + pamphlets form a better certificate of sanity than a physician's. + Mendehlson and Bayle were at times so overcome with this + depression, as to be obliged to recur to seeing "puppet-shows, + and counting tiles upon the opposite houses," to divert + themselves. Dr. Johnson at times "would have given a limb to + recover his spirits." Mr. Bowles, who is (strange to say) fond of + quoting Pope, may perhaps answer,— + </p> + <div class="poem"> + <p> + "Go on, obliging creatures, let me see + </p> + <p> + All which disgrac'd my betters met in me." + </p> + </div> + <p> + But the charge, such as it is, neither disgraces them nor him. It + is easily disproved if false; and even if proved true, has + nothing in it to make a man so very indignant. Mr. Bowles himself + appears to be a little ashamed of his "hasty pamphlet;" for he + attempts to excuse it by the "great provocation;" that is to say, + by Mr. Bowles's supposing that Mr. Gilchrist was the writer of + the article in the Quarterly, which he was <i>not</i>. + </p> + <p> + "But, in extenuation, not only the <i>great</i> provocation + should be remembered, but it ought to be said, that orders were + sent to the London booksellers, that the most direct personal + passages should be <i>omitted entirely</i>," <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg398" id="pg398">398</a></span> &c. This + is what the proverb calls "breaking a head and giving a plaster;" + but, in this instance, the plaster was not spread in time, and + Mr. Gilchrist does not seem at present disposed to regard Mr. + Bowles's courtesies like the rust of the spear of Achilles, which + had such "skill in surgery." + </p> + <p> + But "Mr. Gilchrist has <i>no right</i> to object, as the reader + will see." I am a reader, a "gentle reader," and I see nothing of + the kind. Were I in Mr. Gilchrist's place, I should object + exceedingly to being abused; firstly, for what I <i>did</i> + write, and, secondly, for what I did <i>not</i> write; merely + because it is Mr. Bowles's will and pleasure to be as angry with + me for having written in the London Magazine, as for not having + written in the Quarterly Review. + </p> + <p> + "Mr. Gilchrist has had ample revenge; for he has, in his answer, + said so and so," &c. &c. There is no great revenge in all + this; and I presume that nobody either seeks or wishes it. What + revenge? Mr. Bowles calls names, and he is answered. But Mr. + Gilchrist and the Quarterly Reviewer are not poets, nor + pretenders to poetry; therefore they can have no envy nor malice + against Mr. Bowles: they have no acquaintance with Mr. Bowles, + and can have no personal pique; they do not cross his path of + life, nor he theirs. There is no political feud between them. + What, then, can be the motive of their discussion of his deserts + as an editor?—veneration for the genius of Pope, love for + his memory, and regard for the classic glory of their country. + Why would Mr. Bowles edite? Had he limited his honest endeavours + to poetry, very little would have been said upon the subject, and + nothing at all by his present antagonists. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Bowles calls the pamphlet a "mud-cart," and the writer a + "scavenger." Afterward he asks, "Shall he fling dirt and receive + <i>rose-water</i>?" This metaphor, by the way, is taken from + Marmontel's Memoirs; who, lamenting to Chamfort the shedding of + blood during the <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg399" id= + "pg399">399</a></span> French revolution, was answered, "Do you + think that revolutions are to be made with <i>rose-water</i>?" + </p> + <p> + For my own part, I presume that "rose-water" would be infinitely + more graceful in the hands of Mr. Bowles than the substance which + he has substituted for that delicate liquid. It would also more + confound his adversary, supposing him a "scavenger." I remember, + (and do you remember, reader, that it was in my earliest youth, + "Consule Planco,")—on the morning of the great battle, (the + second)—between Gulley and Gregson,—<i>Cribb</i>, who + was matched against Horton for the second fight, on the same + memorable day, awaking me (a lodger at the inn in the next room) + by a loud remonstrance to the waiter against the abomination of + his towels, which had been laid in <i>lavender</i>. Cribb was a + coal-heaver—and was much more discomfited by this + odoriferous effeminacy of fine linen, than by his adversary + Horton, whom, he "finished in style," though with some + reluctance; for I recollect that he said, "he disliked hurting + him, he looked so pretty,"—Horton being a very fine + fresh-coloured young man. + </p> + <p> + To return to "rose-water"—that is, to gentle means of + rebuke. Does Mr. Bowles know how to revenge himself upon a + hackney-coachman, when he has overcharged his fare? In case he + should not, I will tell him. It is of little use to call him "a + rascal, a scoundrel, a thief, an impostor, a blackguard, a + villain, a raggamuffin, a—what you please;" all that he is + used to—it is his mother-tongue, and probably his mother's. + But look him steadily and quietly in the face, and + say—"Upon my word, I think you are the <i>ugliest + fellow</i> I ever saw in my life," and he will instantly roll + forth the brazen thunders of the charioteer Salmoneus as + follows:—"<i>Hugly</i>! what the h—ll are <i>you</i>? + <i>You</i> a <i>gentleman</i>! Why ——!" So much + easier it is to <i>provoke</i>—and therefore to + vindicate—(for passion punishes him who <i>feels</i> it + more than those whom the passionate would excruciate)—by + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg400" id="pg400">400</a></span> a + few quiet words the aggressor, than by retorting violently. The + "coals of fire" of the Scripture are <i>benefits</i>;—but + they are not the less "coals of <i>fire</i>." + </p> + <p> + I pass over a page of quotation and reprobation—"Sin up to + my song"—"Oh let my little bark"—"Arcades + ambo"—"Writer in the Quarterly Review and + himself"—"In-door avocations, indeed"—"King of + Brentford"—"One nosegay"—"Perennial + nosegay"—"Oh Juvenes,"—and the like. + </p> + <p> + Page 12. produces "more reasons,"—(the task ought not to + have been difficult, for as yet there were none)—"to show + why Mr. Bowles attributed the critique in the Quarterly to + Octavius Gilchrist." All these "reasons" consist of + <i>surmises</i> of Mr. Bowles, upon the presumed character of his + opponent. "He did not suppose there could exist a man in the + kingdom so <i>impudent</i>, &c. &c. except Octavius + Gilchrist."—"He did not think there was a man in the + kingdom who would <i>pretend ignorance</i>, &c. &c. + except Octavius Gilchrist."—"He did not conceive that one + man in the kingdom would utter such stupid flippancy, &c. + &c. except Octavius Gilchrist."—"He did not think there + was one man in the kingdom who, &c. &c. could so utterly + show his ignorance, <i>combined with conceit</i>, &c. as + Octavius Gilchrist."—"He did not believe there was a man in + the kingdom so perfect in Mr. Gilchrist's 'old lunes,'" &c. + &c.—"He did not think the <i>mean mind</i> of any one + in the kingdom," &c. and so on; always beginning with "any + one in the kingdom," and ending with "Octavius Gilchrist," like + the word in a catch. I am not "in the kingdom," and have not been + much in the kingdom since I was one and twenty, (about five years + in the whole, since I was of age,) and have no desire to be in + the kingdom again, whilst I breathe, nor to sleep there + afterwards; and I regret nothing more than having ever been "in + the kingdom" at all. But though no longer a man "in the kingdom," + let me hope that when I have ceased to <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg401" id="pg401">401</a></span> exist, it may + be said, as was answered by the master of Clanronald's henchman, + his day after the battle of Sheriff-Muir, when he was found + watching his chief's body. He was asked, "who that was?" he + replied—"it was a man yesterday." And in this capacity, "in + or out of the kingdom," I must own that I participate in many of + the objections urged by Mr. Gilchrist. I participate in his love + of Pope, and in his not understanding, and occasionally finding + fault with, the last editor of our last truly great poet. + </p> + <p> + One of the reproaches against Mr. Gilchrist is, that he is (it is + sneeringly said) an F. S. <i>A</i>. If it will give Mr. Bowles + any pleasure, I am not an F. S. A. but a Fellow of the Royal + Society at his service, in case there should be any thing in that + association also which may point a paragraph. + </p> + <p> + "There are some other reasons," but "the author is now <i>not</i> + unknown." Mr. Bowles has so totally exhausted himself upon + Octavius Gilchrist, that he has not a word left for the real + quarterer of his edition, although now "deterré." + </p> + <p> + The following page refers to a mysterious charge of "duplicity, + in regard to the publication of Pope's letters." Till this charge + is made in proper form, we have nothing to do with it: Mr. + Gilchrist hints it—Mr. Bowles denies it; there it rests for + the present. Mr. Bowles professes his dislike to "Pope's + duplicity, <i>not</i> to Pope"—a distinction apparently + without a difference. However, I believe that I understand him. + We have a great dislike to Mr. Bowles's edition of Pope, but + <i>not</i> to Mr. Bowles; nevertheless, he takes up the subject + as warmly as if it was personal. With regard to the fact of + "Pope's duplicity," it remains to be proved—like Mr. + Bowles's benevolence towards his memory. + </p> + <p> + In page 14. we have a large assertion, that "the 'Eloisa' alone + is sufficient to convict him of <i>gross licentiousness</i>." + Thus, out it comes at last. Mr. Bowles <i>does</i> accuse Pope of + "<i>gross</i> licentiousness," and grounds <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg402" id="pg402">402</a></span> the charge + upon a poem. The <i>licentiousness</i> is a "grand peut-être," + according to the turn of the times being. The grossness I deny. + On the contrary, I do believe that such a subject never was, nor + ever could be, treated by any poet with so much delicacy, mingled + with, at the same time, such true and intense passion. Is the + "Atys" of Catullus <i>licentious</i>? No, nor even gross; and yet + Catullus is often a coarse writer. The subject is nearly the + same, except that Atys was the suicide of his manhood, and + Abelard the victim. + </p> + <p> + The "licentiousness" of the story was <i>not</i> Pope's,—it + was a fact. All that it had of gross, he has softened;—all + that it had of indelicate, he has purified;—all that it had + of passionate, he has beautified;—all that it had of holy, + he has hallowed. Mr. Campbell has admirably marked this in a few + words (I quote from memory), in drawing the distinction between + Pope and Dryden, and pointing out where Dryden was wanting "I + fear," says he, "that had the subject of 'Eloisa' fallen into his + (Dryden's) hands, that he would have given us but a <i>coarse</i> + draft of her passion." Never was the delicacy of Pope so much + shown as in this poem. With the facts and the letters of "Eloisa" + he has done what no other mind but that of the best and purest of + poets could have accomplished with such materials. Ovid, Sappho + (in the Ode called hers)—all that we have of ancient, all + that we have of modern poetry, sinks into nothing compared with + him in this production. + </p> + <p> + Let us hear no more of this trash about "licentiousness." Is not + "Anacreon" taught in our schools?—translated, praised, and + edited? Are not his Odes the amatory praises of a boy? Is not + Sappho's Ode on a girl? Is not this sublime and (according to + Longinus) fierce love for one of her own sex? And is not + Phillips's translation of it in the mouths of all your women? And + are the English schools or the English women the more corrupt for + all this? When you have thrown the ancients into the fire it will + be time to denounce the <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg403" id= + "pg403">403</a></span> moderns. "Licentiousness!"—there is + more real mischief and sapping licentiousness in a single French + prose novel, in a Moravian hymn, or a German comedy, than in all + the actual poetry that ever was penned, or poured forth, since + the rhapsodies of Orpheus. The sentimental anatomy of Rousseau + and Mad. de S. are far more formidable than any quantity of + verse. They are so, because they sap the principles, by + <i>reasoning</i> upon the <i>passions</i>; whereas poetry is in + itself passion, and does not systematise. It assails, but does + not argue; it may be wrong, but it does not assume pretensions to + Optimism. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Bowles now has the goodness "to point out the difference + between a <i>traducer</i> and him who sincerely states what he + sincerely believes." He might have spared himself the trouble. + The one is a liar, who lies knowingly; the other (I speak of a + scandal-monger of course) lies, charitably believing that he + speaks truth, and very sorry to find himself in + falsehood;—because he + </p> + <div class="poem"> + <p> + "Would rather that the dean should die, + </p> + <p> + Than his prediction prove a lie." + </p> + </div> + <p> + After a definition of a "traducer," which was quite superfluous + (though it is agreeable to learn that Mr. Bowles so well + understands the character), we are assured, that "he feels + equally indifferent, Mr. Gilchrist, for what your malice can + invent, or your impudence utter." This is indubitable; for it + rests not only on Mr. Bowles's assurance, but on that of Sir + Fretful Plagiary, and nearly in the same words,—"and I + shall treat it with exactly the same calm indifference and + philosophical contempt, and so your servant." + </p> + <p> + "One thing has given Mr. Bowles concern." It is "a passage which + might seem to reflect on the patronage a young man has received." + MIGHT seem!! The passage alluded to expresses, that if Mr. + Gilchrist be the reviewer of "a certain poet of nature," his + praise <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg404" id= + "pg404">404</a></span> and blame are equally + contemptible."—Mr. Bowles, who has a peculiarly ambiguous + style, where it suits him, comes off with a "<i>not</i> to the + <i>poet</i>, but the critic," &c. In my humble opinion, the + passage referred to both. Had Mr. Bowles really meant fairly, he + would have said so from the first—he would have been + eagerly transparent.—"A certain poet of nature" is not the + style of commendation. It is the very prologue to the most + scandalous paragraphs of the newspapers, when + </p> + <div class="poem"> + <p> + "Willing to wound, and yet afraid to strike." + </p> + </div> + <p> + "A certain high personage,"—"a certain peeress,"—"a + certain illustrious foreigner,"—what do these words ever + precede, but defamation? Had he felt a spark of kindling kindness + for John Clare, he would have named him. There is a sneer in the + sentence as it stands. How a favourable review of a deserving + poet can "rather injure than promote his cause" is difficult to + comprehend. The article denounced is able and amiable, and it + <i>has</i> "served" the poet, as far as poetry can be served by + judicious and honest criticism. + </p> + <p> + With the two next paragraphs of Mr. Bowles's pamphlet it is + pleasing to concur. His mention of "Pennie," and his former + patronage of "Shoel," do him honour. I am not of those who may + deny Mr. Bowles to be a benevolent man. I merely assert, that he + is not a candid editor. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Bowles has been "a writer occasionally upwards of thirty + years," and never wrote one word in reply in his life "to + criticisms, merely <i>as</i> criticisms." This is Mr. Lofty in + Goldsmith's Good-natured Man; "and I vow by all that's + honourable, my resentment has never done the men, as mere men, + any manner of harm,—that is, <i>as mere men</i>." + </p> + <p> + "The letter to the editor of the newspaper" is owned; but "it was + not on account of the criticism. It was because the criticism + came down in a frank <i>directed</i> to Mrs. + Bowles!!!"—(the italics and three <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg405" id="pg405">405</a></span> notes of + admiration appended to Mrs. Bowles are copied verbatim from the + quotation), and Mr. Bowles was not displeased with the criticism, + but with the frank and the address. I agree with Mr. Bowles that + the intention was to annoy him; but I fear that this was answered + by his notice of the reception of the criticism. An anonymous + letter-writer has but one means of knowing the effect of his + attack. In this he has the superiority over the viper; he knows + that his poison has taken effect, when he hears the victim + cry;—the adder is <i>deaf</i>. The best reply to an + anonymous intimation is to take no notice directly nor + indirectly. I wish Mr. Bowles could see only one or two of the + thousand which I have received in the course of a literary life, + which, though begun early, has not yet extended to a third part + of his existence as an author. I speak of <i>literary</i> life + only. Were I to add <i>personal</i>, I might double the amount of + <i>anonymous</i> letters. If he could but see the violence, the + threats, the absurdity of the whole thing, he would laugh, and so + should I, and thus be both gainers. + </p> + <p> + To keep up the farce,—within the last month of this present + writing (1821), I have had my life threatened in the same way + which menaced Mr. Bowles's fame,—excepting that the + anonymous denunciation was addressed to the Cardinal Legate of + Romagna, instead of to Mrs. Bowles. The Cardinal is, I believe, + the elder lady of the two. I append the menace in all its + barbaric but literal Italian, that Mr. Bowles may be convinced; + and as this is the only "promise to pay," which the Italians ever + keep, so my person has been at least as much exposed to a "shot + in the gloaming," from "John Heatherblutter" (see Waverley), as + ever Mr. Bowles's glory was from an editor. I am, nevertheless, + on horseback and lonely for some hours (<i>one</i> of them + twilight) in the forest daily; and this, because it was my + "custom in the afternoon," and that I believe if the tyrant + cannot escape amidst his guards (should it be <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg406" id="pg406">406</a></span> so written?), + so the humbler individual would find precautions useless. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Bowles has here the humility to say, that "he must succumb; + for with Lord Byron turned against him, he has no + chance,"—a declaration of self-denial not much in unison + with his "promise," five lines afterwards, that "for every + twenty-four lines quoted by Mr. Gilchrist, or his friend, to + greet him with as many from the 'Gilchrisiad';" but so much the + better. Mr. Bowles has no reason to "succumb" but to Mr. Bowles. + As a poet, the author of "The Missionary" may compete with the + foremost of his cotemporaries. Let it be recollected, that all my + previous opinions of Mr. Bowles's poetry were <i>written</i> long + before the publication of his last and best poem; and that a + poet's <i>last</i> poem should be his best, is his highest + praise. But, however, he may duly and honourably rank with his + living rivals. There never was so complete a proof of the + superiority of Pope, as in the lines with which Mr. Bowles closes + his "<i>to be concluded in our next</i>." + </p> + <p> + Mr. Bowles is avowedly the champion and the poet of nature. Art + and the arts are dragged, some before, and others behind his + chariot. Pope, where he deals with passion, and with the nature + of the naturals of the day, is allowed even by themselves to be + sublime; but they complain that too soon— + </p> + <div class="poem"> + <p> + "He stoop'd to truth and moralised his song," + </p> + </div> + <p> + and <i>there</i> even <i>they</i> allow him to be unrivalled. He + has succeeded, and even surpassed them, when he chose, in their + own <i>pretended</i> province. Let us see what their Coryphæus + effects in Pope's. But it is too pitiable, it is too melancholy, + to see Mr. Bowles "<i>sinning</i>" not "<i>up</i>" but + "<i>down</i>" as a poet to his lowest depth as an editor. By the + way, Mr. Bowles is always quoting Pope. I grant that there is no + poet—not Shakspeare himself—who can be so often + quoted, with reference to life;—but his editor is so like + the devil quoting Scripture, <span class="pagenum"><a name= + "pg407" id="pg407">407</a></span> that I could wish Mr. Bowles in + his proper place, quoting in the pulpit. + </p> + <p> + And now for his lines. But it is painful—painful—to + see such a suicide, though at the shrine of Pope. I can't copy + them all:— + </p> + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + "Shall the rank, loathsome miscreant of the age + </p> + <p> + Sit, like a night-mare, grinning o'er a page." + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + "Whose pye-bald character so aptly suit + </p> + <p> + The two extremes of Bantam and of Brute, + </p> + <p> + Compound grotesque of sullenness and show, + </p> + <p> + The chattering magpie, and the croaking crow." + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + "Whose heart contends with thy Saturnian head, + </p> + <p> + A root of hemlock, and a lump of lead. + </p> + <p> + Gilchrist proceed," &c. &c. + </p> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <p> + "And thus stand forth, spite of thy venom'd foam, + </p> + <p> + To give thee <i>bite for bite</i>, or lash thee limping + home." + </p> + </div> + </div> + <p> + With regard to the last line, the only one upon which I shall + venture for fear of infection, I would advise Mr. Gilchrist to + keep out of the way of such reciprocal morsure—unless he + has more faith in the "Ormskirk medicine" than most people, or + may wish to anticipate the pension of the recent German + professor, (I forget his name, but it is advertised and full of + consonants,) who presented his memoir of an infallible remedy for + the hydrophobia to the German diet last month, coupled with the + philanthropic condition of a large annuity, provided that his + cure cured. Let him begin with the editor of Pope, and double his + demand. + </p> + <p class="quotsig"> + Yours ever, + <br /> + BYRON. + </p> + <p> + <i>To John Murray, Esq</i>. + </p> + <p> + P.S. Amongst the above-mentioned lines there occurs the + following, <i>applied</i> to Pope— + </p> + <div class="poem"> + <p> + "The assassin's vengeance, and the coward's lie." + </p> + </div> + <p> + And Mr. Bowles persists that he is a well-wisher to Pope!!! He + has, then, edited an "assassin" and a <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg408" id="pg408">408</a></span> "coward" + wittingly, as well as lovingly. In my former letter I have + remarked upon the editor's forgetfulness of Pope's benevolence. + But where he mentions his faults it is "with sorrow"—his + tears drop, but they do not blot them out. The "recording angel" + differs from the recording clergyman. A fulsome editor is + pardonable though tiresome, like a panegyrical son whose pious + sincerity would demi-deify his father. But a detracting editor is + a paricide. He sins against the nature of his office, and + connection—he murders the life to come of his victim. If + his author is not worthy to be mentioned, do not edit at all: if + he be, edit honestly, and even flatteringly. The reader will + forgive the weakness in favour of mortality, and correct your + adulation with a smile. But to sit down "mingere in patrios + cineres," as Mr. Bowles has done, merits a reprobation so strong, + that I am as incapable of expressing as of ceasing to feel it. + </p> + <h4> + <i>Further Addenda</i>. + </h4> + <p> + It is worthy of remark that, after all this outcry about + "<i>in-door</i> nature" and "artificial images," Pope was the + principal inventor of that boast of the English, <i>Modern + Gardening</i>. He divides this honour with Milton. Hear + Warton:—"It hence appears, that this <i>enchanting</i> art + of modern gardening, in which this kingdom claims a preference + over every nation in Europe, chiefly owes <i>its origin</i> and + its improvements to two great poets, Milton and <i>Pope</i>." + </p> + <p> + Walpole (no friend to Pope) asserts that Pope formed + <i>Kent's</i> taste, and that Kent was the artist to whom the + English are chiefly indebted for diffusing "a taste in laying out + grounds." The design of the Prince of Wales's garden was copied + from <i>Pope's</i> at Twickenham. Warton applauds "his singular + effort of art and taste, in impressing so much variety and + scenery on a spot of five acres." Pope was the <i>first</i> who + ridiculed the "formal, French, Dutch, false and unnatural taste + in gardening," <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg409" id= + "pg409">409</a></span> both in <i>prose</i> and verse. (See, for + the former, "The Guardian.") + </p> + <p> + "Pope has given not only some of our <i>first</i> but <i>best</i> + rules and observations on <i>Architecture</i> and + <i>Gardening</i>." (See Warton's Essay, vol. ii. p. 237, &c. + &c.) + </p> + <p> + Now, is it not a shame, after this, to hear our Lakers in "Kendal + Green," and our Bucolical Cockneys, crying out (the latter in a + wilderness of bricks and mortar) about "Nature," and Pope's + "artificial in-door habits?" Pope had seen all of nature that + <i>England</i> alone can supply. He was bred in Windsor Forest, + and amidst the beautiful scenery of Eton; he lived familiarly and + frequently at the country seats of Bathurst, Cobham, Burlington, + Peterborough, Digby, and Bolingbroke; amongst whose seats was to + be numbered <i>Stowe</i>. He made his own little "five acres" a + model to princes, and to the first of our artists who imitated + nature. Warton thinks "that the most engaging of <i>Kent</i>'s + works was also planned on the model of Pope's,—at least in + the opening and retiring shades of Venus's Vale." + </p> + <p> + It is true that Pope was infirm and deformed; but he could walk, + and he could ride (he rode to Oxford from London at a stretch), + and he was famous for an exquisite eye. On a tree at Lord + Bathurst's is carved "Here Pope sang,"—he composed beneath + it. Bolingbroke, in one of his letters, represents them both + writing in the hay-field. No poet ever admired Nature more, or + used her better, than Pope has done, as I will undertake to prove + from his works, <i>prose</i> and <i>verse</i>, if not anticipated + in so easy and agreeable a labour. I remember a passage in + Walpole, somewhere, of a gentleman who wished to give directions + about some willows to a man who had long served Pope in his + grounds: "I understand, sir," he replied: "you would have them + hang down, sir, <i>somewhat poetical</i>." Now, if nothing + existed but this little anecdote, it would suffice to prove + Pope's taste for <i>Nature</i>, and the impression which he had + made on a common-minded man. But I have already quoted Warton and + Walpole (<i>both</i> his enemies), <span class="pagenum"><a name= + "pg410" id="pg410">410</a></span> and, were it necessary, I could + amply quote Pope himself for such tributes to <i>Nature</i> as no + poet of the present day has even approached. + </p> + <p> + His various excellence is really wonderful: architecture, + painting, <i>gardening</i>, all are alike subject to his genius. + Be it remembered, that English <i>gardening</i> is the purposed + perfectioning of niggard <i>Nature</i>, and that without it + England is but a hedge-and-ditch, double-post-and-rail, Hounslow + Heath and Clapham Common sort of country, since the principal + forests have been felled. It is, in general, far from a + picturesque country. The case is different with Scotland, Wales, + and Ireland; and I except also the lake counties and Derbyshire, + together with Eton, Windsor, and my own dear Harrow on the Hill, + and some spots near the coast. In the present rank fertility of + "great poets of the age," and "schools of poetry"—a word + which, like "schools of eloquence" and of "philosophy," is never + introduced till the decay of the art has increased with the + number of its professors—in the present day, then, there + have sprung up two sorts of Naturals;—the Lakers, who whine + about Nature because they live in Cumberland; and their + <i>under-sect</i> (which some one has maliciously called the + "Cockney School"), who are enthusiastical for the country because + they live in London. It is to be observed, that the rustical + founders are rather anxious to disclaim any connexion with their + metropolitan followers, whom they ungraciously review, and call + cockneys, atheists, foolish fellows, bad writers, and other hard + names not less ungrateful than unjust. I can understand the + pretensions of the aquatic gentlemen of Windermere to what Mr. + Braham terms "<i>entusumusy</i>," for lakes, and mountains, and + daffodils, and buttercups; but I should be glad to be apprised of + the foundation of the London propensities of their imitative + brethren to the same "high argument." Southey, Wordsworth, and + Coleridge have rambled over half Europe, and seen Nature in most + of her varieties (although I think that they have occasionally + not used her very well); but what on <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg411" id="pg411">411</a></span> + earth—of earth, and sea, and Nature—have the others + seen? Not a half, nor a tenth part so much as Pope. While they + sneer at his Windsor Forest, have they ever seen any thing of + Windsor except its <i>brick</i>? + </p> + <p> + The most rural of these gentlemen is my friend Leigh Hunt, who + lives at Hampstead. I believe that I need not disclaim any + personal or poetical hostility against that gentleman. A more + amiable man in society I know not; nor (when he will allow his + sense to prevail over his sectarian principles) a better writer. + When he was writing his "Rimini," I was not the last to discover + its beauties, long before it was published. Even then I + remonstrated against its vulgarisms; which are the more + extraordinary, because the author is any thing but a vulgar man. + Mr. Hunt's answer was, that he wrote them upon principle; they + made part of his "<i>system!!</i>" I then said no more. When a + man talks of his system, it is like a woman's talking of her + <i>virtue</i>. I let them talk on. Whether there are writers who + could have written "Rimini," as it might have been written, I + know not; but Mr. Hunt is, probably, the only poet who could have + had the heart to spoil his own Capo d'Opera. + </p> + <p> + With the rest of his young people I have no acquaintance, except + through some things of theirs (which have been sent out without + my desire), and I confess that till I had read them I was not + aware of the full extent of human absurdity. Like Garrick's "Ode + to Shakspeare," <i>they "defy criticism</i>." These are of the + personages who decry Pope. One of them, a Mr. John Ketch, has + written some lines against him, of which it were better to be the + subject than the author. Mr. Hunt redeems himself by occasional + beauties; but the rest of these poor creatures seem so far gone + that I would not "march through Coventry with them, that's flat!" + were I in Mr. Hunt's place. To be sure, he has "led his + ragamuffins where they will be well peppered;" but a system-maker + must receive all sorts of <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg412" + id="pg412">412</a></span> proselytes. When they have really seen + life—when they have felt it—when they have travelled + beyond the far distant boundaries of the wilds of + Middlesex—when they have overpassed the Alps of Highgate, + and traced to its sources the Nile of the New River—then, + and not till then, can it properly he permitted to them to + despise Pope; who had, if not <i>in Wales</i>, been <i>near</i> + it, when he described so beautifully the "<i>artificial</i>" + works of the Benefactor of Nature and mankind, the "Man of Ross," + whose picture, still suspended in the parlour of the inn, I have + so often contemplated with reverence for his memory, and + admiration of the poet, without whom even his own still existing + good works could hardly have preserved his honest renown. + </p> + <p> + I would also observe to my friend Hunt, that I shall be very glad + to see him at Ravenna, not only for my sincere pleasure in his + company, and the advantage which a thousand miles or so of travel + might produce to a "natural" poet, but also to point out one or + two little things in "Rimini," which he probably would not have + placed in his opening to that poem, if he had ever seen + Ravenna;—unless, indeed, it made "part of his system!!" I + must also crave his indulgence for having spoken of his + disciples—by no means an agreeable or self-sought subject. + If they had said nothing of <i>Pope</i>, they might have remained + "alone with their glory" for aught I should have said or thought + about them or their nonsense. But if they interfere with the + "little Nightingale" of Twickenham, they may find others who will + bear it—<i>I</i> won't. Neither time, nor distance, nor + grief, nor age, can ever diminish my veneration for him, who is + the great moral poet of all times, of all climes, of all + feelings, and of all stages of existence. The delight of my + boyhood, the study of my manhood, perhaps (if allowed to me to + attain it) he may be the consolation of my age. His poetry is the + Book of Life. Without canting, and yet without neglecting + religion, he has assembled all that a <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg413" id="pg413">413</a></span> good and + great man can gather together of moral wisdom clothed in + consummate beauty. Sir William Temple observes, "that of all the + members of mankind that live within the compass of a thousand + years, for one man that is born capable of making a <i>great + poet</i>, there may be a <i>thousand</i> born capable of making + as great generals and ministers of state as any in story." Here + is a statesman's opinion of poetry: it is honourable to him and + to the art. Such a "poet of a thousand years" was <i>Pope</i>. A + thousand years will roll away before such another can be hoped + for in our literature. But it can <i>want</i> them—he + himself is a literature. + </p> + <p> + One word upon his so brutally abused translation of Homer. "Dr. + Clarke, whose critical exactness is well known, has <i>not + been</i> able to point out above three or four mistakes <i>in the + sense</i> through the whole Iliad. The real faults of the + translation are of a different kind." So says Warton, himself a + scholar. It appears by this, then, that he avoided the chief + fault of a translator. As to its other faults, they consist in + his having made a beautiful English poem of a sublime Greek one. + It will always hold. Cowper and all the rest of the blank + pretenders may do their best and their worst: they will never + wrench Pope from the hands of a single reader of sense and + feeling. + </p> + <p> + The grand distinction of the under forms of the new school of + poets is their <i>vulgarity</i>. By this I do not mean that they + are <i>coarse</i>, but "shabby-genteel," as it is termed. A man + may be <i>coarse</i> and yet not <i>vulgar</i>, and the reverse. + Burns is often coarse, but never <i>vulgar</i>. Chatterton is + never vulgar, nor Wordsworth, nor the higher of the Lake school, + though they treat of low life in all its branches. It is in their + <i>finery</i> that the new under school are <i>most</i> vulgar, + and they may be known by this at once; as what we called at + Harrow "a Sunday blood" might be easily distinguished from a + gentleman, although his clothes might be the better cut, and his + boots the best blackened, of the two;—probably because + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg414" id="pg414">414</a></span> + he made the one, or cleaned the other, with his own hands. + </p> + <p> + In the present case, I speak of writing, not of persons. Of the + latter, I know nothing; of the former, I judge as it is found. Of + my friend Hunt, I have already said, that he is any thing but + vulgar in his manners; and of his disciples, therefore, I will + not judge of their manners from their verses. They may be + honourable and <i>gentlemanly</i> men, for what I know; but the + latter quality is studiously excluded from their publications. + They remind me of Mr. Smith and the Miss Broughtons at the + Hampstead Assembly, in "Evelina." In these things (in private + life, at least,) I pretend to some small experience; because, in + the course of my youth, I have seen a little of all sorts of + society, from the Christian prince and the Mussulman sultan and + pacha, and the higher ranks of their countries, down to the + London boxer, the "<i>flash and the swell</i>," the Spanish + muleteer, the wandering Turkish dervise, the Scotch highlander, + and the Albanian robber;—to say nothing of the curious + varieties of Italian social life. Far be it from me to presume + that there ever was, or can be, such a thing as an + <i>aristocracy</i> of <i>poets</i>; but there <i>is</i> a + nobility of thought and of style, open to all stations, and + derived partly from talent, and partly from + education,—which is to be found in Shakspeare, and Pope, + and Burns, no less than in Dante and Alfieri, but which is + nowhere to be perceived in the mock birds and bards of Mr. Hunt's + little chorus. If I were asked to define what this + gentlemanliness is, I should say that it is only to be defined by + <i>examples</i>—of those who have it, and those who have it + not. In <i>life</i>, I should say that most <i>military</i> men + have it, and few <i>naval</i>;—that several men of rank + have it, and few lawyers;—that it is more frequent among + authors than divines (when they are not pedants); that + <i>fencing</i>-masters have more of it than dancing-masters, and + singers than players; and that (if it be not an Irishism to say + so) it is far <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg415" id= + "pg415">415</a></span> more generally diffused among women than + among men. In poetry, as well as writing in general, it will + never <i>make</i> entirely a poet or a poem; but neither poet nor + poem will ever be good for any thing without it. It is the + <i>salt</i> of society, and the seasoning of composition. + <i>Vulgarity</i> is far worse than downright + <i>blackguardism</i>; for the latter comprehends wit, humour, and + strong sense at times; while the former is a sad abortive attempt + at all things, "signifying nothing." It does not depend upon low + themes, or even low language, for Fielding revels in + both;—but is he ever <i>vulgar</i>? No. You see the man of + education, the gentleman, and the scholar, sporting with his + subject,—its master, not its slave. Your vulgar writer is + always most vulgar, the higher, his subject; as the man who + showed the menagerie at Pidcock's was wont to say,—"This, + gentlemen, is the <i>eagle</i> of the <i>sun</i>, from Archangel, + in Russia; the <i>otterer</i> it is, the <i>igherer</i> he + flies." But to the proofs. It is a thing to be felt more than + explained. Let any man take up a volume of Mr. Hunt's subordinate + writers, read (if possible) a couple of pages, and pronounce for + himself, if they contain not the kind of writing which may be + likened to "shabby-genteel" in actual life. When he has done + this, let him take up Pope;—and when he has laid him down, + take up the cockney again—if he can. + </p> + <hr /> + <blockquote> + <p> + <i>Note to the passage in page</i> <a href="#pg396">396.</a> + <i>relative to Pope's lines upon Lady Mary W. Montague</i>.] I + think that I could show, if necessary, that Lady Mary W. + Montague was also greatly to blame in that quarrel, <i>not</i> + for having rejected, but for having encouraged him: but I would + rather decline the task—though she should have remembered + her own line, "<i>He comes too near, that comes to be + denied</i>." I admire her so much—her beauty, her + talents—that I should do this reluctantly. I, besides, am + so attached to the very name of <i>Mary</i>, that as Johnson + once said, "If you called a dog <i>Harvey</i>, I should love + him;" so, if you were to call a female of the same species + "Mary," I should love it better than others <span class= + "pagenum"><a name="pg416" id="pg416">416</a></span> (biped or + quadruped) of the same sex with a different appellation. She + was an extraordinary woman: she could translate + <i>Epictetus</i>, and yet write a song worthy of Aristippus. + The lines, + </p> + <div class="poem"> + <p> + "And when the long hours of the public are past, + </p> + <p> + And we meet, with champaigne and a chicken, at last, + </p> + <p> + May every fond pleasure that moment endear! + </p> + <p> + Be banish'd afar both discretion and fear! + </p> + <p> + Forgetting or scorning the airs of the crowd, + </p> + <p> + He may cease to be formal, and I to be proud, + </p> + <p> + Till," &c. &c. + </p> + </div> + <p> + There, Mr. Bowles!—what say you to such a supper with + such a woman? and her own description too? Is not her + "<i>champaigne and chicken</i>" worth a forest or two? Is it + not poetry? It appears to me that this stanza contains the + "<i>purée</i>" of the whole philosophy of Epicurus:—I + mean the <i>practical</i> philosophy of his school, not the + precepts of the master; for I have been too long at the + university not to know that the philosopher was himself a + moderate man. But, after all, would not some of us have been as + great fools as Pope? For my part, I wonder that, with his quick + feelings, her coquetry, and his disappointment, he did no + more,—instead of writing some lines, which are to be + condemned if false, and regretted if true.<span class="pagenum"><a name="pg417" id= + "pg417">417</a></span> + </p> + </blockquote> + <h2> + INDEX. + </h2> + <hr /> + <h4> + The Roman letters refer to the Volume; the Arabic figures to the + Page. + </h4> + <hr /> + <p> + A. + </p> + <ul class="IX"> + <li>ABERDEEN, Mrs. Byron's residence at, i. 11.; + <ul> + <li>the day school there at which Lord Byron was a pupil, i. + 17.; + </li> + <li>his allusion to the localities of, i. 34.; + </li> + <li>affection of the people of, for his memory, i 36. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Absence, consolations in, ii. 279. + </li> + <li>Abstinence, the sole remedy for plethora, iii. 337. + </li> + <li>Abydos, Lord Byron's swimming feat from Sestos to, i. 316. + 321. 323; v. 129.; vi. <a href="#pg280">280</a>. + <ul> + <li>See Bride of Abydos. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Abyssinia, Lord Byron's project of visiting, ii. 232. + </li> + <li>Academical studies, effect of, on the imaginative faculty, i. + 197. + </li> + <li>Acerbi, Giuseppe, iii. 307. + </li> + <li>Acland, Mr., Lord Byron's school-fellow at Harrow, i. 97. + </li> + <li>Acting, no immaterial sensuality so delightful, iii. 81. + </li> + <li>Actium, remains of the town of, i 295. + </li> + <li>Actors, an impracticable race, iii. 185. + </li> + <li>Ada, iii. 195. + <ul> + <li>See Byron, Augusta-Ada. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Adair, Robert, esq. i, 319. 335. 341.; ii. 9. + </li> + <li>Adams, John, the Southwell carrier, + <ul> + <li>Lord Byron's epitaph on, i. 153. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Addison, Joseph, his character as a poet, i. 197. + <ul> + <li>His conversation, vi. <a href="#pg354">354</a>. + </li> + <li>His 'Drummer', vi. <a href="#pg392">392</a>. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>'Adolphe,' Benjamin Constant's, its character, iii. 251. + </li> + <li>Adversity, iii. 205. + </li> + <li>'Æneid, the,' written for political purposes, ii. 60. + </li> + <li>Æschylus, i. 64. + <ul> + <li>His 'Prometheus', iv. 67. + </li> + <li>His 'Seven before Thebes', 68. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>'Agathon,' Wieland's history of, iv. 236. + </li> + <li>Aglietti, Dr., MS. letters in his profession offered to Mr. + Murray, iv, 98. 126. 129. + </li> + <li>Albania, i. 299. 316. + </li> + <li>Albanians, their character and manners, i. 299. 316. + </li> + <li>Alberoni, Cardinal, ii. 266. + </li> + <li>Albrizzi, Countess, some account of, iii. 318. + <ul> + <li>Her conversazioni, iv. 212. + </li> + <li>Her 'Ritratti di Uomini Illustri', 213. + </li> + <li>Her portrait of Lord Byron, 214. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Alder, Mr, iv. 10. + </li> + <li>Alexander the Great, his exclamation to the Athenians, i. 12. + </li> + <li>Alfieri, Vittorio, his description of his first love, i. 26. + <ul> + <li>Effect of the representation of his 'Mira' on Lord Byron, + iii. 77.; iv. 180. 180 n. + </li> + <li>His conduct to his mother, iii. 127. + </li> + <li>His tomb in the church of Santa Croce, iv. 12. + </li> + <li>Coincidences between the disposition and habits of Lord + Byron and, ii. 5.; vi. <a href="#pg231">231</a>. <a href= + "#pg233">233</a>. + </li> + <li>His 'Life' quoted, i. 45.; ii. 5. 64.; ii. 6.; iv. 342. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Alfred Club, ii. 99. 106.; iii. 233.; iv. 20. + </li> + <li>Algarotti, Francesco, his treatment of Lady M.W. Montagu, iv. + 126. + </li> + <li>Ali Pacha of Yanina, account of, i. 290, 317.; vi. <a href= + "#pg350">350</a>. <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg418" id= + "pg418">418</a></span> + <ul> + <li>Lord Byron's visit to, i. 294. + </li> + <li>His letter in Latin to Lord Byron, ii. 242. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Allegra (Lord Byron's natural daughter), iv. 133. 133 n. 164. + 172. 241. 246. 255. 299.; v. 78. 141. 174. + <ul> + <li>Her death, v. 328, 329, 330, 362. + </li> + <li>Inscription for a tablet to her memory, v. 335. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Allen, John, esq., a 'Helluo of books,' ii. 302. + </li> + <li>Althorp, Viscount, iii. 20, 59. + </li> + <li>Alvanley (William Arden), second Lord, iii. 232. + </li> + <li>Ambrosian library at Milan, Lord Byron's visit to, iii. 300. + </li> + <li>'Americani,' patriotic society so called, v. 105. + </li> + <li>Americans, their freedom acquired by firmness without excess, + v. 200. + </li> + <li>Amurath, Sultan, iii. 22. + </li> + <li>'Anastasius,' Mr. Hope's, his character, iv. 342. + </li> + <li>'Anatomy of Melancholy,' a most amusing medley of quotations + and classical anecdotes, i. 144. + </li> + <li>Ancestry, pride of, one of the most decided features of Lord + Byron's character, i. 1. + </li> + <li>Andalusian nobleman, adventures of a young, v. 234. + </li> + <li>Animal food, influence of, on the character, ii, 106. + </li> + <li>Annesley, the residence of Miss Chaworth, i. 80, 83, 84. + </li> + <li>Annesley, Mr., Lord Byron's schoolfellow at Harrow, i. 91. + </li> + <li>Anstey's 'Bath Guide,' indecencies in, iv. 361. + </li> + <li>'Anti-Byron,' a satire, iii. 14, 57. + </li> + <li>Anti-Jacobin Review, iii. 64. + </li> + <li>Antiloctius, tomb of, i. 316. + </li> + <li>Antinous, the bust of, super-natural, vi. <a href= + "#pg373">373</a>. + </li> + <li>'Antiquary,' character of Scott's novel so called, iii. 296. + </li> + <li>'Antony and Cleopatra,' observations on the play of, ii. 256. + </li> + <li>Apollo Belvidere, iv. 28. + </li> + <li>Arethusa, fountain of, Lord Byron's visit to, vi. <a href= + "#pg073">073</a>. + </li> + <li>Argenson, Marquis d', his advice to Voltaire, iii. 65 n. + </li> + <li>Argyle Institution, ii. 139, 140. + </li> + <li>Ariosto, Lord Byron's imitation of, ii. 111.; + <ul> + <li>his portrait by Titian, iv. 8.; + </li> + <li>Measure of his poetry, 65.; + </li> + <li>spared by the robber who had read his 'Orlando Furioso,' + v. 15.; + </li> + <li>his courage, vi. <a href="#pg247">247</a>. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Aristides, ii. 273. + </li> + <li>Aristophanes, Mitchell's translation of, its excellence, iv. + 345. + </li> + <li>'Armageddon,' Townshend's poem so called, ii. 58. + </li> + <li>Armenian Convent of St. Lazarus, iii. 325, 334, 336. + <ul> + <li>Language, iii. 312, 325, 330. + </li> + <li>Grammar, iii. 315, 334, 335, 354.; iv. 34. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Art, not inferior to nature, for poetical purposes, vi. + <a href="#pg364">364</a>. + </li> + <li>Arts, gulf of, i. 301. + </li> + <li>Ash, Thomas, author of 'The Book,' ii. 334. + <ul> + <li>Lord Byron's generous conduct towards, ii. 336. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Athens, Lord Byron's first visit to, i. 305.; + <ul> + <li>account of the maid of, i. 307, 320. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Atticus, Herodes, ii. 266. + </li> + <li>Aubonne, iii. 268. + </li> + <li>Augusta, stanzas to, iii. 289, 291. + </li> + <li>Augustus Cæsar, his times, v. 104. + </li> + <li>'Auld lang syne,' v. 301. + </li> + <li>Authors, an irritable set, iii. 15. + </li> + <li>Avarice, iv. 127. 234. + </li> + <li>'Away, away, ye notes of woe,' ii: 97. + </li> + <li>'A year ago you swore,' &c. v. 28. + </li> + </ul> + <p> + B. + </p> + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Bacon, Lord, on the celibacy of men of genius, iii, 134. + <ul> + <li>Inaccuracies in his Apophthegms, v. 59, 64. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Baillie, Joanna, the only woman capable of writing tragedy, + in. 168. + </li> + <li>Baillie, Dr., Lord Byron put under his care, i. 44. + </li> + <li>——, Dr. Matthew, consulted on Lord Byron's + supposed insanity, vi. <a href="#pg277">277</a>. + </li> + <li style="list-style: none"> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg419" id="pg419">419</a></span> + </li> + <li>Baillie 'Long', iii. 235. + </li> + <li>Baillie, Mr. D., i. 138. + </li> + <li>Balgounie, brig of, i. 35. + </li> + <li>Ballater, a residence of Lord Byron in his youth, i. 21. + </li> + <li>Bandello, his history of Romeo and Juliet, iii. 322. + </li> + <li>Bankes, William, esq., i.182. 183.; ii. 146.; iv. 239. 349. + <ul> + <li>Letters to, i. 124. 126. 264.; ii. 146. 172. 182.; iv. + 259. 280. 286. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Barbarossa, Aruck, ii. 266. + </li> + <li>Barber, J.T., the painter, ii. 79. + </li> + <li>Barff, Mr., Lord Byron's letters to, on the Greek cause, vi. + <a href="#pg161">161</a>. <a href="#pg164">164</a>. <a href= + "#pg174">174</a>. <a href="#pg175">175</a>. <a href= + "#pg182">182</a>. <a href="#pg184">184</a>. <a href= + "#pg185">185</a>. <a href="#pg193">193</a>. <a href= + "#pg195">195</a>. <a href="#pg196">196</a>. + </li> + <li>Barlow, Joel, character of his 'Columbiad', i. 146. + </li> + <li>Barnes, Thomas, esq., ii. 38. + </li> + <li>Barry, Mr., the banker of Genoa, i. xiv.; iv. 232.; vi. + <a href="#pg059">059</a>. + </li> + <li>Bartley, George, the comedian, iii. 177. + </li> + <li>——, Mrs., the actress, iii. 168. 177. + </li> + <li>Bartolini, the sculptor, his bust of Lord Byron, v. 322. 373. + </li> + <li>Bartorini, princess, her monument at Bologna, iv. 162. + </li> + <li>Bath, Lord Byron at, i. 78. + </li> + <li>'Bath Guide,' Anstey's, iv. 261 + </li> + <li>Baths of Penelope, Lord Byron's visit to, vi. <a href= + "#pg074">074</a> + </li> + <li>'Baviad and Mæviad,' extinguishment of the Delia Cruscans by + the, iv. 32. + </li> + <li>Bay of Biscay, iii.146. + </li> + <li>Bayes, Mr., caricature of Dryden, v. 264 n. + </li> + <li>Beattie, Dr., his 'Minstrel', i. 64. 212. + </li> + <li>Beaumarchais, his singular good fortune, ii.95. + </li> + <li>Beaumont, Sir George, iii. 166. + </li> + <li>Beauvais, Bishop of, ii. 143. + </li> + <li>Beccaria, anecdote of, iii. 301. + </li> + <li>Becher, Rev. John, Lord Byron's friend, i. 98. + <ul> + <li>His epilogue to the 'Wheel of Fortune', 117. + </li> + <li>His influence over Lord Byron, 119. 131. 138. + </li> + <li>Letters to, 204. 209. 216. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Beckford, William, esq., his 'Tales' in continuation of + 'Vathek', iv. 91. + </li> + <li>Beggar's Opera,' Gay's, a St. Giles's lampoon, ii. 303. + </li> + <li>Behmen, Jacob, his reverses, ii. 59. + </li> + <li>Bellingham, Lord Byron present at his execution, ii. 152. + </li> + <li>Beloe, Rev. William, character of his 'Sexagenarian', iv. 84. + </li> + <li>Bembo, Cardinal, amatory correspondence between Lucretia + Borgia and, iii. 300. + </li> + <li>Benacus, the (now the Lago di Garda), iii. 304. + </li> + <li>Bentham, Jeremy, quackery of his followers, iv. 154. 155. + </li> + <li>Benzoni, Countess, her conversazioni, iv.212.; v. 189. + <ul> + <li>Some account of, iv. 220. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>'Beppo, a Venetian Story', iii. 236.; iv. 66. 77. 101. + <ul> + <li>See also, i. 253. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Bergami, the Princess of Wales's courier and chamberlain, + iii. 333. + </li> + <li>Bernadotte, Jean-Baptiste-Jules, King of Sweden, ii. 240. + </li> + <li>Berni, the father of the Beppo style of writing, iv. 95. + </li> + <li>Berry, Miss, ii. 151. + </li> + <li>'Bertram,' Mathurin's tragedy of, iii. 184.; iv. 65. + </li> + <li>Bettesworth, Captain (cousin of Lord Byron), the only officer + in the navy who had more wounds than Lord Nelson, i. 174. + </li> + <li>Betty, William Henry West (the young Roscius), ii. 160. + </li> + <li>Beyle, M., his 'Histoire de la Peinture en Italie', iii. 302. + <ul> + <li>His account of an interview with Lord Byron at Milan, + iii. 302. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Bible, the, read through by Lord Byron before he was eight + years old, v. 265. + </li> + <li>Biography, iv. 265. + </li> + <li>'Bioscope, or Dial of Life,' Mr. Grenville Penn's, ii. 170. + </li> + <li>Birch, Alderman, ii. 182. + </li> + <li>Blackett, Joseph, the poetical cobbler, i. 246.; ii. 13. 57. + 58. + <ul> + <li>His posthumous writings, + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Blackstone, Judge, composed his Commentaries with a bottle of + port before him, vi. <a href="#pg354">354</a>. + </li> + <li style="list-style: none"> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg420" id="pg420">420</a></span> + </li> + <li>Blackwood's Magazine, its Remarks on Don Juan, iv. 269. + </li> + <li>Blake, the fashionable tonsor, v. 32. + </li> + <li>Bland, Rev. Robert, ii. 77. 93, 93 n., 95. 297. + </li> + <li>Blaquiere, Mr., vi. <a href="#pg044">044</a>. <a href= + "#pg142">142</a>. + </li> + <li>Bleeding, Lord Byron's prejudice against, vi. <a href= + "#pg203">203</a>. + </li> + <li>Blessington, Earl of, i. xiv.; iv. 232 n.; vi. <a href= + "#pg013">013</a>. + <ul> + <li>Letters to, vi. <a href="#pg018">018</a>. <a href= + "#pg021">021</a>. <a href="#pg023">023</a>. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>——, Countess of, vi. <a href="#pg013">013</a>. + <a href="#pg016">016</a>, <a href="#pg017">017</a>. + <ul> + <li>Impromptu on her taking a villa called 'Il Paradiso,' vi. + <a href="#pg016">016</a>. + </li> + <li>Lines written at the request of, vi, 17. + </li> + <li>Letters to, vi. <a href="#pg026">026</a>. <a href= + "#pg028">028</a>. <a href="#pg058">058</a>. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Blinkensop, Rev. Mr., his Sermon on Christianity, ii. 218. + </li> + <li>Bloomfield, Nathaniel, ii. 25. + </li> + <li>——, Robert, ii. 25. + </li> + <li>Blount, Martha, Pope's attachment to, vi. <a href= + "#pg351">351</a>. <a href="#pg388">388</a>. + </li> + <li>Blucher, Marshal, iii. 174. 236. + </li> + <li>'BLUES, THE; a Literary Eclogue,' v. 246. + </li> + <li>'Boatswain,' Lord Byron's favourite dog, i. 114. 134. 221. + </li> + <li>Boisragon, Dr., ii. 165. + </li> + <li>Bolivar, Simon, v. 342. 343 n. + </li> + <li>Bolder, Mr., Lord Byron's schoolfellow at Harrow, i. 91. + </li> + <li>Bologna, Lord Byron's visit to the cemetery of, iv. 161. + </li> + <li>Bolton, Mr., letters of Lord Byron to, respecting his will, + ii. 43. 47. 48. + </li> + <li>Bonneval, Claudius Alexander, Count de, ii. 266. + </li> + <li>Bonstetten, M., iii. 250. 252. 372. + </li> + <li>Books, list of, read by Lord Byron before the age of 15, i. + 144, + </li> + <li>Borgia, Lucretia, her amatory correspondence with Cardinal + Bembo, iii. 300. 305. + </li> + <li>'Born in a garret, in a kitchen bred,' iii. 229. + </li> + <li>Borromean Islands, in, 299. 307. + </li> + <li>'Bosquet de Julie,' iii. 257. 284. + </li> + <li>'Bosworth Field,' Lord Byron's projected epic entitled, i. + 170. 175. + </li> + <li>Botzari, Marco, his letter to Lord Byron, vi. <a href= + "#pg075">075</a>. + </li> + <li>His death, <a href="#pg076">076</a>. + </li> + <li>Bowers, Mr. (Lord Byron's school-master at Aberdeen), i. 17. + </li> + <li>Bowles, Rev. William Lisle, his controversy concerning Pope, + v. 29. 37. 98. 138. 152.; vi. <a href="#pg350">350</a>, + <a href="#pg351">351</a>. <a href="#pg353">353</a>. + <ul> + <li>His 'Spirit of Discovery,' <a href="#pg348">348</a>. + </li> + <li>His 'invariable principles of poetry,' <a href="#pg355"> + 355</a>. + </li> + <li>His hypochondriacism, <a href="#pg396">396</a>. + </li> + <li>His 'Missionary,' <a href="#pg406">406</a>. + </li> + <li>Lord Byron's 'Letter on his Strictures on the Life and + Writings of Pope,' <a href="#pg346">346</a>. + </li> + <li>Lord Byron's 'Observations upon Observations; a Second + Letter,' &c., <a href="#pg382">382</a>. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Bowring, Dr., Lord Byron's letters to, on the Greek cause, + and his intention to embark in it, vi. <a href="#pg044">044</a>. + <a href="#pg049">049</a>. <a href="#pg060">060</a>. <a href= + "#pg092">092</a>. <a href="#pg098">098</a>, <a href= + "#pg099">099</a>. <a href="#pg101">101</a>. <a href= + "#pg107">107</a>. + </li> + <li>Boxing, ii. 271. + </li> + <li>Bradshaw, Hon. Cavendish, iii. 170. + </li> + <li>Braham, John, the singer, ii. 260.; iii. 145. + </li> + <li>Breme, Marquis de, iii. 307. + </li> + <li>'BRIDE OF ABYDOS; a Turkish Tale,' ii. 248. 258. 264. 290. + 293. 312. 314. 326.; iii. 54. 228. + </li> + <li>Bridge of Sighs at Venice, account of, iv. 40. + </li> + <li>Brientz, town and lake of, iii. 266. + </li> + <li>'Brig of Balgounie,' i. 35. + </li> + <li>'British Critic,' ii. 259. + </li> + <li>'British Review,' its character of the 'Giaour,' ii. 229. + </li> + <li>——, 'my Grandmother's Review,' iv. 186.; + <ul> + <li>Lord Byron's letter to the editor, 187. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Broglie, Duchess of (daughter of Mad. de Staël), her + character, iii. 285 n. + <ul> + <li>Anecdote of, iv. 150. + </li> + <li>Her remark on the errors of clever people, vi. <a href= + "#pg260">260</a>. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Brooke, Lord (Sir Fulke Greville), account of a MS. poem by, + ii. 181. + </li> + <li>Brougham, Henry, esq. (afterwards Lord Brougham and Vaux), a + candidate for Westminster against Sheridan, iii. 12. + </li> + <li>Broughton, the regicide, his monument at Vevay, iii. 256. + </li> + <li style="list-style: none"> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg421" id="pg421">421</a></span> + </li> + <li>Brown, Isaac Hawkins, his 'Pipe of Tobacco,' ii. 169. 179.; + <ul> + <li>his 'lava buttons,' iii. 124. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Browne, Sir Thomas, his 'Religio Medici' quoted, ii. 315. + </li> + <li>Bruce, Mr., i. 348.; ii. 9. + </li> + <li>Brummell, William, esq., iii. 236. + </li> + <li>Bruno, Dr., Lord Byron's medical attendant in Greece, vi. + <a href="#pg055">055</a>. <a href="#pg201">201</a>. + <ul> + <li>Anecdote of, <a href="#pg128">128</a>. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Brussels, iii. 243, 245. + </li> + <li>Bryant, Jacob, on the existence of Troy, v. 70. + </li> + <li>Brydges, Sir Egerton, his 'Letters on the Character and + Poetical Genius of Byron,' ii. 195. + <ul> + <li>His 'Ruminator,' 271. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Buchanan, Rev. Dr., ii. 232 n. + </li> + <li>Bucke, Rev. Charles, ii. 188. + </li> + <li>Buonaparte, Lucien, his 'Charlemagne,' ii. 93 n., 234. + </li> + <li>——, Napoleon, one of the most extraordinary of + men, ii. 35. 240.; iii. 3. 37. 234., + <ul> + <li>that anakim of anarchy, 261.; + </li> + <li>poor little pagod, iii. 21. 62.; + </li> + <li>ode on his fall, 63. 155. 172.; + </li> + <li>fortune's favourite, 156. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Burdett, Sir Francis, ii. 130. 151. + <ul> + <li>His style of eloquence, ii. 209. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Burgage Manor, Notts, the residence of Lord Byron, i. 92. + </li> + <li>Burgess, Sir James Bland, iii. 184. + </li> + <li>Burke, Rt. Hon. Edmund, his oratory, ii. 209. + </li> + <li>Burns, Robert, his habit of reading at meals, i. 139 n. + <ul> + <li>His elegy on Maillie, 223. + </li> + <li>'What would he have been, if a patrician?' ii. 257. + </li> + <li>His unpublished letters, 302. + </li> + <li>His rank among poets, vi. <a href="#pg377">377</a>. + </li> + <li>'Often coarse, but never vulgar,' 413. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Burton's 'Anatomy of Melancholy,' 'a most amusing and + instructive medley,' i. 144. + </li> + <li>Burun, Ralph de, mentioned in Doomsday Book, i. 1. + </li> + <li>Busby, Dr., Dryden's reverential regard for, i. 57. + </li> + <li>——, Thomas, Mus. Doct., his monologue on the + opening of Drury Lane Theatre, ii. 177. 180. 182. + <ul> + <li>His translation of Lucretius, 262.; iii. 58. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Butler, Dr. (headmaster at Harrow), i. 64. 87. 167. 200, 201. + <ul> + <li>Reconciliation between Lord Byron and, 270. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>BYRON, Sir John, the Little, with the great beard, i. 4. + </li> + <li>——, Sir John, 1st Lord, his high and honourable + services, i. 5. + </li> + <li>——, Sir Richard, tribute to his valour and + fidelity, i. 6. + </li> + <li>——, Admiral John (the grand-father of the poet), + his shipwreck and sufferings, i. 6. + </li> + <li>——, William, fifth Lord (grand-uncle of the + poet), i. 6. + <ul> + <li>His trial for killing Mr. Chaworth in a duel, 7. + </li> + <li>His death, 29. + </li> + <li>His eccentric and unsocial habits, 30. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>BYRON, John (father of the poet), his elopement with Lady + Carmarthen, i. 7. + <ul> + <li>His marriage with Miss Catherine Gordon, 7. + </li> + <li>His death at Valenciennes, 16. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>——, Mrs. (mother of the poet), descended from the + Gordons of Gight, i. 6. + <ul> + <li>Vehemence of her feelings, 7. + </li> + <li>Ballad on the occasion of her marriage, 8. + </li> + <li>Her fortune, 9 n. + </li> + <li>Separates from her husband, 11. + </li> + <li>Her capricious excesses of fondness and of anger, 13. 38. + 103. + </li> + <li>Her death, ii. 31. + </li> + <li>Lord Byron's Letters to, ii. 217. 220. 233. 268. 290. + 313. 328. 337. 340. 350. 353. 356. + </li> + <li>See also, i. 101. 104, 105. 107. 347.; ii. 32. 35. 39.; + v. 3. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>——, Honourable Augusta (sister of the poet), i. + 7. + <ul> + <li>See Leigh, Honourable Augusta. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>——, (GEORGE-GORDON-BYRON), sixth Lord— + <ul> + <li>1788. Born Jan. 22., in Holles Street, London, i. 10. + </li> + <li>1790-1791. Taken by his mother to Aberdeen, i. 11. + <ul> + <li>Impetuosity of his temper, 12. + </li> + <li>Affectionate sweetness and playfulness of his + disposition, 13. + </li> + <li>The malformation of his foot a source of pain and + uneasiness to him, 14. + </li> + <li style="list-style: none"> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg422" id= + "pg422">422</a></span> + </li> + <li>His early acquaintance with the Sacred Writings, 14. + </li> + <li>Instances of his quickness and energy, 15. + </li> + <li>Death of his father, 16. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>1792-1795; Sent to a day-school at Aberdeen, i. 17. + <ul> + <li>His own account of the progress of his infantine + studies, 18. + </li> + <li>His sports and exercises, 20. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>1796-1797. Removed into the Highlands, i. 21. + <ul> + <li>His visits to Lachin-y-gair, 22. + </li> + <li>First awakening of his poetic talent, 22. + </li> + <li>His early love of mountain scenery, 25. + </li> + <li>Attachment for Mary Duff, 26. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>1798. Succeeds to the title, i. 29. + <ul> + <li>Made a ward of Chancery, under the guardianship of + the Earl of Carlisle, and removed to Newstead, 33. + </li> + <li>Placed under the care of an empiric at Nottingham for + the cure of his lameness, 41. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>1799. First symptom of a tendency towards rhyming, i. 42. + <ul> + <li style="list-style: none">Removed to London, and put + under the care of Dr. Baillie, 44. + </li> + <li style="list-style: none">Becomes the pupil of Dr. + Glennie, at Dulwich, 44. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>1800-1804. His boyish love for his cousin, Margaret + Parker, i. 52. + <ul> + <li>His 'first dash into poetry,' 52. + </li> + <li>Is sent to Harrow, 54. + </li> + <li>Notices of his school-life, 60. + </li> + <li>His first Harrow verses, 61. + </li> + <li>His school friendships, 66. + </li> + <li>His mode of life as a schoolboy, 76. + </li> + <li>Accompanies his mother to Bath, 78. + </li> + <li>His early attachment to Miss Chaworth, 79. + </li> + <li>Heads a 'rebelling' at Harrow, 86. + </li> + <li>Passes the vacation at Southwell, 92. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>1805. Removed to Cambridge, i. 92. + <ul> + <li>His college friendships, 93. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>1806. Aug.-Nov., prepares a collection of his poems for + the press, i. 110. + <ul> + <li>His visit to Harrowgate, 113. + </li> + <li>Southwell private theatricals, 116. + </li> + <li>Prints a volume of his poems; but, at the entreaty of + Mr. Becher, commits the edition to the flames, 118. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>1807. Publishes 'Hours of Idleness,' i. 129. + <ul> + <li>List of historical writers whose works he had perused + at the age of nineteen, 140. + </li> + <li>Reviews Wordsworth's Poems, 169. + </li> + <li>Begins 'Bosworth Field,' an epic. Writes part of a + novel, 175. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>1808. His early scepticism, i. 177. + <ul> + <li>Effect produced on his mind by the critique on 'Hours + of Idleness,' in the Edinburgh Review, 204. + </li> + <li>Passes his time between the dissipations of London + and Cambridge, 210. + </li> + <li>Takes up his residence at Newstead, 216. + </li> + <li>Forms the design of visiting India, 220. + </li> + <li>Prepares 'English Bards and Scotch Reviewers,' for + the press, 226. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>1809. His coming of age celebrated at Newstead, i. 227. + <ul> + <li>Takes his seat in the House of Lords, 235. + </li> + <li>Loneliness of his position at this period, 241. + </li> + <li>Sets out on his travels, 251. + </li> + <li>State of mind in which he took leave of England, 259. + </li> + <li>Visits Lisbon, Seville, Cadiz, Gibraltar, Malta, + Prevesa, Zitza, Tepaleen, 277. + </li> + <li>Is introduced to Ali Pacha, 277-288. + </li> + <li>Begins 'Childe Harold' at Ioannina, in Albania, 313. + </li> + <li>Visits Actium, Nicopolis; nearly lost in a Turkish + ship of war; proceeds through Acarnania and Ætolia + towards the Morea, 301. + </li> + <li>Reaches Missolonghi, 302. + </li> + <li>Visits Patras, Vostizza, Mount Parnassus, Delphi, + Lepanto, Thebes, Mount Cithæron, 303. + </li> + <li>Arrives, on Christmas-day, at Athens, 305. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>1810. Spends ten weeks in visiting the monuments of + Athens; makes excursions to several parts of Attica, 307. + <ul> + <li>The Maid of Athens, 310. + </li> + <li>Leaves Athens for Smyrna, 312. + </li> + <li>Visits ruins of Ephesus, 313. + </li> + <li style="list-style: none"> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg423" id= + "pg423">423</a></span> + </li> + <li>Concludes, at Smyrna, the second canto of 'Childe + Harold,' 313. + </li> + <li>April, leaves Smyrna for Constantinople. 315. + </li> + <li>Visits the Troad. 316. + </li> + <li>Swims from Sestos to Abydos, ibid. + </li> + <li>May, arrives at Constantinople. 323. + </li> + <li>June, expedition through the Bosphorus to the Black + Sea. 325. + </li> + <li>July, visits Corinth. 341. + </li> + <li>Aug.-Sept., makes a tour of the Morea, 340. + </li> + <li>Returns to Athens.346. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>1811. Writes 'Hints from Horace,' and 'Curse of Minerva.' + 350. + <ul> + <li>Returns to England, 354. + </li> + <li>Effect of travel on the general character of his mind + and disposition, ii. 1. + </li> + <li>His first connection with Mr. Murray. 30. + </li> + <li>Death of his mother. 31. + </li> + <li>Of his college friends, Matthews and Wingfield, 39. + 50. + </li> + <li>And of 'Thyrza,' 75. + </li> + <li>Origin of his acquaintance with Mr. Moore, 79. + </li> + <li>Act of generosity towards Mr. Hodgson, 108. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>1812. Feb. 27., makes his first speech in the House of + Lords, ii. 120. + <ul> + <li>Feb. 29., publishes the first and second cantos of + 'Childe Harold,' 131. + </li> + <li>Presents the copyright of the poem to Mr. Dallas, + 138. + </li> + <li>Although far advanced in a fifth edition of 'English + Bards,' determines to commit it to the flames, 145. + </li> + <li>Presented to the Prince Regent, 153. + </li> + <li>Writes the Address for the opening of Drury Lane + Theatre, 158. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>1813. April, brings out anonymously 'The Waltz,' ii. 187. + <ul> + <li>May, publishes the 'Giaour,' 188. + </li> + <li>His intercourse, through Mr. Moore, with Mr. Leigh + Hunt, 204. + </li> + <li>Makes preparations for a voyage to the East, 217. + </li> + <li>Projects a journey to Abyssinia, 232. + </li> + <li>Dec., publishes the 'Bride of Abydos,' 312. + </li> + <li>Is an unsuccessful suitor for the hand of Miss + Milbanke, 338. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>1814. Jan., publishes the 'Corsair,' iii. 24. + <ul> + <li>April, writes 'Ode on the Fall of Napoleon + Buonaparte,' 63. + </li> + <li>Comes to the resolution, not only of writing no more, + but of suppressing all he had ever written, 70. + </li> + <li>May, writes 'Lara;' makes a second proposal for the + hand of Miss Milbanke, and is accepted, 113. + </li> + <li>Dec., writes 'Hebrew Melodies,' 141. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>1815. Jan 2., marries Miss Milbanke, iii. 139. + <ul> + <li>April, becomes personally acquainted with Sir Walter + Scott, 159. + </li> + <li>May, becomes a member of the sub-committee of Drury + Lane theatre, 170. + </li> + <li>Pressure of pecuniary embarrassments, 191. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>1816. Jan., Lady Byron adopts the resolution of + separating from him, iii. 198. + <ul> + <li>Samples of the abuse lavished on him, 216 n. + </li> + <li>March, writes 'Fare thee well,' and 'A Sketch,' 229. + </li> + <li>April, leaves England, 238. + </li> + <li>His route—Brussels, Waterloo, &c., 243. + </li> + <li>Takes up his abode at the Campagne Diodati, 246. + </li> + <li>Finishes, June 27, the third canto of 'Childe + Harold,' 247. + </li> + <li>Writes, June 28, 'The Prisoner of Chillon,' 285. + </li> + <li>Writes, in July, 'Monody on the Death of Sheridan,' + 'the Dream,' 'Darkness,' 'Epistle to Augusta,' + 'Churchill's Grave,' 'Prometheus,' 'Could I remount,' + 'Sonnet to Lake Leman,' and part of 'Manfred,' 287. + </li> + <li>August, an unsuccessful negotiation for a domestic + reconciliation, 284. + </li> + <li>Sept., makes a tour of the Bernese Alps, 256. + </li> + <li>His intercourse with Mr. Shelley, 269. + </li> + <li>Oct., proceeds to Italy—route, Martiguy, the + Simplon, Milan, Verona, 297-308. + </li> + <li>Nov., takes up his residence at Venice, 311, + </li> + <li>Marianna Segati, 311. + </li> + <li>Studies the Armenian language, 312. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>1817. Feb., finishes 'Manfred,' iii. 345. + <ul> + <li>March, translates from the Armenian, a correspondence + between + </li> + <li style="list-style: none"> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg424" id= + "pg424">424</a></span> St. Paul and the Corinthians, + 370. + </li> + <li>April, visits Ferrara, and writes 'Lament of Tasso,' + iv. 11. + </li> + <li>Makes a short visit to Rome, and writes there a new + third act to 'Manfred,' 13. + </li> + <li>July, writes, at Venice, the fourth canto of 'Childe + Harold,' 48. + </li> + <li>Oct., writes 'Beppo,' 66. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>1818. The Fornarina, Margaritta Cogni, iv. 112. + <ul> + <li>July, writes 'Ode on Venice,' 125. + </li> + <li>Nov., finishes 'Mazeppa,' 137. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>1819. Jan., finishes second canto of 'Don Juan,' iv. 139. + <ul> + <li>April, beginning of his acquaintance with the + Countess Guiccioli, 143. + </li> + <li>June, writes 'Stanzas to the Po,' 155. + </li> + <li>Dec., completes the third and fourth cantos of 'Don + Juan,' iv. 262. + </li> + <li>Removes to Ravenna, 270. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>1820. Jan., domesticated with Countess Guiccioli, iv. + 276. + <ul> + <li>Feb., translates first canto of the 'Morgante + Maggiore,' 279. + </li> + <li>March, finishes 'Prophecy of Dante,' 291. + </li> + <li>Translates 'Francesa of Rimini,' 293. + </li> + <li>And writes 'Observations upon an Article in + Blackwood's Magazine,' 308. + </li> + <li>April-July, writes 'Marino Faliero,' 333. + </li> + <li>Oct.-Nov., writes fifth canto of 'Don Juan,' v. 37. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>1821. Feb., writes 'Letter on the Rev. W.L. Bowles's + Strictures on the Life of Pope,' v. 99. + <ul> + <li>March, 'Second Letter,' &c. 143. + </li> + <li>May, finishes 'Sardanapalus,' 187. + </li> + <li>July, 'The Two Foscari,' 197. + </li> + <li>Sept., 'Cain,' 239. + </li> + <li>Oct., writes 'Heaven and Earth, a Mystery,' 282.; + </li> + <li>and 'Vision of Judgment,' 261. + </li> + <li>Removes to Pisa, 269-280. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>1822. Jan., finishes 'Werner,' v. 310. + <ul> + <li>Sept, removes to Genoa, v. 355. + </li> + <li>His coalition with Hunt in the 'Liberal,' vi. + <a href="#pg003">003</a>. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>1823. April, turns his views towards Greece, vi. + <a href="#pg042">042</a>. + <ul> + <li>Receives a communication from the London committee, + <a href="#pg049">049</a>. + </li> + <li>May, offers to proceed to Greece, and to devote his + resources to the object in view, <a href= + "#pg049">049</a>. + </li> + <li>Preparations for his departure, <a href= + "#pg054">054</a>. + </li> + <li>July 14., sails for Greece, <a href="#pg062">062</a>. + </li> + <li>Reaches Argostoli, <a href="#pg071">071</a>. + </li> + <li>Excursion to Ithaca, <a href="#pg073">073</a>. + </li> + <li>Waits, at Cephalonia, the arrival of the Greek fleet, + <a href="#pg082">082</a>. + </li> + <li>His conversations on religion with Dr. Kennedy at + Mataxata, <a href="#pg085">085</a>. + </li> + <li>His letters to Madame Guiccioli, <a href= + "#pg090">090</a>. + </li> + <li>His address to the Greek government, <a href= + "#pg095">095</a>. + </li> + <li>And remonstrance to Prince Mavrocordati, <a href= + "#pg096">096</a>. + </li> + <li>Testimonies to the benevolence and soundness of his + views, <a href="#pg110">110</a>. + </li> + <li>Instances of his humanity and generosity while at + Cephalonia, <a href="#pg112">112</a>. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>1824. Jan. 5., arrives at Missolonghi, vi. <a href= + "#pg124">124</a>. + <ul> + <li>Writes 'Lines on completing my thirty-sixth year,' + <a href="#pg137">137</a>. + </li> + <li>Intended attack upon Lepanto, <a href= + "#pg147">147</a>. + </li> + <li>Is made commander-in-chief of the expedition, + <a href="#pg148">148</a>. + </li> + <li>Rupture with the Suliotes, <a href="#pg157">157</a>. + </li> + <li>The expedition suspended, <a href="#pg157">157</a>. + </li> + <li>His last illness, vi. <a href="#pg158">158</a>. + </li> + <li>His death, vi. <a href="#pg211">211</a>. + </li> + <li>His funeral, vi. <a href="#pg222">222</a>. + </li> + <li>Inscription on his monument, vi. <a href= + "#pg233">233</a>. + </li> + <li>His will, vi. <a href="#pg284">284</a>. + </li> + <li>His person, i. 137. 218.; vi. <a href= + "#pg253">253</a>, <a href="#pg254">254</a>. + </li> + <li>His sensitiveness on the subject of his lameness, i. + 14. 38. 138. 224. 256.; ii. 196. 319.; iii. 41. 241.; vi. + <a href="#pg013">013</a>. + </li> + <li>His abstemiousness, i. 347.; ii. 264. 300.; iii. + 281.; v. 30. + </li> + <li>His habitual melancholy, i. 264.; ii. 151.; iii, + 209.; v. 247. 263.; vi. <a href="#pg260">260</a>. + </li> + <li>His tendency to make the worst of his own + obliquities, i. 190.; ii. 136.; iv. 291.; v. 60. 69. + </li> + <li>His generosity and kind-heartedness, i. 136. 254. 280 + n.; ii. 108. 265.336.; iii. 25. 183 n.; iv. 235.; v. 86. + 92. 215. 272.; vi. <a href="#pg074">074</a>. <a href= + "#pg112">112</a>. <a href="#pg134">134</a>. + </li> + <li style="list-style: none"> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg425" id= + "pg425">425</a></span> + </li> + <li>His politics, ii. 311. 334.; iii. 34. 163. + </li> + <li>His religious opinions, ii. 112.; iii. 163. + </li> + <li>His tendency to superstition, i. 136. + </li> + <li>Portraits of him, ii. 175. 180. 187. 280. 324.; iii. + 97. 98. 104. 109. 139. 141.; iv. 7. 33. 95.; v. 200. 322. + 336. 343. 354. 355. 373.; vi. <a href="#pg029">029</a>. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Byron, Lady, ii. 57.; iii. 171. 175. 178 n. 189. 203. 204. + 214.; iv. 251. 270. 272. 282.; v. 4.; vi. <a href= + "#pg026">026</a>. <a href="#pg028">028</a>. <a href= + "#pg114">114</a>. + <ul> + <li>Her remarks on Mr. Moore's Life of Lord Byron, vi. + <a href="#pg275">275</a>. + </li> + <li>Lord Byron's letters to, v. 258.; vi. <a href= + "#pg030">030</a>. + </li> + <li>——, Honourable Augusta Ada, iii. 195. 202. + 297. 298. 328. 332.; iv. 79. 164. 351.; v. 292. 370; vi. + <a href="#pg025">025</a>. <a href="#pg030">030</a>. + <a href="#pg113">113</a>. + </li> + <li>Byron, (George) seventh lord, ii. 285. 288.; iv. 26. + </li> + <li>——, Eliza, ii. 254. 258. + </li> + <li>——, Henry, ii. 254. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + </ul> + <p> + C. + </p> + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Cadiz, described, i. 279. 282. + </li> + <li>Cæsar, Julius, his times, v. 104. + </li> + <li>Cahir, Lady, iii. 81. + </li> + <li>'CAIN, a Mystery,' alleged blasphemies, v. 305. 313. 324. + 338. + <ul> + <li>See also, v. 88. 230. 280. 308. 309. 318. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Caledonian meeting, 'Address intended to be recited at', iii. + 85. + </li> + <li>Calvert, Mr., Lord Byron's schoolfellow at Harrow, i. 91. + </li> + <li>Cambridge, Lord Byron's entry into Trinity College, i. 92. + <ul> + <li>A chaos of din and drunkenness, i. 174. + </li> + <li>Lord Byron's distaste to, 126. 196. 238. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Camoens, distinguished himself in war, i. 64 n. + </li> + <li>Campbell, Thomas, esq., his first introduction to Lord Byron, + ii. 91. + <ul> + <li>Coleridge lecturing against him, 95. 98. + </li> + <li>His 'Pleasures of Hope', 240. + </li> + <li>The best of judges, 292. + </li> + <li>His unpublished poem on a scene in Germany, iii. 109. + </li> + <li>Inadvertencies in his 'Lives of the Poets', iv. 311.; v. + 68, 69. + </li> + <li>His 'Gertrude of Wyoming' full of false scenery, v. 70. + </li> + <li>See, also, ii. 101. 293.; ii. 9. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Canning, Right Hon. George, ii. 222. + <ul> + <li>His oratory, ii. 208. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>——, Sir Stratford, his poem entitled + 'Buonaparte', iii. 69. 109. + </li> + <li>Canova, vi. <a href="#pg363">363</a>. + <ul> + <li>His early love, i. 26. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Cant, 'the grand primum mobile of England', vi. <a href= + "#pg353">353</a>. + </li> + <li>Cantemir, Demetrius, his 'History of the Ottoman Empire,', i. + 141. + </li> + <li>Carlile, Richard, folly of his trial, iv. 258. + </li> + <li>Carlisle (Frederick Howard), fifth Earl of, becomes Lord + Byron's guardian, i. 33. 39. + <ul> + <li>His alleged neglect of his ward, i. 228. 234. 267. 330. + </li> + <li>Proposed reconciliation between Lord Byron and, iii. 30. + 44. 51. 93. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Caroline, Queen of England, iv. 341.; v. 2. 27. 29. 36. 228. + 230. + </li> + <li>Carmarthen, Marchioness of, i. 7.; ii. 244. + </li> + <li>Caro, Annibale, his translations from the classics, v. 72. + </li> + <li>Carpenter, James, the bookseller, i. 172. + </li> + <li>Carr, Sir John, the traveller, i. 279.; iii. 112. + </li> + <li>Cartwright, Major, iv. 171. + </li> + <li>Cary, Rev. Henry Francis, his translation of Dante, iv. 166. + </li> + <li>Castanos, General, i. 284. + </li> + <li>Castellan, A.L., his 'Moeurs des Ottomans', ii. 238. + </li> + <li>Castlereagh, Viscount, (Robert Stewart, Marquis of + Londonderry), iii. 172. 174, 251.; iv. 138. 141. + </li> + <li>Catholic emancipation, ii. 147. + </li> + <li>'Cato,' Pope's prologue to, ii. 165. + </li> + <li>Catullus, his 'Atys' not licentious, vi. <a href= + "#pg400">400</a>. + </li> + <li>'Cavalier Servente', iv. 100. 177. + </li> + <li>Cawthorn, Mr., the bookseller, i. 242.; ii. 96. + </li> + <li>Caylus, Count de, iv. 179. + </li> + <li style="list-style: none"> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg426" id="pg426">426</a></span> + </li> + <li>'Cecilia,' Miss Burney's, ii. 97, 97 n. + </li> + <li>Celibacy of eminent philosophers, iii. 134. + </li> + <li>Centlivre, Mrs., character of her comedies, iv. 297. + <ul> + <li>Drove Congreve from the stage, v. 116. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>'Cenci,' Shelley's, v. 115. + </li> + <li>Chamouni, remarks on the scenery of, iii, 253. 257. 274. + </li> + <li>Charlemont, Lady, Lord Byron's admiration of, ii. 258.; vi. + <a href="#pg362">362</a>. + </li> + <li>——, Mrs., iii. 202.; iv. 2.; vi. <a href= + "#pg276">276</a>. + </li> + <li>Charles the Fifth, iii. 22. + </li> + <li>Charlotte, the Princess, attacks upon Lord Byron in + consequence of his verses to, iii. 1. 72. + <div style="margin-left: 2em"> + Death of, iv. 74. + </div> + </li> + <li>Chatham, Lord, a notice of, in one of Lord Byron's early + poems, i. 131. + <ul> + <li>His oratory, ii. 209. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Chatterton, Thomas, self-educated, i. 145. + <ul> + <li>Never vulgar, vi. <a href="#pg413">413</a>. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Chaucer, Geoffrey, character of his poetry, i. 148. + </li> + <li>Chauncy, Captain, v. 336. + </li> + <li>Chaworth, Mary Anne (afterwards Mrs. Musters), Lord Byron's + early attachment to, i. 79. + <ul> + <li>His last farewell of her, 84. + </li> + <li>Her marriage, 86. + </li> + <li>Interview with, after her marriage, 257. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Cheltenham, Lord Byron at, i. 56. + </li> + <li>Childe Alarique, ii.271. + </li> + <li>'CHILDE HAROLD'S PILGRIMAGE,' the poem commenced, i. 313.; + <ul> + <li>first produced to Mr. Dallas, ii. 15. + </li> + <li>The author's false judgment concerning, 16. + </li> + <li>Identification of Lord Byron's character with, 53. + </li> + <li>Mr. Gifford's opinion of the poem, 61. + </li> + <li>Preparations for publication, 79. + </li> + <li>Its progress through the press, 109. + </li> + <li>Mr. Moore's opinion, 113. + </li> + <li>Its publication and instantaneous success, 131.; + </li> + <li>alleged resemblance to Marmion in it, iii. 70. + </li> + <li>The 3d Canto written, 245. 247. + </li> + <li>Progress of the 4th Canto, iv. 40. 47. + </li> + <li>2500 guineas asked for it, 59. 62. + </li> + <li>The translation confiscated in Italy, 308. + </li> + <li>'The sublimest poetical achievement of mortal pen', vi. + <a href="#pg033">033</a>. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Chillon, Castle of, iii. 247. 257.; iv. 3. 231. + </li> + <li>'CHILLON, PRISONER OF, iii. 285.; iv. 27.221. + </li> + <li>Christ, what proved him the Son of God, vi. <a href="#pg369"> + 369</a>. + </li> + <li>'Christabel', Lord Byron's admiration of, iii. 193. 255. 320. + 331. + </li> + <li>Cicero, Antony's treatment of, ii. 257. + </li> + <li>Cid, i. 143. + </li> + <li>Cigars, ii. 296. + </li> + <li>Cintra, the most beautiful village in the world, i. 277. 280. + </li> + <li>Clare (John Fitzgibbon), Earl of, i. 63. 65. 69. 71. 73, 74, + 75, 99. 121.; ii. 101.; v. 277. 311. 340. 360. + </li> + <li>Clare, John, the poet, vi. <a href="#pg404">404</a>. + </li> + <li>Clarens, iii. 247. 257. 274. + </li> + <li>Claridge, Mr., i. 63. + </li> + <li>'Clarissa Harlowe.' ii. 309. + </li> + <li>Clarke, Rev. James Stanier, his 'Naufragia.' ii. 214. + </li> + <li>Clarke, Hewson, i. 245. + </li> + <li>Classical education, i. 197. + </li> + <li>Claudian, the 'ultimus Romanorum.' iv. 139. + </li> + <li>Claughton, Mr., ii. 173 n.; iii. 95. 101. 104. 118. + </li> + <li>Clayton, Mr., i. 63. + </li> + <li>Clitumnus, the river, iv. 31. + </li> + <li>Clubs, iii. 233. + </li> + <li>Coates, Romeo, his Lothario, iii. 102. + </li> + <li>Cobbett, William, ii. 261.; vi. <a href="#pg076">076</a>. + </li> + <li>Cochrane, Lord, iii. 12.; vi. <a href="#pg187">187</a>. + </li> + <li>'Cockney school' of poetry, vi. <a href="#pg410">410</a>. + </li> + <li>Cogni, Margarita (the Fornarina), story of, iv. 112, 113. + </li> + <li>Coldham, Mr., ii. 122. + </li> + <li>Coleridge, Samuel Taylor, esq., his 'Devil's Walk,' ii. 304. + <ul> + <li>His 'Remorse,' iii. 158. + </li> + <li>His 'Zopolia,' iii. 190. + </li> + <li>His 'Biographia Literaria,' iv. 65. + </li> + <li>His 'Christabel,' iii. 193. 255. 321. 331. + </li> + <li>Lord Byron's letters to, i. 245, 246.; ii. 225. + </li> + <li>See also, ii. 94, 95. 98. 101.; iii. 50. 158. 181. 183. + 190, 191. 321. 331.; iv. 65. + </li> + <li style="list-style: none"> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg427" id= + "pg427">427</a></span> + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Colman, George, esq., his prologue to 'Philaster,' ii. 165. + </li> + <li>——, George, jun., esq., parallel between Sheridan + and, ii. 204.; iii. 188. 259. + </li> + <li>Colocotroni, vi. <a href="#pg156">156</a>. 176. + </li> + <li>Colonna, Cape, i. 307. 317.; vi. <a href="#pg359">359</a>. + <ul> + <li>Columns of, vi. <a href="#pg359">359</a>. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Comedy more difficult to compose than Tragedy, ii. 300. + </li> + <li>Concanen, Mr., iii. 179. + </li> + <li>Congreve, self-educated, i. 145. + <ul> + <li>His comedies, iii. 12.; iv. 297. + </li> + <li>Driven from the stage by Mrs. Centlivre, v. 116. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Constance (a German lady), v. 73. + </li> + <li>Constant, Benjamin de, his 'Adolphe,' iii. 251. + </li> + <li>Constantinople, St. Sophia, i. 329. + <ul> + <li>The seraglio, 330. + </li> + <li>The first sea view, iv. 5. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Cooke, George Frederick, tragedian, an American Life of, ii. + 231, + <ul> + <li>The most natural of actors, iii. 77. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Coolidge, Mr., of Boston, v. 196. 199. + </li> + <li>Copet, iii. 250. 254, 255. 285, 285 n. + </li> + <li>Cordova, Admiral, i. 282. + </li> + <li>——, Sennorita, i. 282. + </li> + <li>'Corinne,' notes written by Lord Byron in, iv. 193. + </li> + <li>Corinth, i. 340. + </li> + <li>——, capture of, vi. <a href="#pg092">092</a>. + <ul> + <li>See 'SIEGE OF CORINTH.' + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Cork, Countess of, iii. 152. + </li> + <li>Cornwall, Barry (Bryan Walter Proctor), v. 115. 240. + </li> + <li>'CORSAIR, the; a Tale,' iii. 2. 12. 26. 28. 54, 54 n., 228. + </li> + <li>'Cosmopolite,' an amusing little volume full of French + flippancy, ii. 70. + </li> + <li>Cotin, L'Abbé, i. 231 n. + </li> + <li>Cottin, Madame, vi. <a href="#pg390">390</a>. + </li> + <li>'Could I remount the river of my years,' iii. 289. + </li> + <li>'Courier,' its attacks on Lord Byron, iii. 1 n., 2. 40. 46. + 48. 93. + </li> + <li>Courtenay, John, esq., anecdotes of, 211. + </li> + <li>Cowell, Mr. John, Letters to, ii. 119. iii. 123. + </li> + <li>Cowley, Abraham, his 'Essays' quoted, i. 89. + <ul> + <li>His character, ii. 194. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Cowper, Earl, iii. 93.; vi. <a href="#pg019">019</a>. + </li> + <li>——, Countess, v. 254. + </li> + <li>——, William, famous at cricket and football, i. + 64 n. + <ul> + <li>His remark on the English system of education, 65 n. + </li> + <li>His spaniel 'Beau,' 223. + </li> + <li>An example of filial tenderness, ii. 33 n. + </li> + <li>'No poet,' vi. <a href="#pg373">373</a>. + </li> + <li>His translation of Homer, <a href="#pg373">373</a>. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Crabbe, Rev. George, the just tribute to, in 'English Bards,' + i. 231, 232. + <ul> + <li>His 'Resentment,' ii. 229 n. + </li> + <li>His quality as a poet, iv. 64. 139. + </li> + <li>'The father of present poesy,' 80. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Crebillon, the younger, his marriage, vi. <a href= + "#pg391">391</a>. + </li> + <li>Cribb, Tom, the pugilist, ii. 277.; vi. <a href= + "#pg399">399</a>. + </li> + <li>Cricketing, one of Lord Byron's most favourite sports, i. + 133.; v. 34. + </li> + <li>'Critic,' Sheridan's, 'too good for a farce,' ii. 303. + </li> + <li>'Critical Review,' its praise of Lord Byron's poetry, i. 176. + </li> + <li>Croker, Right Hon. John Wilson, his query concerning the + title of the 'Bride of Abydos,' ii. 293. + <ul> + <li>His 'guess' as to the origin of 'Beppo iv. 95. + </li> + <li>Lord Byron's letter to, ii. 225. + </li> + <li>His 'Boswell' quoted, ii. 31. 50. 355.; iv. 84.; v. 30. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Crosby, Benjamin, i. 170. 173. + </li> + <li>Crowe, Rev, William, his criticism in 'English Bards,' ii. + 213. + </li> + <li>Curioni, Signor, singer, v. 126. + </li> + <li>Curran, Right Hon. John Philpot, Lord Byron's enthusiastic + praise, ii. 245.; iii. 234. + </li> + <li>'Curse of Kebama,' ii. 68. 94. + </li> + <li>'CURSE OF MINERVA,' ii. 145. 178. 180. + </li> + <li>Curzon, Mr., i. 61. 65. 151. + </li> + <li>Cuvìer, Baron, v. 245. + </li> + </ul> + <p> + D. + </p> + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Dallas, Robert Charles, commencement of his acquaintance with + Lord + </li> + <li style="list-style: none"> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg428" id="pg428">428</a></span> + Byron, i. 177. + <ul> + <li>Childe Harold first shown to him, ii. 15. + </li> + <li>Copywright of the Corsair presented to him, iii. 25. 49. + </li> + <li>His ingratitude, iv. 288. + </li> + <li>See also, i. 190.; ii. 45. 47. 104. + </li> + <li>Lord Byron's letters to, i. 191. 193.; ii. 12. 49. 52. + 56. 58. 61. 66. 68. 69. 71.; iii. 47. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Dalrymple, Sir Hew, i. 280. + </li> + <li>D'Alton, John, esq., his 'Dermid,' iii. 172. + </li> + <li>Dandies, iii. 4. 232. + </li> + <li>Dante, his early passion for Beatrice, i 26 n. + <ul> + <li>His infelicitous marriage, iii. 127. + </li> + <li>His poem celebrated long before his death, v. 15. + </li> + <li>His popularity, 93. + </li> + <li>His gentle feelings, 93. + </li> + <li>Lord Byron's resemblance to, vi. <a href= + "#pg232">232</a>. + </li> + <li>See also, i. 64 n.; iii. 127. 220.; vi. <a href="#pg368"> + 368</a>. + </li> + <li>'PROPHECY OF,' iv. 291. 308. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>D'Arblay, Madame (Miss Burney), 1000 guineas asked for one of + her novels, ii. 96. 100. + <ul> + <li>Her 'Cecilia,' 97. + </li> + <li>See also, ii. 333. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Darnley, death of, a fine subject for a drama, iii. 287. + </li> + <li>'DARKNESS,' iii. 59. + </li> + <li>Darwin, Dr. Erasmus, put down by the Anti-Jacobin, v. 13. + </li> + <li>Davies, Scrope, esq., i. 186,; ii. 39, 40. 51. 63, 63 n.; + iii. 20. 235. + </li> + <li>Davy, Sir Humphry, iii. 166.; iv. 303. 309. + </li> + <li>Dawkins, Mr., v. 331. + </li> + <li>'DEAR DOCTOR, I have read your play,' iv. 54. + </li> + <li>Death, iv. 52. 197.; v. 86. 90. + </li> + <li>Death, in the Apocalypse, iii. 263. + </li> + <li>De Bath, Lord, i. 65. + </li> + <li>Deformity, an incentive to distinction, iii. 241. + </li> + <li>D'Egville, John, the ballet-master, i. 213. + </li> + <li>Delaval, Sir Francis Blake, v. 97. + </li> + <li>Delawarr (George-John West), fifth Earl, i. 69. 121.; ii. + 101. + </li> + <li>Delia, poetical epistle from, to Lord Byron, iii. 217 n. + </li> + <li>Delladecima, Count, vi. <a href="#pg111">111</a>. + <ul> + <li>His opinion of Lord Byron's conduct in Greece, <a href= + "#pg111">111</a> n. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Delphi, fountain of, i. 304. 317. + </li> + <li>Demetrius, ii. 183. + </li> + <li>Denham, his 'Cowper's Hill,' ii. 193. + </li> + <li>Dent de Jument, iii. 258. + </li> + <li>Dervish Tahiri, Lord Byron's faithful Arnaout guide, iii. 194 + n. + </li> + <li>'Devil's Drive,' the, ii. 304. + </li> + <li>Devil's Walk,' Porson's, ii. 304. + </li> + <li>Devonshire, Duchess of (Lady Elizabeth Foster), her character + of the Roman government, v. 206 n. + </li> + <li>'Diary of an Invalid,' Matthews's, its merit, iv. 342. + </li> + <li>Dibdin, Thomas, play-wright, v. 190. + </li> + <li>Dick, Mr., i. 182. + </li> + <li>Diderot, his definition of sensibility, iii. 128. + </li> + <li>Digestion, iii. 5. + </li> + <li>Dioclesian, iii. 22. + </li> + <li>Dionysius at Corinth, iii. 22. + </li> + <li>D'Israeli, J., esq. his 'Essay on the Literary Character,' i. + 63.; ii. 7 n.; iii. 134. + <ul> + <li>His 'Quarrels of Authors,' iii. 15. 171. + </li> + <li>His remark on the effect of medicine upon the mind and + spirits, v. 264 n. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>'Distrest Mother,' excellence of the epilogue to, ii. 165. + </li> + <li>D'Ivernois, Sir Francis, iii. 233. + </li> + <li>Divorce, ii. 310. + </li> + <li>Dogs, fidelity of, i. 223.; iii. 143. + </li> + <li>——-, Lord Byron's fondness for, i. 134. + <ul> + <li>His epitaph on 'Boatswain,' 222. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Don, Brig of, i. 36. + </li> + <li>Donegal, Lady, iii. 9. + </li> + <li>'DON JUAN,' a scene in it adapted from the 'Narrative of the + Shipwreck of the Juno, in 1795,' i. 49. + <ul> + <li>Commencement of the poem, iv. 121. + </li> + <li>The 1st canto finished, 134. + </li> + <li>50 copies to be printed privately, 138. + </li> + <li>2nd canto, 141. + </li> + <li>'Nonsensical prudery' against it, 171. + </li> + <li>Mr. Murray in a fright about it, 177. + </li> + <li>The papers not so fierce as was anticipated, 179. + </li> + <li>Authorship to be kept anonymous, 186. 195. 351.; v. 34. + </li> + <li>General outcry against the poem, iv. 238. 250. + </li> + <li style="list-style: none"> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg429" id= + "pg429">429</a></span> + </li> + <li>Spurious 3rd cantos. 253. + </li> + <li>Mr. Murray going to law, 260. + </li> + <li>The author hurt but not frightened, 304. + </li> + <li>A French lady's compliments, 354. + </li> + <li>Third canto, v. 118. + </li> + <li>The fifth canto hardly the beginning of the poem, 126. + </li> + <li>The Countess Guiccioli's intercession for its + discontinuance, 201. 238. + </li> + <li>Shelley's opinion of it, 220. + </li> + <li>The poem all 'real life', 226. + </li> + <li>Errors of the press, 231. + </li> + <li>Partiality of the Germans for, 336. + </li> + <li>Permission from the Countess to continue it, 348. + </li> + <li>Three more cantos, 351. + </li> + <li>Another, 354. + </li> + <li>The 'Quarterly' Review of the poem, 371 + </li> + <li>An epitome of the author's character, vi. <a href= + "#pg034">034</a>. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Donna Bianca, or White Lady of Colalto the story of her + supernatural appearance, v. 31. + </li> + <li>D'Orsay, Count, vi. <a href="#pg013">013</a>. + <ul> + <li>His 'Journal', <a href="#pg018">018</a>. <a href= + "#pg022">022</a>. + </li> + <li>Lord Byron's letter to, <a href="#pg024">024</a>. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Dorset (George-John Frederick), fourth Duke of, i. 69. 151.; + ii. 151. 153. + <ul> + <li>'LINES occasioned by the death of', iii. 151. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Dorville, Mr, iv. 171. + </li> + <li>Dovedale, Lord Byron's eulogy of the scenery of, iii. 369. + </li> + <li>Dramatists, old English, 'full of gross faults', v. 115. + <ul> + <li>'Not good as models', 145. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>'DREAM,' The, its production, iii. 287. + <ul> + <li>The most mournful and picturesque story that ever came + from the pen and heart of man, 288. + </li> + <li>'One of the most interesting' of Lord Byron's poems, i + 83. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Dreams, ii. 270. + </li> + <li>Drummond, Sir William, ii. 95. + <ul> + <li>His 'OEdipus Judaicus', ii. 97. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>——, Mr., Lord Byron's schoolfellow at Harrow, i. + 91. + </li> + <li>Drury, Rev. Henry, Lord Byron's letters to, i. 200. 270. 315. + 325. 358.; ii. 122. + </li> + <li>——, Rev. Dr. Joseph, his account of Lord Byron's + disposition and capabilities while at Harrow, i. 57. + <ul> + <li>Lord Byron's character of, i. 64. + </li> + <li>His retirement from the mastership of Harrow, i. 86. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Drury, Mark, i. 87. + </li> + <li>Drury Lane Theatre, ii. 171. 174. 176.; iii. 181. 183. + <ul> + <li>'ADDRESS, spoken at the opening of', ii. 161.; iii. 181. + 183. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Dryden, his praise of Oxford, at the expense of Cambridge, i. + 198. + <ul> + <li>Eulogy of his 'Fables' by Lord Byron, v. 18. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>'Duenna,' Lord Byron's partiality for the songs in, i. 101. + </li> + <li>Duff, Colonel (Lord Byron's god-father), i. 101. + </li> + <li>——, Miss Mary (afterwards Mrs. Robert Cockburn), + Lord Byron's boyish attachment for, i. 26.; ii. 261. + </li> + <li>Dulwich, Lord Byron at school there, i. 44. + </li> + <li>Dumont, M, iv. 202. + </li> + <li>Duncan, Mr., Lord Byron's writing-master at Aberdeen, i. 19. + </li> + <li>Dwyer, Mr, i. 318. + </li> + <li>Dyer's 'Grongar Hill', vi. <a href="#pg365">365</a>. + </li> + </ul> + <p> + E. + </p> + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Eagles, a flight of, iii. 17. + </li> + <li>Eboli, Princess of, epigram on her losing an eye, vi. + <a href="#pg390">390</a>. + </li> + <li>Eclectic Review, its strictures on 'Hours of Idleness', i. + 192. + </li> + <li>Eddleston, the Cambridge chorister, Lord Byron's protegé, i. + 93. 160-161, 162. 164 n.; ii. 76. + </li> + <li>Edgecombe, Mr, iv. 155. 173. + </li> + <li>Edgehill, Battle, seven brothers of the Byron family at, i. + 6. + </li> + <li>Edgeworth, Richard Lovell, esq., sketch of, v. 78. + </li> + <li>——, Maria, v. 78-80. + </li> + <li>Edinburgh Annual Register, ii. 78. + </li> + <li>Edinburgh Review, its memorable critique on the 'Hours of + Idleness'. i. 204, 205. + <ul> + <li>Its effect on the author, 290.; ii. 266.; v. 144. 146. + </li> + <li style="list-style: none"> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg430" id= + "pg430">430</a></span> + </li> + <li>Its review of the 'Corsair' and 'Bride of Abydos', iii. + 96. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Education, English system of, i. 65. 199. + </li> + <li>Elba, Isle of, Lord Byron's 'Ode to Napoleon Buonaparte' on + his retreat to, iii.65. + </li> + <li>Eldon, Earl of, i. 236, 237.; ii. 129. + <ul> + <li>Anecdote of, ii. 149. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Elgin, Earl of, severe treatment of, in 'English Bards', ii. + 29. + <ul> + <li>The 'Curse of Minerva' levelled against him, iii. 145. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Ellice, Edward, esq., letter to, v. 342. + </li> + <li>Ellis, George, esq., ii. 259. + </li> + <li>Ellison, Lord Byron's school-fellow at Harrow, i. 91. + </li> + <li>Elliston, Robert William, comedian, Lord Byron's wish that he + should speak his 'Address' at Drury Lane theatre, ii. 162. 166. + </li> + <li>Eloquence, state of, in England, ii. 209. + </li> + <li>Endurance, of more worth than talent, iii. 296. + </li> + <li>ENGLISH BARDS AND SCOTCH REVIEWERS, the groundwork laid + before the appearance of the critique in the 'Edinburgh Review', + i. 175. + <ul> + <li>Sent to Mr. Harness, 238. + </li> + <li>Success of the satire, 242. + </li> + <li>The author's regret in having written it, 244.; ii. 13. + 145. 236. 259. 280.; iii. 159.; vi. <a href="#pg348">348</a>. + <a href="#pg350">350</a>. + </li> + <li>Refusal to republish it, iv. 69. + </li> + <li>Attempted publication of, in Ireland, iii. 110.; v. 128. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Englishman, Otway's three requisites for an, ii. 51. + </li> + <li>Envy, vi. <a href="#pg371">371</a>. + </li> + <li>Ephesus, ruins of, i. 313. + </li> + <li>EPIGRAM on Moore's Operatic Farce, or Farcical Opera, ii. 65. + </li> + <li>Erskine, Lord, his eloquence, ii. 209.; + <ul> + <li>his famous pamphlet, iii. 10. 17. + </li> + <li>See, also, ii. 157. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Essex (George-Capel), fifth Earl of, iii. 93. 170. + </li> + <li>Euxine, or Black Sea, description of, vi. <a href= + "#pg358">358</a>. + </li> + <li>Ewing, Dr., i. 55. + </li> + <li>Exeter 'Change, visit to, ii. 256. + </li> + </ul> + <p> + F. + </p> + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Faber, Rev. George, ii. 232 n. + </li> + <li>Fainting, sensation of, iii. 254. + </li> + <li>Falconer, his 'Shipwreck', vi. <a href="#pg357">357</a>. + <a href="#pg365">365</a>. + </li> + <li>Falkland (Lucius Gary), Viscount, killed in a duel by Mr. + Powell, i. 233. + </li> + <li>'Father of Light! Great God of Heaven!', i. 154. + </li> + <li>Falkner, Mr., Lord Byron's letter to, with a copy of his + poems, i. 128. + </li> + <li>Fall of Terni, iv. 31. + </li> + <li>Falmouth, i. 272. + </li> + <li>Fame, first tidings of, to Lord Byron, ii. 288. + <ul> + <li>See. also, 301.; iv. 160.; v.55. 76. 199. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>'FARE THEE WELL, and if for ever', iii. 229. + </li> + <li>Farrell, D., esq., i. 182. 185. + </li> + <li>Fatalism, ii. 272. + </li> + <li>'Faust,' Goethe's, iii. 375.; iv. 67. + </li> + <li>'Faustus,' Marlow's, iv. 67. + </li> + <li>Fawcett, John, comedian., v. 112. + </li> + <li>'Fazio,' Milman's tragedy of, iv. 92. + </li> + <li>Fear, v. 89. 90. + </li> + <li>Ferrara, Lord Byron's visit to, iv. 158. + </li> + <li>Fersen, Count, iii. 317. + </li> + <li>Fidler, Ernest, i. 21. + </li> + <li>Fielding, 'the prose Homer of human nature.' v. 55. + </li> + <li>Finlay, Kirkman, esq., vi. <a href="#pg089">089</a>. + </li> + <li>Fitzgerald, Lord Edward, iii. 11. + </li> + <li>——, William Thomas, esq., poetaster, iii. 29. 50. + </li> + <li>Flemish school of painting, iii. 300. + </li> + <li>Fletcher, William (Lord Byron's valet), i. 268. 296. 300. + 314. 329. 331. 338. 350. 357.; iii. 10.; vi. <a href= + "#pg216">216</a>, <a href="#pg217">217</a>. + </li> + <li>Flood, Right Hon. Henry, his debut in the House of Commons, + ii. 211. + </li> + <li>'Florence,' the lady addressed under this title in 'Childe + Harold' (Mrs., Spencer Smith), i. 286. + </li> + <li>Florence, Lord Byron's visits to the picture gallery, iv. + 12.; v. 279. + </li> + <li>Foote, Miss, the actress (afterwards, Countess of + Harrington), her debut in the 'Child of Nature', iii. 80. + </li> + <li style="list-style: none"> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg431" id="pg431">431</a></span> + </li> + <li>Forbes, Lady Adelaide, ii. 219.; iv. 28. + </li> + <li>Forresti, G., ii. 183. + </li> + <li>Forsyth, Joseph, esq., his 'Italy', iv. 342. + </li> + <li>Fortune, Lord Byron attributed everything to, ii. 27 n. + <ul> + <li>See, also, iii. 119. 338.; vi. <a href="#pg391">391</a>. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>'Foscari, the Two; an Historical Tragedy', v. 197. + </li> + <li>Foscolo, Ugo, iv. 141, 142. 348. 350. + <ul> + <li>His 'Essay on Petrarch', iii. 132.; vi. <a href="#pg232"> + 232</a>. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Fountain of Arethusa, Lord Byron's visit to, vi. <a href= + "#pg073">073</a> + </li> + <li>Fox, Right Hon. Charles James, notice of, in one of Lord + Byron's early poems, i. 131. + <ul> + <li>His Oratory, ii. 208. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>——, Henry, ii. 280. 292.; iv. 25.; vi. <a href= + "#pg012">012</a>. + </li> + <li>'Frament, A,' in prose, by Lord Byron, vi. <a href="#pg339"> + 339</a>. + </li> + <li>'FRANCESCA OF RIMINI; from the Inferno of Dante', iv. 293.; + v. 89. + </li> + <li>Francis, Sir Philip, the probable author of 'Junius', iv. 92. + </li> + <li>'Frankenstein,' Mrs. Shelley's, iii. 282.; iv. 149.; vi. + <a href="#pg339">339</a>. + </li> + <li>Franklin, Benjamin, ii. 273. + </li> + <li>Frederick the Second, 'the only monarch worth recording in + Prussian annals', i. 141. + </li> + <li>Free press in Greece, vi. <a href="#pg152">152</a>. + </li> + <li>Frere, Right Hon. John Hookham, his 'Whistlecraft,' iv. 67. + </li> + <li>Fribourg, iii. 267. + </li> + <li>Friday, supposed unluckiness of, vi. <a href= + "#pg062">062</a>. + </li> + </ul> + <p> + G. + </p> + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Galignani, M., v. 25, 26. 31. 117. 125. + </li> + <li>Gait, John, esq., his life of Lord Byron, i. xiv. + <ul> + <li>See, also, ii. 289. 300. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Gamba, Count Pietro, the Countess Guiccioli's letter to, + introducing Mr. Moore, iv. 242. + <ul> + <li>His friendship with Lord Byron, v. 43. 242. + </li> + <li>His arrest at Ravenna, 205. + </li> + <li>His notices of Lord Byron on his departure for Greece, + vi. <a href="#pg063">063</a>. <a href="#pg073">073</a>. + <a href="#pg084">084</a>. <a href="#pg113">113</a>. + <a href="#pg115">115</a>. <a href="#pg138">138</a>. + <a href="#pg194">194</a>. + </li> + <li>Remarks on Lord Byron's death, <a href="#pg215">215</a>. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Garrick, Sheridan's Monologue on, ii. 303. + </li> + <li>Gay, Madame Sophie, iv. 314.; v. 1. + </li> + <li>——, Mlle. Delphine, v. 1 n. + </li> + <li>Gell, Sir William, i. 230.; ii. 295. + </li> + <li>Review of his 'Geography of Ithaca,' and 'Itinerary of + Greece', vi. <a href="#pg296">296</a> + </li> + <li>Geneva, Lake of, iii. 268. + </li> + <li>George the Third, granted a pension to Mrs. Byron, i. 43. + </li> + <li>George the Fourth, his interview with Lord Byron, ii. 153. + <ul> + <li>His indignation against 'Cain', v. 309. + </li> + <li>The 'Vault reflection', iii. 55. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>'Georgics,' a finer poem than the Æneid, vi. <a href= + "#pg369">369</a>. + </li> + <li>Germany and the Germans, v. 73. + </li> + <li>Ghost, the Newstead, iii. 108. + </li> + <li>'Giaour, The; a Fragment of a Turkish Tale', the author's + fears for it, ii. 214. + <ul> + <li>First publication of, and its brilliant success, 188. + </li> + <li>Additions to, 226. 238. 242. + </li> + <li>The author's endeavours to 'beat' it, 325. + </li> + <li>The story on which it is founded, 189. 293. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Gibbon, Edward, esq., his remark on public schools, i. 86 n. + 90. + <ul> + <li>His acacia, iii. 246. + </li> + <li>His remark on his own History, v. 310. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Gifford, William, esq., his opinion of 'English Bards', i. + 243. + <ul> + <li>Lord Byron's disinclination that 'Childe Harold' should + be shown to him, ii. 55, 56. 61. 64. 67. + </li> + <li>Influence of his opinion on Lord Byron, 144. 181.; iii. + 32. 36. 227. 252. 298. 335. 344.; iv. 10. 338.; v. 203. 232. + 248. 306.; vi. <a href="#pg164">164</a>, <a href= + "#pg165">165</a>. + </li> + <li>And Jeffrey, monarch-makers in poetry and prose, ii. 259. + </li> + <li>The 'Bride of Abydos' submitted to, 318. + </li> + <li>Lord Byron's letters to, 215. 318. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Gilchrist, Octavius, vi. <a href="#pg346">346</a>. <a href= + "#pg250">250</a>. <a href="#pg254">254</a>. <a href= + "#pg383">383</a>. <a href="#pg387">387</a>. <a href= + "#pg393">393</a>. <a href="#pg401">401</a>. <a href= + "#pg407">407</a>. + </li> + <li style="list-style: none"> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg432" id="pg432">432</a></span> + </li> + <li>Gillies, R.P., the author of 'Childe Alarique,' ii. 271. + </li> + <li>Giordani, Signor, vi. <a href="#pg262">262</a>, + </li> + <li>Giorgione, iv. 241. 286, + <ul> + <li>His 'picture of his wife, 241. + </li> + <li>His judgment of Solomon, 286. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Giraud, Nicolo, Lord Byron's Greek protégé, i. 349.; ii. 43. + </li> + <li>'Glenarvon,' Lady Caroline Lamb's, iii. 249. 251. 314. 373.; + iv. 51. + </li> + <li>Glenbervie (Sylvester Douglas), first Lord, his treatise on + timber, ii. 295. + <ul> + <li>His 'Ricciardetto,' v. 328. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Glennie, Dr. (Lord Byron's preceptor). i. 44. + <ul> + <li>His account of his pupil's studies, 46. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Glover, Mrs., actress, iii. 185. + </li> + <li>Godwin, William, Lord Byron's munificence to, iii. 223. + </li> + <li>Goethe, his 'Kennst du das Land,' &c. imitated, ii. 314 + n. + <ul> + <li>His saying of Lord Byron; iii. 240.; v. 336. + </li> + <li>His 'Faust; iii. 275.; iv. 67.; v. 313. + </li> + <li>His remarks on 'Manfred.' iv. 322. + </li> + <li>Dedication of 'Marino Faliero' to, 355. + </li> + <li>His 'Werther.' 357. + </li> + <li>His 'Giaour' story, v. 293 n. + </li> + <li>Lord Byron's letter to, vi. <a href="#pg070">070</a>. + </li> + <li>His tribute to the memory of Byron, <a href= + "#pg068">068</a>. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Goetz, Countess, iii. 375. + </li> + <li>Gordon, Sir John, of Bogagicht, v. 2. + </li> + <li>——, Sir William, grandson of James I., an + ancestor of Lord Byron's, i. 6. + </li> + <li>——, Duchess of, i. 169. + </li> + <li>——, Mr., vi. <a href="#pg111">111</a>. + </li> + <li>——, Lord Alexander, i. 169. + </li> + <li>——, Pryce, esq., iii. 243. + </li> + <li>Gordons of Gight, i. 6. + </li> + <li>Gower, Lord Granville Leveson (now Earl and Viscount + Granville), ii. 299. + </li> + <li>'Gradus ad Parnassum,' Lord Byron's triangular, ii. 276. + </li> + <li>Grafton (George Henry Fitzroy), fourth Duke of, ii. 148. + </li> + <li>Grainger, his 'Ode to Solitude.' vi. <a href= + "#pg359">359</a>. + </li> + <li>Grant, David, his 'Battles and War Pieces.' i. 17. + </li> + <li>Grattan, Right Hon. Henry, his oratory, ii. 208. + <ul> + <li>Curran's mimicry of him, iii. 234. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Gray, his description of Cambridge. i. 196. + <ul> + <li>His preference for his Latin poems, ii 18 n. + </li> + <li>An example of filial tenderness, 33 n. + </li> + <li>His 'Elegy.' v. 15. 109.; vi. <a href="#pg362">362</a>. + <a href="#pg369">369</a>. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>——, May (Lord Byron's nurse), i. 13. 34. 37. 54. + </li> + <li>Greece, past and present condition of, v. 242. + </li> + <li>Small extent of, i. 304. + </li> + <li>Greek islands, resources for an emigrant population in, vi. + <a href="#pg048">048</a>. + </li> + <li>Greeks, character of the, i. 318. + <ul> + <li>Cause of the purity with which they wrote their own + language, i. 145 n. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Gregson, the pugilist, i. 225.; vi. <a href="#pg399">399</a>. + </li> + <li>Grenville (William Wyndham), Lord, ii. 129, 130. 208. + </li> + <li>Greville, Colonel, challenges Lord Byron for an insinuation + in 'English Bards.' ii. 139. + </li> + <li>Grey, Charles (afterwards Earl Grey), his oratory, ii. 208. + <ul> + <li>See also iii. 19.; v. 76. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Grey de Ruthven, Lord, Newstead Abbey let to him, i. 79. 215. + </li> + <li>Grillparzer, his tragedy of Sappho. v. 72. + </li> + <li>Character of his writings, 73. + </li> + <li>Grimaldi, Joseph, Covent Garden clown, i. 213. + </li> + <li>Grimm, Baron, ii. 252.; v. 81. 95, 96. 102. + <ul> + <li>His 'Correspondence' as valuable as Muratori or + Tiraboschi, 96. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Grindenwald, the, iii. 253. 265. + </li> + <li>'Grongar Hill,' Dyer's, vi. <a href="#pg365">365</a>. + </li> + <li>Guerrino, a picture of his at Milan, iii. 300. + </li> + <li>Guiccioli, Count, iv. 144. 165. 170. 200. 256. 262. 312. 315. + 328. + </li> + <li>——, Countess, her first introduction to Lord + Byron, iv. 144.; + <ul> + <li>attacked with fever; 165. 170. 174.; + </li> + <li>sincerity of Lord Byron's attachment to her, 174.; + </li> + <li>accompanies Lord Byron to Venice, 200.; + </li> + <li>disinterestedness of her conduct, and, 232. and i. xiv.; + </li> + <li>returns with the Count to Ravenna, 262.; + </li> + <li style="list-style: none"> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg433" id= + "pg433">433</a></span> + </li> + <li>Lord Byron follows her, 270. 274.; + </li> + <li>efforts for a separation, 315. 319. v. 85.; + </li> + <li>the Pope pronounces for it, 328.; + </li> + <li>the Countess retires to her father's villa, 331; + </li> + <li>arrest of her father and brother, v. 205.; + </li> + <li>Shelley's opinion of her connexion with Lord Byron, 217. + 219l + </li> + <li>her intercession for the discontinuance of Don Juan, + 238.; + </li> + <li>Lord Byron's unwilling departure for Greece, vi. + <a href="#pg056">056</a>.; + </li> + <li>his letters to the Countess from Greece, <a href= + "#pg091">091</a>. + </li> + <li>See also, iv. 295.; v. 51. 141. 271. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Guildford, Earl of, v. 296.; vi. <a href="#pg182">182</a>. + </li> + <li>Guinguene, P.L., ii. 253.; v. 96. + </li> + <li>Gulley, John, the pugilist (in 1832 M. P. for Pontefract), + vi. <a href="#pg399">399</a>. + </li> + </ul> + <p> + H. + </p> + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Hafiz, the oriental Anacreon, i. 146. + </li> + <li>Hailstone, Professor, i. 115 + </li> + <li>Hall, Captain Basil, Lord Byron's attention to, iv. 129.; + <ul> + <li>his letter to, 131. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Hamilton, Lady Dalrymple, iv. 150. + </li> + <li>Hancock, Charles, esq,. iv 114. + <ul> + <li>Lord Byron's letters to, 121. 127. 131. 133. 139. 177. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Hannibal, saying of, ii. 94. + </li> + <li>Hanson, John, esq. (Lord Byron's solicitor), i. 57. 221. 300. + 314. 357.; iii. 10.; iv. 53. 126.; vi. <a href="#pg010">010</a>. + </li> + <li>——, Miss (afterwards Countess of Portsmouth), i. + 134.; + <ul> + <li>Lord Byron's presence at her marriage, iii. 10, 11.; vi. + <a href="#pg010">010</a>. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>'Hardyknute,' the fine poem so called, its effect on Lord + Byron, iii. 163. + </li> + <li>Harrington, Earl of. See Stanhope. + </li> + <li>——, Countess of. See Foote. + </li> + <li>Harley, Lady Charlotte (the 'lanthe' to whom the first and + second cantos of 'Childe Harold' are dedicated), ii. 186, 186 n. + </li> + <li>——, Lady Jane, iii. 186. + </li> + <li>Harness, Rev. William, i. 70.; ii. 98. 107. 138. + <ul> + <li>His sermons quoted, i. 177 n.; + </li> + <li>Lord Byron's letters to, i. 202. 238.; ii. 93, 94. 100. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Harris, his 'Philosophical Inquiries,' i. 306 n. + </li> + <li>Harrow, Lord Byron's entrance at, i. 54.; + <ul> + <li>his first Harrow verses, 61.; + </li> + <li>his magnanimity in behalf of his friend Peel, 68.; + </li> + <li>'Byron's tomb,' 77.; v. 334.; + </li> + <li>his attachment to Harrow, 182. 196.; ii. 94. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Harrowby, Earl of, ii. 129. + </li> + <li>Harrowgate, Lord Byron's visit to, i. 112. + </li> + <li>Hartington, Marquis of (afterwards sixth Duke of Devonshire), + i. 165. + </li> + <li>Harvey, Mrs. Jane, iv. 150. + </li> + <li>Hatchard, Mr. John, i. 242. + </li> + <li>Hawke (Edward Harvey), third Lord, iii. 123. + </li> + <li>Hay, Captain, iii. 123. + </li> + <li>Hayley, his 'Triumphs of Temper,' Lord Byron's eulogy of, v. + 12. + </li> + <li>Hayreddin, ii. 266. + </li> + <li>Hazlitt, William, his style, v. 91. + </li> + <li>Headfort, Marchioness of, i. 173. + </li> + <li>'HEBREW MELODIES,' iii. 141. 150. 190. + </li> + <li>Helen, 'LINES on Canova's bust of,' iii. 323. + </li> + <li>Hellespont, Lord Byron's swimming feat from Sestos to Abydos, + i. 316. 323.; v. 129-134. + </li> + <li>Hemans, Mrs., her 'Restoration,' iii. 255. + <ul> + <li>Character of her poetry, iv. 321. 343. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Henley, Orator, i. 272. + </li> + <li>Herbert of Cherbury, Lord, his life much interested Lord + Byron, i. 92. + </li> + <li>Hero and Leander, i. 316. 323, 324. + </li> + <li>Hill, Aaron, v. 55. + </li> + <li>'Hills of Annesley, bleak and barren.' i. 84. + </li> + <li>'HINTS FROM HORACE,' written at Athens, i. 350.; + <ul> + <li>first produced to Mr. Dallas, ii. 13, 14.; + </li> + <li>singular preference given by the author to them, iv. 296. + </li> + <li>See also, ii. 70. 78.; iv. 340.; v. 34. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Hippopotamus at Exeter Change, ii. 256. + </li> + <li>Historians, list of, perused by Lord Byron at nineteen, i. + 140. + </li> + <li style="list-style: none"> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg434" id="pg434">434</a></span> + </li> + <li>Hoare, Mr., Lord Byron's schoolfellow at Harrow, i. 91. + </li> + <li>Hobbes, Thomas, i. 143. + </li> + <li>Hobhouse, Right Hon. Henry, i. 186. + </li> + <li>——, Right Hon. Sir John Cam, Bart., his 'Journey + through Albania' quoted, i. 297.; ii. 9. + <ul> + <li>His 'Historical Notes to Childe Harold,' i. 95. 181-183. + 185, 185. 188. 243. 349.; ii. 39. 49. 56. 63. 98. 119.; iii. + 2. 4. 11. 253, 254. 345.; iv. 2, 3. 59, 62. 72, 123. 273.; v. + 250. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Hodgson, Rev. Francis, Lord Byron's well-timed assistance to, + i. 380 n.; ii. 108. + <ul> + <li>His 'Friends,' iv. 143. + </li> + <li>Lord Byron's letters to, i. 222. 225. 272. 277, 278. 312. + 343. 354.; ii. 77. 97. 99. 118. 129.; iii. 40. + </li> + <li>See also, i. 222. 227, 227 n.; ii. 69. 73. 83. 87. 108. + 227. 234. 255. 262. 287, 287 n. 323.; iii. 5, 6. 100. 123. + 313.; v. 153. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Hogg, James, the Ettrick shepherd, iii. 99. 101. 109, 110.; + iv. 352. + </li> + <li>Holerott, Thomas, his 'Memoirs,' iii. 296. + </li> + <li>Holderness, Lady, i. 53. + </li> + <li>Holland, Lord, the allusion to, in English Bards, i. 246.; + ii. 259.; + <ul> + <li>commencement of Lord Byron's acquaintance with, ii. 120. + 129.; + </li> + <li>his oratory, 208. + </li> + <li>Lord Byron's letters to, ii. 122. 130. 154. 159. 162, + 163. 165. 167. 176. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Holland, Lady, ii. 259. 283.; iii. 93. + </li> + <li>——, Dr., i. 295.; ii. 242. + </li> + <li>Holmes, Mr., the miniature painter, v. 141. 224. + </li> + <li>Homer, geography of, Visit to the school of, v. 70. + </li> + <li>Hope, Thomas, esq., his 'Anastasius,' iv. 342. + </li> + <li>Hoppner, R B., esq., his account of Lord Byron's mode of life + at Venice, iv. 82. 224. + <ul> + <li>'LINES on the birth of his son,' iv. 86. + </li> + <li>Lord Byron's letters to, iv. 61. 75. 87. 158. 168. 171. + 244. 247. 249. 252. 268. 271. 275, 276. 298. 303. 217.; + </li> + <li>see also, v. 141. 174. 185. 189. 209. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Horace, Lord Byron's early dislike to, i. 198. + <ul> + <li>Quoted, iii. 4. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>'Horace in London,' ii. 184. + <ul> + <li>See 'Hints from Horace,' 61. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Horestan Castle, Derbyshire, held by Lord Byron's ancestors, + i. 1. + </li> + <li>'Horsæ Ionicæ, ii. 62. + </li> + <li>Homer, Francis, esq., ii. 282. + </li> + <li>'HOURS OF IDLENESS,' first publication of, i. 129.; + <ul> + <li>a review of, 168.; + </li> + <li>another in the 'Critical Review,'176.; + </li> + <li>furious philippic in the 'Eclectic,' 192.; + </li> + <li>Critique of the Edinburgh Review, 204. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Howard, Hon. Frederick, iii. 174. + </li> + <li>Hume, David, his Essays, i. 177 n. + <ul> + <li>His 'Treatise of Human Nature,' 208 n. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Hunt, John, v. 371,; vi. <a href="#pg002">002</a>. + </li> + <li>——, Leigh, Lord Byron's first acquaintance with, + ii. 204. + <ul> + <li>Described, ii. 286.; iv. 103. + </li> + <li>His 'Rimini,' iii. 190, 191. 201, 201 n. + </li> + <li>His 'Foliage,' iv. 103. + </li> + <li>His 'Byron and some of his Contemporaries,' vi. + <a href="#pg005">005</a>. + </li> + <li>See also, ii. 221. 286.; iii. 190, 191. 201. 369.; iv. 3. + 6. 33. 103.; v. 299. 317. 349, 354,; vi. <a href= + "#pg001">001</a>. <a href="#pg003">003</a>. <a href="#pg005"> + 005</a>. <a href="#pg015">015</a>. <a href= + "#pg411">411</a>. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Hunter, P., esq., i. 61. 65. + </li> + <li>Hurd, Bishop, his remark on academical studies, i. 197. + </li> + <li>Hutchinson, Colonel, his Memoirs, i. 6. + </li> + <li>'Huzza! Hodgson, we are going,' i. 273. + </li> + <li>Hymettus, vi. <a href="#pg359">359</a>. + </li> + <li>Hypochondriacism, vi. <a href="#pg396">396</a>. + </li> + </ul> + <p> + I + </p> + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Ida, mount, i. 317. + </li> + <li>Imagination, vi. <a href="#pg370">370</a>. + </li> + <li>Immortality of the soul, ii. 216.; v. 86. 308.; vi. + <a href="#pg257">257</a>. + </li> + <li>Improvisatore, account of one at Milan, iii. 307. + </li> + <li>'Ina,' Mrs. Wilmot's tragedy of, iii. 167. + </li> + <li>Inchbald, Mrs., her 'Simple Story,' ii. 298. + <ul> + <li>Her 'Nature and Art,' 289. + </li> + <li style="list-style: none"> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg435" id= + "pg435">435</a></span> + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Incledon, Charles, singer, iv. 192. + </li> + <li>'INEZ,' Stanzas to, ii. 110. + </li> + <li>Interlachen, iii. 262. 266. + </li> + <li>Invention, vi. <a href="#pg370">370</a>. + </li> + <li>Iris, the, iii. 297. + </li> + <li>'IRISH AVATAR,' v. 241. 243, 244. + </li> + <li>Irving, Washington, esq., v. 196. + </li> + <li>Italian manners, iv. 283. + </li> + <li>Italians, bad translators, except from the classics, v. 72. + </li> + <li>Italy, the only modern nation in Europe that has a poetical + language, v. 15. + </li> + <li>Ithaca, excursion to, vi. <a href="#pg073">073</a>. + </li> + </ul> + <p> + J. + </p> + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Jackson, 'John, the professor of pugilism, i. 213. 277.; iii. + 137. 353. + </li> + <li>Lord Byron's letters to, i. 214, 215. + </li> + <li>Jacobson, M., v. 198. + </li> + <li>'Jacqueline,' Mr. Rogers's, iii. 92. + </li> + <li>Jeffrey, Francis, esq., allusion to in 'English Bards,' i. + 245.; + <ul> + <li>his duel with Mr. Moore, ii. 80.; + </li> + <li>his review of the 'Giaour,' 231. 234.; + </li> + <li>his criticisms on Lord Byron's works, iii. 16. 61. 105. + 107. 190. 357. 373.; iv. 68.; v. 299. 333. 340.; + </li> + <li>his review of Coleridge's 'Christabel,' iii. 320. 345. + 350. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Jersey, Earl of, ii. 157. + </li> + <li>——, Countess of, ii. 147.; iii. 101. 148. 231. + 313. 323.; iv. 13. + </li> + <li>Jesus Christ, iv. 369. + </li> + <li>Job, ii. 259.; iii. 249. + </li> + <li>Jocelyn, Lord, (afterwards Earl of Roden), i. 64. + </li> + <li>Johnson, Dr., ii. 11. 59.; iv. 169. + <ul> + <li>His prologue on opening Drury Lane theatre, ii. 165. + </li> + <li>His 'Vanity of Human Wishes,' v. 66. + </li> + <li>His melancholy, iv. 397. + </li> + <li>His 'Lives of the Poets,' 376 n. + </li> + <li>His 'London,' 392.; + </li> + <li>Lord Byron's high opinion of him, v. 20. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Jones, Mr., tutor at Cambridge, i. 184. + </li> + <li>——, Richard, comedian, iii. 12. + </li> + <li>Jordan, Mrs., actress, iii. 12. + </li> + <li>Joukoffsky, the Russian poet, vi. <a href="#pg110">110</a>. + <a href="#pg110">110</a> n. + </li> + <li>Joy, Henry, esq., his visit to Byron, iv. 57.; vi. <a href= + "#pg225">225</a>. + </li> + <li>Juliet's tomb, iii. 308. 322. 375. + <ul> + <li>See Romeo. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Julius Cæsar, his times, v. 104. + </li> + <li>Jungfrau, the, iii. 253. 262. 264. 361. 374. + </li> + <li>Junius's letters, ii. 269.; iv. 92. + </li> + <li>'Juno,' shipwreck of the, i. 49. + </li> + <li>Jura mountains, iii. 260. + </li> + <li>Juvenal, iii. 22. + </li> + </ul> + <p> + K. + </p> + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Kay, Mr., painter, i. 55. + </li> + <li>Kayo, Sir Richard, i. 4. + </li> + <li>Kean, Edmund, tragedian, his Richard the Third, iii. 5. + <ul> + <li>Lord Byron's enthusiastic admiration of, 77. + </li> + <li>Effect of his Sir Giles Over-reach on, 77.; 158. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Keats, John, his poems, iv. 352, 353.; v. 34. + <ul> + <li>Died through bursting a blood-vessel on reading the + article on his 'Endymion' in the Quarterly Review, v. 21 n. + 144. 146. 179. 212. + </li> + <li>His depreciation of Pope, v. 23.; vi. <a href= + "#pg411">411</a>. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Kelly, Miss, actress, iii. 180. + </li> + <li>Kemble, John Philip, esq., his Coriolanus, ii. 101. + <ul> + <li>His Hamlet, iii. 5. + </li> + <li>Intreats Lord Byron to write a tragedy, 33. + </li> + <li>His acting described, 77 n. + </li> + <li>His Othello, 80. + </li> + <li>His Iago, 81. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Kennedy, Dr., his 'Conversations on religion with Lord Byron + in Cephalonia,' vi. <a href="#pg085">085</a>. + <ul> + <li>Lord Byron's letters to, vi. <a href="#pg172">172</a>. + <a href="#pg179">179</a>. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Kent, Mr., his taste in gardening formed by Pope, vi. + <a href="#pg408">408</a>. + </li> + <li>Kidd, Captain, i. 270. 276. + <ul> + <li>Strange story related to Lord Byron by, 276 n. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Kien Long, his 'Ode to Tea,' i. 147. + </li> + <li>Kinnaird, Hon. Douglas, ii. 99.; iii. 137. 170. 186. 252.; + vi. <a href="#pg103">103</a>. <a href="#pg107">107</a>. + <ul> + <li>Lord Byron's letters to, v. 302.; vi. <a href= + "#pg103">103</a>. <a href="#pg163">163</a>. + </li> + <li style="list-style: none"> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg436" id= + "pg436">436</a></span> + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Klopstock, i. 64 n. + </li> + <li>Knight, Galley, esq., i. 182. + <ul> + <li>His 'Persian Tales,' ii. 313.; iii. 56. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Knox, Captain (British resident at Ithaca), vi. <a href= + "#pg073">073</a>. + </li> + <li>Kosciusko, General, v. 94. + </li> + <li>Koran, sublime poetical passages in, i. 146. + </li> + </ul> + <p> + L. + </p> + <ul class="IX"> + <li>La Bruytère, vi. <a href="#pg227">227</a>. + </li> + <li>Lachin-y-gair, i. 22. + </li> + <li>Lago Maggiore, iii. 299. + </li> + <li>Lake Leman, iii. 259. + </li> + <li>Lake School of Poetry, iv. 80. 339. + </li> + <li>'Lakers,' the, vi. <a href="#pg410">410</a>. + </li> + <li>'Lalla Rookh,' ii. 250.; iii. 359. 365.; iv. 63.; v. 194. + 213. + </li> + <li>Lamartine, M., iv. 318. 330. + </li> + <li>Lamb, Hon. George, i. 245.; iii. 187. + </li> + <li>——, Lady Caroline, ii. 151. 153. 299.; iv. 54. + <ul> + <li>Her 'Glenarvon,' iii. 249. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>'LAMENT OF TASSO,' iv. 11. 14. + </li> + <li>Lansdowne, (Henry Fitzmaurice Pitty), fourth Marquis of, ii. + 157. 208. + </li> + <li>'LAKA; a Tale,' iii. 89. 92, 93. 110. 228. + </li> + <li>Lauderdale, Earl of, his oratory, ii. 290. + </li> + <li>Laura, her portrait, iv. 8. + </li> + <li>La Valière, Madame, vi. <a href="#pg390">390</a>. + </li> + <li>Lavender, the Nottingham empiric, i. 41. + </li> + <li>Lawrence, Sir Thomas, v. 76. + </li> + <li>Leacroft, Mr., i. 98. 117. + </li> + <li>——, Miss, i. 100. + </li> + <li>Leake, Colonel, i. 294. 316.; ii. 9. + <ul> + <li>His 'Outlines of the Greek Revolution,' vi. <a href= + "#pg079">079</a>. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Leandor and Hero, i. 316. 323, 324.; v. 129. + </li> + <li>Leckie, Gould Francis, esq., ii. 139. 141. + </li> + <li>Leigh, Mr., Lord Byron's schoolfellow at Harrow, i. 91. + </li> + <li>——, Colonel, iii. 154. + </li> + <li>——, Hon. Augusta (Lord Byron's sister), i. 7.; + ii. 48. 131. 273.; iii. 20. 37. 134 n. 291. 351.; iv. 26. + </li> + <li>Leinster, Duke of, i. 165. + </li> + <li>Leman, Lake, iii. 259. + </li> + <li>Le Man, Mr., v. 97. + </li> + <li>Leoni, Signor, his translation of Childe Harold, iv. 308. + </li> + <li>Lepanto, Gulf of, i. 304.; iii. 18. + </li> + <li>Lerici, v. 366. + </li> + <li>Leveson-Gower, Lady Charlotte (afterwards Countess of + Surrey), iii. 19. + </li> + <li>Levis, Due de, iii. 61. + </li> + <li>Lewis, Matthew Gregory, esq., ii. 255. 285. 309.; iii. 189. + 295. 375.; iv. 46.; v. 111. + </li> + <li>'Liberal,' the, v. 317. 347. 366. 372.; vi. <a href="#pg003"> + 003</a>. <a href="#pg007">007</a>, <a href="#pg008">008</a>. + <a href="#pg053">053</a>. + </li> + <li>Liberty, v. 68. + </li> + <li>Life, ii. 297.; v. 67. 86. 199. 315.; vi. <a href= + "#pg263">263</a>. + </li> + <li>Likenesses, iii. 186. + </li> + <li>Lisbon, i. 277, 278.; ii. 69.; iv. 5. + </li> + <li>'Lisbon packet,' i. 273. + </li> + <li>Liston, Sir Robert, ii. 183. + </li> + <li>——, John, comedian, ii. 114.; iv. 247. + </li> + <li>Little's Poems, i. 119.; iv. 250.; v. 372. + </li> + <li>Liverpool, Earl of, ii. 256. 308. + </li> + <li>Livy, ii. 196. + </li> + <li>Lloyd, Charles, esq., ii. 94. + </li> + <li>Lobster nights, Pope's and Lord Byron's, iii. 83. + </li> + <li>Loch Leven, i. 37.; iv. 355. + </li> + <li>Locke, his treatise on education, i. 89 n. + <ul> + <li>His contempt for Oxford, i. 197 n. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Lockhart, J.G., esq., his 'Life of Burns,' i. 139 n. + <ul> + <li>His marriage with Miss Scott, v. 301. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>——, Mrs., v. 301. + </li> + <li>Lodburgh, his 'Death Song,' i. 147. + </li> + <li>Lofft, Capel, ii. 25. + </li> + <li>Londo, Andrea, the Greek patriot, vi. <a href= + "#pg151">151</a>. <a href="#pg184">184</a>. + <ul> + <li>Account of, <a href="#pg151">151</a> n. + </li> + <li>Lord Byron's letter to, vi. <a href="#pg151">151</a>. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Londonderry (Robert Stewart), second Marquis of, v. 354.; vi. + <a href="#pg053">053</a>. + </li> + <li>Long, Edward Noel, esq., Lord Byron's schoolfellow at Harrow, + i. 65. 91. 94. 182.; ii. 76 n. + </li> + <li style="list-style: none"> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg437" id="pg437">437</a></span> + </li> + <li>Long, Miss (afterwards Mrs. Long Pole Wellesley).ii. 95. + </li> + <li>Longevity, v. 261. + </li> + <li>Longmans, Messrs., ii. 29.; iii. 102. 154. + </li> + <li>Love, 'Not the principal passion for tragedy.' v. 115. + <ul> + <li>Success in, dependent on fortune, vi. <a href= + "#pg391">391</a>. + </li> + <li>Woman's, v. 34.; vi. <a href="#pg391">391</a>. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Low spirits, v. 284. + </li> + <li>Lowe, Sir Hudson, iii. 234. + </li> + <li>Lucretius, ii. 262. 370.; vi. <a href="#pg370">370</a>. + </li> + <li>Luc, Jean André de, iv. 3. + </li> + <li>Ludlow, General, the regicide, his monument, iii. 256. + </li> + <li>His domal inscription, v. 53 n. + </li> + <li>Lushington, Dr., his letter to Lady Byron, vi. <a href= + "#pg279">279</a>. + </li> + <li>Lutzerode, Baron, v. 336. + </li> + <li>Luxembourg, Maréchal, vi. <a href="#pg390">390</a>. + </li> + <li>Lyttleton, George, Lord. i. 190. + <ul> + <li>Lord Byron compared to, i. 191. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>——, Thomas, Lord, i. 190. + </li> + </ul> + <p> + M. + </p> + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Machinery, effects of, ii. 123. + </li> + <li>Mackenzie, Henry, esq., his notice of Lord Byron's early + poems, i. 126, 127. 157. + </li> + <li>Mackintosh, Sir James, brightest of northern constellations, + ii. 238. 242. + <ul> + <li>his review of Rogers in the Edinburgh Review; 281.; + </li> + <li>a rare instance of the union of very transcendent talent + and great good nature; 284.; + </li> + <li>his letter in the 'Morning Chronicle; iii. 14.; + </li> + <li>high expectation of his promised history; 17.; + </li> + <li>strong impression made by him on Lord Byron, 295. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Macnamara, Arthur, esq, i. 182. + </li> + <li>Mafra, the palace of, the boast of Portugal, i. 281. + </li> + <li>Mahomet, ii. 266. + </li> + <li>Maid of Athens, i. 307. 320. + <ul> + <li>Account of, 308. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Maintenon, Madame, verses written by Lord Byron in a volume + of her letters, i. 85. + </li> + <li>Malamocco, wall of, vi. <a href="#pg366">366</a>. + </li> + <li>'MANFRED; A DRAMATIC POEM,' finished; iii. 345.; + <ul> + <li>extracts sent to Mr. Murray; 34.; + </li> + <li>offered to him for 300 guineas; 354. 366.; iv. 50.; + </li> + <li>a sort of mad Drama; instructions for its title; iv. 4.; + </li> + <li>the third act to be re-written; 10. 15.; + </li> + <li>new third act sent to Mr. Murray; 13.; + </li> + <li>a critique on; omission of a line; 52.; + </li> + <li>critique of the 'Edinburgh Review; 67.; + </li> + <li>a menaced version of the poem; 87.; + </li> + <li>Goethe's remarks on, iv. 322. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Mansel, Dr., Bishop of Bristol, i. 115. 188.; ii. 93. + </li> + <li>Manton gun, Lord Byron's, ii. 9. + </li> + <li>'Manuel,' Mathurin's, iv. 5. 35. 47. + </li> + <li>Marden, Mrs., actress, iii. 176. + </li> + <li>Marianna Segati, iii. 311. 318. 323. 330.; iv. 26. + </li> + <li>'MARINO FALIERO, DOGE of VENICE; an Historical Tragedy.' + Intention to write the tragedy; iii. 348. 371.; + <ul> + <li>commenced; iv. 301.; + </li> + <li>advanced into the second act.; 311.; + </li> + <li>completed; 333.; + </li> + <li>not intended for the stage.; 342.; v. 71. 80. 117. + 120-122. 136.; + </li> + <li>Mr. Gifford's opinion of it; 343. 348.; + </li> + <li>a note to be introduced; 352.; + </li> + <li>the author's talent 'especially undramatic; v. 115.; + </li> + <li>a phrase to be altered; 124.; + </li> + <li>the poem not popular; 127.; + </li> + <li>lines to be introduced; 140. + </li> + <li>reported representation of the play and its condemnation; + 176. 180. 190.; + </li> + <li>a note for the next edition, 211. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Marlow, his 'Faustus.' iv. 67. + </li> + <li>'Marmion.' iii. 227. + </li> + <li>Marriage ceremony, iii. 11. + </li> + <li>Marriages, great cause of unhappy ones, iii. 212. + </li> + <li>'Mary,' Lord Byron's love for the name, vi. <a href="#pg415"> + 415</a>. + </li> + <li>—— of Aberdeen, i. 123 n. + </li> + <li>Massaniello, v. 88. + </li> + <li>Materialism, vi. <a href="#pg259">259</a>. + </li> + <li>Mathews, Charles, comedian, iii. 164. + </li> + <li>Mathurin, Rev. Charles, iii. 184. 224, 225. 263. 369. 372.; + iv. 5. 47. + <ul> + <li>His 'Bertram.' iii. 184.; iv. 65. + </li> + <li>His 'Manuel,', iv. 5. 35. 47. + </li> + <li style="list-style: none"> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg438" id= + "pg438">438</a></span> + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Matlock, Lord Byron at, i. 81. + </li> + <li>Matter, vi. <a href="#pg258">258</a>. + </li> + <li>Matthews, John, esq., of Belmont, some account of, ii. 40. + </li> + <li>——, Charles Skinner, esq., i. 96. 181.; ii. 38, + 38 n., 39, 39 n., 40. 49. 51. 58. 63. + <ul> + <li>Lord Byron's account of, i. 181.; ii. 38 n., 39. 63. + </li> + <li>His visit to Newstead, i. 247. + </li> + <li>Tributes to his memory. ii. 40. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>——, Henry, esq., ii. 40 n. + <ul> + <li>His 'Diary of an Invalid,' iv. 342. + </li> + <li>Account of, v. 30. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>——, Rev. Arthur, ii. 40 n. + </li> + <li>Matthison, Frederic, his 'Letters from the Continent' iii. + 250. + </li> + <li>Maugiron, epigram on the loss of his eye, vi. <a href= + "#pg390">390</a>. + </li> + <li>Mavrocordato, Prince, vi. <a href="#pg096">096</a>. 105. 109. + 168. + <ul> + <li>Lord Byron's letters to, vi. <a href="#pg096">096</a>. + </li> + <li>Proclamation issued by him, on Lord Byron's death, vi. + <a href="#pg213">213</a>. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Mawman, Joseph, bookseller, v. 233. 238. + </li> + <li>Mayfield, Mr. Moore's residence in Staffordshire, ii. 223. + </li> + <li>'MAZEPPA' iv. 137. + </li> + <li>Medicine, effects of, on the mind and spirits, v. 263, 264 n. + </li> + <li>Medwin, Captain, his acquaintance with Lord Byron at Pisa, v. + 358, 359. + </li> + <li>Meillerie, iii. 247. 274. 282. + </li> + <li>Melbourne, Lady, ii. 260. 275.; iv. 101.; v. 254. + </li> + <li>Mendelsohn, his habitual melancholy, vi. <a href= + "#pg397">397</a>. + </li> + <li>Mengaldo, Chevalier, iv. 158.; v. 131. + </li> + <li>Merivale, J.H., esq., ii. 337.; iii. 9. + <ul> + <li>His 'Roncesvalles,' ii. 337. + </li> + <li>His review of 'Grimm's Correspondence,' iii. 9. + </li> + <li>Lord Byron's letter to, ii. 337. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Metastasio, ii. 252. + </li> + <li>Meyler, Richard, esq., iii. 235. + </li> + <li>Mezzophanti, 'a monster of languages', vi. <a href="#pg262"> + 262</a>. + </li> + <li>Milan cathedral, iii. 299. + <ul> + <li>Ambrosian library at, 300. + </li> + <li>Brera gallery, 300. + </li> + <li>Napoleon's triumphal arch, 301. + </li> + <li>State of society at, 307. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Milbanke, Sir Ralph, iii. 121. 146. 175. 202. + </li> + <li>——, Lady. See Noel. + </li> + <li>——, Miss (afterwards Lady Byron), ii. 285. 338.; + iii. 15. 113. 117. 120, 121. + <ul> + <li>See Byron. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Miller, Rev. Dr., his 'Essay on Probabilities', iii. 119. + </li> + <li>——, William, bookseller, refuses to publish + Childe Harold. ii. 29. + </li> + <li>Millingen, Mr., His account of the consultation on Lord + Byron's last illness, 283. + </li> + <li>Milman, Rev. Henry Hart, now Dean of St. Paul's, his 'Fazio' + iv. 92. + </li> + <li>Milnes, Robert, esq., i. 182.; ii. 209. + </li> + <li>Milo, iii. 20. + </li> + <li>Milton, his imitation of Ariosto, ii. 111. + <ul> + <li>His practice of dating his poems followed by Lord Byron, + i. 153 n. + </li> + <li>His dislike to Cambridge, i. 196. 198. + </li> + <li>His infelicitous marriage, iii. 135 n. + </li> + <li>His disregard of painting and sculpture, iv. 210. + </li> + <li>His politics kept him down, v. 15. + </li> + <li>His 'material thunder.' vi. <a href="#pg370">370</a>. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Mirabeau, his eloquence, ii. 209. + </li> + <li>'Mirra,' of Alfieri, effect of the representation of, on Lord + Byron, iv. 180, 180 n. + </li> + <li>Missiaglia, Venetian bookseller, iv. 97. + </li> + <li>Mistress, 'cannot be a friend, ii. 275. + </li> + <li>Mitchell, T., esq., his translation of Aristophanes, ii. + 206.; iv. 345. + </li> + <li>'Mobility', vi. <a href="#pg236">236</a>. + </li> + <li>Modern gardening, Pope the chief inventor of, vi. <a href= + "#pg408">408</a>. + </li> + <li>Moira, Earl of (afterwards Marquis of Hastings), ii. 148. + </li> + <li>Molière, v. 81. + </li> + <li>Monçada, Marquis, iv. 72. + </li> + <li>'Monk,' Lewis's, 'The philtered ideas of a jaded voluptuary', + ii. 296. + </li> + <li>Mont Blanc, iii. 253. + </li> + <li>Montague, Edward Wortley, ii. 266. + </li> + <li>——, Lady Mary Wortley, proposed Italian + translation of her letters and new life of, iv. 73.; + <ul> + <li>three pretty notes by her, 126.; + </li> + <li>Pope's lines on her, vi. <a href="#pg395">395</a>. + <a href="#pg415">415</a>, <a href="#pg416">416</a>. + </li> + <li style="list-style: none"> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg439" id= + "pg439">439</a></span> + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Montbovon, iii.258. + </li> + <li>'Monthly Literary Recreations,' Lord Byron's review of + Wordsworth's poems in, vi. <a href="#pg293">293</a>. + </li> + <li>Monti, his Aristodemo, iii. 6. + </li> + <li>——, account of, iii. 306. + </li> + <li>Moore, Thomas, esq., his prefaces to his 'Life of Lord + Byron,' i. 10. 11. + <ul> + <li>His first acquaintance with Lord Byron, ii. 79. + </li> + <li>Duel between Mr. Jeffrey and, ii. 80. + </li> + <li>His person and manners described, ii. 268. + </li> + <li>His poetry, 276. + </li> + <li>'LINES on his last Operatic Farce or Farcical Opera,' ii. + 65. n. + </li> + <li>His 'Lalla Rookh,' iii. 359. 365.; iv. 63,; v. 194. 213. + </li> + <li>His 'Loves of the Angels,' vi. <a href="#pg014">014</a>. + </li> + <li>Lord Byron's letters to, ii. 84. 87. 88. 90. 107. 114. + 151, 152. 198. 216, 217. 218. 221. 223, 224. 230. 235. 238. + 240, 241, 243. 245. 247, 248. iii. 26. 28, 29. 31. 41. 45. + 50. 52. 55. 59. 64. 78. 80-82. 84. 86, 87. 94, 95. 100. 104. + 107. 112. 114, 115. 118. 120. 138. 142, 143, 145. 147. 149. + 151. 153. 155. 167. 169. 173. 180. 187. 189. 195. 200. 204. + 304. 311. 315. 337. 348. 357. 359. 368. iv. 4. 27. 44. 79. + 93. 102. 132. 272. 313. 317. 325. 327. 335. v. 1. 26. 35. 37. + 39. 110. 121. 135. 147. 149. 177. 184. 190. 194. 196. 213. + 229. 231. 233. 241, 242, 246. 253. 259, 260. 263, 269. 283. + 293, 306. 308, 309, 310. 312. 314. 323, 333. 339. 348. 350. + 352. vi. i. <a href="#pg012">12.</a> <a href= + "#pg109">109.</a> <a href="#pg169">169.</a> + </li> + <li>See also, ii. 95. 97. 99. 113. 243. 249. 268. 276. 298. + 301.; iii. 6. 105. 122. 169. 171. 233.; v. 75, 76. 103. 270.; + vi. <a href="#pg009">009</a>. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Moore, Peter, esq., iii. 186. + </li> + <li>Morgan, Lady, iv. 86. 336. + <ul> + <li>Her 'Italy,' v. 227. 229. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>——, Lord Byron's school-fellow at Harrow, i. 64. + </li> + <li>'MORGANTE MAGGIORE, of Pulci.' translation of the first canto + commenced, iv. 279.; + <ul> + <li>finished, 283.; + </li> + <li>not a line to be omitted, 305. 308.; + </li> + <li>the author's opinion of it, 343.; v. 118. 240. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>'Morning Post,' its attacks on Lord Byron, iii. 1. 40. 46. + 48. + </li> + <li>Morosini. his siege of Athens, iii. 11. + </li> + <li>Mosaic chronology, vi. <a href="#pg259">259</a>. + </li> + <li>Mosti, Count, iv. 158. + </li> + <li>Mother, future conduct of a child dependent on the, ii. 35. + </li> + <li>Muir, Mr., letter to, vi. <a href="#pg118">118</a>. + </li> + <li>Mule, Mrs., Lord Byron's housemaid, iii. 7, 7 n. 146. + </li> + <li>Müller, the historian, iii. 250. + </li> + <li>Muloch, Muley, v. 36. + <ul> + <li>His 'Atheism answered,' iv. 289. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Murat, Joachim, death of, iii. 290. + </li> + <li>Muratori, v. 96. + </li> + <li>Murillo, Lord Byron's opinion of, iv. 9. + </li> + <li>Murray, John, esq, his first connection with Lord Byron, ii. + 30.; + <ul> + <li>Childe Harold placed in his hands, 30. 55.; + </li> + <li>shows the poem to Mr. Gifford, 61. 64. 66. 70.; + </li> + <li>purchases the copyright, 138. + </li> + <li>'The [Greek: anax] of publishers,' 217.; + </li> + <li>recommended by Lord Byron to Mr. Moore as 'among the + first of the trade,' 243.; + </li> + <li>offers 1000 guineas for the 'Giaour' and 'Bride of + Abydos,' 264. 324., iii. 47.; + </li> + <li>Lord Byron's high compliment to,192.; + </li> + <li>pays 1000 guineas for the 'Siege of Corinth' and + 'Parisina,' 221.; + </li> + <li>the 'Mokanna' of publishers,' iv. 44.; + </li> + <li>offers 1500 guineas for the 4th canto of 'Childe Harold,' + 59.; + </li> + <li>poetical epistle to, 76.; + </li> + <li>'Strahan, Tonson, Lintot, of the times,' 96.; + </li> + <li>conduct to Mr. Moore, v. 223.; + </li> + <li>Lord Byron's last letter to, vi. <a href= + "#pg165">165</a>.; + </li> + <li>letters and allusions to, <i>passim</i>. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Music, Lord Byron's love of simple, i. 101. 132. + <ul> + <li>See, also, v. 97, 97 n. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Musters, Mr. John, his marriage to Miss Chaworth, i. 86. + </li> + <li>Musters, Mrs., i. 258. + <ul> + <li>See Chaworth. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>'MY BOAT is on the shore,' iii. 237 n.; + </li> + <li>'MY DEAR Mr. Murray,' iv. 76. + </li> + </ul> + <p> + N. + </p> + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Napier, Colonel, vi. <a href="#pg099">099</a>, <a href= + "#pg109">109</a>. <a href="#pg111">111</a>, <a href= + "#pg112">112</a>. + </li> + <li style="list-style: none"> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg440" id="pg440">440</a></span> + <ul> + <li>His testimony to the benevolence and soundness of Lord + Byron's views with regard to Greece, <a href= + "#pg110">110</a>. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Naples, 'the second best sea view, iv. 5. + </li> + <li>Napoleon. See Buonaparte. + </li> + <li>Nathan, his 'Hebrew nasalities,' iii. 153. + </li> + <li>Nature, vi. <a href="#pg362">362</a>, <a href= + "#pg363">363</a>. + </li> + <li>——, 'PRAYER of.' i. 154. + </li> + <li>'Naufragia,' Clarke's, ii. 214. + </li> + <li>Nelson, Southey's Life of, ii.268. + </li> + <li>Nepean, Mr., iii. 283. + </li> + <li>——, Sir Evan, ii. 142. + </li> + <li>Nerni, iii. 283. + </li> + <li>Newstead, granted by Henry VIII. to Sir John Byron, i. 3. + </li> + <li>A prophecy of Mother Shipton's respecting, 33. + </li> + <li>Let to Lord Grey de Ruthen, 79. + </li> + <li>Lord Byron's affection for, 79, 234. 353.; ii. 233. + </li> + <li>Description of, and of the noble owner, 247. + </li> + <li>Attempted sale of, 173. 260.; iii. 112. + </li> + <li>Nicopolis, ruins of, i. 295. + </li> + <li>Night, vi. <a href="#pg259">259</a>. + </li> + <li>Nobility of thought and style defined, vi. <a href="#pg414"> + 414</a>. + </li> + <li>Noel, Lady, iii. 202.; iv. 2. 10. 337.; v. 190. 306. 336.; + vi. <a href="#pg278">278</a>, <a href="#pg279">279</a>. + </li> + <li>Norfolk (Charles Howard), twelfth Duke of, ii. 148. + </li> + <li>Nottingham frame breaking bill, ii. 121. + </li> + <li>——, Lord Byron's residence at, i. 41. 79. + </li> + <li>'Nourjahad,' a drama, falsely attributed to Lord Byron, ii. + 280. 283. + </li> + <li>Novels, ii. 295. + </li> + </ul> + <p> + O. + </p> + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Oak, the Byron, i. 148. + </li> + <li>'ODE ON VENICE,' iv. 125. + </li> + <li>O'Donnovan, P.M., his 'Sir Proteus.' iii. 91. + </li> + <li>'OH! banish care.' ii. 73. + </li> + <li>'OH! Memory, torture me no more.' i. 85. + </li> + <li>O'Higgins, Mr., his Irish tragedy, iii. 182. 185. + </li> + <li>Olympus, iii. 196. + </li> + <li>O'Neil, Miss, actress, iii. 77. + </li> + <li>Orators, only two thorough ones, in all antiquity, ii. 210. + <ul> + <li>'Things of ages.' 210. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Orchomenus, i. 309. + </li> + <li>Orrery, Earl of, his Life of Swift quoted, iii. 133 n. + </li> + <li>Osborne, Lord Sidney, v. 85. + </li> + <li>'Otello,' Rossini's, iv. 92. + </li> + <li>Otway, his three requisites for an Englishman, ii. 51. + </li> + <li>His 'Beividera.' iii. 371. + </li> + <li>Ouchy, iii. 284. + </li> + <li>Owenson, Miss, iii. 9. + <ul> + <li>See Morgan, Lady. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Oxford, Gibbon's bitter recollections of, i. 196. + <ul> + <li>Dryden's praise of, at the expense of Cambridge, 198. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Oxford, Earl of, ii. 173. 180, 181. 213. 217. + </li> + <li>——, Countess of, ii. 173. 181. 217. + </li> + </ul> + <p> + P. + </p> + <ul class="IX"> + <li>'PARISINA,' 1000 guineas offered for it and the 'Siege of + Corinth,' by Mr. Murray, iii. 221. + <ul> + <li>Fancied resemblance between part of the poem and a + similar scene in 'Marmion.' 227. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Parker, Sir Peter, stanzas written by Lord Byron on his + death, iii. 120. + </li> + <li>——, Lady, i. 212. + </li> + <li>——, Margaret, Lord Byron's boyish love for, i. + 52. + </li> + <li>Parkins, Miss Fanny, iii. 108. + </li> + <li>PARLIAMENT, Lord Byron's Speeches in, ii. 128. 147. 207. + 256.; vi. 314, 321. 335. + </li> + <li>Parnassus, Lord Byron's visit to, and stanzas upon, i. 303. + </li> + <li>Parr, Dr., iv. 135.; v. 79. + </li> + <li>Parry, Captain, vi. <a href="#pg139">139</a>. <a href= + "#pg175">175</a> n. <a href="#pg187">187</a>. <a href= + "#pg195">195</a>. <a href="#pg217">217</a>. + </li> + <li>Parruca, Signor, letter to, vi 177. + </li> + <li>Parthenon, vi. <a href="#pg359">359</a>, <a href= + "#pg360">360</a>. + </li> + <li>Pasquali, Padre, iii. 330. 334.; iv. 78. + </li> + <li>Past, 'the best prophet of the future.' v. 89. + </li> + <li style="list-style: none"> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg441" id="pg441">441</a></span> + </li> + <li>Paterson, Mr. (Lord Byron's tutor at Aberdeen), i. 18. + </li> + <li>Patrons, 8. 340. + </li> + <li>Paul, St., translation from the Armenian, of correspondence + between the Corinthians and, vi. <a href="#pg271">271</a>. + </li> + <li>Paul's, St., Cathedral, comparison with St. Sophia's, i. 329. + </li> + <li>Pausanias, his 'Achaics' quoted, vi. <a href= + "#pg391">391</a>. + </li> + <li>Payne, Thomas, bookseller, ii. 67, 67 n. + </li> + <li>Peel, Right Hon. Sir Robert, i. 61 n. + <ul> + <li>Lord Byron's form-fellow at Harrow, 62.; ii. 209.; iii. + 322.; iv. 346. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>——, William, Esq., one of Lord Byron's friends, + i. 99. + </li> + <li>Penelope, baths of, Lord Byron's visit to, vi. <a href= + "#pg074">074</a>. + </li> + <li>Penn, Granville, esq., his 'Bioscope, or Dial of Life, + explained, ii. 170. + </li> + <li>——, William, the founder of Quakerism, ii. 273. + </li> + <li>Perry, James, esq, v. 136. + </li> + <li>Petersburgh, ii. 233. + </li> + <li>Petrarch, his literary and personal character interwoven., i. + x. + <ul> + <li>His severity to his daughter, iii. 127. + </li> + <li>In his youth a coxcomb., 233 n. + </li> + <li>His portrait in the Manfrini palace, iv. 8.; + </li> + <li>his popularity, v. 15. + </li> + <li>See also, ii. 116 n. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Phillips, Ambrose, his pastorals, vi. <a href= + "#pg371">371</a>. + </li> + <li>——, S.M., esq, ii. 283. + </li> + <li>——, Thomas, esq., R.A, iii. 97, 98. + </li> + <li>Philosophers, celibacy of eminent, iii. 134. + </li> + <li>Phoenix, Sheridan's story of the, ii. 163. + </li> + <li>Physic, its effect in raising the spirits, v. 264. + </li> + <li>Pictures, iv. 9. + </li> + <li>Pierce Plowman, i. 148. + </li> + <li>Pigot, Miss,, i. 97. 111. 269.; v. 256, 257 n. + <ul> + <li>Account of her first acquaintance with Lord Byron, i. 98. + </li> + <li>Lord Byron's letters to, i. 100. 105. 108, 109. 113. 159, + 160, 162, 165. 168. 171. 173. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Pigot, Dr, i. 112. + <ul> + <li>His account of Lord Byron's visit to Harrowgate, 113. + </li> + <li>Lord Byron's letters to; i. 104. 107, 108. 123. 158.; ii. + 31. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Pigot, Mrs., Lord Byron's letter to, i. 164. + </li> + <li>Pigot, family, i. 28. + </li> + <li>Pindemonte, Ippolito, Lord Byron's portrait of, iv. 32. + </li> + <li>Pitt, Rt. Hon. William, ii. 208. + </li> + <li>Plagiarism, ii. 314.; iii. 177.; iv. 236.; v. 225, 225 n. + </li> + <li>Players, an impracticable people, iii. 185. + </li> + <li>'Pleasures of Hope.', ii. 98. 240. + </li> + <li>'Pleasures of Memory.', ii. 240. + </li> + <li>Plethora, abstinence the sole remedy for, iii. 337. + </li> + <li>Poetry, distasteful to Byron when a boy., ii. 7 n. + <ul> + <li>When to be employed as the interpreter of feeling, iii. + 231. + </li> + <li>Addiction to, whence resulting, 241. + </li> + <li>New school of, iv. 63. 99. 297. + </li> + <li>'The feeling of a former world and future', v. 89. + </li> + <li>Descriptive, vi. <a href="#pg367">367</a>. + </li> + <li>Ethical, 'the highest of all, <a href="#pg369">369</a>. + </li> + <li>See also, iv. 105. 306.; v. 89. 285. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Poets, self-educated ones, i. 145. + <ul> + <li>Lord Byron's list of celebrated poets of all nations, i. + 146.; + </li> + <li>Unfitted for the calm affections and comforts of domestic + life, iii. 125. + </li> + <li>Querulous and monotonous lives of, ii. 227. + </li> + <li>Female, 278. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>See also, v. 95.; vi. <a href="#pg368">368</a>. <a href= + "#pg376">376</a>. + </li> + <li>Polidori, Dr., iii. 247, 248. 275, 276. 285. 301. 306. 342.; + iv. 5. 7. 38, 39. 72. 147. 150. 152. + <ul> + <li>Some account of, iii. 275. + </li> + <li>Anecdotes of, 278. 301. 306. + </li> + <li>His 'Vampire, 282 n.; iv. 147. + </li> + <li>His tragedy, 54. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Political consistency, vi. <a href="#pg237">237</a>. + </li> + <li>Politics, ii. 311. + </li> + <li>Pomponius Atticus, ii. 266. + </li> + <li>Pope, Alexander, a self-educated poet, i. 145. + </li> + <li>Lord Byron's enthusiastic admiration of, 226. + </li> + <li>His youth and Byron's compared, 265. + </li> + <li>An example of filial tenderness, ii. 33 n. + </li> + <li style="list-style: none"> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg442" id="pg442">442</a></span> + <ul> + <li>His Prologue to Cato, 165. + </li> + <li>His ineffable distance above all modern poets, iv. 64. + 139. + </li> + <li>The parent of real English poetry, 143. + </li> + <li>Atrocious cant and nonsense about, 297. + </li> + <li>The Christianity of English poetry, v. 13. + </li> + <li>Ten times more poetry in his 'Essay on Man' than in the + 'Excursion,' 18. + </li> + <li>Keats' depreciation of, 22. + </li> + <li>The most faultless of poets, 26. + </li> + <li>His imagery, 139. + </li> + <li>The greatest name in our poetry, 150. + </li> + <li>His Essay upon Phillips's Pastorals a model of irony, vi. + <a href="#pg371">371</a>. + </li> + <li>The principal inventor of modern gardening, <a href= + "#pg408">408</a>. + </li> + <li>His 'Homer,' v. 138.; vi. <a href="#pg373">373</a>. + <a href="#pg376">376</a>. <a href="#pg413">413</a>. + </li> + <li>'LETTER ON BOWLES'S STRICTURES ON THE LIFE AND WRITINGS + OF,' vi. <a href="#pg346">346</a>. + </li> + <li>SECOND LETTER, vi. <a href="#pg382">382</a>. + </li> + <li>See, also, i. 223.; iii. 219.; v. 33. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Porson, Professor, his 'Devil's Walk,' ii. 40. 304. + <ul> + <li>Lord Byron's recollection of, iv. 84, + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Portrait painter, agonies of a, vi. <a href="#pg363">363</a>. + </li> + <li>Pouqueville, M. de, iv. 322. + </li> + <li>Powerscourt, Lord, one of Lord Byron's friends, i. 99. 203. + </li> + <li>Pratt, Samuel Jackson, i. 209. 243.; ii. 54. + </li> + <li>Priestley, Dr., his Christian materialism, vi. <a href= + "#pg259">259</a>. + </li> + <li>Prince Regent, iii. 41.; iv. 185. + <ul> + <li>Lord Byron's introduction to, ii. 155. + </li> + <li>See George IV. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Prior's Paulo Purgante, iv. 183. + </li> + <li>'PRISONER OF CHILLON,' iii. 285.; iv. 27. + </li> + <li>Probabilities, Dr. Miller's Essay on, iii. 119. + </li> + <li>Probationary Odes, ii. 169. + </li> + <li>Prologues, 'only two decent ones in our language,' ii. 165. + </li> + <li>'PROMETHEUS,' of Æschylus, iv. 67. + </li> + <li>'PROPHECY OF DANTE, in four cantos,' iv. 291. 308. + </li> + <li>Prophets, v. 8. 89. + </li> + <li>Pulci, his 'Morgante Maggiore,' iv. 279. 283. 305. 308. 343. + <ul> + <li>'Sire of the half serious rhyme,' v. 118. 240. 312. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Punctuation, ii. 327. + </li> + </ul> + <p> + Q. + </p> + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Quarrels of Authors, D'Israeli's, iii. 15. + </li> + <li>Quarterly Review, ii. 240. + </li> + <li>'Quentin Durward,' vi. <a href="#pg115">115</a>. + </li> + </ul> + <p> + R. + </p> + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Rae, John, comedian, iii. 177. + </li> + <li>Rainsford, Lord Byron's schoolfellow at Harrow, i. 61. + </li> + <li>Rancliffe, Lord, iii. 78. 82. + </li> + <li>Raphael, his hair, iv. 25. + </li> + <li>Rashleigh, Lord Byron's schoolfellow at Harrow, i. 91. + </li> + <li>Ravenna, iv. 165. 270. + </li> + <li>Raymond, James Grant, comedian, ii. 162. + </li> + <li>Reading, the love of, i. 139.; iii. 22. + </li> + <li>Regnard, his hypochondriacism, v. 81. + </li> + <li>Reinagle, R.R., his chained eagle, iii. 245. + </li> + <li>'Rejected Addresses,' 'the best of the kind since the + Rolliad,' ii. 179, 180.; vi. <a href="#pg371">371</a>. + </li> + <li>——, the Genuine, ii. 181 n. + </li> + <li>Republics, ii. 272. + </li> + <li>Reviewers, ii. 240. + </li> + <li>Reviews, i. 60. + </li> + <li>Reynolds, Sir Joshua, 'not good in history,' v. 65. + </li> + <li>Reynolds, J.H., his 'Safie,' iii. 6. 40. + </li> + <li>'Ricciardetto,' Lord Glenbervie's translation of, iv. 321.; + v. 328. + </li> + <li>Rice, Lord Byron's schoolfellow at Harrow, i. 64. + </li> + <li>Richardson, 'the vainest and luckiest of authors,' v. 55. + </li> + <li>Riddel, Lady, her masquerade at Bath, at which Lord Byron + appeared, i. 78. + </li> + <li>Ridge, printer, i. 106-108. 111. 166.; iii. 38, 39. + </li> + <li>Riga, the Greek patriot, vi. <a href="#pg151">151</a> n. + </li> + <li>Roberts, Mr. (editor of the British Review), iv. 186. + </li> + <li>Robins, George, auctioneer, ii. 201. in. 170. + </li> + <li style="list-style: none"> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg443" id="pg443">443</a></span> + </li> + <li>Robinson Crusoe, the first part said to be written by Lord + Oxford, ii. 214. + </li> + <li>Rocca, M. de, iii. 251. + </li> + <li>Rochdale estate, in Lancashire, the sale of, i. 32. + </li> + <li>Rochefoucault, 'always right,' ii. 288. + <ul> + <li>Sayings of, v. 95. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Rogers, Samuel, esq., his 'Pleasures of Memory,' ii. 240. + 267. + <ul> + <li>His 'Jacqueline,' iii. 92. + </li> + <li>'The Tithonus of poetry,' iv. 6. + </li> + <li>'The father of present poesy,' 80. + </li> + <li>His Tribute to the memory of Lord Byron, v. 274. + </li> + <li>Lord Byron's letters to, ii. 121. 185.; ii. 44. 90. 92. + 199. 217. 223. 250. 373.; iv. 89.; v. 267. + </li> + <li>See also, i. 231.; ii. 85. 89, 90. 95. 98. 113. 121. 160. + 175. 188. 196. 240. 267. 276. 291, 292.; iii. 13. 234. 360. + 369.; iv. 5. 64. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>——, Mr., of Nottingham (Lord Byron's Latin + tutor), i. 41. + </li> + <li>Rokeby, Lord Byron's schoolfellow at Harrow, i. 91. + </li> + <li>Roman Catholic religion, v. 142. + </li> + <li>Romanelli, physician, i. 343. + </li> + <li>Rome, 'the wonderful,' iv. 14. 31. + <ul> + <li>Finer than Greece, 26. 58. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Romeo and Juliet, the story of, iii. 308. 322. 375. + </li> + <li>Rose, William Stewart, esq., his 'Animali,' iv. 95. + <ul> + <li>His 'Lines to Lord Byron,' 98. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Rose glaciers, iii. 253. 265. + </li> + <li>'Rose-water,' vi. <a href="#pg399">399</a>. + </li> + <li>Ross, Rev. Mr. (Lord Byron's tutor at Aberdeen), i. 18. + </li> + <li>Rossini, his 'Otello,' iv. 92. + </li> + <li>Roscoe, Mr, ii. 210 + </li> + <li>Rossoe, Mr., story of, ii. 173. + </li> + <li>Roufigny, Abbé de, i. 92 n. + </li> + <li>Rousseau, Jean Jacques, Lord Byron's resemblance to, i. 217. + <ul> + <li>Comparison between Lord Byron and, 218. + </li> + <li>His marriage, vi. <a href="#pg391">391</a>. + </li> + <li>His 'Héloïse,' 167. 178. + </li> + <li>His 'Confessions,' 168. 178. + </li> + <li>Force and accuracy of his descriptions, iii. 247. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Rowcroft, Mr, v. 336. + </li> + <li>Royston, Lord Byron's school-fellow at Harrow, i. 91. + </li> + <li>Rubens, his style, iv. 9. + </li> + <li>Rushton, Robert (the 'little page' in Childe Harold), i. 268. + 285.; ii. 110. 115. + <ul> + <li>Lord Byron's letters to, ii. 115, 116. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>'Ruminator,' the, by Sir Egerton Brydges, ii. 271. + </li> + <li>Rusponi, Countess, v. 193. + </li> + <li>Russell, Lord John, i. 75 n.; ii. 283. + </li> + <li>Rycaut, his 'History of the Turks' first drew Lord Byron's + attention to the East, ii. 7, 8. + <ul> + <li>See, also, i. 141. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + </ul> + <p> + S. + </p> + <ul class="IX"> + <li>St. Lambert, his imitation of Thomson, v. 96. + </li> + <li>Sanders, Mr., his portraits of Lord Byron, ii. 175 n. 180. + 187. + </li> + <li>'Sappho,' of Grillparzer, v. 72. + </li> + <li>'SARDANAPALUS,' outline of the Tragedy sketched, v. 74. + <ul> + <li>Four acts completed, 187. + </li> + <li>The play finished, 203. + </li> + <li>A disparagement of it, 269 + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Sarrazin, General, iii. 195. + </li> + <li>Satan, Lord Byron's opinion of his real appearance to the + Creator, vi. <a href="#pg089">089</a>. + </li> + <li>'Satirist,' ii. 176. 179. + </li> + <li>Scaligers, tomb of the, iii. 309. + </li> + <li>Scamander, i. 317. + </li> + <li>Schiller, his 'Thirty years War,' i. 141. + <ul> + <li>His 'Robbers,' iii. 6. + </li> + <li>His 'Fiesco,' 6. + </li> + <li>His 'Ghost-seer,' 372. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Schlegel, Frederick, his writings, v. 90, 91. + <ul> + <li>Anecdotes of, 214. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>'School for Scandal,' ii. 303.; iv. 297. + </li> + <li>School of Homer, Lord Byron's visit to, vi. <a href="#pg073"> + 073</a>. + </li> + <li>Scotland, the impressions on Lord Byron's mind by the + mountain scenery of, i. 24. 35. + <ul> + <li>Lord Byron 'Half a Scot by birth and bred a whole one,' + i. 34. + </li> + <li>'A canny Scot till ten years' old,' v. 301. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Scott, Sir Walter, his dog 'Maida,' i. 223. 345. + <ul> + <li>His 'Rokeby,' ii. 169. 259. + </li> + <li style="list-style: none"> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg444" id= + "pg444">444</a></span> + </li> + <li>The 'monarch of Parnassus,' 275. + </li> + <li>His 'Lives of the Novelists,' 315 n. + </li> + <li>His 'Waverley,' iii. 98. + </li> + <li>His first acquaintance with Byron, 160. + </li> + <li>His 'Antiquary,' 296. + </li> + <li>His review of 'Childe Harold' in the Quarterly, 351, 351 + n. 357. 365.; v. 299. + </li> + <li>His 'Tales of my Landlord,' iv. 25. 31. 38.; v. 57. + </li> + <li>'The Ariosto of the North,' iv. 51. 65. + </li> + <li>The first British poet titled for his talent, iv. 305. + </li> + <li>His 'Ivanhoe,' 325. + </li> + <li>His 'Monastery,' 352. + </li> + <li>His 'Abbot,' 354.; v. 2. + </li> + <li>His imitators, 24. + </li> + <li>The 'Scotch Fielding,' 57. + </li> + <li>His countenance, 72. + </li> + <li>His novels 'a new literature in themselves,' iv. 286. + 289.; v. 72. + </li> + <li>His 'Kenilworth,' 147. + </li> + <li>His 'Life of Swift,' vi. <a href="#pg257">257</a>. + </li> + <li>Lord Byron's letters to, ii. 155.; v. 298. 330. + </li> + <li>See, also, ii. 226. 259.; iv. 139. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Scott, Mr., of Aberdeen, i. 35. + </li> + <li>——, Mr. Alexander, v. 133. + </li> + <li>——, Mr. John, ii. 207.; iii. 81.; v. 143.; vi. + <a href="#pg394">394</a>. + </li> + <li>'Scotticisms,' v. 77. + </li> + <li>Scriptures, Lord Byron's knowledge of the, vi. <a href= + "#pg086">086</a>. <a href="#pg088">088</a>. + <ul> + <li>See, also, Bible. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>'Scourge,' proceedings against the, for a libel on Mrs. + Byron, ii. 32. + </li> + <li>Sculpture, the most artificial of the arts, iv. 12. + <ul> + <li>Its superiority to painting, 57. + </li> + <li>More poetical than nature, vi. <a href="#pg362">362</a>. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Sécheron, iii. 269. + </li> + <li>Self-educated poets, i. 145. + </li> + <li>Sensibility, iii. 128. + </li> + <li>Separation, miseries of, ii. 279 + </li> + <li>Seraglio at Constantinople, description of, i. 330. + </li> + <li>Sestos, i. 316. 321. 323.; v. 130. + </li> + <li>Settle, Elkanah, his 'Emperor of Morocco,' v. 213. + </li> + <li>'Seven before Thebes,' iv. 68. + </li> + <li>Seville, i. 278. 281. 283. + </li> + <li>Seward, Anne, her 'Life of Darwin,' v. 103. + </li> + <li>'Sexagenarian,' Beloe's, iv. 84. + </li> + <li>'Shah Nameh,' the Persian Iliad, i. 146. + </li> + <li>Shakspeare, his infelicitous marriage, iii. 136 n. + <ul> + <li>'The worst of models,' v. 202. + </li> + <li>'Will have his decline,' vi. <a href="#pg368">368</a>. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Sharp, William (the engraver, and disciple of Joanna + Southcote), iii. 109. + </li> + <li>Sharpe, Richard, esq. (the 'Conversationist'), ii. 274.; iii. + 13. 295.; v. 66. + </li> + <li>Sheil, Richard, esq., iv. 36. + </li> + <li>Sheldrake, Mr., i. 44. + </li> + <li>Shelley, Percy Bysshe, esq., his 'Queen Mab,' iii. 269. + <ul> + <li>His portrait of Lord Byron, iv. 111. + </li> + <li>Particulars concerning, 147. + </li> + <li>His visit to Lord Byron at Ravenna, v. 217. + </li> + <li>His praise of Don Juan, v. 220. + </li> + <li>Lord Byron's letters to, 144. 296. + </li> + <li>His letters to Lord Byron, v. 144. 298.; vi. <a href= + "#pg004">004</a>. + </li> + <li>See also, iii. 252. 269. 276. 283, 283 n.; iv. 110.; v. + 142 n. 217. 313. 315. 320. 350. 353. 365.; vi. <a href= + "#pg008">008</a>. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>——, Mrs., iii. 279. + <ul> + <li>Her 'Frankenstein,' 282. + </li> + <li>Lord Byron's letters to, vi. <a href="#pg008">008</a>. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Shepherd, Rev. John, his letter enclosing his wife's prayer + on Lord Byron's behalf, v. 286. + <ul> + <li>Lord Byron's answer, 289. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Sheridan, Right Hon. Richard Brinsley, anecdotes of, ii. 128. + 198. 201. + <ul> + <li>And Colman compared, 204. + </li> + <li>His eloquence, 209. + </li> + <li>His conversation, 210. 257. + </li> + <li>'Whatever he did, was the best of its kind,' 303. + </li> + <li>Defence of, iv. 125. + </li> + <li>His phoenix story, vi. <a href="#pg376">376</a>. + </li> + <li>'MONODY on the Death of,' iii. 252, 253. 296. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>'Shipwreck,' Falconer's, vi. <a href="#pg357">357</a>. + <a href="#pg365">365</a>. + </li> + <li>Shoel, Mr., vi. <a href="#pg404">404</a>. + </li> + <li>Shreikhorn, iii. 253. + </li> + <li>Shrewsbury, Earl of, his letter to Sir John Byron's grandson, + i. 4. + </li> + <li>Siddons, Mrs., her performance of the character of Isabella, + i. 8. + <ul> + <li>Lord Byron's praise of, iii. 77. + </li> + <li>Effect of her acting at Edinburgh, 160 n. + </li> + <li>An allusion to, iv. 94. + </li> + <li style="list-style: none"> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg445" id= + "pg445">445</a></span> + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>'SIEGE OF CORINTH,' iii. 193. 221, 222. 227, 228. 335. + </li> + <li>Sigeum, Cape, vi. <a href="#pg357">357</a>. + </li> + <li>Simplon, the, iii. 299. + </li> + <li>Sinclair, George, esq., 'the prodigy' of Harrow School, i. + 62. 91. + </li> + <li>Sirmium, iii. 304. + </li> + <li>'Sir Proteus,' a satirical ballad, iii. 91. + </li> + <li>'SKETCH,' a, its first publication in the newspapers, iii. + 229. + </li> + <li>Skull-cup, i. 183. 266, 266 n. + </li> + <li>Slave trade, v. 53. + </li> + <li>Slavery, v. 53. + </li> + <li>Sligo, Marquis of, i. 338. 340. 346, 347.; ii. 189. 239. + <ul> + <li>His letter on the origin of the 'Giaour,' 189. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Smart, Christopher, ii. 217. + </li> + <li>Smith, Sir Henry, i. 188. + </li> + <li>——, Horace, esq., his 'Horace in London,' ii. + 184. + </li> + <li>——, Mrs. Spencer. See 'Florence.' + </li> + <li>——, Miss (afterwards Mrs. Oscar Byrne), dancer, + iii. 186. 189. + </li> + <li>Smyrna, Lord Byron's stay at, i. 313. + </li> + <li>Smythe, Professor, i. 230. 286. + </li> + <li>Socrates, v. 86. 303.; vi. <a href="#pg369">369</a>. + </li> + <li>Sonnets, 'the most puling, petrifying, stupidly platonic + compositions,' ii. 307. + </li> + <li>Sorelli, his translation of Grillparzer's 'Sappho,' v.72.; + <ul> + <li>Sotheby, William, esq., his tragedies, iii. 59.; + </li> + <li>his 'Ivan' accepted for Drury Lane Theatre, 175. 184.; + </li> + <li>similarity of a passage in 'Ivan' to one in the + 'Corsair,' 177. 180.; + </li> + <li>a 'row' about 'Ivan,' 229.; + </li> + <li>the Æschylus of the age, iv. 36.; + </li> + <li>his 'Orestes,' 55. + </li> + <li>See also, ii. 268.; iii. 236; iv. 5. 190.; v. 23.; + </li> + <li>Lord Byron's letters to, iii. 175, 176. 233. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Southcote, Joanna, iii. 109, 110 n., 111. + </li> + <li>Southey, Robert, esq., LL.D., his person and manners, ii. + 243. 267. + <ul> + <li>His prose and poetry, 268. + </li> + <li>His 'Roderick,' iii. 143 n.; + </li> + <li>his 'Curse of Kehama,' ii. 67. 94.; + </li> + <li>Lord Byron's intention to dedicate 'Don Juan' to him, iv. + 134. 147.; + </li> + <li>his 'Joan of Arc' would have been better in rhyme, v. 20. + </li> + <li>See also ii. 237.; v. 300. 303. 311. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Southwell, Notts, Lord Byron's residence at, i. 92. 97. 160. + </li> + <li>Southwood, on the Divine Government, vi. <a href= + "#pg090">090</a>. + </li> + <li>SPEECHES IN PARLIAMENT, Lord Byron's, ii. 128. 147. 207. + 256.; vi. <a href="#pg314">314</a>. <a href="#pg321">321</a>. + <a href="#pg335">335</a>. + </li> + <li>Spence's Anecdotes (Singer's edition), v. 117. + </li> + <li>Spencer, Dowager Lady, i. 203. + </li> + <li>——, William, esq., iii. 233. 236. + </li> + <li>——, Countess, ii. 151. + </li> + <li>Spenser, Edmund, his measure, ii. 165. + </li> + <li>Stäel, Madame de, her essay against suicide, ii. 218. 220. + <ul> + <li>Her 'De l'Allemagne,' 262. 291. + </li> + <li>Her personal appearance, iii. 235. + </li> + <li>Her death, iv. 52. + </li> + <li>Notes written by Lord Byron in her 'Corinne,' iv. 193, + 194. + </li> + <li>See also, ii. 216. 230. 234. 246. 257. 284. 290. 291. + 297. 299. 319.; iii. 4. 30. 232. 250. 255. 284, 285 n. 372. + 375.; v. 110-112. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Stafford, Marquis of (now Duke of Sutherland), ii. 299. + </li> + <li>Stafford, Marchioness of (now Duchess of Sutherland), ii. + 230. 299.; iii. 39. + </li> + <li>Stanhope, Hon. Col. Leicester, (now Earl of Harrington), vi. + <a href="#pg040">040</a> n.; + <ul> + <li>his arrival in Greece to assist in effecting its + liberation, <a href="#pg093">093</a>. <a href= + "#pg108">108</a>. <a href="#pg145">145</a>. <a href="#pg152"> + 152</a>. <a href="#pg191">191</a>. <a href= + "#pg215">215</a>. + </li> + <li>His 'Greece in 1823-1824,' vi. <a href="#pg156">156</a>. + </li> + <li>Lord Byron's letters to, vi. <a href="#pg117">117</a>. + <a href="#pg181">181</a>. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>——, Lady Hester, Lord Byron taken to task by, i. + 348. + </li> + <li>Steele, Sir Richard, iii. 212. + </li> + <li>Stella, Swift's, vi. <a href="#pg390">390</a>. + </li> + <li>Sterne, his affected sensibility, ii. 287.; iii. 127. + </li> + <li>Stephenson, Sir John, iii. 173. 182. + </li> + <li>Stockhorn. iii. 261. + </li> + <li>Storm, aspect of one in the Archipelago, vi. <a href= + "#pg357">357</a>. + </li> + <li>'STRAHAN, Tonson, Lintot of the times,' iv. 96. + </li> + <li style="list-style: none"> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg446" id="pg446">446</a></span> + </li> + <li>Strangford, Lord, his 'Camoens,' i. 119. + </li> + <li>Strong, Mr., Lord Byron's school-fellow at Harrow, i. 91. + </li> + <li>Stuart, Sir Charles (now Lord Stuart de Rothsay), v. 348. + </li> + <li>Suleyman, of Thebes, ii. 183. + </li> + <li>'Sunshiny day,' vi. <a href="#pg259">259</a>. + </li> + <li>Supernatural appearances, v. 31. + </li> + <li>Suppers, iii. 338.; + <ul> + <li>lobster nights, iii. 83. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>'Sweet Florence, could another ever share,' i. 287. + </li> + <li>Swift, Dr. Jonathan, i. 265. + <ul> + <li>Similarity between the character of Lord Byron and, 265. + </li> + <li>Gave away his copyrights, ii. 138. + </li> + <li>His Stella and Vanessa, vi. <a href="#pg390">390</a>. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Swoon, the sensation described, iii. 254. + </li> + <li>Sylla, ii. 273.; iii. 22. 63. + </li> + <li>Symplegades, vi. <a href="#pg358">358</a>. + </li> + <li>Switzerland and the Swiss, v. 243. + </li> + </ul> + <p> + T. + </p> + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Taaffe, Mr., v. 283. 294. 296. 325. + <ul> + <li>His 'Commentary on Dante,' v. 283. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Tahiri, Dervise, ii. 183. + </li> + <li>'Tales of my Landlord,' iv. 25. 31. 38. + </li> + <li>Tasso, an expert swordsman and dancer, i. 64 n.; + <ul> + <li>an example of filial tenderness, ii. 33 n.; + </li> + <li>his imprisonment, iv. 6.; + </li> + <li>his popularity in his lifetime, v. 15.; + </li> + <li>remade the whole of his 'Jerusalem,' 33.; + </li> + <li>his sensitiveness to public favour, vi. <a href="#pg002"> + 002</a>, + </li> + <li>'LAMENT of,' iv. 11. 14. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Tattersall, Rev. John Cecil (Lord Byron's school + acquaintance), i. 65. + </li> + <li>77. 201.; ii. 76. + </li> + <li>Tavernier, the eastern traveller, his château at Aubonne, + iii. 268. + </li> + <li>Tavistock, Marquis of, i. 165. + </li> + <li>Taylor. John, esq., Lord Byron's letter to in respect of an + allusion to + </li> + <li>Lady Byron in the 'Sun' newspaper, iii. 178. + </li> + <li>Teeth, iv. 91.; v. 32. + </li> + <li>Temple, Sir William, his opinion of poetry, vi. <a href= + "#pg413">413</a>, + </li> + <li>Tepaleen, i. 291, 291 n. + </li> + <li>Terni, Falls of, iv. 31. + </li> + <li>Terry, Daniel, comedian, iii. 164. + </li> + <li>Theatricals, private, at Southwell, i. 116. + </li> + <li>Thirst, v. 96, 97. + </li> + <li>'This day of all our days has done,' v. 28. + </li> + <li>Thomas of Ercildoune, i. 148. + </li> + <li>Thompson, Mr., ii. 169, 295. + </li> + <li>Thomson, James, the poet, his 'Seasons' would have been + better in rhyme, v. 20. + </li> + <li>Thorwaldsen, the sculptor, his bust of Lord Byron, iv. 33. + 286.; v. 200. 323. + </li> + <li>'THOUGH the day of my destiny's o'er,' iii. 237. 296. + </li> + <li>Thoun, iii. 261. + <ul> + <li>'THROUGH life's dull road, so dim and dirty,' v. 82. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Thurlow (Thomas Hovell Thurlow) second Lord, ii. 197. 199. + 276.; iii. 105. 112. + </li> + <li>Thyrza, ii. 75. + </li> + <li>Tiberius, v. 89. + </li> + <li>Tiraboschi, v. 96. + </li> + <li>''Tis done and shivering in the gale.' + <ul> + <li>Lord Byron's stanzas to Mrs. Musters on leaving England, + i. 259. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Titian, his portrait of Ariosto, iv. 8. + <ul> + <li>His pictures at Florence, iv. 12. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Toderinus, his 'Storia della Letteratura Turchesca,' ii. 238. + 241. + </li> + <li>Town life, iii. 53. + </li> + <li>Townshend, Rev. George, his 'Armageddon,' ii. 58. + </li> + <li>Travelling, Lord Byron's opinion of the advantages of, i. + 351. + </li> + <li>Travis, the Venetian Jew, iv. 74. + </li> + <li>Trelawney, Edward, esq., v. 358.; vi. <a href= + "#pg191">191</a>. <a href="#pg217">217</a>. + </li> + <li>Troad, the, i. 315. 317. + </li> + <li>Troy, i. 317.; v. 70. + <ul> + <li>Authenticity of the tale of, v. 70. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Tuite, Lady, her stanzas to Memory, i. 85. + </li> + <li>Tally's 'Tripoli,' v. 226. + </li> + <li>Turkey, women of, ii. 283 + </li> + <li style="list-style: none"> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg447" id="pg447">447</a></span> + </li> + <li>Turner, W., esq., his 'Tour in the Levant,' v. 129.; vi. + <a href="#pg280">280</a>. + </li> + <li>Twiss, Horace, esq., iii. 232. 314. + </li> + <li>Tyranny, v. 53. + </li> + </ul> + <p> + U. + </p> + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Ulissipont, ii. 69. + </li> + <li>Unities, the, v. 203. + </li> + <li>Usurers; ii. 185, 185 n. + </li> + </ul> + <p> + V. + </p> + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Vacca, Dr., iii. 343. + </li> + <li>Valentia, Lord (now Earl of Mountnorris), iii. 233. + </li> + <li>Valière, Madame la, vi. <a href="#pg390">390</a>. + </li> + <li>'VAMPIRE, The, a Fragment,' vi. <a href="#pg339">339</a>. + <ul> + <li>Superstition, iii. 282.; iv. 147. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Vanbrugh, his comedies, iii. 12. + </li> + <li>Vanessa, Swift's, vi. <a href="#pg390">390</a>. + </li> + <li>'Vanity of Human Wishes,' Johnson's, v. 66. + </li> + <li>Vascillie, ii. 183. + </li> + <li>'Vathek,' iv. 92. + </li> + <li>'VAULT REFLECTIONS,' iii. 55. + </li> + <li>Velasquez, iv. 9. + </li> + <li>Veli Pacha, i. 290. + </li> + <li>Venetian dialect, iii. 312. 323. 326. + </li> + <li>Venice, the gondolas, iii. 311. 314. + <ul> + <li>St. Mark's, iii. 322. 353.; iv. 90. + </li> + <li>Theatres, iii. 322. 329. + </li> + <li>Women, 324. 333. 339.; iv. 90. 93. 112. 239. + </li> + <li>Carnival, iii. 320. 328. 332. 339. + </li> + <li>Morals and manners in, iii. 333. 336,; iv. 172. 247. + </li> + <li>Nobility of, iii. 333. + </li> + <li>Riaito, iii. 372. + </li> + <li>Manfrini palace, iv. 8. + </li> + <li>Bridge of Sighs, iv. 40. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>'VENICE, Ode on,' iv. 125. + </li> + <li>Venus de Medici, more for admiration than love, iv. 12. + </li> + <li>Verona, how much Catullus, Claudian, and Shakspeare have done + for it, iii. 304. + <ul> + <li>Amphitheatre of, 308. + </li> + <li>Juliet's tomb at, 308. + </li> + <li>Tombs of the Scaligers, 309. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Versatility, vi. <a href="#pg248">248</a>. + </li> + <li>Vestris, Italian comedian, v. 59. + </li> + <li>Vevay, iii. 247. 256. + </li> + <li>Vicar of Wakefield, v. 93. + </li> + <li>Voltaire, gave away his copyrights, ii. 138. + <ul> + <li>D'Argenson's advice to, iii. 65 n. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Voluptuary, ii 302. + </li> + <li>Vondel, the Dutch Shakspeare, ii. 78. + </li> + <li>Vostizza, i. 304.; iii. 18. + </li> + <li>Vulgarity of style, vi. <a href="#pg415">415</a>. + </li> + </ul> + <p> + W. + </p> + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Waite, Mr. (Lord Byron's dentist), iii. 5.; v. 32. + </li> + <li>Wales, Princess of (afterwards Queen Caroline), iii. 19. + </li> + <li>Wallace, the Scottish chief, i. 98. + </li> + <li>Wallace-nook, i. 35. + </li> + <li>Walpole, Sir Robert, his conversation at table, vi. + <a href="#pg392">392</a>. + </li> + <li>'WALTZ, THE; an Apostrophic Hymn,' ii. 178, 179. + <ul> + <li>The authorship of it denied by Lord Byron, 187. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Ward, Hon. John William (afterwards Earl of Dudley), his + review + </li> + <li>of Horne Tooke's Life in the Quarterly, ii. 180. + <ul> + <li>His style of speaking, 209. + </li> + <li>Lord Byron's pun on, 284. + </li> + <li>His review of Fox's Correspondence, 311. + </li> + <li>Epigrams on, 330. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Warren, Sir John, i. 31. + </li> + <li>Washington, George, ii. 273.; iii. 67.; vi. <a href="#pg039"> + 039</a>. + </li> + <li>Waterloo, Lord Byron's verses on the battle of, iii. 245. + </li> + <li>Wathen, Mr., i. 97. + </li> + <li>Watier's club, iii. 233.; vi. <a href="#pg020">020</a>. + </li> + <li>'Waverley,' character of, iii. 98. + </li> + <li>Way, William, esq., ii. 140. + </li> + <li>Webster, Sir Godfrey, iii. 83. + </li> + <li>Webster, Wedderburn, esq., iii. 52.; iv. 31. 317. + </li> + <li>'WEEP, daughter of a royal line,' iii. 1, 2. + </li> + <li>Wellesley, Sir Arthur. See Wellington. + </li> + <li>——, Richard, esq., ii. 292. + </li> + <li>Wellington, Duke of, 'the Scipio of our Hannibal,' iii. 174. + </li> + <li>Wengen Alps, iii. 263, 264. + </li> + <li style="list-style: none"> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="pg448" id="pg448">448</a></span> + </li> + <li>Wentworth, Lord, iii. 121. 157. 167. + <ul> + <li>'WERNER; or, THE INHERITANCE; a Tragedy,' v. 264. 310. + 312.; vi. <a href="#pg103">103</a>. + </li> + <li>'Werther,' Goethe's effects of, iv. 357. + </li> + <li>Mad. de Stäel's character of, 357. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>West, Mr. (American artist), his conversations with Lord + Byron, 343. + </li> + <li>Westall, Richard, esq.. R.A., ii. 186. + </li> + <li>Westminster Abbey, vi. <a href="#pg366">366</a>. + </li> + <li>Westmoreland, Lady, i. 284. + </li> + <li>Wetterhorn, iii. 264. + </li> + <li>'What matter the pangs,' v. 260. + </li> + <li>'When man expelled from Eden's bowers,' i. 258. + </li> + <li>'When Time, who steals our years away,' i. 132. + </li> + <li>Whigs, v. 125. + </li> + <li>'Whistlecraft,' iv. 66. 69. + </li> + <li>Whitbread, Samuel, esq., ii. 198 n. 208.; iii. 170. 173. + <ul> + <li>'The Demosthenes of bad taste,' ii. 208. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Whitby, Captain, v. 112. + </li> + <li>White, Henry Kirke, esq., ii. 58. + </li> + <li>——, Lydia, ii. 268. 285.; iv. 103. + </li> + <li>'White Lady of Avenel,' v. 31. + </li> + <li>'White Lady of Colalto,' v. 31. + </li> + <li>'Who killed John Keats?' v. 212. + </li> + <li>'Why, how now, saucy Tom?' v. 136. + </li> + <li>Wieland, i. 226 n. + <ul> + <li>His history of 'Agathon,' iv. 236. + </li> + <li>Resemblance between Byron and, 237 n. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Wilberforce, William, esq., his style of speaking, ii. 209. + <ul> + <li>Personified by Sheridan, iii. 188. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Wildman, Thomas, esq., i. 69. 87. + </li> + <li>——, Colonel, present proprietor of Newstead, i. + 266 n. + </li> + <li>Wilkes, John, esq., vi. <a href="#pg390">390</a>. + </li> + <li>Will, Lord Byron's, in 1811; ii. 43. + <ul> + <li>His last, vi. <a href="#pg284">284</a>. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Williams, Captain, v. 350. 353. + </li> + <li>Williams, Mrs., the fortune-teller, her prediction concerning + Byron, i. 56. + </li> + <li>Wilmot, Mrs., her tragedy, iii. 167. + </li> + <li>Wilson, Professor, iv. 269. + </li> + <li>Windham, Right Hon. William, ii. 208. 274. + </li> + <li>'WINDSOR POETICS,' iii. 55. + </li> + <li>Wingfield, Hon. John, i. 65. 203. + <ul> + <li>His death, ii. 38. 58. 63. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Women, society of, iii. 7. + <ul> + <li>Cannot write tragedy, 168. + </li> + <li>State of, under the ancient Greeks, v. 59. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Woodhouselee, Lord, his opinion of Lord Byron's early poems, + i. 127. + </li> + <li>Woolriche, Dr., iii. 138 n. + </li> + <li>Wordsworth, William, esq., Lord Byron's review of his early + poems, i. 169.; vi. <a href="#pg293">293</a>. + <ul> + <li>The allusion to, in English Bards, i. 245. + </li> + <li>His 'Excursion,' iii. 106.; v. 18. + </li> + <li>His powers to do 'anything,' iii. 111. + </li> + <li>Influence of his poetry on Lord Byron, 274. + </li> + <li>Never vulgar, vi. <a href="#pg413">413</a>. + </li> + <li>See also, iv. 66. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + <li>Wrangham, Rev. Francis, iii. 90. + </li> + <li>Wright, Walter Rodwell, esq., his 'Horæ Ionicæ,' ii. 62 + </li> + <li>Writers, tragic, generally mirthful persons, v. 285. + </li> + </ul> + <p> + Y. + </p> + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Yanina, i. 290. + </li> + <li>York, Duke of, i. 173. + </li> + <li>Young, Dr. E., iii. 127, 127 n. + </li> + <li>Yussuff, Pacha, vi. <a href="#pg147">147</a>. + </li> + <li>Yverdun, iii. 267. + </li> + </ul> + <p> + Z. + </p> + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Zitza, i. 290. 296 n. + </li> + <li>Zograffo, Demetrius, ii. 44, 44 n. + </li> + </ul> + <h3> + THE END. + </h3> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Life of Lord Byron, Vol. 6 (of 6), by Thomas Moore + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LIFE OF LORD BYRON, VOL. 6 (OF 6) *** + +***** This file should be named 14841-h.htm or 14841-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/4/8/4/14841/ + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Leonard Johnson and the PG Online +Distributed Proofreading Team. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Life of Lord Byron, Vol. 6 (of 6) + With his Letters and Journals + +Author: Thomas Moore + +Release Date: January 30, 2005 [EBook #14841] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LIFE OF LORD BYRON, VOL. 6 (OF 6) *** + + + + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Leonard Johnson and the PG Online +Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + + + +LIFE +OF +LORD BYRON: + +WITH HIS LETTERS AND JOURNALS. + +BY THOMAS MOORE, ESQ. + +IN SIX VOLUMES.--VOL. VI. + +NEW EDITION. + +1854. + + + + +CONTENTS OF VOL. VI. + +LETTERS AND JOURNALS OF LORD BYRON, with NOTICES OF HIS LIFE, from +February, 1823, to his Death in April, 1824 + +APPENDIX + +MISCELLANEOUS PIECES IN PROSE. + +REVIEW OF WORDSWORTH'S POEMS. 1807 + +REVIEW OF GELL'S GEOGRAPHY OF ITHACA, AND ITINERARY OF GREECE. 1811 + +PARLIAMENTARY SPEECHES. 1812, 1813 + +FRAGMENT. 1816 + +LETTER TO JOHN MURRAY, ESQ., ON THE REV. W.L. BOWLES'S STRICTURES ON +THE LIFE AND WRITINGS OF POPE. 1821 + +OBSERVATIONS UPON "OBSERVATIONS" OF THE REV. W.L. BOWLES ON THE +POETICAL CHARACTER OF POPE; IN A SECOND LETTER TO JOHN MURRAY, ESQ. +1821 + + + + +NOTICES OF THE LIFE OF LORD BYRON. + + * * * * * + +LETTER 508. TO MR. MOORE. + +"Genoa, February 20. 1823. + +"My Dear Tom, + +"I must again refer you to those two letters addressed to you at +Passy before I read your speech in Galignani, &c., and which you do +not seem to have received.[1] + +[Footnote 1: I was never lucky enough to recover these two letters, +though frequent enquiries were made about them at the French +post-office.] + +"Of Hunt I see little--once a month or so, and then on his own +business, generally. You may easily suppose that I know too little of +Hampstead and his satellites to have much communion or community with +him. My whole present relation to him arose from Shelley's unexpected +wreck. You would not have had me leave him in the street with his +family, would you? and as to the other plan you mention, you forget +how it would _humiliate_ him--that his writings should be supposed to +be dead weight![1] Think a moment--he is perhaps the vainest man on +earth, at least his own friends say so pretty loudly; and if he were +in other circumstances, I might be tempted to take him down a peg; +but not now,--it would be cruel. It is a cursed business; but neither +the motive nor the means rest upon my conscience, and it happens that +he and his brother _have_ been so far benefited by the publication in +a pecuniary point of view. His brother is a steady, bold fellow, such +as _Prynne_, for example, and full of moral, and, I hear, physical +courage. + +[Footnote 1: The passage in one of my letters to which he here refers +shall be given presently.] + +"And _you_ are _really_ recanting, or softening to the clergy! It +will do little good for you--it is _you_, not the poem, they are at. +They will say they frightened you--forbid it, Ireland! + +"Yours ever, + +"N.B." + +Lord Byron had now, for some time, as may be collected from his +letters, begun to fancy that his reputation in England was on the +wane. The same thirst after fame, with the same sensitiveness to +every passing change of popular favour, which led Tasso at last to +look upon himself as the most despised of writers[1], had more than +once disposed Lord Byron, in the midst of all his triumphs, if not to +doubt their reality, at least to distrust their continuance; and +sometimes even, with that painful skill which sensibility supplies, +to extract out of the brightest tributes of success some omen of +future failure, or symptom of decline. New successes, however, still +came to dissipate these bodings of diffidence; nor was it till after +his unlucky coalition with Mr. Hunt in the Liberal, that any grounds +for such a suspicion of his having declined in public favour showed +themselves. + +[Footnote 1: In one of his letters this poet says:--"Non posso negare +che io mi doglio oltramisura di esser stato tanto disprezzato dal +mondo quanto non e altro scrittore di questo secolo." In another +letter, however, after complaining of being "perseguitato da molti +piu che non era convenevole," he adds, with a proud prescience of his +future fame, "Laonde stimo di poter mene ragionevolmente richiamare +alla posterita."] + +The chief inducements, on the part of Lord Byron, to this unworthy +alliance were, in the first place, a wish to second the kind views of +his friend Shelley in inviting Mr. Hunt to join him in Italy; and, in +the next, a desire to avail himself of the aid of one so experienced, +as an editor, in the favourite project he had now so long +contemplated, of a periodical work, in which all the various +offspring of his genius might be received fast as they sprung to +light. With such opinions, however, as he had long entertained of Mr. +Hunt's character and talents[1], the facility with which he now +admitted him--_not_ certainly to any degree of confidence or +intimacy, but to a declared fellowship of fame and interest in the +eyes of the world, is, I own, an inconsistency not easily to be +accounted for, and argued, at all events, a strong confidence in the +antidotal power of his own name to resist the ridicule of such an +association. + +[Footnote 1: See Letter 317. p. 103.] + +As long as Shelley lived, the regard which Lord Byron entertained for +him extended its influence also over his relations with his friend; +the suavity and good-breeding of Shelley interposing a sort of +softening medium in the way of those unpleasant collisions which +afterwards took place, and which, from what is known of both parties, +may be easily conceived to have been alike trying to the patience of +the patron and the vanity of the dependent. That even, however, +during the lifetime of their common friend, there had occurred some +of those humiliating misunderstandings which money +engenders,--humiliating on both sides, as if from the very nature of +the dross that gives rise to them,--will appear from the following +letter of Shelley's which I find among the papers in my hands. + + +TO LORD BYRON. + +"February 15. 1823. + +"My dear Lord Byron. + +"I enclose you a letter from Hunt, which annoys me on more than one +account. You will observe the postscript, and you know me well enough +to feel how painful a task is set me in commenting upon it. Hunt had +urged me more than once to ask you to lend him this money. My answer +consisted in sending him all I could spare, which I have now +literally done. Your kindness in fitting up a part of your own house +for his accommodation I sensibly felt, and willingly accepted from +you on his part, but, believe me, without the slightest intention of +imposing, or, if I could help it, allowing to be imposed, any heavier +task on your purse. As it has come to this in spite of my exertions, +I will not conceal from you the low ebb of my own money affairs in +the present moment,--that is, my absolute incapacity of assisting +Hunt farther. + +"I do not think poor Hunt's promise to pay in a given time is worth +very much; but mine is less subject to uncertainty, and I should be +happy to be responsible for any engagement he may have proposed to +you. I am so much annoyed by this subject that I hardly know what to +write, and much less what to say; and I have need of all your +indulgence in judging both my feelings and expressions. + +"I shall see you by and by. Believe me + +"Yours most faithfully and sincerely, + +"P.B. SHELLEY." + + +Of the book in which Mr. Hunt has thought it decent to revenge upon +the dead the pain of those obligations he had, in his hour of need, +accepted from the living, I am luckily saved from the distaste of +speaking at any length, by the utter and most deserved oblivion into +which his volume has fallen. Never, indeed, was the right feeling of +the world upon such subjects more creditably displayed than in the +reception given universally to that ungenerous book;--even those the +least disposed to think approvingly of Lord Byron having shrunk back +from such a corroboration of their own opinion as could be afforded +by one who did not blush to derive his authority, as an accuser, from +those facilities of observation which he had enjoyed by having been +sheltered and fed under the very roof of the man whom he maligned. + +With respect to the hostile feeling manifested in Mr. Hunt's work +towards myself, the sole revenge I shall take is, to lay before my +readers the passage in one of my letters which provoked it; and which +may claim, at least, the merit of not being a covert attack, as +throughout the whole of my remonstrances to Lord Byron on the subject +of his new literary allies, not a line did I ever write respecting +either Mr. Shelley or Mr. Hunt which I was not fully prepared, from +long knowledge of my correspondent, to find that he had instantly, +and as a matter of course, communicated to them. That this want of +retention was a fault in my noble friend, I am not inclined to deny; +but, being undisguised, it was easily guarded against, and, when +guarded against, harmless. Besides, such is the penalty generally to +be paid for frankness of character; and they who could have flattered +themselves that one so open about his own affairs as Lord Byron would +be much more discreet where the confidences of others were concerned, +would have had their own imprudence, not his, to blame for any injury +that their dependence upon his secrecy had brought on them. + +The following is the passage, which Lord Byron, as I take for +granted, showed to Mr. Hunt, and to which one of his letters to +myself (February 20.) refers:-- + +"I am most anxious to know that you mean to emerge out of the +Liberal. It grieves me to urge any thing so much against Hunt's +interest; but I should not hesitate to use the same language to +himself, were I near him. I would, if I were you, serve him in every +possible way but this--I would give him (if he would accept of it) +the profits of the same works, published separately--but I would +_not_ mix myself up in this way with others. I would _not_ become a +partner in this sort of miscellaneous '_pot au feu_,' where the bad +flavour of one ingredient is sure to taint all the rest. I would be, +if I were _you_, alone, single-handed, and, as such, invincible." + +While on the subject of Mr. Hunt, I shall avail myself of the +opportunity it affords me of introducing some portions of a letter +addressed to a friend of that gentleman by Lord Byron, in consequence +of an appeal made to the feelings of the latter on the score of his +professed "friendship" for Mr. Hunt. The avowals he here makes are, I +own, startling, and must be taken with more than the usual allowance, +not only for the particular mood of temper or spirits in which the +letter was written, but for the influence also of such slight casual +piques and resentments as might have been, just then, in their +darkening transit through his mind,--indisposing him, for the moment, +to those among his friends whom, in a sunnier mood, he would have +proclaimed as his most chosen and dearest. + + +LETTER 509. TO MRS. ----. + +"I presume that you, at least, know enough of me to be sure that I +could have no intention to insult Hunt's poverty. On the contrary, I +honour him for it; for I know what it is, having been as much +embarrassed as ever he was, without perceiving aught in it to +diminish an honourable man's self-respect. If you mean to say that, +had he been a wealthy man, I would have joined in this Journal, I +answer in the negative. * * * I engaged in the Journal from good-will +towards him, added to respect for his character, literary and +personal; and no less for his political courage, as well as regret +for his present circumstances: I did this in the hope that he might, +with the same aid from literary friends of literary contributions +(which is requisite for all journals of a mixed nature), render +himself independent. + +"I have always treated him, in our personal intercourse, with such +scrupulous delicacy, that I have forborne intruding advice which I +thought might be disagreeable, lest he should impute it to what is +called 'taking advantage of a man's situation.' + +"As to friendship, it is a propensity in which my genius is very +limited. I do not know the _male_ human being, except Lord Clare, the +friend of my infancy, for whom I feel any thing that deserves the +name. All my others are men-of-the-world friendships. I did not even +feel it for Shelley, however much I admired and esteemed him, so that +you see not even vanity could bribe me into it, for, of all men, +Shelley thought highest of my talents,--and, perhaps, of my +disposition. + +"I will do my duty by my intimates, upon the principle of doing as +you would be done by. I have done so, I trust, in most instances. I +may be pleased with their conversation--rejoice in their success--be +glad to do them service, or to receive their counsel and assistance +in return. But as for friends and friendship, I have (as I already +said) named the only remaining male for whom I feel any thing of the +kind, excepting, perhaps, Thomas Moore. I have had, and may have +still, a thousand friends, as they are called, in _life_, who are +like one's partners in the waltz of this world--not much remembered +when the ball is over, though very pleasant for the time. Habit, +business, and companionship in pleasure or in pain, are links of a +similar kind, and the same faith in politics is another." * * * + + +LETTER 510. TO LADY ----. + +"Genoa, March 28. 1823. + +"Mr. Hill is here: I dined with him on Saturday before last; and on +leaving his house at S. P. d'Arena, my carriage broke down. I walked +home, about three miles,--no very great feat of pedestrianism; but +either the coming out of hot rooms into a bleak wind chilled me, or +the walking up-hill to Albaro heated me, or something or other set me +wrong, and next day I had an inflammatory attack in the face, to +which I have been subject this winter for the first time, and I +suffered a good deal of pain, but no peril. My health is now much as +usual. Mr. Hill is, I believe, occupied with his diplomacy. I shall +give him your message when I see him again. + +"My name, I see in the papers, has been dragged into the unhappy +Portsmouth business, of which all that I know is very succinct. Mr. +H---- is my solicitor. I found him so when I was ten years old--at my +uncle's death--and he was continued in the management of my legal +business. He asked me, by a civil epistle, as an old acquaintance of +his family, to be present at the marriage of Miss H----. I went very +reluctantly, one misty morning (for I had been up at two balls all +night), to witness the ceremony, which I could not very well refuse +without affronting a man who had never offended me. I saw nothing +particular in the marriage. Of course I could not know the +preliminaries, except from what he said, not having been present at +the wooing, nor after it, for I walked home, and they went into the +country as soon as they had promised and vowed. Out of this simple +fact I hear the Debats de Paris has quoted Miss H. as 'autrefois tres +liee avec le celebre,' &c. &c. I am obliged to him for the celebrity, +but beg leave to decline the liaison, which is quite untrue; my +liaison was with the father, in the unsentimental shape of long +lawyers' bills, through the medium of which I have had to pay him ten +or twelve thousand pounds within these few years. She was not pretty, +and I suspect that the indefatigable Mr. A---- was (like all her +people) more attracted by her title than her charms. I regret very +much that I was present at the prologue to the happy state of +horse-whipping and black jobs, &c. &c.; but I could not foresee that +a man was to turn out mad, who had gone about the world for fifty +years, as competent to vote, and walk at large; nor did he seem to me +more insane than any other person going to be married. + +"I have no objection to be acquainted with the Marquis Palavicini, if +he wishes it. Lately I have gone little into society, English or +foreign, for I had seen all that was worth seeing in the former +before I left England, and at the time of life when I was more +disposed to like it; and of the latter I had a sufficiency in the +first few years of my residence in Switzerland, chiefly at Madame de +Stael's, where I went sometimes, till I grew tired of _conversazioni_ +and carnivals, with their appendages; and the bore is, that if you go +once, you are expected to be there daily, or rather nightly. I went +the round of the most noted soirees at Venice or elsewhere (where I +remained not any time) to the Benzona, and the Albrizzi, and the +Michelli, &c. &c. and to the Cardinals and the various potentates of +the Legation in Romagna, (that is, Ravenna,) and only receded for the +sake of quiet when I came into Tuscany. Besides, if I go into +society, I generally get, in the long run, into some scrape of some +kind or other, which don't occur in my solitude. However, I am pretty +well settled now, by time and temper, which is so far lucky, as it +prevents restlessness; but, as I said before, as an acquaintance of +yours, I will be ready and willing to know your friends. He may be a +sort of connection for aught I know; for a Palavicini, of _Bologna_, +I believe, married a distant relative of mine half a century ago. I +happen to know the fact, as he and his spouse had an annuity of five +hundred pounds on my uncle's property, which ceased at his demise; +though I recollect hearing they attempted, naturally enough, to make +it survive him. If I can do any thing for you here or elsewhere, pray +order, and be obeyed." + + +LETTER 511. TO MR. MOORE. + +"Genoa, April 2. 1823. + +"I have just seen some friends of yours, who paid me a visit +yesterday, which, in honour of them and of you, I returned +to-day;--as I reserve my bear-skin and teeth, and paws and claws, for +our enemies. + +"I have also seen Henry F----, Lord H----'s son, whom I had not +looked upon since I left him a pretty, mild boy, without a neckcloth, +in a jacket, and in delicate health, seven long years agone, at the +period of mine eclipse--the third, I believe, as I have generally one +every two or three years. I think that he has the softest and most +amiable expression of countenance I ever saw, and manners +correspondent. If to those he can add hereditary talents, he will +keep the name of F---- in all its freshness for half a century more, +I hope. I speak from a transient glimpse--but I love still to yield +to such impressions; for I have ever found that those I liked longest +and best, I took to at first sight; and I always liked that +boy--perhaps, in part, from some resemblance in the less fortunate +part of our destinies--I mean, to avoid mistakes, his lameness. But +there is this difference, that _he_ appears a halting angel, who has +tripped against a star; whilst I am _Le Diable Boiteux_,--a +soubriquet, which I marvel that, amongst their various _nominis +umbrae_, the Orthodox have not hit upon. + +"Your other allies, whom I have found very agreeable personages, are +Milor B---- and _epouse_, travelling with a very handsome companion, +in the shape of a 'French Count' (to use Farquhar's phrase in the +Beaux Stratagem), who has all the air of a _Cupidon dechaine_, and is +one of the few specimens I have seen of our ideal of a Frenchman +_before_ the Revolution--an old friend with a new face, upon whose +like I never thought that we should look again. Miladi seems highly +literary,--to which, and your honour's acquaintance with the family, +I attribute the pleasure of having seen them. She is also very +pretty, even in a morning,--a species of beauty on which the sun of +Italy does not shine so frequently as the chandelier. Certainly, +English-women wear better than their continental neighbours of the +same sex. M---- seems very good-natured, but is much tamed, since I +recollect him in all the glory of gems and snuff-boxes, and uniforms, +and theatricals, and speeches in our house--'I mean, of peers,'--(I +must refer you to Pope--who you don't read and won't appreciate--for +that quotation, which you must allow to be poetical,) and sitting to +Stroeling, the painter, (do you remember our visit, with Leckie, to +the German?) to be depicted as one of the heroes of Agincourt, 'with +his long sword, saddle, bridle, Whack fal de, &c. &c.' + +"I have been unwell--caught a cold and inflammation, which menaced a +conflagration, after dining with our ambassador, Monsieur Hill,--not +owing to the dinner, but my carriage broke down in the way home, and +I had to walk some miles, up hill partly, after hot rooms, in a very +bleak, windy evening, and over-hotted, or over-colded myself. I have +not been so robustious as formerly, ever since the last summer, when +I fell ill after a long swim in the Mediterranean, and have never +been quite right up to this present writing. I am thin,--perhaps +thinner than you saw me, when I was nearly transparent, in 1812,--and +am obliged to be moderate of my mouth; which, nevertheless, won't +prevent me (the gods willing) from dining with your friends the day +after to-morrow. + +"They give me a very good account of you, and of your nearly +'Emprisoned Angels.' But why did you change your title?--you will +regret this some day. The bigots are not to be conciliated; and, if +they were--are they worth it? I suspect that I am a more orthodox +Christian than you are; and, whenever I see a real Christian, either +in practice or in theory, (for I never yet found the man who could +produce either, when put to the proof,) I am his disciple. But, till +then, I cannot truckle to tithe-mongers,--nor can I imagine what has +made _you_ circumcise your Seraphs. + +"I have been far more persecuted than you, as you may judge by my +present decadence,--for I take it that I am as low in popularity and +book-selling as any writer can be. At least, so my friends assure +me--blessings on their benevolence! This they attribute to Hunt; but +they are wrong--it must be, partly at least, owing to myself; be it +so. As to Hunt, I prefer _not_ having turned him to starve in the +streets to any personal honour which might have accrued from such +genuine philanthropy. I really act upon principle in this matter, for +we have nothing much in common; and I cannot describe to you the +despairing sensation of trying to do something for a man who seems +incapable or unwilling to do any thing further for himself,--at +least, to the purpose. It is like pulling a man out of a river who +directly throws himself in again. For the last three or four years +Shelley assisted, and had once actually extricated him. I have since +his demise,--and even before,--done what I could: but it is not in my +power to make this permanent. I want Hunt to return to England, for +which I would furnish him with the means in comfort; and his +situation _there_, on the whole, is bettered, by the payment of a +portion of his debts, &c.; and he would be on the spot to continue +his Journal, or Journals, with his brother, who seems a sensible, +plain, sturdy, and enduring person." * * + +The new intimacy of which he here announces the commencement, and +which it was gratifying to me, as the common friend of all, to find +that he had formed, was a source of much pleasure to him during the +stay of his noble acquaintances at Genoa. So long, indeed, had he +persuaded himself that his countrymen abroad all regarded him in no +other light than as an outlaw or a show, that every new instance he +met of friendly reception from them was as much a surprise as +pleasure to him; and it was evident that to his mind the revival of +English associations and habitudes always brought with it a sense of +refreshment, like that of inhaling his native air. + +With the view of inducing these friends to prolong their stay at +Genoa, he suggested their taking a pretty villa called "Il Paradiso," +in the neighbourhood of his own, and accompanied them to look at it. +Upon that occasion it was that, on the lady expressing some +intentions of residing there, he produced the following impromptu, +which--but for the purpose of showing that he was not so "chary of +his fame" as to fear failing in such trifles--I should have thought +hardly worth transcribing. + + "Beneath ----'s eyes + The reclaim'd Paradise + Should be free as the former from evil; + But, if the new Eve + For an apple should grieve, + What mortal would not play the devil?"[1] + +[Footnote 1: The Genoese wits had already applied this threadbare +jest to himself. Taking it into their heads that this villa (which +was also, I believe, a Casa Saluzzo) had been the one fixed on for +his own residence, they said "Il Diavolo e ancora entrato in +Paradise."] + +Another copy of verses addressed by him to the same lady, whose +beauty and talent might well have claimed a warmer tribute from such +a pen, is yet too interesting, as descriptive of the premature +feeling of age now stealing upon him, to be omitted in these pages. + +"TO THE COUNTESS OF B----. + +1. + + "You have ask'd for a verse:--the request + In a rhymer 'twere strange to deny, + But my Hippocrene was but my breast, + And my feelings (its fountain) are dry. + +2. + + "Were I now as I was, I had sung + What Lawrence has painted so well; + But the strain would expire on my tongue, + And the theme is too soft for my shell. + +3. + + "I am ashes where once I was fire, + And the bard in my bosom is dead; + What I loved I _now_ merely admire, + And my heart is as grey as my head. + +4. + + "My life is not dated by years-- + There are _moments_ which act as a plough, + And there is not a furrow appears + But is deep in my soul as my brow. + +5. + + "Let the young and the brilliant aspire + To sing what I gaze on in vain; + For sorrow has torn from my lyre + The string which was worthy the strain. + +"B." + +The following letters written during the stay of this party at Genoa +will be found,--some of them at least,--not a little curious. + + +LETTER 512. TO THE EARL OF B----. + +"April 5. 1823. + +"My dear Lord, + +"How is your gout? or rather, how are you? I return the Count ----'s +Journal, which is a very extraordinary production[1], and of a most +melancholy truth in all that regards high life in England. I know, or +knew personally, most of the personages and societies which he +describes; and after reading his remarks, have the sensation fresh +upon me as if I had seen them yesterday. I would however plead in +behalf of some few exceptions, which I will mention by and by. The +most singular thing is, _how_ he should have penetrated _not_ the +_fact_, but the _mystery_ of the English ennui, at two-and-twenty. I +was about the same age when I made the same discovery, in almost +precisely the same circles,--(for there is scarcely a person +mentioned whom I did not see nightly or daily, and was acquainted +more or less intimately with most of them,)--but I never could have +described it so well. _Il faut etre Francais_, to effect this. + +[Footnote 1: In another letter to Lord B---- he says of this +gentleman, "he seems to have all the qualities requisite to have +figured in his brother-in-law's ancestor's Memoirs."] + +"But he ought also to have been in the country during the hunting +season, with 'a select party of distinguished guests,' as the papers +term it. He ought to have seen the gentlemen after dinner (on the +hunting days), and the soiree ensuing thereupon,--and the women +looking as if they had hunted, or rather been hunted; and I could +have wished that he had been at a dinner in town, which I recollect +at Lord C----'s--small, but select, and composed of the most amusing +people. The dessert was hardly on the table, when, out of twelve, I +counted _five asleep_; of that five, there were _Tierney_, Lord ----, +and Lord ---- --I forget the other two, but they were either wits or +orators--perhaps poets. + +"My residence in the East and in Italy has made me somewhat indulgent +of the siesta;--but then they set regularly about it in warm +countries, and perform it in solitude (or at most in a tete-a-tete +with a proper companion), and retire quietly to their rooms to get +out of the sun's way for an hour or two. + +"Altogether, your friend's Journal is a very formidable production. +Alas! our dearly beloved countrymen have only discovered that they +are tired, and not that they are tiresome; and I suspect that the +communication of the latter unpleasant verity will not be better +received than truths usually are. I have read the whole with great +attention and instruction. I am too good a patriot to say +_pleasure_--at least I won't say so, whatever I may think. I showed +it (I hope no breach of confidence) to a young Italian lady of rank, +_tres instruite_ also; and who passes, or passed, for being one of +the three most celebrated belles in the district of Italy, where her +family and connections resided in less troublesome times as to +politics, (which is not Genoa, by the way,) and she was delighted +with it, and says that she has derived a better notion of English +society from it than from all Madame de Stael's metaphysical +disputations on the same subject, in her work on the Revolution. I +beg that you will thank the young philosopher, and make my +compliments to Lady B. and her sister. + +"Believe me your very obliged and faithful + +"N. B. + +"P.S. There is a rumour in letters of some disturbance or complot in +the French Pyrenean army--generals suspected or dismissed, and +ministers of war travelling to see what's the matter. 'Marry (as +David says), this hath an angry favour.' + +"Tell Count ---- that some of the names are not quite intelligible, +especially of the clubs; he speaks of _Watts_--perhaps he is right, +but in my time _Watiers_ was the Dandy Club, of which (though no +dandy) I was a member, at the time too of its greatest glory, when +Brummell and Mildmay, Alvanley and Pierrepoint, gave the Dandy Balls; +and we (the club, that is,) got up the famous masquerade at +Burlington House and Garden, for Wellington. He does not speak of the +_Alfred_, which was the most _recherche_ and most tiresome of any, as +I know by being a member of that too." + + +LETTER 513. TO THE EARL OF B----. + +"April 6. 1823. + +"It _would_ be worse than idle, knowing, as I do, the utter +worthlessness of words on such occasions, in me to attempt to express +what I ought to feel, and do feel for the loss you have sustained[1]; +and I must thus dismiss the subject, for I dare not trust myself +further with it _for your_ sake, or for my own. I shall _endeavour_ +to see you as soon as it may not appear intrusive. Pray excuse the +levity of my yesterday's scrawl--I little thought under what +circumstances it would find you. + +[Footnote 1: The death of Lord B----'s son, which had been long +expected, but of which the account had just then arrived.] + +"I have received a very handsome and flattering note from Count ----. +He must excuse my apparent rudeness and real ignorance in replying to +it in English, through the medium of your kind interpretation. I +would not on any account deprive him of a production, of which I +really think more than I have even _said_, though you are good enough +not to be dissatisfied even with that; but whenever it is completed, +it would give me the greatest pleasure to have a _copy_--but _how_ to +keep it secret? literary secrets are like others. By changing the +names, or at least omitting several, and altering the circumstances +indicative of the writer's real station or situation, the author +would render it a most amusing publication. His countrymen have not +been treated, either in a literary or personal point of view, with +such deference in English recent works, as to lay him under any very +great national obligation of forbearance; and really the remarks are +so true and piquante, that I cannot bring myself to wish their +suppression; though, as Dangle says, 'He is _my_ friend,' many of +these personages 'were _my friends_, but much such friends as Dangle +and his allies. + +"I return you Dr. Parr's letter--I have met him at Payne Knight's and +elsewhere, and he did me the honour once to be a patron of mine, +although a great friend of the other branch of the House of Atreus, +and the Greek teacher (I believe) of my _moral_ Clytemnestra--I say +_moral_, because it is true, and is so useful to the virtuous, that +it enables them to do any thing without the aid of an AEgisthus. + +"I beg my compliments to Lady B., Miss P., and to your _Alfred_. I +think, since his Majesty of the same name, there has not been such a +learned surveyor of our Saxon society. + +"Ever yours most truly, N. B." + +"April 9. 1823. + +"P.S. I salute Miledi, Mademoiselle Mama, and the illustrious +Chevalier Count ----; who, I hope, will continue his history of 'his +own times.' There are some strange coincidences between a part of his +remarks and a certain work of mine, now in MS. in England, (I do not +mean the hermetically sealed Memoirs, but a continuation of certain +Cantos of a certain poem,) especially in _what_ a _man_ may do in +London with impunity while he is 'a la mode;' which I think it well +to state, that he may not suspect me of taking advantage of his +confidence. The observations are very general." + + +LETTER 514. TO THE EARL OF B----. + +"April 14. 1823. + +"I am truly sorry that I cannot accompany you in your ride this +morning, owing to a violent pain in my face, arising from a wart to +which I by medical advice applied a caustic. Whether I put too much, +I do not know, but the consequence is, that not only I have been put +to some pain, but the peccant part and its immediate environ are as +black as if the printer's devil had marked me for an author. As I do +not wish to frighten your horses, or their riders, I shall postpone +waiting upon you until six o'clock, when I hope to have subsided into +a more christian-like resemblance to my fellow-creatures. My +infliction has partially extended even to my fingers; for on trying +to get the black from off my upper lip at least, I have only +transfused a portion thereof to my right hand, and neither +lemon-juice nor eau de Cologne, nor any other eau, have been able as +yet to redeem it also from a more inky appearance than is either +proper or pleasant. But 'out, damn'd spot'--you may have perceived +something of the kind yesterday, for on my return, I saw that during +my visit it had increased, was increasing, and ought to be +diminished; and I could not help laughing at the figure I must have +cut before you. At any rate, I shall be with you at six, with the +advantage of twilight. + +Ever most truly, &c. + +"Eleven o'clock. + +"P.S. I wrote the above at three this morning. I regret to say that +the whole of the skin of about an _inch_ square above my upper lip +has come off, so that I cannot even shave or masticate, and I am +equally unfit to appear at your table, and to partake of its +hospitality. Will you therefore pardon me, and not mistake this +rueful excuse for a '_make-believe_,' as you will soon recognise +whenever I have the pleasure of meeting you again, and I will call +the moment I am, in the nursery phrase, 'fit to be seen.' Tell Lady +B. with my compliments, that I am rummaging my papers for a MS. +worthy of her acceptation. I have just seen the younger Count Gamba, +and as I cannot prevail on his infinite modesty to take the field +without me, I must take this piece of diffidence on myself also, and +beg your indulgence for both." + + +LETTER 515. TO THE COUNT ----. + +"April 22. 1823. + +"My dear Count ---- (if you will permit me to address you so +familiarly), you should be content with writing in your own language, +like Grammont, and succeeding in London as nobody has succeeded since +the days of Charles the Second and the records of Antonio Hamilton, +without deviating into our barbarous language,--which you understand +and write, however, much better than it deserves. + +"My 'approbation,' as you are pleased to term it, was very sincere, +but perhaps not very impartial; for, though I love my country, I do +not love my countrymen--at least, such as they now are. And, besides +the seduction of talent and wit in your work, I fear that to me there +was the attraction of vengeance. I have _seen_ and _felt_ much of +what you have described so well. I have known the persons, and the +re-unions so described,--(many of them, that is to say,) and the +portraits are so like that I cannot but admire the painter no less +than his performance. + +"But I am sorry for you; for if you are so well acquainted with life +at your age, what will become of you when the illusion is still more +dissipated? But never mind--_en avant!_--live while you can; and that +you may have the full enjoyment of the many advantages of youth, +talent, and figure, which you possess, is the wish of +an--Englishman,--I suppose, but it is no treason; for my mother was +Scotch, and my name and my family are both Norman; and as for myself, +I am of no country. As for my 'Works,' which you are pleased to +mention, let them go to the Devil, from whence (if you believe many +persons) they came. + +"I have the honour to be your obliged," &c. &c. + +During this period a circumstance occurred which shows, most +favourably for the better tendencies of his nature, how much allayed +and softened down his once angry feeling, upon the subject of his +matrimonial differences, had now grown. It has been seen that his +daughter Ada,--more especially since his late loss of the only tie of +blood which he could have a hope of attaching to himself,--had become +the fond and constant object of his thoughts; and it was but natural, +in a heart kindly as his was, that, dwelling thus with tenderness +upon the child, he should find himself insensibly subdued into a +gentler tone of feeling towards the mother. A gentleman, whose sister +was known to be the confidential friend of Lady Byron, happening at +this time to be at Genoa, and in the habit of visiting at the house +of the poet's new intimates, Lord Byron took one day an opportunity, +in conversing with Lady ----, to say, that she would render him an +essential kindness if, through the mediation of this gentleman and +his sister, she could procure for him from Lady Byron, what he had +long been most anxious to possess, a copy of her picture. It having +been represented to him, in the course of the same, or a similar +conversation, that Lady Byron was said by her friends to be in a +state of constant alarm lest he should come to England to claim his +daughter, or, in some other way, interfere with her, he professed his +readiness to give every assurance that might have the effect of +calming such apprehensions; and the following letter, in reference to +both these subjects, was soon after sent by him. + + +LETTER 516. TO THE COUNTESS OF B----. + +"May 3. 1823. + +"Dear Lady ----, + +"My request would be for a copy of the miniature of Lady B. which I +have seen in possession of the late Lady Noel, as I have no picture, +or indeed memorial of any kind of Lady B., as all her letters were in +her own possession before I left England, and we have had no +correspondence since--at least on her part. + +My message, with regard to the infant, is simply to this effect--that +in the event of any accident occurring to the mother, and my +remaining the survivor, it would be my wish to have her plans carried +into effect, both with regard to the education of the child, and the +person or persons under whose care Lady B. might be desirous that she +should be placed. It is not my intention to interfere with her in any +way on the subject during her life; and I presume that it would be +some consolation to her to know,(if she is in ill health, as I am +given to understand,) that in _no_ case would any thing be done, as +far as I am concerned, but in strict conformity with Lady B.'s own +wishes and intentions--left in what manner she thought proper. + +"Believe me, dear Lady B., your obliged," &c. + +This negotiation, of which I know not the results, nor whether, +indeed, it ever ended in any, led naturally and frequently to +conversations on the subject of his marriage,--a topic he was himself +always the first to turn to,--and the account which he then gave, as +well of the circumstances of the separation, as of his own entire +unconsciousness of the immediate causes that provoked it, was, I +find, exactly such as, upon every occasion when the subject presented +itself, he, with an air of sincerity in which it was impossible not +to confide, promulgated. "Of what really led to the separation (said +he, in the course of one of these conversations,) I declare to you +that, even at this moment, I am wholly ignorant; as Lady Byron would +never assign her motives, and has refused to answer my letters. I +have written to her repeatedly, and am still in the habit of doing +so. Some of these letters I have sent, and others I did not, simply +because I despaired of their doing any good. You may, however, see +some of them if you like;--they may serve to throw some light upon my +feelings." + +In a day or two after, accordingly, one of these withheld letters was +sent by him, enclosed in the following, to Lady ----. + + +LETTER 517. TO THE COUNTESS OF ----. + +"Albaro, May 6.1828. + +My dear Lady ----, + +I send you the letter which I had forgotten, and the book[1], which I +ought to have remembered. It contains (the book, I mean,) some +melancholy truths; though I believe that it is too triste a work ever +to have been popular. The first time I ever read it (not the edition +I send you,--for I got it since,) was at the desire of Madame de +Stael, who was supposed by the good-natured world to be the +heroine;--which she was not, however, and was furious at the +supposition. This occurred in Switzerland, in the summer of 1816, and +the last season in which I ever saw that celebrated person. + +[Footnote 1: Adolphe, by M. Benjamin Constant.] + +"I have a request to make to my friend Alfred (since he has not +disdained the title), viz. that he would condescend to add a _cap_ to +the gentleman in the jacket,--it would complete his costume,--and +smooth his brow, which is somewhat too inveterate a likeness of the +original, God help me!" + +"I did well to avoid the water-party,--_why_, is a mystery, which is +not less to be wondered at than all my other mysteries. Tell Milor +that I am deep in his MS., and will do him justice by a diligent +perusal." + +"The letter which I enclose I was prevented from sending by my +despair of its doing any good. I was perfectly sincere when I wrote +it, and am so still. But it is difficult for me to withstand the +thousand provocations on that subject, which both friends and foes +have for seven years been throwing in the way of a man whose feelings +were once quick, and whose temper was never patient. But 'returning +were as tedious as go o'er.' I feel this as much as ever Macbeth did; +and it is a dreary sensation, which at least avenges the real or +imaginary wrongs of one of the two unfortunate persons whom it +concerns." + +"But I am going to be gloomy;--so 'to bed, to bed.' Good night,--or +rather morning. One of the reasons why I wish to avoid society is, +that I can never sleep after it, and the pleasanter it has been the +less I rest." + +"Ever most truly," &c. &c. + +I shall now produce the enclosure contained in the above; and there +are few, I should think, of my readers who will not agree with me in +pronouncing, that if the author of the following letter had not +_right_ on his side, he had at least most of those good feelings +which are found in general to accompany it. + + +LETTER 518. TO LADY BYRON. + +(TO THE CARE OF THE HON. MRS. LEIGH, LONDON.) + +Pisa, November 17. 1821. + +I have to acknowledge the receipt of 'Ada's hair,'which is very soft +and pretty, and nearly as dark already as mine was at twelve years +old, if I may judge from what I recollect of some in Augusta's +possession, taken at that age. But it don't curl,--perhaps from its +being let grow. + +"I also thank you for the inscription of the date and name, and I +will tell you why;--I believe that they are the only two or three +words of your handwriting in my possession. For your letters I +returned, and except the two words, or rather the one word, +'Household,' written twice in an old account book, I have no other. I +burnt your last note, for two reasons:--firstly, it was written in a +style not very agreeable; and, secondly, I wished to take your word +without documents, which are the worldly resources of suspicious +people. + +I suppose that this note will reach you somewhere about Ada's +birthday--the 10th of December, I believe. She will then be six, so +that in about twelve more I shall have some chance of meeting +her;--perhaps sooner, if I am obliged to go to England by business or +otherwise. Recollect, however, one thing, either in distance or +nearness;--every day which keeps us asunder should, after so long a +period, rather soften our mutual feelings, which must always have one +rallying-point as long as our child exists, which I presume we both +hope will be long after either of her parents. + +The time which has elapsed since the separation has been considerably +more than the whole brief period of our union, and the not much +longer one of our prior acquaintance. We both made a bitter mistake; +but now it is over, and irrevocably so. For, at thirty-three on my +part, and a few years less on yours, though it is no very extended +period of life, still it is one when the habits and thought are +generally so formed as to admit of no modification; and as we could +not agree when younger, we should with difficulty do so now. + +I say all this, because I own to you, that, notwithstanding every +thing, I considered our re-union as not impossible for more than a +year after the separation;--but then I gave up the hope entirely and +for ever. But this very impossibility of re-union seems to me at +least a reason why, on all the few points of discussion which can +arise between us, we should preserve the courtesies of life, and as +much of its kindness as people who are never to meet may preserve +perhaps more easily than nearer connections. For my own part, I am +violent, but not malignant; for only fresh provocations can awaken my +resentments. To you, who are colder and more concentrated, I would +just hint, that you may sometimes mistake the depth of a cold anger +for dignity, and a worse feeling for duty. I assure you that I bear +you _now_ (whatever I may have done) no resentment whatever. +Remember, that _if you have injured me_ in aught, this forgiveness is +something; and that, if I have _injured you_, it is something more +still, if it be true, as the moralists say, that the most offending +are the least forgiving. + +"Whether the offence has been solely on my side, or reciprocal, or on +yours chiefly, I have ceased to reflect upon any but two +things,--viz. that you are the mother of my child, and that we shall +never meet again. I think if you also consider the two corresponding +points with reference to myself, it will be better for all three. + +"Yours ever, + +"NOEL BYRON." + + +It has been my plan, as must have been observed, wherever my +materials have furnished me with the means, to leave the subject of +my Memoir to relate his own story; and this object, during the two or +three years of his life just elapsed, I have been enabled by the rich +resources in my hands, with but few interruptions, to attain. Having +now, however, reached that point of his career from which a new start +was about to be taken by his excursive spirit, and a course, glorious +as it was brief and fatal, entered upon,--a moment of pause may be +permitted while we look back through the last few years, and for a +while dwell upon the spectacle, at once grand and painful, which his +life during that most unbridled period of his powers exhibited. + +In a state of unceasing excitement, both of heart and brain,--for +ever warring with the world's will, yet living but in the world's +breath,--with a genius taking upon itself all shapes, from Jove down +to Scapin, and a disposition veering with equal facility to all +points of the moral compass,--not even the ancient fancy of the +existence of two souls within one bosom would seem at all adequately +to account for the varieties, both of power and character, which the +course of his conduct and writings during these few feverish years +displayed. Without going back so far as the Fourth Canto of Childe +Harold, which one of his bitterest and ablest assailants has +pronounced to be, "in point of execution, the sublimest poetical +achievement of mortal pen," we have, in a similar strain of strength +and splendour, the Prophecy of Dante, Cain, the Mystery of Heaven and +Earth, Sardanapalus,--all produced during this wonderful period of +his genius. To these also are to be added four other dramatic pieces, +which, though the least successful of his compositions, have yet, as +Poems, few equals in our literature; while, in a more especial +degree, they illustrate the versatility of taste and power so +remarkable in him, as being founded, and to this very circumstance, +perhaps, owing their failure, on a severe classic model, the most +uncongenial to his own habits and temperament, and the most remote +from that bold, unshackled license which it had been the great +mission of his genius, throughout the whole realms of Mind, to +assert. + +In contrast to all these high-toned strains, and struck off during +the same fertile period, we find his Don Juan--in itself an epitome +of all the marvellous contrarieties of his character--the Vision of +Judgment, the Translation from Pulci, the Pamphlets on Pope, on the +British Review, on Blackwood,--together with a swarm of other light, +humorous trifles, all flashing forth carelessly from the same mind +that was, almost at the same moment, personating, with a port worthy +of such a presence, the mighty spirit of Dante, or following the dark +footsteps of Scepticism over the ruins of past worlds, with Cain. + +All this time, too, while occupied with these ideal creations, the +demands upon his active sympathies, in real life, were such as almost +any mind but his own would have found sufficient to engross its every +thought and feeling. An amour, not of that light, transient kind +which "goes without a burden," but, on the contrary, deep-rooted +enough to endure to the close of his days, employed as restlessly +with its first hopes and fears a portion of this period as with the +entanglements to which it led, political and domestic, it embarrassed +the remainder. Scarcely, indeed, had this disturbing passion begun to +calm, when a new source of excitement presented itself in that +conspiracy into which he flung himself so fearlessly, and which +ended, as we have seen, but in multiplying the objects of his +sympathy and protection, and driving him to a new change of home and +scene. + +When we consider all these distractions that beset him, taking into +account also the frequent derangement of his health, and the time and +temper he must have thrown away on the minute drudgery of watching +over every item of his household expenditure, the mind is lost in +almost incredulous astonishment at the wonders he was able to achieve +under such circumstances--at the variety and prodigality of power +with which, in the midst of such interruptions and hinderances, his +"bright soul broke out on every side," and not only held on its +course, unclogged, through all these difficulties, but even extracted +out of the very struggles and annoyances it encountered new nerve for +its strength, and new fuel for its fire. + +While thus at this period, more remarkably than at any other during +his life, the unparalleled versatility of his genius was unfolding +itself, those quick, cameleon-like changes of which his character, +too, was capable were, during the same time, most vividly, and in +strongest contrast, drawn out. To the world, and more especially to +England,--the scene at once of his glories and his wrongs,--he +presented himself in no other aspect than that of a stern, haughty +misanthrope, self-banished from the fellowship of men, and, most of +all, from that of Englishmen. The more genial and beautiful +inspirations of his muse were, in this point of view, looked upon but +as lucid intervals between the paroxysms of an inherent malignancy of +nature; and even the laughing effusions of his wit and humour got +credit for no other aim than that which Swift boasted of, as the end +of all his own labours, "to vex the world rather than divert it." + +How totally all this differed from the Byron of the social hour, they +who lived in familiar intercourse with him may be safely left to +tell. The sort of ferine reputation which he had acquired for himself +abroad prevented numbers, of course, of his countrymen, whom he would +have most cordially welcomed, from seeking his acquaintance. But, as +it was, no English gentleman ever approached him, with the common +forms of introduction, that did not come away at once surprised and +charmed by the kind courtesy and facility of his manners, the +unpretending play of his conversation, and, on a nearer intercourse, +the frank, youthful spirits, to the flow of which he gave way with +such a zest, as even to deceive some of those who best knew him into +the impression, that gaiety was after all the true bent of his +disposition. + +To these contrasts which he presented, as viewed publicly and +privately, is to be added also the fact, that, while braving the +world's ban so boldly, and asserting man's right to think for himself +with a freedom and even daringness unequalled, the original shyness +of his nature never ceased to hang about him; and while at a distance +he was regarded as a sort of autocrat in intellect, revelling in all +the confidence of his own great powers, a somewhat nearer observation +enabled a common acquaintance at Venice[1] to detect, under all this, +traces of that self-distrust and bashfulness which had marked him as +a boy, and which never entirely forsook him through the whole of his +career. + +[Footnote 1: The Countess Albrizzi--see her Sketch of his Character.] + +Still more singular, however, than this contradiction between the +public and private man,--a contradiction not unfrequent, and, in some +cases, more apparent than real, as depending upon the relative +position of the observer,--were those contrarieties and changes not +less startling, which his character so often exhibited, as compared +with itself. He who, at one moment, was seen intrenched in the most +absolute self-will, would, at the very next, be found all that was +docile and amenable. To-day, storming the world in its strong-holds, +as a misanthrope and satirist--to-morrow, learning, with implicit +obedience, to fold a shawl, as a Cavaliere--the same man who had so +obstinately refused to surrender, either to friendly remonstrance or +public outcry, a single line of Don Juan, at the mere request of a +gentle Donna agreed to cease it altogether; nor would venture to +resume this task (though the chief darling of his muse) till, with +some difficulty, he had obtained leave from the same ascendant +quarter. Who, indeed, is there that, without some previous clue to +his transformations, could have been at all prepared to recognise the +coarse libertine of Venice in that romantic and passionate lover who, +but a few months after, stood weeping before the fountain in the +garden at Bologna? or, who could have expected to find in the close +calculator of sequins and baiocchi, that generous champion of Liberty +whose whole fortune, whose very life itself were considered by him +but as trifling sacrifices for the advancement, but by a day, of her +cause? + +And here naturally our attention is drawn to the consideration of +another feature of his character, connected more intimately with the +bright epoch of his life now before us. Notwithstanding his strongly +marked prejudices in favour of rank and high birth, we have seen with +what ardour,--not only in fancy and theory, bet practically, as in +the case of the Italian Carbonari,--he embarked his sympathies +unreservedly on the current of every popular movement towards +freedom. Though of the sincerity of this zeal for liberty the seal +set upon it so solemnly by his death leaves us no room to doubt, a +question may fairly arise whether that general love of excitement, +let it flow from whatever source it might, by which, more or less, +every pursuit of his whole life was actuated, was not predominant +among the impulses that governed him in this; and, again, whether it +is not probable that, like Alfieri and other aristocratic lovers of +freedom, he would not ultimately have shrunk from the result of his +own equalising doctrines; and, though zealous enough in lowering +those _above_ his own level, rather recoil from the task of raising +up those who were _below_ it. + +With regard to the first point, it may be conceded, without deducting +much from his sincere zeal in the cause, that the gratification of +his thirst of fame, and, above all, perhaps, that supply of +excitement so necessary to him, to whet, as it were, the edge of his +self-wearing spirit, were not the least of the attractions and +incitements which a struggle under the banners of Freedom presented +to him. It is also but too certain that, destined as he was to +endless disenchantment, from that singular and painful union which +existed in his nature of the creative imagination that calls up +illusions, and the cool, searching sagacity that, at once, detects +their hollowness, he could not long have gone on, even in a path so +welcome to him, without finding the hopes with which his fancy had +strewed it withering away beneath him at every step. + +In politics, as in every other pursuit, his ambition was to be among +the first; nor would it have been from the want of a due appreciation +of all that is noblest and most disinterested in patriotism, that he +would ever have stooped his flight to any less worthy aim. The +following passage in one of his Journals will be remembered by the +reader:--"To be the first man _(not_ the Dictator), not the Sylla, +but the Washington, or Aristides, the leader in talent and truth, is +to be next to the Divinity." With such high and pure notions of +political eminence, he could not be otherwise than fastidious as to +the means of attaining it; nor can it be doubted that with the sort +of vulgar and sometimes sullied instruments which all popular leaders +must stoop to employ, his love of truth, his sense of honour, his +impatience of injustice, would have led him constantly into such +collisions as must have ended in repulsion and disgust; while the +companionship of those beneath him, a tax all demagogues must pay, +would, as soon as it had ceased to amuse his fancy for the new and +the ridiculous, have shocked his taste and mortified his pride. The +distaste with which, as appears from more than one of his letters, he +was disposed to view the personal, if not the political, attributes +of what is commonly called the Radical party in England, shows how +unsuited he was naturally to mix in that kind of popular fellowship +which, even to those far less aristocratic in their notions and +feelings, must be sufficiently trying. + +But, even granting that all these consequences might safely be +predicted as almost certain to result from his engaging in such a +career, it by no means the more necessarily follows that, _once_ +engaged, he would not have persevered in it consistently and +devotedly to the last; nor that, even if reduced to say, with Cicero, +"nil boni praeter causam," he could not have so far abstracted the +principle of the cause from its unworthy supporters as, at the same +time, to uphold the one and despise the others. Looking back, indeed, +from the advanced point where we are now arrived through the whole of +his past career, we cannot fail to observe, pervading all its +apparent changes and inconsistencies, an adherence to the original +bias of his nature, a general consistency in the main, however +shifting and contradictory the details, which had the effect of +preserving, from first to last, all his views and principles, upon +the great subjects that interested him through life, essentially +unchanged.[1] + +[Footnote 1: Colonel Stanhope, who saw clearly this leading character +of Byron's mind, has thus justly described it:--"Lord Byron's was a +versatile and still a stubborn mind; it wavered, but always returned +to certain fixed principles."] + +At the worst, therefore, though allowing that, from disappointment or +disgust, he might have been led to withdraw all personal +participation in such a cause, in no case would he have shown himself +a recreant to its principles; and though too proud to have ever +descended, like Egalite, into the ranks of the people, he would have +been far too consistent to pass, like Alfieri, into those of their +enemies. + +After the failure of those hopes with which he had so sanguinely +looked forward to the issue of the late struggle between Italy and +her rulers, it may be well conceived what a relief it was to him to +turn his eyes to Greece, where a spirit was now rising such as he had +himself imaged forth in dreams of song, but hardly could have even +dreamed that he should live to see it realised. His early travels in +that country had left a lasting impression on his mind; and whenever, +as I have before remarked, his fancy for a roving life returned, it +was to the regions about the "blue Olympus" he always fondly looked +back. Since his adoption of Italy as a home, this propensity had in a +great degree subsided. In addition to the sedatory effects of his new +domestic r, there had, at this time, grown upon him a degree of +inertness, or indisposition to change of residence, which, in the +instance of his departure from Ravenna, was with some difficulty +surmounted. + +The unsettled state of life he was from thenceforward thrown into, by +the precarious fortunes of those with whom he had connected himself, +conspired with one or two other causes to revive within him all his +former love of change and adventure; nor is it wonderful that to +Greece, as offering _both_ in their most exciting form, he should +turn eagerly his eyes, and at once kindle with a desire not only to +witness, but perhaps share in, the present triumphs of Liberty on +those very fields where he had already gathered for immortality such +memorials of her day long past. + +Among the causes that concurred with this sentiment to determine him +to the enterprise he now meditated, not the least powerful, +undoubtedly, was the supposition in his own mind that the high tide +of his poetical popularity had been for some time on the ebb. The +utter failure of the Liberal,--in which, splendid as were some of his +own contributions to it, there were yet others from his pen hardly to +be distinguished from the surrounding dross,--confirmed him fully in +the notion that he had at last wearied out his welcome with the +world; and, as the voice of fame had become almost as necessary to +him as the air he breathed, it was with a proud consciousness of the +yet untouched reserves of power within him he now saw that, if +arrived at the end of _one_ path of fame, there were yet others for +him to strike into, still more glorious. + +That some such vent for the resources of his mind had long been +contemplated by him appears from a letter of his to myself, in which +it will be recollected he says,--"If I live ten years longer, you +will see that it is not over with me. I don't mean in literature, for +that is nothing; and--it may seem odd enough to say--I do not think +it was my vocation. But you will see that I shall do something,--the +times and Fortune permitting,--that 'like the cosmogony of the world +will puzzle the philosophers of all ages.'" He then adds this but too +true and sad prognostic:--"But I doubt whether my constitution will +hold out." + +His zeal in the cause of Italy, whose past history and literature +seemed to call aloud for redress of her present vassalage and wrongs, +would have, no doubt, led him to the same chivalrous self-devotion in +her service, as he displayed afterwards in that of Greece. The +disappointing issue, however, of that brief struggle is but too well +known; and this sudden wreck of a cause so promising pained him the +more deeply from his knowledge of some of the brave and true hearts +embarked in it. The disgust, indeed, which that abortive effort left +behind, coupled with the opinion he had early formed of the +"hereditary bonds-men" of Greece, had kept him for some time in a +state of considerable doubt and misgiving as to their chances of ever +working out their own enfranchisement; nor was it till the spring of +this year, when, rather by the continuance of the struggle than by +its actual success, some confidence had begun to be inspired in the +trust-worthiness of the cause, that he had nearly made up his mind to +devote himself to its aid. The only difficulty that still remained to +retard or embarrass this resolution was the necessity it imposed of a +temporary separation from Madame Guiccioli, who was herself, as might +be expected, anxious to participate his perils, but whom it was +impossible he could think of exposing to the chances of a life, even +for men, so rude. + +At the beginning of the month of April he received a visit from Mr. +Blaquiere, who was then proceeding on a special mission to Greece, +for the purpose of procuring for the Committee lately formed in +London correct information as to the state and prospects of that +country. It was among the instructions of this gentleman that he +should touch at Genoa and communicate with Lord Byron; and the +following note will show how cordially the noble poet was disposed to +enter into all the objects of the Committee. + + +LETTER 519. TO MR. BLAQUIERE. + +"Albaro, April 5. 1823. + +"Dear Sir, + +"I shall be delighted to see you and your Greek friend, and the +sooner the better. I have been expecting you for some time,--you will +find me at home. I cannot express to you how much I feel interested +in the cause, and nothing but the hopes I entertained of witnessing +the liberation of Italy itself prevented me long ago from returning +to do what little I could, as an individual, in that land which it is +an honour even to have visited. + +"Ever yours truly, NOEL BYRON." + + +Soon after this interview with their agent, a more direct +communication on the subject was opened between his Lordship and the +Committee itself. + + +LETTER 520. TO MR. BOWRING. + +"Genoa, May 12. 1823 + +"Sir, + +"I have great pleasure in acknowledging your letter, and the honour +which the Committee have done me:--I shall endeavour to deserve their +confidence by every means in my power. My first wish is to go up into +the Levant in person, where I might be enabled to advance, if not the +cause, at least the means of obtaining information which the +Committee might be desirous of acting upon; and my former residence +in the country, my familiarity with the Italian language, (which is +there universally spoken, or at least to the same extent as French in +the more polished parts of the Continent,) and my _not_ total +ignorance of the Romaic, would afford me some advantages of +experience. To this project the only objection is of a domestic +nature, and I shall try to get over it;--if I fail in this, I must do +what I can where I am; but it will be always a source of regret to +me, to think that I might perhaps have done more for the cause on the +spot. + +"Our last information of Captain Blaquiere is from Ancona, where he +embarked with a fair wind for Corfu, on the 15th ult.; he is now +probably at his destination. My last letter _from_ him personally was +dated Rome; he had been refused a passport through the Neapolitan +territory, and returned to strike up through Romagna for +Ancona:--little time, however, appears to have been lost by the +delay. + +"The principal material wanted by the Greeks appears to be, first, a +park of field artillery--light, and fit for mountain-service; +secondly, gunpowder; thirdly, hospital or medical stores. The +readiest mode of transmission is, I hear, by Idra, addressed to Mr. +Negri, the minister. I meant to send up a certain quantity of the two +latter--no great deal--but enough for an individual to show his good +wishes for the Greek success,--but am pausing, because, in case I +should go myself, I can take them with me. I do not want to limit my +own contribution to this merely, but more especially, if I can get to +Greece myself, I should devote whatever resources I can muster of my +own, to advancing the great object. I am in correspondence with +Signor Nicolas Karrellas (well known to Mr. Hobhouse), who is now at +Pisa; but his latest advice merely stated, that the Greeks are at +present employed in organising their _internal_ government, and the +details of its administration: this would seem to indicate +_security_, but the war is however far from being terminated. + +"The Turks are an obstinate race, as all former wars have proved +them, and will return to the charge for years to come, even if +beaten, as it is to be hoped they will be. But in no case can the +labours of the Committee be said to be in vain; for in the event even +of the Greeks being subdued, and dispersed, the funds which could be +employed in succouring and gathering together the remnant, so as to +alleviate in part their distresses, and enable them to find or make a +country (as so many emigrants of other nations have been compelled to +do), would 'bless both those who gave and those who took,' as the +bounty both of justice and of mercy. + +"With regard to the formation of a brigade, (which Mr. Hobhouse hints +at in his short letter of this day's receipt, enclosing the one to +which I have the honour to reply,) I would presume to suggest--but +merely as an opinion, resulting rather from the melancholy experience +of the brigades embarked in the Columbian service than from any +experiment yet fairly tried in GREECE,--that the attention of the +Committee had better perhaps be directed to the employment of +_officers_ of experience than the enrolment of _raw British_ +soldiers, which latter are apt to be unruly, and not very +serviceable, in irregular warfare, by the side of foreigners. A small +body of good officers, especially artillery; an engineer, with +quantity (such as the Committee might deem requisite) of stores of +the nature which Captain Blaquiere indicated as most wanted, would, I +should conceive, be a highly useful accession. Officers, also, who +had previously served in the Mediterranean would be preferable, as +some knowledge of Italian is nearly indispensable. + +"It would also be as well that they should be aware, that they are +not going 'to rough it on a beef-steak and bottle of port,'--but that +Greece--never, of late years, very plentifully stocked for a +_mess_--is at present the country of all kinds of _privations_. This +remark may seem superfluous; but I have been led to it, by observing +that many _foreign_ officers, Italian, French, and even Germans +(but_fewer_ of the _latter_), have returned in disgust, imagining +either that they were going up to make a party of pleasure, or to +enjoy full pay, speedy promotion, and a very moderate degree of duty. +They complain, too, of having been ill received by the Government or +inhabitants; but numbers of these complainants were mere adventurers, +attracted by a hope of command and plunder, and disappointed of both. +Those Greeks I have seen strenuously deny the charge of +inhospitality, and declare that they shared their pittance to the +last crum with their foreign volunteers. + +"I need not suggest to the Committee the very great advantage which +must accrue to Great Britain from the success of the Greeks, and +their probable commercial relations with England in consequence; +because I feel persuaded that the first object of the Committee is +their EMANCIPATION, without any interested views. But the +consideration might weigh with the English people in general, in +their present passion for every kind of speculation,--they need not +cross the American seas, for one much better worth their while, and +nearer home. The resources even for an emigrant population, in the +Greek islands alone, are rarely to be paralleled; and the cheapness +of every kind of, not _only necessary_, but _luxury_, (that is to +say, _luxury_ of _nature_,) fruits, wine, oil, &c. in a state of +peace, are far beyond those of the Cape, and Van Dieman's Land, and +the other places of refuge, which the English people are searching +for over the waters. + +"I beg that the Committee will command me in any and every way. If I +am favoured with any instructions, I shall endeavour to obey them to +the letter, whether conformable to my own private opinion or not. I +beg leave to add, personally, my respect for the gentleman whom I +have the honour of addressing, + +"And am, Sir, your obliged, &c. + +"P.S. The best refutation of Gell will be the active exertions of the +Committee;--I am too warm a controversialist; and I suspect that if +Mr. Hobhouse have taken him in hand, there will be little occasion +for me to 'encumber him with help.' If I go up into the country, I +will endeavour to transmit as accurate and impartial an account as +circumstances will permit. + +"I shall write to Mr. Karrellas. I expect intelligence from Captain +Blaquiere, who has promised me some early intimation from the seat of +the Provisional Government. I gave him a letter of introduction to +Lord Sydney Osborne, at Corfu; but as Lord S. is in the government +service, of course his reception could only be a _cautious_ one." + + +LETTER 521. TO MR. BOWRING. + +"Genoa, May 21. 1823. + +"Sir, + +"I received yesterday the letter of the Committee, dated the 14th of +March. What has occasioned the delay, I know not. It was forwarded by +Mr. Galignani, from Paris, who stated that he had only had it in his +charge four days, and that it was delivered to him by a Mr. Grattan. +I need hardly say that I gladly accede to the proposition of the +Committee, and hold myself highly honoured by being deemed worthy to +be a member. I have also to return my thanks, particularly to +yourself, for the accompanying letter, which is extremely flattering. + +"Since I last wrote to you, through the medium of Mr. Hobhouse, I +have received and forwarded a letter from Captain Blaquiere to me, +from Corfu, which will show how he gets on. Yesterday I fell in with +two young Germans, survivors of General Normann's band. They arrived +at Genoa in the most deplorable state--without food--without a +soul--without shoes. The Austrians had sent them out of their +territory on their landing at Trieste; and they had been forced to +come down to Florence, and had travelled from Leghorn here, with four +Tuscan _livres_ (about three francs) in their pockets. I have given +them twenty Genoese scudi (about a hundred and thirty-three livres, +French money,) and new shoes, which will enable them to get to +Switzerland, where they say that they have friends. All that they +could raise in Genoa, besides, was thirty _sous_. They do not +complain of the Greeks, but say that they have suffered more since +their landing in Italy. + +"I tried their veracity, 1st, by their passports and papers; 2dly, by +topography, cross-questioning them about Arta, Argos, Athens, +Missolonghi, Corinth, c.; and, 3dly, in _Romaic_, of which I found +one of them, at least, knew more than I do. One of them (they are +both of good families) is a fine handsome young fellow of +three-and-twenty--a Wirtembergher, and has a look of _Sandt_ about +him--the other a Bavarian, older and flat-faced, and less ideal, but +a great, sturdy, soldier-like personage. The Wirtembergher was in the +action at Arta, where the Philhellenists were cut to pieces after +killing six hundred Turks, they themselves being only a hundred and +fifty in number, opposed to about six or seven thousand; only eight +escaped, and of them about three only survived; so that General +Normann 'posted his ragamuffins where they were well peppered--not +three of the hundred and fifty left alive--and they are for the +town's end for life.' + +"These two left Greece by the direction of the Greeks. When Churschid +Pacha over-run the Morea, the Greeks seem to have behaved well, in +wishing to save their allies, when they thought that the game was up +with themselves. This was in September last (1822): they wandered +from island to island, and got from Milo to Smyrna, where the French +consul gave them a passport, and a charitable captain a passage to +Ancona, whence they got to Trieste, and were turned back by the +Austrians. They complain only of the minister (who has always been an +indifferent character); say that the Greeks fight very well in their +own way, but were at _first_ afraid to _fire_ their own cannon--but +mended with practice. + +"Adolphe (the younger) commanded at Navarino for a short time; the +other, a more material person, 'the bold Bavarian in a luckless +hour,' seems chiefly to lament a fast of three days at Argos, and the +loss of twenty-five paras a day of pay in arrear, and some baggage at +Tripolitza; but takes his wounds, and marches, and battles in very +good part. Both are very simple, full of naivete, and quite +unpretending: they say the foreigners quarrelled among themselves, +particularly the French with the Germans, which produced duels. + +"The Greeks accept muskets, but throw away _bayonets_, and will _not_ +be disciplined. When these lads saw two Piedmontese regiments +yesterday, they said, 'Ah! if we had but _these_ two, we should have +cleared the Morea:' in that case the Piedmontese must have behaved +better than they did against the Austrians. They seem to lay great +stress upon a few regular troops--say that the Greeks have arms and +powder in plenty, but want victuals, hospital stores, and lint and +linen, &c. and money, very much. Altogether, it would be difficult to +show more practical philosophy than this remnant of our 'puir hill +folk' have done; they do not seem the least cast down, and their way +of presenting themselves was as simple and natural as could be. They +said, a Dane here had told them that an Englishman, friendly to the +Greek cause, was here, and that, as they were reduced to beg their +way home, they thought they might as well begin with me. I write in +haste to snatch the post. + +"Believe me, and truly, + +"Your obliged, &c. + +"P.S. I have, since I wrote this, seen them again. Count P. Gamba +asked them to breakfast. One of them means to publish his Journal of +the campaign. The Bavarian wonders a little that the Greeks are not +quite the same with them of the time of Themistocles, (they were not +then very tractable, by the by,) and at the difficulty of +disciplining them; but he is a 'bon homme' and a tactician, and a +little like Dugald Dalgetty, who would insist upon the erection of 'a +sconce on the hill of Drumsnab,' or whatever it was;--the other seems +to wonder at nothing." + + +LETTER 522. TO LADY ----. + +"May 17. 1823. + +"My voyage to Greece will depend upon the Greek Committee (in +England) partly, and partly on the instructions which some persons +now in Greece on a private mission may be pleased to send me. I am a +member, lately elected, of the said Committee; and my object in going +up would be to do any little good in my power;--but as there are some +_pros_ and _cons_ on the subject, with regard to how far the +intervention of strangers may be advisable, I know no more than I +tell you; but we shall probably hear something soon from England and +Greece, which may be more decisive. + +"With regard to the late person (Lord Londonderry), whom you hear +that I have attacked, I can only say that a bad minister's memory is +as much an object of investigation as his conduct while alive,--for +his measures do not die with him like a private individual's notions. +He is a matter of _history_; and, wherever I find a tyrant or a +villain, _I will mark him._ I attacked him no more than I had been +wont to do. As to the Liberal,--it was a publication set up for the +advantage of a persecuted author and a very worthy man. But it was +foolish in me to engage in it; and so it has turned out--for I have +hurt myself without doing much good to those for whose benefit it was +intended. + +"Do _not defend_ me--it will never do--you will only make _yourself_ +enemies. + +"Mine are neither to be diminished nor softened, but they may be +overthrown; and there are events which may occur, less improbable +than those which have happened in our time, that may reverse the +present state of things--_nous verrons_. + +"I send you this gossip that you may laugh at it, which is all it is +good for, if it is even good for so much. I shall be delighted to see +you again; but it will be melancholy, should it be only for a moment. + +"Ever yours, N. B." + + +It being now decided that Lord Byron should proceed forthwith to +Greece, all the necessary preparations for his departure were +hastened. One of his first steps was to write to Mr. Trelawney, who +was then at Rome, to request that he would accompany him. "You must +have heard," he says, "that I am going to Greece--why do you not come +to me? I can do nothing without you, and am exceedingly anxious to +see you. Pray, come, for I am at last determined to go to Greece:--it +is the only place I was ever contented in. I am serious; and did not +write before, as I might have given you a journey for nothing. They +all say I can be of use to Greece; I do not know how--nor do they; +but, at all events, let us go." + +A physician, acquainted with surgery, being considered a necessary +part of his suite, he requested of his own medical attendant at +Genoa, Dr. Alexander, to provide him with such a person; and, on the +recommendation of this gentleman, Dr. Bruno, a young man who had just +left the university with considerable reputation, was engaged. Among +other preparations for his expedition, he ordered three splendid +helmets to be made,--with his never forgotten crest engraved upon +them,--for himself and the two friends who were to accompany him. In +this little circumstance, which in England (where the ridiculous is +so much better understood than the heroic) excited some sneers at the +time, we have one of the many instances that occur amusingly through +his life, to confirm the quaint but, as applied to him, true +observation, that "the child is father to the man;"--the +characteristics of these two periods of life being in him so +anomalously transposed, that while the passions and ripened views of +the man developed themselves in his boyhood, so the easily pleased +fancies and vanities of the boy were for ever breaking out among the +most serious moments of his manhood. The same schoolboy whom we +found, at the beginning of the first volume, boasting of his +intention to raise, at some future time, a troop of horse in black +armour, to be called Byron's Blacks, was now seen trying on with +delight his fine crested helmet, and anticipating the deeds of glory +he was to achieve under its plumes. + +At the end of May a letter arrived from Mr. Blaquiere communicating +to him very favourable intelligence, and requesting that he would as +much as possible hasten his departure, as he was now anxiously looked +for, and would be of the greatest service. However encouraging this +summons, and though Lord Byron, thus called upon from all sides, had +now determined to give freely the aid which all deemed so essential, +it is plain from his letters that, in the cool, sagacious view which +he himself took of the whole subject, so far from agreeing with these +enthusiasts in their high estimate of his personal services, he had +not yet even been able to perceive any definite way in which those +services could, with any prospect of permanent utility, be applied. + +For an insight into the true state of his mind at this crisis, the +following observations of one who watched him with eyes quickened by +anxiety will be found, perhaps, to afford the clearest and most +certain clue. "At this time," says the Contessa Guiccioli, "Lord +Byron again turned his thoughts to Greece; and, excited on every side +by a thousand combining circumstances, found himself, almost before +he had time to form a decision, or well know what he was doing, +obliged to set out for that country. But, notwithstanding his +affection for those regions,--notwithstanding the consciousness of +his own moral energies, which made him say always that 'a man ought +to do something more for society than write verses,'--notwithstanding +the attraction which the object of this voyage must necessarily have +for his noble mind, and that, moreover, he was resolved to return to +Italy within a few months,--notwithstanding all this, every person +who was near him at the time can bear witness to the struggle which +his mind underwent (however much he endeavoured to hide it), as the +period fixed for his departure approached."[1] + +[Footnote 1: "Fu allora che Lord Byron rivolse i suoi pensieri alla +Grecia; e stimolato poi da ogni parte per mille combinazioni egli si +trovo quasi senza averlo deciso, e senza saperlo, obbligato di +partire per la Grecia. Ma, non ostante il suo affetto per quelle +contrade,--non ostante il sentimento delle sue forze morali che gli +faceva dire sempre 'che un uomo e obbligato a fare per la societa +qualche cosa di piu che dei versi,--non ostante le attrative che +doveva avere pel nobile suo animo l'oggetto di que viaggio,--e non +ostante che egli fosse determinato di ritornare in Italia fra non +molti mesi,--pure in quale combattimento si trovasse il suo cuore +mentre si avvanzava l'epoca della sua parenza (sebbene cercasse +occultarlo) ognuno che lo ha avvicinato allora puu dirlo."] + +In addition to the vagueness which this want of any defined object so +unsatisfactorily threw round the enterprise before him, he had also a +sort of ominous presentiment--natural, perhaps, to one of his +temperament under such circumstances--that he was but fulfilling his +own doom in this expedition, and should die in Greece. On the evening +before the departure of his friends, Lord and Lady B----, from Genoa, +he called upon them for the purpose of taking leave, and sat +conversing for some time. He was evidently in low spirits, and after +expressing his regret that they should leave Genoa before his own +time of sailing, proceeded to speak of his intended voyage in a tone +full of despondence. "Here," said he, "we are all now together--but +when, and where, shall we meet again? I have a sort of boding that we +see each other for the last time; as something tells me I shall never +again return from Greece." Having continued a little longer in this +melancholy strain, he leaned his head upon the arm of the sofa on +which they were seated, and, bursting into tears, wept for some +minutes with uncontrollable feeling. Though he had been talking only +with Lady B----, all who were present in the room observed, and were +affected by his emotion, while he himself, apparently ashamed of his +weakness, endeavoured to turn off attention from it by some ironical +remark, spoken with a sort of hysterical laugh, upon the effects of +"nervousness." + +He had, previous to this conversation, presented to each of the party +some little farewell gift--a book to one, a print from his bust by +Bartolini to another, and to Lady B---- a copy of his Armenian +Grammar, which had some manuscript remarks of his own on the leaves. +In now parting with her, having begged, as a memorial, some trifle +which she had worn, the lady gave him one of her rings; in return for +which he took a pin from his breast, containing a small cameo of +Napoleon, which he said had long been his companion, and presented it +to her Ladyship. + +The next day Lady B---- received from him the following note. + + +TO THE COUNTESS OF B----. + +"Albaro, June 2. 1823. + +"My dear Lady B----, 'I am _superstitious_, and have recollected that +memorials with a _point_ are of less fortunate augury; I will, +therefore, request you to accept, instead of the _pin_, the enclosed +chain, which is of so slight a value that you need not hesitate. As +you wished for something _worn_, I can only say, that it has been +worn oftener and longer than the other. It is of Venetian +manufacture; and the only peculiarity about it is, that it could only +be obtained at or from Venice. At Genoa they have none of the same +kind. I also enclose a ring, which I would wish _Alfred_ to keep; it +is too large to _wear_; but is formed of _lava_, and so far adapted +to the fire of his years and character. You will perhaps have the +goodness to acknowledge the receipt of this note, and send back the +pin (for good luck's sake), which I shall value much more for having +been a night in your custody. + +"Ever and faithfully your obliged, &c. + +"P.S. I hope your _nerves_ are well to-day, and will continue to +flourish." + + +In the mean time the preparations for his romantic expedition were in +progress. With the aid of his banker and very sincere friend, Mr. +Barry, of Genoa, he was enabled to raise the large sums of money +necessary for his supply;--10,000 crowns in specie, and 40,000 crowns +in bills of exchange, being the amount of what he took with him, and +a portion of this having been raised upon his furniture and books, on +which Mr. Barry, as I understand, advanced a sum far beyond their +worth. An English brig, the Hercules, had been freighted to convey +himself and his suite, which consisted, at this time, of Count Gamba, +Mr. Trelawney, Dr. Bruno, and eight domestics. There were also aboard +five horses, sufficient arms and ammunition for the use of his own +party, two one-pounders belonging to his schooner, the Bolivar, which +he had left at Genoa, and medicine enough for the supply of a +thousand men for a year. + +The following letter to the Secretary of the Greek Committee +announces his approaching departure. + + +LETTER 523. TO MR. BOWRING. + +"July 7. 1823. + +"We sail on the 12th for Greece.--I have had a letter from Mr, +Blaquiere, too long for present transcription, but very satisfactory. +The Greek Government expects me without delay. + +"In conformity to the desires of Mr. B. and other correspondents in +Greece, I have to suggest, with all deference to the Committee, that +a remittance of even '_ten thousand pounds only_' (Mr. B.'s +expression) would be of the greatest service to the Greek Government +at present. I have also to recommend strongly the attempt of a loan, +for which there will be offered a sufficient security by deputies now +on their way to England. In the mean time, I hope that the Committee +will be enabled to do something effectual. + +"For my own part, I mean to carry up, in cash or credits, above +eight, and nearly nine thousand pounds sterling, which I am enabled +to do by funds I have in Italy, and credits in England. Of this sum I +must necessarily reserve a portion for the subsistence of myself and +suite; the rest I am willing to apply in the manner which seems most +likely to be useful to the cause--having of course some guarantee or +assurance, that it will not be misapplied to any individual +speculation. + +"If I remain in Greece, which will mainly depend upon the presumed +probable utility of my presence there, and of the opinion of the +Greeks themselves as to its propriety--in short, if I am welcome to +them, I shall continue, during my residence at least, to apply such +portions of my income, present and future, as may forward the +object--that is to say, what I can spare for that purpose. Privations +I can, or at least could once bear--abstinence I am accustomed +to--and as to fatigue, I was once a tolerable traveller. What I may +be now, I cannot tell--but I will try. + +"I await the commands of the Committee--Address to Genoa--the letters +will be forwarded me, wherever I may be, by my bankers, Messrs. Webb +and Barry. It would have given me pleasure to have had some more +_defined_ instructions before I went, but these, of course, rest at +the option of the Committee. + +I have the honour to be, + +"Yours obediently, &c. + +"P.S. Great anxiety is expressed for a printing press and types, &c. +I have not the time to provide them, but recommend this to the notice +of the Committee. I presume the types must, partly at least, be +_Greek_: they wish to publish papers, and perhaps a Journal, probably +in Romaic, with Italian translations." + + +All was now ready; and on the 13th of July himself and his whole +party slept on board the Hercules. About sunrise the next morning +they succeeded in clearing the port; but there was little wind, and +they remained in sight of Genoa the whole day. The night was a bright +moonlight, but the wind had become stormy and adverse, and they were, +for a short time, in serious danger. Lord Byron, who remained on deck +during the storm, was employed anxiously, with the aid of such of his +suite as were not disabled by sea-sickness from helping him in +preventing further mischief to the horses, which, having been badly +secured, had broken loose and injured each other. After making head +against the wind for three or four hours, the captain was at last +obliged to steer back to Genoa, and re-entered the port at six in the +morning. On landing again, after this unpromising commencement of his +voyage, Lord Byron (says Count Gamba) "appeared thoughtful, and +remarked that he considered a bad beginning a favourable omen." + +It has been already, I believe, mentioned that, among the +superstitions in which he chose to indulge, the supposed unluckiness +of Friday, as a day for the commencement of any work, was one by +which he, almost always, allowed himself to be influenced. Soon after +his arrival at Pisa, a lady of his acquaintance happening to meet him +on the road from her house as she was herself returning thither, and +supposing that he had been to make her a visit, requested that he +would go back with her. "I have not been to your house," he answered; +"for, just before I got to the door, I remembered that it was Friday; +and, not liking to make my first visit on a Friday, I turned back." +It is even related of him that he once sent away a Genoese tailor who +brought him home a new coat on the same ominous day. + +With all this, strange to say, he set sail for Greece on a +Friday:--and though, by those who have any leaning to this +superstitious fancy, the result maybe thought but too sadly +confirmatory of the omen, it is plain that either the influence of +the superstition over his own mind was slight, or, in the excitement +of self-devotion under which he now acted, was forgotten, In truth, +notwithstanding his encouraging speech to Count Gamba, the +forewarning he now felt of his approaching doom seems to have been +far too deep and serious to need the aid of any such accessory. +Having expressed a wish, on relanding, to visit his own palace, which +he had left to the care of Mr. Barry during his absence, and from +which Madame Guiccioli had early that morning departed, he now +proceeded thither, accompanied by Count Gamba alone. "His +conversation," says this gentleman, "was somewhat melancholy on our +way to Albaro: he spoke much of his past life, and of the uncertainty +of the future. 'Where,' said he, 'shall we be in a year?'--It looked +(adds his friend) like a melancholy foreboding; for, on the same day, +of the same month, in the next year, he was carried to the tomb of +his ancestors." + +It took nearly the whole of the day to repair the damages of their +vessel; and the greater part of this interval was passed by Lord +Byron, in company with Mr. Barry, at some gardens near the city. Here +his conversation, as this gentleman informs me, took the same gloomy +turn. That he had not fixed to go to England, in preference, seemed +one of his deep regrets; and so hopeless were the views he expressed +of the whole enterprise before him, that, as it appeared to Mr. +Barry, nothing but a devoted sense of duty and honour could have +determined him to persist in it. + +In the evening of that day they set sail;--and now, fairly launched +in the cause, and disengaged, as it were, from his former state of +existence, the natural power of his spirit to shake off pressure, +whether from within or without, began instantly to display itself. +According to the report of one of his fellow-voyagers, though so +clouded while on shore, no sooner did he find himself, once more, +bounding over the waters, than all the light and life of his better +nature shone forth. In the breeze that now bore him towards his +beloved Greece, the voice of his youth seemed again to speak. Before +the titles of hero, of benefactor, to which he now aspired, that of +poet, however pre-eminent, faded into nothing. His love of freedom, +his generosity, his thirst for the new and adventurous,--all were +re-awakened; and even the bodings that still lingered at the bottom +of his heart but made the course before him more precious from his +consciousness of its brevity, and from the high and self-ennobling +resolution he had now taken to turn what yet remained of it +gloriously to account. + + "Parte, e porta un desio d'eterna ed alma + Gloria che a nobil cuor e sferza e sprone; + A magnanime imprese intenta ha l'alma, + Ed _insolite cose oprar_ dispone. + Gir fra i nemici--_ivi o cipresso o palma_ + Acquistar." + +After a passage of five days, they reached Leghorn, at which place it +was thought necessary to touch, for the purpose of taking on board a +supply of gunpowder, and other English goods, not to be had +elsewhere. + +It would have been the wish of Lord Byron, in the new path he had now +marked out for himself, to disconnect from his name, if possible, all +those poetical associations, which, by throwing a character of +romance over the step he was now taking, might have a tendency, as he +feared, to impair its practical utility; and it is, perhaps, hardly +saying too much for his sincere zeal in the cause to assert, that he +would willingly at this moment have sacrificed his whole fame, as +poet, for even the prospect of an equivalent renown, as +philanthropist and liberator. How vain, however, was the thought that +he could thus supersede his own glory, or cause the fame of the lyre +to be forgotten in that of the sword, was made manifest to him by a +mark of homage which reached him, while at Leghorn, from the hands of +one of the only two men of the age who could contend with him in the +universality of his literary fame. + +Already, as has been seen, an exchange of courtesies, founded upon +mutual admiration, had taken place between Lord Byron and the great +poet of Germany, Goethe. Of this intercourse between two such +men,--the former as brief a light in the world's eyes, as the latter +has been long and steadily luminous,--an account has been by the +venerable survivor put on record, which, as a fit preliminary to the +letter I am about to give, I shall here insert in as faithful a +translation as it has been in my power to procure. + + + +"GOETHE AND BYRON. + +"The German poet, who, down to the latest period of his long life, +had been always anxious to acknowledge the merits of his literary +predecessors and contemporaries, because he has always considered +this to be the surest means of cultivating his own powers, could not +but have his attention attracted to the great talent of the noble +Lord almost from his earliest appearance, and uninterruptedly watched +the progress of his mind throughout the great works which he +unceasingly produced. It was immediately perceived by him that the +public appreciation of his poetical merits kept pace with the rapid +succession of his writings. The joyful sympathy of others would have +been perfect, had not the poet, by a life marked by +self-dissatisfaction, and the indulgence of strong passions, +disturbed the enjoyment which his infinite genius produced. But his +German admirer was not led astray by this, or prevented from +following with close attention both his works and his life in all +their eccentricity. These astonished him the more, as he found in the +experience of past ages no element for the calculation of so +eccentric an orbit. + +"These endeavours of the German did not remain unknown to the +Englishman, of which his poems contain unambiguous proofs; and he +also availed himself of the means afforded by various travellers, to +forward some friendly salutation to his unknown admirer. At length a +manuscript Dedication of _Sardanapaius_, in the most complimentary +terms, was forwarded to him, with an obliging enquiry whether it +might be prefixed to the tragedy. The German, who, at his advanced +age, was conscious of his own powers and of their effects, could only +gratefully and modestly consider this Dedication as the expression of +an inexhaustible intellect, deeply feeling and creating its own +object. He was by no means dissatisfied when, after a long delay, +Sardanapaius appeared without the Dedication; and was made happy by +the possession of a fac-simile of it, engraved on stone, which he +considered a precious memorial. + +The noble Lord, however, did not abandon his purpose of proclaiming +to the world his valued kindness towards his German contemporary and +brother poet, a precious evidence of which was placed in front of the +tragedy of Werner. It will be readily believed, when so unhoped for +an honour was conferred upon the German poet,--one seldom experienced +in life, and that too from one himself so highly distinguished,--he +was by no means reluctant to express the high esteem and sympathising +sentiment with which his unsurpassed contemporary had inspired him. +The task was difficult, and was found the more so, the more it was +contemplated;--for what can be said of one whose unfathomable +qualities are not to be reached by words? But when a young gentleman, +Mr. Sterling, of pleasing person and excellent character, in the +spring of 1823, on a journey from Genoa to Weimar, delivered a few +lines under the hand of the great man as an introduction, and when +the report was soon after spread that the noble Peer was about to +direct his great mind and various power to deeds of sublime daring +beyond the ocean, there appeared to be no time left for further +delay, and the following lines were hastily written[1]:-- + +[Footnote 1: I insert the verses in the original language, as an +English version gives but a very imperfect notion of their meaning.] + + "Ein freundlich Wort kommt eines nach dem andern + Von Sueden her und bringt uns frohe Stunden; + Es ruft uns auf zum Edelsten zu wandern, + Nich ist der Geist, doch ist der Fuss gebunden. + + "Wie soil ich dem, den ich so lang begleitet, + Nun etwas Traulich's in die Ferne sagen? + Ihm der sich selbst im Innersten bestreitet, + Stark angewohnt das tiefste Weh zu tragen. + + "Wohl sey ihm doch, wenn er sich selbst empfindet! + Er wage selbst sich hoch beglueckt zu nennen, + Wenn Musenkraft die Schmerzen ueberwindet, + Und wie ich ihn erkannt moeg' er sich kennen. + +"The verses reached Genoa, but the excellent friend to whom they were +addressed was already gone, and to a distance, as it appeared, +inaccessible. Driven back, however, by storms, he landed at Leghorn, +where these cordial lines reached him just as he was about to embark, +on the 24th of July, 1823. He had barely time to answer by a +well-filled page, which the possessor has preserved among his most +precious papers, as the worthiest evidence of the connection that had +been formed. Affecting and delightful as was such a document, and +justifying the most lively hopes, it has acquired now the greatest, +though most painful value, from the untimely death of the lofty +writer, which adds a peculiar edge to the grief felt generally +throughout the whole moral and poetical world at his loss: for we +were warranted in hoping, that when his great deeds should have been +achieved, we might personally have greeted in him the pre-eminent +intellect, the happily acquired friend, and the most humane of +conquerors. At present we can only console ourselves with the +conviction that his country will at last recover from that violence +of invective and reproach which has been so long raised against him, +and will learn to understand that the dross and lees of the age and +the individual, out of which even the best have to elevate +themselves, are but perishable and transient, while the wonderful +glory to which he in the present and through all future ages has +elevated his country, will be as boundless in its splendour as it is +incalculable in its consequences. Nor can there be any doubt that the +nation, which can boast of so many great names, will class him among +the first of those through whom she has acquired such glory." + +The following is Lord Byron's answer to the communication above +mentioned from Goethe:-- + + +LETTER 524. TO GOETHE. + +"Leghorn, July 24. 1823. + +"Illustrious Sir, + +"I cannot thank you as you ought to be thanked for the lines which my +young friend, Mr. Sterling, sent me of yours; and it would but ill +become me to pretend to exchange verses with him who, for fifty +years, has been the undisputed sovereign of European literature. You +must therefore accept my most sincere acknowledgments in prose--and +in hasty prose too; for I am at present on my voyage to Greece once +more, and surrounded by hurry and bustle, which hardly allow a moment +even to gratitude and admiration to express themselves. + +"I sailed from Genoa some days ago, was driven back by a gale of +wind, and have since sailed again and arrived here, 'Leghorn,' this +morning, to receive on board some Greek passengers for their +struggling country. + +"Here also I found your lines and Mr. Sterling's letter; and I could +not have had a more favourable omen, a more agreeable surprise, than +a word of Goethe, written by his own hand. + +"I am returning to Greece, to see if I can be of any little use +there: if ever I come back, I will pay a visit to Weimar, to offer +the sincere homage of one of the many millions of your admirers. I +have the honour to be, ever and most, + +"Your obliged, + +"NOEL BYRON." + + +From Leghorn, where his Lordship was joined by Mr. Hamilton Browne, +he set sail on the 24th of July, and, after about ten days of most +favourable weather, cast anchor at Argostoli, the chief port of +Cephalonia. + +It had been thought expedient that Lord Byron should, with the view +of informing himself correctly respecting Greece, direct his course, +in the first instance, to one of the Ionian islands, from whence, as +from a post of observation, he might be able to ascertain the exact +position of affairs before he landed on the continent. For this +purpose it had been recommended that either Zante or Cephalonia +should be selected; and his choice was chiefly determined towards the +latter island by his knowledge of the talents and liberal feelings of +the Resident, Colonel Napier. Aware, however, that, in the yet +doubtful aspect of the foreign policy of England, his arrival thus on +an expedition so declaredly in aid of insurrection might have the +effect of embarrassing the existing authorities, he resolved to adopt +such a line of conduct as would be the least calculated either to +compromise or offend them. It was with this view he now thought it +prudent not to land at Argostoli, but to await on board his vessel +such information from the Government of Greece as should enable him +to decide upon his further movements. + +The arrival of a person so celebrated at Argostoli excited naturally +a lively sensation, as well among the Greeks as the English of that +place; and the first approaches towards intercourse between the +latter and their noble visiter were followed instantly, on both +sides, by that sort of agreeable surprise which, from the false +notions they had preconceived of each other, was to be expected. His +countrymen, who, from the exaggerated stories they had so often heard +of his misanthropy and especial horror of the English, expected their +courtesies to be received with a haughty, if not insulting coldness, +found, on the contrary, in all his demeanour a degree of open and +cheerful affability which, calculated, as it was, to charm under any +circumstances, was to them, expecting so much the reverse, peculiarly +fascinating;--while he, on his side, even still more sensitively +prepared, by a long course of brooding over his own fancies, for a +cold and reluctant reception from his countrymen, found himself +greeted at once with a welcome so cordial and respectful as not only +surprised and flattered, but, it was evident, sensibly touched him. +Among other hospitalities accepted by him was a dinner with the +officers of the garrison, at which, on his health being drunk, he is +reported to have said, in returning thanks, that "he was doubtful +whether he could express his sense of the obligation as he ought, +having been so long in the practice of speaking a foreign language +that it was with some difficulty he could convey the whole force of +what he felt in his own." + +Having despatched messengers to Corfu and Missolonghi in quest of +information, he resolved, while waiting their return, to employ his +time in a journey to Ithaca, which island is separated from that of +Cephalonia but by a narrow strait. On his way to Vathi, the chief +city of the island, to which place he had been invited, and his +journey hospitably facilitated, by the Resident, Captain Knox, he +paid a visit to the mountain-cave in which, according to tradition, +Ulysses deposited the presents of the Phaeacians. "Lord Byron (says +Count Gamba) ascended to the grotto, but the steepness and height +prevented him from reaching the remains of the Castle. I myself +experienced considerable difficulty in gaining it. Lord Byron sat +reading in the grotto, but fell asleep. I awoke him on my return, and +he said that I had interrupted dreams more pleasant than ever he had +before in his life." + +Though unchanged, since he first visited these regions, in his +preference of the wild charms of Nature to all the classic +associations of Art and History, he yet joined with much interest in +any pilgrimage to those places which tradition had sanctified. At the +Fountain of Arethusa, one of the spots of this kind which he visited, +a repast had been prepared for himself and his party by the Resident; +and at the School of Homer,--as some remains beyond Chioni are +called,--he met with an old refugee bishop, whom he had known +thirteen years before in Livadia, and with whom he now conversed of +those times, with a rapidity and freshness of recollection with which +the memory of the old bishop could but ill keep pace. Neither did the +traditional Baths of Penelope escape his research; and "however +sceptical (says a lady, who, soon after, followed his footsteps,) he +might have been as to these supposed localities, he never offended +the natives by any objection to the reality of their fancies. On the +contrary, his politeness and kindness won the respect and admiration +of all those Greek gentlemen who saw him; and to me they spoke of him +with enthusiasm." + +Those benevolent views by which, even more, perhaps, than by any +ambition of renown, he proved himself to be actuated in his present +course, had, during his short stay at Ithaca, opportunities of +disclosing themselves. On learning that a number of poor families had +fled thither from Scio, Patras, and other parts of Greece, he not +only presented to the Commandant three thousand piastres for their +relief, but by his generosity to one family in particular, which had +once been in a state of affluence at Patras, enabled them to repair +their circumstances and again live in comfort. "The eldest girl (says +the lady whom I have already quoted) became afterwards the mistress +of the school formed at Ithaca; and neither she, her sister, nor +mother, could ever speak of Lord Byron without the deepest feeling of +gratitude, and of regret for his too premature death." + +After occupying in this excursion about eight days, he had again +established himself on board the Hercules, when one of the messengers +whom he had despatched returned, bringing a letter to him from the +brave Marco Botzari, whom he had left among the mountains of Agrafa, +preparing for that attack in which he so gloriously fell. The +following are the terms in which this heroic chief wrote to Lord +Byron:-- + +"Your letter, and that of the venerable Ignazio, have filled me with +joy. Your Excellency is exactly the person of whom we stand in need. +Let nothing prevent you from coming into this part of Greece. The +enemy threatens us in great number; but, by the help of God and your +Excellency, they shall meet a suitable resistance. I shall have +something to do to-night against a corps of six or seven thousand +Albanians, encamped close to this place. The day after to-morrow I +will set out with a few chosen companions, to meet your Excellency. +Do not delay. I thank you for the good opinion you have of my +fellow-citizens, which God grant you will not find ill-founded; and I +thank you still more for the care you have so kindly taken of them. + +"Believe me," &c. + +In the expectation that Lord Byron would proceed forthwith to +Missolonghi, it had been the intention of Botzari, as the above +letter announces, to leave the army, and hasten, with a few of his +brother warriors, to receive their noble ally on his landing in a +manner worthy of the generous mission on which he came. The above +letter, however, preceded but by a few hours his death. That very +night he penetrated, with but a handful of followers, into the midst +of the enemy's camp, whose force was eight thousand strong, and after +leading his heroic band over heaps of dead, fell, at last, close to +the tent of the Pasha himself. + +The mention made in this brave Suliote's letter of Lord Byron's care +of his fellow-citizens refers to a popular act done recently by the +noble poet at Cephalonia, in taking into his pay, as a body-guard, +forty of this now homeless tribe. On finding, however, that for want +of employment they were becoming restless and turbulent, he +despatched them off soon after, armed and provisioned, to join in the +defence of Missolonghi, which was at that time besieged on one side +by a considerable force, and blockaded on the other by a Turkish +squadron. Already had he, with a view to the succour of this place, +made a generous offer to the Government, which he thus states himself +in one of his letters:--"I offered to advance a thousand dollars a +month for the succour of Missolonghi, and the Suliotes under Botzari +(since killed); but the Government have answered me, that they wish +to confer with me previously, which is in fact saying they wish me to +expend my money in some other direction. I will take care that it is +for the public cause, otherwise I will not advance a para. The +opposition say they want to cajole me, and the party in power say the +others wish to seduce me, so between the two I have a difficult part +to play; however, I will have nothing to do with the factions unless +to reconcile them if possible." + +In these last few sentences is described briefly the position in +which Lord Byron was now placed, and in which the coolness, +foresight, and self-possession he displayed sufficiently refute the +notion that even the highest powers of imagination, whatever effect +they may sometimes produce on the moral temperament, are at all +incompatible with the sound practical good sense, the steadily +balanced views, which the business of active life requires. + +The great difficulty, to an observer of the state of Greece at this +crisis, was to be able clearly to distinguish between what was real +and what was merely apparent in those tests by which the probability +of her future success or failure was to be judged. With a Government +little more than nominal, having neither authority nor resources, its +executive and legislative branches being openly at variance, and the +supplies that ought to fill its exchequer being intercepted by the +military Chiefs, who, as they were, in most places, collectors of the +revenue, were able to rob by authority;--with that curse of all +popular enterprises, a multiplicity of leaders, each selfishly +pursuing his own objects, and ready to make the sword the umpire of +their claims;--with a fleet furnished by private adventure, and +therefore precarious; and an army belonging rather to its Chiefs than +to the Government, and, accordingly, trusting more to plunder than to +pay;--with all these principles of mischief, and, as it would seem, +ruin at the very heart of the struggle, it had yet persevered, which +was in itself victory, through three trying campaigns; and at this +moment presented, in the midst of all its apparent weakness and +distraction, some elements of success which both accounted for what +had hitherto been effected, and gave a hope, with more favouring +circumstances, of something nobler yet to come. + +Besides the never-failing encouragement which the incapacity of their +enemies afforded them, the Greeks derived also from the geographical +conformation of their country those same advantages with which nature +had blessed their great ancestors, and which had contributed mainly +perhaps to the formation, as well as maintenance, of their high +national character. Islanders and mountaineers, they were, by their +very position, heirs to the blessings of freedom and commerce; nor +had the spirit of either, through all their long slavery and +sufferings, ever wholly died away. They had also, luckily, in a +political as well as religious point of view, preserved that sacred +line of distinction between themselves and their conquerors which a +fond fidelity to an ancient church could alone have maintained for +them;--keeping thus holily in reserve, against the hour of struggle, +that most stirring of all the excitements to which Freedom can appeal +when she points to her flame rising out of the censer of Religion. In +addition to these, and all the other moral advantages included in +them, for which the Greeks were indebted to their own nature and +position, is to be taken also into account the aid and sympathy they +had every right to expect from others, as soon as their exertions in +their own cause should justify the confidence that it would be +something more than the mere chivalry of generosity to assist +them.[1] + +[Footnote 1: For a clear and concise sketch of the state of Greece at +this crisis, executed with all that command of the subject which a +long residence in the country alone could give, see Colonel Leake's +"Historical Outline of the Greek Revolution."] + +Such seem to have been the chief features of hope which the state of +Greece, at this moment, presented. But though giving promise, +perhaps, of a lengthened continuance of the struggle, they, in that +very promise, postponed indefinitely the period of its success; and +checked and counteracted as were these auspicious appearances by the +manifold and inherent evils above enumerated,--by a consideration, +too, of the resources and obstinacy of the still powerful Turk, and +of the little favour with which it was at all probable that the +Courts of Europe would ever regard the attempt of any people, under +any circumstances, to be their own emancipators,--none, assuredly, +but a most sanguine spirit could indulge in the dream that Greece +would be able to work out her own liberation, or that aught, indeed, +but a fortuitous concurrence of political circumstances could ever +accomplish it. Like many other such contests between right and might, +it was a cause destined, all felt, to be successful, but at its own +ripe hour;--a cause which individuals might keep alive, but which +events, wholly independent of them, alone could accomplish, and +which, after the hearts, and hopes, and lives of all its bravest +defenders had been wasted upon it, would at last to other hands, and +even to other means than those contemplated by its first champions, +owe its completion. + +That Lord Byron, on a nearer view of the state of Greece, saw it much +in the light I have here regarded it in, his letters leave no room to +doubt. Neither was the impression he had early received of the Greeks +themselves at all improved by the present renewal of his acquaintance +with them. Though making full allowance for the causes that had +produced their degeneracy, he still saw that they were grossly +degenerate, and must be dealt with and counted upon accordingly. "I +am of St. Paul's opinion," said he, "that there is no difference +between Jews and Greeks,--the character of both being equally vile." +With such means and materials, the work of regeneration, he knew, +must be slow; and the hopelessness he therefore felt as to the +chances of ever connecting his name with any essential or permanent +benefit to Greece, gives to the sacrifice he now made of himself a +far more touching interest than had the consciousness of dying for +some great object been at once his incitement and reward. He but +looked upon himself,--to use a favourite illustration of his own,--as +one of the many waves that must break and die upon the shore, before +the tide they help to advance can reach its full mark. "What +signifies Self," was his generous thought, "if a single spark of that +which would be worthy of the past can be bequeathed unquenchedly to +the future?"[1] Such was the devoted feeling with which he embarked +in the cause of Italy; and these words, which, had they remained +_only_ words, the unjust world would have pronounced but an idle +boast, have now received from his whole course in Greece a practical +comment, which gives them all the right of truth to be engraved +solemnly on his tomb. + +[Footnote 1: _Diary of_ 1821.--The same distrustful and, as it turned +out, just view of the chances of success were taken by him also on +that occasion:--"I shall not," he says, "fall back;--though I don't +think them in force or heart sufficient to make much of it."] + +Though with so little hope of being able to serve signally the cause, +the task of at least lightening, by his interposition, some of the +manifold mischiefs that pressed upon it, might yet, he thought, be +within his reach. To convince the Government and the Chiefs of the +paralysing effect of their dissensions;--to inculcate that spirit of +union among themselves which alone could give strength against their +enemies;--to endeavour to humanise the feelings of the belligerents +on both sides, so as to take from the war that character of barbarism +which deterred the more civilised friends of freedom through Europe +from joining in it;--such were, in addition to the now essential aid +of his money, the great objects which he proposed to effect by his +interference; and to these he accordingly, with all the candour, +clear-sightedness, and courage which so pre-eminently distinguished +his great mind, applied himself. + +Aware that, to judge deliberately of the state of parties, he must +keep out of their vortex, and warned, by the very impatience and +rivalry with which the different chiefs courted his presence, of the +risk he should run by connecting himself with any, he resolved to +remain, for some time longer, in his station at Cephalonia, and there +avail himself of the facilities afforded by the position for +collecting information as to the real state of affairs, and +ascertaining in what quarter his own presence and money would be most +available. During the six weeks that had elapsed since his arrival at +Cephalonia, he had been living in the most comfortless manner, pent +up with pigs and poultry, on board the vessel which brought him. +Having now come, however, to the determination of prolonging his +stay, he decided also upon fixing his abode on shore; and, for the +sake of privacy, retired to a small village, called Metaxata, about +seven miles from Argostoli, where he continued to reside during the +remainder of his stay on the island. + +Before this change of residence, he had despatched Mr. Hamilton +Browne and Mr. Trelawney with a letter to the existing Government of +Greece, explanatory of his own views and those of the Committee whom +he represented; and it was not till a month after his removal to +Metaxata that intelligence from these gentlemen reached him. The +picture they gave of the state of the country was, in most respects, +confirmatory of what has already been described as his own view of +it;--incapacity and selfishness at the head of affairs, +disorganisation throughout the whole body politic, but still, with +all this, the heart of the nation sound, and bent on resistance. Nor +could he have failed to be struck with the close family resemblance +to the ancient race of the country which this picture +exhibited;--that great people, in the very midst of their own endless +dissensions, having been ever ready to face round in concert against +the foe. + +His Lordship's agents had been received with all due welcome by the +Government, who were most desirous that he should set out for the +Morea without delay; and pressing letters to the same purport, both +from the Legislative and Executive bodies, accompanied those which +reached him from Messrs. Browne and Trelawney. He was, however, +determined not to move till his own selected time, having seen +reason, the farther insight he obtained into their intrigues, to +congratulate himself but the more on his prudence in not plunging +into the maze without being first furnished with those guards against +deception which the information he was now acquiring supplied him. + +To give an idea, as briefly as possible, of the sort of conflicting +calls that were from various scenes of action, reaching him in his +retirement, it may be sufficient to mention that, while by Metaxa, +the present governor of Missolonghi, he was entreated earnestly to +hasten to the relief of that place, which the Turks were now +blockading both by land and by sea, the head of the military chiefs, +Colocotroni, was no less earnestly urging that he should present +himself at the approaching congress of Salamis, where, under the +dictation of these rude warriors, the affairs of the country were to +be settled,--while at the same time, from another quarter, the great +opponent of these chieftains, Mavrocordato, was, with more urgency, +as well as more ability than any, endeavouring to impress upon him +his own views, and imploring his presence at Hydra, whither he +himself had just been forced to retire. + +The mere knowledge, indeed, that a noble Englishman had arrived in +those regions, so unprepossessed by any party as to inspire a hope of +his alliance in all, and with money, by common rumour, as abundant as +the imaginations of the needy chose to make it, was, in itself, fully +sufficient, without any of the more elevated claims of his name, to +attract towards him all thoughts. "It is easier to conceive," says +Count Gamba, "than to relate the various means employed to engage him +in one faction or the other: letters, messengers, intrigues, and +recriminations,--nay, each faction had its agents exerting every art +to degrade its opponent." He then adds a circumstance strongly +illustrative of a peculiar feature in the noble poet's +character:--"He occupied himself in discovering the truth, hidden as +it was under these intrigues, and _amused himself in confronting the +agents of the different factions_." + +During all these occupations he went on pursuing his usual simple and +uniform course of life,--rising, however, for the despatch of +business, at an early hour, which showed how capable he was of +conquering even long habit when necessary. Though so much occupied, +too, he was, at all hours, accessible to visitors; and the facility +with which he allowed even the dullest people to break in upon him +was exemplified, I am told, strongly in the case of one of the +officers of the garrison, who, without being able to understand any +thing of the poet but his good-nature, used to say, whenever he found +his time hang heavily on his hands,--"I think I shall ride out and +have a little talk with Lord Byron." + +The person, however, whose visits appeared to give him most pleasure, +as well from the interest he took in the subject on which they +chiefly conversed, as from the opportunities, sometimes, of +pleasantry which the peculiarities of his visiter afforded him, was a +medical gentleman named Kennedy, who, from a strong sense of the +value of religion to himself, had taken up the benevolent task of +communicating his own light to others. The first origin of their +intercourse was an undertaking, on the part of this gentleman, to +convert to a firm belief in Christianity some rather sceptical +friends of his, then at Argostoli. Happening to hear of the meeting +appointed for this purpose, Lord Byron begged that he might be +allowed to attend, saying to the person through whom he conveyed his +request, "You know I am reckoned a black sheep,--yet, after all, not +so black as the world believes me." He had promised to convince Dr. +Kennedy that, "though wanting, perhaps, in faith, he at least had +patience:" but the process of so many hours of lecture,--no less than +twelve, without interruption, being stipulated for,--was a trial +beyond his strength; and, very early in the operation, as the Doctor +informs us, he began to show evident signs of a wish to exchange the +part of hearer for that of speaker. Notwithstanding this, however, +there was in all his deportment, both as listener and talker, such a +degree of courtesy, candour, and sincere readiness to be taught, as +excited interest, if not hope, for his future welfare in the good +Doctor; and though he never after attended the more numerous +meetings, his conferences, on the same subject, with Dr. Kennedy +alone, were not infrequent during the remainder of his stay at +Cephalonia. + +These curious conversations are now published; and to the value which +they possess as a simple and popular exposition of the chief +evidences of Christianity, is added the charm that must ever dwell +round the character of one of the interlocutors, and the almost +fearful interest attached to every word that, on such a subject, he +utters. In the course of the first conversation, it will be seen that +Lord Byron expressly disclaimed being one of those infidels "who deny +the Scriptures, and wish to remain in unbelief." On the contrary, he +professed himself "desirous to believe; as he experienced no +happiness in having his religious opinions so unfixed." He was +unable, however, he added, "to understand the Scriptures. Those who +conscientiously believed them he could always respect, and was always +disposed to trust in them more than in others; but he had met with so +many whose conduct differed from the principles which they professed, +and who seemed to profess those principles either because they were +paid to do so, or from some other motive which an intimate +acquaintance with their character would enable one to detect, that +altogether he had seen few, if any, whom he could rely upon as truly +and conscientiously believing the Scriptures." + +We may take for granted that these Conversations,--more especially +the first, from the number of persons present who would report the +proceedings,--excited considerable interest among the society of +Argostoli. It was said that Lord Byron had displayed such a profound +knowledge of the Scriptures as astonished, and even puzzled, the +polemic Doctor; while in all the eminent writers on theological +subjects he had shown himself far better versed than his more +pretending opponent. All this Dr. Kennedy strongly denies; and the +truth seems to be, that on neither side were there much stores of +theological learning. The confession of the lecturer himself, that he +had not read the works of Stillingfleet or Barrow, shows that, in his +researches after orthodoxy, he had not allowed himself any very +extensive range; while the alleged familiarity of Lord Byron with the +same authorities must be taken with a similar abatement of credence +and wonder to that which his own account of his youthful studies, +already given, requires;--a rapid eye and retentive memory having +enabled him, on this as on most other subjects, to catch, as it were, +the salient points on the surface of knowledge, and the recollections +he thus gathered being, perhaps, the livelier from his not having +encumbered himself with more. To any regular train of reasoning, even +on this his most favourite topic, it was not possible to lead him. He +would start objections to the arguments of others, and detect their +fallacies; but of any consecutive ratiocination on his own side he +seemed, if not incapable, impatient. In this, indeed, as in many +other peculiarities belonging to him,--his caprices, fits of weeping, +sudden affections and dislikes,--may be observed striking traces of a +feminine cast of character;--it being observable that the discursive +faculty is rarely exercised by women; but that nevertheless, by the +mere instinct of truth (as was the case with Lord Byron), they are +often enabled at once to light upon the very conclusion to which man, +through all the forms of reasoning, is, in the mean time, puzzling, +and, perhaps, losing his way:-- + + "And strikes each point with native force of mind, + While puzzled logic blunders far behind." + +Of the Scriptures, it is certain that Lord Byron was a frequent and +almost daily reader,--the small pocket Bible which, on his leaving +England, had been given him by his sister, being always near him. How +much, in addition to his natural solicitude on the subject of +religion, the taste of the poet influenced him in this line of study, +may be seen in his frequently expressed admiration of "the +ghost-scene," as he called it, in Samuel, and his comparison of this +supernatural appearance with the Mephistopheles of Goethe. In the +same manner, his imagination appears to have been much struck by the +notion of his lecturer, that the circumstance mentioned in Job of the +Almighty summoning Satan into his presence was to be interpreted, +not, as he thought, allegorically and poetically, but literally. More +than once we find him expressing to Dr. Kennedy "how much this belief +of the real appearance of Satan to hear and obey the commands of God +added to his views of the grandeur and majesty of the Creator." + +On the whole, the interest of these Conversations, as far as regards +Lord Byron, arises not so much from any new or certain lights they +supply us with on the subject of his religious opinions, as from the +evidence they afford of his amiable facility of intercourse, the +total absence of bigotry or prejudice from even his most favourite +notions, and--what may be accounted, perhaps, the next step in +conversion to belief itself--his disposition to believe. As far, +indeed, as a frank submission to the charge of being wrong may be +supposed to imply an advance on the road to being right, few persons, +it must be acknowledged, under a process of proselytism, ever showed +more of this desired symptom of change than Lord Byron. "I own," says +a witness to one of these conversations[1], "I felt astonished to +hear Lord Byron submit to lectures on his life, his vanity, and the +uselessness of his talents, which made me stare." + +[Footnote 1: Mr. Finlay.] + +As most persons will be tempted to refer to the work itself, there +are but one or two other opinions of his Lordship recorded in it +which I shall think necessary to notice here. A frequent question of +his to Dr. Kennedy was,--"What, then, you think me in a very bad +way?"--the usual answer to which being in the affirmative, he, on one +occasion, replied,--"I am now, however, in a fairer way. I already +believe in predestination, which I know you believe, and in the +depravity of the human heart in general, and of my own in +particular:--thus you see there are two points in which we agree. I +shall get at the others by and by; but you cannot expect me to become +a perfect Christian at once." On the subject of Dr. Southwood's +amiable and, it is to be hoped for the sake of Christianity and the +human race, _orthodox_ work on "The Divine Government," he thus +spoke:--"I cannot decide the point; but to my present apprehension it +would be a most desirable thing could it be proved, that ultimately +all created beings were to be happy. This would appear to be most +consistent with God, whose power is omnipotent, and whose chief +attribute is Love. I cannot yield to your doctrine of the eternal +duration of punishment. This author's opinion is more humane, and I +think he supports it very strongly from Scripture." + +I shall now insert, with such explanatory remarks as they may seem to +require, some of the letters, official as well as private, which his +Lordship wrote while at Cephalonia; and from which the reader may +collect, in a manner far more interesting than through the medium of +any narrative, a knowledge both of the events now passing in Greece, +and of the views and feelings with which they were regarded by Lord +Byron. + +To Madame Guiccioli he wrote frequently, but briefly, and, for the +first time, in English; adding always a few lines in her brother +Pietro's letters to her. The following are extracts. + + +"October 7. + +"Pietro has told you all the gossip of the island,--our earthquakes, +our politics, and present abode in a pretty village. As his opinions +and mine on the Greeks are nearly similar, I need say little on that +subject. I was a fool to come here; but, being here, I must see what +is to be done." + + +"October ----. + +"We are still in Cephalonia, waiting for news of a more accurate +description; for all is contradiction and division in the reports of +the state of the Greeks. I shall fulfil the object of my mission from +the Committee, and then return into Italy; for it does not seem +likely that, as an individual, I can be of use to them;--at least no +other foreigner has yet appeared to be so, nor does it seem likely +that any will be at present. + +"Pray be as cheerful and tranquil as you can; and be assured that +there is nothing here that can excite any thing but a wish to be with +you again,--though we are very kindly treated by the English here of +all descriptions. Of the Greeks, I can't say much good hitherto, and +I do not like to speak ill of them, though they do of one another." + + +"October 29. + +"You may be sure that the moment I can join you again, will be as +welcome to me as at any period of our recollection. There is nothing +very attractive here to divide my attention; but I must attend to the +Greek cause, both from honour and inclination. Messrs. B. and T. are +both in the Morea, where they have been very well received, and both +of them write in good spirits and hopes. I am anxious to hear how the +Spanish cause will be arranged, as I think it may have an influence +on the Greek contest. I wish that both were fairly and favourably +settled, that I might return to Italy, and talk over with you _our_, +or rather Pietro's adventures, some of which are rather amusing, as +also some of the incidents of our voyages and travels. But I reserve +them, in the hope that we may laugh over them together at no very +distant period." + + +LETTER 525. TO MR. BOWRING. + +"9bre 29. 1823. + +"This letter will be presented to you by Mr. Hamilton Browne, who +precedes or accompanies the Greek deputies. He is both capable and +desirous of rendering any service to the cause, and information to +the Committee. He has already been of considerable advantage to both, +of my own knowledge. Lord Archibald Hamilton, to whom he is related, +will add a weightier recommendation than mine. + +"Corinth is taken, and a Turkish squadron said to be beaten in the +Archipelago. The public progress of the Greeks is considerable, but +their internal dissensions still continue. On arriving at the seat of +Government, I shall endeavour to mitigate or extinguish them--though +neither is an easy task. I have remained here till now, partly in +expectation of the squadron in relief of Missolonghi, partly of Mr. +Parry's detachment, and partly to receive from Malta or Zante the sum +of four thousand pounds sterling, which I have advanced for the +payment of the expected squadron. The bills are negotiating, and will +be cashed in a short time, as they would have been immediately in any +other mart; but the miserable Ionian merchants have little money, and +no great credit, and are besides _politically shy_ on this occasion; +for although I had letters of Messrs. Webb (one of the strongest +houses of the Mediterranean), and also of Messrs. Ransom, there is no +business to be done on _fair_ terms except through English merchants. +These, however, have proved both able and willing,--and upright as +usual.[1] + +[Footnote 1: The English merchants whom he thus so justly describes, +are Messrs. Barff and Hancock, of Zante, whose conduct, not only in +the instance of Lord Byron, but throughout the whole Greek struggle, +has been uniformly most zealous and disinterested.] + +"Colonel Stanhope has arrived, and will proceed immediately; he shall +have my co-operation in all his endeavours: but, from every thing +that I can learn, the formation of a brigade at present will be +extremely difficult, to say the least of it. With regard to the +reception of foreigners,--at least of foreign officers,--I refer you +to a passage in Prince Mavrocordato's recent letter, a copy of which +is enclosed in my packet sent to the Deputies. It is my intention to +proceed by sea to Napoli di Romania as soon as I have arranged this +business for the Greeks themselves--I mean the advance of two hundred +thousand piastres for their fleet. + +"My time here has not been entirely lost,--as you will perceive by +some former documents that any advantage from my _then_ proceeding to +the Morea was doubtful. We have at last moved the Deputies, and I +have made a strong remonstrance on their divisions to Mavrocordato, +which, I understand, was forwarded by the Legislative to the Prince. +With a loan they _may_ do much, which is all that _I_, for particular +reasons, can say on the subject. + +"I regret to hear from Colonel Stanhope that the Committee have +exhausted their funds. Is it supposed that a brigade can be formed +without them? or that three thousand pounds would be sufficient? It +is true that money will go farther in Greece than in most countries; +but the regular force must be rendered a _national concern_, and paid +from a national fund; and neither individuals nor committees, at +least with the usual means of such as now exist, will find the +experiment practicable. + +"I beg once more to recommend my friend, Mr. Hamilton Browne, to whom +I have also personal obligations, for his exertions in the common +cause, and have the honour to be + +"Yours very truly." + +His remonstrance to Prince Mavrocordato, here mentioned, was +accompanied by another, addressed to the existing Government; and +Colonel Stanhope, who was about to proceed to Napoli and Argos, was +made the bearer of both. The wise and noble spirit that pervades +these two papers must, of itself, without any further comment, be +appreciated by all readers.[1] + +[Footnote 1: The originals of both are in Italian.] + + +LETTER 526. + +TO THE GENERAL GOVERNMENT OF GREECE. + +"Cephalonia, November 30. 1823. + +"The affair of the Loan, the expectations so long and vainly indulged +of the arrival of the Greek fleet, and the danger to which +Missolonghi is still exposed, have detained me here, and will still +detain me till some of them are removed. But when the money shall be +advanced for the fleet, I will start for the Morea; not knowing, +however, of what use my presence can be in the present state of +things. We have heard some rumours of new dissensions, nay, of the +existence of a civil war. With all my heart I pray that these reports +may be false or exaggerated, for I can imagine no calamity more +serious than this; and I must frankly confess, that unless union and +order are established, all hopes of a Loan will be vain; and all the +assistance which the Greeks could expect from abroad--an assistance +neither trifling nor worthless--will be suspended or destroyed; and, +what is worse, the great powers of Europe, of whom no one was an +enemy to Greece, but seemed to favour her establishment of an +independent power, will be persuaded that the Greeks are unable to +govern themselves, and will, perhaps, themselves undertake to settle +your disorders in such a way as to blast the brightest hopes of +yourselves and of your friends. + +"Allow me to add, once for all,--I desire the well-being of Greece, +and nothing else; I will do all I can to secure it; but I cannot +consent, I never will consent, that the English public, or English +individuals, should be deceived as to the real state of Greek +affairs. The rest, Gentlemen, depends on you. You have fought +gloriously;--act honourably towards your fellow-citizens and the +world, and it will then no more be said, as has been repeated for two +thousand years with the Roman historians, that Philopoemen was the +last of the Grecians. Let not calumny itself (and it is difficult, I +own, to guard against it in so arduous a struggle,) compare the +patriot Greek, when resting from his labours, to the Turkish pacha, +whom his victories have exterminated. + +"I pray you to accept these my sentiments as a sincere proof of my +attachment to your real interests, and to believe that I am and +always shall be + +"Yours," &c. + + +LETTER 527. TO PRINCE MAVROCORDATO. + +"Cephalonia, Dec. 2. 1823. + +"Prince, + +"The present will be put into your hands by Colonel Stanhope, son of +Major-General the Earl of Harrington, &c. &c. He has arrived from +London in fifty days, after having visited all the Committees of +Germany. He is charged by our Committee to act in concert with me for +the liberation of Greece. I conceive that his name and his mission +will be a sufficient recommendation, without the necessity of any +other from a foreigner, although one who, in common with all Europe, +respects and admires the courage, the talents, and, above all, the +probity of Prince Mavrocordato. + +"I am very uneasy at hearing that the dissensions of Greece still +continue, and at a moment when she might triumph over every thing in +general, as she has already triumphed in part. Greece is, at present, +placed between three measures: either to reconquer her liberty, to +become a dependence of the sovereigns of Europe, or to return to a +Turkish province. She has the choice only of these three +alternatives. Civil war is but a road which leads to the two latter. +If she is desirous of the fate of Walachia and the Crimea, she may +obtain it to-morrow; if of that of Italy, the day after; but if she +wishes to become truly Greece, free and independent, she must resolve +to-day, or she will never again have the opportunity. + +"I am, with all respect, + +"Your Highness's obedient servant, + +"N. B. + +"P.S. Your Highness will already have known that I have sought to +fulfil the wishes of the Greek government, as much as it lay in my +power to do so: but I should wish that the fleet so long and so +vainly expected were arrived, or, at least, that it were on the way; +and especially that your Highness should approach these parts, either +on board the fleet, with a public mission, or in some other manner." + + +LETTER 528. TO MR. BOWRING. + +"10bre 7. 1823. + +"I confirm the above[1]: it is certainly my opinion that Mr. +Millingen is entitled to the same salary with Mr. Tindall, and his +service is likely to be harder. + +[Footnote 1: He here alludes to a letter, forwarded with his own, +from Mr. Millingen, who was about to join, in his medical capacity, +the Suliotes, near Fatras, and requested of the Committee an increase +of pay. This gentleman, having mentioned in his letter "that the +retreat of the Turks from before Missolonghi had rendered unnecessary +the appearance of the Greek fleet," Lord Byron, in a note on this +passage, says, "By the special providence of the Deity, the +Mussulmans were seized with a panic, and fled; but no thanks to the +fleet, which ought to have been here months ago, and has no excuse to +the contrary, lately--at least since I had the money ready to pay." + +On another passage, in which Mr. Millingen complains that his hope of +any remuneration from the Greeks has "turned out perfectly +chimerical," Lord Byron remarks, in a note, "and _will_ do so, till +they obtain a loan. They have not a rap, nor credit (in the islands) +to raise one. A medical man may succeed better than others; but all +these penniless officers had better have stayed at home. Much money +may not be required, but some must."] + +"I have written to you (as to Mr. Hobhouse _for_ your perusal) by +various opportunities, mostly private; also by the Deputies, and by +Mr. Hamilton Browne. + +"The public success of the Greeks has been considerable,--Corinth +taken, Missolonghi nearly safe, and some ships in the Archipelago +taken from the Turks; but there is not only dissension in the Morea, +but _civil war_, by the latest accounts[1]; to what extent we do not +yet know, but hope trifling. + +[Footnote 1: The Legislative and Executive bodies having been for +some time at variance, the latter had at length resorted to violence, +and some skirmishes had already taken place between the factions.] + +"For six weeks I have been expecting the fleet, _which has not +arrived_, though I have, at the request of the Greek Government, +advanced--that is, prepared, and have in hand two hundred thousand +piastres (deducting the commission and bankers' charges) of my own +monies to forward their projects. The Suliotes (now in Acarnania) are +very anxious that I should take them under my directions, and go over +and put things to rights in the Morea, which, without a force, seems +impracticable; and, really, though very reluctant (as my letters will +have shown you) to take such a measure, there seems hardly any milder +remedy. However, I will not do any thing rashly, and have only +continued here so long in the hope of seeing things reconciled, and +have done all in my power thereto. Had _I gone sooner, they would +have forced me into one party or other_, and I doubt as much now; but +we will do our best. + +"Yours," &c. + + + +LETTER 529. TO MR. BOWRING. + +"October 10. 1823. + +"Colonel Napier will present to you this letter. Of his military +character it were superfluous to speak: of his personal, I can say, +from my own knowledge, as well as from all public rumour or private +report, that it is as excellent as his military: in short, a better +or a braver man is not easily to be found. _He_ is our man to lead a +regular force, or to organise a national one for the Greeks. Ask the +army--ask any one. He is besides a personal friend of both Prince +Mavrocordato, Colonel Stanhope, and myself, and in such concord with +all three that we should all pull together--an indispensable, as well +as a rare point, especially in Greece at present. + +"To enable a regular force to be properly organised, it will be +requisite for the loan-holders to set apart at least 50,000_l_. +sterling for that particular purpose--perhaps more; but by so doing +they will guarantee their own monies, 'and make assurance doubly +sure.' They can appoint commissioners to see that part property +expended--and I recommend a similar precaution for the whole. + +"I hope that the deputies have arrived, as well as some of my various +despatches (chiefly addressed to Mr. Hobhouse) for the Committee. +Colonel Napier will tell you the recent special interposition of the +gods, in behalf of the Greeks--who seem to have no enemies in heaven +or on earth to be dreaded but their own tendency to discord amongst +themselves. But these, too, it is to be hoped, will be mitigated, and +then we can take the field on the offensive, instead of being reduced +to the _petite guerre_ of defending the same fortresses year after +year, and taking a few ships, and starving out a castle, and making +more fuss about them than Alexander in his cups, or Buonaparte in a +bulletin. Our friends have done something in the way of the +_Spartans_--(though not one tenth of what is told)--but have not yet +inherited _their_ style. + +"Believe me yours," &c. + + +LETTER 530 TO MR. BOWRING. + +"October 13. 1823. + +"Since I wrote to you on the 10th instant, the long-desired squadron +has arrived in the waters of Missolonghi and intercepted two Turkish +corvettes--ditto transports--destroying or taking all four--except +some of the crews escaped on shore in Ithaca--and an unarmed vessel, +with passengers, chased into a port on the opposite side of +Cephalonia. The Greeks had fourteen sail, the Turks _four_--but the +odds don't matter--the victory will make a very good _puff_, and be +of some advantage besides. I expect momentarily advices from Prince +Mavrocordato, who is on board, and has (I understand) despatches from +the Legislative for me; in consequence of which, after paying the +squadron, (for which I have prepared, and am preparing,) I shall +probably join him at sea or on shore. + +"I add the above communication to my letter by Col. Napier, who will +inform the Committee of every thing in detail much better than I can +do. + +"The mathematical, medical, and musical preparations of the Committee +have arrived, and in good condition, abating some damage from wet, +and some ditto from a portion of the letter-press being spilt in +landing--(I ought not to have omitted the press--but forgot it a +moment--excuse the same)--they are excellent of their kind, but till +we have an engineer and a trumpeter (we have chirurgeons already) +mere 'pearls to swine,' as the Greeks are quite ignorant of +mathematics, and have a bad ear for _our_ music. The maps, &c. I will +put into use for them, and take care that _all_ (with proper caution) +are turned to the intended uses of the Committee--but I refer you to +Colonel Napier, who will tell you, that much of your really valuable +supplies should be removed till proper persons arrive to adapt them +to actual service. + +"Believe me, my dear Sir, to be, &c. + +"P.S. _Private_--I have written to our friend Douglas Kinnaird on my +own matters, desiring him to send me out all the' further credits I +can command,--and I have a year's income, and the sale of a manor +besides, he tells me, before me,--for till the Greeks get _their_ +Loan, it is probable that I shall have to stand partly paymaster--as +far as I am 'good upon _Change_,' that is to say. I pray you to +repeat as much to _him_, and say that I must in the interim draw on +Messrs. Ransom most formidably. To say the truth, I do not grudge it +now the fellows have begun to fight _again_--and still more welcome +shall they be if they will go on. But they have had, or are to have, +some four thousand pounds (besides some private extraordinaries for +widows, orphans, refugees, and rascals of all descriptions,) of mine +at one 'swoop;' and it is to be expected the next will be at least as +much more. And how can I refuse it if they _will_ fight?--and +especially if I should happen ever to be in their company? I +therefore request and require that you should apprise my trusty and +trust-worthy trustee and banker, and crown and sheet-anchor, Douglas +Kinnaird the Honourable, that he prepare all monies of mine, +including the purchase money of Rochdale manor and mine income for +the year ensuing, A.D. 1824, to answer, or anticipate, any orders or +drafts of mine for the good cause, in good and lawful money of Great +Britain, &c. &c. May you live a thousand years I which is nine +hundred and ninety-nine longer than the Spanish Cortes' +Constitution." + + +LETTER 531. + +TO THE HON. MR. DOUGLAS KINNAIRD. + +"Cephalonia, December 23. 1823. + +"I shall be as saving of my purse and person as you recommend; but +you know that it is as well to be in readiness with one or both, in +the event of either being required. + +"I presume that some agreement has been concluded with Mr. Murray +about 'Werner.' Although the copyright should only be worth two or +three hundred pounds, I will tell you what can be done with them. For +three hundred pounds I can maintain in Greece, at more than the +_fullest pay_ of the Provisional Government, rations included, one +hundred armed men for _three months_. You may judge of this when I +tell you, that the four thousand pounds advanced by me to the Greeks +is likely to set a fleet and an army in motion for some months. + +"A Greek vessel has arrived from the squadron to convey me to +Missolonghi, where Mavrocordato now is, and has assumed the command, +so that I expect to embark immediately. Still address, however, to +Cephalonia, through Messrs. Welch and Barry of Genoa, as usual; and +get together all the means and credit of mine you can, to face the +war establishment, for it is 'in for a penny, in for a pound,' and I +must do all that I can for the ancients. + +"I have been labouring to reconcile these parties, and there is _now_ +some hope of succeeding. Their public affairs go on well. The Turks +have retreated from Acarnania without a battle, after a few fruitless +attempts on Anatoliko. Corinth is taken, and the Greeks have gained a +battle in the Archipelago. The squadron here, too, has taken a +Turkish corvette with some money and a cargo. In short, if they can +obtain a Loan, I am of opinion that matters will assume and preserve +a steady and favourable aspect for their independence. + +"In the mean time I stand paymaster, and what not; and lucky it is +that, from the nature of the warfare and of the country, the +resources even of an individual can be of a partial and temporary +service. + +"Colonel Stanhope is at Missolonghi. Probably we shall attempt Patras +next. The Suliotes, who are friends of mine, seem anxious to have me +with them, and so is Mavrocordato. If I can but succeed in +reconciling the two parties (and I have left no stone unturned), it +will be something; and if not, we roust go over to the Morea with the +Western Greeks--who are the bravest, and at present the strongest, +having beaten back the Turks--and try the effect of a little +_physical_ advice, should they persist in rejecting _moral_ +persuasion. + +"Once more recommending to you the reinforcement of my strong box and +credit from all lawful sources and resources of mine to their +practicable extent--for, after all, it is better playing at nations +than gaming at Almack's or Newmarket--and requesting you to write to +me as often as you can, + +"I remain ever," &c. + +The squadron, so long looked for, having made its appearance at last +in the waters of Missolonghi, and Mavrocordato, the only leader of +the cause worthy the name of statesman, having been appointed, with +full powers, to organise Western Greece, the fit moment for Lord +Byron's presence on the scene of action seemed to have arrived. The +anxiety, indeed, with which he was expected at Missolonghi was +intense, and can be best judged from the impatient language of the +letters written to hasten him. "I need not tell you, my Lord," says +Mavrocordato, "how much I long for your arrival, to what a pitch your +presence is desired by every body, or what a prosperous direction it +will give to all our affairs. Your counsels will be listened to like +oracles." Colonel Stanhope, with the same urgency, writes from +Missolonghi,--"The Greek ship sent for your Lordship has returned; +your arrival was anticipated, and the disappointment has been great +indeed. The Prince is in a state of anxiety, the Admiral looks +gloomy, and the sailors grumble aloud." He adds at the end, "I walked +along the streets this evening, and the people asked me after Lord +Byron !!!" In a Letter to the London Committee of the same date, +Colonel Stanhope says, "All are looking forward to Lord Byron's +arrival, as they would to the coming of the Messiah." + +Of this anxiety, no inconsiderable part is doubtless to be attributed +to their great impatience for the possession of the loan which he had +promised them, and on which they wholly depended for the payment of +the fleet--"Prince Mavrocordato and the Admiral (says the same +gentleman) are in a state of extreme perplexity: they, it seems, +relied on your loan for the payment of the fleet; that loan not +having been received, the sailors will depart immediately. This will +be a fatal event indeed, as it will place Missolonghi in a state of +blockade; and will prevent the Greek troops from acting against the +fortresses of Nepacto and Patras." + +In the mean time Lord Byron was preparing busily for his departure, +the postponement of which latterly had been, in a great measure, +owing to that repugnance to any new change of place which had lately +so much grown upon him, and which neither love, as we have seen, nor +ambition, could entirely conquer. There had been also considerable +pains taken by some of his friends at Argostoli to prevent his fixing +upon a place of residence so unhealthy as Missolonghi; and Mr. Muir, +a very able medical officer, on whose talents he had much dependence, +endeavoured most earnestly to dissuade him from such an imprudent +step. His mind, however, was made up,--the proximity of that port, in +some degree, tempting him,--and having hired, for himself and suite, +a light, fast-sailing vessel, called the Mistico, with a boat for +part of his baggage, and a larger vessel for the remainder, the +horses, &c. he was, on the 26th of December, ready to sail. The wind, +however, being contrary, he was detained two days longer, and in this +interval the following letters were written. + + +LETTER 532. TO MR. BOWRING. + +"10bre 26. 1823. + +"Little need be added to the enclosed, which arrived this day, except +that I embark to-morrow for Missolonghi. The intended operations are +detailed in the annexed documents. I have only to request that the +Committee will use every exertion to forward our views by all its +influence and credit. + +"I have also to request you _personally_ from myself to urge my +friend and trustee, Douglas Kinnaird (from whom I have not heard +these four months nearly), to forward to me all the resources of my +_own_ we can muster for the ensuing year; since it is no time to +menager _purse_, or, perhaps, _person_. I have advanced, and am +advancing, all that I have in hand, but I shall require all that can +be got together;--and (if Douglas has completed the sale of Rochdale, +_that _ and my year's income for next year ought to form a good round +sum,)--as you may perceive that there will be little cash of their +own amongst the Greeks (unless they get the Loan), it is the more +necessary that those of their friends who have any should risk it. + +"The supplies of the Committee are, some, useful, and all excellent +in their kind, but occasionally hardly _practical_ enough, in the +present state of Greece; for instance, the mathematical instruments +are thrown away--none of the Greeks know a problem from a poker--we +must conquer first, and plan afterwards. The use of the trumpets, +too, may be doubted, unless Constantinople were Jericho, for the +Helenists have no ears for bugles, and you must send us somebody to +listen to them. + +"We will do our best--and I pray you to stir your English hearts at +home to more _general_ exertion; for my part, I will stick by the +cause while a plank remains which can be _honourably_ clung to. If I +quit it, it will be by the Greeks' conduct, and not the Holy Allies +or holier Mussulmans--but let us hope better things. + +"Ever yours, N. B. + +"P.S. I am happy to say that Colonel Leicester Stanhope and myself +are acting in perfect harmony together--he is likely to be of great +service both to the cause and to the Committee, and is publicly as +well as personally a very valuable acquisition to our party on every +account. He came up (as they all do who have not been in the country +before) with some high-flown notions of the sixth form at Harrow or +Eton, &c.; but Col. Napier and I set him to rights on those points, +which is absolutely necessary to prevent disgust, or perhaps return; +but now we can set our shoulders _soberly_ to the _wheel_, without +quarrelling with the mud which may clog it occasionally. + +"I can assure you that Col. Napier and myself are as decided for the +cause as any German student of them all; but like men who have seen +the country and human life, there and elsewhere, we must be permitted +to view it in its truth, with its defects as well as beauties,--more +especially as success will remove the former _gradually_. N. B. + +"P.S. As much of this letter as you please is for the Committee, the +rest may be 'entre nous.'" + + +LETTER 533. TO MR. MOORE. + +"Cephalonia, December 27. 1823. + +"I received a letter from you some time ago. I have been too much +employed latterly to write as I could wish, and even now must write +in haste. + +"I embark for Missolonghi to join Mavrocordato in four-and-twenty +hours. The state of parties (but it were a long story) has kept me +here till _now_; but now that Mavrocordato (their Washington, or +their Kosciusko) is employed again, I can act with a _safe +conscience._ I carry money to pay the squadron, &c., and I have +influence with the Suliotes, _supposed _ sufficient to keep them in +harmony with some of the dissentients;--for there are plenty of +differences, but trifling. + +"It is imagined that we shall attempt either Patras or the castles on +the Straits; and it seems, by most accounts, that the Greeks, at any +rate, the Suliotes, who are in affinity with me of 'bread and +salt,'--expect that I should march with them, and--be it even so! If +any thing in the way of fever, fatigue, famine, or otherwise, should +cut short the middle age of a brother warbler,--like Garcilasso de la +Vega, Kleist, Korner, Joukoffsky[1] (a Russian nightingale--see +Bowring's Anthology), or Thersander, or,--or somebody else--but never +mind--I pray you to remember me in your 'smiles and wine.' + +[Footnote 1: One of the most celebrated of the living poets of +Russia, who fought at Borodino, and has commemorated that battle in a +poem of much celebrity among his countrymen.] + +"I have hopes that the cause will triumph; but whether it does or no, +still 'honour must be minded as strictly as milk diet,' I trust to +observe both, + +"Ever," &c. + +It is hardly necessary to direct the attention of the reader to the +sad, and but too true anticipation expressed in this letter--the last +but one I was ever to receive from my friend. Before we accompany him +to the closing scene of all his toils, I shall here, as briefly as +possible, give a selection from the many characteristic anecdotes +told of him, while at Cephalonia, where (to use the words of Colonel +Stanhope, in a letter from thence to the Greek committee,) he was +"beloved by Cephalonians, by English, and by Greeks;" and where, +approached as he was familiarly by persons of all classes and +countries, not an action, not a word is recorded of him that does not +bear honourable testimony to the benevolence and soundness of his +views, his ever ready but discriminating generosity, and the clear +insight, at once minute and comprehensive, which he had acquired into +the character and wants of the people and the cause he came to serve. +"Of all those who came to help the Greeks," says Colonel Napier, (a +person himself the most qualified to judge, as well from long local +knowledge, as from the acute, straightforward cast of his own mind,) +"I never knew one, except Lord Byron and Mr. Gordon, that seemed to +have justly estimated their character. All came expecting to find the +Peloponnesus filled with Plutarch's men, and all returned thinking +the inhabitants of Newgate more moral. Lord Byron judged them fairly: +he knew that half-civilised men are full of vices, and that great +allowance must be made for emancipated slaves. He, therefore, +proceeded, bridle in hand, not thinking them good, but hoping to make +them better."[1] + +[Footnote 1: A similar tribute was paid to him by Count Delladecima, +a gentleman of some literary acquirements, of whom he saw a good deal +at Cephalonia, and to whom he was attracted by that sympathy which +never failed to incline him towards those who laboured, like himself, +under any personal defects. "Of all the men," said this gentleman, +"whom I have had an opportunity of conversing with, on the means of +establishing the independence of Greece, and regenerating the +character of the natives, Lord Byron appears to entertain the most +enlightened and correct views."] + +In speaking of the foolish charge of avarice brought against Lord +Byron by some who resented thus his not suffering them to impose on +his generosity, Colonel Napier says, "I never knew a single instance +of it while he was here. I saw only a judicious generosity in all +that he did. He would not allow himself to be _robbed_, but he gave +profusely where he thought he was doing good. It was, indeed, because +he would not allow himself to be _fleeced_, that he was called stingy +by those who are always bent upon giving money from any purses but +their own. Lord Byron had no idea of this; and would turn sharply and +unexpectedly on those who thought their game sure. He gave a vast +deal of money to the Greeks in various ways." + +Among the objects of his bounty in this way were many poor refugee +Greeks from the Continent and the Isles. He not only relieved their +present distresses, but allotted a certain sum monthly to the most +destitute. "A list of these poor pensioners," says Dr. Kennedy, "was +given me by the nephew of Professor Bambas." + +One of the instances mentioned of his humanity while at Cephalonia +will show how prompt he was at the call of that feeling, and how +unworthy, sometimes, were the objects of it. A party of workmen +employed upon one of those fine roads projected by Colonel Napier +having imprudently excavated a high bank, the earth fell in, and +overwhelmed nearly a dozen persons; the news of which accident +instantly reaching Metaxata, Lord Byron despatched his physician +Bruno to the spot, and followed with Count Gamba, as soon as their +horses could be saddled. They found a crowd of women and children +wailing round the ruins; while the workmen, who had just dug out +three or four of their maimed companions, stood resting themselves +unconcernedly, as if nothing more was required of them; and to Lord +Byron's enquiry whether there were not still some other persons below +the earth, answered coolly that "they did not know, but believed that +there were." Enraged at this brutal indifference, he sprang from his +horse, and seizing a spade himself, began to dig with all his +strength; but it was not till after being threatened with the +horsewhip that any of the peasants could be brought to follow his +example. "I was not present at this scene myself," says Colonel +Napier, in the Notices with which he has favoured me, "but was told +that Lord Byron's attention seemed quite absorbed in the study of the +faces and gesticulations of those whose friends were missing. The +sorrow of the Greeks is, in appearance, very frantic, and they shriek +and howl, as in Ireland. + +It was in alluding to the above incident that the noble poet is +stated to have said that he had come out to the Islands prejudiced +against Sir T. Maitland's government of the Greeks: "but," he added, +"I have now changed my opinion. They are such barbarians, that if I +had the government of them, I would pave these very roads with them." + +While residing at Metaxata, he received an account of the illness of +his daughter Ada, which "made him anxious and melancholy (says Count +Gamba) for several days." Her indisposition he understood to have +been caused by a determination of blood to the head; and on his +remarking to Dr. Kennedy, as curious, that it was a complaint to +which he himself was subject, the physician replied, that he should +have been inclined to infer so, not only from his habits of intense +and irregular study, but from the present state of his eyes,--the +right eye appearing to be inflamed. I have mentioned this latter +circumstance as perhaps justifying the inference that there was in +Lord Byron's state of health at this moment a predisposition to the +complaint of which he afterwards died. To Dr. Kennedy he spoke +frequently of his wife and daughter, expressing the Strongest +affection for the latter, and respect towards the former, and while +declaring as usual his perfect ignorance of the causes of the +separation, professing himself fully disposed to welcome any prospect +of reconcilement. + +The anxiety with which, at all periods of his life, but particularly +at the present, he sought to repel the notion that, except when under +the actual inspiration of writing, he was at all influenced by +poetical associations, very frequently displayed itself. "You must +have been highly gratified (said a gentleman to him) by the classical +remains and recollections which you met with in your visit to +Ithaca."--"You quite mistake me," answered Lord Byron--"I have no +poetical humbug about me; I am too old for that. Ideas of that sort +are confined to rhyme." + +For the two days during which he was delayed by contrary winds, he +took up his abode at the house of Mr. Hancock, his banker, and passed +the greater part of the time in company with the English authorities +of the Island. At length the wind becoming fair, he prepared to +embark. "I called upon him to take leave," says Dr. Kennedy, "and +found him alone, reading Quentin Durward. He was, as usual, in good +spirits." In a few hours after the party set sail,--Lord Byron +himself on board the Mistico, and Count Gamba, with the horses and +heavy baggage, in the larger vessel, or Bombarda. After touching at +Zante, for the purpose of some pecuniary arrangements with Mr. Barff, +and taking on board a considerable sum of money in specie, they, on +the evening of the 29th, proceeded towards Missolonghi. Their last +accounts from that place having represented the Turkish fleet as +still in the Gulf of Lepanto, there appeared not the slightest +grounds for apprehending any interruption in their passage. Besides, +knowing that the Greek squadron was now at anchorage near the +entrance of the Gulf, they had little doubt of soon falling in with +some friendly vessel, either in search, or waiting for them. + +"We sailed together," says Count Gamba, in a highly picturesque and +affecting passage, "till after ten at night; the wind favourable--a +clear sky, the air fresh but not sharp. Our sailors sang alternately +patriotic songs, monotonous indeed, but to persons in our situation +extremely touching, and we took part in them. We were all, but Lord +Byron particularly, in excellent spirits. The Mistico sailed the +fastest. When the waves divided us, and our voices could no longer +reach each other, we made signals by firing pistols and +carabines--'To-morrow we meet at Missolonghi--to-morrow.' Thus, full +of confidence and spirits, we sailed along. At twelve we were out of +sight of each other." + +In waiting for the other vessel, having more than once shortened sail +for that purpose, the party on board the Mistico were upon the point +of being surprised into an encounter which might, in a moment, have +changed the future fortunes of Lord Byron. Two or three hours before +daybreak, while steering towards Missolonghi, they found themselves +close under the stern of a large vessel, which they at first took to +be Greek, but which, when within pistol shot, they discovered to be a +Turkish frigate. By good fortune, they were themselves, as it +appears, mistaken for a Greek brulot by the Turks, who therefore +feared to fire, but with loud shouts frequently hailed them, while +those on board Lord Byron's vessel maintained the most profound +silence; and even the dogs (as I have heard his Lordship's valet +mention), though they had never ceased to bark during the whole of +the night, did not utter, while within reach of the Turkish frigate, +a sound;--a no less lucky than a curious accident, as, from the +information the Turks had received of all the particulars of his +Lordship's departure from Zante, the harking of the dogs, at that +moment, would have been almost certain to betray him. Under the +favour of these circumstances, and the darkness, they were enabled to +bear away without further molestation, and took shelter among the +Scrofes, a cluster of rocks but a few hours' sail from Missolonghi. +From this place the following letter, remarkable, considering his +situation at the moment, for the light, careless tone that pervades +it, was despatched to Colonel Stanhope. + + +LETTER 534. + +TO THE HONOURABLE COLONEL STANHOPE. + +"Scrofer (or some such name), on board a +Cephaloniote Mistico, Dec. 31. 1823. + +"My dear Stanhope, + +"We are just arrived here, that is, part of my people and I, with +some things, &c., and which it may be as well not to specify in a +letter (which has a risk of being intercepted, perhaps);--but Gamba, +and my horses, negro, steward, and the press, and all the Committee +things, also some eight thousand dollars of mine, (but never mind, we +have more left, do you understand?) are taken by the Turkish +frigates, and my party and myself, in another boat, have had a narrow +escape last night, (being close under their stern and hailed, but we +would not answer, and bore away,) as well as this morning. Here we +are, with the sun and clearing weather, within a pretty little port +enough; but whether our Turkish friends may not send in their boats +and take us out (for we have no arms except two carbines and some +pistols, and, I suspect, not more than four fighting people on +board,) is another question, especially if we remain long here, since +we are blocked out of Missolonghi by the direct entrance. + +"You had better send my friend George Drake (Draco), and a body of +Suliotes, to escort us by land or by the canals, with all convenient +speed. Gamba and our Bombard are taken into Patras, I suppose; and we +must take a turn at the Turks to get them out: but where the devil is +the fleet gone?--the Greek, I mean; leaving us to get in without the +least intimation to take heed that the Moslems were out again. + +"Make my respects to Mavrocordato, and say that I am here at his +disposal. I am uneasy at being here: not so much on my own account as +on that of a Greek boy with me, for you know what his fate would be; +and I would sooner cut him in pieces, and myself too, than have him +taken out by those barbarians. We are all very well. N. B. + +"The Bombard was twelve miles out when taken; at least, so it +appeared to us (if taken she actually be, for it is not certain); and +we had to escape from another vessel that stood right between us and +the port." + +Finding that his position among the rocks of the Scrofes would be +untenable in the event of an attack by armed boats, he thought it +right to venture out again, and making all sail, got safe to +Dragomestri, a small sea-port town on the coast of Acarnania; from +whence the annexed letters to two of the most valued of his +Cephalonian friends were written. + + +LETTER 535. TO MR. MUIR. + +"Dragomestri, January 2. 1824. + +"My dear Muir, + +"I wish you many returns of the season, and happiness therewithal. +Gamba and the Bombard (there is a strong reason to believe) are +carried into Patras by a Turkish frigate, which we saw chase them at +dawn on the 31st: we had been close under the stern in the night, +believing her a Greek till within pistol shot, and only escaped by a +miracle of all the Saints (our captain says), and truly I am of his +opinion, for we should never have got away of ourselves. They were +signalising their consort with lights, and had illuminated the ship +between decks, and were shouting like a mob;--but then why did they +not fire? Perhaps they took us for a Greek brulot, and were afraid of +kindling us--they had no colours flying even at dawn nor after. + +"At daybreak my boat was on the coast, but the wind unfavourable for +_the port_;--a large vessel with the wind in her favour standing +between us and the Gulf, and another in chase of the Bombard about +twelve miles off, or so. Soon after they stood (_i.e._ the Bombard +and frigate) apparently towards Patras, and a Zantiote boat making +signals to us from the shore to get away. Away we went before the +wind, and ran into a creek called Scrofes, I believe, where I landed +Luke[1] and another (as Luke's life was in most danger), with some +money for themselves, and a letter for Stanhope, and sent them up the +country to Missolonghi, where they would be in safety, as the place +where we were could be assailed by armed boats in a moment, and Gamba +had all our arms except two carbines, a fowling-piece, and some +pistols. + +[Footnote 1: A Greek youth whom he had brought with him, in his +suite, from Cephalonia.] + +"In less than an hour the vessel in chase neared us, and we dashed +out again, and showing our stern (our boat sails very well), got in +before night to Dragomestri, where we now are. But where is the Greek +fleet? I don't know--do you? I told our master of the boat that I was +inclined to think the two large vessels (there were none else in +sight) Greeks. But he answered, 'They are too large--why don't they +show their colours?' and his account was confirmed, be it true or +false, by several boats which we met or passed, as we could not at +any rate have got in with that wind without beating about for a long +time; and as there was much property, and some lives to risk (the +boy's especially) without any means of defence, it was necessary to +let our boatmen have their own way. + +"I despatched yesterday another messenger to Missolonghi for an +escort, but we have yet no answer. We are here (those of my boat) for +the fifth day without taking our clothes off, and sleeping on deck in +all weathers, but are all very well, and in good spirits. It is to be +supposed that the Government will send, for their own sakes, an +escort, as I have 16,000 dollars on board, the greater part for their +service. I had (besides personal property to the amount of about 5000 +more) 8000 dollars in specie of my own, without reckoning the +Committee's stores, so that the Turks will have a good thing of it, +if the prize be good. + +"I regret the detention of Gamba, &c., but the rest we can make up +again; so tell Hancock to set my bills into cash as soon as possible, +and Corgialegno to prepare the remainder of my credit with Messrs. +Webb to be turned into monies. I shall remain here, unless something +extraordinary occurs, till Mavrocordato sends, and then go on, and +act according to circumstances. My respects to the two colonels, and +remembrances to all friends. Tell '_Ultima Anahse_'[1] that his +friend Raidi did not make his appearance with the brig, though I +think that he might as well have spoken with us _in_ or _off_ Zante, +to give us a gentle hint of what we had to expect. + +[Footnote 1: Count Delladecima, to whom he gives this name in +consequence of a habit which that gentleman had of using the phrase +"in ultima analise" frequently in conversation.] + +"Yours, ever affectionately, N. B. + +"P.S. Excuse my scrawl on account of the pen and the frosty morning +at daybreak. I write in haste, a boat starting for Kalamo. I do not +know whether the detention of the Bombard (if she be detained, for I +cannot swear to it, and I can only judge from appearances, and what +all these fellows say,) be an affair of the Government, and +neutrality, and &c.--but _she was stopped at least_ twelve miles +distant from any port, and had all her papers regular from _Zante _ +for _Kalamo_ and _we also_. I did not land at Zante, being anxious to +lose as little time as possible, but Sir F. S. came off to invite me, +&c. and every body was as kind as could be, even in Cephalonia." + + +LETTER 536. TO MR. C. HANCOCK. + +"Dragomestri, January 2. 1824. + +"Dear Sir 'Ancock[1],' + +[Footnote 1: This letter is, more properly, a postscript to one which +Dr. Bruno had, by his orders, written to Mr. Hancock, with some +particulars of their voyage; and the Doctor having begun his letter, +"Pregiat'mo. Sig'r. Ancock," Lord Byron thus parodies his mode of +address.] + +"Remember me to Dr. Muir and every body else. I have still the 16,000 +dollars with me, the rest were on board the Bombarda. Here we +are--the Bombarda taken, or at least missing, with all the Committee +stores, my friend Gamba, the horses, negro, bull-dog, steward, and +domestics, with all our implements of peace and war, also 8000 +dollars; but whether she will be lawful prize or no, is for the +decision of the Governor of the Seven Islands. I have written to Dr. +Muir, by way of Kalamo, with all particulars. We are in good +condition; and what with wind and weather, and being hunted or so, +little sleeping on deck, &c. are in tolerable seasoning for the +country and circumstances. But I foresee that we shall have occasion +for all the cash I can muster at Zante and elsewhere. Mr. Barff gave +us 8000 and odd dollars; so there is still a balance in my favour. We +are not quite certain that the vessels were Turkish which chased; but +there is strong presumption that they were, and no news to the +contrary. At Zante, every body, from the Resident downwards, were as +kind as could be, especially your worthy and courteous partner. + +"Tell our friends to keep up their spirits, and we may yet do well. I +disembarked the boy and another Greek, who were in most terrible +alarm--the boy, at least, from the Morea--on shore near Anatoliko, I +believe, which put them in safety; and, as for me and mine, we must +stick by our goods. + +"I hope that Gamba's detention will only be temporary. As for the +effects and monies, if we have them,--well; if otherwise, patience. I +wish you a happy new year, and all our friends the same. + +"Yours," &c. + +During these adventures of Lord Byron, Count Gamba, having been +brought to by the Turkish frigate, had been carried, with his +valuable charge, into Patras, where the Commander of the Turkish +fleet was stationed. Here, after an interview with the Pacha, by whom +he was treated, during his detention, most courteously, he had the +good fortune to procure the release of his vessel and freight; and, +on the 4th of January, reached Missolonghi. To his surprise, however, +he found that Lord Byron had not yet arrived; for,--as if everything +connected with this short voyage were doomed to deepen whatever ill +bodings there were already in his mind,--on his Lordship's departure +from Dragomestri, a violent gale of wind had come on; his vessel was +twice driven on the rocks in the passage of the Scrofes, and, from +the force of the wind, and the captain's ignorance of those shoals, +the danger was by all on board considered to be most serious. "On the +second time of striking," says Count Gamba, "the sailors, losing all +hope of saving the vessel, began to think of their own safety. But +Lord Byron persuaded them to remain; and by his firmness, and no +small share of nautical skill, got them out of danger, and thus saved +the vessel and several lives, with 25,000 dollars, the greater part +in specie." + +The wind still blowing right against their course to Missolonghi, +they again anchored between two of the numerous islets by which this +part of the coast is lined; and here Lord Byron, as well for +refreshment as ablution, found himself tempted into an indulgence +which, it is not improbable, may have had some share in producing the +fatal illness that followed. Having put off in a boat to a small rock +at some distance, he sent back a messenger for the nankeen trowsers +which he usually wore in bathing; and, though the sea was rough and +the night cold, it being then the 3d of January, swam back to the +vessel. "I am fully persuaded," says his valet, in relating this +imprudent freak, "that it injured my Lord's health. He certainly was +not taken ill at the time, but in the course of two or three days his +Lordship complained of a pain in all his bones, which continued, more +or less, to the time of his death." + +Setting sail again next morning with the hope of reaching Missolonghi +before sunset, they were still baffled by adverse winds, and, +arriving late at night in the port, did not land till the morning of +the 5th. + +The solicitude, in the mean time, of all at Missolonghi, knowing that +the Turkish fleet was out, and Lord Byron on his way, may without +difficulty be conceived, and is most livelily depicted in a letter +written during the suspense of that moment, by an eye-witness. "The +Turkish fleet," says Colonel Stanhope, "has ventured out, and is, at +this moment, blockading the port. Beyond these again are seen the +Greek ships, and among the rest the one that was sent for Lord Byron. +Whether he is on board or not is a question. You will allow that this +is an eventful day." Towards the end of the letter, he adds, "Lord +Byron's servants have just arrived; he himself will be here +to-morrow. If he had not come, we had need have prayed for fair +weather; for both fleet and army are hungry and inactive. Parry has +not appeared. Should he also arrive to-morrow, all Missolonghi will +go mad with pleasure." + +The reception their noble visiter experienced on his arrival was such +as, from the ardent eagerness with which he had been looked for, +might be expected. The whole population of the place crowded to the +shore to welcome him: the ships anchored off the fortress fired a +salute as he passed; and all the troops and dignitaries of the place, +civil and military, with the Prince Mavrocordato at their head, met +him on his landing, and accompanied him, amidst the mingled din of +shouts, wild music, and discharges of artillery, to the house that +had been prepared for him. "I cannot easily describe," says Count +Gamba, "the emotions which such a scene excited. I could scarcely +refrain from tears." + +After eight days of fatigue such as Lord Byron had endured, some +short interval of rest might fairly have been desired by him. But the +scene on which he had now entered was one that precluded all thoughts +of repose. He on whom the eyes and hopes of all others were centred, +could but little dream of indulging any care for himself. There were, +at this particular moment, too, collected within the precincts of +that town as great an abundance of the materials of unquiet and +misrule as had been ever brought together in so small a space. In +every quarter; both public and private, disorganisation and +dissatisfaction presented themselves. Of the fourteen brigs of war +which had come to the succour of Missolonghi, and which had for some +time actually protected it against a Turkish fleet double its number, +nine had already, hopeless of pay, returned to Hydra, while the +sailors of the remaining five, from the same cause of complaint, had +just quitted their ships, and were murmuring idly on shore. The +inhabitants, seeing themselves thus deserted or preyed upon by their +defenders, with a scarcity of provisions threatening them, and the +Turkish fleet before their eyes, were no less ready to break forth +into riot and revolt; while, at the same moment, to complete the +confusion, a General Assembly was on the point of being held in the +town, for the purpose of organising the forces of Western Greece, and +to this meeting all the wild mountain chiefs of the province, ripe, +of course, for dissension, were now flocking with their followers. +Mavrocordato himself, the President of the intended Congress, had +brought in his train no less than 5000 armed men, who were at this +moment in the town. Ill provided, too, with either pay or food by the +Government, this large military mob were but little less discontented +and destitute than the sailors; and in short, in every direction, the +entire population seems to have presented such a fermenting mass of +insubordination and discord as was far more likely to produce warfare +among themselves than with the enemy. + +Such was the state of affairs when Lord Byron arrived at +Missolonghi;--such the evils he had now to encounter, with the +formidable consciousness that to him, and him alone, all looked for +the removal of them. + +Of his proceedings during the first weeks after his arrival, the +following letters to Mr. Hancock (which by the great kindness of that +gentleman I am enabled to give) will, assisted by a few explanatory +notes, supply a sufficiently ample account. + + +LETTER 537. TO MR. CHARLES HANCOCK. + +"Missolonghi, January 13. 1824. + +"Dear Sir, + +"Many thanks for yours of the fifth; ditto to Muir for his. You will +have heard that Gamba and my vessel got out of the hands of the Turks +safe and intact; nobody knows well how or why, for there's a mystery +in the story somewhat melodramatic. Captain Valsamachi has, I take +it, spun a long yarn by this time in Argostoli. I attribute their +release entirely to Saint Dionisio, of Zante, and the Madonna of the +Rock, near Cephalonia. + +"The adventures of my separate luck were also not finished at +Dragomestri; we were conveyed out by some Greek gun-boats, and found +the Leonidas brig-of-war at sea to look after us. But blowing weather +coming on, we were driven on the rocks _twice_ in the passage of the +Scrofes, and the dollars had another narrow escape. Two thirds of the +crew got ashore over the bowsprit: the rocks were rugged enough, but +water very deep close in shore, so that she was, after much swearing +and some exertion, got off again, and away we went with a third of +our crew, leaving the rest on a desolate island, where they might +have been now, had not one of the gun-boats taken them off, for we +were in no condition to take them off again. + +"Tell Muir that Dr. Bruno did not show much fight on the occasion; +for besides stripping to his flannel waistcoat, and running about +like a rat in an emergency, when I was talking to a Greek boy (the +brother of the Greek girls in Argostoli), and telling him of the fact +that there was no danger for the passengers, whatever there might be +for the vessel, and assuring him that I could save both him and +myself without difficulty[1] (though he can't swim), as the water, +though deep, was not very rough,--the wind _not_ blowing _right_ on +shore (it was a blunder of the Greeks who missed stays),--the Doctor +exclaimed, 'Save _him_, indeed! by G--d! save _me_ rather--I'll be +first if I can'--a piece of egotism which he pronounced with such +emphatic simplicity as to set all who had leisure to hear him +laughing[2], and in a minute after the vessel drove off again after +striking twice. She sprung a small leak, but nothing further +happened, except that the captain was very nervous afterwards. + +[Footnote 1: He meant to have taken the boy on his shoulders and swum +with him to shore. This feat would have been but a repetition of one +of his early sports at Harrow; where it was a frequent practice of +his thus to mount one of the smaller boys on his shoulders, and, much +to the alarm of the urchin, dive with him into the water.] + +[Footnote 2: In the Doctor's own account this scene is described, as +might be expected, somewhat differently:--"Ma nel di lui passaggio +marittimo una fregata Turca insegui la di lui nave, obligandola di +ricoverarsi dentro le _Scrofes_, dove per l'impeto dei venti fu +gettata sopra i scogli: tutti i marinari dell' equipaggio saltarono a +terra per salvare la loro vita: Milord solo col di lui Medico Dottr. +Bruno rimasero sulla nave che ognuno vedeva colare a fondo: ma dopo +qualche tempo non essendosi visto che cio avveniva, le persone +fuggite a terra respinsero la nave nell' acque: ma il tempestoso mare +la ribasto una seconda volta contro i scogli, ed allora si aveva per +certo che la nave coll' illustre personaggio, una grande quantita di +denari, e molti preziosi effetti per i Greci anderebbero a fondo. +Tuttavia Lord Byron non si perturbo per nulla; anzi disse al di lui +medico che voleva gettarsi al nuoto onde raggiungere la spiaggia: +'Non abbandonate la nave finche abbiamo forze per direggerla: +allorche saremo coperti dall' acque, allora gettatevi pure, che io vi +salvo.'"] + +"To be brief, we had bad weather almost always, though not contrary; +slept on deck in the wet generally for seven or eight nights, but +never was in better health (I speak personally)--so much so that I +actually bathed for a quarter of an hour on the evening of the 4th +instant in the sea, (to kill the fleas, and other &c.) and was all +the better for it. + +"We were received at Missolonghi with all kinds of kindness and +honours; and the sight of the fleet saluting, &c. and the crowds and +different costumes, was really picturesque. We think of undertaking +an expedition soon, and I expect to be ordered with the Suliotes to +join the army. + +"All well at present. We found Gamba already arrived, and every thing +in good condition. Remember me to all friends. + +"Yours ever, N. B. + +"P.S. You will, I hope, use every exertion to realise the _assets_. +For besides what I have already advanced, I have undertaken to +maintain the Suliotes for a year, (and will accompany them either as +a Chief, or whichever is most agreeable to the Government,) besides +sundries. I do not understand Brown's '_letters of credit_.' I +neither gave nor ordered a letter of credit that I know of; and +though of course, if you have done it, I will be responsible, I was +not aware of any thing, except that I would have backed his bills, +which you said was unnecessary. As to _orders_--I ordered nothing but +some _red cloth_ and _oil cloths_, both of which I am ready to +receive; but if Gamba has exceeded my commission, _the other things +must be sent back, for I cannot permit any thing of the kind, nor +will_. The servants' journey will of course be paid for, though +_that_ is exorbitant. As for Brown's letter, I do not know any thing +more than I have said, and I really cannot defray the charges of half +Greece and the Frank adventurers besides. Mr. Barff must send us some +dollars soon, for the expenses fall on me for the present. + +"January 14. 1824. + +"P.S. Will you tell Saint (Jew) Geronimo Corgialegno that I mean to +draw for the balance of my credit with Messrs. Webb and Co. I shall +draw for two thousand dollars (that being about the amount, more or +less); but, to facilitate the business, I shall make the draft +payable also at Messrs. Ransom and Co., Pall-Mall East, London. I +believe I already showed you my letters, (but if not, I have them to +show,) by which, besides the credits now realising, you will have +perceived that I am not limited to any particular amount of credit +with my bankers. The Honourable Douglas, my friend and trustee, is a +principal partner in that house, and having the direction of my +affairs, is aware to what extent my present resources may go, and the +letters in question were from him. I can merely say, that within the +_current_ year, 1824, besides the money already advanced to the Greek +Government, and the credits now in your hands and your partner's (Mr. +Barff), which are all from the income of 1823, I have anticipated +nothing from that of the present year hitherto. I shall or ought to +have at my disposition upwards of one hundred thousand dollars, +(including my income, and the purchase-monies of a manor lately +sold,) and perhaps more, without infringing on my income for 1825, +and not including the remaining balance of 1823. + +Yours ever, N. B." + + +LETTER 538. TO MR. CHARLES HANCOCK. + +"Missolonghi, January 17, 1824. + +"I have answered, at some length, your obliging letter, and trust +that you have received my reply by means of Mr. Tindal. I will also +thank you to remind Mr. Tindal that I would thank him to furnish you, +on my account, with _an order of the Committee_ for one hundred +dollars, which I advanced to him on their account through Signor +Corgialegno's agency at Zante on his arrival in October, as it is but +fair that the said Committee should pay their own expenses. An order +will be sufficient, as the money might be inconvenient for Mr. T. at +present to disburse. + +"I have also advanced to Mr. Blackett the sum of fifty dollars,-which +I will thank Mr. Stevens to pay to you, on my account, from monies of +Mr. Blackett now in his hands. I have Mr. B.'s acknowledgment in +writing. + +"As the wants of the State here are still pressing, and there seems +very little specie stirring except mine, I will stand paymaster; and +must again request you and Mr. Barff to forward by a _safe _ channel +(if possible) all the dollars you can collect upon the bills now +negotiating. I have also written to Corgialegno for two thousand +dollars, being about the balance of my separate letter from Messrs. +Webb and Co., making the bills also payable at Ransom's in London. + +"Things are going on better, if not well; there is some order, and +considerable preparation. I expect to accompany the troops on an +expedition shortly, which makes me particularly anxious for the +remaining remittance, as 'money is the sinew of war,' and of peace, +too, as far as I can see, for I am sure there would be no peace here +without it. However, a little does go a good way, which is a comfort. +The Government of the Morea and of Candia have written to me for a +further advance from my own peculium of 20 or 30,000 dollars, to +which I demur for the present, (having undertaken to pay the Suliotes +as a free gift and other things already, besides the loan which I +have already advanced,) till I receive letters from England, which I +have reason to expect. + +"When the expected credits arrive, I hope that you will bear a hand, +otherwise I must have recourse to Malta, which will be losing time +and taking trouble; but I do not wish you to do more than is +perfectly agreeable to Mr. Barffand to yourself. I am very well, and +have no reason to be dissatisfied with my personal treatment, or with +the posture of public affairs--others must speak for themselves. +Yours ever and truly, &c. + +"P.S. Respects to Colonels Wright and Duffie, and the officers civil +and military; also to my friends Muir and Stevens particularly, and +to Delladecima." + + +LETTER 539. TO MR. CHARLES HANCOCK. + +"Missolonghi, January 19. 1824. + +"Since I wrote on the 17th, I have received a letter from Mr. +Stevens, enclosing an account from Corfu, which is so exaggerated in +price and quantity, that I am at a loss whether most to admire +Gamba's folly, or the merchant's knavery. All that _I_ requested +Gamba to order was red cloth enough to make a _jacket_, and some +oil-skin for trowsers, &c.--the latter has not been sent--the whole +could not have amounted to fifty dollars. The account is six hundred +and forty-five!!! I will guarantee Mr. Stevens against any loss, of +course, but I am not disposed to take the articles (which I never +ordered), nor to pay the amount. I will take one hundred dollars' +worth; the rest may be sent back, and I will make the merchant an +allowance of so much per-cent.; or, if that is not to be done, you +must sell the whole by auction at what price the things may fetch; +for I would rather incur the dead loss of _part_, than be encumbered +with a quantity of things, to me at present superfluous or useless. +Why, I could have maintained three hundred men for a month for the +sum in Western Greece. + +"When the dogs, and the dollars, and the negro; and the horses, fell +into the hands of the Turks, I acquiesced with patience, as you may +have perceived, because it was the work of the elements of war, or of +Providence: but this is a piece of mere human knavery or folly, or +both, and I neither can nor will submit to it.[1] I have occasion for +every dollar I can muster to keep the Greeks together, and I do not +grudge any expense for the cause; but to throw away as much as would +equip, or at least maintain, a corps of excellent ragamuffins with +arms in their hands, to furnish Gamba and the Doctor with blank bills +(see list), broad cloth, Hessian boots, and horsewhips (the _latter_ +I own that they have richly earned), is rather beyond my endurance, +though a pacific person, as all the world knows, or at least my +acquaintances. I pray you to try to help me out of this damnable +commercial speculation of Gamba's, for it is one of those pieces of +impudence or folly which I don't forgive him in a hurry. I will of +course see Stevens free of expense out of the transaction;--by the +way, the Greek of a Corfiote has thought proper to draw a bill, and +get it discounted at 24 dollars: if I had been there, it should have +been _protested_ also. + +[Footnote 1: We have here as striking an instance as could be adduced +of that peculiar feature of his character which shallow or malicious +observers have misrepresented as avarice, but which in reality was +the result of a strong sense of justice and fairness, and an +indignant impatience of being stultified or over-reached. Colonel +Stanhope, in referring to the circumstance mentioned above, has put +Lord Byron's angry feeling respecting it in the true light. + +"He was constantly attacking Count Gamba, sometimes, indeed, +playfully, but more often with the bitterest satire, for having +purchased for the use of his family, while in Greece, _500_ dollars' +worth of cloth. This he used to mention as an instance of the Count's +imprudence and extravagance. Lord Byron told me one day, with a tone +of great gravity, that this 500 dollars would have been most +serviceable in promoting the siege of Lepanto; and that he never +would, to the last moment of his existence, forgive Gamba, for having +squandered away his money in the purchase of cloth. No one will +suppose that Lord Byron could be serious in such a denunciation: he +entertained, in reality, the highest opinion of Conant Gamba, who, +both on account of his talents and devotedness to his friend, merited +his Lordship's esteem. As to Lord Byron's generosity, it is before +the world; he promised to devote his large income to the cause of +Greece, and he honestly acted up to his pledge."] + +"Mr. Blackett is here ill, and will soon set out for Cephalonia. He +came to me for some pills, and I gave him some reserved for +particular friends, and which I never knew any body recover from +under several months; but he is no better, and, what is odd, no +worse; and as the doctors have had no better success with him than I, +he goes to Argostoli, sick of the Greeks and of a constipation. + +"I must reiterate my request for _specie_, and that speedily, +otherwise public affairs will be at a standstill here. I have +undertaken to pay the Suliotes for a year, to advance in March 3000 +dollars, besides, to the Government for a balance due to the troops, +and some other smaller matters for the Germans, and the press, &c. +&c. &c.; so what with these, and the expenses of my suite, which, +though not extravagant, is expensive, with Gamba's d--d nonsense, I +shall have occasion for all the monies I can muster; and I have +credits wherewithal to face the undertakings, if realised, and expect +to have more soon. + +"Believe me ever and truly yours," &c. + +On the morning of the 22d of January, his birthday,--the last my poor +friend was ever fated to see,--he came from his bedroom into the +apartment where Colonel Stanhope and some others were assembled, and +said with a smile, "You were complaining the other day that I never +write any poetry now. This is my birthday, and I have just finished +something which, I think, is better than what I usually write." He +then produced to them those beautiful stanzas, which, though already +known to most readers, are far too affectingly associated with this +closing scene of his life to be omitted among its details. Taking +into consideration, indeed, every thing connected with these +verses,--the last tender aspirations of a loving spirit which they +breathe, the self-devotion to a noble cause which they so nobly +express, and that consciousness of a near grave glimmering sadly +through the whole,--there is perhaps no production within the range +of mere human composition round which the circumstances and feelings +under which it was written cast so touching an interest. + + +"JANUARY 22D. + +"ON THIS DAY I COMPLETE MY THIRTY-SIXTH YEAR. + +1. + "'Tis time this heart should be unmoved, + Since others it hath ceased to move; + Yet though I cannot be beloved, + Still let me love! + +2. + "My days are in the yellow leaf; + The flowers and fruits of love are gone; + The worm, the canker, and the grief + Are mine alone! + +3. + "The fire that on my bosom preys + Is lone as some volcanic isle; + No torch is kindled at its blaze-- + A funeral pile! + +4. + "The hope, the fear, the jealous care, + The exalted portion of the pain + And power of love, I cannot share, + But wear the chain. + +5. + "But 'tis not _thus_--and 'tis not _here_-- + Such thoughts should shake my soul, nor _now_, + Where glory decks the hero's bier, + Or binds his brow. + +6. + "The sword, the banner, and the field, + Glory and Greece, around roe see! + The Spartan, borne upon his shield, + Was not more free. + +7. + "Awake! (not Greece--she _is_ awake!) + Awake, my spirit! Think through _whom_ + Thy life-blood tracks its parent lake, + And then strike home! + +8. + "Tread those reviving passions down, + Unworthy manhood!--unto thee + Indifferent should the smile or frown + Of beauty be. + +9. + "If thou regret'st thy youth, _why live_? + The land of honourable death + Is here:--up to the field, and give + Away thy breath! + +10. + "Seek out--less often sought than found-- + A soldier's grave, for thee the best; + Then look around, and choose thy ground,-- + And take thy rest." + +"We perceived," says Count Gamba, "from these lines, as well as from +his daily conversations, that his ambition and his hope were +irrevocably fixed upon the glorious objects of his expedition to +Greece, and that he had made up his mind to 'return victorious, or +return no more.' Indeed, he often said to me, 'Others may do as they +please--they may go--but I stay here, _that is certain_.' The same +determination was expressed in his letters to his friends; and this +resolution was not unaccompanied with the very natural +presentiment--that he should never leave Greece alive. He one day +asked his faithful servant, Tita, whether he thought of returning to +Italy? 'Yes,' said Tita: 'if your Lordship goes, I go.' Lord Byron +smiled, and said, 'No, Tita, I shall never go back from +Greece--either the Turks, or the Greeks, or the climate, will prevent +that.'" + + +LETTER 540. TO MR. CHARLES HANCOCK. + +"Missolonghi, February 5. 1824. + +"Dr. Muir's letter and yours of the 23d reached me some days ago. +Tell Muir that I am glad of his promotion for his sake, and of his +remaining near us for all our sakes; though I cannot but regret Dr. +Kennedy's departure, which accounts for the previous earthquakes and +the present English weather in this climate. With all respect to my +medical pastor, I have to announce to him, that amongst other +fire-brands, our firemaster Parry (just landed) has disembarked an +elect blacksmith, intrusted with three hundred and twenty-two Greek +Testaments. I have given him all facilities in my power for his works +spiritual and temporal; and if he can settle matters as easily with +the Greek Archbishop and hierarchy, I trust that neither the heretic +nor the supposed sceptic will be accused of intolerance. + +"By the way, I met with the said Archbishop at Anatolico (where I +went by invitation of the Primates a few days ago, and was received +with a heavier cannonade than the Turks, probably,) for the second +time (I had known him here before); and he and P. Mavrocordato, and +the Chiefs and Primates and I, all dined together, and I thought the +metropolitan the merriest of the party, and a very good Christian for +all that. But Gamba (we got wet through on our way back) has been ill +with a fever and cholic; and Luke has been out of sorts too, and so +have some others of the people, and I have been very well,--except +that I caught cold yesterday, with swearing too much in the rain at +the Greeks, who would not bear a hand in landing the Committee +stores, and nearly spoiled our combustibles; but I turned out in +person, and made such a row as set them in motion, blaspheming at +them from the Government downwards, till they actually did _some_ +part of what they ought to have done several days before, and this is +esteemed, as it deserves to be, a wonder. + +"Tell Muir that, notwithstanding his remonstrances, which I receive +thankfully, it is perhaps best that I should advance with the troops; +for if we do not do something soon, we shall only have a third year +of defensive operations and another siege, and all that. We hear that +the Turks are coming down in force, and sooner than usual; and as +these fellows do mind me a little, it is the opinion that I should +go,--firstly, because they will sooner listen to a foreigner than one +of their own people, out of native jealousies; secondly, because the +Turks will sooner treat or capitulate (if such occasion should +happen) with a Frank than a Greek; and, thirdly, because nobody else +seems disposed to take the responsibility--Mavrocordato being very +busy here, the foreign military men too young or not of authority +enough to be obeyed by the natives, and the Chiefs (as aforesaid) +inclined to obey any one except, or rather than, one of their own +body. As for me, I am willing to do what I am bidden, and to follow +my instructions. I neither seek nor shun that nor any thing else they +may wish me to attempt: as for personal safety, besides that it ought +not to be a consideration, I take it that a man is on the whole as +safe in one place as another; and, after all, he had better end with +a bullet than bark in his body. If we are not taken off with the +sword, we are like to march off with an ague in this mud basket; and +to conclude with a very bad pun, to the ear rather than to the eye, +better _martially_ than _marsh-ally:_--the situation of Missolonghi +is not unknown to you. The dykes of Holland when broken down are the +Deserts of Arabia for dryness, in comparison. + +"And now for the sinews of war. I thank you and Mr. Barff for your +ready answers, which, next to ready money, is a pleasant thing. +Besides the assets and balance, and the relics of the Corgialegno +correspondence with Leghorn and Genoa, (I sold the dog flour, tell +him, but not at _his_ price,) I shall request and require, from the +beginning of March ensuing, about five thousand dollars every two +months, _i.e._, about twenty-five thousand within the current year, +at regular intervals, independent of the sums now negotiating. I can +show you documents to prove that these are considerably _within_ my +supplies for the year in more ways than one; but I do not like to +tell the Greeks exactly what I _could_ or would advance on an +emergency, because otherwise, they will double and triple their +demands, (a disposition that they have already sufficiently shown): +and though I am willing to do all I can _when_ necessary, yet I do +not see why they should not help a little; for they are not quite so +bare as they pretend to be by some accounts. + + +"February 7. 1824. + +"I have been interrupted by the arrival of Parry and afterwards by +the return of Hesketh, who has not brought an answer to my epistles, +which rather surprises me. You will write soon, I suppose. Parry +seems a fine rough subject, but will hardly be ready for the field +these three weeks; he and I will (I think) be able to draw +together,--at least, _I_ will not interfere with or contradict him in +his own department. He complains grievously of the mercantile and +_enthusymusy_ part of the Committee, but greatly praises Gordon and +Hume. Gordon _would_ have given three or four thousand pounds and +come out _himself_, but Kennedy or somebody else disgusted him, and +thus they have spoiled part of their subscription and cramped their +operations. Parry says B---- is a humbug, to which I say nothing. He +sorely laments the printing and civilising expenses, and wishes that +there was not a Sunday-school in the world, or _any_ school _here_ at +present, save and except always an academy for artilleryship. + +"He complained also of the cold, a little to my surprise; firstly, +because, there being no chimneys, I have used myself to do without +other warmth than the animal heat and one's cloak, in these parts; +and, secondly, because I should as soon have expected to hear a +volcano sneeze, as a firemaster (who is to burn a whole fleet) +exclaim against the atmosphere. I fully expected that his very +approach would have scorched up the town like the burning-glasses of +Archimedes. + +"Well, it seems that I am to be Commander-in-Chief, and the post is +by no means a sinecure, for we are not what Major Sturgeon calls 'a +set of the most amicable officers.' Whether we shall have 'a boxing +bout between Captain Sheers and the Colonel,' I cannot tell; but, +between Suliote chiefs, German barons, English volunteers, and +adventurers of all nations, we are likely to form as goodly an allied +army as ever quarrelled beneath the same banner. + + +"February 8. 1824. + +"Interrupted again by business yesterday, and it is time to conclude +my letter. I drew some time since on Mr. Barff for a thousand +dollars, to complete some money wanted by the Government. The said +Government got cash on that bill _here_, and at a profit; but the +very same fellow who gave it to them, after proposing to give me +money for other bills on Barff to the amount of thirteen hundred +dollars, either could not, or thought better of it. I had written to +Barff advising him, but had afterwards to write to tell him of the +fellow's having not come up to time. You must really send me the +balance soon. I have the artillerists and my Suliotes to pay, and +Heaven knows what besides; and as every thing depends upon +punctuality, all our operations will be at a standstill unless you +use despatch. I shall send to Mr. Barff or to you further bills on +England for three thousand pounds, to be negotiated as speedily as +you can. I have already stated here and formerly the sums I can +command at home within the year,--without including my credits, or +the bills already negotiated or negotiating, as Corgialegno's balance +of Mr. Webb's letter,--and my letters from my friends (received by +Mr. Parry's vessel) confirm what I have already stated. How much I +may require in the course of the year I can't tell, but I will take +care that it shall not exceed the means to supply it. Yours ever, +N.B. + +"P.S. I have had, by desire of a Mr. _Jerostati_, to draw on +Demetrius Delladecima (is it our friend in ultima analise?) to pay +the Committee expenses. I really do not understand what the Committee +mean by some of their freedoms. Parry and I get on very well +_hitherto_: how long this may last, Heaven knows, but I hope it will, +for a good deal for the Greek service depends upon it; but he has +already had some" _miffs_ with Col. S. and I do all I can to keep the +peace amongst them. However, Parry is a fine fellow, extremely +active, and of strong, sound, practical talents, by all accounts. +Enclosed are bills for three thousand pounds, drawn in the mode +directed (_i.e._ parcelled out in smaller bills). A good opportunity +occurring for Cephalonia to send letters on, I avail myself of it. +Remember me to Stevens and to all friends. Also my compliments and +every thing kind to the colonels and officers. + + +"February 9. 1824. + +"P.S. 2d or 3d. I have reason to expect a person from England +directed with papers (on business) for me to sign, somewhere in the +Islands, by and by: if such should arrive, would you forward him to +me by a safe conveyance, as the papers regard a transaction with +regard to the adjustment of a lawsuit, and a sum of several thousand +pounds, which I, or my bankers and trustees for me, may have to +receive (in England) in consequence. The time of the probable arrival +I cannot state, but the date of my letters is the 2d Nov. and I +suppose that he ought to arrive soon." + +How strong were the hopes which even those who watched him most +observingly conceived from the whole tenor of his conduct since his +arrival at Missolonghi, will appear from the following words of +Colonel Stanhope, in one of his letters to the Greek Committee:-- + +"Lord Byron possesses all the means of playing a great part in the +glorious revolution of Greece. He has talent; he professes liberal +principles; he has money, and is inspired with fervent and chivalrous +feelings. He has commenced his career by two good measures: 1st, by +recommending union, and declaring himself of no party; and, 2dly, by +taking five hundred Suliotes into pay, and acting as their chief. +These acts cannot fail to render his Lordship universally popular, +and proportionally powerful. Thus advantageously circumstanced, his +Lordship will have an opportunity of realising all his professions." + +That the inspirer, however, of these hopes was himself far from +participating in them is a fact manifest from all he said and wrote +on the subject, and but adds painfully to the interest which his +position at this moment excites. Too well, indeed, did he both +understand and feel the difficulties into which he was plunged to +deceive himself into any such sanguine delusions. In one only of the +objects to which he had looked forward with any hope,--that of +endeavouring to humanise, by his example, the system of warfare on +both sides,--had he yet been able to gratify himself. Not many days +after his arrival an opportunity, as we have seen, had been afforded +him of rescuing an unfortunate Turk out of the hands of some Greek +sailors; and, towards the end of the month, having learned that there +were a few Turkish prisoners in confinement at Missolonghi, he +requested of the Government to place them at his disposal, that he +might send them to Yussuff Pacha. In performing this act of humane +policy, he transmitted with the rescued captives the following +letter:-- + + +LETTER 541. + +TO HIS HIGHNESS YUSSUFF PACHA. + +"Missolonghi, January 23. 1824. + +"Highness! + +"A vessel, in which a friend and some domestics of mine were +embarked, was detained a few days ago, and released by order of your +Highness. I have now to thank you; not for liberating the vessel, +which, as carrying a neutral flag, and being under British +protection, no one had a right to detain; but for having treated my +friends with so much kindness while they were in your hands. + +"In the hope, therefore, that it may not be altogether displeasing to +your Highness, I have requested the governor of this place to release +four Turkish prisoners, and he has humanely consented to do so. I +lose no time, therefore, in sending them back, in order to make as +early a return as I could for your courtesy on the late occasion. +These prisoners are liberated without any conditions: but should the +circumstance find a place in your recollection, I venture to beg, +that your Highness will treat such Greeks as may henceforth fall into +your hands with humanity; more especially since the horrors of war +are sufficiently great in themselves, without being aggravated by +wanton cruelties on either side. NOEL BYRON." + +Another favourite and, as it appeared for some time, practicable +object, on which he had most ardently set his heart, was the intended +attack upon Lepanto--a fortified town[1] which, from its command of +the navigation of the Gulf of Corinth, is a position of the first +importance. "Lord Byron," says Colonel Stanhope, in a letter dated +January 14., "burns with military ardour and chivalry, and will +accompany the expedition to Lepanto." The delay of Parry, the +engineer, who had been for some months anxiously expected with the +supplies necessary for the formation of a brigade of artillery, had +hitherto paralysed the preparations for this important enterprise; +though, in the mean time, whatever little could be effected, without +his aid, had been put in progress both by the appointment of a +brigade of Suliotes to act under Lord Byron, and by the formation, at +the joint expense of his Lordship and Colonel Stanhope, of a small +corps of artillery. + +[Footnote 1: The ancient Naupactus, called Epacto by the modern +Greeks, and Lepauto by the Italians.] + +It was towards the latter end of January, as we have seen, that Lord +Byron received his regular commission from the Government, as +Commander of the expedition. In conferring upon him full powers, both +civil and military, they appointed, at the same time, a Military +Council to accompany him, composed of the most experienced Chieftains +of the army, with Nota Bozzari, the uncle of the famous warrior, at +their head. + +It had been expected that, among the stores sent with Parry, there +would be a supply of Congreve rockets,--an instrument of warfare of +which such wonders had been related to the Greeks as filled their +imaginations with the most absurd ideas of its powers. Their +disappointment, therefore, on finding that the engineer had come +unprovided with these missiles was excessive. Another hope, +too,--that of being enabled to complete an artillery corps by the +accession of those Germans who had been sent for into the Morea,--was +found almost equally fallacious; that body of men having, from the +death or retirement of those who originally composed it, nearly +dwindled away; and the few officers that now came to serve being, +from their fantastic notions of rank and etiquette, far more +troublesome than useful. In addition to these discouraging +circumstances, the five Speziot ships of war which had for some time +formed the sole protection of Missolonghi were now returned to their +home, and had left their places to be filled by the enemy's squadron. + +Perplexing as were all these difficulties in the way of the +expedition, a still more formidable embarrassment presented itself in +the turbulent and almost mutinous disposition of those Suliote troops +on whom he mainly depended for success in his undertaking. Presuming +as well upon his wealth and generosity as upon their own military +importance, these unruly warriors had never ceased to rise in the +extravagance of their demands upon him;--the wholly destitute and +homeless state of their families at this moment affording but too +well founded a pretext both for their exaction and discontent. Nor +were their leaders much more amenable to management than themselves. +"There were," says Count Gamba, "six heads of families among them, +all of whom had equal pretensions both by their birth and their +exploits; and none of whom would obey any one of his comrades." + +A serious riot to which, about the middle of January, these Suliotes +had given rise, and in which some lives were lost, had been a source +of much irritation and anxiety to Lord Byron, as well from the +ill-blood it was likely to engender between his troops and the +citizens, as from the little dependence it gave him encouragement to +place upon materials so unmanageable. Notwithstanding all this, +however, neither his eagerness nor his efforts for the accomplishment +of this sole personal object of his ambition ever relaxed a single +instant. To whatever little glory was to be won by the attack upon +Lepanto, he looked forward as his only reward for all the sacrifices +he was making. In his conversations with Count Gamba on the subject, +"though he joked a good deal," says this gentleman, "about his post +of 'Archistrategos,' or Commander in Chief, it was plain that the +romance and the peril of the undertaking were great allurements to +him." When we combine, indeed, his determination to stand, at all +hazards, by the cause, with the very faint hopes his sagacious mind +would let him indulge as to his power of serving it, I have little +doubt that the "soldier's grave" which, in his own beautiful verses, +he marked out for himself, was no idle dream of poetry; but that, on +the contrary, his "wish was father to the thought," and that to an +honourable death, in some such achievement as that of storming +Lepanto, he looked forward, not only as the sole means of redeeming +worthily the great pledge he had now given, but as the most signal +and lasting service that a name like his,--echoed, as it would then +be, among the watch-words of Liberty, from age to age,--could +bequeath to her cause. + +In the midst of these cares he was much gratified by the receipt of a +letter from an old friend of his, Andrea Londo, whom he had made +acquaintance with in his early travels in 1809, and who was at that +period a rich proprietor, under the Turks, in the Morca.[1] This +patriotic Greek was one of the foremost to raise the standard of the +Cross; and at the present moment stood distinguished among the +supporters of the Legislative Body and of the new national +Government. The following is a translation of Lord Byron's answer to +his letter. + +[Footnote 1: This brave Moriote, when Lord Byron first knew him, was +particularly boyish in his aspect and manners, but still cherished, +under this exterior, a mature spirit of patriotism which occasionally +broke forth; and the noble poet used to relate that, one day, while +they were playing at draughts together, on the name of Riga being +pronounced, Londo leaped from the table, and clapping violently his +hands, began singing the famous song of that ill-fated patriot:-- + + "Sons of the Greeks, arise! + The glorious hour's gone forth."] + + +LETTER 542. TO LONDO. + +"Dear Friend, + +"The sight of your handwriting gave me the greatest pleasure. Greece +has ever been for me, as it must be for all men of any feeling or +education, the promised land of valour, of the arts, and of liberty; +nor did the time I passed in my youth in travelling among her ruins +at all chill my affection for the birthplace of heroes. In addition +to this, I am bound to yourself by ties of friendship and gratitude +for the hospitality which I experienced from you during my stay in +that country, of which you are now become one of the first defenders +and ornaments. To see myself serving, by your side and under your +eyes, in the cause of Greece, will be to me one of the happiest +events of my life. In the mean time, with the hope of our again +meeting, + +"I am, as ever," &c. + +Among the less serious embarrassments of his position at this period, +may be mentioned the struggle maintained against him by his +colleague, Colonel Stanhope,--with a degree of conscientious +perseverance which, even while thwarted by it, he could not but +respect, on the subject of a Free Press, which it was one of the +favourite objects of his fellow-agent to bring instantly into +operation in all parts of Greece. On this important point their +opinions differed considerably; and the following report, by Colonel +Stanhope, of one of their many conversations on the subject, may be +taken as a fair and concise statement of their respective +views:--"Lord Byron said that he was an ardent friend of publicity +and the press: but that he feared it was not applicable to this +society in its present combustible state. I answered that I thought +it applicable to all countries, and essential here, in order to put +an end to the state of anarchy which at present prevailed. Lord B. +feared libels and licentiousness. I said that the object of a free +press was to check public licentiousness, and to expose libellers to +odium. Lord B. had mentioned his conversation with Mavrocordato[1] to +show that the Prince was not hostile to the press. I declared that I +knew him to be an enemy to the press, although he dared not openly to +avow it. His Lordship then said that he had not made up his mind +about the liberty of the press in Greece, but that he thought the +experiment worth trying." + +[Footnote 1: Lord Byron had, it seems, acknowledged, on the preceding +evening, his having remarked to Prince Blavrocordato that "if he were +in his situation, he would have placed the press under a censor;" to +which the Prince had replied, "No; the liberty of the press is +guaranteed by the Constitution."] + +That between two men, both eager in the service of one common cause, +there should arise a difference of opinion as to the _means_ of +serving it is but a natural result of the varieties of human +judgment, and detracts nothing from the zeal or sincerity of either. +But by those who do not suffer themselves to be carried away by a +theory, it will be conceded, I think, that the scruples professed by +Lord Byron, with respect to the expedience or safety of introducing +what is called a Free Press into a country so little advanced in +civilisation as Greece, were founded on just views of human nature +and practical good sense. To endeavour to force upon a state of +society, so unprepared for them, such full grown institutions; to +think of engrafting, at once, on an ignorant people the fruits of +long knowledge and cultivation,--of importing among them, ready made, +those advantages and blessings which no nation ever attained but by +its own working out, nor ever was fitted to enjoy but by having first +struggled for them; to harbour even a dream of the success of such an +experiment, implies a sanguineness almost incredible, and such as, +though, in the present instance, indulged by the political economist +and soldier, was, as we have seen, beyond the poet. + +The enthusiastic and, in many respects, well founded confidence with +which Colonel Stanhope appealed to the authority of Mr. Bentham on +most of the points at issue between himself and Lord Byron, was, from +that natural antipathy which seems to exist between political +economists and poets, but little sympathised in by the latter;--such +appeals being always met by him with those sallies of ridicule, which +he found the best-humoured vent for his impatience under argument, +and to which, notwithstanding the venerable name and services of Mr. +Bentham himself, the quackery of much that is promulgated by his +followers presented, it must be owned, ample scope. Romantic, indeed, +as was Lord Byron's sacrifice of himself to the cause of Greece, +there was in the views he took of the means of serving her not a +tinge of the unsubstantial or speculative. The grand practical task +of freeing her from her tyrants was his first and main object. He +knew that slavery was the great bar to knowledge, and must be broken +through before her light could come; that the work of the sword must +therefore precede that of the pen, and camps be the first schools of +freedom. + +With such sound and manly views of the true exigencies of the crisis, +it is not wonderful that he should view with impatience, and +something, perhaps, of contempt, all that premature apparatus of +printing-presses, pedagogues, &c. with which the Philhellenes of the +London Committee were, in their rage for "utilitarianism," +encumbering him. Nor were some of the correspondents of this body +much more solid in their speculations than themselves; one +intelligent gentleman having suggested, as a means of conferring +signal advantages on the cause, an alteration of the Greek alphabet. + +Though feeling, as strongly, perhaps, as Lord Byron, the importance +of the great object of their mission,--that of rousing and, what was +far more difficult, combining against the common foe the energies of +the country,--Colonel Stanhope was also one of those who thought that +the lights of their great master, Bentham, and the operations of a +press unrestrictedly free, were no less essential instruments towards +the advancement of the struggle; and in this opinion, as we have +seen, the poet and man of literature differed from the soldier. But +it was such a difference as, between men of frank and fair minds, may +arise without either reproach to themselves, or danger to their +cause,--a strife of opinion which; though maintained with heat, may +be remembered without bitterness, and which, in the present instance, +neither prevented Byron, at the close of one of their warmest +altercations, from exclaiming generously to his opponent, "Give me +that honest right hand," nor withheld the other from pouring forth, +at the grave of his colleague, a strain of eulogy[1] not the less +cordial for being discriminatingly shaded with censure, nor less +honourable to the illustrious dead for being the tribute of one who +had once manfully differed with him. + +[Footnote 1: Sketch of Lord Byron.--See Colonel Stanhope's "Greece in +1823, 1824," &c.] + +Towards the middle of February, the indefatigable activity of Mr. +Parry having brought the artillery brigade into such a state of +forwardness as to be almost ready for service, an inspection of the +Suliote corps took place, preparatory to the expedition; and after +much of the usual deception and unmanageableness on their part, every +obstacle appeared to be at length surmounted. It was agreed that they +should receive a month's pay in advance;--Count Gamba, with 300 of +their corps, as a vanguard, was to march next day and take up a +position under Lepanto, and Lord Byron with the main body and the +artillery was speedily to follow. + +New difficulties, however, were soon started by these untractable +mercenaries; and under the instigation, as was discovered afterwards, +of the great rival of Mavrocordato, Colocotroni, who had sent +emissaries into Missolonghi for the purpose of seducing them, they +now put forward their exactions in a new shape, by requiring of the +Government to appoint, out of their number, two generals, two +colonels, two captains, and inferior officers in the same +proportion:--"in short," says Count Gamba, "that, out of three or +four hundred actual Suliotes, there should be about one hundred and +fifty above the rank of common soldiers." The audacious dishonesty of +this demand,--beyond what he could have expected even from +Greeks,--roused all Lord Byron's rage, and he at once signified to +the whole body, through Count Gamba, that all negotiation between +them and himself was at an end; that he could no longer have any +confidence in persons so little true to their engagements; and that +though the relief which he had afforded to their families should +still be continued, all his agreements with them, as a body, must be +thenceforward void. + +It was on the 14th of February that this rupture with the Suliotes +took place; and though, on the following day, in consequence of the +full submission of their Chiefs, they were again received into his +Lordship's service on his own terms, the whole affair, combined with +the various other difficulties that now beset him, agitated his mind +considerably. He saw with pain that he should but place in peril both +the cause of Greece and his own character, by at all relying, in such +an enterprise, upon troops whom any intriguer could thus seduce from +their duty; and that, till some more regular force could be +organised, the expedition against Lepanto must be suspended. + +While these vexatious events were occurring, the interruption of his +accustomed exercise by the rains but increased the irritability that +such delays were calculated to excite; and the whole together, no +doubt, concurred with whatever predisposing tendencies were already +in his constitution, to bring on that convulsive fit,--the forerunner +of his death,--which, on the evening of the 15th of February, seized +him. He was sitting, at about eight o'clock, with only Mr. Parry and +Mr. Hesketh, in the apartment of Colonel Stanhope,--talking jestingly +upon one of his favourite topics, the differences between himself and +this latter gentleman, and saying that "he believed, after all, the +author's brigade would be ready before the soldier's printing-press." +There was an unusual flush in his face, and from the rapid changes of +his countenance it was manifest that he was suffering under some +nervous agitation. He then complained of being thirsty, and, calling +for some cider, drank of it; upon which, a still greater change being +observable over his features, he rose from his seat, but was unable +to walk, and, after staggering forward a step or two, fell into Mr. +Parry's arms. In another minute, his teeth were closed, his speech +and senses gone, and he was in strong convulsions. So violent, +indeed, were his struggles, that it required all the strength both of +Mr. Parry and his servant Tita to hold him during the fit. His face, +too, was much distorted; and, as he told Count Gamba afterwards, "so +intense were his sufferings during the convulsion, that, had it +lasted but a minute longer, he believed he must have died." The fit +was, however, as short as it was violent; in a few minutes his speech +and senses returned; his features, though still pale and haggard, +resumed their natural shape, and no effect remained from the attack +but excessive weakness. "As soon as he could speak," says Count +Gamba, "he showed himself perfectly free from all alarm; but he very +coolly asked whether his attack was likely to prove fatal. 'Let me +know,' he said; 'do not think I am afraid to die--I am not.'" + +This painful event had not occurred more than half an hour, when a +report was brought that the Suliotes were up in arms, and about to +attack the seraglio, for the purpose of seizing the magazines. +Instantly Lord Byron's friends ran to the arsenal; the artillery-men +were ordered under arms; the sentinels doubled, and the cannon loaded +and pointed on the approaches to the gates. Though the alarm proved +to be false, the very likelihood of such an attack shows sufficiently +how precarious was the state of Missolonghi at this moment, and in +what a scene of peril, confusion, and uncomfort, the now nearly +numbered days of England's poet were to close. + +On the following morning he was found to be better, but still pale +and weak, and complained much of a sensation of weight in his head. +The doctors, therefore, thought it right to apply leeches to his +temples; but found it difficult, on their removal, to stop the blood, +which continued to flow so copiously, that from exhaustion he +fainted. It must have been on this day that the scene thus described +by Colonel Stanhope occurred:-- + +"Soon after his dreadful paroxysm, when, faint with over-bleeding, he +was lying on his sick bed, with his whole nervous system completely +shaken, the mutinous Suliotes, covered with dirt and splendid +attires, broke into his apartment, brandishing their costly arms, and +loudly demanding their wild rights. Lord Byron, electrified by this +unexpected act, seemed to recover from his sickness; and the more the +Suliotes raged, the more his calm courage triumphed. The scene was +truly sublime." + +Another eye-witness, Count Gamba, bears similar testimony to the +presence of mind with which he fronted this and all other such +dangers. "It is impossible," says this gentleman, "to do justice to +the coolness and magnanimity which he displayed upon every trying +occasion. Upon trifling occasions he was certainly irritable; but the +aspect of danger calmed him in an instant, and restored to him the +free exercise of all the powers of his noble nature. A more undaunted +man in the hour of peril never breathed." + +The letters written by him during the few following weeks form, as +usual, the best record of his proceedings, and, besides the sad +interest they possess as being among the latest from his hand, are +also precious, as affording proof that neither illness nor +disappointment, neither a worn-out frame nor even a hopeless spirit, +could lead him for a moment to think of abandoning the great cause he +had espoused; while to the last, too, he preserved unbroken the +cheerful spring of his mind, his manly endurance of all ills that +affected but himself, and his ever-wakeful consideration for the +wants of others. + + +LETTER 543. TO MR. BARFF. + +"February 21. + +"I am a good deal better, though of course weakly; the leeches took +too much blood from my temples the day after, and there was some +difficulty in stopping it, but I have since been up daily, and out in +boats of on horseback. To-day I have taken a warm bath, and live as +temperately as can well be, without any liquid but water, and without +animal food. + +"Besides the four Turks sent to Patras, I have obtained the release +of four-and-twenty women and children, and sent them at my own +expense to Prevesa, that the English Consul-General may consign them +to their relations. I did this by their own desire. Matters here are +a little embroiled with the Suliotes and foreigners, &c., but I still +hope better things, and will stand by the cause as long as my health +and circumstances will permit me to be supposed useful.[1] + +[Footnote 1: In a letter to the same gentleman, dated January 27., he +had already said, "I hope that things here will go on well some time +or other. I will stick by the cause as long as a cause exists--first +or second."] + +"I am obliged to support the Government here for the present." + +The prisoners mentioned in this letter as having been released by him +and sent to Prevesa, had been held in captivity at Missolonghi since +the beginning of the Revolution. The following was the letter which +he forwarded with them to the English Consul at Prevesa. + + +LETTER 544. TO MR. MAYER. + +"Sir, + +"Coming to Greece, one of my principal objects was to alleviate as +much as possible the miseries incident to a warfare so cruel as the +present. When the dictates of humanity are in question, I know no +difference between Turks and Greeks. It is enough that those who want +assistance are men, in order to claim the pity and protection of the +meanest pretender to humane feelings. I have found here twenty-four +Turks, including women and children, who have long pined in distress, +far from the means of support and the consolations of their home. The +Government has consigned them to me; I transmit them to Prevesa, +whither they desire to be sent. I hope you will not object to take +care that they may be restored to a place of safety, and that the +Governor of your town may accept of my present. The best recompense I +can hope for would be to find that I had inspired the Ottoman +commanders with the same sentiments towards those unhappy Greeks who +may hereafter fall into their hands. + +"I beg you to believe me," &c. + + +LETTER 545. + +TO THE HONOURABLE DOUGLAS KINNAIRD. + +"Missolonghi, February 21. 1824. + +"I have received yours of the 2d of November. It is essential that +the money should be paid, as I have drawn for it all, and more too, +to help the Greeks. Parry is here, and he and I agree very well; and +all is going on hopefully for the present, considering circumstances. + +"We shall have work this year, for the Turks are coming down in +force; and, as for me, I must stand by the cause. I shall shortly +march (according to orders) against Lepanto, with two thousand men. I +have been here some time, after some narrow escapes from the Turks, +and also from being ship-wrecked. We were twice upon the rocks; but +this you will have heard, truly or falsely, through other channels, +and I do not wish to bore you with a long story. + +"So far I have succeeded in supporting the Government of Western +Greece, which would otherwise have been dissolved. If you have +received the eleven thousand and odd pounds, these, with what I have +in hand, and my income for the current year, to say nothing of +contingencies, will, or might, enable me to keep the 'sinews of war' +properly strung. If the deputies be honest fellows, and obtain the +loan, they will repay the 4000,'. as agreed upon; and even then I +shall save little, or indeed less than little, since I am maintaining +nearly the whole machine--in this place, at least--at my own cost. +But let the Greeks only succeed, and I don't care for myself. + +"I have been very seriously unwell, but am getting better, and can +ride about again; so pray quiet our friends on that score. + +"It is not true that I ever _did, will, would, could, _ or _should_ +write a satire against Gifford, or a hair of his head. I always +considered him as my literary father, and myself as his 'prodigal +son;' and if I have allowed his 'fatted calf' to grow to an ox +before, he kills it on my return, it is only because I prefer beef to +veal. Yours," &c + + +LETTER 546. TO MR. BARFF. + +"February 23. + +"My health seems improving, especially from riding and the warm bath. +Six Englishmen will be soon in quarantine at Zante; they are +artificers[1], and have had enough of Greece in fourteen days. If you +could recommend them to a passage home, I would thank you; they are +good men enough, but do not quite understand the little discrepancies +in these countries, and are not used to see shooting and slashing in +a domestic quiet way, or (as it forms here) a part of housekeeping. + +[Footnote 1: The workmen who came out with Parry; and who, alarmed by +the scene of confusion and danger they found at Missolonghi, had +resolved to return home.] + +"If they should want any thing during their quarantine, you can +advance them not more than a dollar a day (amongst them) for that +period, to purchase them some little extras as comforts (as they are +quite out of their element). I cannot afford them more at present." + +The following letter to Mr. Murray,--which it is most gratifying to +have to produce, as the last completing link of a long friendship and +correspondence which had been but for a short time, and through the +fault only of others, interrupted,--contains such a summary of the +chief events now passing round Lord Byron, as, with the assistance of +a few notes, will render any more detailed narrative unnecessary. + + +LETTER 547. TO MR. MURRAY. + +"Missolonghi, February 25. 1824. + +"I have heard from Mr. Douglas Kinnaird that you state 'a report of a +satire on Mr. Gifford having arrived from Italy, _said_ to be written +by _me_! but that _you_ do not believe it.' I dare say you do not, +nor anybody else, I should think. Whoever asserts that I am the +author or abettor of any thing of the kind on Gifford lies in his +throat. If any such composition exists it is none of mine. _You_ know +as well as any body upon _whom_ I have or have not written; and _you_ +also know whether they do or did not deserve that same. And so much +for such matters. + +"You will perhaps be anxious to hear some news from this part of +Greece (which is the most liable to invasion); but you will hear +enough through public and private channels. I will, however, give you +the events of a week, mingling my own private peculiar with the +public; for we are here a little jumbled together at present. + +"On Sunday (the 15th, I believe,) I had a strong and sudden +convulsive attack, which left me speechless, though not +motionless--for some strong men could not hold me; but whether it was +epilepsy, catalepsy, cachexy, or apoplexy, or what other _exy _ or +_epsy_, the doctors have not decided; or whether it was spasmodic or +nervous, &c.; but it was very unpleasant, and nearly carried me off, +and all that. On Monday, they put leeches to my temples, no difficult +matter, but the blood could not be stopped till eleven at night (they +had gone too near the temporal artery for my temporal safety), and +neither styptic nor caustic would cauterise the orifice till after a +hundred attempts. + +"On Tuesday, a Turkish brig of war ran on shore. On Wednesday, great +preparations being made to attack her, though protected by her +consorts[1], the Turks burned her and retired to Patras. On Thursday +a quarrel ensued between the Suliotes and the Frank guard at the +arsenal: a Swedish officer[2] was killed, and a Suliote severely +wounded, and a general fight expected, and with some difficulty +prevented. On Friday, the officer was buried; and Captain Parry's +English artificers mutinied, under pretence that their lives are in +danger, and are for quitting the country:--they may.[3] + +[Footnote 1: "Early in the morning we prepared for our attack on the +brig. Lord Byron, notwithstanding his weakness, and an inflammation +that threatened his eyes, was most anxious to be of our party; but +the physicians would not suffer him to go."--COUNT GAMBA'S +_Narrative_. + +His Lordship had promised a reward for every Turk taken alive in the +proposed attack on this vessel.] + +[Footnote 2: Captain Sasse, an officer esteemed as one of the best +and bravest of the foreigners in the Greek service. "This," says +Colonel Stanhope, in a letter, February 18th, to the Committee, "is a +serious affair. The Suliotes have no country, no home for their +families; arrears of pay are owing to them; the people of Missolonghi +hate and pay them exorbitantly. Lord Byron, who was to have led them +to Lepanto, is much shaken by his fit, and will probably be obliged +to retire from Greece. In short, all our hopes in this quarter are +damped for the present. I am not a little fearful, too, that these +wild warriors will not forget the blood that has been spilt. I this +morning told Prince Mavrocordato and Lord Byron that they must come +to some resolution about compelling the Suliotes to quit the place."] + +[Footnote 3: This was a fresh, and, as may be conceived, serious +disappointment to Lord Byron. "The departure of these men," says +Count Gamba, "made us fear that our laboratory would come to nothing; +for, if we tried to supply the place of the artificers with native +Greeks, we should make but little progress.] + +"On Saturday we had the smartest shock of an earthquake which I +remember, (and I have felt thirty, slight or smart, at different +periods; they are common in the Mediterranean,) and the whole army +discharged their arms, upon the same principle that savages beat +drums, or howl, during an eclipse of the moon:--it was a rare scene +altogether--if you had but seen the English Johnnies, who had never +been out of a cockney workshop before!--or will again, if they can +help it--and on Sunday, we heard that the Vizier is come down to +Larissa, with one hundred and odd thousand men. + +"In coming here, I had two escapes, one from the Turks, _(one_ of my +vessels was taken, but afterwards released,) and the other from +shipwreck. We drove twice on the rocks near the Scrophes (islands +near the coast). + +"I have obtained from the Greeks the release of eight-and-twenty +Turkish prisoners, men, women, and children, and sent them to Patras +and Prevesa at my own charges. One little girl of nine years old, who +prefers remaining with me, I shall (if I live) send, with her mother, +probably, to Italy, or to England. Her name is Hato, or Hatagee. She +is a very pretty, lively child. All her brothers were killed by the +Greeks, and she herself and her mother merely spared by special +favour and owing to her extreme youth, she being then but five or six +years old. + +"My health is now better, and I ride about again. My office here is +no sinecure, so many parties and difficulties of every kind; but I +will do what I can. Prince Mavrocordato is an excellent person, and +does all in his power, but his situation is perplexing in the +extreme. Still we have great hopes of the success of the contest. You +will hear, however, more of public news from plenty of quarters; for +I have little time to write. + +"Believe me yours, &c. &c. N. BN." + +The fierce lawlessness of the Suliotes had now risen to such a height +that it became necessary, for the safety of the European population, +to get rid of them altogether; and, by some sacrifices on the part of +Lord Byron, this object was at length effected. The advance of a +month's pay by him, and the discharge of their arrears by the +Government, (the latter, too, with money lent for that purpose by the +same universal paymaster,) at length induced these rude warriors to +depart from the town, and with them vanished all hopes of the +expedition against Lepanto. + + +LETTER 548. TO MR. MOORE. + +"Missolonghi, Western Greece, March 4. 1824. + +"My dear Moore, + +"Your reproach is unfounded--I have received two letters from you, +and answered both previous to leaving Cephalonia. I have not been +'quiet' in an Ionian island, but much occupied with business,--as the +Greek deputies (if arrived) can tell you. Neither have I continued +'Don Juan,' nor any other poem. You go, as usual, I presume, by some +newspaper report or other.[1] + +[Footnote 1: Proceeding, as he here rightly supposes, upon newspaper +authority, I had in my letter made some allusion to his imputed +occupations, which, in his present sensitiveness on the subject of +authorship, did not at all please him. To this circumstance Count +Gamba alludes in a passage of his Narrative; where, after mentioning +a remark of Byron's, that "Poetry should only occupy the idle, and +that in more serious affairs it would be ridiculous," he adds-- +"----, at this time writing to him, said, that he had heard that +'instead of pursuing heroic and warlike adventures, he was residing +in a delightful villa, continuing Don Juan.' This offended him for +the moment, and he was sorry that such a mistaken judgment had been +formed of him." + +It is amusing to observe that, while thus anxious, and from a highly +noble motive, to throw his authorship into the shade while engaged in +so much more serious pursuits, it was yet an author's mode of revenge +that always occurred to him, when under the influence of any of these +passing resentments. Thus, when a little angry with Colonel Stanhope +one day, he exclaimed, "I will libel you in your own Chronicle;" and +in this brief burst of humour I was myself the means of provoking in +him, I have been told, on the authority of Count Gamba, that he swore +to "write a satire" upon me. + +Though the above letter shows how momentary was any little spleen he +may have felt, there not unfrequently, I own, comes over me a short +pang of regret to think that a feeling of displeasure, however +slight, should have been among the latest I awakened in him.] + +"When the proper moment to be of some use arrived, I came here; and +am told that my arrival (with some other circumstances) _has_ been +of, at least, temporary advantage to the cause. I had a narrow escape +from the Turks, and another from Shipwreck on my passage. On the 15th +(or 16th) of February I had an attack of apoplexy, or epilepsy,--the +physicians have not exactly decided which, but the alternative is +agreeable. My constitution, therefore, remains between the two +opinions, like Mahomet's sarcophagus between the magnets. All that I +can say is, that they nearly bled me to death, by placing the leeches +too near the temporal artery, so that the blood could with difficulty +be stopped, even with caustic, I am supposed to be getting better, +slowly, however. But my homilies will, I presume, for the future, be +like the Archbishop of Grenada's--in this case, 'I order you a +hundred ducats from my treasurer, and wish you a little more taste.' + +"For public matters I refer you to Colonel Stanhope's and Capt. +Parry's reports,--and to all other reports whatsoever. There is +plenty to do--war without, and tumult within--they 'kill a man a +week,' like Bob Acres in the country. Parry's artificers have gone +away in alarm, on account of a dispute in which some of the natives +and foreigners were engaged, and a Swede was killed, and a Suliote +wounded. In the middle of their fright there was a strong shock of an +earthquake; so, between that and the sword, they boomed off in a +hurry, in despite of all dissuasions to the contrary. A Turkish brig +run ashore, &c. &c. &c.[1] + +[Footnote 1: What I have omitted here is but a repetition of the +various particulars, respecting all that had happened since his +arrival, which have already been given in the letters to his other +correspondents.] + +"You, I presume, are either publishing or meditating that same. Let +me hear from and of you, and believe me, in all events, + +"Ever and affectionately yours, + +"N. B. + +"P.S. Tell Mr. Murray that I wrote to him the other day, and hope +that he has received, or will receive, the letter." + + +LETTER 549. TO DR. KENNEDY. + +"Missolonghi, March 4. 1824. + +"My dear Doctor, + +"I have to thank you for your two very kind letters, both received at +the same time, and one long after its date. I am not unaware of the +precarious state of my health, nor am, nor have been, deceived on +that subject. But it is proper that I should remain in Greece; and it +were better to die doing something than nothing. My presence here has +been supposed so far useful as to have prevented confusion from +becoming worse confounded, at least for the present. Should I become, +or be deemed useless or superfluous, I am ready to retire; but in the +interim I am not to consider personal consequences; the rest is in +the hands of Providence,--as indeed are all things. I shall, however, +observe your instructions, and indeed did so, as far as regards +abstinence, for some time past. + +"Besides the tracts, &c. which you have sent for distribution, one of +the English artificers (hight Brownbill, a tinman,) left to my charge +a number of Greek Testaments, which I will endeavour to distribute +properly. The Greeks complain that the translation is not correct, +nor in _good_ Romaic: Bambas can decide on that point. I am trying to +reconcile the clergy to the distribution, which (without due regard +to their hierarchy) they might contrive to impede or neutralise in +the effect, from their power over their people. Mr. Brownbill has +gone to the Islands, having some apprehension for his life, (not from +the priests, however,) and apparently preferring rather to be a saint +than a martyr, although his apprehensions of becoming the latter were +probably unfounded. All the English artificers accompanied him, +thinking themselves in danger on account of some troubles here, which +have apparently subsided. + +"I have been interrupted by a visit from Prince Mavrocordato and +others since I began this letter, and must close it hastily, for the +boat is announced as ready to sail. Your future convert, Hato, or +Hatagee, appears to me lively, and intelligent, and promising, and +possesses an interesting countenance. With regard to her disposition, +I can say little, but Millingen, who has the mother (who is a +middle-aged woman of good character) in his house as a domestic +(although their family was in good worldly circumstances previous to +the Revolution), speaks well of both, and he is to be relied on. As +far as I know, I have only seen the child a few times with her +mother, and what I have seen is favourable, or I should not take so +much interest in her behalf. If she turns out well, my idea would be +to send her to my daughter in England (if not to respectable persons +in Italy), and so to provide for her as to enable her to live with +reputation either singly or in marriage, if she arrive at maturity. I +will make proper arrangements about her expenses through Messrs. +Barff and Hancock, and the rest I leave to your discretion and to +Mrs. K.'s, with a great sense of obligation for your kindness in +undertaking her temporary superintendence. + +"Of public matters here, I have little to add to what you will +already have heard. We are going on as well as we can, and with the +hope and the endeavour to do better. Believe me, + +"Ever and truly," &c. + + +LETTER 550. TO MR. BARFF. + +"March 5. 1824. + +"If Sisseni[1] is sincere, he will be treated with, and well treated; +if he is not, the sin and the shame may lie at his own door. One +great object is to heal those internal dissensions for the future, +without exacting too rigorous an account of the past. Prince +Mavrocordato is of the same opinion, and whoever is disposed to act +fairly will be fairly dealt with. I _have_ heard a _good deal_ of +Sisseni, but not a _deal_ of _good_: however, I never judge from +report, particularly in a Revolution. _Personally_, I am rather +obliged to him, for he has been very hospitable to all friends of +mine who have passed through his district. You may therefore assure +him that any overture for the advantage of Greece and its internal +pacification will be readily and sincerely met _here_. I hardly think +that he would have ventured a deceitful proposition to me through +_you_, because he must be sure that in such a case it would +eventually be exposed. At any rate, the healing of these dissensions +is so important a point, that something must be risked to obtain it." + +[Footnote 1: This Sisseni, who was the _Capitano_ of the rich +district about Gastouni, and had for some time held out against the +general Government, was now, as appears by the above letter, making +overtures, through Mr. Barff, of adhesion. As a proof of his +sincerity, it was required by Lord Byron that he should surrender +into the hands of the Government the fortress of Chiarenza.] + + +LETTER 551. TO MR. BARFF. + +"March 10. + +"Enclosed is an answer to Mr. Parruca's letter, and I hope that you +will assure him from me, that I have done and am doing all I can to +re-unite the Greeks with the Greeks. + +"I am extremely obliged by your offer of your country house (as for +all other kindness) in case that my health should require my removal; +but I cannot quit Greece while there is a chance of my being of any +(even supposed) utility:--there is a stake worth millions such as I +am, and while I can stand at all, I must stand by the cause. When I +say this, I am at the same time aware of the difficulties and +dissensions and defects of the Greeks themselves; but allowance must +be made for them by all reasonable people. + +"My chief, indeed _nine tenths_ of my expenses here are solely in +advances to or on behalf of the Greeks[1], and objects connected with +their independence." + +[Footnote 1: "At this time (February 14th)," says Mr. Parry, who kept +the accounts of his Lordship's disbursements, "the expenses of Lord +Byron in the cause of the Greeks did not amount to less than two +thousand dollars per week in rations alone." In another place this +writer says, "The Greeks seemed to think he was a mine from which +they could extract gold at their pleasure. One person represented +that a supply of 20,000 dollars would save the island of Candia from +falling into the hands of the Pacha of Egypt; and there not being +that sum in hand, Lord Byron gave him authority to raise it if he +could in the Islands, and he would guarantee its repayment. I believe +this person did not succeed."] + +The letter of Parruca, to which the foregoing alludes, contained a +pressing invitation to Lord Byron to present himself in the +Peloponnesus, where, it was added, his influence would be sure to +bring about the Union of all parties. So general, indeed, was the +confidence placed in their noble ally, that, by every Chief of every +faction, he seems to have been regarded as the only rallying point +round which there was the slightest chance of their now split and +jarring interests being united. A far more flattering, as well as +more authorised, invitation soon after reached him, through an +express envoy, from the Chieftain, Colocotroni, recommending a +National Council, where his Lordship, it was proposed, should act as +mediator, and pledging this Chief himself and his followers to abide +by the result. To this application an answer was returned similar to +that which he sent to Parruca, and which was in terms as follows:-- + + +LETTER 552. TO SR. PARRUCA. + +"March 10. 1824. + +"Sir, + +"I have the honour of answering your letter. My first wish has always +been to bring the Greeks to agree amongst themselves. I came here by +the invitation of the Greek Government, and I do not think that I +ought to abandon Roumelia for the Peloponnesus until that Government +shall desire it; and the more so, as this part is exposed in a +greater degree to the enemy. Nevertheless, if my presence can really +be of any assistance in uniting two or more parties, I am ready to go +any where, either as a mediator, or, if necessary, as a hostage. In +these affairs I have neither private views, nor private dislike of +any individual, but the sincere wish of deserving the name of the +friend of your country, and of her patriots. I have the honour," &c. + + +LETTER 553. TO MR. CHARLES HANCOCK. + +"Missolonghi, March 10. 1824. + +"Sir, + +"I sent by Mr. J.M. Hodges a bill drawn on Signer C. Jerostatti for +three hundred and eighty-six pounds, on account of the Hon. the Greek +Committee, for carrying on the service at this place. But Count +Delladecima sent no more than two hundred dollars until he should +receive instructions from C. Jerostatti. Therefore I am obliged to +advance that sum to prevent a positive stop being put to the +Laboratory service at this place, &c. &c. + +"I beg you will mention this business to Count Delladecima, who has +the draft and every account, and that Mr. Barff, in conjunction with +yourself, will endeavour to arrange this money account, and, when +received, forward the same to Missolonghi. + +"I am, Sir, yours very truly. + +"So far is written by Captain Parry; but I see that I must continue +the letter myself. I understand little or nothing of the business, +saving and except that, like most of the present affairs here, it +will be at a stand-still if monies be not advanced, and there are few +here so disposed; so that I must take the chance, as usual. + +"You will see what can be done with Delladecima and Jerostatti, and +remit the sum, that we may have some quiet; for the Committee have +somehow embroiled their matters, or chosen Greek correspondents more +Grecian than ever the Greeks are wont to be. + +"Yours ever, NL. BN. + +"P.S. A thousand thanks to Muir for his cauliflower, the finest I +ever saw or tasted, and, I believe, the largest that ever grew out of +Paradise, or Scotland. I have written to quiet Dr. Kennedy about the +newspaper (with which I have nothing to do as a writer, please to +recollect and say). I told the fools of conductors that their motto +would play the devil; but, like all mountebanks, they persisted. +Gamba, who is any thing but _lucky_, had something to do with it; +and, as usual, the moment he had, matters went wrong. [1] It will be +better, perhaps, in time. But I write in haste, and have only time to +say, before the boat sails, that I am ever + +"Yours, N. BN. + +[Footnote 1: He had a notion that Count Gamba was destined to be +unfortunate,--that he was one of those ill-starred persons with whom +every thing goes wrong. In speaking of this newspaper to Parry, he +said, "I have subscribed to it to get rid of importunity, and, it may +be, keep Gamba out of mischief. At any rate, he can mar nothing that +is of less importance."] + +"P.S. Mr. Findlay is here, and has received his money." + + +LETTER 554. TO DR. KENNEDY. + +"Missolonghi, March 10. 1824. + +"Dear Sir, + +"You could not disapprove of the motto to the Telegraph more than I +did, and do; but this is the land of liberty, where most people do as +they please, and few as they ought. + +"I have not written, nor am inclined to write, for that or for any +other paper, but have suggested to them, over and over, a change of +the motto and style. However, I do not think that it will turn out +either an irreligious or a levelling publication, and they promise +due respect to both churches and things, _i.e._ the editors do. + +"If Bambas would write for the Greek Chronicle, he might have his own +price for articles. + +"There is a slight demur about Hato's voyage, her mother wishing to +go with her, which is quite natural, and I have not the heart to +refuse it; for even Mahomet made a law, that in the division of +captives, the child should never be separated from the mother. But +this may make a difference in the arrangement, although the poor +woman (who has lost half her family in the war) is, as I said, of +good character, and of mature age, so as to render her respectability +not liable to suspicion. She has heard, it seems, from Prevesa, that +her husband is no longer there. I have consigned your Bibles to Dr. +Meyer; and I hope that the said Doctor may justify your confidence; +nevertheless, I shall keep an eye upon him. You may depend upon my +giving the Society as fair play as Mr. Wilberforce himself would; and +any other commission for the good of Greece will meet with the same +attention on my part. + +"I am trying, with some hope of eventual success, to re-unite the +Greeks, especially as the Turks are expected in force, and that +shortly. We must meet them as we may, and fight it out as we can. + +"I rejoice to hear that your school prospers, and I assure you that +your good wishes are reciprocal. The weather is so much finer, that I +get a good deal of moderate exercise in boats and on horseback, and +am willing to hope that my health is not worse than when you kindly +wrote to me. Dr. Bruno can tell you that I adhere to your regimen, +and more, for I do not eat any meat, even fish. + +"Believe me ever, &c. + +"P.S. The mechanics (six in number) were all pretty much of the same +mind. Brownbill was but _one_. Perhaps they are less to blame than is +imagined, since Colonel Stanhope is said to have told them, '_that he +could not positively say their lives were safe.' _ I should like to +know _where_ our life _is_ safe, either here or any where else? With +regard to a place of safety, at least such hermetically sealed safety +as these persons appeared to desiderate, it is not to be found in +Greece, at any rate; but Missolonghi was supposed to be the place +where they would be useful, and their risk was no greater than that +of others." + + +LETTER 555. TO COLONEL STANHOPE. + +"Missolonghi, March 19. 1824. + +"My dear Stanhope, + +"Prince Mavrocordato and myself will go to Salona to meet Ulysses, +and you may be very sure that P.M. will accept any proposition for +the advantage of Greece. Parry is to answer for himself on his own +articles[1]: if I were to interfere with him, it would only stop the +whole progress of his exertion; and he is really doing all that can +be done without more aid from the Government. + +[Footnote 1: Colonel Stanhope had, at the instance of the Chief +Odysseus, written to request that some stores from the laboratory at +Missolonghi might be sent to Athens. Neither Prince Mavrocordato, +however, nor Lord Byron considered it prudent, at this time, to +weaken their means for defending Missolonghi, and accordingly sent +back by the messenger but a few barrels of powder.] + +"What can be spared will be sent; but I refer you to Captain +Humphries's report, and to Count Gamba's letter for details upon all +subjects. + +"In the hope of seeing you soon, and deferring much that will be to +be said till then, + +"Believe me ever, &c. + +"P.S. Your two letters (to me) are sent to Mr. Barff, as you desire. +Pray remember me particularly to Trelawney, whom I shall be very much +pleased to see again." + + +LETTER 556. TO MR. BARFF. + +"March 19. + +"As Count Mercati is under some apprehensions of a _direct_ answer to +_him_ personally on Greek affairs, I reply (as you authorised me) to +you, who will have the goodness to communicate to him the enclosed. +It is the joint answer of Prince Mavrocordato and of myself, to +Signor Georgio Sisseni's propositions. You may also add, both to him +and to Parruca, that I am perfectly sincere in desiring the most +amicable termination of their internal dissensions, and that I +believe P. Mavrocordato to be so also; otherwise I would not act with +him, or any other, whether native or foreigner. + +"If Lord Guilford is at Zante, or, if he is not, if Signor Tricupi is +there, you would oblige me by presenting my respects to one or both, +and by telling them, that from the very first I foretold to Col. +Stanhope and to P. Mavrocordato that a Greek newspaper (or indeed any +other) in _the present state_ of Greece might and probably _would_ +tend to much mischief and misconstruction, unless under some +restrictions, nor have I ever had any thing to do with either, as a +writer or otherwise, except as a pecuniary contributor to their +support in the outset, which I could not refuse to the earnest +request of the projectors. Col. Stanhope and myself had considerable +differences of opinion on this subject, and (what will appear +laughable enough) to such a degree, that he charged me with +_despotic_ principles, and I _him_ with ultra radicalism. + +"Dr. ----, the editor, with his unrestrained freedom of the press, +and who has the freedom to exercise an unlimited discretion,--not +allowing any article but his own and those like them to appear,--and +in declaiming against restrictions, cuts, carves, and restricts (as +they tell me) at his own will and pleasure. He is the author of an +article against Monarchy, of which he may have the advantage and +fame--but they (the editors) will get themselves into a scrape, if +they do not take care. + +"Of all petty tyrants, he is one of the pettiest, as are most +demagogues, that ever I knew. He is a Swiss by birth, and a Greek by +assumption, having married a wife and changed his religion. + +"I shall be very glad, and am extremely anxious for some favourable +result to the recent pacific overtures of the contending parties in +the Peloponnese." + + +LETTER 557. TO MR. BARFF. + +"March 23. + +"If the Greek deputies (as seems probable) have obtained the Loan, +the sums I have advanced may perhaps be repaid; but it would make no +great difference, as I should still spend that in the cause, and more +to boot--though I should hope to better purpose than paying off +arrears of fleets that sail away, and Suliotes that won't march, +which, they say, what has hitherto been advanced has been employed +in. But that was not my affair, but of those who had the disposal of +affairs, and I could not decently say to them, 'You shall do so and +so, because, &c. &c. &c.' + +"In a few days P. Mavrocordato and myself, with a considerable +escort, intend to proceed to Salona at the request of Ulysses and the +Chiefs of Eastern Greece, and take measures offensive and defensive +for the ensuing campaign. Mavrocordato is _almost _ recalled by the +_new_ Government to the Morea, (to take the lead, I rather think,) +and they have written to propose to me to go either to the Morea with +him, or to take the general direction of affairs in this +quarter--with General Londo, and any other I may choose, to form a +council. A. Londo is my old friend and acquaintance since we were +lads in Greece together. It would be difficult to give a positive +answer till the Salona meeting is over[1]; but I am willing to serve +them in any capacity they please, either commanding or commanded--it +is much the same to me, as long as I can be of any presumed use to +them. + +[Footnote 1: To this offer of the Government to appoint him +Governor-General of Greece, (that is, of the enfranchised part of the +continent, with the exception of the Morea and the Islands,) his +answer was, that "he was first going to Salona, and that afterwards +he would be at their commands; that he could have no difficulty in +accepting any office, provided he could persuade himself that any +good would result from it."] + +"Excuse haste; it is late, and I have been several hours on horseback +in a country so miry after the rains, that every hundred yards brings +you to a ditch, of whose depth, width, colour, and contents, both my +horses and their riders have brought away many tokens." + + +LETTER 558. TO ME. BARFF. + +"March 26. + +"Since your intelligence with regard to the Greek loan, P. +Mavrocordato has shown to me an extract from some correspondence of +his, by which it would appear that three commissioners are to be +named to see that the amount is placed in proper hands for the +service of the country, and that my name is amongst the number. Of +this, however, we have as yet only the report. + +"This commission is apparently named by the Committee or the +contracting parties in England. I am of opinion that such a +commission will be necessary, but the office will be both delicate +and difficult. The weather, which has lately been equinoctial, has +flooded the country, and will probably retard our proceeding to +Salona for some days, till the road becomes more practicable. + +"You were already apprised that P. Mavrocordato and myself had been +invited to a conference by Ulysses and the Chiefs of Eastern Greece. +I hear (and am indeed consulted on the subject) that in case the +remittance of the first advance of the Loan should not arrive +immediately, the Greek General Government mean to try to raise some +thousand dollars in the islands in the interim, to be repaid from the +earliest instalments on their arrival. What prospect of success they +may have, or on what conditions, you can tell better than me: I +suppose, if the Loan be confirmed, something might be done by them, +but subject of course to the usual terms. You can let them and me +know your opinion. There is an imperious necessity for some national +fund, and that speedily, otherwise what is to be done? The auxiliary +corps of about two hundred men, paid by me, are, I believe, the sole +regularly and properly furnished with the money, due to them weekly, +and the officers monthly. It is true that the Greek Government give +their rations; but we have had three mutinies, owing to the badness +of the bread, which neither native nor stranger could masticate (nor +dogs either), and there is still great difficulty in obtaining them +even provisions of any kind. + +"There is a dissension among the Germans about the conduct of the +agents of _their_ Committee, and an examination amongst themselves +instituted. What the result may be cannot be anticipated, except that +it will end in _a row_, of course, as usual. + +"The English are all very amicable as far as I know; we get on too +with the Greeks very tolerably, always making allowance for +circumstances; and we have no quarrels with the foreigners." + +During the month of March there occurred but little, besides what is +mentioned in these letters, that requires to be dwelt upon at any +length, or in detail. After the failure of his design against +Lepanto, the two great objects of his daily thoughts were, the +repairs of the fortifications of Missolonghi [1], and the formation +of a brigade;--the one, with a view to such defensive measures as +were alone likely to be called for during the present campaign; and +the other in preparation for those more active enterprises, which he +still fondly flattered himself he should undertake in the next. "He +looked forward (says Mr. Parry) for the recovery of his health and +spirits, to the return of the fine weather, and the commencement of +the campaign, when he proposed to take the field at the head of his +own brigade, and the troops which the Government of Greece were to +place under his orders." + +[Footnote 1: The generous zeal with which he applied himself to this +important object will be understood from the following +statement:--"On reporting to Lord Byron what I thought might be done, +he ordered me to draw up a plan for putting the fortifications in +thorough repair, and to accompany it with an estimate of the expense. +It was agreed that I should make the estimate only one third of what +I thought would be the actual expense; and if that third could be +procured from the magistrates, Lord Byron undertook secretly to pay +the remainder."] + +With that thanklessness which too often waits on disinterested +actions, it has been sometimes tauntingly remarked, and in quarters +from whence a more generous judgment might be expected [1], that, +after all, Lord Byron effected but little for Greece:--as if much +_could_ be effected by a single individual, and in so short a time, +for a cause which, fought as it has been almost incessantly through +the six years since his death, has required nothing less than the +intervention of all the great Powers of Europe to give it a chance of +success, and, even so, has not yet succeeded. That Byron himself was +under no delusion as to the importance of his own solitary aid,--that +he knew, in a struggle like this, there must be the same prodigality +of means towards one great end as is observable in the still grander +operations of nature, where individuals are as nothing in the tide of +events,--that such was his, at once, philosophic and melancholy view +of his own sacrifices, I have, I trust, clearly shown. But that, +during this short period of action, he did not do well and wisely all +that man could achieve in the time, and under the circumstances, is +an assertion which the noble facts here recorded fully and +triumphantly disprove. He knew that, placed as he was, his measures, +to be wise, must be prospective, and from the nature of the seeds +thus sown by him, the benefits that were to be expected must be +judged. To reconcile the rude chiefs to the Government and to each +other;--to infuse a spirit of humanity, by his example, into their +warfare;--to prepare the way for the employment of the expected Loan, +in a manner most calculated to call forth the resources of the +country;--to put the fortifications of Missolonghi in such a state of +repair as might, and eventually _did_, render it proof against the +besieger;--to prevent those infractions of neutrality, so tempting to +the Greeks, which brought their Government in collision with the +Ionian authorities[2], and to restrain all such license of the Press +as might indispose the Courts of Europe to their cause:--such were +the important objects which he had proposed to himself to accomplish, +and towards which, in this brief interval, and in the midst of such +dissensions and hinderances, he had already made considerable and +most promising progress. But it would be unjust to close even here +the bright catalogue of his services. It is, after all, _not_ with +the span of mortal life that the good achieved by a name immortal +ends. The charm acts into the future,--it is an auxiliary through all +time; and the inspiring example of Byron, as a martyr of liberty, is +for ever freshly embalmed in his glory as a poet. From the period of +his attack in February he had been, from time to time, indisposed; +and, more than once, had complained of vertigos, which made him feel, +he said, as if intoxicated. He was also frequently affected with +nervous sensations, with shiverings and tremors, which, though +apparently the effects of excessive debility, he himself attributed +to fulness of habit. Proceeding upon this notion, he had, ever since +his arrival in Greece, abstained almost wholly from animal food, and +ate of little else but dry toast, vegetables, and cheese. With the +same fear of becoming fat, which had in his young days haunted him, +he almost every morning measured himself round the wrist and waist, +and whenever he found these parts, as he thought, enlarged, took a +strong dose of medicine. + +[Footnote 1: Articles in the Times newspaper, Foreign Quarterly +Review, &c.] + +[Footnote 2: In a letter which he addressed to Lord Sidney Osborne, +enclosing one, on the subject of these infractions, from Prince +Mavrocordato to Sir T. Maitland, Lord Byron says,--"You must all be +persuaded how difficult it is, under existing circumstances, for the +Greeks to keep up discipline, however they may be all disposed to do +so, I am doing all I can to convince them of the necessity of the +strictest observance of the regulations of the Islands, and, I trust, +with some effect"] + +Exertions had, as we have seen, been made by his friends at +Cephalonia, to induce him, without delay, to return to that island, +and take measures, while there was yet time, for the re-establishment +of his health. "But these entreaties (says Count Gamba) produced just +the contrary effect; for in proportion as Byron thought his position +more perilous, he the more resolved upon remaining where he was." In +the midst of all this, too, the natural flow of his spirits in +society seldom deserted him; and whenever a trick upon any of his +attendants, or associates, suggested itself, he was as ready to play +the mischief-loving boy as ever. His engineer, Parry, having been +much alarmed by the earthquake they had experienced, and still +continuing in constant apprehension of its return, Lord Byron +contrived, as they were all sitting together one evening, to have +some barrels full of cannon-balls trundled through the room above +them; and laughed heartily, as he would have done when a Harrow boy, +at the ludicrous effect which this deception produced on the poor +frightened engineer. + +Every day, however, brought new trials both to his health and temper. +The constant rains had rendered the swamps of Missolonghi almost +impassable;--an alarm of plague, which, about the middle of March, +was circulated, made it prudent, for some time, to keep within doors; +and he was thus, week after week, deprived of his accustomed air and +exercise. The only recreation he had recourse to was that of playing +with his favourite dog, Lion; and, in the evening, going through the +exercise of drilling with his officers, or practising at +single-stick. + +At the same time, the demands upon his exertions, personal and +pecuniary, poured in from all sides, while the embarrassments of his +public position every day increased. The chief obstacle in the way of +his plan for the reconciliation of all parties had been the rivalry +so long existing between Mavrocordato and the Eastern Chiefs; and +this difficulty was now not a little heightened by the part taken by +Colonel Stanhope and Mr. Trelawney, who, having allied themselves +with Odysseus, the most powerful of these Chieftains, were +endeavouring actively to detach Lord Byron from Mavrocordato, and +enlist him in their own views. This schism was,--to say the least of +it,--ill-timed and unfortunate. For, as Prince Mavrocordato and Lord +Byron were now acting in complete harmony with the Government, a +co-operation of all the other English agents on the same side would +have had the effect of assuring a preponderance to this party (which +was that of the civil and commercial interests all through Greece), +that might, by strengthening the hands of the ruling power, have +afforded some hope of vigour and consistency in its movements. By +this division, however, the English lost their casting weight; and +not only marred whatever little chance they might have had of +extinguishing the dissensions of the Greeks, but exhibited, most +unseasonably, an example of dissension among themselves. + +The visit to Salona, in which, though distrustful of the intended +Military Congress, Mavrocordato had consented to accompany Lord +Byron, was, as the foregoing letters have mentioned, delayed by the +floods,--the river Fidari having become so swollen as not to be +fordable. In the mean time, dangers, both from within and without, +threatened Missolonghi. The Turkish fleet had again come forth from +the Gulf, while, in concert, it was apprehended, with this resumption +of the blockade, insurrectionary movements, instigated, as was +afterwards known, by the malcontents of the Morea, manifested +themselves formidably both in the town and its neighbourhood. The +first cause for alarm was the landing, in canoes, from Anatolico, of +a party of armed men, the followers of Cariascachi of that place, who +came to demand retribution from the people of Missolonghi for some +injury that, in a late affray, had been inflicted on one of their +clan. It was also rumoured that 300 Suliotes were marching upon the +town; and the following morning, news came that a party of these wild +warriors had actually seized upon Basiladi, a fortress that commands +the port of Missolonghi, while some of the soldiers of Cariascachi +had, in the course of the night, arrested two of the Primates, and +carried them to Anatolico. The tumult and indignation that this +intelligence produced was universal. All the shops were shut, and the +bazaars deserted. "Lord Byron," says Count Gamba, "ordered his troops +to continue under arms; but to preserve the strictest neutrality, +without mixing in any quarrel, either by actions or words." + +During this crisis, the weather had become sufficiently favourable to +admit of his paying the visit to Salona, which he had purposed. But, +as his departure at such a juncture might have the appearance of +abandoning Missolonghi, he resolved to wait the danger out. At this +time the following letters were written. + + +LETTER 559. TO MR. BARFF. + +"April 3. + +"There is a quarrel, not yet settled, between the citizens and some +of Cariascachi's people, which has already produced some blows. I +keep my people quite neutral; but have ordered them to be on their +guard. + +"Some days ago we had an Italian private soldier drummed out for +thieving. The German officers wanted to flog him; but I flatly +refused to permit the use of the stick or whip, and delivered him +over to the police.[1] Since then a Prussian officer rioted in his +lodgings; and I put him under arrest, according to the order. This, +it appears, did not please his German confederation: but I stuck by +my text; and have given them plainly to understand, that those who do +not choose to be amenable to the laws of the country and service, may +retire; but that in all that I have to do, I will see them obeyed by +foreigner or native. + +[Footnote 1: "Lord Byron declared that, as far as he was concerned, +no barbarous usages, however adopted even by some civilised people, +should be introduced into Greece; especially as such a mode of +punishment would disgust rather than reform. We hit upon an expedient +which favoured our military discipline: but it required not only all +Lord Byron's eloquence, but his authority, to prevail upon our +Germans to accede to it. The culprit had his uniform stripped off his +back, in presence of his comrades, and was afterwards marched through +the town with a label on his back, describing, both in Greek and +Italian, the nature of his offence; after which he was given up to +the regular police. This example of severity, tempered by a humane +spirit, produced the best effect upon our soldiers, as well as upon +the citizens of the town. But it was very near causing a most +disagreeable circumstance; for, in the course of the evening, some +very high words passed on the subject between three Englishmen, two +of them officers of our brigade, in consequence of which cards were +exchanged, and two duels were to have been fought the next morning. +Lord Byron did not hear of this till late at night: but he +immediately ordered me to arrest both parties, which I according did; +and, after some difficulty, prevailed on them to shake hands."--COUNT +GAMBA'S _Narrative_.] + +"I wish something was heard of the arrival of part of the Loan, for +there is a plentiful dearth of every thing at present." + + +LETTER 560. TO MR. BARFF. + +"April 6. + +"Since I wrote, we have had some tumult here with the citizens and +Cariascachi's people, and all are under arms, our boys and all. They +nearly fired on me and fifty of my lads[1], by mistake, as we were +taking our usual excursion into the country. To-day matters are +settled or subsiding; but, about an hour ago, the father-in-law of +the landlord of the house where I am lodged (one of the Primates the +said landlord is) was arrested for high treason. + +[Footnote 1: A corps of fifty Suliotes which he had, almost ever +since his arrival at Missolonghi, kept about him as a body-guard. A +large outer room of his house was appropriated to these troops; and +their carbines were suspended along the walls. "In this room (says +Mr. Parry), and among these rude soldiers, Lord Byron was accustomed +to walk a great deal, particularly in wet weather, accompanied by his +favourite dog, Lion." + +When he rode out, these fifty Suliotes attended him on foot; and +though they carried their carbines, "they were always," says the same +authority, "able to keep up with the horses at full speed. The +captain, and a certain number, preceded his Lordship, who rode +accompanied on one side by Count Gamba, and on the other by the Greek +interpreter. Behind him, also on horseback, came two of his +servants,--generally his black groom, and Tita,--both dressed like +the chasseurs usually seen behind the carriages of ambassadors, and +another division of his guard closed the cavalcade."--PARRY'S _Last +Days of Lord Byron_.] + +"They are in conclave still with Mavrocordato; and we have a number +of new faces from the hills, come to assist, they say. Gun-boats and +batteries all ready, &c. + +"The row has had one good effect--it has put them on the alert. What +is to become of the father-in-law, I do not know: nor what he has +done, exactly[1]: but + + "''Tis a very fine thing to be father-in-law + To a very magnificent three-tail'd bashaw,' + +as the man in Bluebeard says and sings. I wrote to you upon matters +at length, some days ago; the letter, or letters, you will receive +with this. We are desirous to hear more of the Loan; and it is some +time since I have had any letters (at least of an interesting +description) from England, excepting one of 4th February, from +Bowring (of no great importance). My latest dates are of 9bre, or of +the 6th 10bre, four months exactly. I hope you get on well in the +islands: here most of us are, or have been, more or less indisposed, +natives as well as foreigners." + +[Footnote 1: This man had, it seems, on his way from Ioannina, passed +by Anatolico, and held several conferences with Cariascachi. He had +long been suspected of being a spy; and the letters found upon him +confirmed the suspicion.] + + +LETTER 561. TO MR. BARFF. + +"April 7. + +"The Greeks here of the Government have been boring me for more +money.[1] As I have the brigade to maintain, and the campaign is +apparently now to open, and as I have already spent 30,000 dollars in +three months upon them in one way or another, and more especially as +their public loan has succeeded, so that they ought not to draw from +individuals at that rate, I have given them a refusal, and--as they +would not take _that,--another_ refusal in terms of considerable +sincerity. + +[Footnote 1: In consequence of the mutinous proceedings of +Cariascachi's people, most of the neighbouring chieftains hastened to +the assistance of the Government, and had already with this view +marched to Anatolico near 2000 men. But, however opportune the +arrival of such a force, they were a cause of fresh embarrassment, as +there was a total want of provisions for their daily maintenance. It +was in this emergency that the Governor, Primates, and Chieftains had +recourse, as here stated, to their usual source of supply.] + +"They wish now to try in the Islands for a few thousand dollars on +the ensuing Loan. If you can serve them, perhaps you will, (in the +way of information, at any rate,) and I will see that you have fair +play; but still I do not _advise_ you, except to act as you please. +Almost every thing depends upon the arrival, and the speedy arrival, +of a portion of the Loan to keep peace among themselves. If they can +but have sense to do this, I think that they will be a match and +better for any force that can be brought against them for the +present. We are all doing as well as we can." + +It will be perceived from these letters, that besides the great and +general interests of the cause, which were in themselves sufficient +to absorb all his thoughts, he was also met on every side, in the +details of his duty, by every possible variety of obstruction and +distraction that rapacity, turbulence, and treachery could throw in +his way. Such vexations, too, as would have been trying to the most +robust health, here fell upon a frame already marked out for death; +nor can we help feeling, while we contemplate this last scene of his +life, that, much as there is in it to admire, to wonder at, and glory +in, there is also much that awakens sad and most distressful +thoughts. In a situation more than any other calling for sympathy and +care, we see him cast among strangers and mercenaries, without either +nurse or friend;--the self-collectedness of woman being, as we shall +find, wanting for the former office, and the youth and inexperience +of Count Gamba unfitting him wholly for the other. The very firmness +with which a position so lone and disheartening was sustained, +serves, by interesting us more deeply in the man, to increase our +sympathy, till we almost forget admiration in pity, and half regret +that he should have been great at such a cost. + +The only circumstances that had for some time occurred to give him +pleasure were, as regarded public affairs, the news of the successful +progress of the Loan, and, in his personal relations, some favourable +intelligence which he had received, after a long interruption of +communication, respecting his sister and daughter. The former, he +learned, had been seriously indisposed at the very time of his own +fit, but had now entirely recovered. While delighted at this news, he +could not help, at the same time, remarking, with his usual tendency +to such superstitious feelings, how strange and striking was the +coincidence. + +To those who have, from his childhood, traced him through these +pages, it must be manifest, I think, that Lord Byron was not formed +to be long-lived. Whether from any hereditary defect in his +organisation,--as he himself, from the circumstance of both his +parents having died young, concluded,--or from those violent means he +so early took to counteract the natural tendency of his habit, and +reduce himself to thinness, he was, almost every year, as we have +seen, subject to attacks of indisposition, by more than one of which +his life was seriously endangered. The capricious course which he at +all times pursued respecting diet,--his long fastings, his expedients +for the allayment of hunger, his occasional excesses in the most +unwholesome food, and, during the latter part of his residence in +Italy, his indulgence in the use of spirituous beverages,--all this +could not be otherwise than hurtful and undermining to his health; +while his constant recourse to medicine,--daily, as it appears, and +in large quantities,--both evinced and, no doubt, increased the +derangement of his digestion. When to all this we add the wasteful +wear of spirits and strength from the slow corrosion of sensibility, +the warfare of the passions, and the workings of a mind that allowed +itself no sabbath, it is not to be wondered at that the vital +principle in him should so soon have burnt out, or that, at the age +of thirty-three, he should have had--as he himself drearily expresses +it--"an old feel." To feed the flame, the all-absorbing flame, of his +genius, the whole powers of his nature, physical as well as moral, +were sacrificed;--to present that grand and costly conflagration to +the world's eyes, in which, + + "Glittering, like a palace set on fire, + His glory, while it shone, but ruin'd him!"[1] + +[Footnote 1: Beaumont and Fletcher.] + +It was on the very day when, as I have mentioned, the intelligence of +his sister's recovery reached him, that, having been for the last +three or four days prevented from taking exercise by the rains, he +resolved, though the weather still looked threatening, to venture out +on horseback. Three miles from Missolonghi Count Gamba and himself +were overtaken by a heavy shower, and returned to the town walls wet +through and in a state of violent perspiration. It had been their +usual practice to dismount at the walls and return to their house in +a boat, but, on this day, Count Gamba, representing to Lord Byron how +dangerous it would be, warm as he then was, to sit exposed so long to +the rain in a boat, entreated of him to go back the whole way on +horseback. To this however, Lord Byron would not consent; but said, +laughingly, "I should make a pretty soldier indeed, if I were to care +for such a trifle." They accordingly dismounted and got into the boat +as usual. + +About two hours after his return home he was seized with a +shuddering, and complained of fever and rheumatic pains. "At eight +that evening," says Count Gamba, "I entered his room. He was lying on +a sofa restless and melancholy. He said to me, 'I suffer a great deal +of pain. I do not care for death, but these agonies I cannot bear.'" + +The following day he rose at his accustomed hour,--transacted +business, and was even able to take his ride in the olive woods, +accompanied, as usual, by his long train of Suliotes. He complained, +however, of perpetual shudderings, and had no appetite. On his return +home he remarked to Fletcher that his saddle, he thought, had not +been perfectly dried since yesterday's wetting, and that he felt +himself the worse for it. This was the last time he ever crossed the +threshold alive. In the evening Mr. Finlay and Mr. Millingen called +upon him. "He was at first (says the latter gentleman) gayer than +usual; but on a sudden became pensive." + +On the evening of the 11th his fever, which was pronounced to be +rheumatic, increased; and on the 12th he kept his bed all day, +complaining that he could not sleep, and taking no nourishment +whatever. The two following days, though the fever had apparently +diminished, he became still more weak, and suffered much from pains +in the head. + +It was not till the 14th that his physician, Dr. Bruno, finding the +sudorifics which he had hitherto employed to be unavailing, began to +urge upon his patient the necessity of being bled. Of this, however, +Lord Byron would not hear. He had evidently but little reliance on +his medical attendant; and from the specimens this young man has +since given of his intellect to the world, it is, indeed, +lamentable,--supposing skill to have been, at this moment, of any +avail,--that a life so precious should have been intrusted to such +ordinary hands. "It was on this day, I think," says Count Gamba, +"that, as I was sitting near him, on his sofa, he said to me, 'I was +afraid I was losing my memory, and, in order to try, I attempted to +repeat some Latin verses with the English translation, which I have +not endeavoured to recollect since I was at school. I remembered them +all except the last word of one of the hexameters.'" + +To the faithful Fletcher, the idea of his master's life being in +danger seems to have occurred some days before it struck either Count +Gamba or the physician. So little, according to his friend's +narrative, had such a suspicion crossed Lord Byron's own mind, that +he even expressed himself "rather glad of his fever, as it might cure +him of his tendency to epilepsy." To Fletcher, however, it appears, +he had professed, more than once, strong doubts as to the nature of +his complaint being so slight as the physician seemed to suppose it, +and on his servant renewing his entreaties that he would send for Dr. +Thomas to Zante, made no further opposition; though still, out of +consideration for those gentlemen, he referred him on the subject to +Dr. Bruno and Mr. Millingen. Whatever might have been the advantage +or satisfaction of this step, it was now rendered wholly impossible +by the weather,--such a hurricane blowing into the port that not a +ship could get out. The rain, too, descended in torrents, and between +the floods on the land-side and the sirocco from the sea, Missolonghi +was, for the moment, a pestilential prison. + +It was at this juncture that Mr. Millingen was, for the first time, +according to his own account, invited to attend Lord Byron in his +medical capacity,--his visit on the 10th being so little, as he +states, professional, that he did not even, on that occasion, feel +his Lordship's pulse. The great object for which he was now called +in, and rather, it would seem, by Fletcher than Dr. Bruno, was for +the purpose of joining his representations and remonstrances to +theirs, and prevailing upon the patient to suffer himself to be +bled,--an operation now become absolutely necessary from the increase +of the fever, and which Dr. Bruno had, for the last two days, urged +in vain. + +Holding gentleness to be, with a disposition like that of Byron, the +most effectual means of success, Mr. Millingen tried, as he himself +tells us, all that reasoning and persuasion could suggest towards +attaining his object. But his efforts were fruitless:--Lord Byron, +who had now become morbidly irritable, replied angrily, but still +with all his accustomed acuteness and spirit, to the physician's +observations. Of all his prejudices, he declared, the strongest was +that against bleeding. His mother had obtained from him a promise +never to consent to being bled; and whatever argument might be +produced, his aversion, he said, was stronger than reason. "Besides, +is it not," he asked, "asserted by Dr. Reid, in his Essays, that less +slaughter is effected by the lance than the lancet:--that minute +instrument of mighty mischief!" On Mr. Millingen observing that this +remark related to the treatment of nervous, but not of inflammatory +complaints, he rejoined, in an angry tone, "Who is nervous, if I am +not? And do not those other words of his, too, apply to my case, +where he says that drawing blood from a nervous patient is like +loosening the chords of a musical instrument, whose tones already +fail for want of sufficient tension? Even before this illness, you +yourself know how weak and irritable I had become;--and bleeding, by +increasing this state, will inevitably kill me. Do with me whatever +else you like, but bleed me you shall not. I have had several +inflammatory fevers in my life, and at an age when more robust and +plethoric: yet I got through them without bleeding. This time, also, +will I take my chance."[1] + +[Footnote 1: It was during the same, or some similar conversation, +that Dr. Bruno also reports him to have said, "If my hour is come, I +shall die, whether I lose my blood or keep it."] + +After much reasoning and repeated entreaties, Mr. Millingen at length +succeeded in obtaining from him a promise, that should he feel his +fever increase at night, he would allow Dr. Bruno to bleed him. + +During this day he had transacted business and received several +letters; particularly one that much pleased him from the Turkish +Governor, to whom he had sent the rescued prisoners, and who, in this +communication, thanked him for his humane interference, and requested +a repetition of it. + +In the evening he conversed a good deal with Parry, who remained some +hours by his bedside. "He sat up in his bed (says this officer), and +was then calm and collected. He talked with me on a variety of +subjects connected with himself and his family; he spoke of his +intentions as to Greece, his plans for the campaign, and what he +should ultimately do for that country. He spoke to me about my own +adventures. He spoke of death also with great composure; and though +he did not believe his end was so very near, there was something +about him so serious and so firm, so resigned and composed, so +different from any thing I had ever before seen in him, that my mind +misgave me, and at times foreboded his speedy dissolution." + +On revisiting his patient early next morning, Mr. Millingen learned +from him, that having passed, as he thought, on the whole, a better +night, he had not considered it necessary to ask Dr. Bruno to bleed +him. What followed, I shall, in justice to Mr. Millingen, give in his +own words.[1] "I thought it my duty now to put aside all +consideration of his feelings, and to declare solemnly to him, how +deeply I lamented to see him trifle thus with his life, and show so +little resolution. His pertinacious refusal had already, I said, +caused most precious time to be lost;--but few hours of hope now +remained, and, unless he submitted immediately to be bled, we could +not answer for the consequences. It was true, he cared not for life; +but who could assure him that, unless he changed his resolution, the +uncontrolled disease might not operate such disorganisation in his +system as utterly and for ever to deprive him of reason?--I had now +hit at last on the sensible chord; and, partly annoyed by our +importunities, partly persuaded, he cast at us both the fiercest +glance of vexation, and throwing out his arm, said, in the angriest +tone, 'There,--you are, I see, a d--d set of butchers,--take away as +much blood as you like, but have done with it.' + +[Footnote 1: MS.--This gentleman is, I understand, about to publish +the Narrative from which the above extract is taken.] + +"We seized the moment (adds Mr. Millingen), and drew about twenty +ounces. On coagulating, the blood presented a strong buffy coat; yet +the relief obtained did not correspond to the hopes we had formed, +and during the night the fever became stronger than it had been +hitherto. The restlessness and agitation increased, and the patient +spoke several times in an incoherent manner." + +On the following morning, the 17th, the bleeding was repeated; for, +although the rheumatic symptoms had been completely removed, the +appearances of inflammation on the brain were now hourly increasing. +Count Gamba, who had not for the last two days seen him, being +confined to his own apartment by a sprained ankle, now contrived to +reach his room. "His countenance," says this gentleman, "at once +awakened in me the most dreadful suspicions. He was very calm; he +talked to me in the kindest manner about my accident, but in a +hollow, sepulchral tone. 'Take care of your foot,' said he; 'I know +by experience how painful it must be.' I could not stay near his bed: +a flood of tears rushed into my eyes, and I was obliged to withdraw." +Neither Count Gamba, indeed, nor Fletcher, appear to have been +sufficiently masters of themselves to do much else than weep during +the remainder of this afflicting scene. + +In addition to the bleeding, which was repeated twice on the 17th, it +was thought right also to apply blisters to the soles of his feet. +"When on the point of putting them on," says Mr. Millingen, "Lord +Byron asked me whether it would answer the purpose to apply both on +the same leg. Guessing immediately the motive that led him to ask +this question, I told him that I would place them above the knees. +'Do so,' he replied." + +It is painful to dwell on such details,--but we are now approaching +the close. In addition to most of those sad varieties of wretchedness +which surround alike the grandest and humblest deathbeds, there was +also in the scene now passing around the dying Byron such a degree of +confusion and uncomfort as renders it doubly dreary to contemplate. +There having been no person invested, since his illness, with +authority over the household, neither order nor quiet was maintained +in his apartment. Most of the comforts necessary in such an illness +were wanting; and those around him, either unprepared for the danger, +were, like Bruno, when it came, bewildered by it; or, like the +kind-hearted Fletcher and Count Gamba, were by their feelings +rendered no less helpless. + +"In all the attendants," says Parry, "there was the officiousness of +zeal; but, owing to their ignorance of each other's language, their +zeal only added to the confusion. This circumstance, and the want of +common necessaries, made Lord Byron's apartment such a picture of +distress and even anguish during the two or three last days of his +life, as I never before beheld, and wish never again to witness." + +The 18th being Easter day,--a holiday which the Greeks celebrate by +firing off muskets and artillery,--it was apprehended that this noise +might be injurious to Lord Byron; and, as a means of attracting away +the crowd from the neighbourhood, the artillery brigade were marched +out by Parry, to exercise their guns at some distance from the town; +while, at the same time, the town-guard patrolled the streets, and +informing the people of the danger of their benefactor, entreated +them to preserve all possible quiet. + +About three o'clock in the afternoon, Lord Byron rose and went into +the adjoining room. He was able to walk across the chamber, leaning +on his servant Tita; and, when seated, asked for a book, which the +servant brought him. After reading, however, for a few minutes, he +found himself faint; and, again taking Tita's arm, tottered into the +next room, and returned to bed. + +At this time the physicians, becoming still more alarmed, expressed a +wish for a consultation; and proposed calling in, without delay, Dr. +Freiber, the medical assistant of Mr. Millingen, and Luca Vaya, a +Greek, the physician of Mavrocordato. On hea[r]ing this, Lord Byron +at first refused to see them; but being informed that Mavrocordato +advised it, he said,--"Very well, let them come; but let them look at +me and say nothing." This they promised, and were admitted; but when +one of them, on feeling his pulse, showed a wish to +speak--"Recollect," he said, "your promise, and go away." + +It was after this consultation of the physicians[1], that, as it +appeared to Count Gamba, Lord Byron was, for the first time, aware of +his approaching end. Mr. Millingen, Fletcher, and Tita had been +standing round his bed; but the two first, unable to restrain their +tears, left the room. Tita also wept; but, as Byron held his hand, +could not retire. He, however, turned away his face; while Byron, +looking at him steadily, said, half smiling, "Oh questa e una bella +scena!" He then seemed to reflect a moment, and exclaimed, "Call +Parry." Almost immediately afterwards, a fit of delirium ensued; and +he began to talk wildly, as if he were mounting a breach in an +assault,--calling out, half in English, half in Italian, +"Forwards--forwards--courage--follow my example," &c. &c. + +[Footnote 1: For Mr. Millingen's account of this consultation, see +Appendix.] + +On coming again to himself, he asked Fletcher, who had then returned +into the room, "whether he had sent for Dr. Thomas, as he desired?" +and the servant answering in the affirmative, he replied, "You have +done right, for I should like to know what is the matter with me." He +had, a short time before, with that kind consideration for those +about him which was one of the great sources of their lasting +attachment to him, said to Fletcher, "I am afraid you and Tita will +be ill with sitting up night and day." It was now evident that he +knew he was dying; and between his anxiety to make his servant +understand his last wishes, and the rapid failure of his powers of +utterance, a most painful scene ensued. On Fletcher asking whether he +should bring pen and paper to take down his words--"Oh no," he +replied--"there is no time--it is now nearly over. Go to my +sister--tell her--go to Lady Byron--you will see her, and say ----" +Here his voice faltered, and became gradually indistinct; +notwithstanding which he continued still to mutter to himself, for +nearly twenty minutes, with much earnestness of manner, but in such a +tone that only a few words could be distinguished. These, too, were +only names,--"Augusta,"--"Ada,"--"Hobhouse,"--"Kinnaird." He then +said, "Now, I have told you all." "My Lord," replied Fletcher, "I +have not understood a word your Lordship has been saying."--"Not +understand me?" exclaimed Lord Byron, with a look of the utmost +distress, "what a pity!--then it is too late; all is over."--"I hope +not," answered Fletcher; "but the Lord's will be done!"--"Yes, not +mine," said Byron. He then tried to utter a few words, of which none +were intelligible, except "my sister--my child." + +The decision adopted at the consultation had been, contrary to the +opinion of Mr. Millingen and Dr. Freiber, to administer to the +patient a strong antispasmodic potion, which, while it produced +sleep, but hastened perhaps death. In order to persuade him into +taking this draught, Mr. Parry was sent for[1], and, without any +difficulty, induced him to swallow a few mouthfuls. "When he took my +hand," says Parry, "I found his hands were deadly cold. With the +assistance of Tita I endeavoured gently to create a little warmth in +them; and also loosened the bandage which was tied round his head. +Till this was done he seemed in great pain, clenched his hands at +times, gnashed his teeth, and uttered the Italian exclamation of 'Ah +Christi!' He bore the loosening of the band passively, and, after it +was loosened, shed tears; then taking my hand again, uttered a faint +good night, and sunk into a slumber." + +[Footnote 1: From this circumstance, as well as from the terms in +which he is mentioned by Lord Byron, it is plain that this person +had, by his blunt, practical good sense, acquired far more influence +over his Lordship's mind than was possessed by any of the other +persons about him.] + +In about half an hour he again awoke, when a second dose of the +strong infusion was administered to him. "From those about him," says +Count Gamba, who was not able to bear this scene himself, "I +collected that, either at this time, or in his former interval of +reason, he could be understood to say--'Poor Greece!--poor town!--my +poor servants!' Also, 'Why was I not aware of this sooner?' and 'My +hour is come!--I do not care for death--but why did I not go home +before I came here?' At another time he said, 'There are things which +make the world dear to me _Io lascio qualche cosa di caro nel mondo_: +for the rest, I am content to die.' He spoke also of Greece, saying, +'I have given her my time, my means, my health--and now I give her my +life!--what could I do more?'"[1] + +[Footnote 1: It is but right to remind the reader, that for the +sayings here attributed to Lord Byron, however natural and probable +they may appear, there is not exactly the same authority of credible +witnesses by which all the other details I have given of his last +hours are supported.] + +It was about six o'clock on the evening of this day when he said, +"Now I shall go to sleep;" and then turning round fell into that +slumber from which he never awoke. For the next twenty-four hours he +lay incapable of either sense or motion,--with the exception of, now +and then, slight symptoms of suffocation, during which his servant +raised his head,--and at a quarter past six o'clock on the following +day, the 19th, he was seen to open his eyes and immediately shut them +again. The physicians felt his pulse--he was no more! + +To attempt to describe how the intelligence of this sad event struck +upon all hearts would be as difficult as it is superfluous. He, whom +the whole world was to mourn, had on the tears of Greece peculiar +claim,--for it was at her feet he now laid down the harvest of such a +life of fame. To the people of Missolonghi, who first felt the shock +that was soon to spread through all Europe, the event seemed almost +incredible. It was but the other day that he had come among them, +radiant with renown,--inspiring faith, by his very name, in those +miracles of success that were about to spring forth at the touch of +his ever-powerful genius. All this had now vanished like a short +dream:--nor can we wonder that the poor Greeks, to whom his coming +had been such a glory, and who, on the last evening of his life, +thronged the streets, enquiring as to his state, should regard the +thunder-storm which, at the moment he died, broke over the town, as a +signal of his doom, and, in their superstitious grief, cry to each +other, "The great man is gone!"[1] + +[Footnote 1: Parry's "Last Days of Lord Byron," p. 128.] + +Prince Mavrocordato, who of all best knew and felt the extent of his +country's loss, and who had to mourn doubly the friend of Greece and +of himself, on the evening of the 19th issued this melancholy +proclamation:-- + + +"PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT OF WESTERN GREECE. + +"ART. 1185. + +"The present day of festivity and rejoicing has become one of sorrow +and of mourning. The Lord Noel Byron departed this life at six +o'clock in the afternoon, after an illness of ten days; his death +being caused by an inflammatory fever. Such was the effect of his +Lordship's illness on the public mind, that all classes had forgotten +their usual recreations of Easter, even before the afflicting event +was apprehended. + +"The loss of this illustrious individual is undoubtedly to be +deplored by all Greece; but it must be more especially a subject of +lamentation at Missolonghi, where his generosity has been so +conspicuously displayed, and of which he had even become a citizen, +with the further determination of participating in all the dangers of +the war. + +"Every body is acquainted with the beneficent acts of his Lordship, +and none can cease to hail his name as that of a real benefactor. + +"Until, therefore, the final determination of the National Government +be known, and by virtue of the powers with which it has been pleased +to invest me, I hereby decree,-- + +"1st, To-morrow morning, at daylight, thirty seven minute guns will +be fired from the Grand Battery, being the number which corresponds +with the age of the illustrious deceased. + +"2d, All the public offices, even the tribunals, are to remain closed +for three successive days. + +"3d, All the shops, except those in which provisions or medicines are +sold, will also be shut; and it is strictly enjoined that every +species of public amusement, and other demonstrations of festivity at +Easter, shall be suspended. + +"4th, A general mourning will be observed for twenty-one days. + +"5th, Prayers and a funeral service are to be offered up in all the +churches. + + (Signed) "A. MAVROCORDATO. + "GEORGE PRAIDIS, Secretary. + + "Given at Missolonghi, + this 19th day of April, 1824." + +Similar honours were paid to his memory at many other places through +Greece. At Salona, where the Congress had assembled, his soul was +prayed for in the Church; after which the whole garrison and the +citizens went out into the plain, where another religious ceremony +took place, under the shade of the olive trees. This being concluded, +the troops fired; and an oration, full of the warmest praise and +gratitude, was pronounced by the High Priest. + +When such was the veneration shown towards him by strangers, what +must have been the feelings of his near associates and attendants? +Let one speak for all:--"He died (says Count Gamba) in a strange +land, and amongst strangers; but more loved, more sincerely wept he +never could have been, wherever he had breathed his last. Such was +the attachment, mingled with a sort of reverence and enthusiasm, with +which he inspired those around him, that there was not one of us who +would not, for his sake, have willingly encountered any danger in the +world." + +Colonel Stanhope, whom the sad intelligence reached at Salona, thus +writes to the Committee:--"A courier has just arrived from the Chief +Scalza. Alas! all our fears are realised. The soul of Byron has taken +its last flight. England has lost her brightest genius, Greece her +noblest friend. To console them for the loss, he has left behind the +emanations of his splendid mind. If Byron had faults, he had +redeeming virtues too--he sacrificed his comfort, fortune, health, +and life, to the cause of an oppressed nation. Honoured be his +memory!" + +Mr. Trelawney, who was on his way to Missolonghi at the time, +describes as follows the manner in which he first heard of his +friend's death:--"With all my anxiety I could not get here before the +third day. It was the second, after having crossed the first great +torrent, that I met some soldiers from Missolonghi. I had let them +all pass me, ere I had resolution enough to enquire the news from +Missolonghi. I then rode back, and demanded of a straggler the news. +I heard nothing more than--Lord Byron is dead,--and I proceeded on in +gloomy silence." The writer adds, after detailing the particulars of +the poet's illness and death, "Your pardon, Stanhope, that I have +thus turned aside from the great cause in which I am embarked. But +this is no private grief. The world has lost its greatest man; I my +best friend." + +Among his servants the same feeling of sincere grief prevailed:--"I +have in my possession (says Mr. Hoppner, in the Notices with which he +has favoured me,) a letter written by his gondolier Tita, who had +accompanied him from Venice, giving an account to his parents of his +master's decease. Of this event the poor fellow speaks in the most +affecting manner, telling them that in Lord Byron he had lost a +father rather than a master; and expatiating upon the indulgence with +which he had always treated his domestics, and the care he expressed +for their comfort and welfare." + +His valet Fletcher, too, in a letter to Mr. Murray, announcing the +event, says, "Please to excuse all defects, for I scarcely know what +I either say or do; for, after twenty years' service with my Lord, he +was more to me than a father, and I am too much distressed to give +now a correct account of every particular." + +In speaking of the effect produced on the friends of Greece by this +event, Mr. Trelawney says,--"I think Byron's name was the great means +of getting the Loan. A Mr. Marshall, with 8000_l_. per annum, was as +far as Corfu, and turned back on hearing of Lord Byron's death. +Thousands of people were flocking here: some had arrived as far as +Corfu, and hearing of his death, confessed they came out to devote +their fortunes not to the Greeks, or from interest in the cause, but +to the noble poet; and the 'Pilgrim of Eternity[1]' having departed, +they turned back."[2] + +[Footnote 1: The title given by Shelley to Lord Byron in his Elegy on +the death of Keats. + + "The Pilgrim of Eternity, whose fame + Over his living head like Heaven is bent, + An early but enduring monument, + Came veiling all the lightnings of his song + In sorrow."] + +[Footnote 2: Parry, too, mentions an instance to the same +effect:--"While I was on the quarantine-house at Zante, a gentleman +called on me, and made numerous enquiries as to Lord Byron. He said +he was only one of fourteen English gentlemen, then at Ancona, who +had sent him on to obtain intelligence, and only waited his return to +come and join Lord Byron. They were to form a mounted guard for him, +and meant to devote their personal services and their incomes to the +Greek cause. On hearing of Lord Byron's death, however, they turned +back."] + +The funeral ceremony, which, on account of the rains, had been +postponed for a day, took place in the church of St. Nicholas, at +Missolonghi, on the 22d of April, and is thus feelingly described by +an eye-witness:-- + +"In the midst of his own brigade, of the troops of the Government, +and of the whole population, on the shoulders of the officers of his +corps, relieved occasionally by other Greeks, the most precious +portion of his honoured remains were carried to the church, where lie +the bodies of Marco Bozzari and of General Normann. There we laid +them down: the coffin was a rude, ill-constructed chest of wood; a +black mantle served for a pall; and over it we placed a helmet and a +sword, and a crown of laurel. But no funeral pomp could have left the +impression, nor spoken the feelings, of this simple ceremony. The +wretchedness and desolation of the place itself; the wild and +half-civilised warriors around us; their deep-felt, unaffected grief; +the fond recollections; the disappointed hopes; the anxieties and sad +presentiments which might be read on every countenance;--all +contributed to form a scene more moving, more truly affecting, than +perhaps was ever before witnessed round the grave of a great man. + +"When the funeral service was over, we left the bier in the middle of +the church, where it remained until the evening of the next day, and +was guarded by a detachment of his own brigade. The church was +crowded without cessation by those who came to honour and to regret +the benefactor of Greece. In the evening of the 23d, the bier was +privately carried back by his officers to his own house. The coffin +was not closed till the 29th of the month. Immediately after his +death, his countenance had an air of calmness, mingled with a +severity, that seemed gradually to soften; for when I took a last +look of him, the expression, at least to my eyes, was truly sublime." + +We have seen how decidedly, while in Italy, Lord Byron expressed his +repugnance to the idea of his remains resting upon English ground; +and the injunctions he so frequently gave to Mr. Hoppner on this +point show his wishes to have been,--at least, during that +period,--sincere. With one so changing, however, in his impulses, it +was not too much to take for granted that the far more cordial +feeling entertained by him towards his countrymen at Cephalonia would +have been followed by a correspondent change in this antipathy to +England as a last resting-place. It is, at all events, fortunate that +by no such spleen of the moment has his native country been deprived +of her natural right to enshrine within her own bosom one of the +noblest of her dead, and to atone for any wrong she may have +inflicted upon him, while living, by making his tomb a place of +pilgrimage for her sons through all ages. + +By Colonel Stanhope and others it was suggested that, as a tribute to +the land he celebrated and died for, his remains should be deposited +at Athens, in the Temple of Theseus; and the Chief Odysseus +despatched an express to Missolonghi to enforce this wish. On the +part of the town, too, in which he breathed his last, a similar +request had been made by the citizens; and it was thought advisable +so far to accede to their desires as to leave with them, for +interment, one of the vessels, in which his remains, after +embalmment, were enclosed. + +The first step taken, before any decision as to its ultimate +disposal, was to have the body conveyed to Zante; and every facility +having been afforded by the Resident, Sir Frederick Stoven, in +providing and sending transports to Missolonghi for that purpose, on +the morning of the 2d of May the remains were embarked, under a +mournful salute from the guns of the fortress:--"How different," says +Count Gamba, "from that which had welcomed the arrival of Byron only +four months ago!" + +At Zante, the determination was taken to send the body to England; +and the brig Florida, which had just arrived there with the first +instalment of the Loan, was engaged for the purpose. Mr. Blaquiere, +under whose care this first portion of the Loan had come, was also +the bearer of a Commission for the due management of its disposal in +Greece, in which Lord Byron was named as the principal Commissioner. +The same ship, however, that brought this honourable mark of +confidence was to return with him a corpse. To Colonel Stanhope, who +was then at Zante, on his way homeward, was intrusted the charge of +his illustrious colleague's remains; and on the 25th of May he +embarked with them on board the Florida for England. + +In the letter which, on his arrival in the Downs, June 29th, this +gentleman addressed to Lord Byron's executors, there is the following +passage:--"With respect to the funeral ceremony, I am of opinion that +his Lordship's family should be immediately consulted, and that +sanction should be obtained for the public burial of his body either +in the great Abbey or Cathedral of London." It has been asserted, and +I fear too truly, that on some intimation of the wish suggested in +this last sentence being conveyed to one of those Reverend persons +who have the honours of the Abbey at their disposal, such an answer +was returned as left but little doubt that a refusal would be the +result of any more regular application.[1] + +[Footnote 1: A former Dean of Westminster went so far, we know, in +his scruples as to exclude an epitaph from the Abbey, because it +contained the name of Milton:--"a name, in his opinion," says +Johnson, "too detestable to be read on the wall of a building +dedicated to devotion."--_Life of_ MILTON.] + +There is an anecdote told of the poet Hafiz, in Sir William Jones's +Life, which, in reporting this instance of illiberality, recurs +naturally to the memory. After the death of the great Persian bard, +some of the religious among his countrymen protested strongly against +allowing to him the right of sepulture, alleging, as their objection, +the licentiousness of his poetry. After much controversy, it was +agreed to leave the decision of the question to a mode of divination, +not uncommon among the Persians, which consisted in opening the +poet's book at random and taking the first verses that occurred. They +happened to be these:-- + + "Oh turn not coldly from the poet's bier, + Nor check the sacred drops by Pity given; + For though in sin his body slumbereth here, + His soul, absolved, already wings to heaven." + +These lines, says the legend, were looked upon as a divine decree; +the religionists no longer enforced their objections, and the remains +of the bard were left to take their quiet sleep by that "sweet bower +of Mosellay" which he had so often celebrated in his verses. + +Were our Byron's right of sepulture to be decided in the same manner, +how few are there of his pages, thus taken at hazard, that would not, +by some genial touch of sympathy with virtue, some glowing tribute to +the bright works of God, or some gush of natural devotion more +affecting than any homily, give him a title to admission into the +purest temple of which Christian Charity ever held the guardianship. + +Let the decision, however, of these Reverend authorities have been, +finally, what it might, it was the wish, as is understood, of Lord +Byron's dearest relative to have his remains laid in the family vault +at Hucknall, near Newstead. On being landed from the Florida, the +body had, under the direction of his Lordship's executors, Mr. +Hobhouse and Mr. Hanson, been removed to the house of Sir Edward +Knatchbull in Great George Street, Westminster, where it lay in state +during Friday and Saturday, the 9th and 10th of July, and on the +following Monday the funeral procession took place. Leaving +Westminster at eleven o'clock in the morning, attended by most of his +Lordship's personal friends and by the carriages of several persons +of rank, it proceeded through various streets of the metropolis +towards the North Road. At Pancras Church, the ceremonial of the +procession being at an end, the carriages returned; and the hearse +continued its way, by slow stages, to Nottingham. + +It was on Friday the 16th of July that, in the small village church +of Hucknall, the last duties were paid to the remains of Byron, by +depositing them, close to those of his mother, in the family vault. +Exactly on the same day of the same month in the preceding year, he +had said, it will be recollected, despondingly, to Count Gamba, +"Where shall we be in another year?" The gentleman to whom this +foreboding speech was addressed paid a visit, some months after the +interment, to Hucknall, and was much struck, as I have heard, on +approaching the village, by the strong likeness it seemed to him to +bear to his lost friend's melancholy deathplace, Missolonghi. + +On a tablet of white marble in the chancel of the Church of Hucknall +is the following inscription:-- + + IN THE VAULT BENEATH, + WHERE MANY OF HIS ANCESTORS AND HIS MOTHER ARE + BURIED, + LIE THE REMAINS OF + GEORGE GORDON NOEL BYRON, + LORD BYRON, OF ROCHDALE, + IN THE COUNTY OF LANCASTER, + THE AUTHOR OF "CHILDE HAROLD'S PILGRIMAGE." + HE WAS BORN IN LONDON ON THE + 22D OF JANUARY, 1788. + + HE DIED AT MISSOLONGHI, IN WESTERN GREECE, ON THE + 19TH OF APRIL, 1824, + ENGAGED IN THE GLORIOUS ATTEMPT TO RESTORE THAT + COUNTRY TO HER ANCIENT FREEDOM AND RENOWN. + + * * * * * + + HIS SISTER, THE HONOURABLE + AUGUSTA MARIA LEIGH, + PLACED THIS TABLET TO HIS MEMORY. + +From among the tributes that have been offered, in prose and verse, +and in almost every language of Europe, to his memory, I shall select +two which appear to me worthy of peculiar notice, as being, one of +them,--so far as my limited scholarship will allow me to judge,--a +simple and happy imitation of those laudatory inscriptions with which +the Greece of other times honoured the tombs of her heroes; and the +other as being the production of a pen, once engaged controversially +against Byron, but not the less ready, as these affecting verses +prove, to offer the homage of a manly sorrow and admiration at his +grave. + + +[Greek: + + Eis + Ton en te Helladi teleutesanta + Poieten + + * * * * * + + Ou to zen tanaon biou euklees oud' enarithmein + Arxaiax progonon eunxneon aretas + Ton d' eudaimonias moir' amphepei, hosper apanton + Aien aristeuon gignetai athanatos.-- + Eudeis oun su, teknon, xariton ear? ouk eti thallei + Akmaios meleon hedupnoon stephanos?-- + Alla teon, tripophete, moron penphousin Aphene, + Mousai, patris, Ares, Ellas, eleupheria.[1]] + +[Footnote 1: By John Williams, Esq.--The following translation of +this inscription will not be unacceptable to my readers:-- + + "Not length of life--not an illustrious birth, + Rich with the noblest blood of all the earth;-- + Nought can avail, save deeds of high emprize, + Our mortal being to immortalise. + + "Sweet child of song, thou deepest!--ne'er again + Shall swell the notes of thy melodious strain: + Yet, with thy country wailing o'er thy urn, + Pallas, the Muse, Mars, Greece, and Freedom mourn." + +H.H. JOY.] + + +"CHILDE HAROLD'S LAST PILGRIMAGE. + +"BY THE REV. W.L. BOWLES. + + "SO ENDS CHILDE HAROLD HIS LAST PILGRIMAGE!-- + Upon the shores of Greece he stood, and cried + 'LIBERTY!' and those shores, from age to age + Renown'd, and Sparta's woods and rocks replied + 'Liberty!' But a Spectre, at his side, + Stood mocking;--and its dart, uplifting high, + Smote him;--he sank to earth in life's fair pride: + SPARTA! thy rocks then heard another cry, + And old Ilissus sigh'd--'Die, generous exile, die!' + + "I will not ask sad Pity to deplore + His wayward errors, who thus early died; + Still less, CHILDE HAROLD, now thou art no more, + Will I say aught of genius misapplied; + Of the past shadows of thy spleen or pride:-- + But I will bid th' Arcadian cypress wave, + Pluck the green laurel from Peneus' side, + And pray thy spirit may such quiet have, + That not one thought unkind be murmur'd o'er thy grave. + + "SO HAROLD ENDS, IN GREECE, HIS PILGRIMAGE!-- + There fitly ending,--in that land renown'd, + Whose mighty genius lives in Glory's page,-- + He, on the Muses' consecrated ground, + Sinking to rest, while his young brows are bound + With their unfading wreath!--To bands of mirth, + No more in TEMPE let the pipe resound! + HAROLD, I follow to thy place of birth + The slow hearse--and thy LAST sad PILGRIMAGE on earth. + + "Slow moves the plumed hearse, the mourning train,-- + I mark the sad procession with a sigh, + Silently passing to that village fane, + Where, HAROLD, thy forefathers mouldering lie;-- + There sleeps THAT MOTHER, who with tearful eye, + Pondering the fortunes of thy early road, + Hung o'er the slumbers of thine infancy; + Her son, released from mortal labour's load, + Now comes to rest, with her, in the same still abode. + + "Bursting Death's silence--could that mother speak-- + (Speak when the earth was heap'd upon his head)-- + In thrilling, but with hollow accent weak, + She thus might give the welcome of the dead:-- + 'Here rest, my son, with me;--the dream is fled;-- + The motley mask and the great stir is o'er: + Welcome to me, and to this silent bed, + Where deep forgetfulness succeeds the roar + Of life, and fretting passions waste the heart no more.'" + +By his Lordship's Will, a copy of which will be found in the +Appendix, he bequeathed to his executors in trust for the benefit of +his sister, Mrs. Leigh, the monies arising from the sale of all his +real estates at Rochdale and elsewhere, together with such part of +his other property as was not settled upon Lady Byron and his +daughter Ada, to be by Mrs. Leigh enjoyed, free from her husband's +control, during her life, and, after her decease, to be inherited by +her children. + +We have now followed to its close a life which, brief as was its +span, may be said, perhaps, to have comprised within itself a greater +variety of those excitements and interest which spring out of the +deep workings of passion and of intellect than any that the pen of +biography has ever before commemorated. As there still remain among +the papers of my friend some curious gleanings which, though in the +abundance of our materials I have not hitherto found a place for +them, are too valuable towards the illustration of his character to +be lost, I shall here, in selecting them for the reader, avail myself +of the opportunity of trespassing, for the last time, on his patience +with a few general remarks. + +It must have been observed, throughout these pages, and by some, +perhaps, with disappointment, that into the character of Lord Byron, +as a poet, there has been little, if any, critical examination; but +that, content with expressing generally the delight which, in common +with all, I derive from his poetry, I have left the task of analysing +the sources from which this delight springs to others.[1] In thus +evading, if it must be so considered, one of my duties as a +biographer, I have been influenced no less by a sense of my own +inaptitude for the office of critic than by recollecting with what +assiduity, throughout the whole of the poet's career, every new +rising of his genius was watched from the great observatories of +Criticism, and the ever changing varieties of its course and +splendour tracked out and recorded with a degree of skill and +minuteness which has left but little for succeeding observers to +discover. It is, moreover, into the character and conduct of Lord +Byron, as a man, not distinct from, but forming, on the contrary, the +best illustration of his character, as a writer, that it has been the +more immediate purpose of these volumes to enquire; and if, in the +course of them, any satisfactory clue has been afforded to those +anomalies, moral and intellectual, which his life exhibited,--still +more, should it have been the effect of my humble labours to clear +away some of those mists that hung round my friend, and show him, in +most respects, as worthy of love as he was, in all, of admiration, +then will the chief and sole aim of this work have been accomplished. + +[Footnote 1: It may be making too light of criticism to say with Gray +that "even a bad verse is as good a thing or better than the best +observation that ever was made upon it;" but there are surely few +tasks that appear more thankless and superfluous than that of +following, as Criticism sometimes does, in the rear of victorious +genius (like the commentators on a field of Blenheim or of Waterloo), +and either labouring to point out to us _why_ it has triumphed, or +still more unprofitably contending that it _ought_ to have failed. +The well-known passage of La Bruyere, which even Voltaire's adulatory +application of it to some work of the King of Prussia has not spoiled +for use, puts, perhaps, in its true point of view the very +subordinate rank which Criticism must be content to occupy in the +train of successful Genius:--"Quand une lecture vous eleve l'esprit +et qu'elle vous inspire des sentimens nobles, ne cherehez pas une +autre regle pour juger de l'ouvrage; il est bon et fait de main de +l'ouvrier: La Critique, apres ca, peut s'exercer sur les petites +choses, relever quelques expressions, corriger des phrases, parler de +syntaxe," &c. &c.] + +Having devoted to this object so large a portion of my own share of +these pages, and, yet more fairly, enabled the world to form a +judgment for itself, by placing the man, in his own person, and +without disguise, before all eyes, there would seem to remain now but +an easy duty in summing up the various points of his character, and, +out of the features, already separately described, combining one +complete portrait. The task, however, is by no means so easy as it +may appear. There are few characters in which a near acquaintance +does not enable us to discover some one leading principle or passion +consistent enough in its operations to be taken confidently into +account in any estimate of the disposition in which they are found. +Like those points in the human face, or figure, to which all its +other proportions are referable, there is in most minds some one +governing influence, from which chiefly,--though, of course, biassed +on some occasions by others,--all its various impulses and tendencies +will be found to radiate. In Lord Byron, however, this sort of pivot +of character was almost wholly wanting. Governed as he was at +different moments by totally different passions, and impelled +sometimes, as during his short access of parsimony in Italy, by +springs of action never before developed in his nature, in him this +simple mode of tracing character to its sources must be often wholly +at fault; and if, as is not impossible, in trying to solve the +strange variances of his mind, I should myself be found to have +fallen into contradictions and inconsistencies, the extreme +difficulty of analysing, without dazzle or bewilderment, such an +unexampled complication of qualities must be admitted as my excuse. + +So various, indeed, and contradictory, were his attributes, both +moral and intellectual, that he may be pronounced to have been not +one, but many: nor would it be any great exaggeration of the truth to +say, that out of the mere partition of the properties of his single +mind a plurality of characters, all different and all vigorous, might +have been furnished. It was this multiform aspect exhibited by him +that led the world, during his short wondrous career, to compare him +with that medley host of personages, almost all differing from each +other, which he thus playfully enumerates in one of his Journals:-- + +"I have been thinking over, the other day, on the various +comparisons, good or evil, which I have seen published of myself in +different journals, English and foreign. This was suggested to me by +accidentally turning over a foreign one lately,--for I have made it a +rule latterly never to _search_ for any thing of the kind, but not to +avoid the perusal, if presented by chance. + +"To begin, then: I have seen myself compared, personally or +poetically, in English, French, _German_ (_as_ interpreted to me), +Italian, and Portuguese, within these nine years, to Rousseau, +Goethe, Young, Aretine, Timon of Athens, Dante, Petrarch, 'an +alabaster vase, lighted up within,' Satan, Shakspeare, Buonaparte, +Tiberius, AEschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, Harlequin, the Clown, +Sternhold and Hopkins, to the phantasmagoria, to Henry the Eighth, to +Chenier, to Mirabeau, to young R. Dallas (the schoolboy), to Michael +Angelo, to Raphael, to a petit-maitre, to Diogenes, to Childe Harold, +to Lara, to the Count in Beppo, to Milton, to Pope, to Dryden, to +Burns, to Savage, to Chatterton, to 'oft have I heard of thee, my +Lord Biron,' in Shakspeare, to Churchill the poet, to Kean the actor, +to Alfieri, &c. &c. &c. + +"The likeness to Alfieri was asserted very seriously by an Italian +who had known him in his younger days. It of course related merely to +our apparent personal dispositions. He did not assert it to _me_ (for +we were not then good friends), but in society. + +"The object of so many contradictory comparisons must probably be +like something different from them all; but what _that_ is, is more +than _I_ know, or any body else." + +It would not be uninteresting, were there either space or time for +such a task, to take a review of the names of note in the preceding +list, and show in how many points, though differing so materially +among themselves, it might be found that each presented a striking +resemblance to Lord Byron. We have seen, for instance, that wrongs +and sufferings were, through life, the main sources of Byron's +inspiration. Where the hoof of the critic struck, the fountain was +first disclosed; and all the tramplings of the world afterwards but +forced out the stream stronger and brighter. The same obligations to +misfortune, the same debt to the "oppressor's wrong," for having +wrung out from bitter thoughts the pure essence of his genius, was +due no less deeply by Dante!--"quum illam sub amara cogitatione +excitatam, occulti divinique ingenii vim exacuerit et +inflammarit."[1] + +[Footnote 1: Paulus Jovius.--Bayle, too, says of him, "Il fit entrer +plus de feu et plus de force dans ses livres qu'il n'y en eut mis +s'il avoit joui d'une condition plus tranquille."] + +In that contempt for the world's opinion, which led Dante to exclaim, +"Lascia dir le genti," Lord Byron also bore a strong resemblance to +that poet,--though far more, it must be confessed, in profession than +reality. For, while scorn for the public voice was on his lips, the +keenest sensitiveness to its every breath was in his heart; and, as +if every feeling of his nature was to have some painful mixture in +it, together with the pride of Dante which led him to disdain public +opinion, he combined the susceptibility of Petrarch which placed him +shrinkingly at its mercy. + +His agreement, in some other features of character, with Petrarch, I +have already had occasion to remark[1]; and if it be true, as is +often surmised, that Byron's want of a due reverence for Shakspeare +arose from some latent and hardly conscious jealousy of that poet's +fame, a similar feeling is known to have existed in Petrarch towards +Dante; and the same reason assigned for it,--that from the living he +had nothing to fear, while before the shade of Dante he might have +reason to feel humbled,--is also not a little applicable[2] in the +case of Lord Byron. + +[Footnote 1: Some passages in Foscolo's Essay on Petrarch may be +applied, with equal truth, to Lord Byron.--For instance, "It was +hardly possible with Petrarch to write a sentence without portraying +himself"--"Petrarch, allured by the idea that his celebrity would +magnify into importance all the ordinary occurrences of his life, +satisfied the curiosity of the world," &c. &c.--and again, with still +more striking applicability,--"In Petrarch's letters, as well as in +his Poems and Treatises, we always identify the author with the man, +who felt himself irresistibly impelled to develope his own intense +feelings. Being endowed with almost all the noble, and with some of +the paltry passions of our nature, and having never attempted to +conceal them, he awakens us to reflection upon ourselves while we +contemplate in him a being of our own species, yet different from any +other, and whose originality excites even more sympathy than +admiration."] + +[Footnote 2: "II Petrarca poteva credere candidamente ch'ei non +pativa d'invidia solamente, perche fra tutti i viventi non v'era chi +non s'arretrasse per cedergli il passo alla prima gloria, ch'ei non +poteva sentirsi umiliato, fuorche dall' ombra di Dante."] + +Between the dispositions and habits of Alfieri and those of the noble +poet of England, no less remarkable coincidences might be traced; and +the sonnet in which the Italian dramatist professes to paint his own +character contains, in one comprehensive line, a portrait of the +versatile author of Don Juan,-- + + "Or stimandome Achille ed or Tersite." + +By the extract just given from his Journal, it will be perceived +that, in Byron's own opinion, a character which, like his, admitted +of so many contradictory comparisons, could not be otherwise than +wholly undefinable itself. It will be found, however, on reflection, +that this very versatility, which renders it so difficult to fix, +"ere it change," the fairy fabric of his character, is, in itself, +the true clue through all that fabric's mazes,--is in itself the +solution of whatever was most dazzling in his might or startling in +his levity, of all that most attracted and repelled, whether in his +life or his genius. A variety of powers almost boundless, and a pride +no less vast in displaying them,--a susceptibility of new impressions +and impulses, even beyond the usual allotment of genius, and an +uncontrolled impetuosity, as well from habit as temperament, in +yielding to them,--such were the two great and leading sources of all +that varied spectacle which his life exhibited; of that succession of +victories achieved by his genius, in almost every field of mind that +genius ever trod, and of all those sallies of character in every +shape and direction that unchecked feeling and dominant self-will +could dictate. + +It must be perceived by all endowed with quick powers of association +how constantly, when any particular thought or sentiment presents +itself to their minds, its very opposite, at the same moment, springs +up there also:--if any thing sublime occurs, its neighbour, the +ridiculous, is by its side;--across a bright view of the present or +the future, a dark one throws its shadow;--and, even in questions +respecting morals and conduct, all the reasonings and consequences +that may suggest themselves on the side of one of two opposite +courses will, in such minds, be instantly confronted by an array just +as cogent on the other. A mind of this structure,--and such, more or +less, are all those in which the reasoning is made subservient to the +imaginative faculty,--though enabled, by such rapid powers of +association, to multiply its resources without end, has need of the +constant exercise of a controlling judgment to keep its perceptions +pure and undisturbed between the contrasts it thus simultaneously +calls up; the obvious danger being that, where matters of taste are +concerned, the habit of forming such incongruous juxtapositions--as +that, for example, between the burlesque and sublime--should at last +vitiate the mind's relish for the nobler and higher quality; and +that, on the yet more important subject of morals, a facility in +finding reasons for every side of a question may end, if not in the +choice of the worst, at least in a sceptical indifference to all. + +In picturing to oneself so awful an event as a shipwreck, its many +horrors and perils are what alone offer themselves to ordinary +fancies. But the keen, versatile imagination of Byron could detect in +it far other details, and, at the same moment with all that is +fearful and appalling in such a scene, could bring together all that +is most ludicrous and low. That in this painful mixture he was but +too true to human nature, the testimony of De Retz (himself an +eye-witness of such an event) attests:--"Vous ne pouvez vous imaginer +(says the Cardinal) l'horreur d'une grande tempete;--vous en pouvez +imaginer aussi pen le ridicule." But, assuredly, a poet less +wantoning in the variety of his power, and less proud of displaying +it, would have paused ere he mixed up, thus mockingly, the +degradation of humanity with its sufferings, and, content to probe us +to the core with the miseries of our fellow-men, would have forborne +to wring from us, the next moment, a bitter smile at their baseness. + +To the moral sense so dangerous are the effects of this quality, that +it would hardly, perhaps, be generalising too widely to assert that +wheresoever great versatility of power exists, there will also be +found a tendency to versatility of principle. The poet Chatterton, in +whose soul the seeds of all that is good and bad in genius so +prematurely ripened, said, in the consciousness of this multiple +faculty, that he "held that man in contempt who could not write on +both sides of a question;" and it was by acting in accordance with +this principle himself that he brought one of the few stains upon his +name which a life so short afforded time to incur. Mirabeau, too, +when, in the legal warfare between his father and mother, he helped +to draw up for each the pleadings against the other, was influenced +less, no doubt, by the pleasure of mischief than by this pride of +talent, and lost sight of the unnatural perfidy of the task in the +adroitness with which he executed it. + +The quality which I have here denominated versatility, as applied to +_power_, Lord Byron has himself designated by the French word +"mobility," as applied to _feeling_ and _conduct_; and, in one of the +Cantos of Don Juan, has described happily some of its lighter +features. After telling us that his hero had begun to doubt, from the +great predominance of this quality in her, "how much of Adeline was +_real_," he says,-- + + "So well she acted, all and every part, + By turns,--with that vivacious versatility, + Which many people take for want of heart. + They err--'tis merely what is called mobility, + A thing of temperament and not of art, + Though seeming so, from its supposed facility; + And false--though true; for surely they're sincerest, + Who are strongly acted on by what is nearest." + +That he was fully aware not only of the abundance of this quality in +his own nature, but of the danger in which it placed consistency and +singleness of character, did not require the note on this passage, +where he calls it "an unhappy attribute," to assure us. The +consciousness, indeed, of his own natural tendency to yield thus to +every chance impression, and change with every passing impulse, was +not only for ever present in his mind, but,--aware as he was of the +suspicion of weakness attached by the world to any retractation or +abandonment of long professed opinions,--had the effect of keeping +him in that general line of consistency, on certain great subjects, +which, notwithstanding occasional fluctuations and contradictions as +to the details of these very subjects, he continued to preserve +throughout life. A passage from one of his manuscripts will show how +sagaciously he saw the necessity of guarding himself against his own +instability in this respect. "The world visits change of politics or +change of religion with a more severe censure than a mere difference +of opinion would appear to me to deserve. But there must be some +reason for this feeling;--and I think it is that these departures +from the earliest instilled ideas of our childhood, and from the line +of conduct chosen by us when we first enter into public life, have +been seen to have more mischievous results for society, and to prove +more weakness of mind than other actions, in themselves, more +immoral." + +The same distrust in his own steadiness, thus keeping alive in him a +conscientious self-watchfulness, concurred not a little, I have no +doubt, with the innate kindness of his nature, to preserve so +constant and unbroken the greater number of his attachments through +life;--some of them, as in the instance of his mother, owing +evidently more to a sense of duty than to real affection, the +consistency with which, so creditably to the strength of his +character, they were maintained. + +But while in these respects, as well as in the sort of task-like +perseverance with which the habits and amusements of his youth were +held fast by him, he succeeded in conquering the variableness and +love of novelty so natural to him, in all else that could engage his +mind, in all the excursions, whether of his reason or his fancy, he +gave way to this versatile humour without scruple or check,--taking +every shape in which genius could manifest its power, and +transferring himself to every region of thought where new conquests +were to be achieved. + +It was impossible but that such a range of will and power should be +abused. It was impossible that, among the spirits he invoked from all +quarters, those of darkness should not appear, at his bidding, with +those of light. And here the dangers of an energy so multifold, and +thus luxuriating in its own transformations, show themselves. To this +one great object of displaying power,--various, splendid, and +all-adorning power,--every other consideration and duty were but too +likely to be sacrificed. Let the advocate but display his eloquence +and art, no matter what the cause;--let the stamp of energy be but +left behind, no matter with what seal. _Could_ it have been expected +that from such a career no mischief would ensue, or that among these +cross-lights of imagination the moral vision could remain +undisturbed? _Is_ it to be at all wondered at that in the works of +one thus gifted and carried away, we should find,--wholly, too, +without any prepense design of corrupting on his side,--a false +splendour given to Vice to make it look like Virtue, and Evil too +often invested with a grandeur which belongs intrinsically but to +Good? + +Among the less serious ills flowing from this abuse of his great +versatile powers,--more especially as exhibited in his most +characteristic work, Don Juan,--it will be found that even the +strength and impressiveness of his poetry is sometimes not a little +injured by the capricious and desultory flights into which this +pliancy of wing allures him. It must be felt, indeed, by all readers +of that work, and particularly by those who, being gifted with but a +small portion of such ductility themselves, are unable to keep pace +with his changes, that the suddenness with which he passes from one +strain of sentiment to another,--from the frolic to the sad, from the +cynical to the tender,--begets a distrust in the sincerity of one or +both moods of mind which interferes with, if not chills, the sympathy +that a more natural transition would inspire. In general such a +suspicion would do him injustice; as, among the singular combinations +which his mind presented, that of uniting at once versatility and +depth of feeling was not the least remarkable. But, on the whole, +favourable as was all this quickness and variety of association to +the extension of the range and resources of his poetry, it may be +questioned whether a more select concentration of his powers would +not have afforded a still more grand and precious result. Had the +minds of Milton and Tasso been thus thrown open to the incursions of +light, ludicrous fancies, who can doubt that those solemn sanctuaries +of genius would have been as much injured as profaned by the +intrusion?--and it is at least a question whether, if Lord Byron had +not been so actively versatile, so totally under the dominion of + + "A fancy, like the air, most free, + And full of mutability," + +he would not have been less wonderful, perhaps, but more great. + +Nor was it only in his poetical creations that this love and power of +variety showed itself:--one of the most pervading weaknesses of his +life may be traced to the same fertile source. The pride of +personating every description of character, evil as well as good, +influenced but too much, as we have seen, his ambition, and, not a +little, his conduct; and as, in poetry, his own experience of the ill +effects of passion was made to minister materials to the workings of +his imagination, so, in return, his imagination supplied that dark +colouring under which he so often disguised his true aspect from the +world. To such a perverse length, indeed, did he carry this fancy for +self-defamation, that if (as sometimes, in his moments of gloom, he +persuaded himself,) there was any tendency to derangement in his +mental conformation[1], on this point alone could it be pronounced to +have manifested itself.[2] In the early part of my acquaintance with +him, when he most gave way to this humour,--for it was observable +afterwards, when the world joined in his own opinion of himself, he +rather shrunk from the echo,--I have known him more than once, as we +have sat together after dinner, and he was, at the time, perhaps, a +little under the influence of wine, to fall seriously into this sort +of dark and self-accusing mood, and throw out hints of his past life +with an air of gloom and mystery designed evidently to awaken +curiosity and interest. He was, however, too promptly alive to the +least approaches of ridicule not to perceive, on these occasions, +that the gravity of his hearer was only prevented from being +disturbed by an effort of politeness, and he accordingly never again +tried this romantic mystification upon me. From what I have known, +however, of his experiments upon more impressible listeners, I have +little doubt that, to produce effect at the moment, there is hardly +any crime so dark or desperate of which, in the excitement of thus +acting upon the imaginations of others, he would not have hinted that +he had been guilty; and it has sometimes occurred to me that the +occult cause of his lady's separation from him, round which herself +and her legal adviser have thrown such formidable mystery, may have +been nothing more, after all, than some imposture of this kind, some +dimly hinted confession of undefined horrors, which, though intended +by the relater but to mystify and surprise, the hearer so little +understood him as to take in sober seriousness. + +[Footnote 1: We have seen how often, in his Journals and Letters, +this suspicion of his own mental soundness is intimated. A similar +notion, with respect to himself, seems to have taken hold also of the +strong mind of Johnson, who, like Byron, too, was disposed to +attribute to an hereditary tinge that melancholy which, as he said, +"made him mad all his life, at least not sober." This peculiar +feature of Johnson's mind has, in the late new edition of Boswell's +Life of him, given rise to some remarks, pregnant with all the +editor's well known acuteness, which, as bearing on a point so +important in the history of the human intellect, will be found worthy +of all attention. + +In one of the many letters of Lord Byron to myself, which I have +thought right to omit, I find him tracing this supposed disturbance +of his own faculties to the marriage of Miss Chaworth;--"a marriage," +he says, "for which she sacrificed the prospects of two very ancient +families, and a heart which was hers from ten years old, and a head +which has never been quite right since."] + +[Footnote 2: In his Diary of 1814 there is a passage (vol. ii. page +270.) which I had preserved solely for the purpose of illustrating +this obliquity of his mind, intending, at the same time, to accompany +it with an explanatory note. From some inadvertence, however, the +note was omitted; and, thus left to itself, this piece of +mystification has, with the French readers of the work, I see, +succeeded most perfectly; there being no imaginable variety of murder +which the votaries of the new romantic school have not been busily +extracting out of the mystery of that passage.] + +This strange propensity with which the man was, as it were, +inoculated by the poet, re-acted back again upon his poetry, so as to +produce, in some of his delineations of character, that inconsistency +which has not unfrequently been noticed by his critics,--namely, the +junction of one or two lofty and shining virtues with "a thousand +crimes" altogether incompatible with them; this anomaly being, in +fact, accounted for by the two different sorts of ambition that +actuated him,--the natural one, of infusing into his personages those +high and kindly qualities he felt conscious of within himself, and +the artificial one, of investing them with those crimes which he so +boyishly wished imputed to him by the world. + +Independently, however, of any such efforts towards blackening his +own name, and even after he had learned from bitter experience the +rash folly of such a system, there was still, in the openness and +over-frankness of his nature, and that indulgence of impulse with +which he gave utterance to, if not acted upon, every chance +impression of the moment, more than sufficient to bring his +character, in all its least favourable lights, before the world. Who +is there, indeed, that could bear to be judged by even the best of +those unnumbered thoughts that course each other, like waves of the +sea, through our minds, passing away unuttered, and, for the most +part, even unowned by ourselves?--Yet to such a test was Byron's +character throughout his whole life exposed. As well from the +precipitance with which he gave way to every impulse as from the +passion he had for recording his own impressions, all those +heterogeneous thoughts, fantasies, and desires that, in other men's +minds, "come like shadows, so depart," were by him fixed and embodied +as they presented themselves, and, at once, taking a shape cognizable +by public opinion, either in his actions or his words, either in the +hasty letter of the moment, or the poem for all time, laid open such +a range of vulnerable points before his judges, as no one individual +perhaps ever before, of himself, presented. + +With such abundance and variety of materials for portraiture, it may +easily be conceived how two professed delineators of his character, +the one over partial and the other malicious, might,--the former, by +selecting only the fairer, and the latter only the darker, +features,--produce two portraits of Lord Byron, as much differing +from each other as they would both be, on the whole, unlike the +original. + +Of the utter powerlessness of retention with which he promulgated his +every thought and feeling,--more especially if at all connected with +the subject of self,--without allowing even a pause for the almost +instinctive consideration whether by such disclosures he might not be +conveying a calumnious impression of himself, a stronger instance +could hardly be given than is to be found in a conversation held by +him with Mr. Trelawney, as reported by this latter gentleman, when +they were on their way together to Greece. After some remarks on the +state of his own health[1], mental and bodily, he said, "I don't know +how it is, but I am so cowardly at times, that if, this morning, you +had come down and horsewhipped me, I should have submitted without +opposition. Why is this? If one of these fits come over me when we +are in Greece, what shall I do?"--"I told him (continues Mr. +Trelawney) that it was the excessive debility of his nerves. He said, +'Yes, and of my head, too. I was very heroic when I left Genoa, but, +like Acres, I feel my courage oozing out at my palms.'" + +[Footnote 1: "He often mentioned," says Mr. Trelawney, "that he +thought he should not live many years, and said that he would die in +Greece." This he told me at Cephalonia. He always seemed unmoved on +these occasions, perfectly indifferent as to when he died, only +saying that he could not bear pain. On our voyage we had been reading +with great attention the life and letters of Swift, edited by Scott, +and we almost daily, or rather nightly, talked them over; and he more +than once expressed his horror of existing in that state, and +expressed some fears that it would be his fate.] + +It will hardly, by those who know any thing of human nature, be +denied that such misgivings and heart-sinkings as are here described +may, under a similar depression of spirits, have found their way into +the thoughts of some of the gallantest hearts that ever +breathed;--but then, untold and unremembered, even by the sufferer +himself, they passed off with the passing infirmity that produced +them, leaving neither to truth to record them as proofs of want of +health, nor to calumny to fasten upon them a suspicion of want of +bravery. The assertion of some one that all men are by nature +cowardly would seem to be countenanced by the readiness with which +most men believe others so. "I have lived," says the Prince de Ligne, +"to hear Voltaire called a fool, and the great Frederick a coward." +The Duke of Marlborough in his own times, and Napoleon in ours, have +found persons not only to assert but believe the same charge against +them. After such glaring instances of the tendency of some minds to +view greatness only through an inverting medium, it need little +surprise us that Lord Byron's conduct in Greece should, on the same +principle, have engendered a similar insinuation against him; nor +should I have at all noticed the weak slander, but for the +opportunity which it affords me of endeavouring to point out what +appears to me the peculiar nature of the courage by which, on all +occasions that called for it, he so strikingly distinguished himself. + +Whatever virtue may be allowed to belong to personal courage, it is, +most assuredly, they who are endowed by nature with the liveliest +imaginations, and who have therefore most vividly and simultaneously +before their eyes all the remote and possible consequences of danger, +that are most deserving of whatever praise attends the exercise of +that virtue. A bravery of this kind, which springs more out of mind +than temperament,--or rather, perhaps, out of the conquest of the +former over the latter,--will naturally proportion its exertion to +the importance of the occasion; and the same person who is seen to +shrink with an almost feminine fear from ignoble and every-day +perils, may be found foremost in the very jaws of danger where honour +is to be either maintained or won. Nor does this remark apply only to +the imaginative class, of whom I am chiefly treating. By the same +calculating principle, it will be found that most men whose bravery +is the result not of temperament but reflection, are regulated in +their daring. The wise De Wit, though negligent of his life on great +occasions, was not ashamed, we are told, of dreading and avoiding +whatever endangered it on others. + +Of the apprehensiveness that attends quick imaginations, Lord Byron +had, of course, a considerable share, and in all situations of +ordinary peril gave way to it without reserve. I have seldom seen any +person, male or female, more timid in a carriage; and, in riding, his +preparation against accidents showed the same nervous and imaginative +fearfulness. "His bridle," says the late Lord B----, who rode +frequently with him at Genoa, "had, besides cavesson and martingale, +various reins; and whenever he came near a place where his horse was +likely to shy, he gathered up these said reins and fixed himself as +if he was going at a five-barred gate." None surely but the most +superficial or most prejudiced observers could ever seriously found +upon such indications of nervousness any conclusion against the real +courage of him who was subject to them. The poet Ariosto, who was, it +seems, a victim to the same fair-weather alarms,--who, when on +horseback, would alight at the least appearance of danger, and on the +water was particularly timorous,--could yet, in the action between +the Pope's vessels and the Duke of Ferrara's, fight like a lion; and +in the same manner the courage of Lord Byron, as all his companions +in peril testify, was of that noblest kind which rises with the +greatness of the occasion, and becomes but the more self-collected +and resisting, the more imminent the danger. + +In proposing to show that the distinctive properties of Lord Byron's +character, as well moral as literary, arose mainly from those two +great sources, the unexampled versatility of his powers and feelings, +and the facility with which he gave way to the impulses of both, it +had been my intention to pursue the subject still further in detail, +and to endeavour to trace throughout the various excellences and +defects, both of his poetry and his life, the operation of these two +dominant attributes of his nature. "No men," says Cowper, in speaking +of persons of a versatile turn of mind, "are better qualified for +companions in such a world as this than men of such temperament. +Every scene of life has two sides, a dark and a bright one; and the +mind that has an equal mixture of melancholy and vivacity is best of +all qualified for the contemplation of either." It would not be +difficult to show that to this readiness in reflecting all hues, +whether of the shadows or the lights of our variegated existence, +Lord Byron owed not only the great range of his influence as a poet, +but those powers of fascination which he possessed as a man. This +susceptibility, indeed, of immediate impressions, which in him was so +active, lent a charm, of all others the most attractive, to his +social intercourse, by giving to those who were, at the moment, +present, such ascendant influence, that they alone for the time +occupied all his thoughts and feelings, and brought whatever was most +agreeable in his nature into play.[1] + +[Footnote 1: In reference to his power of adapting himself to all +sorts of society, and taking upon himself all varieties of character, +I find a passage in one of my early letters to him (from Ireland) +which, though it might be expressed, perhaps, in better taste, is +worth citing for its truth:--"Though I have not written, I have +seldom ceased to think of you; for you are that sort of being whom +every thing, high or low, brings into one's mind. Whether I am with +the wise or the waggish, among poets or among pugilists, over the +book or over the bottle, you are sure to connect yourself +transcendently with all, and come 'armed for _every_ field' into my +memory."] + +So much did this extreme mobility,--this readiness to be "strongly +acted on by what was nearest,"--abound in his disposition, that, even +with the casual acquaintances of the hour, his heart was upon his +lips[1], and it depended wholly upon themselves whether they might +not become at once the depositories of every secret, if it might be +so called, of his whole life. That in this convergence of all the +powers of pleasing towards present objects, those absent should be +sometimes forgotten, or, what is worse, sacrificed to the reigning +desire of the moment, is unluckily one of the alloys attendant upon +persons of this temperament, which renders their fidelity, either as +lovers or confidants, not a little precarious. But of the charm which +such a disposition diffuses through the manner there can be but +little doubt,--and least of all among those who have ever felt its +influence in Lord Byron. Neither are the instances in which he has +been known to make imprudent disclosures of what had been said or +written by others of the persons with whom he was conversing to be +all set down to this rash overflow of the social hour. In his own +frankness of spirit, and hatred of all disguise, this practice, +pregnant as it was with inconvenience, and sometimes danger, in a +great degree originated. To confront the accused with the accuser +was, in such cases, his delight,--not only as a revenge for having +been made the medium of what men durst not say openly to each other, +but as a gratification of that love of small mischief which he had +retained from boyhood, and which the confusion that followed such +exposures was always sure to amuse. This habit, too, being, as I have +before remarked, well known to his friends, their sense of prudence, +if not their fairness, was put fully on its guard, and he himself was +spared the pain of hearing what he could not, without inflicting +still worse, repeat. + +[Footnote 1: It is curious to observe how, in all times, and all +countries, what is called the poetical temperament has, in the great +possessors, and victims, of that gift, produced similar effects. In +the following passage, the biographer of Tasso has, in painting that +poet, described Byron also:--"There are some persons of a sensibility +so powerful, that whoever happens to be with them is, at that moment, +to them the world: their hearts involuntarily open; they are prompted +by a strong desire to please; and they thus make confidants of their +sentiments people whom they in reality regard with indifference."] + +A most apt illustration of this point of his character is to be found +in an anecdote told of him by Parry, who, though himself the victim, +had the sense and good temper to perceive the source to which Byron's +conduct was to be traced. While the Turkish fleet was blockading +Missolonghi, his Lordship, one day, attended by Parry, proceeded in a +small punt, rowed by a boy, to the mouth of the harbour, while in a +large boat accompanying them were Prince Mavrocordato and his +attendants. In this situation, an indignant feeling of contempt and +impatience at the supineness of their Greek friends seized the +engineer, and he proceeded to vent this feeling to Lord Byron in no +very measured terms, pronouncing Prince Mavrocordato to be "an old +gentlewoman," and concluding, according to his own statement, with +the following words:--"If I were in their place, I should be in a +fever at the thought of my own incapacity and ignorance, and should +burn with impatience to attempt the destruction of those rascal +Turks. But the Greeks and the Turks are opponents worthy, by their +imbecility, of each other." + +"I had scarcely explained myself fully," adds Mr. Parry, "when his +Lordship ordered our boat to be placed alongside the other, and +actually related our whole conversation to the Prince. In doing it, +however, he took on himself the task of pacifying both the Prince and +me, and though I was at first very angry, and the Prince, I believe, +very much annoyed, he succeeded. Mavrocordato afterwards showed no +dissatisfaction with me, and I prized Lord Byron's regard too much, +to remain long displeased with a proceeding which was only an +unpleasant manner of reproving us both." + +Into these and other such branches from the main course of his +character, it might have been a task of some interest to +investigate,--certain as we should be that, even in the remotest and +narrowest of these windings, some of the brightness and strength of +the original current would be perceptible. Enough however has been, +perhaps, said to set other minds upon supplying what remains:--if the +track of analysis here opened be the true one, to follow it in its +further bearings will not be difficult. Already, indeed, I may be +thought by some readers to have occupied too large a portion of these +pages, not only in tracing out such "nice dependencies" and +gradations of my friend's character, but still more uselessly, as may +be conceived, in recording all the various habitudes and whims by +which the course of his every-day life was distinguished from that of +other people. That the critics of the day should think it due to +their own importance to object to trifles is naturally to be +expected; but that, in other times, such minute records of a Byron +will be read with interest, even such critics cannot doubt. To know +that Catiline walked with an agitated and uncertain gait is, by no +mean judge of human nature, deemed important as an indication of +character. But far less significant details will satisfy the +idolaters of genius. To be told that Tasso loved malmsey and thought +it favourable to poetic inspiration is a piece of intelligence, even +at the end of three centuries, not unwelcome; while a still more +amusing proof of the disposition of the world to remember little +things of the great is, that the poet Petrarch's excessive fondness +for turnips is one of the few traditions still preserved of him at +Arqua. + +The personal appearance of Lord Byron has been so frequently +described, both by pen and pencil, that were it not the bounden duty +of the biographer to attempt some such sketch, the task would seem +superfluous. Of his face, the beauty may be pronounced to have been +of the highest order, as combining at once regularity of features +with the most varied and interesting expression. The same facility, +indeed, of change observable in the movements of his mind was seen +also in the free play of his features, as the passing thoughts within +darkened or shone through them. + +His eyes, though of a light grey, were capable of all extremes of +expression, from the most joyous hilarity to the deepest sadness, +from the very sunshine of benevolence to the most concentrated scorn +or rage. Of this latter passion, I had once an opportunity of seeing +what fiery interpreters they could be, on my telling him, +thoughtlessly enough, that a friend of mine had said to me--"Beware +of Lord Byron; he will some day or other do something very +wicked."--"Was it man or woman said so?" he exclaimed, suddenly +turning round upon me with a look of such intense anger as, though it +lasted not an instant, could not easily be forgot, and of which no +better idea can be given than in the words of one who, speaking of +Chatterton's eyes, says that "fire rolled at the bottom of them." + +But it was in the mouth and chin that the great beauty as well as +expression of his fine countenance lay. "Many pictures have been +painted of him," says a fair critic of his features, "with various +success; but the excessive beauty of his lips escaped every painter +and sculptor. In their ceaseless play they represented every emotion, +whether pale with anger, curled in disdain, smiling in triumph, or +dimpled with archness and love." It would be injustice to the reader +not to borrow from the same pencil a few more touches of portraiture. +"This extreme facility of expression was sometimes painful, for I +have seen him look absolutely ugly--I have seen him look so hard and +cold, that you must hate him, and then, in a moment, brighter than +the sun, with such playful softness in his look, such affectionate +eagerness kindling in his eyes, and dimpling his lips into something +more sweet than a smile, that you forgot the man, the Lord Byron, in +the picture of beauty presented to you, and gazed with intense +curiosity--I had almost said--as if to satisfy yourself, that thus +looked the god of poetry, the god of the Vatican, when he conversed +with the sons and daughters of man." + +His head was remarkably small[1],--so much so as to be rather out of +proportion with his face. The forehead, though a little too narrow, +was high, and appeared more so from his having his hair (to preserve +it, as he said,) shaved over the temples; while the glossy, +dark-brown curls, clustering over his head, gave the finish to its +beauty. When to this is added, that his nose, though handsomely, was +rather thickly shaped, that his teeth were white and regular, and his +complexion colourless, as good an idea perhaps as it is in the power +of mere words to convey may be conceived of his features. + +[Footnote 1: "Several of us, one day," says Colonel Napier, "tried on +his hat, and in a party of twelve or fourteen, who were at dinner, +_not one_ could put it on, so exceedingly small was his head. My +servant, Thomas Wells, who had the smallest head in the 90th regiment +(so small that he could hardly get a cap to fit him), was the only +person who could put on Lord Byron's hat, and him it fitted +exactly."] + +In height he was, as he himself has informed us, five feet eight +inches and a half, and to the length of his limbs he attributed his +being such a good swimmer. His hands were very white, and--according +to his own notion of the size of hands as indicating +birth--aristocratically small. The lameness of his right foot[1], +though an obstacle to grace, but little impeded the activity of his +movements; and from this circumstance, as well as from the skill with +which the foot was disguised by means of long trowsers, it would be +difficult to conceive a defect of this kind less obtruding itself as +a deformity; while the diffidence which a constant consciousness of +the infirmity gave to his first approach and address made, in him, +even lameness a source of interest. + +[Footnote 1: In speaking of this lameness at the commencement of my +work, I forbore, both from my own doubts on the subject and the great +variance I found in the recollections of others, from stating in +_which_ of his feet this lameness existed. It will, indeed, with +difficulty be believed what uncertainty I found upon this point, even +among those most intimate with him. Mr. Hunt, in his book, states it +to have been the left foot that was deformed, and this, though +contrary to my own impression, and, as it appears also, to the fact, +was the opinion I found also of others who had been much in the habit +of living with him. On applying to his early friends at Southwell and +to the shoemaker of that town who worked for him, so little prepared +were they to answer with any certainty on the subject, that it was +only by recollecting that the lame foot "was the off one in going up +the street" they at last came to the conclusion that his right limb +was the one affected; and Mr. Jackson, his preceptor in pugilism, +was, in like manner, obliged to call to mind whether his noble pupil +was a right or left hand hitter before he could arrive at the same +decision.] + +In looking again into the Journal from which it was my intention to +give extracts, the following unconnected opinions, or rather +reveries, most of them on points connected with his religious +opinions, are all that I feel tempted to select. To an assertion in +the early part of this work, that "at no time of his life was Lord +Byron a confirmed unbeliever," it has been objected, that many +passages of his writings prove the direct contrary. This assumption, +however, as well as the interpretation of most of the passages +referred to in its support, proceed, as it appears to me, upon the +mistake, not uncommon in conversation, of confounding together the +meanings of the words unbeliever and sceptic,--the former implying +decision of opinion, and the latter only doubt. I have myself, I +find, not always kept the significations of the two words distinct, +and in one instance have so far fallen into the notion of these +objectors as to speak of Byron in his youth as "an unbelieving +school-boy," when the word "doubting" would have more truly expressed +my meaning. With this necessary explanation, I shall here repeat my +assertion; or rather--to clothe its substance in a different +form--shall say that Lord Byron was, to the last, a sceptic, which, +in itself, implies that he was, at no time, a confirmed unbeliever. + + * * * * * + +"If I were to live over again, I do not know what I would change in +my life, unless it were _for--not to have lived at all_.[1] All +history and experience, and the rest, teaches us that the good and +evil are pretty equally balanced in this existence, and that what is +most to be desired is an easy passage out of it. What can it give us +but years? and those have little of good but their ending. + +[Footnote 1: Swift "early adopted," says Sir Walter Scott, "the +custom of observing his birth-day, as a term, not of joy, but of +sorrow, and of reading, when it annually recurred, the striking +passage of Scripture, in which Job laments and execrates the day upon +which it was said in his father's house 'that a man-child was +born.'"--_Life of Swift._] + + * * * * * + +"Of the immortality of the soul it appears to me that there can be +little doubt, if we attend for a moment to the action of mind: it is +in perpetual activity. I used to doubt of it, but reflection has +taught me better. It acts also so very independent of body--in +dreams, for instance;--incoherently and _madly_, I grant you, but +still it is mind, and much more mind than when we are awake. Now that +this should not act _separately_, as well as jointly, who can +pronounce? The stoics, Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius, call the +present state 'a soul which drags a carcass,'--a heavy chain, to be +sure, but all chains being material may be shaken off. How far our +future life will be _individual_, or, rather, how far it will at all +resemble _our present_ existence, is another question; but that the +mind is eternal seems as probable as that the body is not so. Of +course I here venture upon the question without recurring to +revelation, which, however, is at least as rational a solution of it +as any other. A _material_ resurrection seems strange and even +absurd, except for purposes of punishment; and all punishment which +is to _revenge_ rather than _correct_ must be _morally wrong_; and +_when the world is at an end_, what moral or warning purpose _can_ +eternal tortures answer? Human passions have probably disfigured the +divine doctrines here;--but the whole thing is inscrutable. + + * * * * * + +"It is useless to tell me _not_ to _reason_, but to _believe._ You +might as well tell a man not to wake, but _sleep._ And then to +_bully_ with torments, and all that! I cannot help thinking that the +_menace_ of hell makes as many devils as the severe penal codes of +inhuman humanity make villains. + + * * * * * + +"Man is born _passionate_ of body, but with an innate though secret +tendency to the love of good in his main-spring of mind. But, God +help us all! it is at present a sad jar of atoms. + + * * * * * + +"Matter is eternal, always changing, but reproduced, and, as far as +we can comprehend eternity, eternal; and why not _mind_? Why should +not the mind act with and upon the universe, as portions of it act +upon, and with, the congregated dust called mankind? See how one man +acts upon himself and others, or upon multitudes! The same agency, in +a higher and purer degree, may act upon the stars, &c. ad infinitum. + + * * * * * + +"I have often been inclined to materialism in philosophy, but could +never bear its introduction into _Christianity_, which appears to me +essentially founded upon the _soul_. For this reason Priestley's +Christian Materialism always struck me as deadly. Believe the +resurrection of the _body_, if you will, but _not without_ a _soul_. +The deuce is in it, if after having had a soul, (as surely the +_mind_, or whatever you call it, _is,_) in this world, we must part +with it in the _next_, even for an immortal materiality! I own my +partiality for _spirit_. + + * * * * * + +"I am always most religious upon a sunshiny day, as if there was some +association between an internal approach to greater light and purity +and the kindler of this dark lantern of our external existence. + + * * * * * + +"The night is also a religious concern, and even more so when I +viewed the moon and stars through Herschell's telescope, and saw that +they were worlds. + + * * * * * + +"If, according to some speculations, you could prove the world many +thousand years older than the Mosaic chronology, or if you could get +rid of Adam and Eve, and the apple, and serpent, still, what is to be +put up in their stead? or how is the difficulty removed? Things must +have had a beginning, and what matters it _when_ or _how_? + + * * * * * + +"I sometimes think that _man_ may be the relic of some higher +material being wrecked in a former world, and degenerated in the +hardship and struggle through chaos into conformity, or something +like it,--as we see Laplanders, Esquimaux, &c. inferior in the +present state, as the elements become more inexorable. But even then +this higher pre-Adamite supposititious creation must have had an +origin and a _Creator_--for a _creation_ is a more natural +imagination than a fortuitous concourse of atoms: all things remount +to a fountain, though they may flow to an ocean. + + * * * * * + +"Plutarch says, in his Life of Lysander, that Aristotle observes +'that in general great geniuses are of a melancholy turn, and +instances Socrates, Plato, and Hercules (or Heraclitus), as examples, +and Lysander, though not while young, yet as inclined to it when +approaching towards age.' Whether I am a genius or not, I have been +called such by my friends as well as enemies, and in more countries +and languages than one, and also within a no very long period of +existence. Of my genius, I can say nothing, but of my melancholy, +that it is 'increasing, and ought to be diminished.' But how? + +"I take it that most men are so at bottom, but that it is only +remarked in the remarkable. The Duchesse de Broglio, in reply to a +remark of mine on the errors of clever people, said that 'they were +not worse than others, only, being more in view, more noted, +especially in all that could reduce them to the rest, or raise the +rest to them.' In 1816, this was. + +"In fact (I suppose that) if the follies of fools were all set down +like those of the wise, the wise (who seem at present only a better +sort of fools) would appear almost intelligent. + + * * * * * + +"It is singular how soon we lose the impression of what ceases to be +_constantly_ before us: a year impairs; a lustre obliterates. There +is little distinct left without an effort of memory. _Then_, indeed, +the lights are rekindled for a moment; but who can be sure that +imagination is not the torch-bearer? Let any man try at the end of +_ten_ years to bring before him the features, or the mind, or the +sayings, or the habits of his best friend, or his _greatest_ man, (I +mean his favourite, his Buonaparte, his this, that, or t'other,) and +he will be surprised at the extreme confusion of his ideas. I speak +confidently on this point, having always passed for one who had a +good, ay, an excellent memory. I except, indeed, our recollection of +womankind; there is no forgetting _them_ (and be d--d to them) any +more than any other remarkable era, such as 'the revolution,' or 'the +plague,' or 'the invasion,' or 'the comet,' or 'the war' of such and +such an epoch,--being the favourite dates of mankind who have so many +_blessings_ in their lot that they never make their calendars from +them, being too common. For instance, you see 'the great drought,' +'the Thames frozen over,' 'the seven years' war broke out,' 'the +English, or French, or Spanish revolution commenced,' 'the Lisbon +earthquake,' 'the Lima earthquake,' 'the earthquake of Calabria,' +'the plague of London,' ditto 'of Constantinople,' 'the sweating +sickness,' 'the yellow fever of Philadelphia,' &c. &c. &c.; but you +don't see 'the abundant harvest,' 'the fine summer,' 'the long +peace,' 'the wealthy speculation,' 'the wreckless voyage,' recorded +so emphatically! By the way, there has been a _thirty years' war_ and +a _seventy years' war_; was there ever a _seventy_ or a _thirty +years' peace_? or was there even a DAY'S _universal_ peace? except +perhaps in China, where they have found out the miserable happiness +of a stationary and unwarlike mediocrity. And is all this because +nature is niggard or savage? or mankind ungrateful? Let philosophers +decide. I am none. + + * * * * * + +"In general, I do not draw well with literary men; not that I dislike +them, but I never know what to say to them after I have praised their +last publication. There are several exceptions, to be sure, but then +they have either been men of the world, such as Scott and Moore, &c. +or visionaries out of it, such as Shelley, &c.: but your literary +every-day man and I never went well in company, especially your +foreigner, whom I never could abide; except Giordani, +and--and--and--(I really can't name any other)--I don't remember a +man amongst them whom I ever wished to see twice, except perhaps +Mezzophanti, who is a monster of languages, the Briareus of parts of +speech, a walking Polyglott and more, who ought to have existed at +the time of the Tower of Babel as universal interpreter. He is indeed +a marvel--unassuming, also. I tried him in all the tongues of which I +knew a single oath, (or adjuration to the gods against post-boys, +savages, Tartars, boatmen, sailors, pilots, gondoliers, muleteers, +camel-drivers, vetturini, post-masters, post-horses, post-houses, +post every thing,) and egad! he astounded me--even to my English. + + * * * * * + +"'No man would live his life over again,' is an old and true saying +which all can resolve for themselves. At the same time, there are +probably _moments_ in most men's lives which they would live over the +rest of life to _regain_. Else why do we live at all? because Hope +recurs to Memory, both false--but--but--but--but--and this _but_ +drags on till--what? I do not know; and who does? 'He that died o' +Wednesday.'" + + * * * * * + +In laying before the reader these last extracts from the papers in my +possession, it may be expected, perhaps, that I should say +something,--in addition to what has been already stated on this +subject,--respecting those Memoranda, or Memoirs, which, in the +exercise of the discretionary power given to me by my noble friend, I +placed, shortly after his death, at the disposal of his sister and +executor, and which they, from a sense of what they thought due to +his memory, consigned to the flames. As the circumstances, however, +connected with the surrender of that manuscript, besides requiring +much more detail than my present limits allow, do not, in any +respect, concern the character of Lord Byron, but affect solely my +own, it is not here, at least, that I feel myself called upon to +enter into an explanation of them. The world will, of course, +continue to think of that step as it pleases; but it is, after all, +on a man's _own_ opinion of his actions that his happiness chiefly +depends, and I can only say that, were I again placed in the same +circumstances, I would--even at ten times the pecuniary sacrifice +which my conduct then cost me--again act precisely in the same +manner. + +For the satisfaction of those whose regret at the loss of that +manuscript arises from some better motive than the mere +disappointment of a prurient curiosity, I shall here add, that on the +mysterious cause of the separation, it afforded no light +whatever;--that, while some of its details could never have been +published at all[1], and little, if any, of what it contained +personal towards others could have appeared till long after the +individuals concerned had left the scene, all that materially related +to Lord Byron himself was (as I well knew when I made that sacrifice) +to be found repeated in the various Journals and Memorandum-books, +which, though not all to be made use of, were, as the reader has seen +from the preceding pages, all preserved. + +[Footnote 1: This description applies only to the Second Part of the +Memoranda; there having been but little unfit for publication in the +First Part, which was, indeed, read, as is well known, by many of the +noble author's friends.] + +As far as suppression, indeed, is blamable, I have had, in the course +of this task, abundantly to answer for it; having, as the reader must +have perceived, withheld a large portion of my materials, to which +Lord Byron, no doubt, in his fearlessness of consequences, would have +wished to give publicity, but which, it is now more than probable, +will never meet the light. + +There remains little more to add. It has been remarked by Lord +Orford[1], as "strange, that the writing a man's life should in +general make the biographer become enamoured of his subject, whereas +one should think that the nicer disquisition one makes into the life +of any man, the less reason one should find to love or admire him." +On the contrary, may we not rather say that, as knowledge is ever the +parent of tolerance, the more insight we gain into the springs and +motives of a man's actions, the peculiar circumstances in which he +was placed, and the influences and temptations under which he acted, +the more allowance we may be inclined to make for his errors, and the +more approbation his virtues may extort from us? + +[Footnote 1: In speaking of Lord Herbert of Cherbury's Life of Henry +VIII.] + +The arduous task of being the biographer of Byron is one, at least, +on which I have not obtruded myself: the wish of my friend that I +should undertake that office having been more than once expressed, at +a time when none but a boding imagination like his could have +foreseen much chance of the sad honour devolving to me. If in some +instances I have consulted rather the spirit than the exact letter of +his injunctions, it was with the view solely of doing him more +justice than he would have done himself, there being no hands in +which his character could have been less safe than his own, nor any +greater wrong offered to his memory than the substitution of what he +affected to be for what he was. Of any partiality, however, beyond +what our mutual friendship accounts for and justifies, I am by no +means conscious; nor would it be in the power, indeed, of even the +most partial friend to allege any thing more convincingly favourable +of his character than is contained in the few simple facts with which +I shall here conclude,--that, through life, with all his faults, he +never lost a friend;--that those about him in his youth, whether as +companions, teachers, or servants, remained attached to him to the +last;--that the woman, to whom he gave the love of his maturer years, +idolises his name; and that, with a single unhappy exception, scarce +an instance is to be found of any one, once brought, however briefly, +into relations of amity with him, that did not feel towards him a +kind regard in life, and retain a fondness for his memory. + +I have now done with the subject, nor shall be easily tempted to +recur to it. Any mistakes or misstatements I may be proved to have +made shall be corrected;--any new facts which it is in the power of +others to produce will speak for themselves. To mere opinions I am +not called upon to pay attention--and still less to insinuations or +mysteries. I have here told what I myself know and think concerning +my friend; and now leave his character, moral as well as literary, to +the judgment of the world. + + + + +APPENDIX. + + * * * * * + +TWO EPISTLES FROM THE ARMENIAN VERSION. + +THE EPISTLE OF THE CORINTHIANS TO ST. PAUL THE APOSTLE.[1] + +1 STEPHEN[2], and the elders with him, Dabnus, Eubulus, Theophilus, +and Xinon, to Paul, our father and evangelist, and faithful master in +Jesus Christ, health.[3] + +2 Two men have come to Corinth, Simon by name, and Cleobus[4], who +vehemently disturb the faith of some with deceitful and corrupt +words; + +3 Of which words thou shouldst inform thyself: + +4 For neither have we heard such words from thee, nor from the other +apostles: + +5 But we know only that what we have heard from thee and from them, +that we have kept firmly. + +6 But in this chiefly has our Lord had compassion, that, whilst thou +art yet with us in the flesh, we are again about to hear from thee. + +7 Therefore do thou write to us, or come thyself amongst us quickly. + +8 We believe in the Lord, that, as it was revealed to Theonas, he +hath delivered thee from the hands of the unrighteous.[5] + +9 But these are the sinful words of these impure men, for thus do +they say and teach: + +10 That it behoves not to admit the Prophets.[6] + +11 Neither do they affirm the omnipotence of God: + +12 Neither do they affirm the resurrection of the flesh: + +13 Neither do they affirm that man was altogether created by God: + +14 Neither do they affirm that Jesus Christ was born in the flesh +from the Virgin Mary: + +15 Neither do they affirm that the world was the work of God, but of +some one of the angels. + +16 Therefore do thou make haste[7] to come amongst us. + +17 That this city of the Corinthians may remain without scandal. + +18 And that the folly of these men may be made manifest by an open +refutation. Fare thee well.[8] + +The deacons Thereptus and Tichus[9] received and conveyed this +Epistle to the city of the Philippians.[10] + +When Paul received the Epistle, although he was then in chains on +account of Stratonice[11], the wife of Apofolanus[12], yet, as it +were forgetting his bonds, he mourned over these words, and said, +weeping: "It were better for me to be dead, and with the Lord. For +while I am in this body, and hear the wretched words of such false +doctrine, behold, grief arises upon grief, and my trouble adds a +weight to my chains; when I behold this calamity, and progress of the +machinations of Satan, who searcheth to do wrong." + +And thus, with deep affliction, Paul composed his reply to the +Epistle.[13] + +[Footnote 1: Some MSS. have the title thus: _Epistle of Stephen the +Elder to Paul the Apostle, from the Corinthians_.] + +[Footnote 2: In the MSS. the marginal verses published by the +Whistons are wanting.] + +[Footnote 3: In some MSS. we find, _The elders Numenus, Eubulus, +Theophilus, and Nomeson, to Paul their brother, health_!] + +[Footnote 4: Others read, _There came certain men, ... and Clobeus, +who vehemently shake._] + +[Footnote 5: Some MSS. have, _We believe in the Lord, that his +presence was made manifest; and by this hath the Lord delivered as +from the hands of the unrighteous._] + +[Footnote 6: Others read, _To read the Prophets._] + +[Footnote 7: Some MSS. have, _Therefore, brother, do thou make +haste._] + +[Footnote 8: Others read, _Fare thee well in the Lord._] + +[Footnote 9: Some MSS. have, _The deacons Therepus and Techus_] + +[Footnote 10: The Whistons have, _To the city of Phoenicia_; but in +all the MSS. we find, _To the city of the Philippians._] + +[Footnote 11: Others read, _On account of Onotice._] + +[Footnote 12: The Whistons have, _Of Apollophanus_: but in all the +MSS. we read, _Apofolanus_.] + +[Footnote 13: In the text of this Epistle there are some other +variations in the words, but the sense is the same.] + + +EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS, [1] + +1 Paul, in bonds for Jesus Christ, disturbed by so many errors [2], +to his Corinthian brethren, health. + +2 I nothing marvel that the preachers of evil have made this +progress. + +3 For because the Lord Jesus is about to fulfil his coming, verily on +this account do certain men pervert and despise his words. + +4 But I, verily, from the beginning, have taught you that only which +I myself received from the former apostles, who always remained with +the Lord Jesus Christ. + +5 And I now say unto you, that the Lord Jesus Christ was born of the +Virgin Mary, who was of the seed of David, + +6 According to the annunciation of the Holy Ghost, sent to her by our +Father from heaven; + +7 That Jesus might be introduced into the world [3], and deliver our +flesh by his flesh, and that he might raise us up from the dead; + +8 As in this also he himself became the example: + +9 That it might be made manifest that man was created by the Father, + +10 He has not remained in perdition unsought [4]; + +11 But he is sought for, that he might be revived by adoption. + +12 For God, who is the Lord of all, the Father of our Lord Jesus +Christ, who made heaven and earth, sent, firstly, the Prophets to the +Jews: + +13 That he would absolve them from their sins, and bring them to his +judgment. + +14 Because he wished to save, firstly, the house of Israel, he +bestowed and poured forth his Spirit upon the Prophets; + +15 That they should, for a long time, preach the worship of God, and +the nativity of Christ. + +16 But he who was the prince of evil, when he wished to make himself +God, laid his hand upon them, + +17 And bound all men in sin,[5] + +18 Because the judgment of the world was approaching. + +19 But Almighty God, when he willed to justify, was unwilling to +abandon his creature; + +20 But when he saw his affliction, he had compassion upon him: + +21 And at the end of a time he sent the Holy Ghost into the Virgin +foretold by the Prophets. + +22 Who, believing readily [6], was made worthy to conceive, and bring +forth our Lord Jesus Christ. + +23 That from this perishable body, in which the evil spirit was +glorified, he should be cast out, and it should be made manifest + +24 That he was not God: For Jesus Christ, in his flesh, had recalled +and saved this perishable flesh, and drawn it into eternal life by +faith. + +25 Because in his body he would prepare a pure temple of justice for +all ages; + +26 In whom we also, when we believe, are saved. + +27 Therefore know ye that these men are not the children of justice, +but the children of wrath; + +28 Who turn away from themselves the compassion of God; + +29 Who say that neither the heavens nor the earth were altogether +works made by the hand of the Father of all things.[7] + +30 But these cursed men[8] have the doctrine of the serpent. + +31 But do ye, by the power of God, withdraw yourselves far from +these, and expel from amongst you the doctrine of the wicked. + +32 Because you are not the children of rebellion [9]; but the sons of +the beloved church. + +33 And on this account the time of the resurrection is preached to +all men. + +34 Therefore they who affirm that there is no resurrection of the +flesh, they indeed shall not be raised up to eternal life; + +35 But to judgment and condemnation shall the unbeliever arise in the +flesh: + +36 For to that body which denies the resurrection of the body, shall +be denied the resurrection: because such are found to refuse the +resurrection. + +37 But you also, Corinthians! have known, from the seeds of wheat, +and from other seeds, + +38 That one grain falls [10] dry into the earth, and within it first +dies, + +39 And afterwards rises again, by the will of the Lord, endued with +the same body: + +40 Neither indeed does it arise with the same simple body, but +manifold, and filled with blessing. + +41 But we produce the example not only from seeds, but from the +honourable bodies of men. [11] + +42 Ye have also known Jonas, the son of Amittai.[12] + +43 Because he delayed to preach to the Ninevites, he was swallowed up +in the belly of a fish for three days and three nights: + +44 And after three days God heard his supplication, and brought him +out of the deep abyss; + +45 Neither was any part of his body corrupted; neither was his +eyebrow bent down.[13] + +46 And how much more for you, oh men of little faith; + +47 If you believe in our Lord Jesus Christ, will he raise you up, +even as he himself hath arisen. + +48 If the bones of Elisha the prophet, falling upon the dead, revived +the dead, + +49 By how much more shall ye, who are supported by the flesh and the +blood and the Spirit of Christ, arise again on that day with a +perfect body? + +50 Elias the prophet, embracing the widow's son, raised him from the +dead: + +51 By how much more shall Jesus Christ revive you, on that day, with +a perfect body, even as he himself hath arisen? + +52 But if ye receive other things vainly [14], + +53 Henceforth no one shall cause me to travail; for I bear on my body +these fetters [15], + +54 To obtain Christ; and I suffer with patience these afflictions to +become worthy of the resurrection of the dead. + +55 And do each of you, having received the law from the hands of the +blessed Prophets and the holy gospel [16], firmly maintain it; + +56 To the end that you may be rewarded in the resurrection of the +dead, and the possession of the life eternal. + +57 But if any of ye, not believing, shall trespass, he shall be +judged with the misdoers, and punished with those who have false +belief. + +58 Because such are the generation of vipers, and the children of +dragons and basilisks. + +59 Drive far from amongst ye, and fly from such, with the aid of our +Lord Jesus Christ. + +60 And the peace and grace of the beloved Son be upon you.[17] Amen. + +_Done into English by me, January-February,_ 1817, _at the Convent of +San Lazaro, with the aid and exposition of the Armenian text by the +Father Paschal Aucher, Armenian Friar_. + + +BYRON. + +Venice, April 10, 1817. + +_I had also the Latin text, but it is in many places very corrupt, +and with great omissions_. + +[Footnote 1: Some MSS. have, _Paul's Epistle from prison, for the +instruction of the Corinthians_.] + +[Footnote 2: Others read, _Disturbed by various compunctions_.] + +[Footnote 3: Some MSS. have. _That Jesus might comfort the world_.] + +[Footnote 4: Others read, _He has not remained indifferent_.] + +[Footnote 5: Some MSS have, _Laid his hand, and then and all body +bound in sin_.] + +[Footnote 6: Others read, _Believing with a pure heart_.] + +[Footnote 7: Some MSS. have, _Of God the Father of all things._] + +[Footnote 8: Others read, _They curse themselves in this thing._] + +[Footnote 9: Others read, _Children of the disobedient._] + +[Footnote 10: Some MSS. have, _That one grain falls not dry into the +earth._] + +[Footnote 11: Others read, _But we have not only produced from seeds, +but from the honourable body of man._] + +[Footnote 12: Others read, _The son of Ematthius_.] + +[Footnote 13: Others add, _Nor did a hair of his body fall +therefrom_.] + +[Footnote 14: Some MSS. have, _Ye shall not receive other things in +vain_.] + +[Footnote 15: Others finished here thus, _Henceforth no one can +trouble me further, for I bear in my body the sufferings of Christ. +The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, my brethren. +Amen_.] + +[Footnote 16: Some MSS. have, _Of the holy evangelist_.] + +[Footnote 17: Others add, _Our Lord be with ye all. Amen_.] + + +REMARKS ON MR. MOORE'S LIFE OF LORD BYRON, BY LADY BYRON. + +"I have disregarded various publications in which facts within my own +knowledge have been grossly misrepresented; but I am called upon to +notice some of the erroneous statements proceeding from one who +claims to be considered as Lord Byron's confidential and authorised +friend. Domestic details ought not to be intruded on the public +attention: if, however, they _are_ so intruded, the persons affected +by them have a right to refute injurious charges. Mr. Moore has +promulgated his own impressions of private events in which I was most +nearly concerned, as if he possessed a competent knowledge of the +subject. Having survived Lord Byron, I feel increased reluctance to +advert to any circumstances connected with the period of my marriage; +nor is it now my intention to disclose them, further than may be +indispensably requisite for the end I have in view. Self-vindication +is not the motive which actuates me to make this appeal, and the +spirit of accusation is unmingled with it; but when the conduct of my +parents is brought forward in a disgraceful light, by the passages +selected from Lord Byron's letters, and by the remarks of his +biographer, I feel bound to justify their characters from imputations +which I _know_ to be false. The passages from Lord Byron's letters, +to which I refer, are the aspersion on my mother's character (vol. +iii. p. 206. last line):--'My child is very well, and flourishing, I +hear; but I must see also. I feel no disposition to resign it to the +_contagian of its grandmother's society_.' The assertion of her +dishonourable conduct in employing a spy (vol. iii. p. 202. l. 20, +&c.), 'A Mrs. C. (now a kind of housekeeper and _spy of Lady N_'s), +who, in her better days, was a washerwoman, is supposed to be--by the +learned--very much the occult cause of our domestic discrepancies.' +The seeming exculpation of myself, in the extract (vol. iii. p. +205.), with the words immediately following it,--'Her nearest +relatives are a ----;' where the blank clearly implies something too +offensive for publication. These passages tend to throw suspicion on +my parents, and give reason to ascribe the separation either to their +direct agency, or to that of 'officious spies' employed by them.[1] +From the following part of the narrative (vol. iii. p. 198.) it must +also be inferred that an undue influence was exercised by them for +the accomplishment of this purpose. 'It was in a few weeks after the +latter communication between us (Lord Byron and Mr. Moore), that Lady +Byron adopted the determination of parting from him. She had left +London at the latter end of January, on a visit to her father's +house, in Leicestershire, and Lord Byron was in a short time to +follow her. They had parted in the utmost kindness,--she wrote him a +letter full of playfulness and affection, on the road; and +immediately on her arrival at Kirkby Mallory, her father wrote to +acquaint Lord Byron that she would return to him no more.' In my +observations upon this statement, I shall, as far as possible, avoid +touching on any matters relating personally to Lord Byron and myself. +The facts are:--I left London for Kirkby Mallory, the residence of my +father and mother, on the 15th of January, 1816. Lord Byron had +signified to me in writing (Jan. 6th) his absolute desire that I +should leave London on the earliest day that I could conveniently +fix. It was not safe for me to undertake the fatigue of a journey +sooner than the 15th. Previously to my departure, it had been +strongly impressed on my mind, that Lord Byron was under the +influence of insanity. This opinion was derived in a great measure +from the communications made to me by his nearest relatives and +personal attendant, who had more opportunities than myself of +observing him during the latter part of my stay in town. It was even +represented to me that he was in danger of destroying himself. _With +the concurrence of his family_, I had consulted Dr. Baillie, as a +friend (Jan. 8th), respecting this supposed malady. On acquainting +him with the state of the case, and with Lord Byron's desire that I +should leave London, Dr. Baillie thought that my absence might be +advisable as an experiment, _assuming_ the fact of mental +derangement; for Dr. Baillie, not having had access to Lord Byron, +could not pronounce a positive opinion on that point. He enjoined, +that in correspondence with Lord Byron, I should avoid all but light +and soothing topics. Under these impressions, I left London, +determined to follow the advice given by Dr. Baillie. Whatever might +have been the nature of Lord Byron's conduct towards me from the time +of my marriage, yet, supposing him to be in a state of mental +alienation, it was not for _me_, nor for any person of common +humanity, to manifest, at that moment, a sense of injury. On the day +of my departure, and again on my arrival at Kirkby, Jan. 16th, I +wrote to Lord Byron in a kind and cheerful tone, according to those +medical directions. The last letter was circulated, and employed as a +pretext for the charge of my having been subsequently _influenced_ to +'desert[2]' my husband. It has been argued, that I parted from Lord +Byron in perfect harmony; that feelings, incompatible with any deep +sense of injury, had dictated the letter which I addressed to him; +and that my sentiments must have been changed by persuasion and +interference, when I was under the roof of my parents. These +assertions and inferences are wholly destitute of foundation. When I +arrived at Kirkby Mallory, my parents were unacquainted with the +existence of any causes likely to destroy my prospects of happiness; +and when I communicated to them the opinion which had been formed +concerning Lord Byron's state of mind, they were most anxious to +promote his restoration by every means in their power. They assured +those relations who were with him in London, that 'they would devote +their whole care and attention to the alleviation of his malady,' and +hoped to make the best arrangements for his comfort, if he could be +induced to visit them. With these intentions, my mother wrote on the +17th to Lord Byron, inviting him to Kirkby Mallory. She had always +treated him with an affectionate consideration and indulgence, which +extended to every little peculiarity of his feelings. Never did an +irritating word escape her lips in her whole intercourse with him. +The accounts given me after I left Lord Byron by the persons in +constant intercourse with him, added to those doubts which had before +transiently occurred to my mind, as to the reality of the alleged +disease, and the reports of his medical attendant, were far from +establishing the existence of any thing like lunacy. Under this +uncertainty, I deemed it right to communicate to my parents, that if +I were to consider Lord Byron's past conduct as that of a person of +sound mind, nothing could induce me to return to him. It therefore +appeared expedient, both to them and myself, to consult the ablest +advisers. For that object, and also to obtain still further +information respecting the appearances which seemed to indicate +mental derangement, my mother determined to go to London. She was +empowered by me to take legal opinions on a written statement of +mine, though I had then reasons for reserving a part of the case from +the knowledge even of my father and mother. Being convinced by the +result of these enquiries, and by the tenor of Lord Byron's +proceedings, that the notion of insanity was an illusion, I no longer +hesitated to authorise such measures as were necessary, in order to +secure me from being ever again placed in his power. Conformably with +this resolution, my father wrote to him on the 2d of February, to +propose an amicable separation. Lord Byron at first rejected this +proposal; but when it was distinctly notified to him, that if he +persisted in his refusal, recourse must be had to legal measures, he +agreed to sign a deed of separation. Upon applying to Dr. Lushington, +who was intimately acquainted with all the circumstances, to state in +writing what he recollected upon this subject, I received from him +the following letter, by which it will be manifest that my mother +cannot have been actuated by any hostile or ungenerous motives +towards Lord Byron. + +[Footnote 1: "The officious spies of his privacy," vol. iii. p. 211.] + +[Footnote 2: "The deserted husband," vol. iii. p. 212.] + + +"'My dear Lady Byron, + +"'I can rely upon the accuracy of my memory for the following +statement. I was originally consulted by Lady Noel on your behalf, +whilst you were in the country; the circumstances detailed by her +were such as justified a separation, but they were not of that +aggravated description as to render such a measure indispensable. On +Lady Noel's representation, I deemed a reconciliation with Lord Byron +practicable, and felt most sincerely a wish to aid in effecting it. +There was not on Lady Noel's part any exaggeration of the facts; nor, +so far as I could perceive, any determination to prevent a return to +Lord Byron: certainly none was expressed when I spoke of a +reconciliation. When you came to town in about a fortnight, or +perhaps more, after my first interview with Lady Noel, I was, for the +first time, informed by you of facts utterly unknown, as I have no +doubt, to Sir Ralph and Lady Noel. On receiving this additional +information, my opinion was entirely changed: I considered a +reconciliation impossible. I declared my opinion, and added, that if +such an idea should be entertained, I could not, either +professionally or otherwise, take any part towards effecting it. +Believe me, very faithfully yours, STEPH. LUSHINGTON. + +"'_Great George-street, Jan_. 31. 1830.' + +"I have only to observe, that if the statements on which my legal +advisers (the late Sir Samuel Komilly and Dr. Lushington) formed +their opinions were false, the responsibility and the odium should +rest with _me only_. I trust that the facts which I have here briefly +recapitulated will absolve my father and mother from all accusations +with regard to the part they took in the separation between Lord +Byron and myself. They neither originated, instigated, nor advised, +that separation; and they cannot be condemned for having afforded to +their daughter the assistance and protection which she claimed. There +is no other near relative to vindicate their memory from insult. I am +therefore compelled to break the silence which I had hoped always to +observe, and to solicit from the readers of Lord Byron's life an +impartial consideration of the testimony extorted from me. + +"A.I. NOEL BYRON. + +"_Hanger Hill, Feb_. 19. 1830." + + * * * * * + +LETTER OF MR. TURNER. + +_Referred to in_ vol. v. p. 129. + +"Eight months after the publication of my 'Tour in the Levant,' there +appeared in the London Magazine, and subsequently in most of the +newspapers, a letter from the late Lord Byron to Mr. Murray. + +"I naturally felt anxious at the time to meet a charge of error +brought against me in so direct a manner: but I thought, and friends +whom I consulted at the time thought with me, that I had better wait +for a more favourable opportunity than that afforded by the +newspapers of vindicating my opinion, which even so distinguished an +authority as the letter of Lord Byron left unshaken, and which, I +will venture to add, remains unshaken still. + +"I must ever deplore that I resisted my first impulse to reply +immediately. The hand of Death has snatched Lord Byron from his +kingdom of literature and poetry, and I can only guard myself from +the illiberal imputation of attacking the mighty dead, whose living +talent I should have trembled to encounter, by scrupulously confining +myself to such facts and illustrations as are strictly necessary to +save me from the charges of error, misrepresentation, and +presumptuousness, of which every writer must wish to prove himself +undeserving. + +"Lord Byron began by stating, 'The _tide_ was _not_ in our favour,' +and added, 'neither I nor any person on board the frigate had any +notion of a difference of the current on the Asiatic side; I never +heard of it till this moment.' His Lordship had probably forgotten +that Strabo distinctly describes the difference in the following +words;-- + +[Greek: 'Dio kai eupetesteron ek tes Sestou diairousi parallaxamenoi +mikron epi ton tes Herous purgon, kakeithen aphientes ta ploia +sumprattontos tou rhou pros ten peraiosin: Tois d' ex Abudou +peraioumenois parallakteon estin eis tanantia, okto pou stadious epi +purgon tina kat' antikru tes Sestou, epeita diairein plagion, kai me +teleos echousin enantion ton rhoun.'--] Ideoque _facilius a Sesto, +trajiciunt_ paululum deflexa navigatione ad Herus turrim, atque inde +_navigia dimittentes adjuvante etiam fluxu trajectum_. Qui ab Abydo +trajiciunt, in contrarium flectunt partem ad octo stadia ad turrim +quandam e regione Sesti: hinc _oblique_ trajiciunt, non _prorsus_ +contrario fluxu.'[1] + +[Footnote 1: "Strabo, book xiii. Oxford Edition."] + +"Here it is clearly asserted, that the current assists the crossing +from Sestos, and the words [Greek: 'aphientes ta ploia']--'_navigia +dimittentes_,'--'_letting the vessels go of themselves_,' prove how +considerable the assistance of the current was; while the words +[Greek: 'plagion']--'_oblique_,' and '[Greek: teleos],'--'_prorsus_,' +show distinctly that those who crossed from Abydos were obliged to do +so in an _oblique_ direction, or they would have the current +_entirely_ against them. + +"From this ancient authority, which, I own, appears to me +unanswerable, let us turn to the moderns. Baron de Tott, who, having +been for some time resident on the spot, employed as an engineer in +the construction of batteries, must be supposed well cognisant of the +subject, has expressed himself as follows:-- + +"'La surabondance des eaux que la Mer Noire recoit, et qu'elle ne +peut evaporer, versee dans la Mediterranee par le Bosphore de Thrace +et La Propontide, forme aux Dardanelles des courans si violens, que +souvent les batimens, toutes voiles dehors, out peine a les vaincre. +Les pilotes doivent encore observer, lorsque le vent suffit, de +diriger leur route de maniere a presenter le moins de resistance +possible a l'effort des eaux. On sent que cette etude a pour base la +direction des courans, qui, _renvoyes d'une points a l'autre,_ +forment des obstacles a la navigation, et feroient courir les plus +grands risques si l'on negligeoit ces connoissances +hydrographiques.'--_Memoires de_ TOTT, 3^{_me_} _Partie_. + +"To the above citations, I will add the opinion of Tournefort, who, +in his description of the strait, expresses with ridicule his +disbelief of the truth of Leander's exploit; and to show that the +latest travellers agree with the earlier, I will conclude my +quotation with a statement of Mr. Madden, who is just returned from +the spot. 'It was from the European side Lord Byron swam _with_ the +current, which runs about four miles an hour. But I believe he would +have found it totally impracticable to have crossed from Abydos to +Europe.'--MADDEN'S _Travels_, vol. i. + +"There are two other observations in Lord Byron's letter on which I +feel it necessary to remark. + +"'Mr. Turner says, "Whatever is thrown into the stream on this part +of the European bank _must_ arrive at the Asiatic shore." This is so +far from being the case, that it _must_ arrive in the Archipelago, if +left to the current, although a strong wind from the Asiatic[1] side +might have such an effect occasionally.' + +[Footnote 1: "This is evidently a mistake of the writer or printer. +His Lordship must here have meant a strong wind from the European +side, as no wind from the Asiatic side could have the effect of +driving an object to the Asiatic shore." + +I think it right to remark, that it is Mr. Turner himself who has +here originated the inaccuracy of which he accuses others; the words +used by Lord Byron being, _not_, as Mr. Turner says, "from the +Asiatic side," but "in the Asiatic direction."--T. M.] + +"Here Lord Byron is right, and I have no hesitation in confessing +that I was wrong. But I was wrong only in the letter of my remark, +not in the spirit of it. Any _thing_ thrown into the stream on the +European bank would be swept into the Archipelago, because, after +arriving so near the Asiatic-shore as to be almost, if not quite, +within a man's depth, it would be again floated off from the coast by +the current that is dashed from the Asiatic promontory. But this +would not affect a swimmer, who, being so near the land, would of +course, if he could not actually walk to it, reach it by a slight +effort. + +"Lord Byron adds, in his P.S. 'The strait is, however, not +extraordinarily wide, even where it broadens above and below the +forts.' From this statement I must venture to express my dissent, +with diffidence indeed, but with diffidence diminished by the ease +with which the fact may be established. The strait is widened so +considerably above the forts by the Bay of Maytos, and the bay +opposite to it on the Asiatic coast, that the distance to be passed +by a swimmer in crossing higher up would be, in my poor judgment, too +great for any one to accomplish from Asia to Europe, having such a +current to stem. + +"I conclude by expressing it as my humble opinion that no one is +bound to believe in the possibility of Leander's exploit, till the +passage has been performed by a swimmer, at least from Asia to +Europe. The sceptic is even entitled to exact, as the condition of +his belief, that the strait be crossed, as Leander crossed it, both +ways within at most fourteen hours. + +"W. TURNER." + + + +MR. MILLINGEN'S ACCOUNT OF THE CONSULTATION. + +_Referred to in_ vol. vi. p. 209. + +As the account given by Mr. Millingen of this consultation differs +totally from that of Dr. Bruno, it is fit that the reader should have +it in Mr. Millingen's own words:-- + +"In the morning (18th) a consultation was proposed, to which Dr. +Lucca Vega and Dr. Freiber, my assistants, were invited. Dr. Bruno +and Lucca proposed having recourse to antispasmodics and other +remedies employed in the last stage of typhus. Freiber and I +maintained that they could only hasten the fatal termination, that +nothing could be more empirical than flying from one extreme to the +other; that if, as we all thought, the complaint was owing to the +metastasis of rheumatic inflammation, the existing symptoms only +depended on the rapid and extensive progress it had made in an organ +previously so weakened and irritable. Antiphlogistic means could +never prove hurtful in this case; they would become useless only if +disorganisation were already operated; but then, since all hopes were +gone, what means would not prove superfluous? We recommended the +application of numerous leeches to the temples, behind the ears, and +along the course of the jugular vein; a large blister between the +shoulders, and sinapisms to the feet, as affording, though feeble, +yet the last hopes of success. Dr. B., being the patient's physician, +had the casting vote, and prepared the antispasmodic potion which Dr. +Lucca and he had agreed upon; it was a strong infusion of valerian +and ether, &c. After its administration, the convulsive movement, the +delirium increased; but, notwithstanding my representations, a second +dose was given half an hour after. After articulating confusedly a +few broken phrases, the patient sunk shortly after into a comatose +sleep, which the next day terminated in death. He expired on the 19th +of April, at six o'clock in the afternoon." + + +THE WILL OF LORD BYRON. + +_Extracted from the Registry of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury_. + +This is the last will and testament of me, George Gordon, Lord Byron, +Baron Byron, of Rochdale, in the county of Lancaster, as follows:--I +give and devise all that my manor or lordship of Rochdale, in the +said county of Lancaster, with all its rights, royalties, members, +and appurtenances, and all my lands, tenements, hereditaments, and +premises situate, lying, and being within the parish, manor, or +lordship of Rochdale aforesaid, and all other my estates, lands, +hereditaments, and premises whatsoever and wheresoever, unto my +friends John Cam Hobhouse, late of Trinity College, Cambridge, +Esquire, and John Hanson, of Chancery-lane, London, Esquire, to the +use and behoof of them, their heirs and assigns, upon trust that they +the said John Cam Hobhouse and John Hanson, and the survivor of them, +and the heirs and assigns of such survivor, do and shall, as soon as +conveniently may be after my decease, sell and dispose of all my said +manor and estates for the most money that can or may be had or gotten +for the same, either by private contract or public sale by auction, +and either together or in lots, as my said trustees shall think +proper; and for the facilitating such sale and sales, I do direct +that the receipt and receipts of my said trustees, and the survivor +of them, and the heirs and assigns of such survivor, shall be a good +and sufficient discharge, and good and sufficient discharges to the +purchaser or purchasers of my said estates, or any part or parts +thereof, for so much money as in such receipt or receipts shall be +expressed or acknowledged to be received; and that such purchaser or +purchasers, his, her, or their heirs and assigns, shall not +afterwards be in any manner answerable or accountable for such +purchase-monies, or be obliged to see to the application thereof: And +I do will and direct that my said trustees shall stand possessed of +the monies to arise by the sale of my said estates upon such trusts +and for such intents and purposes as I have hereinafter directed of +and concerning the same: And whereas I have by certain deeds of +conveyance made on my marriage with my present wife conveyed all my +manor and estate of Newstead, in the parishes of Newstead and Limby, +in the county of Nottingham, unto trustees, upon trust to sell the +same, and apply the sum of sixty thousand pounds, part of the money +to arise by such sale; upon the trusts of my marriage settlement: Now +I do hereby give and bequeath all the remainder of the purchase-money +to arise by sale of my said estate at Newstead, and all the whole of +the said sixty thousand pounds, or such part thereof as shall not +become vested and payable under the trusts of my said marriage +settlement, unto the said John Cam Hobhouse and John Hanson, their +executors, administrators, and assigns, upon such trusts and for such +ends, intents, and purposes as hereinafter directed of and concerning +the residue of my personal estate. I give and bequeath unto the said +John Cam Hobhouse and John Hanson, the sum of one thousand pounds +each, I give and bequeath all the rest, residue, and remainder of my +personal estate whatsoever and wheresoever unto the said John Cam +Hobhouse and John Hanson, their executors, administrators, and +assigns, upon trust that they, my said trustees and the survivor of +them, and the executors and administrators of such survivor, do and +shall stand possessed of all such rest and residue of my said +personal estate and the money to arise by sale of my real estates +hereinbefore devised to them for sale, and such of the monies to +arise by sale of my said estate at Newstead as I have power to +dispose of, after payment of my debts and legacies hereby given, upon +the trusts and for the ends, intents, and purposes hereinafter +mentioned and directed of and concerning the same, that is to say, +upon trust, that they my said trustees and the survivor of them, and +the executors and administrators of such survivor, do and shall lay +out and invest the same in the public stocks or funds, or upon +government or real security at interest, with power from time to time +to change, vary, and transpose such securities, and from time to time +during the life of my sister Augusta Mary Leigh, the wife of George +Leigh, Esquire, pay, receive, apply, and dispose of the interest, +dividends, and annual produce thereof, when and as the same shall +become due and payable, into the proper hands of the said Augusta +Mary Leigh, to and for her sole and separate use and benefit, free +from the control, debts, or engagements of her present or any future +husband, or unto such person or persons as she my said sister shall +from time to time, by any writing under her hand, notwithstanding her +present or any future coverture, and whether covert or sole, direct +or appoint; and from and immediately after the decease of my said +sister, then upon trust, that they my said trustees and the survivor +of them, his executors or administrators, do and shall assign and +transfer all my said personal estate and other the trust property +hereinbefore mentioned, or the stocks, funds, or securities wherein +or upon which the same shall or may be placed out or invested, unto +and among all and every the child and children of my said sister, if +more than one, in such parts, shares, and proportions, and to become +a vested interest, and to be paid and transferred at such time and +times, and in such manner, and with, under, and subject to such +provisions, conditions, and restrictions, as my said sister, at any +time during her life, whether covert or sole, by any deed or deeds, +instrument or instruments, in writing, with or without power of +revocation, to be sealed and delivered in the presence of two or more +credible witnesses, or by her last will and testament in writing, or +any writing of appointment in the nature of a will, shall direct or +appoint; and in default of any such appointment, or in case of the +death of my said sister in my lifetime, then upon trust that they my +said trustees and the survivor of them, his executors, +administrators, and assigns, do and shall assign and transfer all the +trust, property, and funds unto and among the children of my said +sister, if more than one, equally to be divided between them, share +and share alike, and if only one such child, then to such only child +the share and shares of such of them as shall be a son or sons, to be +paid and transferred unto him and them when and as he or they shall +respectively attain his or their age or ages of twenty-one years; and +the share and shares of such of them as shall be a daughter or +daughters, to be paid and transferred unto her or them when and as +she or they shall respectively attain her or their age or ages of +twenty-one years, or be married, which shall first happen; and in +case any of such children shall happen to die, being a son or sons, +before he or they shall attain the age of twenty-one years, or being +a daughter or daughters, before she or they shall attain the said age +of twenty-one, or be married; then it is my will and I do direct that +the share and shares of such of the said children as shall so die +shall go to the survivor or survivors of such children, with the +benefit of further accruer in case of the death of any such surviving +children before their shares shall become vested. And I do direct +that my said trustees shall pay and apply the interest and dividends +of each of the said children's shares in the said trust funds for +his, her, or their maintenance and education during their minorities, +notwithstanding their shares may not become vested interests, but +that such interest and dividends as shall not have been so applied +shall accumulate, and follow, and go over with the principal. And I +do nominate, constitute, and appoint the said John Cam Hobhouse and +John Hanson executors of this my will. And I do will and direct that +my said trustees shall not be answerable the one of them for the +other of them, or for the acts, deeds, receipts, or defaults of the +other of them, but each of them for his own acts, deeds, receipts, +and wilful defaults only, and that they my said trustees shall be +entitled to retain and deduct out of the monies which shall come to +their hands under the trusts aforesaid all such costs, charges, +damages, and expenses which they or any of them shall bear, pay, +sustain, or be put unto, in the execution and performance of the +trusts herein reposed in them. I make the above provision for my +sister and her children, in consequence of my dear wife Lady Byron, +and any children I may have, being otherwise amply provided for; and, +lastly, I do revoke all former wills by me at any time heretofore +made, and do declare this only to be my last will and testament. In +witness whereof, I have to this my last will, contained in three +sheets of paper, set my hand to the first two sheets thereof, and to +this third and last sheet my hand and seal this 29th day of July, in +the year of our Lord 1815. + +BYRON (L.S.) + +Signed, sealed, published, and declared by the said Lord Byron, the +testator, as and for his last will and testament, in the presence of +us, who, at his request, in his presence, and in the presence of each +other, have hereto subscribed our names as witnesses. + + THOMAS JONES MAWSE, + EDMUND GRIFFIN, + FREDERICK JERVIS, + Clerks to Mr. Hanson, Chancery-lane. + +CODICIL.--This is a Codicil to the last will and testament of me, the +Right Honourable George Gordon, Lord Byron. I give and bequeath unto +Allegra Biron, an infant of about twenty months old, by me brought +up, and now residing at Venice, the sum of five thousand pounds, +which I direct the executors of my said will to pay to her on her +attaining the age of twenty-one years, or on the day of her marriage, +on condition that she does not marry with a native of Great Britain, +which shall first happen. And I direct my said executors, as soon as +conveniently may be after my decease, to invest the said sum of five +thousand pounds upon government or real security, and to pay and +apply the annual income thereof in or towards the maintenance and +education of the said Allegra Biron until she attains her said age of +twenty-one years, or shall be married as aforesaid; but in case she +shall die before attaining the said age and without having been +married, then I direct the said sum of five thousand pounds to become +part of the residue of my personal estate, and in all other respects +I do confirm my said will, and declare this to be a codicil thereto. +In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, at Venice, +this 17th day of November, in the year of our Lord 1818, + +BYRON (L.S.) + +Signed, sealed, published, and declared by the said Lord Byron, as +and for a codicil to his will, in the presence of us, who, in his +presence, at his request, and in the presence of each other, have +subscribed our names as witnesses. + + NEWTON HANSON, + WILLIAM FLETCHER. + +Proved at London (with a Codicil), 6th of July, 1824, before the +Worshipful Stephen Lushington, Doctor of Laws, and surrogate, by the +oaths of John Cam Hobhouse and John Hanson, Esquires, the executors, +to whom administration was granted, having been first sworn duly to +administer. + + NATHANIEL GOSTLING, + GEORGE JENNER, + CHARLES DYNELEY, + Deputy Registrars. + + * * * * * + + + + +MISCELLANEOUS PIECES + +IN PROSE. + +REVIEW OF WORDSWORTH'S POEMS, + +2 Vols. 1807.[1] + +[Footnote 1: I have been a reviewer. In 1807, in a Magazine called +"Monthly Literary Recreations," I reviewed Wordsworth's trash of that +time. In the Monthly Review I wrote some articles which were +inserted. This was in the latter part of 1811.--BYRON.] + +(From "Monthly Literary Recreations," for August, 1807.) + +The volumes before us are by the author of Lyrical Ballads, a +collection which has not undeservedly met with a considerable share +of public applause. The characteristics of Mr. W.'s muse are simple +and flowing, though occasionally inharmonious verse, strong, and +sometimes irresistible appeals to the feelings, with unexceptionable +sentiments. Though the present work may not equal his former efforts, +many of the poems possess a native elegance, natural and unaffected, +totally devoid of the tinsel embellishments and abstract hyperboles +of several contemporary sonneteers. The last sonnet in the first +volume, p. 152., is perhaps the best, without any novelty in the +sentiments, which we hope are common to every Briton at the present +crisis; the force and expression is that of a genuine poet, feeling +as he writes:-- + + "Another year! another deadly blow! + Another mighty empire overthrown! + And we are left, or shall be left, alone-- + The last that dares to struggle with the foe. + 'Tis well!--from this day forward we shall know + That in ourselves our safety must be sought, + That by our own right-hands it must be wrought; + That we must stand unprop'd, or be laid low. + O dastard! whom such foretaste doth not cheer! + We shall exult, if they who rule the land + Be men who hold its many blessings dear, + Wise, upright, valiant, not a venal band, + Who are to judge of danger which they fear, + And honour which they do not understand." + +The song at the Feast of Brougham Castle, the Seven Sisters, the +Affliction of Margaret ---- of ----, possess all the beauties, and +few of the defects, of this writer: the following lines from the last +are in his first style:-- + + "Ah! little doth the young one dream + When full of play and childish cares, + What power hath e'en his wildest scream, + Heard by his mother unawares: + He knows it not, he cannot guess: + Years to a mother bring distress, + But do not make her love the less." + +The pieces least worthy of the author are those entitled "Moods of my +own Mind." We certainly wish these "Moods" had been less frequent, or +not permitted to occupy a place near works which only make their +deformity more obvious; when Mr. W. ceases to please, it is by +"abandoning" his mind to the most commonplace ideas, at the same time +clothing them in language not simple, but puerile. What will any +reader or auditor, out of the nursery, say to such namby-pamby as +"Lines written at the Foot of Brother's Bridge?" + + "The cock is crowing, + The stream is flowing, + The small birds twitter, + The lake doth glitter. + The green field sleeps in the sun; + The oldest and youngest, + Are at work with the strongest; + The cattle are grazing, + Their heads never raising, + There are forty feeding like one. + Like an army defeated, + The snow hath retreated, + And now doth fare ill, + On the top of the bare hill." + +"The plough-boy is whooping anon, anon," &c. &c. is in the same +exquisite measure. This appears to us neither more nor less than an +imitation of such minstrelsy as soothed our cries in the cradle, with +the shrill ditty of + + "Hey de diddle, + The cat and the fiddle: + The cow jump'd over the moon, + The little dog laugh'd to see such sport, + And the dish ran away with the spoon." + +On the whole, however, with the exception of the above, and other +INNOCENT odes of the same cast, we think these volumes display a +genius worthy of higher pursuits, and regret that Mr. W. confines his +muse to such trifling subjects. We trust his motto will be in future, +"Paulo majora canamus." Many, with inferior abilities, have acquired +a loftier seat on Parnassus, merely by attempting strains in which +Mr. Wordsworth is more qualified to excel.[1] + +[Footnote 1: This first attempt of Lord Byron at reviewing is +remarkable only as showing how plausibly he could assume the +established tone and phraseology of these minor judgment-seats of +criticism. If Mr. Wordsworth ever chanced to cast his eye over this +article, how little could he have expected that under that dull +prosaic mask lurked one who, in five short years from thence, would +rival even _him_ in poetry!--MOORE.] + + +REVIEW OF GELL'S GEOGRAPHY OF ITHACA, AND ITINERARY OF GREECE. + +(From the "Monthly Review" for August, 1811.) + +That laudable curiosity concerning the remains of classical +antiquity, which has of late years increased among our countrymen, is +in no traveller or author more conspicuous than in Mr. Gell. Whatever +difference of opinion may yet exist with regard to the success of the +several disputants in the famous Trojan controversy[1], or, indeed, +relating to the present author's merits as an inspector of the Troad, +it must universally be acknowledged that any work, which more +forcibly impresses on our imaginations the scenes of heroic action, +and the subjects of immortal song, possesses claims on the attention +of every scholar. + +[Footnote 1: We have it from the best authority that the venerable +leader of the Anti-Homeric sect, Jacob Bryant, several years before +his death, expressed regret for his ungrateful attempt to destroy +some of the most pleasing associations of our youthful studies. One +of his last wishes was--"_Trojaque nunc stares," &c._] + +Of the two works which now demand our report, we conceive the former +to be by far the most interesting to the reader, as the latter is +indisputably the most serviceable to the traveller. Excepting, +indeed, the running commentary which it contains on a number of +extracts from Pausanias and Strabo, it is, as the title imports, a +mere itinerary of Greece, or rather of Argolis only, in its present +circumstances. This being the case, surely it would have answered +every purpose of utility much better by being printed as a pocket +road-book of that part of the Morea; for a quarto is a very +unmanageable travelling companion. The maps[1] and drawings, we shall +be told, would not permit such an arrangement: but as to the +drawings, they are not in general to be admired as specimens of the +art; and several of them, as we have been assured by eye-witnesses of +the scenes which they describe, do not compensate for their +mediocrity in point of execution, by any extraordinary fidelity of +representation. Others, indeed, are more faithful, according to our +informants. The true reason, however, for this costly mode of +publication is in course to be found in a desire of gratifying the +public passion for large margins, and all the luxury of typography; +and we have before expressed our dissatisfaction with Mr. Gell's +aristocratical mode of communicating a species of knowledge, which +ought to be accessible to a much greater portion of classical +students than can at present acquire it by his means:--but, as such +expostulations are generally useless, we shall be thankful for what +we can obtain, and that in the manner in which Mr. Gell has chosen to +present it. + +[Footnote 1: Or, rather, _Map_; for we have only one in the volume, +and that is on too small a scale to give more than a general idea of +the relative position of places. The excuse about a larger map not +folding well is trifling; see, for instance, the author's own map of +Ithaca.] + +The former of these volumes, we have observed, is the most attractive +in the closet. It comprehends a very full survey of the far-famed +island which the hero of the Odyssey has immortalized; for we really +are inclined to think that the author has established the identity of +the modern _Theaki_ with the _Ithaca_ of Homer. At all events, if it +be an illusion, it is a very agreeable deception, and is effected by +an ingenious interpretation of the passages in Homer that are +supposed to be descriptive of the scenes which our traveller has +visited. We shall extract some of these adaptations of the ancient +picture to the modern scene, marking the points of resemblance which +appear to be strained and forced, as well as those which are more +easy and natural: but we must first insert some preliminary matter +from the opening chapter. + +The following passage conveys a sort of general sketch of the book, +which may give our readers a tolerably adequate notion of its +contents:-- + + "The present work may adduce, by a simple and correct survey + of the island, coincidences in its geography, in its natural + productions, and moral state, before unnoticed. Some will be + directly pointed out; the fancy or ingenuity of the reader may + be employed in tracing others; the mind familiar with the + imagery of the Odyssey will recognise with satisfaction the + scenes themselves; and this volume is offered to the public, + not entirely without hopes of vindicating the poem of Homer + from the scepticism of those critics who imagine that the + Odyssey is a mere poetical composition, unsupported by + history, and unconnected with the localities of any particular + situation. + + "Some have asserted that, in the comparison of places now + existing with the descriptions of Homer, we ought not to + expect coincidence in minute details; yet it seems only by + these that the kingdom of Ulysses, or any other, can be + identified, as, if such as idea be admitted, every small and + rocky island in the Ionian Sea, containing a good port, might, + with equal plausibility, assume the appellation of Ithaca. + + "The Venetian geographers have in a great degree contributed + to raise those doubts which have existed on the identity of + the modern with the ancient Ithaca, by giving, in their + charts, the name of Val di Compare to the island. That name + is, however, totally unknown in the country, where the isle is + invariably called Ithaca by the upper ranks, and Theaki by the + vulgar. The Venetians have equally corrupted the name of + almost every place in Greece; yet, as the natives of Epactos + or Naupactos never heard of Lepanto, those of Zacynthos of + Zante, or the Athenians of Settines, it would be as unfair to + rob Ithaca of its name, on such authority, as it would be to + assert that no such island existed, because no tolerable + representation of its form can be found in the Venetian + surveys. + + "The rare medals of the Island, of which three are represented + in the title-page, might be adduced as a proof that the name + of Ithaca was not lost during the reigns of the Roman + emperors. They have the head of Ulysses, recognised by the + pileum, or pointed cap, while the reverse of one presents the + figure of a cock, the emblem of his vigilance, with the legend + [Greek: ITHAKON]. A few of these medals are preserved in the + cabinets of the curious, and one also, with the cock, found in + the island, is in the possession of Signor Zavo, of Bathi. The + uppermost coin is in the collection of Dr. Hunter; the + second is copied from Newman, and the third is the property of + R.P. Knight, Esq. + + "Several inscriptions, which will be hereafter produced, will + tend to the confirmation of the idea that Ithaca was inhabited + about the time when the Romans were masters of Greece; yet + there is every reason to believe that few, if any, of the + present proprietors of the soil are descended from ancestors + who had long resided successively in the island. Even those + who lived, at the time of Ulysses, in Ithaca, seem to have + been on the point of emigrating to Argos, and no chief + remained, after the second in descent from that hero, worthy + of being recorded in history. It appears that the isle has + been twice colonised from Cephalonia in modern times, and I + was informed that a grant had been made by the Venetians, + entitling each settler in Ithaca to as much land as his + circumstances would enable him to cultivate." + +Mr. Gell then proceeds to invalidate the authority of previous +writers on the subject of Ithaca. Sir George Wheeler and M. le +Chevalier fall under his severe animadversion; and, indeed, according +to his account, neither of these gentlemen had visited the island, +and the description of the latter is "absolutely too absurd for +refutation." In another place, he speaks of M. le C. "disgracing a +work of such merit by the introduction of such fabrications;" again, +of the inaccuracy of the author's maps; and, lastly, of his inserting +an island at the southern entry of the Channel between Cephalonia and +Ithaca, which has no existence. This observation very nearly +approaches to the use of that monosyllable which Gibbon[1], without +expressing it, so adroitly applied to some assertion of his +antagonist, Mr. Davies. In truth, our traveller's words are rather +bitter towards his brother tourist: but we must conclude that their +justice warrants their severity. + +[Footnote 1: See his Vindication of the 15th and 16th chapters of the +_Decline and Fall_, &c.] + +In the second chapter, the author describes his landing in Ithaca, +and arrival at the rock Korax and the fountain Arethusa, as he +designates it with sufficient positiveness.--This rock, now known by +the name of Korax, or Koraka Petra, he contends to be the same with +that which Homer mentions as contiguous to the habitation of Eumaeus, +the faithful swine-herd of Ulysses.--We shall take the liberty of +adding to our extracts from Mr. Gell some of the passages in Homer to +which he _refers_ only, conceiving this to be the fairest method of +exhibiting the strength or the weakness of his argument. "Ulysses," +he observes, "came to the extremity of the isle to visit Eumusae, and +that extremity was the most southern; for Telemachus, coming from +Pylos, touched at the first south-eastern part of Ithaca with the +same intention." + + [Greek: Kai tote de r' Odusea kakos pothen egage daimon + Agrou ep' eschatien, hothi domata naie subotes; + Enth' elthen philos uios Odusseos theioio, + Ek Pulou emathoenios ion sun nei melaine; + Odussei O. + + Autar epen proten akten Ithakes aphikeai, + Nea men es polin otrunai kai panlas hetairous; + Autos de protisa suboten eisaphikesthai, + k.t.l. Odussei O.] + +These citations, we think, appear to justify the author in his +attempt to identify the situation of his rock and fountain with the +place of those mentioned by Homer. But let us now follow him in the +closer description of the scene.--After some account of the subjects +in the plate affixed, Mr. Gell remarks: "It is impossible to visit +this sequestered spot without being struck with the recollection of +the Fount of Arethusa and the Rock Korax, which the poet mentions in +the same line, adding, that there the swine eat the _sweet_[1] +acorns, and drank the black water." + +[Footnote 1: "_Sweet_ acorns." Does Mr. Gell translate from the +Latin? To avoid similar cause of mistake, [Greek: menoeikea] should +not be rendered _suavem_ but _gratam_, as Barnes has given it.] + + [Greek: Deeis ton ge suessi paremenon; ai de nemontai + Par Korakos petre, epi te krene Arethouse, + Esthousai balanon menoeikea, kai melan hudor + Pinousai; Odussei N.] + +"Having passed some time at the fountain, taken a drawing, and made +the necessary observations on the situation of the place, we +proceeded to an examination of the precipice, climbing over the +terraces above the source, among shady fig-trees, which, however, did +not prevent us from feeling the powerful effects of the mid-day sun. +After a short but fatiguing ascent, we arrived at the rock, which +extends in a vast perpendicular semicircle, beautifully fringed with +trees, facing to the southeast. Under the crag we found two caves of +inconsiderable extent, the entrance of one of which, not difficult of +access, is seen in the view of the fount. They are still the resort +of sheep and goats, and in one of them are small natural receptacles +for the water, covered by a stalagmitic incrustation. + +"These caves, being at the extremity of the curve formed by the +precipice, open toward the south, and present us with another +accompaniment of the fount of Arethusa, mentioned by the poet, who +informs us that the swineherd Eumaeus left his guests in the house, +whilst he, putting on a thick garment, went to sleep near the herd, +under the hollow of the rock, which sheltered him from the northern +blast. Now we know that the herd fed near the fount; for Minerva +tells Ulysses that he is to go first to Eumaeus, whom he should find +with the swine, near the rock Korax and the fount of Arethusa. As the +swine then fed at the fountain, so it is necessary that a cavern +should be found in its vicinity; and this seems to coincide, in +distance and situation, with that of the poem. Near the fount also +was the fold or stathmos of Eumaeus; for the goddess informs Ulysses +that he should find his faithful servant at or above the fount. + +"Now the hero meets the swineherd close to the fold, which was +consequently very near that source. At the top of the rock, and just +above the spot where the waterfall shoots down the precipice, is at +this day a stagni or pastoral dwelling, which the herdsmen of Ithaca +still inhabit, on account of the water necessary for their cattle. +One of these people walked on the verge of the precipice at the time +of our visit to the place, and seemed so anxious to know how we had +been conveyed to the spot, that his enquiries reminded us of a +question probably not uncommon in the days of Homer, who more than +once represents the Ithacences demanding of strangers what ship had +brought them to the island, it being evident they could not come on +foot. He told us that there was, on the summit where he stood, a +small cistern of water, and a kalybea, or shepherd's hut. There are +also vestiges of ancient habitations, and the place is now called +Amarathia. + +"Convenience, as well as safety, seems to have pointed out the lofty +situation of Amarathia as a fit place for the residence of the +herdsmen of this part of the island from the earliest ages. A small +source of water is a treasure in these climates; and if the +inhabitants of Ithaca now select a rugged and elevated spot, to +secure them from the robbers of the Echinades, it is to be +recollected that the Taphian pirates were not less formidable, even +in the days of Ulysses, and that a residence in a solitary part of +the island, far from the fortress, and close to a celebrated +fountain, must at all times have been dangerous, without some such +security as the rocks of Korax. Indeed, there can be no doubt that +the house of Eumaeus was on the top of the precipice; for Ulysses, in +order to evince the truth of his story to the swineherd, desires to +be thrown from the summit if his narration does not prove correct. + +"Near the bottom of the precipice is a curious natural gallery, about +seven feet high, which is expressed in the plate. It may be fairly +presumed, from the very remarkable coincidence between this place and +the Homeric account, that this was the scene designated by the poet +as the fountain of Arethusa, and the residence of Eumaeus; and, +perhaps, it would be impossible to find another spot which bears, at +this day, so strong a resemblance to a poetic description composed at +a period so very remote. There is no other fountain in this part of +the island, nor any rock which bears the slightest resemblance to the +Korax of Homer. + +"The stathmos of the good Eumaeus appears to have been little +different, either in use or construction, from the stagni and kalybea +of the present day. The poet expressly mentions that other herdsmen +drove their flocks into the city at sunset,--a custom which still +prevails throughout Greece during the winter, and that was the season +in which Ulysses visited Eumaeus. Yet Homer accounts for this +deviation from the prevailing custom, by observing that he had +retired from the city to avoid the suitors of Penelope. These +trifling occurrences afford a strong presumption that the Ithaca of +Homer was something more than the creature of his own fancy, as some +have supposed it; for though the grand outline of a fable may be +easily imagined, yet the consistent adaptation of minute incidents to +a long and elaborate falsehood is a task of the most arduous and +complicated nature." + +After this long extract, by which we have endeavoured to do justice +to Mr. Gell's argument, we cannot allow room for any farther +quotations of such extent; and we must offer a brief and imperfect +analysis of the remainder of the work. + +In the third chapter, the traveller arrives at the capital, and in +the fourth, he describes it in an agreeable manner. We select his +account of the mode of celebrating a Christian festival in the Greek +church:-- + + "We were present at the celebration of the feast of the + Ascension, when the citizens appeared in their gayest dresses, + and saluted each other in the streets with demonstrations of + pleasure. As we sate at breakfast in the house of Zignor Zavo, + we were suddenly roused by the discharge of a gun, succeeded + by a tremendous crash of pottery, which fell on the tiles, + steps, and pavements, in every direction. The bells of the + numerous churches commenced a most discordant jingle; colours + were hoisted on every mast in the port, and a general shout of + joy announced some great event. Our host informed us that the + feast of the Ascension was annually commemorated in this + manner at Bathi, the populace exclaiming [Greek: anese o + Chrisos, alethinos o Theos,] Christ is risen, the true God." + +In another passage, he continues this account as follows:--"In the +evening of the festival, the inhabitants danced before their houses; +and at one we saw the figure which is said to have been first used by +the youths and virgins of Delos, at the happy return of Theseus from +the expedition of the Cretan Labyrinth. It has now lost much of that +intricacy which was supposed to allude to the windings of the +habitation of the Minotaur," &c. &c. This is rather too much for even +the inflexible gravity of our censorial muscles. When the author +talks, with all the _reality_ (if we may use the expression) of a +Lempriere, on the stories of the fabulous ages, we cannot refrain +from indulging a momentary smile; nor can we seriously accompany him +in the learned architectural detail by which he endeavours to give +us, from the Odyssey, the ground-plot of the house of Ulysses.--of +which he actually offers a plan in drawing! "showing how the +description of the house of Ulysses in the Odyssey may be supposed to +correspond with the foundations yet visible on the hill of +Aito!"--Oh, Foote! Foote! why are you lost to such inviting subjects +for your ludicrous pencil!--In his account of this celebrated +mansion, Mr. Gell says, one side of the court seems to have been +occupied by the Thalamos, or sleeping apartments of the men, &c. &c.; +and, in confirmation of this hypothesis, he refers to the 10th +Odyssey, line 340. On examining his reference, we read, + + [Greek: Es thalamon t ienai, kai ses epibemenai eunes.] + +where Ulysses records an invitation which he received from Circe to +take a part of her bed. How this illustrates the above conjecture, we +are at a loss to divine: but we suppose that some numerical error has +occurred in the reference, as we have detected a trifling mistake or +two of the same nature. + +Mr. G. labours hard to identify the cave of Dexia near Bathi (the +capital of the island), with the grotto of the Nymphs described in +the 13th Odyssey. We are disposed to grant that he has succeeded: but +we cannot here enter into the proofs by which he supports his +opinion; and we can only extract one of the concluding sentences of +the chapter, which appears to us candid and judicious:-- + + "Whatever opinion may be formed as to the identity of the cave + of Dexia with the grotto of the Nymphs, it is fair to state, + that Strabo positively asserts that no such cave as that + described by Homer existed in his time, and that geographer + thought it better to assign a physical change, rather than + ignorance in Homer, to account for a difference which he + imagined to exist between the Ithaca of his time and that of + the poet. But Strabo, who was an uncommonly accurate observer + with respect to countries surveyed by himself, appears to have + been wretchedly misled by his informers on many occasions. + + "That Strabo had never visited this country is evident, not + only from his inaccurate account of it, but from his citation + of Appollodorus and Scepsius, whose relations are in direct + opposition to each other on the subject of Ithaca, as will be + demonstrated on a future opportunity." + +We must, however, observe that "demonstration" is a strong term.--In +his description of the Leucadian Promontory (of which we have a +pleasing representation in the plate), the author remarks that it is +"celebrated for the _leap_ of Sappho, and the _death_ of Artemisia." +From this variety in the expression, a reader would hardly conceive +that both the ladies perished in the same manner: in fact, the +sentence is as proper as it would be to talk of the decapitation of +Russell, and the death of Sidney. The view from this promontory +includes the island of Corfu; and the name suggests to Mr. Gell the +following note, which, though rather irrelevant, is of a curious +nature, and we therefore conclude our citations by transcribing it:-- + + "It has been generally supposed that Corfu, or Corcyra, was + the Phaeacia of Homer; but Sir Henry Englefield thinks the + position of that island inconsistent with the voyage of + Ulysses as described in the Odyssey. That gentleman has also + observed a number of such remarkable coincidences between the + courts of Alcinous and Solomon, that they may be thought + curious and interesting. Homer was familiar with the names of + Tyre, Sidon, and Egypt; and, as he lived about the time of + Solomon, it would not have been extraordinary if he had + introduced some account of the magnificence of that prince + into his poem. As Solomon was famous for wisdom, so the name + of Alcinous signifies strength of knowledge; as the gardens of + Solomon were celebrated, so are those of Alcinous (Od. + 7.112.); as the kingdom of Solomon was distinguished by twelve + tribes under twelve princes (1 Kings, ch. 4.), so that of + Alcinous (Od. 8. 390.) was ruled by an equal number; as the + throne of Solomon was supported by lions of gold (1 Kings, ch. + 10.), so that of Alcinous was placed on dogs of silver and + gold (Od, 7. 91.); as the fleets of Solomon were famous, so + were those of Alcinous. It is perhaps worthy of remark, that + Neptune sate on the mountains of the SOLYMI, as he returned + from AEthiopia to AEgae, while he raised the tempest which threw + Ulysses on the coast of Phaeacia; and that the Solymi of + Pamphylia are very considerably distant from the route.--The + suspicious character, also, which Nausicaa attributes to her + countryman agrees precisely with that which the Greeks and + Romans gave of the Jews." + +The seventh chapter contains a description of the Monastery of +Kathara, and several adjacent places. The eighth, among other +curiosities, fixes on an imaginary site for the Farm of Laertes: but +this is the agony of conjecture indeed!--and the ninth chapter +mentions another Monastery, and a rock still called the School of +Homer. Some sepulchral inscriptions of a very simple nature are +included.--The tenth and last chapter brings us round to the Port of +Schoenus, near Bathi; after we have completed, seemingly in a very +minute and accurate manner, the tour of the island. + +We can certainly recommend a perusal of this volume to every lover of +classical scene and story. If we may indulge the pleasing belief that +Homer sang of a real kingdom, and that Ulysses governed it, though we +discern many feeble links in Mr. Gell's chain of evidence, we are on +the whole induced to fancy that this is the Ithaca of the bard and of +the monarch. At all events, Mr. Gell has enabled every future +traveller to form a clearer judgment on the question than he could +have established without such a "Vade-mecum to Ithaca," or a "Have +with you, to the House of Ulysses," as the present. With Homer in his +pocket, and Gell on his sumpter-horse or mule, the Odyssean tourist +may now make a very classical and delightful excursion; and we doubt +not that the advantages accruing to the Ithacences, from the +increased number of travellers who will visit them in consequence of +Mr. Gell's account of their country, will induce them to confer on +that gentleman any heraldic honours which they may have to bestow, +should he ever look in upon them again.--_Baron Bathi _ would be a +pretty title:-- + + "_Hoc_ Ithacus _velit, et magno mercentur Atridae_."--Virgil. + +For ourselves, we confess that all our old Grecian feelings would be +alive on approaching the fountain of Melainudros, where, as the +tradition runs, or as the priests relate, Homer was restored to +sight. + +We now come to the "Grecian Patterson," or "Cary," which Mr. Gell has +begun to publish; and really he has carried the epic rule of +concealing the person of the author to as great a length as either of +the above-mentioned heroes of itinerary writ. We hear nothing of his +"hair-breadth 'scapes" by sea or land; and we do not even know, for +the greater part of his journey through Argolis, whether he relates +what he has seen or what he has heard. Prom other parts of the book, +we find the former to be the case: but, though there have been +tourists and "strangers" in other countries, who have kindly +permitted their readers to learn rather too much of their sweet +selves, yet it is possible to carry delicacy, or cautious silence, or +whatever it may be called, to the contrary extreme. We think that Mr. +Gell has fallen into this error, so opposite to that of his numerous +brethren. It is offensive, indeed, to be told what a man has eaten +for dinner, or how pathetic he was on certain occasions; but we like +to know that there is a being yet living who describes the scenes to +which he introduces us; and that it is not a mere translation from +Strabo or Pausanias which we are reading, or a commentary on those +authors. This reflection leads us to the concluding remark in Mr. +Gell's preface (by much the most interesting part of his book) to his +Itinerary of Greece, in which he thus expresses himself:-- + + "The confusion of the modern with the ancient names of places + in this volume is absolutely unavoidable; they are, however, + mentioned in such a manner, that the reader will soon be + accustomed to the indiscriminate use of them. The necessity of + applying the ancient appellations to the different routes, + will be evident from the total ignorance of the public on the + subject of the modern names, which, having never appeared in + print, are only known to the few individuals who have visited + the country. + + "What could appear less intelligible to the reader, or less + useful to the traveller, than a route from Chione and Zaracca + to Kutchukmadi, from thence to Krabata to Schoenochorio, and + by the mills of Peali, while every one is in some degree + acquainted with the names of Stymphalus, Nemea, Mycenae, + Lyrceia, Lerna, and Tegea?" + +Although this may be very true inasmuch as it relates to the reader, +yet to the traveller we must observe, in opposition to Mr. Gell, that +nothing can be less useful than the designation of his route +according to the ancient names. We might as well, and with as much +chance of arriving at the place of our destination, talk to a +Hounslow post-boy about making haste to _Augusta_, as apply to our +Turkish guide in modern Greece for a direction to Stymphalus, Nemea, +Mycenae, &c. &c. This is neither more nor less than classical +affectation; and it renders Mr. Gell's book of much more confined use +than it would otherwise have been:--but we have some other and more +important remarks to make on his general directions to Grecian +tourists; and we beg leave to assure our readers that they are +derived from travellers who have lately visited Greece. In the first +place, Mr. Gell is absolutely incautious enough to recommend an +interference on the part of English travellers with the Minister at +the Porte, in behalf of the Greeks. "The folly of such neglect (page +16. preface,) in many instances, where the emancipation of a district +might often be obtained by the present of a snuff-box or a watch, at +Constantinople, _and without the smallest danger of exciting the +jealousy of such a court as that of Turkey,_ will be acknowledged +when we are no longer able to rectify the error." We have every +reason to believe, on the contrary, that the folly of half a dozen +travellers, taking this advice, might bring us into a war. "Never +interfere with any thing of the kind," is a much sounder and more +political suggestion to all English travellers in Greece. + +Mr. Gell apologises for the introduction of "his panoramic designs," +as he calls them, on the score of the great difficulty of giving any +tolerable idea of the face of a country in writing, and the ease with +which a very accurate knowledge of it may be acquired by maps and +panoramic designs. We are informed that this is not the case with +many of these designs. The small scale of the single map we have +already censured; and we have hinted that some of the drawings are +not remarkable for correct resemblance of their originals. The two +nearer views of the Gate of the Lions at Mycenae are indeed good +likenesses of their subject, and the first of them is unusually well +executed; but the general view of Mycenae is not more than tolerable +in any respect; and the prospect of Larissa, &c. is barely equal to +the former. The view _from_ this last place is also indifferent; and +we are positively assured that there are no windows at Nauplia which +look like a box of dominos,--the idea suggested by Mr. Gell's plate. +We must not, however, be too severe on these picturesque bagatelles, +which, probably, were very hasty sketches; and the circumstances of +weather, &c. may have occasioned some difference in the appearance of +the same objects to different spectators. We shall therefore return +to Mr. Gell's preface; endeavouring to set him right in his +directions to travellers, where we think that he is erroneous, and +adding what appears to have been omitted. In his first sentence, he +makes an assertion which is by no means correct. He says, "_We_ are +at present as ignorant of Greece, as of the interior of Africa." +Surely not quite so ignorant; or several of our Grecian _Mungo Parks_ +have travelled in vain, and some very sumptuous works have been +published to no purpose! As we proceed, we find the author observing +that "Athens is _now_ the most polished city of Greece," when we +believe it to be the most barbarous, even to a proverb-- + + [Greek: O Athena, prote chora, + Ti gaidarous trepheis tora[1]?] + +[Footnote 1: We write these lines from the _recitation_ of the +travellers to whom we have alluded; but we cannot vouch for the +correctness of the Romaic.] + +is a couplet of reproach _now_ applied to this once famous city; +whose inhabitants seem little worthy of the inspiring call which was +addressed to them within these twenty years, by the celebrated +Riga:-- + + [Greek: Deute paides ton Ellenon--k.t.l.] + +Iannina, the capital of Epirus, and the seat of Ali Pacha's +government, _is_ in truth deserving of the honours which Mr. Gell has +improperly bestowed on degraded Athens. As to the correctness of the +remark concerning the fashion of wearing the hair cropped in +_Molossia,_ as Mr. Gell informs us, our authorities cannot depose: +but why will he use the classical term of Eleuthero-Lacones, when +that people are so much better known by their modern name of +Mainotes? "The court of the Pacha of Tripolizza" is said "to realise +the splendid visions of the Arabian Nights." This is true with regard +to the _court_: but surely the traveller ought to have added that the +city and palace are most miserable, and form an extraordinary +contrast to the splendour of the court.--Mr. Gell mentions _gold_ +mines in Greece: he should have specified their situation, as it +certainly is not universally known. When, also, he remarks that "the +first article of necessity _in Greece_ is a firman, or order from the +Sultan, permitting the traveller to pass unmolested," we are much +misinformed if he be right. On the contrary, we believe this to be +almost the only part of the Turkish dominions in which a firman is +not necessary; since the passport of the Pacha is absolute within his +territory (according to Mr. G.'s own admission), and much more +effectual than a firman.--"Money," he remarks, "is easily procured at +Salonica, or Patrass, where the English have Consuls." It is much +better procured, we understand, from the Turkish governors, who never +charge discount. The Consuls for the English are not of the most +magnanimous order of Greeks, and far from being so liberal, generally +speaking; although there are, in course, some exceptions, and Strune +of Patrass has been more honourably mentioned.--After having observed +that "horses seem the best mode of conveyance in Greece," Mr. Gell +proceeds: "Some travellers would prefer an English saddle; but a +saddle of this sort is always objected to by the owner of the horse, +_and not without reason_" &c. This, we learn, is far from being the +case; and, indeed, for a very simple reason, an English saddle must +seem to be preferable to one of the country, because it is much +lighter. When, too, Mr. Gell calls the _postilion_ "Menzilgi," he +mistakes him for his betters: _Serrugees_ are postilions; _Mensilgis_ +are postmasters.--Our traveller was fortunate in his Turks, who are +hired to walk by the side of the baggage-horses. They "are certain," +he says, "of performing their engagement without grumbling." We +apprehend that this is by no means certain:--but Mr. Gell is +perfectly right in preferring a Turk to a Greek for this purpose; and +in his general recommendation to take a Janissary on the tour: who, +we may add, should be suffered to act as he pleases, since nothing is +to be done by gentle means, or even by offers of money, at the places +of accommodation. A courier, to be sent on before to the place at +which the traveller intends to sleep, is indispensable to comfort: +but no tourist should be misled by the author's advice to suffer the +Greeks to gratify their curiosity, in permitting them to remain for +some time about him on his arrival at an inn. They should be removed +as soon as possible; for, as to the remark that "no stranger would +think of intruding when a room is pre-occupied," our informants were +not so well convinced of that fact. + +Though we have made the above exceptions to the accuracy of Mr. +Gell's information, we are most ready to do justice to the general +utility of his directions, and can certainly concede the praise which +he is desirous of obtaining,--namely, "of having facilitated the +researches of future travellers, by affording that local information +which it was before impossible to obtain." This book, indeed, is +absolutely necessary to any person who wishes to explore the Morea +advantageously; and we hope that Mr. Gell will continue his Itinerary +over that and over every other part of Greece. He allows that his +volume "is only calculated to become a book of reference, and not of +general entertainment:" but we do not see any reason against the +compatibility of both objects in a survey of the most celebrated +country of the ancient world. To that country, we trust, the +attention not only of our travellers, but of our legislators, will +hereafter be directed. The greatest caution will, indeed, be +required, as we have premised, in touching on so delicate a subject +as the amelioration of the possessions of an ally: but the field for +the exercise of political sagacity is wide and inviting in this +portion of the globe; and Mr. Gell, and all other writers who +interest us, however remotely, in its extraordinary _capabilities_, +deserve well of the British empire. We shall conclude by an extract +from the author's work: which, even if it fails of exciting that +general interest which we hope most earnestly it may attract, towards +its important subject, cannot, as he justly observes, "be entirely +uninteresting to the scholar;" since it is a work "which gives him a +faithful description of the remains of cities, the very existence of +which was doubtful, as they perished before the aera of authentic +history." The subjoined quotation is a good specimen of the author's +minuteness of research as a topographer; and we trust that the credit +which must accrue to him from the present performance will ensure the +completion of his Itinerary:-- + + "The inaccuracies of the maps of Anacharsis are in many + respects very glaring. The situation of Phlius is marked by + Strabo as surrounded by the territories of Sicyon, Argos, + Cleonae, and Stymphalus. Mr. Hawkins observed, that Phlius, the + ruins of which still exist near Agios Giorgios, lies in a + direct line between Cleonae and Stymphalus, and another from + Sicyon to Argos; so that Strabo was correct in saying that it + lay between those four towns; yet we see Phlius, in the map of + Argolis by M. Barbie du Bocage, placed ten miles to the north + of Stymphalus, contradicting both history and fact. D'Anville + is guilty of the same error. + + "M. du Bocage places a town named Phlius, and by him Phlionte, + on the point of land which forms the port of Drepano: there + are not at present any ruins there. The maps of D'Anville are + generally more correct than any others where + ancient geography is concerned. A mistake occurs on the + subject of Tiryns, and a place named by him Vathia, but of + which nothing can be understood. It is possible that Vathi, or + the profound valley, may be a name sometimes used for the + valley of Barbitsa, and that the place named by D'Anville + Claustra may be the outlet of that valley called Kleisoura, + which has a corresponding signification. + + "The city of Tiryns is also placed in two different positions, + once by its Greek name, and again as Tirynthus. The mistake + between the islands of Sphaeria and Calaura has been noticed in + page 135. The Pontinus, which D'Anville represents as a river, + and the Erasinus are equally ill placed in his map. There was + a place called Creopolis, somewhere toward Cynouria; but its + situation is not easily fixed. The ports called Bucephalium + and Piraeus seem to have been nothing more than little bays in + the country between Corinth and Epidaurus. The town called + Athenae, in Cynouria, by Pausanias, is called Anthena by + _Thucydides_, book 5. 41. + + "In general, the map of D'Anville will be found more accurate + than those which have been published since his time; indeed + the mistakes of that geographer are in general such as could + not be avoided without visiting the country. Two errors of + D'Anville may be mentioned, lest the opportunity of publishing + the itinerary of Arcadia should never occur. The first is, + that the rivers Malaetas and Mylaon, near Methydrium, are + represented as running toward the south, whereas they flow + northwards to the Ladon; and the second is, that the Aroanius, + which falls into the Erymanthus at Psophis, is represented as + flowing from the lake of Pheneos; a mistake which arises from + the ignorance of the ancients themselves who have written on + the subject. The fact is that the Ladon receives the waters of + the lakes of Orchomenos and Pheneos: but the Aroanius rises at + a spot not two hours distant from Psophis." + +In furtherance of our principal object in this critique, we have only +to add a wish that some of our Grecian tourists, among the fresh +articles of information concerning Greece which they have lately +imported, would turn their minds to the language of the country. So +strikingly similar to the ancient Greek is the modern Romaic as a +written language, and so dissimilar in sound, that even a few general +rules concerning pronunciation would be of most extensive use. + + + + +PARLIAMENTARY SPEECHES. + + * * * * * + +DEBATE ON THE FRAME-WORK BILL, IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS, FEBRUARY 27, 1812. + + +The order of the day for the second reading of this Bill being read, + +Lord BYRON rose, and (for the first time) addressed their Lordships +as follows:-- + +My Lords; the subject now submitted to your Lordships for the first +time, though new to the House, is by no means new to the country. I +believe it had occupied the serious thoughts of all descriptions of +persons, long before its introduction to the notice of that +legislature, whose interference alone could be of real service. As a +person in some degree connected with the suffering county, though a +stranger not only to this House in general, but to almost every +individual whose attention I presume to solicit, I must claim some +portion of your Lordships' indulgence, whilst I offer a few +observations on a question in which I confess myself deeply +interested. + +To enter into any detail of the riots would be superfluous: the House +is already aware that every outrage short of actual bloodshed has +been perpetrated, and that the proprietors of the Frames obnoxious to +the rioters, and all persons supposed to be connected with them, have +been liable to insult and violence. During the short time I recently +passed in Nottinghamshire, not twelve hours elapsed without some +fresh act of violence; and on the day I left the county I was +informed that forty Frames had been broken the preceding evening, as +usual, without resistance and without detection. + +Such was then the state of that county, and such I have reason to +believe it to be at this moment. But whilst these outrages must be +admitted to exist to an alarming extent, it cannot be denied that +they have arisen from circumstances of the most unparalleled +distress: the perseverance of these miserable men in their +proceedings, tends to prove that nothing but absolute want could have +driven a large, and once honest and industrious, body of the people, +into the commission of excesses so hazardous to themselves, their +families, and the community. At the time to which I allude, the town +and county were burdened with large detachments of the military; the +police was in motion, the magistrates assembled, yet all the +movements, civil and military, had led to--nothing. Not a single +instance had occurred of the apprehension of any real delinquent +actually taken in the fact, against whom there existed legal evidence +sufficient for conviction. But the police, however useless, were by +no means idle: several notorious delinquents had been detected; men, +liable to conviction, on the clearest evidence, of the capital crime +of poverty; men, who had been nefariously guilty of lawfully +begetting several children, whom, thanks to the times! they were +unable to maintain. Considerable injury has been done to the +proprietors of the improved Frames. These machines were to them an +advantage, inasmuch as they superseded the necessity of employing a +number of workmen, who were left in consequence to starve. By the +adoption of one species of Frame in particular, one man performed the +work of many, and the superfluous labourers were thrown out of +employment. Yet it is to be observed, that the work thus executed was +inferior in quality; not marketable at home, and merely hurried over +with a view to exportation. It was called, in the cant of the trade, +by the name of "Spider work." The rejected workmen, in the blindness +of their ignorance, instead of rejoicing at these improvements in +arts so beneficial to mankind, conceived themselves to be sacrificed +to improvements in mechanism. In the foolishness of their hearts they +imagined, that the maintenance and well doing of the industrious +poor, were objects of greater consequence than the enrichment of a +few individuals by any improvement, in the implements of trade, which +threw the workmen out of employment, and rendered the labourer +unworthy of his hire. And it must be confessed that although the +adoption of the enlarged machinery in that state of our commerce +which the country once boasted, might have been beneficial to the +master without being detrimental to the servant; yet, in the present +situation of our manufactures, rotting in warehouses, without a +prospect of exportation, with the demand for work and workmen equally +diminished, Frames of this description tend materially to aggravate +the distress and discontent of the disappointed sufferers. But the +real cause of these distresses and consequent disturbances lies +deeper. When we are told that these men are leagued together not only +for the destruction of their own comfort, but of their very means of +subsistence, can we forget that it is the bitter policy, the +destructive warfare of the last eighteen years, which has destroyed +their comfort, your comfort, all men's comfort? That policy, which, +originating with "great statesmen now no more," has survived the dead +to become a curse on the living, unto the third and fourth +generation! These men never destroyed their looms till they were +become useless, worse than useless; till they were become actual +impediments to their exertions in obtaining their daily bread. Can +you, then, wonder that in times like these, when bankruptcy, +convicted fraud, and imputed felony, are found in a station not far +beneath that of your Lordships, the lowest, though once most useful +portion of the people, should forget their duty in their distresses, +and become only less guilty than one of their representatives? But +while the exalted offender can find means to baffle the law, new +capital punishments must be devised, new snares of death must be +spread for the wretched mechanic, who is famished into guilt. These +men were willing to dig, but the spade was in other hands: they were +not ashamed to beg, but there was none to relieve them: their own +means of subsistence were cut off, all other employments +pre-occupied; and their excesses, however to be deplored and +condemned, can hardly be subject of surprise. + +It has been stated that the persons in the temporary possession of +frames connive at their destruction; if this be proved upon enquiry, +it were necessary that such material accessories to the crime should +be principles in the punishment. But I did hope, that any measure +proposed by his Majesty's government, for your Lordships' decision, +would have had conciliation for its basis; or, if that were hopeless, +that some previous enquiry, some deliberation would have been deemed +requisite; not that we should have been called at once without +examination, and without cause, to pass sentences by wholesale, and +sign death-warrants blindfold. But, admitting that these men had no +cause of complaint; that the grievances of them and their employers +were alike groundless; that they deserved the worst; what +inefficiency, what imbecility has been evinced in the method chosen +to reduce them! Why were the military called out to be made a mockery +of, if they were to be called out at all? As far as the difference of +seasons would permit, they have merely parodied the summer campaign +of Major Sturgeon; and, indeed, the whole proceedings, civil and +military, seemed on the model of those of the mayor and corporation +of Garratt.--Such marchings and counter-marchings! from Nottingham to +Bullwell, from Bullwell to Banford, from Banford to Mansfield! and +when at length the detachments arrived at their destination, in all +"the pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war," they came just +in time to witness the mischief which had been done, and ascertain +the escape of the perpetrators, to collect the "_spolia opima_" in +the fragments of broken frames, and return to their quarters amidst +the derision of old women, and the hootings of children. Now, though, +in a free country, it were to be wished, that our military should +never be too formidable, at least to ourselves, I cannot see the +policy of placing them in situations where they can only be made +ridiculous. As the sword is the worst argument that can be used, so +should it be the last. In this instance it has been the first; but +providentially as yet only in the scabbard. The present measure will, +indeed, pluck it from the sheath; yet had proper meetings been held +in the earlier stages of these riots, had the grievances of these men +and their masters (for they also had their grievances) been fairly +weighed and justly examined, I do think that means might have been +devised to restore these workmen to their avocations, and +tranquillity to the county. At present the county suffers from the +double infliction of an idle military and a starving population. In +what state of apathy have we been plunged so long, that now for the +first time the house has been officially apprised of these +disturbances? All this has been transacting within 130 miles of +London, and yet we, "good easy men, have deemed full sure our +greatness was a ripening," and have sat down to enjoy our foreign +triumphs in the midst of domestic calamity. But all the cities you +have taken, all the armies which have retreated before your leaders, +are but paltry subjects of self-congratulation, if your land divides +against itself, and your dragoons and your executioners must be let +loose against your fellow-citizens.--You call these men a mob, +desperate, dangerous, and ignorant; and seem to think that the only +way to quiet the "_Bellua multorum capitum_" is to lop off a few of +its superfluous heads. But even a mob may be better reduced to reason +by a mixture of conciliation and firmness, than by additional +irritation and redoubled penalties. Are we aware of our obligations +to a mob? It is the mob that labour in your fields and serve in your +houses,--that man your navy, and recruit your army,--that have +enabled you to defy all the world, and can also defy you when neglect +and calamity have driven them to despair! You may call the people a +mob; but do not forget, that a mob too often speaks the sentiments of +the people. And here I must remark, with what alacrity you are +accustomed to fly to the succour of your distressed allies, leaving +the distressed of your own country to the care of Providence or--the +parish. When the Portuguese suffered under the retreat of the French, +every arm was stretched out, every hand was opened, from the rich +man's largess to the widow's mite, all was bestowed, to enable them +to rebuild their villages and replenish their granaries. And at this +moment, when thousands of misguided but most unfortunate +fellow-countrymen are struggling with the extremes of hardships and +hunger, as your charity began abroad it should end at home. A much +less sum, a tithe of the bounty bestowed on Portugal, even if those +men (which I cannot admit without enquiry) could not have been +restored to their employments, would have rendered unnecessary the +tender mercies of the bayonet and the gibbet. But doubtless our +friends have too many foreign claims to admit a prospect of domestic +relief; though never did such objects demand it. I have traversed the +seat of war in the Peninsula, I have been in some of the most +oppressed provinces of Turkey, but never under the most despotic of +infidel governments did I behold such squalid wretchedness as I have +seen since my return in the very heart of a Christian country. And +what are your remedies? After months of inaction, and months of +action worse than inactivity, at length comes forth the grand +specific, the never-failing nostrum of all state physicians, from the +days of Draco to the present time. After feeling the pulse and +shaking the head over the patient, prescribing the usual course of +warm water and bleeding, the warm water of your mawkish police, and +the lancets of your military, these convulsions must terminate in +death, the sure consummation of the prescriptions of all political +Sangrados. Setting aside the palpable injustice and the certain +inefficiency of the bill, are there not capital punishments +sufficient in your statutes? Is there not blood enough upon your +penal code, that more must be poured forth to ascend to Heaven and +testify against you? How will you carry the bill into effect? Can you +commit a whole county to their own prisons? Will you erect a gibbet +in every field, and hang up men like scarecrows? or will you proceed +(as you must to bring this measure into effect) by decimation? place +the county under martial law? depopulate and lay waste all around +you? and restore Sherwood Forest as an acceptable gift to the crown, +in its former condition of a royal chase and an asylum for outlaws? +Are these the remedies for a starving and desperate populace? Will +the famished wretch who has braved your bayonets be appalled by your +gibbets? When death is a relief, and the only relief it appears that +you will afford him, will he be dragooned into tranquillity? Will +that which could not be effected by your grenadiers, be accomplished +by your executioners? If you proceed by the forms of law, where is +your evidence? Those who have refused to impeach their accomplices, +when transportation only was the punishment, will hardly be tempted +to witness against them when death is the penalty. With all due +deference to the noble lords opposite, I think a little +investigation, some previous enquiry would induce even them to change +their purpose. That most favourite state measure, so marvellously +efficacious in many and recent instances, temporising, would not be +without its advantages in this. When a proposal is made to emancipate +or relieve, you hesitate, you deliberate for years, you temporise and +tamper with the minds of men; but a death-bill must be passed off +hand, without a thought of the consequences. Sure I am, from what I +have heard, and from what I have seen, that to pass the hill under +all the existing circumstances, without enquiry, without +deliberation, would only be to add injustice to irritation, and +barbarity to neglect. The framers of such a bill must be content to +inherit the honours of that Athenian lawgiver whose edicts were said +to be written not in ink but in blood. But suppose it past; suppose +one of these men, as I have seen them,--meagre with famine, sullen +with despair, careless of a life which your Lordships are perhaps +about to value at something less than the price of a +stocking-frame;--suppose this man surrounded by the children for whom +he is unable to procure bread at the hazard of his existence, about +to be torn for ever from a family which he lately supported in +peaceful industry, and which it is not his fault that he can no +longer so support;--suppose this man, and there are ten thousand such +from whom you may select your victims, dragged into court, to be +tried for this new offence, by this new law; still, there are two +things wanting to convict and condemn him; and these are, in my +opinion,--twelve butchers for a jury, and a Jefferies for a judge! + + + +DEBATE ON THE EARL OF DONOUGHMORE'S MOTION FOR A COMMITTEE ON THE +ROMAN CATHOLIC CLAIMS, APRIL 21. 1812. + +Lord BYRON rose and said:-- + +My Lords,--The question before the House has been so frequently, +fully, and ably discussed, and never perhaps more ably than on this +night, that it would be difficult to adduce new arguments for or +against it. But with each discussion, difficulties have been removed, +objections have been canvassed and refuted, and some of the former +opponents of Catholic emancipation have at length conceded to the +expediency of relieving the petitioners. In conceding thus much, +however, a new objection is started; it is not the time, say they, or +it is an improper time, or there is time enough yet. In some degree I +concur with those who say, it is not the time exactly; that time is +passed; better had it been for the country, that the Catholics +possessed at this moment their proportion of our privileges, that +their nobles held their due weight in our councils, than that we +should be assembled to discuss their claims. It had indeed been +better-- + + "Non tempore tali + "Cogere concilium cum muros obsidet hostis." + +The enemy is without, and distress within. It is too late to cavil on +doctrinal points, when we must unite in defence of things more +important than the mere ceremonies of religion. It is indeed +singular, that we are called together to deliberate, not on the God +we adore, for in that we are agreed; not about the king we obey, for +to him we are loyal; but how far a difference in the ceremonials of +worship, how far believing not too little, but too much (the worst +that can be imputed to the Catholics), how far too much devotion to +their God may incapacitate our fellow-subjects from effectually +serving their king. + +Much has been said, within and without doors, of church and state, +and although those venerable words have been too often prostituted to +the most despicable of party purposes, we cannot hear them too often; +all, I presume, are the advocates of church and state,--the church of +Christ, and the state of Great Britain; but not a state of exclusion +and despotism, not an intolerant church, not a church militant, which +renders itself liable to the very objection urged against the Romish +communion, and in a greater degree, for the Catholic merely withholds +its spiritual benediction (and even that is doubtful), but our +church, or rather our churchmen, not only refuse to the Catholic +their spiritual grace, but all temporal blessings whatsoever. It was +an observation of the great Lord Peterborough, made within these +walls, or within the walls where the Lords then assembled, that he +was for a "parliamentary king and a parliamentary constitution, but +not a parliamentary God and a parliamentary religion." The interval +of a century has not weakened the force of the remark. It is indeed +time that we should leave off these petty cavils on frivolous points, +these Lilliputian sophistries, whether our "eggs are best broken at +the broad or narrow end." + +The opponents of the Catholics may be divided into two classes; those +who assert that the Catholics have too much already, and those who +allege that the lower orders, at least, have nothing more to require. +We are told by the former, that the Catholics never will be +contented: by the latter, that they are already too happy. The last +paradox is sufficiently refuted by the present as by all past +petitions; it might as well be said, that the negroes did not desire +to be emancipated, but this is an unfortunate comparison, for you +have already delivered them out of the house of bondage without any +petition on their part, but many from their task-masters to a +contrary effect; and for myself, when I consider this, I pity the +Catholic peasantry for not having the good fortune to be born black. +But the Catholics are contented, or at least ought to be, as we are +told; I shall, therefore, proceed to touch on a few of those +circumstances which so marvellously contribute to their exceeding +contentment. They are not allowed the free exercise of their religion +in the regular army; the Catholic soldier cannot absent himself from +the service of the Protestant clergyman, and unless he is quartered +in Ireland, or in Spain, where can he find eligible opportunities of +attending his own? The permission of Catholic chaplains to the Irish +militia regiments was conceded as a special favour, and not till +after years of remonstrance, although an act, passed in 1793, +established it as a right. But are the Catholics properly protected +in Ireland? Can the church purchase a rood of land whereon to erect a +chapel? No! all the places of worship are built on leases of trust or +sufferance from the laity, easily broken, and often betrayed. The +moment any irregular wish, any casual caprice of the benevolent +landlord meets with opposition, the doors are barred against the +congregation. This has happened continually, but in no instance more +glaringly, than at the town of Newton-Barry, in the county of +Wexford. The Catholics enjoying no regular chapel, as a temporary +expedient, hired two barns; which, being thrown into one, served for +public worship. At this time, there was quartered opposite to the +spot an officer whose mind appears to have been deeply imbued with +those prejudices which the Protestant petitions now on the table +prove to have been fortunately eradicated from the more rational +portion of the people; and when the Catholics were assembled on the +Sabbath as usual, in peace and good-will towards men, for the worship +of their God and yours, they found the chapel door closed, and were +told that if they did not immediately retire (and they were told this +by a yeoman officer and a magistrate), the riot act should be read, +and the assembly dispersed at the point of the bayonet! This was +complained of to the middle man of government, the secretary at the +castle in 1806, and the answer was (in lieu of redress), that he +would cause a letter to be written to the colonel, to prevent, if +possible, the recurrence of similar disturbances. Upon this fact, no +very great stress need be laid; but it tends to prove that while the +Catholic church has not power to purchase land for its chapels to +stand upon, the laws for its protection are of no avail. In the mean +time, the Catholics are at the mercy of every "pelting petty +officer," who may choose to play his "fantastic tricks before high +heaven," to insult his God, and injure his fellow-creatures. + +Every school-boy, any foot-boy (such have held commissions in our +service), any foot-boy who can exchange his shoulder-knot for an +epaulette, may perform all this and more against the Catholic by +virtue of that very authority delegated to him by his sovereign, for +the express purpose of defending his fellow subjects to the last drop +of his blood, without discrimination or distinction between Catholic +and Protestant. + +Have the Irish Catholics the full benefit of trial by jury? They have +not; they never can have until they are permitted to share the +privilege of serving as sheriffs and under-sheriffs. Of this a +striking example occurred at the last Enniskillen assizes. A yeoman +was arraigned for the murder of a Catholic named Macvournagh: three +respectable, uncontradicted witnesses deposed that they saw the +prisoner load, take aim, fire at, and kill the said Macvournagh. This +was properly commented on by the judge: but to the astonishment of +the bar, and indignation of the court, the Protestant jury acquitted +the accused. So glaring was the partiality, that Mr. Justice Osborne +felt it his duty to bind over the acquitted, but not absolved +assassin, in large recognizances; thus for a time taking away his +license to kill Catholics. + +Are the very laws passed in their favour observed? They are rendered +nugatory in trivial as in serious cases. By a late act, Catholic +chaplains are permitted in gaols, but in Fermanagh county the grand +jury lately persisted in presenting a suspended clergyman for the +office, thereby evading the statute, notwithstanding the most +pressing remonstrances of a most respectable magistrate, named +Fletcher, to the contrary. Such is law, such is justice, for the +happy, free, contented Catholic! + +It has been asked, in another place, Why do not the rich Catholics +endow foundations for the education of the priesthood? Why do you not +permit them to do so? Why are all such bequests subject to the +interference, the vexatious, arbitrary, peculating interference of +the Orange commissioners for charitable donations? + +As to Maynooth college, in no instance, except at the time of its +foundation, when a noble Lord (Camden), at the head of the Irish +administration, did appear to interest himself in its advancement; +and during the government of a noble Duke (Bedford), who, like his +ancestors, has ever been the friend of freedom and mankind, and who +has not so far adopted the selfish policy of the day as to exclude +the Catholics from the number of his fellow-creatures; with these +exceptions, in no instance has that institution been properly +encouraged. There was indeed a time when the Catholic clergy were +conciliated, while the Union was pending, that Union which could not +be carried without them, while their assistance was requisite in +procuring addresses from the Catholic counties; then they were +cajoled and caressed, feared and flattered, and given to understand +that "the Union would do every thing;" but the moment it was passed, +they were driven back with contempt into their former obscurity. + +In the conduct pursued towards Maynooth college, every thing is done +to irritate and perplex--every thing is done to efface the slightest +impression of gratitude from the Catholic mind; the very hay made +upon the lawn, the fat and tallow of the beef and mutton allowed, +must be paid for and accounted upon oath. It is true, this economy in +miniature cannot sufficiently be commended, particularly at a time +when only the insect defaulters of the Treasury, your Hunts and your +Chinnerys, when only those "gilded bugs" can escape the microscopic +eye of ministers. But when you come forward, session after session, +as your paltry pittance is wrung from you with wrangling and +reluctance, to boast of your liberality, well might the Catholic +exclaim, in the words of Prior:-- + + "To John I owe some obligation, + But John unluckily thinks fit + To publish it to all the nation, + So John and I are more than quit." + +Some persons have compared the Catholics to the beggar in Gil Bias: +who made them beggars? Who are enriched with the spoils of their +ancestors? And cannot you relieve the beggar when your fathers have +made him such? If you are disposed to relieve him at all, cannot you +do it without flinging your farthings in his face? As a contrast, +however, to this beggarly benevolence, let us look at the Protestant +Charter Schools; to them you have lately granted 41,000_l_.: thus are +they supported, and how are they recruited? Montesquieu observes on +the English constitution, that the model may be found in Tacitus, +where the historian describes the policy of the Germans, and adds, +"This beautiful system was taken from the woods;" so in speaking of +the charter schools, it may be observed, that this beautiful system +was taken from the gipsies. These schools are recruited in the same +manner as the Janissaries at the time of their enrolment under +Amurath, and the gipsies of the present day with stolen children, +with children decoyed and kidnapped from their Catholic connections +by their rich and powerful Protestant neighbours: this is notorious, +and one instance may suffice to show in what manner:--The sister of a +Mr. Carthy (a Catholic gentleman of very considerable property) died, +leaving two girls, who were immediately marked out as proselytes, and +conveyed to the charter school of Coolgreny; their uncle, on being +apprised of the fact, which took place during his absence, applied +for the restitution of his nieces, offering to settle an independence +on these his relations; his request was refused, and not till after +five years' struggle, and the interference of very high authority, +could this Catholic gentleman obtain back his nearest of kindred from +a charity charter school. In this manner are proselytes obtained, and +mingled with the offspring of such Protestants as may avail +themselves of the institution. And how are they taught? A catechism +is put into their hands, consisting of, I believe, forty-five pages, +in which are three questions relative to the Protestant religion; one +of these queries is, "Where was the Protestant religion before +Luther?" + +Answer, "In the Gospel." The remaining forty-four pages and a half +regard the damnable idolatry of Papists! + +Allow me to ask our spiritual pastors and masters, is this training +up a child in the way which he should go? Is this the religion of the +Gospel before the time of Luther? that religion which preaches "Peace +on earth, and glory to God?" Is it bringing up infants to be men or +devils? Better would it be to send them any where than teach them +such doctrines; better send them to those islands in the South Seas, +where they might more humanely learn to become cannibals; it would be +less disgusting that they were brought up to devour the dead, than +persecute the living. Schools do you call them? call them rather +dunghills, where the viper of intolerance deposits her young, that +when their teeth are cut and their poison is mature, they may issue +forth, filthy and venomous, to sting the Catholic. But are these the +doctrines of the Church of England, or of churchmen? No, the most +enlightened churchmen are of a different opinion. What says Paley? "I +perceive no reason why men of different religious persuasions should +not sit upon the same bench, deliberate in the same council, or fight +in the same ranks, as well as men of various religious opinions, upon +any controverted topic of natural history, philosophy, or ethics." It +may be answered, that Paley was not strictly orthodox; I know nothing +of his orthodoxy, but who will deny that he was an ornament to the +church, to human nature, to Christianity? + +I shall not dwell upon the grievance of tithes, so severely felt by +the peasantry, but it may be proper to observe, that there is an +addition to the burden, a per centage to the gatherer, whose interest +it thus becomes to rate them as highly as possible, and we know that +in many large livings in Ireland the only resident Protestants are +the tithe proctor and his family. + +Amongst many causes of irritation, too numerous for recapitulation, +there is one in the militia not to be passed over,--I mean the +existence of Orange lodges amongst the privates. Can the officers +deny this? And if such lodges do exist, do they, can they, tend to +promote harmony amongst the men, who are thus individually separated +in society, although mingled in the ranks? And is this general system +of persecution to be permitted; or is it to be believed that with +such a system the Catholics can or ought to be contented? If they +are, they belie human nature; they are then, indeed, unworthy to be +any thing but the slaves you have made them. The facts stated are +from most respectable authority, or I should not have dared in this +place, or any place, to hazard this avowal. If exaggerated, there are +plenty as willing, as I believe them to be unable, to disprove them. +Should it be objected that I never was in Ireland, I beg leave to +observe, that it is as easy to know something of Ireland without +having been there, as it appears with some to have been born, bred, +and cherished there, and yet remain ignorant of its best interests. + +But there are who assert that the Catholics have already been too +much indulged. See (cry they) what has been done: we have given them +one entire college, we allow them food and raiment, the full +enjoyment of the elements, and leave to fight for us as long as they +have limbs and lives to offer, and yet they are never to be +satisfied!--Generous and just declaimers! To this, and to this only, +amount the whole of your arguments, when stript of their sophistry. +Those personages remind me of a story of a certain drummer, who, +being called upon in the course of duty to administer punishment to a +friend tied to the halberts, was requested to flog high, he did--to +flog low, he did--to flog in the middle, he did,--high, low, down the +middle, and up again, but all in vain; the patient continued his +complaints with the most provoking pertinacity, until the drummer, +exhausted and angry, flung down his scourge, exclaiming, "The devil +burn you, there's no pleasing you, flog where one will!" Thus it is, +you have flogged the Catholic high, low, here, there, and every +where, and then you wonder he is not pleased. It is true that time, +experience, and that weariness which attends even the exercise of +barbarity, have taught you to flog a little more gently; but still +you continue to lay on the lash, and will so continue, till perhaps +the rod may be wrested from your hands, and applied to the backs of +yourselves and your posterity. + +It was said by somebody in a former debate, (I forget by whom, and am +not very anxious to remember,) if the Catholics are emancipated, why +not the Jews? If this sentiment was dictated by compassion for the +Jews, it might deserve attention, but as a sneer against the +Catholic, what is it but the language of Shylock transferred from his +daughter's marriage to Catholic emancipation-- + + "Would any of the tribe of Barabbas + Should have it rather than a Christian." + +I presume a Catholic is a Christian, even in the opinion of him whose +taste only can be called in question for his preference of the Jews. + +It is a remark often quoted of Dr. Johnson, (whom I take to be almost +as good authority as the gentle apostle of intolerance, Dr. +Duigenan,) that he who could entertain serious apprehensions of +danger to the church in these times, would have "cried fire in the +deluge." This is more than a metaphor; for a remnant of these +antediluvians appear actually to have come down to us, with fire in +their mouths and water in their brains, to disturb and perplex +mankind with their whimsical outcries. And as it is an infallible +symptom of that distressing malady with which I conceive them to be +afflicted (so any doctor will inform your Lordships), for the unhappy +invalids to perceive a flame perpetually flashing before their eyes, +particularly when their eyes are shut (as those of the persons to +whom I allude have long been), it is impossible to convince these +poor creatures, that the fire against which they are perpetually +warning us and themselves is nothing but an _ignis fatuus_ of their +own drivelling imaginations. What rhubarb, senna, or "what purgative +drug can scour that fancy thence?"--It is impossible, they are given +over, theirs is the true + + "Caput insanabile tribus Anticyris." + +These are your true Protestants. Like Bayle, who protested against +all sects whatsoever, so do they protest against Catholic petitions, +Protestant petitions, all redress, all that reason, humanity, policy, +justice, and common sense, can urge against the delusions of their +absurd delirium. These are the persons who reverse the fable of the +mountain that brought forth a mouse; they are the mice who conceive +themselves in labour with mountains. + +To return to the Catholics; suppose the Irish were actually contented +under their disabilities; suppose them capable of such a bull as not +to desire deliverance, ought we not to wish it for ourselves? Have we +nothing to gain by their emancipation? What resources have been +wasted? What talents have been lost by the selfish system of +exclusion? You already know the value of Irish aid; at this moment +the defence of England is intrusted to the Irish militia; at this +moment, while the starving people are rising in the fierceness of +despair, the Irish are faithful to their trust. But till equal energy +is imparted throughout by the extension of freedom, you cannot enjoy +the full benefit of the strength which you are glad to interpose +between you and destruction. Ireland has done much, but will do more. +At this moment the only triumph obtained through long years of +continental disaster has been achieved by an Irish general: it is +true he is not a Catholic; had he been so, we should have been +deprived of his exertions: but I presume no one will assert that his +religion would have impaired his talents or diminished his +patriotism; though, in that case, he must have conquered in the +ranks, for he never could have commanded an army. + +But he is fighting the battles of the Catholics abroad; his noble +brother has this night advocated their cause, with an eloquence which +I shall not depreciate by the humble tribute of my panegyric; whilst +a third of his kindred, as unlike as unequal, has been combating +against his Catholic brethren in Dublin, with circular letters, +edicts, proclamations, arrests, and dispersions;--all the vexatious +implements of petty warfare that could be wielded by the mercenary +guerillas of government, clad in the rusty armour of their obsolete +statutes. Your Lordships will, doubtless, divide new honours between +the Saviour of Portugal, and the Dispenser of Delegates. It is +singular, indeed, to observe the difference between our foreign and +domestic policy; if Catholic Spain, faithful Portugal, or the no less +Catholic and faithful king of the one Sicily, (of which, by the by, +you have lately deprived him,) stand in need of succour, away goes a +fleet and an army, an ambassador and a subsidy, sometimes to fight +pretty hardly, generally to negotiate very badly, and always to pay +very dearly for our Popish allies. But let four millions of +fellow-subjects pray for relief, who fight and pay and labour in your +behalf, they must be treated as aliens; and although their "father's +house has many mansions," there is no resting-place for them. Allow +me to ask, are you not fighting for the emancipation of Ferdinand +VII., who certainly is a fool, and, consequently, in all probability +a bigot? and have you more regard for a foreign sovereign than your +own fellow-subjects, who are not fools, for they know your interest +better than you know your own; who are not bigots, for they return +you good for evil; but who are in worse durance than the prison of a +usurper, inasmuch as the fetters of the mind are more galling than +those of the body? + +Upon the consequences of your not acceding to the claims of the +petitioners, I shall not expatiate; you know them, you will feel +them, and your children's children when you are passed away. Adieu to +that Union so called, as "_Lucus a non lucendo_," a Union from never +uniting, which in its first operation gave a death-blow to the +independence of Ireland, and in its last may be the cause of her +eternal separation from this country. If it must be called a Union, +it is the union of the shark with his prey; the spoiler swallows up +his victim, and thus they become one and indivisible. Thus has Great +Britain swallowed up the parliament, the constitution, the +independence of Ireland, and refuses to disgorge even a single +privilege, although for the relief of her swollen and distempered +body politic. + +And now, my Lords, before I sit down, will his Majesty's ministers +permit me to say a few words, not on their merits, for that would be +superfluous, but on the degree of estimation in which they are held +by the people of these realms? The esteem in which they are held has +been boasted of in a triumphant tone on a late occasion within these +walls, and a comparison instituted between their conduct and that of +noble lords on this side of the House. + +What portion of popularity may have fallen to the share of my noble +friends (if such I may presume to call them), I shall not pretend to +ascertain; but that of his Majesty's ministers it were vain to deny. +It is, to be sure, a little like the wind, "no one knows whence it +cometh or whither it goeth," but they feel it, they enjoy it, they +boast of it. Indeed, modest and unostentatious as they are, to what +part of the kingdom, even the most remote, can they flee to avoid the +triumph which pursues them? If they plunge into the midland counties, +there will they be greeted by the manufacturers, with spurned +petitions in their hands, and those halters round their necks +recently voted in their behalf, imploring blessings on the heads of +those who so simply, yet ingeniously, contrived to remove them from +their miseries in this to a better world. If they journey on to +Scotland, from Glasgow to Johnny Groats, every where will they +receive similar marks of approbation. If they take a trip from +Portpatrick to Donaghadee, there will they rush at once into the +embraces of four Catholic millions, to whom their vote of this night +is about to endear them for ever. When they return to the metropolis, +if they can pass under Temple Bar without unpleasant sensations at +the sight of the greedy niches over that ominous gateway, they cannot +escape the acclamations of the livery, and the more tremulous, but +not less sincere, applause, the blessings, "not loud but deep," of +bankrupt merchants and doubting stock-holders. If they look to the +army, what wreaths, not of laurel, but of nightshade, are preparing +for the heroes of Walcheren. It is true, there are few living +deponents left to testify to their merits on that occasion; but a +"cloud of witnesses" are gone above from that gallant army which they +so generously and piously despatched, to recruit the "noble army of +martyrs." + +What if in the course of this triumphal career (in which they will +gather as many pebbles as Caligula's army did on a similar triumph, +the prototype of their own,) they do not perceive any of those +memorials which a grateful people erect in honour of their +benefactors; what although not even a sign-post will condescend to +depose the Saracen's head in favour of the likeness of the conquerors +of Walcheren, they will not want a picture who can always have a +caricature; or regret the omission of a statue who will so often see +themselves exalted in effigy. But their popularity is not limited to +the narrow bounds of an island; there are other countries where their +measures, and above all, their conduct to the Catholics, must render +them preeminently popular. If they are beloved here, in France they +must be adored. There is no measure more repugnant to the designs and +feelings of Bonaparte than Catholic emancipation; no line of conduct +more propitious to his projects, than that which has been pursued, is +pursuing, and, I fear, will be pursued, towards Ireland. What is +England without Ireland, and what is Ireland without the Catholics? +It is on the basis of your tyranny Napoleon hopes to build his own. +So grateful must oppression of the Catholics be to his mind, that +doubtless (as he has lately permitted some renewal of intercourse) +the next cartel will convey to this country cargoes of seve-china and +blue ribands, (things in great request, and of equal value at this +moment,) blue ribands of the Legion of Honour for Dr. Duigenan and +his ministerial disciples. Such is that well-earned popularity, the +result of those extraordinary expeditions, so expensive to ourselves, +and so useless to our allies; of those singular enquiries, so +exculpatory to the accused and so dissatisfactory to the people; of +those paradoxical victories, so honourable, as we are told, to the +British name, and so destructive to the best interests of the British +nation: above all, such is the reward of a conduct pursued by +ministers towards the Catholics. + +I have to apologise to the House, who will, I trust, pardon one, not +often in the habit of intruding upon their indulgence, for so long +attempting to engage their attention. My most decided opinion is, as +my vote will be, in favour of the motion. + + * * * * * + +DEBATE ON MAJOR CARTWRIGHT'S PETITION, JUNE 1. 1813. + +Lord BYRON rose and said:-- + +My Lords,--The petition which I now hold for the purpose of +presenting to the House, is one which I humbly conceive requires the +particular attention of your Lordships, inasmuch as, though signed +but by a single individual, it contains statements which (if not +disproved) demand most serious investigation. The grievance of which +the petitioner complains is neither selfish nor imaginary. It is not +his own only, for it has been, and is still felt by numbers. No one +without these walls, nor indeed within, but may to-morrow be made +liable to the same insult and obstruction, in the discharge of an +imperious duty for the restoration of the true constitution of these +realms, by petitioning for reform in parliament. The petitioner, my +Lords, is a man whose long life has been spent in one unceasing +struggle for the liberty of the subject, against that undue influence +which has increased, is increasing, and ought to be diminished; and +whatever difference of opinion may exist as to his political tenets, +few will be found to question the integrity of his intentions. Even +now oppressed with years, and not exempt from the infirmities +attendant on his age, but still unimpaired in talent, and unshaken in +spirit--"_frangas non fleetes_"--he has received many a wound in the +combat against corruption; and the new grievance, the fresh insult of +which he complains, may inflict another scar, but no dishonour. The +petition is signed by John Cartwright, and it was in behalf of the +people and parliament, in the lawful pursuit of that reform in the +representation, which is the best service to be rendered both to +parliament and people, that he encountered the wanton outrage which +forms the subject-matter of his petition to your Lordships. It is +couched in firm, yet respectful language--in the language of a man, +not regardless of what is due to himself, but at the same time, I +trust, equally mindful of the deference to be paid to this House. The +petitioner states, amongst other matter of equal, if not greater +importance, to all who are British in their feelings, as well as +blood and birth, that on the 21st January, 1813, at Huddersfield, +himself and six other persons, who, on hearing of his arrival, had +waited on him merely as a testimony of respect, were seized by a +military and civil force, and kept in close custody for several +hours, subjected to gross and abusive insinuation from the commanding +officer, relative to the character of the petitioner; that he (the +petitioner) was finally carried before a magistrate, and not released +till an examination of his papers proved that there was not only no +just, but not even statutable charge against him; and that, +notwithstanding the promise and order from the presiding magistrates +of a copy of the warrant against your petitioner, it was afterwards +withheld on divers pretexts, and has never until this hour been +granted. The names and condition of the parties will be found in the +petition. To the other topics touched upon in the petition, I shall +not now advert, from a wish not to encroach upon the time of the +House; but I do most sincerely call the attention of your Lordships +to its general contents--it is in the cause of the parliament and +people that the rights of this venerable freeman have been violated, +and it is, in my opinion, the highest mark of respect that could be +paid to the House, that to your justice, rather than by appeal to any +inferior court, he now commits, himself. Whatever may be the fate of +his remonstrance, it is some satisfaction to me, though mixed with +regret for the occasion, that I have this opportunity of publicly +stating the obstruction to which the subject is liable, in the +prosecution of the most lawful and imperious of his duties, the +obtaining by petition reform in parliament. I have shortly stated his +complaint; the petitioner has more fully expressed it. Your Lordships +will, I hope, adopt some measure fully to protect and redress him, +and not him alone, but the whole body of the people, insulted and +aggrieved in his person, by the interposition of an abused civil, and +unlawful military force between them and their right of petition to +their own representatives. + +His Lordship then presented the petition from Major Cartwright, which +was read, complaining of the circumstances at Huddersfield, and of +interruptions given to the right of petitioning in several places in +the northern parts of the kingdom, and which his Lordship moved +should be laid on the table. + +Several lords having spoken on the question, + +Lord Byron replied, that he had, from motives of duty, presented this +petition to their Lordships' consideration. The noble Earl had +contended, that it was not a petition, but a speech; and that, as it +contained no prayer, it should not be received. What was the +necessity of a prayer? If that word were to be used in its proper +sense, their Lordships could not expect that any man should pray to +others. He had only to say, that the petition, though in some parts +expressed strongly perhaps, did not contain any improper mode of +address, but was couched in respectful language towards their +Lordships; he should therefore trust their Lordships would allow the +petition to be received. + + + + +A FRAGMENT.[1] + +[Footnote 1: During a week of rain at Diodati, in the summer of 1816, +the party having amused themselves with reading German ghost stories, +they agreed at last to write something in imitation of them. "You and +I," said Lord Byron to Mrs. Shelley, "will publish ours together." He +then began his tale of the Vampire; and, having the whole arranged in +his head, repeated to them a sketch of the story one evening;--but, +from the narrative being in prose, made but little progress in +filling up his outline. The most memorable result, indeed, of their +storytelling compact, was Mrs. Shelley's wild and powerful romance of +Frankenstein.--MOORE. + +"I began it," says Lord Byron, "in an old account book of Miss +Milbanke's, which I kept because it contains the word 'Household,' +written by her twice on the inside blank page of the covers; being +the only two scraps I have in the world in her writing, except her +name to the Deed of Separation."] + + +_June_ 17. 1816. + +In the year 17--, having for some time determined on a journey +through countries not hitherto much frequented by travellers, I set +out, accompanied by a friend, whom I shall designate by the name of +Augustus Darvell. He was a few years my elder, and a man of +considerable fortune and ancient family; advantages which an +extensive capacity prevented him alike from undervaluing or +overrating. Some peculiar circumstances in his private history had +rendered him to me an object of attention, of interest, and even of +regard, which neither the reserve of his manners, nor occasional +indications of an inquietude at times nearly approaching to +alienation of mind, could extinguish. + +I was yet young in life, which I had begun early; but my intimacy +with him was of a recent date: we had been educated at the same +schools and university; but his progress through these had preceded +mine, and he had been deeply initiated, into what is called the +world, while I was yet in my noviciate. While thus engaged, I heard +much both of his past and present life; and, although in these +accounts there were many and irreconcileable contradictions, I could +still gather from the whole that he was a being of no common order, +and one who, whatever pains he might take to avoid remark, would +still be remarkable. I had cultivated his acquaintance subsequently, +and endeavoured to obtain his friendship, but this last appeared to +be unattainable; whatever affections he might have possessed, seemed +now, some to have been extinguished, and others to be concentred: +that his feelings were acute, I had sufficient opportunities of +observing; for, although he could control, he could not altogether +disguise them: still he had a power of giving to one passion the +appearance of another, in such a manner that it was difficult to +define the nature of what was working within him; and the expressions +of his features would vary so rapidly, though slightly, that it was +useless to trace them to their sources. It was evident that he was a +prey to some cureless disquiet; but whether it arose from ambition, +love, remorse, grief, from one or all of these, or merely from a +morbid temperament akin to disease, I could not discover: there were +circumstances alleged, which might have justified the application to +each of these causes; but, as I have before said, these were so +contradictory and contradicted, that none could be fixed upon with +accuracy. Where there is mystery, it is generally supposed that there +must also be evil: I know not how this may be, but in him there +certainly was the one, though I could not ascertain the extent of the +other--and felt loth, as far as regarded himself, to believe in its +existence. My advances were received with sufficient coldness; but I +was young, and not easily discouraged, and at length succeeded in +obtaining, to a certain degree, that common-place intercourse and +moderate confidence of common and every-day concerns, created and +cemented by similarity of pursuit and frequency of meeting, which is +called intimacy, or friendship, according to the ideas of him who +uses those words to express them. + +Darvell had already travelled extensively; and to him I had applied +for information with regard to the conduct of my intended journey. It +was my secret wish that he might be prevailed on to accompany me; it +was also a probable hope, founded upon the shadowy restlessness which +I observed in him, and to which the animation which he appeared to +feel on such subjects, and his apparent indifference to all by which +he was more immediately surrounded, gave fresh strength. This wish I +first hinted, and then expressed: his answer, though I had partly +expected it, gave me all the pleasure of surprise--he consented; and, +after the requisite arrangement, we commenced our voyages. After +journeying through various countries of the south of Europe, our +attention was turned towards the East, according to our original +destination; and it was in my progress through those regions that the +incident occurred upon which will turn what I may have to relate. + +The constitution of Darvell, which must from his appearance have been +in early life more than usually robust, had been for some time +gradually giving way, without the intervention of any apparent +disease: he had neither cough nor hectic, yet he became daily more +enfeebled: his habits were temperate, and he neither declined nor +complained of fatigue; yet he was evidently wasting away: he became +more and more silent and sleepless, and at length so seriously +altered, that my alarm grew proportionate to what I conceived to be +his danger. + +We had determined, on our arrival at Smyrna, on an excursion to the +ruins of Ephesus and Sardis, from which I endeavoured to dissuade him +in his present state of indisposition--but in vain: there appeared to +be an oppression on his mind, and a solemnity in his manner, which +ill corresponded with his eagerness to proceed on what I regarded as +a mere party of pleasure, little suited to a valetudinarian; but I +opposed him no longer--and in a few days we set off together, +accompanied only by a serrugee and a single janizary. + +We had passed halfway towards the remains of Ephesus, leaving behind +us the more fertile environs of Smyrna, and were entering upon that +wild and tenantless track through the marshes and defiles which lead +to the few huts yet lingering over the broken columns of Diana--the +roofless walls of expelled Christianity, and the still more recent +but complete desolation of abandoned mosques--when the sudden and +rapid illness of my companion obliged us to halt at a Turkish +cemetery, the turbaned tombstones of which were the sole indication +that human life had ever been a sojourner in this wilderness. The +only caravansera we had seen was left some hours behind us, not a +vestige of a town or even cottage was within sight or hope, and this +"city of the dead" appeared to be the sole refuge for my unfortunate +friend, who seemed on the verge of becoming the last of its +inhabitants. + +In this situation, I looked round for a place where he might most +conveniently repose:--contrary to the usual aspect of Mahometan +burial-grounds, the cypresses were in this few in number, and these +thinly scattered over its extent: the tombstones were mostly fallen, +and worn with age:--upon one of the most considerable of these, and +beneath one of the most spreading trees, Darvell supported himself, +in a half-reclining posture, with great difficulty. He asked for +water. I had some doubts of our being able to find any, and prepared +to go in search of it with hesitating despondency: but he desired me +to remain; and turning to Suleiman, our janizary, who stood by us +smoking with great tranquillity, he said, "Suleiman, verbana su," +(_i.e._ bring some water,) and went on describing the spot where it +was to be found with great minuteness, at a small well for camels, a +few hundred yards to the right: the janizary obeyed. I said to +Darvell, "How did you know this?"--He replied, "From our situation; +you must perceive that this place was once inhabited, and could not +have been so without springs: I have also been here before." + +"You have been here before!--How came you never to mention this to +me? and what could you be doing in a place where no one would remain +a moment longer than they could help it?" + +To this question I received no answer. In the mean time Suleiman +returned with the water, leaving the serrugee and the horses at the +fountain. The quenching of his thirst had the appearance of reviving +him for a moment; and I conceived hopes of his being able to proceed, +or at least to return, and I urged the attempt. He was silent--and +appeared to be collecting his spirits for an effort to speak. He +began. + +"This is the end of my journey, and of my life;--I came here to die: +but I have a request to make, a command--for such my last words must +be.--You will observe it?" + +"Most certainly; but have better hopes." + +"I have no hopes, nor wishes, but this--conceal my death from every +human being." + +"I hope there will be no occasion; that you will recover, and----" + +"Peace!--it must be so: promise this." + +"I do." + +"Swear it, by all that"----He here dictated an oath of great +solemnity. + +"There is no occasion for this--I will observe your request; and to +doubt me is----" + +"It cannot be helped,--you must swear." + +I took the oath: it appeared to relieve him. He removed a seal ring +from his finger, on which were some Arabic characters, and presented +it to me. He proceeded-- + +"On the ninth day of the month, at noon precisely (what month you +please, but this must be the day), you must fling this ring into the +salt springs which run into the Bay of Eleusis: the day after, at the +same hour, you must repair to the ruins of the temple of Ceres, and +wait one hour." + +"Why?" + +"You will see." + +"The ninth day of the month, you say?" + +"The ninth." + +As I observed that the present was the ninth day of the month; his +countenance changed, and he paused. As he sat, evidently becoming +more feeble, a stork, with a snake in her beak, perched upon a +tombstone near us; and, without devouring her prey, appeared to be +steadfastly regarding us. I know not what impelled me to drive it +away, but the attempt was useless; she made a few circles in the air, +and returned exactly to the same spot. Darvell pointed to it, and +smiled: he spoke--I know not whether to himself or to me--but the +words were only, "'Tis well!" + +"What is well? what do you mean?" + +"No matter: you must bury me here this evening, and exactly where +that bird is now perched. You know the rest of my injunctions." + +He then proceeded to give me several directions as to the manner in +which his death might be best concealed. After these were finished, +he exclaimed, "You perceive that bird?" + +"Certainly." + +"And the serpent writhing in her beak?" + +"Doubtless: there is nothing uncommon in it; it is her natural prey. +But it is odd that she does not devour it." + +He smiled in a ghastly manner, and said, faintly, "It is not yet +time!" As he spoke, the stork flew away. My eyes followed it for a +moment--it could hardly be longer than ten might be counted. I felt +Darvell's weight, as it were, increase upon my shoulder, and, turning +to look upon his face, perceived that he was dead! + +I was shocked with the sudden certainty which could not be +mistaken--his countenance in a few minutes became nearly black. I +should have attributed so rapid a change to poison, had I not been +aware that he had no opportunity of receiving it unperceived. The day +was declining, the body was rapidly altering, and nothing remained +but to fulfil his request. With the aid of Suleiman's ataghan and my +own sabre, we scooped a shallow grave upon the spot which Darvell had +indicated: the earth easily gave way, having already received some +Mahometan tenant. We dug as deeply as the time permitted us, and +throwing the dry earth upon all that remained of the singular being +so lately departed, we cut a few sods of greener turf from the less +withered soil around us, and laid them upon his sepulchre. + +Between astonishment and grief, I was tearless. + + * * * * * + + + + +LETTER + +TO JOHN MURRAY, ESQ. ON THE REV. W.L. BOWLES'S STRICTURES ON THE LIFE +AND WRITINGS OF POPE. + + * * * * * + + "I'll play at _Bowls_ with the sun and moon."--OLD SONG. + + "My mither's auld, Sir, and she has rather forgotten hersel in + speaking to my Leddy, that canna weel bide to be contradickit, + (as I ken nobody likes it, if they could help themsels.)" + + TALES OF MY LANDLORD, _Old Mortality_, vol. ii. p. 163. + + * * * * * + +Ravenna, February 7. 1821. + +Dear Sir, + +In the different pamphlets which you have had the goodness to send +me, on the Pope and Bowles' controversy, I perceive that my name is +occasionally introduced by both parties. Mr. Bowles refers more than +once to what he is pleased to consider "a remarkable circumstance," +not only in his letter to Mr. Campbell, but in his reply to the +Quarterly. The Quarterly also and Mr. Gilchrist have conferred on me +the dangerous honour of a quotation; and Mr. Bowles indirectly makes +a kind of appeal to me personally, by saying, "Lord Byron, _if he +remembers_ the circumstance, will _witness_"--_(witness_ IN ITALICS, +an ominous character for a testimony at present). + +I shall not avail myself of a "non mi ricordo," even after so long a +residence in Italy;--I _do_ "remember the circumstance,"--and have no +reluctance to relate it (since called upon so to do), as correctly as +the distance of time and the impression of intervening events will +permit me. In the year 1812, more than three years after the +publication of "English Bards and Scotch Reviewers," I had the honour +of meeting Mr. Bowles in the house of our venerable host of "Human +Life," &c. the last Argonaut of classic English poetry, and the +Nestor of our inferior race of living poets. Mr. Bowles calls this +"soon after" the publication; but to me three years appear a +considerable segment of the immortality of a modern poem. I recollect +nothing of "the rest of the company going into another room,"--nor, +though I well remember the topography of our host's elegant and +classically furnished mansion, could I swear to the very room where +the conversation occurred, though the "taking _down_ the poem" seems +to fix it in the library. Had it been "taken _up_" it would probably +have been in the drawing-room. I presume also that the "remarkable +circumstance" took place _after_ dinner; as I conceive that neither +Mr. Bowles's politeness nor appetite would have allowed him to detain +"the rest of the company" standing round their chairs in the "other +room," while we were discussing "the Woods of Madeira," instead of +circulating its vintage. Of Mr. Bowles's "good humour" I have a full +and not ungrateful recollection; as also of his gentlemanly manners +and agreeable conversation. I speak of the _whole_, and not of +particulars; for whether he did or did not use the precise words +printed in the pamphlet, I cannot say, nor could he with accuracy. Of +"the tone of seriousness" I certainly recollect nothing: on the +contrary, I thought Mr. Bowles rather disposed to treat the subject +lightly: for he said (I have no objection to be contradicted if +incorrect), that some of his good-natured friends had come to him and +exclaimed, "Eh! Bowles! how came you to make the Woods of Madeira?" +&c. &c. and that he had been at some pains and pulling down of the +poem to convince them that he had never made "the Woods" do any thing +of the kind. He was right, and _I was wrong,_ and have been wrong +still up to this acknowledgment; for I ought to have looked twice +before I wrote that which involved an inaccuracy capable of giving +pain. The fact was, that, although I had certainly before read "the +Spirit of Discovery," I took the quotation from the review. But the +mistake was mine, and not the _review's,_ which quoted the passage +correctly enough, I believe. I blundered--God knows how--into +attributing the tremors of the lovers to "the Woods of Madeira," by +which they were surrounded. And I hereby do fully and freely declare +and asseverate, that the Woods did _not_ tremble to a kiss, and that +the lovers did. I quote from memory-- + + ------"A kiss + Stole on the listening silence, &c. &c. + They [the lovers] trembled, even as if the power," &c. + +And if I had been aware that this declaration would have been in the +smallest degree satisfactory to Mr. Bowles, I should not have waited +nine years to make it, notwithstanding that "English Bards and Scotch +Reviewers" had been suppressed some time previously to my meeting him +at Mr. Rogers's. Our worthy host might indeed have told him as much, +as it was at his representation that I suppressed it. A new edition +of that lampoon was preparing for the press, when Mr. Rogers +represented to me, that "I was _now_ acquainted with many of the +persons mentioned in it, and with some on terms of intimacy;" and +that he knew "one family in particular to whom its suppression would +give pleasure." I did not hesitate one moment, it was cancelled +instantly; and it is no fault of mine that it has ever been +republished. When I left England, in April, 1816, with no very +violent intentions of troubling that country again, and amidst scenes +of various kinds to distract my attention,--almost my last act, I +believe, was to sign a power of attorney, to yourself, to prevent or +suppress any attempts (of which several had been made in Ireland) at +a republication. It is proper that I should state, that the persons +with whom I was subsequently acquainted, whose names had occurred in +that publication, were made my acquaintances at their own desire, or +through the unsought intervention of others. I never, to the best of +my knowledge, sought a personal introduction to any. Some of them to +this day I know only by correspondence; and with one of those it was +begun by myself, in consequence, however, of a polite verbal +communication from a third person. + +I have dwelt for an instant on these circumstances, because it has +sometimes been made a subject of bitter reproach to me to have +endeavoured to _suppress_ that satire. I never shrunk, as those who +know me know, from any personal consequences which could be attached +to its publication. Of its subsequent suppression, as I possessed the +copyright, I was the best judge and the sole master. The +circumstances which occasioned the suppression I have now stated; of +the motives, each must judge according to his candour or malignity. +Mr. Bowles does me the honour to talk of "noble mind," and "generous +magnanimity;" and all this because "the circumstance would have been +explained had not the book been suppressed." I see no "nobility of +mind" in an act of simple justice; and I hate the word +"_magnanimity,"_ because I have sometimes seen it applied to the +grossest of impostors by the greatest of fools; but I would have +"explained the circumstance," notwithstanding "the suppression of the +book," if Mr. Bowles had expressed any desire that I should. As the +"gallant Galbraith" says to "Baillie Jarvie," "Well, the devil take +the mistake, and all that occasioned it." I have had as great and +greater mistakes made about me personally and poetically, once a +month for these last ten years, and never cared very much about +correcting one or the other, at least after the first eight and forty +hours had gone over them. + +I must now, however, say a word or two about Pope, of whom you have +my opinion more at large in the unpublished letter _on_ or _to_ (for +I forget which) the editor of "Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine;"--and +here I doubt that Mr. Bowles will not approve of my sentiments. + +Although I regret having published "English Bards and Scotch +Reviewers," the part which I regret the least is that which regards +Mr. Bowles with reference to Pope. Whilst I was writing that +publication, in 1807 and 1808, Mr. Hobhouse was desirous that I +should express our mutual opinion of Pope, and of Mr. Bowles's +edition of his works. As I had completed my outline, and felt lazy, I +requested that _he_ would do so. He did it. His fourteen lines on +Bowles's Pope are in the first edition of "English Bards and Scotch +Reviewers;" and are quite as severe and much more poetical than my +own in the second. On reprinting the work, as I put my name to it, I +omitted Mr. Hobhouse's lines, and replaced them with my own, by which +the work gained less than Mr. Bowles. I have stated this in the +preface to the second edition. It is many years since I have read +that poem; but the Quarterly Review, Mr. Octavius Gilchrist, and Mr. +Bowles himself, have been so obliging as to refresh my memory, and +that of the public. I am grieved to say, that in reading over those +lines, I repent of their having so far fallen short of what I meant +to express upon the subject of Bowles's edition of Pope's Works. Mr. +Bowles says, that "Lord Byron _knows_ he does _not_ deserve this +character." I know no such thing. I have met Mr. Bowles occasionally, +in the best society in London; he appeared to me an amiable, +well-informed, and extremely able man. I desire nothing better than +to dine in company with such a mannered man every day in the week: +but of "his character" I know nothing personally; I can only speak to +his manners, and these have my warmest approbation. But I never judge +from manners, for I once had my pocket picked by the civilest +gentleman I ever met with; and one of the mildest persons I ever saw +was All Pacha. Of Mr. Bowles's "_character_" I will not do him the +_injustice_ to judge from the edition of Pope, if he prepared it +heedlessly; nor the _justice,_ should it be otherwise, because I +would neither become a literary executioner nor a personal one. Mr. +Bowles the individual, and Mr. Bowles the editor, appear the two most +opposite things imaginable. + + "And he himself one--antithesis." + +I won't say "vile," because it is harsh; nor "mistaken," because it +has two syllables too many: but every one must fill up the blank as +he pleases. + +What I saw of Mr. Bowles increased my surprise and regret that he +should ever have lent his talents to such a task. If he had been a +fool, there would have been some excuse for him; if he had been a +needy or a bad man, his conduct would have been intelligible: but he +is the opposite of all these; and thinking and feeling as I do of +Pope, to me the whole thing is unaccountable. However, I must call +things by their right names. I cannot call his edition of Pope a +"candid" work; and I still think that there is an affectation of that +quality not only in those volumes, but in the pamphlets lately +published. + + "Why _yet_ he doth _deny_ his prisoners." + +Mr. Bowles says, that "he has seen passages in his letters to Martha +Blount which were never published by me, and I _hope never will_ be +by others; which are so _gross_ as to imply the _grossest_ +licentiousness." Is this fair play? It may, or it may not be that +such passages exist; and that Pope, who was not a monk, although a +Catholic, may have occasionally sinned in word and deed with woman in +his youth: but is this a sufficient ground for such a sweeping +denunciation? Where is the unmarried Englishman of a certain rank of +life, who (provided he has not taken orders) has not to reproach +himself between the ages of sixteen and thirty with far more +licentiousness than has ever yet been traced to Pope? Pope lived in +the public eye from his youth upwards; he had all the dunces of his +own time for his enemies, and, I am sorry to say, some, who have not +the apology of dulness for detraction, since his death; and yet to +what do all their accumulated hints and charges amount?--to an +equivocal _liaison_ with Martha Blount, which might arise as much +from his infirmities as from his passions; to a hopeless flirtation +with Lady Mary W. Montagu; to a story of Cibber's; and to two or +three coarse passages in his works. _Who_ could come forth clearer +from an invidious inquest on a life of fifty-six years? Why are we to +be officiously reminded of such passages in his letters, provided +that they exist. Is Mr. Bowles aware to what such rummaging among +"letters" and "stories" might lead? I have myself seen a collection +of letters of another eminent, nay, pre-eminent, deceased poet, so +abominably gross, and elaborately coarse, that I do not believe that +they could be paralleled in our language. What is more strange, is, +that some of these are couched as _postscripts_ to his serious and +sentimental letters, to which are tacked either a piece of prose, or +some verses, of the most hyperbolical indecency. He himself says, +that if "obscenity (using a much coarser word) be the sin against the +Holy Ghost, he most certainly cannot be saved." These letters are in +existence, and have been seen by many besides myself; but would his +_editor_ have been "_candid_" in even alluding to them? Nothing would +have even provoked _me_, an indifferent spectator, to allude to them, +but this further attempt at the depreciation of Pope. + +What should we say to an editor of Addison, who cited the following +passage from Walpole's letters to George Montagu? "Dr. Young has +published a new book, &c. Mr. Addison sent for the young Earl of +Warwick, as he was dying, to show him in what peace a Christian could +die; unluckily he died of _brandy:_ nothing makes a Christian die in +peace like being maudlin! but don't say this in Gath where you are." +Suppose the editor introduced it with this preface: "One circumstance +is mentioned by Horace Walpole, which, if true, was indeed +_flagitious_. Walpole informs Montagu that Addison sent for the young +Earl of Warwick, when dying, to show him in what peace a Christian +could die; but unluckily he died drunk," &c. &c. Now, although there +might occur on the subsequent, or on the same page, a faint show of +disbelief, seasoned with the expression of "the _same candour_" (the +_same_ exactly as throughout the book), I should say that this editor +was either foolish or false to his trust; such a story ought not to +have been admitted, except for one brief mark of crushing +indignation, unless it were _completely proved._ Why the words "_if +true_?" that "_if"_ is not a peacemaker. Why talk of "Cibber's +testimony" to his licentiousness? to what does this amount? that Pope +when very young was _once_ decoyed by some noblemen and the player to +a house of carnal recreation. Mr. Bowles was not always a clergyman; +and when he was a very young man, was he never seduced into as much? +If I were in the humour for story-telling, and relating little +anecdotes, I could tell a much better story of Mr. Bowles than +Cibber's, upon much better authority, viz. that of Mr. Bowles +himself. It was not related by _him_ in my presence, but in that of a +third person, whom Mr. Bowles names oftener than once in the course +of his replies. This gentleman related it to me as a humorous and +witty anecdote; and so it was, whatever its other characteristics +might be. But should I, for a youthful frolic, brand Mr. Bowles with +a "libertine sort of love," or with "licentiousness?" is he the less +now a pious or a good man, for not having always been a priest? No +such thing; I am willing to believe him a good man, almost as good a +man as Pope, but no better. + +The truth is, that in these days the grand "_primum mobile"_ of +England is _cant;_ cant political, cant poetical, cant religious, +cant moral; but always cant, multiplied through all the varieties of +life. It is the fashion, and while it lasts will be too powerful for +those who can only exist by taking the tone of the time. I say +_cant,_ because it is a thing of words, without the smallest +influence upon human actions; the English being no wiser, no better, +and much poorer, and more divided amongst themselves, as well as far +less moral, than they were before the prevalence of this verbal +decorum. This hysterical horror of poor Pope's not very well +ascertained, and never fully proved amours (for even Cibber owns that +he prevented the somewhat perilous adventure in which Pope was +embarking) sounds very virtuous in a controversial pamphlet; but all +men of the world who know what life is, or at least what it was to +them in their youth, must laugh at such a ludicrous foundation of the +charge of "a libertine sort of love;" while the more serious will +look upon those who bring forward such charges upon an insulated fact +as fanatics or hypocrites, perhaps both. The two are sometimes +compounded in a happy mixture. + +Mr. Octavius Gilchrist speaks rather irreverently of a "second +tumbler of _hot_ white-wine negus." What does he mean? Is there any +harm in negus? or is it the worse for being _hot_? or does Mr. Bowles +drink negus? I had a better opinion of him. I hoped that whatever +wine he drank was neat; or, at least, that, like the ordinary in +Jonathan Wild, "he preferred _punch,_ the rather as there was nothing +against it in Scripture." I should be sorry to believe that Mr. +Bowles was fond of negus; it is such a "candid" liquor, so like a +wishy-washy compromise between the passion for wine and the propriety +of water. But different writers have divers tastes. Judge Blackstone +composed his "Commentaries" (he was a poet too in his youth) with a +bottle of port before him. Addison's conversation was not good for +much till he had taken a similar dose. Perhaps the prescription of +these two great men was not inferior to the very different one of a +soi-disant poet of this day, who, after wandering amongst the hills, +returns, goes to bed, and dictates his verses, being fed by a +by-stander with bread and butter during the operation. + +I now come to Mr. Bowles's "invariable principles of poetry." These +Mr. Bowles and some of his correspondents pronounce "unanswerable;" +and they are "unanswered," at least by Campbell, who seems to have +been astounded by the title. The sultan of the time being offered to +ally himself to a king of France because "he hated the word league;" +which proves that the Padishan understood French. Mr. Campbell has no +need of my alliance, nor shall I presume to offer it; but I do hate +that word "_invariable_." What is there of _human_, be it poetry, +philosophy, wit, wisdom, science, power, glory, mind, matter, life, +or death, which is "_invariable_?" Of course I put things divine out +of the question. Of all arrogant baptisms of a book, this title to a +pamphlet appears the most complacently conceited. It is Mr. +Campbell's part to answer the contents of this performance, and +especially to vindicate his own "Ship," which Mr. Bowles most +triumphantly proclaims to have struck to his very first fire. + + "Quoth he, there was a _Ship;_ + Now let me go, thou grey-haired loon, + Or my staff shall make thee skip." + +It is no affair of mine, but having once begun, (certainly not by my +own wish, but called upon by the frequent recurrence to my name in +the pamphlets,) I am like an Irishman in a "row," "any body's +customer." I shall therefore say a word or two on the "Ship." + +Mr. Bowles asserts that Campbell's "Ship of the Line" derives all its +poetry, not from "_art_," but from "_nature_." "Take away the waves, +the winds, the sun, &c. &c. _one_ will become a stripe of blue +bunting; and the other a piece of coarse canvass on three tall +poles." Very true; take away the "waves," "the winds," and there will +be no ship at all, not only for poetical, but for any other purpose; +and take away "the sun," and we must read Mr. Bowles's pamphlet by +candle-light. But the "poetry" of the "Ship" does _not_ depend on +"the waves," &c.; on the contrary, the "Ship of the Line" confers its +own poetry upon the waters, and heightens _theirs._ I do not deny, +that the "waves and winds," and above all "the sun," are highly +poetical; we know it to our cost, by the many descriptions of them in +verse: but if the waves bore only the foam upon their bosoms, if the +winds wafted only the sea-weed to the shore, if the sun shone neither +upon pyramids, nor fleets, nor fortresses, would its beams be equally +poetical? I think not: the poetry is at least reciprocal. Take away +"the Ship of the line" "swinging round" the "calm water," and the +calm water becomes a somewhat monotonous thing to look at, +particularly if not transparently _clear_; witness the thousands who +pass by without looking on it at all. What was it attracted the +thousands to the launch? they might have seen the poetical "calm +water" at Wapping, or in the "London Dock," or in the Paddington +Canal, or in a horse-pond, or in a slop-basin, or in any other vase. +They might have heard the poetical winds howling through the chinks +of a pigsty, or the garret window; they might have seen the sun +shining on a footman's livery, or on a brass warming pan; but could +the "calm water," or the "wind," or the "sun," make all, or any of +these "poetical?" I think not. Mr. Bowles admits "the Ship" to be +poetical, but only from those accessaries: now if they _confer_ +poetry so as to make one thing poetical, they would make other things +poetical; the more so, as Mr. Bowles calls a "ship of the line" +without them,--that is to say, its "masts and sails and +streamers,"--"blue bunting," and "coarse canvass," and "tall poles." +So they are; and porcelain is clay, and man is dust, and flesh is +grass, and yet the two latter at least are the subjects of much +poesy. + +Did Mr. Bowles ever gaze upon the sea? I presume that he has, at +least upon a sea-piece. Did any painter ever paint the sea _only_, +without the addition of a ship, boat, wreck, or some such adjunct? Is +the sea itself a more attractive, a more moral, a more poetical +object, with or without a vessel, breaking its vast but fatiguing +monotony? Is a storm more poetical without a ship? or, in the poem of +the Shipwreck, is it the storm or the ship which most interests? both +_much_ undoubtedly; but without the vessel, what should we care for +the tempest? It would sink into mere descriptive poetry, which in +itself was never esteemed a high order of that art. + +I look upon myself as entitled to talk of naval matters, at least to +poets:--with the exception of Walter Scott, Moore, and Southey, +perhaps, who have been voyagers, I have _swam_ more miles than all +the rest of them together now living ever _sailed_, and have lived +for months and months on shipboard; and, during the whole period of +my life abroad, have scarcely ever passed a month out of sight of the +ocean: besides being brought up from two years till ten on the brink +of it. I recollect, when anchored off Cape Sigeum in 1810, in an +English frigate, a violent squall coming on at sunset, so violent as +to make us imagine that the ship would part cable, or drive from her +anchorage. Mr. Hobhouse and myself, and some officers, had been up +the Dardanelles to Abydos, and were just returned in time. The aspect +of a storm in the Archipelago is as poetical as need be, the sea +being particularly short, dashing, and dangerous, and the navigation +intricate and broken by the isles and currents. Cape Sigeum, the +tumuli of the Troad, Lemnos, Tenedos, all added to the associations +of the time. But what seemed the most "_poetical_" of all at the +moment, were the numbers (about two hundred) of Greek and Turkish +craft, which were obliged to "cut and run" before the wind, from +their unsafe anchorage, some for Tenedos, some for other isles, some +for the main, and some it might be for eternity. The sight of these +little scudding vessels, darting over the foam in the twilight, now +appearing and now disappearing between the waves in the cloud of +night, with their peculiarly _white_ sails, (the Levant sails not +being of "_coarse canvass_," but of white cotton,) skimming along as +quickly, but less safely than the sea-mews which hovered over them; +their evident distress, their reduction to fluttering specks in the +distance, their crowded succession, their _littleness_, as contending +with the giant element, which made our stout forty-four's _teak_ +timbers (she was built in India) creak again; their aspect and their +motion, all struck me as something far more "poetical" than the mere +broad, brawling, shipless sea, and the sullen winds, could possibly +have been without them. + +The Euxine is a noble sea to look upon, and the port of +Constantinople the most beautiful of harbours, and yet I cannot but +think that the twenty sail of the line, some of one hundred and forty +guns, rendered it more "poetical" by day in the sun, and by night +perhaps still more, for the Turks illuminate their vessels of war in +a manner the most picturesque, and yet all this is _artificial_. As +for the Euxine, I stood upon the Symplegades--I stood by the broken +altar still exposed to the winds upon one of them--I felt all the +"_poetry_" of the situation, as I repeated the first lines of Medea; +but would not that "poetry" have been heightened by the _Argo_? It +was so even by the appearance of any merchant vessel arriving from +Odessa. But Mr. Bowles says, "Why bring your ship off the stocks?" +for no reason that I know, except that ships are built to be +launched. The water, &c. undoubtedly HEIGHTENS the poetical +associations, but it does not _make_ them; and the ship amply repays +the obligation: they aid each other; the water is more poetical with +the ship--the ship less so without the water. But even a ship laid up +in dock, is a grand and a poetical sight. Even an old boat, keel +upwards, wrecked upon the barren sand, is a "poetical" object, (and +Wordsworth, who made a poem about a washing tub and a blind boy, may +tell you so as well as I,) whilst a long extent of sand and unbroken +water, without the boat, would be as like dull prose as any pamphlet +lately published. + +What makes the poetry in the image of the "_marble waste of Tadmor_," +or Grainger's "Ode to Solitude," so much admired by Johnson? Is it +the "_marble_" or the "_waste,_" the _artificial_ or the _natural_ +object? The "waste" is like all other _wastes_; but the "_marble_" of +Palmyra makes the poetry of the passage as of the place. + +The beautiful but barren Hymettus, the whole coast of Attica, her +hills and mountains, Pentelicus, Anchesmus, Philopappus, &c. &c. are +in themselves poetical, and would be so if the name of Athens, of +Athenians, and her very ruins, were swept from the earth. But am I to +be told that the "nature" of Attica would be _more_ poetical without +the "art" of the Acropolis? of the Temple of Theseus? and of the +still all Greek and glorious monuments of her exquisitely artificial +genius? Ask the traveller what strikes him as most poetical, the +Parthenon, or the rock on which it stands? The COLUMNS of Cape +Colonna, or the Cape itself? The rocks at the foot of it, or the +recollection that Falconer's _ship_ was bulged upon them? There are a +thousand rocks and capes far more picturesque than those of the +Acropolis and Cape Sunium in themselves; what are they to a thousand +scenes in the wilder parts of Greece, of Asia Minor, Switzerland, or +even of Cintra in Portugal, or to many scenes of Italy, and the +Sierras of Spain? But it is the "_art_," the columns, the temples, +the wrecked vessel, which give them their antique and their modern +poetry, and not the spots themselves. Without them, the _spots_ of +earth would be unnoticed and unknown; buried, like Babylon and +Nineveh, in indistinct confusion, without poetry, as without +existence; but to whatever spot of earth these ruins were +transported, if they were _capable_ of transportation, like the +obelisk, and the sphinx, and the Memnon's head, _there_ they would +still exist in the perfection of their beauty, and in the pride of +their poetry. I opposed, and will ever oppose, the robbery of ruins +from Athens, to instruct the English in sculpture; but why did I do +so? The _ruins_ are as poetical in Piccadilly as they were in the +Parthenon; but the Parthenon and its rock are less so without them. +Such is the poetry of art. + +Mr. Bowles contends again that the pyramids of Egypt are poetical, +because of "the association with boundless deserts," and that a +"pyramid of the same dimensions" would not be sublime in "Lincoln's +Inn Fields:" not _so_ poetical certainly; but take away the +"pyramids," and what is the "_desert?"_ Take away Stone-henge from +Salisbury plain, and it is nothing more than Hounslow heath, or any +other unenclosed down. It appears to me that St. Peter's, the +Coliseum, the Pantheon, the Palatine, the Apollo, the Laocoon, the +Venus di Medicis, the Hercules, the dying Gladiator, the Moses of +Michael Angelo, and all the higher works of Canova, (I have already +spoken of those of ancient Greece, still extant in that country, or +transported to England,) are as _poetical_ as Mont Blanc or Mount +AEtna, perhaps still more so, as they are direct manifestations of +mind, and _presuppose_ poetry in their very conception; and have, +moreover, as being such, a something of actual life, which cannot +belong to any part of inanimate nature, unless we adopt the system of +Spinosa, that the world is the Deity. There can be nothing more +poetical in its aspect than the city of Venice: does this depend upon +the sea, or the canals?-- + + "The dirt and sea-weed whence proud Venice rose?" + +Is it the canal which runs between the palace and the prison, or the +"Bridge of Sighs," which connects them, that render it poetical? Is +it the "Canal Grande," or the Rialto which arches it, the churches +which tower over it, the palaces which line, and the gondolas which +glide over the waters, that render this city more poetical than Rome +itself? Mr. Bowles will say, perhaps, that the Rialto is but marble, +the palaces and churches only stone, and the gondolas a "coarse" +black cloth, thrown over some planks of carved wood, with a shining +bit of fantastically formed iron at the prow, "_without_" the water. +And I tell him that without these, the water would be nothing but a +clay-coloured ditch; and whoever says the contrary, deserves to be at +the bottom of that, where Pope's heroes are embraced by the mud +nymphs. There would be nothing to make the canal of Venice more +poetical than that of Paddington, were it not for the artificial +adjuncts above mentioned; although it is a perfectly natural canal, +formed by the sea, and the innumerable islands which constitute the +site of this extraordinary city. + +The very Cloaca of Tarquin at Rome are as poetical as Richmond Hill; +many will think more so: take away Rome, and leave the Tibur and the +seven hills, in the nature of Evander's time. Let Mr. Bowles, or Mr. +Wordsworth, or Mr. Southey, or any of the other "naturals," make a +poem upon them, and then see which is most poetical, their +production, or the commonest guide-book, which tells you the road +from St. Peter's to the Coliseum, and informs you what you will see +by the way. The ground interests in Virgil, because it _will_ be +_Rome_, and not because it is Evander's rural domain. + +Mr. Bowles then proceeds to press Homer into his service, in answer +to a remark of Mr. Campbell's, that "Homer was a great describer of +works of art." Mr. Bowles contends, that all his great power, even in +this, depends upon their connection with nature. The "shield of +Achilles derives its poetical interest from the subjects described on +it." And from what does the _spear_ of Achilles derive its interest? +and the helmet and the mail worn by Patroclus, and the celestial +armour, and the very brazen greaves of the well-booted Greeks? Is it +solely from the legs, and the back, and the breast, and the human +body, which they enclose? In that case, it would have been more +poetical to have made them fight naked; and Gulley and Gregson, as +being nearer to a state of nature, are more poetical boxing in a pair +of drawers than Hector and Achilles in radiant armour, and with +heroic weapons. + +Instead of the clash of helmets, and the rushing of chariots, and the +whizzing of spears, and the glancing of swords, and the cleaving of +shields, and the piercing of breast-plates, why not represent the +Greeks and Trojans like two savage tribes, tugging and tearing, and +kicking and biting, and gnashing, foaming, grinning, and gouging, in +all the poetry of martial nature, unencumbered with gross, prosaic, +artificial arms; an equal superfluity to the natural warrior, and his +natural poet. Is there any thing unpoetical in Ulysses striking the +horses of Rhesus with _his bow_ (having forgotten his thong), or +would Mr. Bowles have had him kick them with his foot, or smack them +with his hand, as being more unsophisticated? + +In Gray's Elegy, is there an image more striking than his "shapeless +sculpture?" Of sculpture in general, it may be observed, that it is +more poetical than nature itself, inasmuch as it represents and +bodies forth that ideal beauty and sublimity which is never to be +found in actual nature. This at least is the general opinion. But, +always excepting the Venus di Medicis, I differ from that opinion, at +least as far as regards female beauty; for the head of Lady +Charlemont (when I first saw her nine years ago) seemed to possess +all that sculpture could require for its ideal. I recollect seeing +something of the same kind in the head of an Albanian girl, who was +actually employed in mending a road in the mountains, and in some +Greek, and one or two Italian, faces. But of _sublimity_, I have +never seen any thing in human nature at all to approach the +expression of sculpture, either in the Apollo, the Moses, or other of +the sterner works of ancient or modern art. + +Let us examine a little further this "babble of green fields" and of +bare nature in general as superior to artificial imagery, for the +poetical purposes of the fine arts. In landscape painting, the great +artist does not give you a literal copy of a country, but he invents +and composes one. Nature, in her actual aspect, does not furnish him +with such existing scenes as he requires. Even where he presents you +with some famous city, or celebrated scene from mountain or other +nature, it must be taken from some particular point of view, and with +such light, and shade, and distance, &c. as serve not only to +heighten its beauties, but to shadow its deformities. The poetry of +nature alone, _exactly_ as she appears, is not sufficient to bear him +out. The very sky of his painting is not the _portrait_ of the sky of +nature; it is a composition of different _skies_, observed at +different times, and not the whole copied from any _particular_ day. +And why? Because nature is not lavish of her beauties; they are +widely scattered, and occasionally displayed, to be selected with +care, and gathered with difficulty. + +Of sculpture I have just spoken. It is the great scope of the +sculptor to heighten nature into heroic beauty, _i.e._ in plain +English, to surpass his model. When Canova forms a statue, he takes a +limb from one, a hand from another, a feature from a third, and a +shape, it may be, from a fourth, probably at the same time improving +upon all, as the Greek of old did in embodying his Venus. + +Ask a portrait painter to describe his agonies in accommodating the +faces with which nature and his sitters have crowded his +painting-room to the principles of his art: with the exception of +perhaps ten faces in as many millions, there is not one which he can +venture to give without shading much and adding more. Nature, +exactly, simply, barely nature, will make no great artist of any +kind, and least of all a poet--the most artificial, perhaps, of all +artists in his very essence. With regard to natural imagery, the +poets are obliged to take some of their best illustrations from +_art_. You say that a "fountain is as clear or clearer than _glass_" +to express its beauty:-- + + "O fons Bandusiae, splendidior vitro!" + +In the speech of Mark Antony, the body of Caesar is displayed, but so +also is his _mantle_:-- + + "You all do know this _mantle_," &c. + + * * * * * + + "Look! in this place ran Cassius' _dagger_ through." + +If the poet had said that Cassius had run his _fist_ through the rent +of the mantle, it would have had more of Mr. Bowles's "nature" to +help it; but the artificial _dagger_ is more poetical than any +natural _hand_ without it. In the sublime of sacred poetry, "Who is +this that cometh from Edom? with _dyed garments_ from Bozrah?" Would +"the comer" be poetical without his "_dyed garments?_" which strike +and startle the spectator, and identify the approaching object. + +The mother of Sisera is represented listening for the "_wheels of his +chariot_." Solomon, in his Song, compares the nose of his beloved to +"a tower," which to us appears an eastern exaggeration. If he had +said, that her stature was like that of a "tower's," it would have +been as poetical as if he had compared her to a tree. + + "The virtuous Marcia _towers_ above her sex," + +is an instance of an artificial image to express a _moral_ +superiority. But Solomon, it is probable, did not compare his +beloved's nose to a "tower" on account of its length, but of its +symmetry; and making allowance for eastern hyperbole, and the +difficulty of finding a discreet image for a female nose in nature, +it is perhaps as good a figure as any other. + +Art is _not_ inferior to nature for poetical purposes. What makes a +regiment of soldiers a more noble object of view than the same mass +of mob? Their arms, their dresses, their banners, and the _art_ and +artificial symmetry of their position and movements. A Highlander's +plaid, a Mussulman's turban, and a Roman toga, are more poetical than +the tattooed or untattooed buttocks of a New Sandwich savage, +although they were described by William Wordsworth himself like the +"idiot in his glory." + +I have seen as many mountains as most men, and more fleets than the +generality of landsmen; and, to my mind, a large convoy with a few +sail of the line to conduct them is as noble and as poetical a +prospect as all that inanimate nature can produce. I prefer the "mast +of some great ammiral," with all its tackle, to the Scotch fir or the +alpine tannen; and think that _more_ poetry _has been_ made out of +it. In what does the infinite superiority of "Falconer's Shipwreck" +over all other shipwrecks consist? In his admirable application of +the terms of his art; in a poet-sailor's description of the sailor's +fate. These _very terms_, by his application, make the strength and +reality of his poem. Why? because he was a poet, and in the hands of +a poet, _art_ will not be found less ornamental than nature. It is +precisely in general nature, and in stepping out of his element, that +Falconer fails; where he digresses to speak of ancient Greece, and +"such branches of learning." + +In Dyer's Grongar Hill, upon which his fame rests, the very +appearance of nature herself is moralised into an artificial image: + + "Thus is nature's _vesture_ wrought, + To instruct our wandering thought; + Thus she _dresses green and gay_, + To disperse our cares away." + +And here also we have the telescope; the misuse of which, from +Milton, has rendered Mr. Bowles so triumphant over Mr. Campbell:-- + + "So we mistake the future's face, + Eyed through Hope's deluding _glass_." + +And here a word en passant to Mr. Campbell:-- + + "As yon summits, soft and fair + Clad in colours of the air, + Which to those who journey near + Barren, brown, and rough appear, + Still we tread the same coarse way-- + The present's still a cloudy day." + +Is not this the original of the far-famed-- + + "'Tis distance lends enchantment to the view, + And robes the mountain in its azure hue?" + +To return once more to the sea. Let any one look on the long wall of +Malamocco, which curbs the Adriatic, and pronounce between the sea +and its master. Surely that Roman work (I mean _Roman_ in conception +and performance), which says to the ocean, "Thus far shalt thou come, +and no further," and is obeyed, is not less sublime and poetical than +the angry waves which vainly break beneath it. + +Mr. Bowles makes the chief part of a ship's poesy depend upon the +"_wind:_" then why is a ship under sail more poetical than a hog in a +high wind? The hog is all nature, the ship is all art, "coarse +canvass," "blue bunting," and "tall poles;" both are violently acted +upon by the wind, tossed here and there, to and fro, and yet nothing +but excess of hunger could make me look upon the pig as the more +poetical of the two, and then only in the shape of a griskin. + +Will Mr. Bowles tell us that the poetry of an aqueduct consist in the +_water_ which it conveys? Let him look on that of Justinian, on those +of Rome, Constantinople, Lisbon, and Elvas, or even at the remains of +that in Attica. + +We are asked, "What makes the venerable towers of Westminster Abbey +more poetical, as objects, than the tower for the manufactory of +patent shot, surrounded by the same scenery?" I will answer--the +_architecture_. Turn Westminster Abbey, or Saint Paul's into a powder +magazine, their poetry, as objects, remains the same; the Parthenon +was actually converted into one by the Turks, during Morosini's +Venetian siege, and part of it destroyed in consequence. Cromwell's +dragoons stalled their steeds in Worcester cathedral; was it less +poetical as an object than before? Ask a foreigner on his approach to +London, what strikes him as the most poetical of the towers before +him: he will point out Saint Paul's and Westminster Abbey, without, +perhaps, knowing the names or associations of either, and pass over +the "tower for patent shot,"--not that, for any thing he knows to the +contrary, it might not be the mausoleum of a monarch, or a Waterloo +column, or a Trafalgar monument, but because its architecture is +obviously inferior. + +To the question, "Whether the description of a game of cards be as +poetical, supposing the execution of the artists equal, as a +description of a walk in a forest?" it may be answered, that the +_materials_ are certainly not equal; but that "the _artist_," who has +rendered the "game of cards poetical," is _by far the greater_ of the +two. But all this "ordering" of poets is purely arbitrary on the part +of Mr. Bowles. There may or may not be, in fact, different "orders" +of poetry, but the poet is always ranked according to his execution, +and not according to his branch of the art. + +Tragedy is one of the highest presumed orders. Hughes has written a +tragedy, and a very successful one; Fenton another; and Pope none. +Did any man, however,--will even Mr. Bowles himself,--rank Hughes and +Fenton as poets above _Pope_? Was even Addison (the author of Cato), +or Rowe (one of the higher order of dramatists as far as success +goes), or Young, or even Otway and Southerne, ever raised for a +moment to the same rank with Pope in the estimation of the reader or +the critic, before his death or since? If Mr. Bowles will contend for +classifications of this kind, let him recollect that descriptive +poetry has been ranked as among the lowest branches of the art, and +description as a mere ornament, but which should never form the +"subject" of a poem. The Italians, with the most poetical language, +and the most fastidious taste in Europe, possess now five _great_ +poets, they say, Dante, Petrarch, Ariosto, Tasso, and, lastly, +Alfieri[1]; and whom do they esteem one of the highest of these, and +some of them the very highest? Petrarch the _sonneteer_: it is true +that some of his Canzoni are _not less_ esteemed, but _not_ more; who +ever dreams of his Latin Africa? + +[Footnote 1: Of these there is one ranked with the others for his +SONNETS, and _two_ for compositions which belong to _no class_ at +all? Where is Dante? His poem is not an epic; then what is it? He +himself calls it a "divine comedy;" and why? This is more than all +his thousand commentators have been able to explain. Ariosto's is not +an _epic_ poem; and if poets are to be _classed_ according to the +_genus_ of their poetry, where is he to be placed? Of these five, +Tasso and Alfieri only come within Aristotle's arrangement, and Mr. +Bowles's class-book. But the whole position is false. Poets are +classed by the power of their performance, and not according to its +rank in a gradus. In the contrary case, the forgotten epic poets of +all countries would rank above Petrarch, Dante, Ariosto, Burns, Gray, +Dryden, and the highest names of various countries. Mr. Bowles's +title of "_invariable_ principles of poetry," is, perhaps, the most +arrogant ever prefixed to a volume. So far are the principles of +poetry from being "_invariable_," that they never were nor ever will +be settled. These "principles" mean nothing more than the +predilections of a particular age; and every age has its own, and a +different from its predecessor. It is now Homer, and now Virgil; once +Dryden, and since Walter Scott; now Corneille, and now Racine; now +Crebillon, now Voltaire. The Homerists and Virgilians in France +disputed for half a century. Not fifty years ago the Italians +neglected Dante--Bettinelli reproved Monti for reading "that +barbarian;" at present they adore him. Shakspeare and Milton have had +their rise, and they will have their decline. Already they have more +than once fluctuated, as must be the case with all the dramatists and +poets of a living language. This does not depend upon their merits, +but upon the ordinary vicissitudes of human opinions. Schlegel and +Madame de Stael have endeavoured also to reduce poetry to _two_ +systems, classical and romantic. The effect is only beginning.] + +Were Petrarch to be ranked according to the "order" of his +compositions, where would the best of sonnets place him? with Dante +and the others? no; but, as I have before said, the poet who +_executes_ best, is the highest, whatever his department, and will +ever be so rated in the world's esteem. + +Had Gray written nothing but his Elegy, high as he stands, I am not +sure that he would not stand higher; it is the corner-stone of his +glory: without it, his odes would be insufficient for his fame. The +depreciation of Pope is partly founded upon a false idea of the +dignity of his order of poetry, to which he has partly contributed by +the ingenuous boast, + + "That not in fancy's maze he wandered long, + But _stoop'd_ to truth, and moralised his song." + +He should have written "rose to truth." In my mind, the highest of +all poetry is ethical poetry, as the highest of all earthly objects +must be moral truth. Religion does not make a part of my subject; it +is something beyond human powers, and has failed in all human hands +except Milton's and Dante's, and even Dante's powers are involved in +his delineation of human passions, though in supernatural +circumstances. What made Socrates the greatest of men? His moral +truth--his ethics. What proved Jesus Christ the Son of God hardly +less than his miracles? His moral precepts. And if ethics have made a +philosopher the first of men, and have not been disdained as an +adjunct to his Gospel by the Deity himself, are we to be told that +ethical poetry, or didactic poetry, or by whatever name you term it, +whose object is to make men better and wiser, is not the _very first +order_ of poetry; and are we to be told this too by one of the +priesthood? It requires more mind, more wisdom, more power, than all +the "forests" that ever were "walked" for their "description," and +all the epics that ever were founded upon fields of battle. The +Georgics are indisputably, and, I believe, _undisputedly_ even a +finer poem than the AEneid. Virgil knew this; he did not order _them_ +to be burnt. + + "The proper study of mankind is man." + +It is the fashion of the day to lay great stress upon what they call +"imagination" and "invention," the two commonest of qualities: an +Irish peasant with a little whiskey in his head will imagine and +invent more than would furnish forth a modern poem. If Lucretius had +not been spoiled by the Epicurean system, we should have had a far +superior poem to any now in existence. As mere poetry, it is the +first of Latin poems. What then has ruined it? His ethics. Pope has +not this defect; his moral is as pure as his poetry is glorious. + +In speaking of artificial objects, I have omitted to touch upon one +which I will now mention. Cannon may be presumed to be as highly +poetical as art can make her objects. Mr. Bowles will, perhaps, tell +me that this is because they resemble that grand natural article of +sound in heaven, and simile upon earth--thunder. I shall be told +triumphantly, that Milton made sad work with his artillery, when he +armed his devils therewithal. He did so; and this artificial object +must have had much of the sublime to attract his attention for such a +conflict. He _has_ made an absurd use of it; but the absurdity +consists not in using _cannon_ against the angels of God, but any +_material_ weapon. The thunder of the clouds would have been as +ridiculous and vain in the hands of the devils, as the "villanous +saltpetre:" the angels were as impervious to the one as to the other. +The thunderbolts become sublime in the hands of the Almighty not as +such, but because _he_ deigns to use them as a means of repelling the +rebel spirits; but no one can attribute their defeat to this grand +piece of natural electricity: the Almighty willed, and they fell; his +word would have been enough; and Milton is as absurd, (and, in fact, +_blasphemous_,) in putting material lightnings into the hands of the +Godhead, as in giving him hands at all. + +The artillery of the demons was but the first step of his mistake, +the thunder the next, and it is a step lower. It would have been fit +for Jove, but not for Jehovah. The subject altogether was essentially +unpoetical; he has made more of it than another could, but it is +beyond him and all men. + +In a portion of his reply, Mr. Bowles asserts that Pope "envied +Phillips," because he quizzed his pastorals in the Guardian, in that +most admirable model of irony, his paper on the subject. If there was +any thing enviable about Phillips, it could hardly be his pastorals. +They were despicable, and Pope expressed his contempt. If Mr. +Fitzgerald published a volume of sonnets, or a "Spirit of Discovery," +or a "Missionary," and Mr. Bowles wrote in any periodical journal an +ironical paper upon them, would this be "envy?" The authors of the +"Rejected Addresses" have ridiculed the sixteen or twenty "first +living poets" of the day, but do they "envy" them? "Envy" writhes, it +don't laugh. The authors of the Rejected Addresses may despise some, +but they can hardly "envy" any of the persons whom they have +parodied; and Pope could have no more envied Phillips than he did +Welsted, or Theobald, or Smedley, or any other given hero of the +Dunciad. He could not have envied him, even had he himself _not_ been +the greatest poet of his age. Did Mr. Ings "_envy_" Mr. Phillips when +he asked him, "How came your Pyrrhus to drive oxen and say, I am +_goaded_ on by love?" This question silenced poor Phillips; but it no +more proceeded from "envy" than did Pope's ridicule. Did he envy +Swift? Did he envy Bolingbroke? Did he envy Gay the unparalleled +success of his "Beggar's Opera?" We may be answered that these were +his friends--true: but does _friendship_ prevent _envy_? Study the +first woman you meet with, or the first scribbler, let Mr. Bowles +himself (whom I acquit fully of such an odious quality) study some of +his own poetical intimates: the most envious man I ever heard of is a +poet, and a high one; besides, it is an _universal_ passion. +Goldsmith envied not only the puppets for their dancing, and broke +his shins in the attempt at rivalry, but was seriously angry because +two pretty women received more attention than he did. _This is envy;_ +but where does Pope show a sign of the passion? In that case Dryden +envied the hero of his Mac Flecknoe. Mr. Bowles compares, when and +where he can, Pope with Cowper--(the same Cowper whom in his edition +of Pope he laughs at for his attachment to an old woman, Mrs. Unwin; +search and you will find it; I remember the passage, though not the +page;) in particular he requotes Cowper's Dutch delineation of a +wood, drawn up, like a seedsman's catalogue[1], with an affected +imitation of Milton's style, as burlesque as the "Splendid Shilling." +These two writers, for Cowper is no poet, come into comparison in one +great work, the translation of Homer. Now, with all the great, and +manifest, and manifold, and reproved, and acknowledged, and +uncontroverted faults of Pope's translation, and all the scholarship, +and pains, and time, and trouble, and blank verse of the other, who +can ever read Cowper? and who will ever lay down Pope, unless for the +original? Pope's was "not Homer, it was Spondanus;" but Cowper's is +not Homer either, it is not even Cowper. As a child I first read +Pope's Homer with a rapture which no subsequent work could ever +afford, and children are not the worst judges of their own language. +As a boy I read Homer in the original, as we have all done, some of +us by force, and a few by favour; under which description I come is +nothing to the purpose, it is enough that I read him. As a man I have +tried to read Cowper's version, and I found it impossible. Has any +human reader ever succeeded? + +[Footnote 1: I will submit to Mr. Bowles's own judgment a passage +from another poem of Cowper's, to be compared with the same writer's +Sylvan Sampler. In the lines to Mary,-- + + "Thy _needles_, once a shining store, + For my sake restless heretofore, + Now rust disused, and shine no more, + My Mary," + +contain a simple, household, "_indoor_," artificial, and ordinary +image; I refer Mr. Bowles to the stanza, and ask if these three lines +about "_needles_" are not worth all the boasted twaddling about +trees, so triumphantly re-quoted? and yet, in _fact_, what do they +convey? A homely collection of images and ideas, associated with the +darning of stockings, and the hemming of shirts, and the mending of +breeches; but will any one deny that they are eminently poetical and +pathetic as addressed by Cowper to his nurse? The trash of trees +reminds me of a saying of Sheridan's. Soon after the "Rejected +Address" scene in 1812, I met Sheridan. In the course of dinner, he +said, "Lord Byron, did you know that, amongst the writers of +addresses, was Whitbread himself?" I answered by an enquiry of what +sort of an address he had made. "Of that," replied Sheridan, "I +remember little, except that there was a _phoenix_ in it."--"A +phoenix!! Well, how did he describe it?"--"_Like a poulterer_," +answered Sheridan: "it was green, and yellow, and red, and blue: he +did not let us off for a single feather." And just such as this +poulterer's account of a phoenix is Cowper's stick-picker's detail of +a wood, with all its petty minutiae of this, that, and the other.] + +And now that we have heard the Catholic repreached with envy, +duplicity, licentiousness, avarice--what was the Calvinist? He +attempted the most atrocious of crimes in the Christian code, viz. +suicide--and why? because he was to be examined whether he was fit +for an office which he seems to wish to have made a sinecure. His +connection with Mrs. Unwin was pure enough, for the old lady was +devout, and he was deranged; but why then is the infirm and then +elderly Pope to be reproved for his connection with Martha Blount: +Cowper was the almoner of Mrs. Throgmorton; but Pope's charities were +his own, and they were noble and extensive, far beyond his fortune's +warrant. Pope was the tolerant yet steady adherent of the most +bigoted of sects; and Cowper the most bigoted and despondent sectary +that ever anticipated damnation to himself or others. Is this harsh? +I know it is, and I do not assert it as my opinion of Cowper +_personally_, but to _show what might_ be said, with just as great an +appearance of truth and candour, as all the odium which has been +accumulated upon Pope in similar speculations. Cowper was a good man, +and lived at a fortunate time for his works. + +[Footnote: One more poetical instance of the power of art, and even +its _superiority_ over nature, in poetry; and I have done:--the bust +of _Antinous_! Is there any thing in nature like this marble, +excepting the Venus? Can there be more _poetry_ gathered into +existence than in that wonderful creation of perfect beauty? But the +poetry of this bust is in no respect derived from nature, nor from +any association of moral exaltedness; for what is there in common +with moral nature, and the male minion of Adrian? The very execution +is _not natural_, but _super_-natural, or rather _super-artificial,_ +for nature has never done so much. + +Away, then, with this cant about nature, and "invariable principles +of poetry!" A great artist will make a block of stone as sublime as a +mountain, and a good poet can imbue a pack of cards with more poetry +than inhabits the forests of America. It is the business and the +proof of a poet to give the lie to the proverb, and sometimes to +"_make a silken purse out of a sow's ear_;" and to conclude with +another homely proverb, "a good workman will not find fault with his +tools."] + +Mr. Bowles, apparently not relying entirely upon his own arguments, +has, in person or by proxy, brought forward the names of Southey and +Moore. Mr. Southey "agrees entirely with Mr. Bowles in his +_invariable_ principles of poetry." The least that Mr. Bowles can do +in return is to approve the "invariable principles of Mr. Southey." I +should have thought that the word "_invariable_" might have stuck in +Southey's throat, like Macbeth's "Amen!" I am sure it did in mine, +and I am not the least consistent of the two, at least as a voter. +Moore _(et tu, Brute!_) also approves, and a Mr. J. Scott. There is a +letter also of two lines from a gentleman in asterisks, who, it +seems, is a poet of "the highest rank:"--who _can_ this be? not my +friend, Sir Walter, surely. Campbell it can't be; Rogers it won't be. + + "You have _hit the nail in_ the head, and * * * * + [Pope, I presume] _on_ the head also. + + "I _remain_ yours, affectionately, + "(Five _Asterisks_.)" + +And in asterisks let him remain. Whoever this person may be, he +deserves, for such a judgment of Midas, that "the nail" which Mr. +Bowles has "hit _in_ the head," should he driven through his own +ears; I am sure that they are long enough. + +The attempt of the poetical populace of the present day to obtain an +ostracism against Pope is as easily accounted for as the Athenian's +shell against Aristides; they are tired of hearing him always called +"the Just." They are also fighting for life; for, if he maintains his +station, they will reach their own by falling. They have raised a +mosque by the side of a Grecian temple of the purest architecture; +and, more barbarous than the barbarians from whose practice I have +borrowed the figure, they are not contented with their own grotesque +edifice, unless they destroy the prior, and purely beautiful fabric +which preceded, and which shames them and theirs for ever and ever. I +shall be told that amongst those I _have_ been (or it may be, still +_am_) conspicuous--true, and I am ashamed of it. I _have_ been +amongst the builders of this Babel, attended by a confusion of +tongues, but _never_ amongst the envious destroyers of the classic +temple of our predecessor. I have loved and honoured the fame and +name of that illustrious and unrivalled man, far more than my own +paltry renown, and the trashy jingle of the crowd of "Schools" and +upstarts, who pretend to rival, or even surpass him. Sooner than a +single leaf should be torn from his laurel, it were better that all +which these men, and that I, as one of their set, have ever written, +should + + "Line trunks, clothe spice, or, fluttering in a row, + Befringe the rails of Bedlam, or Soho!" + +There are those who will believe this, and those who will not. You, +sir, know how far I am sincere, and whether my opinion, not only in +the short work intended for publication, and in private letters which +can never be published, has or has not been the same. I look upon +this as the declining age of English poetry; no regard for others, no +selfish feeling, can prevent me from seeing this, and expressing the +truth. There can be no worse sign for the taste of the times than the +depreciation of Pope. It would be better to receive for proof Mr. +Cobbett's rough but strong attack upon Shakspeare and Milton, than to +allow this smooth and "candid" undermining of the reputation of the +most _perfect_ of our poets, and the purest of our moralists. Of his +power in the _passions_, in description, in the mock heroic, I leave +others to descant. I take him on his strong ground as an _ethical_ +poet: in the former, none excel; in the mock heroic and the ethical, +none equal him; and in my mind, the latter is the highest of all +poetry, because it does that in _verse_, which the greatest of men +have wished to accomplish in prose. If the essence of poetry must be +a _lie_, throw it to the dogs, or banish it from your republic, as +Plato would have done. He who can reconcile poetry with truth and +wisdom, is the only true "_poet_" in its real sense, "the _maker_" +"the _creator_,"--why must this mean the "liar," the "feigner," the +"tale-teller?" A man may make and create better things than these. + +I shall not presume to say that Pope is as high a poet as Shakspeare +and Milton, though his enemy, Warton, places him immediately under +them.[1] I would no more say this than I would assert in the mosque +(once Saint Sophia's), that Socrates was a greater man than Mahomet. +But if I say that he is very near them, it is no more than has been +asserted of Burns, who is supposed + + "To rival all but Shakspeare's name below." + +[Footnote 1: If the opinions cited by Mr. Bowles, of Dr. Johnson +_against_ Pope, are to be taken as decisive authority, they will also +hold good against Gray, Milton, Swift, Thomson, and Dryden: in that +case what becomes of Gray's poetical, and Milton's moral character? +even of Milton's _poetical_ character, or, indeed, of _English_ +poetry in general? for Johnson strips many a leaf from every laurel. +Still Johnson's is the finest critical work extant, and can never be +read without instruction and delight.] + +I say nothing against this opinion. But of what "_order_," according +to the poetical aristocracy, are Burns's poems? There are his _opus +magnum_, "Tam O'Shanter," a _tale_; the Cotter's Saturday Night, a +descriptive sketch; some others in the same style: the rest are +songs. So much for the _rank_ of his _productions_; the _rank_ of +_Burns_ is the very first of his art. Of Pope I have expressed my +opinion elsewhere, as also of the effect which the present attempts +at poetry have had upon our literature. If any great national or +natural convulsion could or should overwhelm your country in such +sort, as to sweep Great Britain from the kingdoms of the earth, and +leave only that, after all, the most living of human things, a _dead +language_, to be studied and read, and imitated by the wise of future +and far generations, upon foreign shores; if your literature should +become the learning of mankind, divested of party cabals, temporary +fashions, and national pride and prejudice; an Englishman, anxious +that the posterity of strangers should know that there had been such +a thing as a British Epic and Tragedy, might wish for the +preservation of Shakspeare and Milton; but the surviving world would +snatch Pope from the wreck, and let the rest sink with the people. He +is the moral poet of all civilisation; and as such, let us hope that +he will one day be the national poet of mankind. He is the only poet +that never shocks; the only poet whose _faultlessness_ has been made +his reproach. Cast your eye over his productions; consider their +extent, and contemplate their variety:--pastoral, passion, mock +heroic, translation, satire, ethics,--all excellent, and often +perfect. If his great charm be his _melody_, how comes it that +foreigners adore him even in their diluted translations? But I have +made this letter too long. Give my compliments to Mr. Bowles. + +Yours ever, very truly, + +BYRON. + +_To John Murray, Esq_. + +_Post Scriptum_.--Long as this letter has grown, I find it necessary +to append a postscript; if possible, a short one. Mr. Bowles denies +that he has accused Pope of "a sordid money-getting passion;" but, he +adds, "if I had ever done so, I should be glad to find any testimony +that, might show he was _not_ so." This testimony he may find to his +heart's content in Spence and elsewhere. First, there is Martha +Blount, who, Mr. Bowles charitably says, "probably thought he did not +save enough for her, as legatee." Whatever she _thought_ upon this +point, her words are in Pope's favour. Then there is Alderman Barber; +see Spence's Anecdotes. There is Pope's cold answer to Halifax when +he proposed a pension; his behaviour to Craggs and to Addison upon +like occasions, and his own two lines-- + + "And, thanks to Homer, since I live and thrive, + Indebted to no prince or peer alive;" + +written when princes would have been proud to pension, and peers to +promote him, and when the whole army of dunces were in array against +him, and would have been but too happy to deprive him of this boast +of independence. But there is something a little more serious in Mr. +Bowles's declaration, that he "_would_ have spoken" of his "noble +generosity to the outcast Richard Savage," and other instances of a +compassionate and generous heart, "_had they occurred to his +recollection when he wrote_." What! is it come to this? Does Mr. +Bowles sit down to write a minute and laboured life and edition of a +great poet? Does he anatomise his character, moral and poetical? Does +he present us with his faults and with his foibles? Does he sneer at +his feelings, and doubt of his sincerity? Does he unfold his vanity +and duplicity? and then omit the good qualities which might, in part, +have "covered this multitude of sins?" and then plead that "_they did +not occur to his recollection_?" Is this the frame of mind and of +memory with which the illustrious dead are to be approached? If Mr. +Bowles, who must have had access to all the means of refreshing his +memory, did not recollect these facts, he is unfit for his task; but +if he _did_ recollect and omit them, I know not what he is fit for, +but I know what would be fit for him. Is the plea of "not +recollecting" such prominent facts to be admitted? Mr. Bowles has +been at a public school, and as I have been publicly educated also, I +can sympathise with his predilection. When we were in the third form +even, had we pleaded on the Monday morning, that we had not brought +up the Saturday's exercise, because "we had forgotten it," what would +have been the reply? And is an excuse, which would not be pardoned to +a schoolboy, to pass current in a matter which so nearly concerns the +fame of the first poet of his age, if not of his country? If Mr. +Bowles so readily forgets the virtues of others, why complain so +grievously that others have a better memory for his own faults? They +are but the faults of an author; while the virtues he omitted from +his catalogue are essential to the justice due to a man. + +Mr. Bowles appears, indeed, to be susceptible beyond the privilege of +authorship. There is a plaintive dedication to Mr. Gifford, in which +_he_ is made responsible for all the articles of the Quarterly. Mr. +Southey, it seems, "the most able and eloquent writer in that +Review," approves of Mr. Bowles's publication. Now it seems to me the +more impartial, that notwithstanding that "the great writer of the +Quarterly" entertains opinions opposite to the able article on +Spence, nevertheless that essay was permitted to appear. Is a review +to be devoted to the opinions of any _one_ man? + +Must it not vary according to circumstances, and according to the +subjects to be criticised? I fear that writers must take the sweets +and bitters of the public journals as they occur, and an author of so +long a standing as Mr. Bowles might have become accustomed to such +incidents; he might be angry, but not astonished. I have been +reviewed in the Quarterly almost as often as Mr. Bowles, and have had +as pleasant things said, and some _as unpleasant_, as could well be +pronounced. In the review of "The Fall of Jerusalem" it is stated, +that I have devoted "my powers, &c. to the worst parts of +Manicheism;" which, being interpreted, means that I worship the +devil. Now, I have neither written a reply, nor complained to +Gifford. I believe that I observed in a letter to you, that I thought +"that the critic might have praised Milman without finding it +necessary to abuse me;" but did I not add at the same time, or soon +after, (a propos, of the note in the book of Travels,) that I would +not, if it were even in my power, have a single line cancelled on my +account in that nor in any other publication? Of course, I reserve to +myself the privilege of response when necessary. Mr. Bowles seems in +a whimsical state about the author of the article on Spence. You know +very well that I am not in your confidence, nor in that of the +conductor of the journal. The moment I saw that article, I was +morally certain that I knew the author "by his style." You will tell +me that I do _not know_ him: that is all as it should be; keep the +secret, so shall I, though no one has ever intrusted it to me. He is +not the person whom Mr. Bowles denounces. Mr. Bowles's extreme +sensibility reminds me of a circumstance which occurred on board of a +frigate in which I was a passenger and guest of the captain's for a +considerable time. The surgeon on board, a very gentlemanly young +man, and remarkably able in his profession, wore a _wig_. Upon this +ornament he was extremely tenacious. As naval jests are sometimes a +little rough, his brother officers made occasional allusions to this +delicate appendage to the doctor's person. One day a young +lieutenant, in the course of a facetious discussion, said, "Suppose +now, doctor, I should take off your _hat_,"--"Sir," replied the +doctor, "I shall talk no longer with you; you grow _scurrilous_." He +would not even admit so near an approach as to the hat which +protected it. In like manner, if any body approaches Mr. Bowles's +laurels, even in his outside capacity of an _editor_, "they grow +_scurrilous_." You say that you are about to prepare an edition of +Pope; you cannot do better for your own credit as a publisher, nor +for the redemption of Pope from Mr. Bowles, and of the public taste +from rapid degeneracy. + + + + +OBSERVATIONS UPON "OBSERVATIONS" + + +A SECOND LETTER TO JOHN MURRAY, ESQ. ON THE REV. W.L. BOWLES'S +STRICTURES ON THE LIFE AND WRITINGS OF POPE. + + * * * * * + +_Now first published_. + + * * * * * + +Ravenna, March 25. 1821. + +Dear Sir, + +In the further "Observations" of Mr. Bowles, in rejoinder to the +charges brought against his edition of Pope, it is to be regretted +that he has lost his temper. Whatever the language of his antagonists +may have been, I fear that his replies have afforded more pleasure to +them than to the public. That Mr. Bowles should not be pleased is +natural, whether right or wrong; but a temperate defence would have +answered his purpose in the former case--and, in the latter, no +defence, however violent, can tend to any thing but his discomfiture. +I have read over this third pamphlet, which you have been so obliging +as to send me, and shall venture a few observations, in addition to +those upon the previous controversy. + +Mr. Bowles sets out with repeating his "_confirmed conviction_," that +"what he said of the moral part of Pope's character was, generally +speaking, true; and that the principles of _poetical_ criticism which +he has laid down are _invariable_ and _invulnerable_," &c.; and that +he is the _more_ persuaded of this by the "_exaggerations_ of his +opponents." This is all very well, and highly natural and sincere. +Nobody ever expected that either Mr. Bowles, or any other author, +would be convinced of human fallibility in their own persons. But it +is nothing to the purpose--for it is not what Mr. Bowles thinks, but +what is to be thought of Pope, that is the question. It is what he +has asserted or insinuated against a name which is the patrimony of +posterity, that is to be tried; and Mr. Bowles, as a party, can be no +judge. The more _he_ is persuaded, the better for himself, if it give +him any pleasure; but he can only persuade others by the proofs +brought out in his defence. + +After these prefatory remarks of "conviction," &c. Mr. Bowles +proceeds to Mr. Gilchrist; whom he charges with "slang" and +"slander," besides a small subsidiary indictment of "abuse, +ignorance, malice," and so forth. Mr. Gilchrist has, indeed, shown +some anger; but it is an honest indignation, which rises up in +defence of the illustrious dead. It is a generous rage which +interposes between our ashes and their disturbers. There appears also +to have been some slight personal provocation. Mr. Gilchrist, with a +chivalrous disdain of the fury of an incensed poet, put his name to a +letter avowing the production of a former essay in defence of Pope, +and consequently of an attack upon Mr. Bowles. Mr. Bowles appears to +be angry with Mr. Gilchrist for four reasons:--firstly, because he +wrote an article in "The London Magazine;" secondly, because he +afterwards avowed it; thirdly, because he was the author of a still +more extended article in "The Quarterly Review;" and, fourthly, +because he was NOT the author of the said Quarterly article, and had +the audacity to disown it--for no earthly reason but because he had +NOT written it. + +Mr. Bowles declares, that "he will not enter into a particular +examination of the pamphlet," which by a _misnomer_ is called +"Gilchrist's Answer to Bowles," when it should have been called +"Gilchrist's Abuse of Bowles." On this error in the baptism of Mr. +Gilchrist's pamphlet, it may be observed, that an answer may be +abusive and yet no less an answer, though indisputably a temperate +one might be the better of the two: but if _abuse_ is to cancel all +pretensions to reply, what becomes of Mr. Bowles's answers to Mr. +Gilchrist? + +Mr. Bowles continues:--"But as Mr. Gilchrist derides my _peculiar +sensitiveness to criticism_, before I show how _destitute of truth is +this representation_, I will here explicitly declare the only +grounds," &c. &c. &c.--Mr. Bowles's sensibility in denying his +"sensitiveness to criticism" proves, perhaps, too much. But if he has +been so charged, and truly--what then? There is no moral turpitude in +such acuteness of feeling: it has been, and may be, combined with +many good and great qualities. Is Mr. Bowles a poet, or is he not? If +he be, he must, from his very essence, be sensitive to criticism; and +even if he be not, he need not be ashamed of the common repugnance to +being attacked. All that is to be wished is, that he had considered +how disagreeable a thing it is, before he assailed the greatest moral +poet of any age, or in any language. + +Pope himself "sleeps well,"--nothing can touch him further; but those +who love the honour of their country, the perfection of her +literature, the glory of her language--are not to be expected to +permit an atom of his dust to be stirred in his tomb, or a leaf to be +stripped from the laurel which grows over it. + +Mr. Bowles assigns several reasons why and when "an author is +justified in appealing to every _upright_ and _honourable_ mind in +the kingdom." If Mr. Bowles limits the perusal of his defence to the +"upright and honourable" only, I greatly fear that it will not be +extensively circulated. I should rather hope that some of the +downright and dishonest will read and be converted, or convicted. But +the whole of his reasoning is here superfluous--"_an author is +justified in appealing_," &c. when and why he pleases. Let him make +out a tolerable case, and few of his readers will quarrel with his +motives. + +Mr. Bowles "will now plainly set before the literary public all the +circumstances which have led to _his name_ and Mr. Gilchrist's being +brought together," &c. Courtesy requires, in speaking of others and +ourselves, that we should place the name of the former first--and not +"_Ego_ et Rex meus." Mr. Bowles should have written "Mr. Gilchrist's +name and his." + +This point he wishes "particularly to address to those _most +respectable characters_, who have the direction and management of the +periodical critical press." That the press may be, in some instances, +conducted by respectable characters is probable enough; but if they +are so, there is no occasion to tell them of it; and if they are not, +it is a base adulation. In either case, it looks like a kind of +flattery, by which those gentry are not very likely to be softened; +since it would be difficult to find two passages in fifteen pages +more at variance, than Mr. Bowles's prose at the beginning of this +pamphlet, and his verse at the end of it. In page 4. he speaks of +"those most respectable characters who have the direction, &c. of the +periodical press," and in page 10. we find-- + + "Ye _dark inquisitors_, a monk-like band, + Who o'er some shrinking victim-author stand, + A solemn, secret, and _vindictive brand, + Only_ terrific in your cowl and hood." + +And so on--to "bloody law" and "red scourges," with other similar +phrases, which may not be altogether agreeable to the above-mentioned +"most respectable characters." Mr. Bowles goes on, "I concluded my +observations in the last Pamphleteer with feelings _not unkind_ +towards Mr. Gilchrist, or" [it should be _nor_] "to the author of the +review of Spence, be he whom he might."--"I was in hopes, _as I have +always been ready to admit any errors_ I might have been led into, or +prejudice I might have entertained, that even Mr. Gilchrist might be +disposed to a more _amicable_ mode of discussing what I had advanced +in regard to Pope's moral character." As Major Sturgeon observes, +"There never was a set of more _amicable_ officers--with the +exception of a boxing-bout between Captain Shears and the Colonel." + +A page and a half--nay only a page before--Mr. Bowles re-affirms his +conviction, that "what he has said of Pope's moral character is +_(generally speaking) true,_ and that his "poetical principles are +_invariable_ and _invulnerable_." He has also published three +pamphlets,--ay, four of the same tenour,--and yet, with this +declaration and these declamations staring him and his adversaries in +the face, he speaks of his "readiness to admit errors or to abandon +prejudices!!!" His use of the word "amicable" reminds me of the Irish +Institution (which I have somewhere heard or read of) called the +"_Friendly_ Society," where the president always carried pistols in +his pocket, so that when one amicable gentleman knocked down another, +the difference might be adjusted on the spot, at the harmonious +distance of twelve paces. + +But Mr. Bowles "has since read a publication by him (Mr. Gilchrist) +containing such vulgar slander, affecting private life and +character," &c. &c.; and Mr. Gilchrist has also had the advantage of +reading a publication by Mr. Bowles sufficiently imbued with +personality; for one of the first and principal topics of reproach is +that he is a _grocer_, that he has a "pipe in his mouth, ledger-book, +green canisters, dingy shop-boy, half a hogshead of brown treacle," +&c. Nay, the same delicate raillery is upon the very title-page. When +controversy has once commenced upon this footing, as Dr. Johnson said +to Dr. Percy, "Sir, there is an end of politeness--we are to be as +rude as we please--Sir, you said that I was _short-sighted_." As a +man's profession is generally no more in his own power than his +person--both having been made out for him--it is hard that he should +be reproached with either, and still more that an honest calling +should be made a reproach. If there is any thing more honourable to +Mr. Gilchrist than another it is, that being engaged in commerce he +has had the taste, and found the leisure, to become so able a +proficient in the higher literature of his own and other countries. +Mr. Bowles, who will be proud to own Glover, Chatterton, Burns, and +Bloomfleld for his peers, should hardly have quarrelled with Mr. +Gilchrist for his critic. Mr. Gilchrist's station, however, which +might conduct him to the highest civic honours, and to boundless +wealth, has nothing to require apology; but even if it had, such a +reproach was not very gracious on the part of a clergyman, nor +graceful on that of a gentleman. The allusion to "_Christian_ +criticism" is not particularly happy, especially where Mr. Gilchrist +is accused of having "_set the first example of this mode in +Europe_." What _Pagan_ criticism may have been we know but little; +the names of Zoilus and Aristarchus survive, and the works of +Aristotle, Longinus, and Quintilian: but of "Christian criticism" we +have already had some specimens in the works of Philelphus, Poggius, +Scaliger, Milton, Salmasius, the Cruscanti (versus Tasso), the French +Academy (against the Cid), and the antagonists of Voltaire and of +Pope--to say nothing of some articles in most of the reviews, since +their earliest institution in the person of their respectable and +still prolific parent, "The Monthly." Why, then, is Mr. Gilchrist to +be singled out "as having set the first example?" A sole page of +Milton or Salmasius contains more abuse--rank, rancorous, +_unleavened_ abuse--than all that can be raked forth from the whole +works of many recent critics. There are some, indeed, who still keep +up the good old custom; but fewer English than foreign. It is a pity +that Mr. Bowles cannot witness some of the Italian controversies, or +become the subject of one. He would then look upon Mr. Gilchrist as a +panegyrist. + +In the long sentence quoted from the article in "The London +Magazine," there is one coarse image, the justice of whose +application I shall not pretend to determine:--"The pruriency with +which his nose is laid to the ground" is an expression which, whether +founded or not, might have been omitted. But the "anatomical +minuteness" appears to me justified even by Mr. Bowles's own +subsequent quotation. To the point:--"_Many facts_ tend to prove the +peculiar susceptibility of his passions; nor can we implicitly +believe that the connexion between him and Martha Blount was of a +nature so pure and innocent as his panegyrist Ruffhead would have us +believe," &c.--"At _no time_ could she have regarded _Pope +personally_ with attachment," &c.--"But the most extraordinary +circumstance in regard to his connexion with female society, was the +strange mixture of _indecent_ and even _profane_ levity which his +conduct and language often exhibited. The cause of this particularity +may be sought, perhaps, in his consciousness of physical defect, +which made him affect a character uncongenial, and a language +opposite to the truth."--If this is not "minute moral anatomy," I +should be glad to know what is! It is dissection in all its branches. +I shall, however, hazard a remark or two upon this quotation. + +To me it appears of no very great consequence whether Martha Blount +was or was not Pope's mistress, though I could have wished him a +better. She appears to have been a cold-hearted, interested, +ignorant, disagreeable woman, upon whom the tenderness of Pope's +heart in the desolation of his latter days was cast away, not knowing +whither to turn as he drew towards his premature old age, childless +and lonely,--like the needle which, approaching within a certain +distance of the pole, becomes helpless and useless, and, ceasing to +tremble, rusts. She seems to have been so totally unworthy of +tenderness, that it is an additional proof of the kindness of Pope's +heart to have been able to love such a being. But we must love +something. I agree with Mr. B. that _she_ "could at no time have +regarded _Pope personally_ with attachment," because she was +incapable of attachment; but I deny that Pope could not be regarded +with personal attachment by a worthier woman. It is not probable, +indeed, that a woman would have fallen in love with him as he walked +along the Mall, or in a box at the opera, nor from a balcony, nor in +a ball-room; but in society he seems to have been as amiable as +unassuming, and, with the greatest disadvantages of figure, his head +and face were remarkably handsome, especially his eyes. He was adored +by his friends--friends of the most opposite dispositions, ages, and +talents--by the old and wayward Wycherley, by the cynical Swift, the +rough Atterbury, the gentle Spence, the stern attorney-bishop +Warburton, the virtuous Berkeley, and the "cankered Bolingbroke." +Bolingbroke wept over him like a child; and Spence's description of +his last moments is at least as edifying as the more ostentatious +account of the deathbed of Addison. The soldier Peterborough and the +poet Gay, the witty Congreve and the laughing Rowe, the eccentric +Cromwell and the steady Bathurst, were all his intimates. The man who +could conciliate so many men of the most opposite description, not +one of whom but was a remarkable or a celebrated character, might +well have pretended to all the attachment which a reasonable man +would desire of an amiable woman. + +Pope, in fact, wherever he got it, appears to have understood the sex +well, Bolingbroke, "a judge of the subject," says Warton, thought his +"Epistle on the Characters of Women" his "masterpiece." And even with +respect to the grosser passion, which takes occasionally the name of +"_romantic_," accordingly as the degree of sentiment elevates it +above the definition of love by Buffon, it may be remarked, that it +does not always depend upon personal appearance, even in a woman. +Madame Cottin was a plain woman, and might have been virtuous, it may +be presumed, without much interruption. Virtuous she was, and the +consequences of this inveterate virtue were that two different +admirers (one an elderly gentleman) killed themselves in despair (see +Lady Morgan's "France"). I would not, however, recommend this rigour +to plain women in general, in the hope of securing the glory of two +suicides apiece. I believe that there are few men who, in the course +of their observations on life, may not have perceived that it is not +the greatest female beauty who forms the longest and the strongest +passions. + +But, apropos of Pope.--Voltaire tells us that the Marechal Luxembourg +(who had precisely Pope's figure) was not only somewhat too amatory +for a great man, but fortunate in his attachments. La Valiere, the +passion of Louis XIV., had an unsightly defect. The Princess of +Eboli, the mistress of Philip II. of Spain, and Maugiron, the minion +of Henry III. of France, had each of them lost an eye; and the famous +Latin epigram was written upon them, which has, I believe, been +either translated or imitated by Goldsmith:-- + + "Lumine Acon dextro, capta est Leonilla sinistro, + Et potis est forma vincere uterque Deos; + Blande puer, lumen quod habes concede sorrori, + Sic tu caecus Amor, sic erit illa Venus." + +Wilkes, with his ugliness, used to say that "he was but a quarter of +an hour behind the handsomest man in England;" and this vaunt of his +is said not to have been disproved by circumstances. Swift, when +neither young, nor handsome, nor rich, nor even amiable, inspired the +two most extraordinary passions upon record, Vanessa's and Stella's. + + "Vanessa, aged scarce a score, + Sighs for a gown of _forty-four_." + +He requited them bitterly; for he seems to have broken the heart of +the one, and worn out that of the other; and he had his reward, for +he died a solitary idiot in the hands of servants. + +For my own part, I am of the opinion of Pausanias. that success in +love depends upon Fortune. "They particularly renounce Celestial +Venus, into whose temple, &c. &c. &c. I remember, too, to have seen a +building in AEgina in which there is a statue of Fortune, holding a +horn of Amalthea; and near her there is a winged Love. The meaning of +this is, that the success of men in love affairs depends more on the +assistance of Fortune than the charms of beauty. I am persuaded, too, +with Pindar (to whose opinion I submit in other particulars), that +Fortune is one of the Fates, and that in a certain respect she is +more powerful than her sisters."--See Pausanias, Achaics, book vii. +chap.26. p.246. Taylor's "Translation." + +Grimm has a remark of the same kind on the different destinies of the +younger Crebillon and Rousseau. The former writes a licentious novel, +and a young English girl of some fortune and family (a Miss +Strafford) runs away, and crosses the sea to marry him; while +Rousseau, the most tender and passionate of lovers, is obliged to +espouse his chambermaid. If I recollect rightly, this remark was also +repeated in the Edinburgh Review of Grimm's correspondence, seven or +eight years ago. + +In regard "to the strange mixture of indecent, and sometimes +_profane_ levity, which his conduct and language _often_ exhibited," +and which so much shocks Mr. Bowles, I object to the indefinite word +"_often_;" and in extenuation of the occasional occurrence of such +language it is to be recollected, that it was less the tone of +_Pope_, than the tone of the _time_. With the exception of the +correspondence of Pope and his friends, not many private letters of +the period have come down to us; but those, such as they are--a few +scattered scraps from Farquhar and others--are more indecent and +coarse than any thing in Pope's letters. The comedies of Congreve, +Vanbrugh, Farquhar, Cibber, &c., which naturally attempted to +represent the manners and conversation of private life, are decisive +upon this point; as are also some of Steele's papers, and even +Addison's. We all know what the conversation of Sir R. Walpole, for +seventeen years the prime minister of the country, was at his own +table, and his excuse for his licentious language, viz. "that every +body understood _that_, but few could talk rationally upon less +common topics." The refinement of latter days,--which is perhaps the +consequence of vice, which wishes to mask and soften itself, as much +as of virtuous civilisation,--had not yet made sufficient progress. +Even Johnson, in his "London," has two or three passages which cannot +be read aloud, and Addison's "Drummer" some indelicate allusions. + +The expression of Mr. Bowles, "his consciousness of physical defect," +is not very clear. It may mean deformity or debility. If it alludes +to Pope's deformity, it has been attempted to be shown that this was +no insuperable objection to his being beloved. If it alludes to +debility, as a consequence of Pope's peculiar conformation, I believe +that it is a physical and known fact that hump-backed persons are of +strong and vigorous passions. Several years ago, at Mr. Angelo's +fencing rooms, when I was a pupil of him and of Mr. Jackson, who had +the use of his rooms in Albany on the alternate days, I recollect a +gentleman named B--ll--gh--t, remarkable for his strength, and the +fineness of his figure. His skill was not inferior, for he could +stand up to the great Captain Barclay himself, with the muffles +on;--a task neither easy nor agreeable to a pugilistic aspirant. As +the by-standers were one day admiring his athletic proportions, he +remarked to us, that he had five brothers as tall and strong as +himself, and that their _father and mother were both crooked, and of +very small stature_;--I think he said, neither of them five feet +high. It would not be difficult to adduce similar instances; but I +abstain, because the subject is hardly refined enough for this +immaculate period, this moral millenium of expurgated editions in +books, manners, and royal trials of divorce. + +This laudable delicacy--this crying-out elegance of the day--reminds +me of a little circumstance which occurred when I was about eighteen +years of age. There was then (and there may be still) a famous French +"entremetteuse," who assisted young gentlemen in their youthful +pastimes. We had been acquainted for some time, when something +occurred in her line of business more than ordinary, and the refusal +was offered to me (and doubtless to many others), probably because I +was in cash at the moment, having taken up a decent sum from the +Jews, and not having spent much above half of it. The adventure on +the tapis, it seems, required some caution and circumspection. +Whether my venerable friend doubted my politeness I cannot tell; but +she sent me a letter couched in such English as a short residence of +sixteen years in England had enabled her to acquire. After several +precepts and instructions, the letter closed. But there was a +postscript. It contained these words:--"Remember, Milor, that +_delicaci ensure_ everi succes." The _delicacy_ of the day is +exactly, in all its circumstances, like that of this respectable +foreigner. "It ensures every _succes_," and is not a whit more moral +than, and not half so honourable as, the coarser candour of our less +polished ancestors. + +To return to Mr. Bowles. "If what is here extracted can excite in the +mind (I will not say of any 'layman', of any 'Christian', but) of any +_human being_," &c. &c. Is not Mr. Gilchrist a "human being?" Mr. +Bowles asks "whether in _attributing_ an article," &c. &c, "to the +critic, he had _any reason_ for distinguishing him with that +courtesy," &c. &c. But Mr. Bowles was wrong in "attributing the +article" to Mr. Gilchrist at all; and would not have been right in +calling him a dunce and a grocer, if he had written it. + +Mr. Bowles is here "peremptorily called upon to speak of a +circumstance which gives him the greatest pain,--the mention of a +letter he received from the editor of 'The London Magazine.'" Mr. +Bowles seems to have embroiled himself on all sides; whether by +editing, or replying, or attributing, or quoting,--it has been an +awkward affair for him. + +Poor Scott is now no more. In the exercise of his vocation, he +contrived at last to make himself the subject of a coroner's inquest. +But he died like a brave man, and he lived an able one. I knew him +personally, though slightly. Although several years my senior, we had +been schoolfellows together at the "grammar-schule" (or, as the +Aberdonians pronounce it, "_squeel_") of New Aberdeen. He did not +behave to me quite handsomely in his capacity of editor a few years +ago, but he was under no obligation to behave otherwise. The moment +was too tempting for many friends and for all enemies. At a time when +all my relations (save one) fell from me like leaves from the tree in +autumn winds, and my few friends became still fewer,--when the whole +periodical press (I mean the daily and weekly, _not_ the _literary_ +press) was let loose against me in every shape of reproach, with the +two strange exceptions (from their usual opposition) of "The Courier" +and "The Examiner,"--the paper of which Scott had the direction was +neither the last nor the least vituperative. Two years ago I met him +at Venice, when he was bowed in griefs by the loss of his son, and +had known, by experience, the bitterness of domestic privation. He +was then earnest with me to return to England; and on my telling him, +with a smile, that he was once of a different opinion, he replied to +me, 'that he and others had been greatly misled; and that some pains, +and rather extraordinary means, had been taken to excite them.' Scott +is no more, but there are more than one living who were present at +this dialogue. He was a man of very considerable talents, and of +great acquirements. He had made his way, as a literary character, +with high success, and in a few years. Poor fellow! I recollect his +joy at some appointment which he had obtained, or was to obtain, +through Sir James Mackintosh, and which prevented the further +extension (unless by a rapid run to Rome) of his travels in Italy. I +little thought to what it would conduct him. Peace be with him!--and +may all such other faults as are inevitable to humanity be as readily +forgiven him, as the little injury which he had done to one who +respected his talents, and regrets his loss. + +I pass over Mr. Bowles's page of explanation, upon the correspondence +between him and Mr. S----. It is of little importance in regard to +Pope, and contains merely a re-contradiction of a contradiction of +Mr. Gilchrist's. We now come to a point where Mr. Gilchrist has, +certainly, rather exaggerated matters; and, of course, Mr. Bowles +makes the most of it. Capital letters, like Kean's name, "large upon +the bills," are made use of six or seven times to express his sense +of the outrage. The charge is, indeed, very boldly made; but, like +"Ranold of the Mist's" practical joke of putting the bread and cheese +into a dead man's mouth, is, as Dugald Dalgetty says, "somewhat too +wild and salvage, besides wasting the good victuals." + +Mr. Gilchrist charges Mr. Bowles with "suggesting" that Pope +"attempted" to commit "a rape" upon Lady M. Wortley Montague. There +are two reasons why this could not be true. The first is, that like +the chaste Letitia's prevention of the intended ravishment by +Fireblood (in Jonathan Wild), it might have been impeded by a timely +compliance. The second is, that however this might be, Pope was +probably the less robust of the two; and (if the Lines on Sappho were +really intended for this lady) the asserted consequences of her +acquiescence in his wishes would have been a sufficient punishment. +The passage which Mr. Bowles quotes, however, insinuates nothing of +the kind: it merely charges her with encouragement, and him with +wishing to profit by it,--a slight attempt at seduction, and no more. +The phrase is, "a step beyond decorum." Any physical violence is so +abhorrent to human nature, that it recoils in cold blood from the +very idea. But, the seduction of a woman's mind as well as person is +not, perhaps, the least heinous sin of the two in morality. Dr. +Johnson commends a gentleman who having seduced a girl who said, "I +am afraid we have done wrong," replied, "Yes, we _have_ done +wrong,"--"for I would not _pervert_ her mind also." Othello would not +"kill Desdemona's _soul_." Mr. Bowles exculpates himself from Mr. +Gilchrist's charge; but it is by substituting another charge against +Pope. "A step beyond decorum," has a soft sound, but what does it +express? In all these cases, "ce n'est que le premier pas qui coute." +Has not the Scripture something upon "the lusting after a woman" +being no less criminal than the crime? "A step beyond decorum," in +short, any step beyond the instep, is a step from a precipice to the +lady who permits it. For the gentleman who makes it it is also rather +hazardous if he does not succeed, and still more so if he does. + +Mr. Bowles appeals to the "Christian reader!" upon this +"_Gilchristian_ criticism." Is not this play upon such words "a step +beyond decorum" in a clergyman? But I admit the temptation of a pun +to be irresistible. + +But "a hasty pamphlet was published, in which some personalities +respecting Mr. Gilchrist were suffered to appear." If Mr. Bowles will +write "hasty pamphlets," why is he so surprised on receiving short +answers? The grand grievance to which he perpetually returns is a +charge of "_hypochondriacism_," asserted or insinuated in the +Quarterly. I cannot conceive a man in perfect health being much +affected by such a charge, because his complexion and conduct must +amply refute it. But were it true, to what does it amount?--to an +impeachment of a liver complaint. "I will tell it to the world," +exclaimed the learned Smelfungus.--"You had better," said I, "tell it +to your physician." There is nothing dishonourable in such a +disorder, which is more peculiarly the malady of students. It has +been the complaint of the good, and the wise, and the witty, and even +of the gay. Regnard, the author of the last French comedy after +Moliere, was atrabilious; and Moliere himself, saturnine. Dr. +Johnson, Gray, and Burns, were all more or less affected by it +occasionally. It was the prelude to the more awful malady of Collins, +Cowper, Swift, and Smart; but it by no means follows that a partial +affliction of this disorder is to terminate like theirs. But even +were it so,-- + + "Nor best, nor wisest, are exempt from thee; + Folly--Folly's only free." PENROSE. + +If this be the criterion of exemption, Mr. Bowles's last two +pamphlets form a better certificate of sanity than a physician's. +Mendehlson and Bayle were at times so overcome with this depression, +as to be obliged to recur to seeing "puppet-shows, and counting tiles +upon the opposite houses," to divert themselves. Dr. Johnson at times +"would have given a limb to recover his spirits." Mr. Bowles, who is +(strange to say) fond of quoting Pope, may perhaps answer,-- + + "Go on, obliging creatures, let me see + All which disgrac'd my betters met in me." + +But the charge, such as it is, neither disgraces them nor him. It is +easily disproved if false; and even if proved true, has nothing in it +to make a man so very indignant. Mr. Bowles himself appears to be a +little ashamed of his "hasty pamphlet;" for he attempts to excuse it +by the "great provocation;" that is to say, by Mr. Bowles's supposing +that Mr. Gilchrist was the writer of the article in the Quarterly, +which he was _not_. + +"But, in extenuation, not only the _great_ provocation should be +remembered, but it ought to be said, that orders were sent to the +London booksellers, that the most direct personal passages should be +_omitted entirely_," &c. This is what the proverb calls "breaking a +head and giving a plaster;" but, in this instance, the plaster was +not spread in time, and Mr. Gilchrist does not seem at present +disposed to regard Mr. Bowles's courtesies like the rust of the spear +of Achilles, which had such "skill in surgery." + +But "Mr. Gilchrist has _no right_ to object, as the reader will see." +I am a reader, a "gentle reader," and I see nothing of the kind. Were +I in Mr. Gilchrist's place, I should object exceedingly to being +abused; firstly, for what I _did_ write, and, secondly, for what I +did _not_ write; merely because it is Mr. Bowles's will and pleasure +to be as angry with me for having written in the London Magazine, as +for not having written in the Quarterly Review. + +"Mr. Gilchrist has had ample revenge; for he has, in his answer, said +so and so," &c. &c. There is no great revenge in all this; and I +presume that nobody either seeks or wishes it. What revenge? Mr. +Bowles calls names, and he is answered. But Mr. Gilchrist and the +Quarterly Reviewer are not poets, nor pretenders to poetry; therefore +they can have no envy nor malice against Mr. Bowles: they have no +acquaintance with Mr. Bowles, and can have no personal pique; they do +not cross his path of life, nor he theirs. There is no political feud +between them. What, then, can be the motive of their discussion of +his deserts as an editor?--veneration for the genius of Pope, love +for his memory, and regard for the classic glory of their country. +Why would Mr. Bowles edite? Had he limited his honest endeavours to +poetry, very little would have been said upon the subject, and +nothing at all by his present antagonists. + +Mr. Bowles calls the pamphlet a "mud-cart," and the writer a +"scavenger." Afterward he asks, "Shall he fling dirt and receive +_rose-water_?" This metaphor, by the way, is taken from Marmontel's +Memoirs; who, lamenting to Chamfort the shedding of blood during the +French revolution, was answered, "Do you think that revolutions are +to be made with _rose-water_?" + +For my own part, I presume that "rose-water" would be infinitely more +graceful in the hands of Mr. Bowles than the substance which he has +substituted for that delicate liquid. It would also more confound his +adversary, supposing him a "scavenger." I remember, (and do you +remember, reader, that it was in my earliest youth, "Consule +Planco,")--on the morning of the great battle, (the second)--between +Gulley and Gregson,--_Cribb_, who was matched against Horton for the +second fight, on the same memorable day, awaking me (a lodger at the +inn in the next room) by a loud remonstrance to the waiter against +the abomination of his towels, which had been laid in _lavender_. +Cribb was a coal-heaver--and was much more discomfited by this +odoriferous effeminacy of fine linen, than by his adversary Horton, +whom, he "finished in style," though with some reluctance; for I +recollect that he said, "he disliked hurting him, he looked so +pretty,"--Horton being a very fine fresh-coloured young man. + +To return to "rose-water"--that is, to gentle means of rebuke. Does +Mr. Bowles know how to revenge himself upon a hackney-coachman, when +he has overcharged his fare? In case he should not, I will tell him. +It is of little use to call him "a rascal, a scoundrel, a thief, an +impostor, a blackguard, a villain, a raggamuffin, a--what you +please;" all that he is used to--it is his mother-tongue, and +probably his mother's. But look him steadily and quietly in the face, +and say--"Upon my word, I think you are the _ugliest fellow_ I ever +saw in my life," and he will instantly roll forth the brazen thunders +of the charioteer Salmoneus as follows:--"_Hugly_! what the h--ll are +_you_? _You_ a _gentleman_! Why ----!" So much easier it is to +_provoke_--and therefore to vindicate--(for passion punishes him who +_feels_ it more than those whom the passionate would excruciate)--by +a few quiet words the aggressor, than by retorting violently. The +"coals of fire" of the Scripture are _benefits_;--but they are not +the less "coals of _fire_." + +I pass over a page of quotation and reprobation--"Sin up to my +song"--"Oh let my little bark"--"Arcades ambo"--"Writer in the +Quarterly Review and himself"--"In-door avocations, indeed"--"King of +Brentford"--"One nosegay"--"Perennial nosegay"--"Oh Juvenes,"--and +the like. + +Page 12. produces "more reasons,"--(the task ought not to have been +difficult, for as yet there were none)--"to show why Mr. Bowles +attributed the critique in the Quarterly to Octavius Gilchrist." All +these "reasons" consist of _surmises_ of Mr. Bowles, upon the +presumed character of his opponent. "He did not suppose there could +exist a man in the kingdom so _impudent_, &c. &c. except Octavius +Gilchrist."--"He did not think there was a man in the kingdom who +would _pretend ignorance_, &c. &c. except Octavius Gilchrist."--"He +did not conceive that one man in the kingdom would utter such stupid +flippancy, &c. &c. except Octavius Gilchrist."--"He did not think +there was one man in the kingdom who, &c. &c. could so utterly show +his ignorance, _combined with conceit_, &c. as Octavius +Gilchrist."--"He did not believe there was a man in the kingdom so +perfect in Mr. Gilchrist's 'old lunes,'" &c. &c.--"He did not think +the _mean mind_ of any one in the kingdom," &c. and so on; always +beginning with "any one in the kingdom," and ending with "Octavius +Gilchrist," like the word in a catch. I am not "in the kingdom," and +have not been much in the kingdom since I was one and twenty, (about +five years in the whole, since I was of age,) and have no desire to +be in the kingdom again, whilst I breathe, nor to sleep there +afterwards; and I regret nothing more than having ever been "in the +kingdom" at all. But though no longer a man "in the kingdom," let me +hope that when I have ceased to exist, it may be said, as was +answered by the master of Clanronald's henchman, his day after the +battle of Sheriff-Muir, when he was found watching his chief's body. +He was asked, "who that was?" he replied--"it was a man yesterday." +And in this capacity, "in or out of the kingdom," I must own that I +participate in many of the objections urged by Mr. Gilchrist. I +participate in his love of Pope, and in his not understanding, and +occasionally finding fault with, the last editor of our last truly +great poet. + +One of the reproaches against Mr. Gilchrist is, that he is (it is +sneeringly said) an F. S. _A_. If it will give Mr. Bowles any +pleasure, I am not an F. S. A. but a Fellow of the Royal Society at +his service, in case there should be any thing in that association +also which may point a paragraph. + +"There are some other reasons," but "the author is now _not_ +unknown." Mr. Bowles has so totally exhausted himself upon Octavius +Gilchrist, that he has not a word left for the real quarterer of his +edition, although now "deterre." + +The following page refers to a mysterious charge of "duplicity, in +regard to the publication of Pope's letters." Till this charge is +made in proper form, we have nothing to do with it: Mr. Gilchrist +hints it--Mr. Bowles denies it; there it rests for the present. Mr. +Bowles professes his dislike to "Pope's duplicity, _not_ to Pope"--a +distinction apparently without a difference. However, I believe that +I understand him. We have a great dislike to Mr. Bowles's edition of +Pope, but _not_ to Mr. Bowles; nevertheless, he takes up the subject +as warmly as if it was personal. With regard to the fact of "Pope's +duplicity," it remains to be proved--like Mr. Bowles's benevolence +towards his memory. + +In page 14. we have a large assertion, that "the 'Eloisa' alone is +sufficient to convict him of _gross licentiousness_." Thus, out it +comes at last. Mr. Bowles _does_ accuse Pope of "_gross_ +licentiousness," and grounds the charge upon a poem. The +_licentiousness_ is a "grand peut-etre," according to the turn of the +times being. The grossness I deny. On the contrary, I do believe that +such a subject never was, nor ever could be, treated by any poet with +so much delicacy, mingled with, at the same time, such true and +intense passion. Is the "Atys" of Catullus _licentious_? No, nor even +gross; and yet Catullus is often a coarse writer. The subject is +nearly the same, except that Atys was the suicide of his manhood, and +Abelard the victim. + +The "licentiousness" of the story was _not_ Pope's,--it was a fact. +All that it had of gross, he has softened;--all that it had of +indelicate, he has purified;--all that it had of passionate, he has +beautified;--all that it had of holy, he has hallowed. Mr. Campbell +has admirably marked this in a few words (I quote from memory), in +drawing the distinction between Pope and Dryden, and pointing out +where Dryden was wanting "I fear," says he, "that had the subject of +'Eloisa' fallen into his (Dryden's) hands, that he would have given +us but a _coarse_ draft of her passion." Never was the delicacy of +Pope so much shown as in this poem. With the facts and the letters of +"Eloisa" he has done what no other mind but that of the best and +purest of poets could have accomplished with such materials. Ovid, +Sappho (in the Ode called hers)--all that we have of ancient, all +that we have of modern poetry, sinks into nothing compared with him +in this production. + +Let us hear no more of this trash about "licentiousness." Is not +"Anacreon" taught in our schools?--translated, praised, and edited? +Are not his Odes the amatory praises of a boy? Is not Sappho's Ode on +a girl? Is not this sublime and (according to Longinus) fierce love +for one of her own sex? And is not Phillips's translation of it in +the mouths of all your women? And are the English schools or the +English women the more corrupt for all this? When you have thrown the +ancients into the fire it will be time to denounce the moderns. +"Licentiousness!"--there is more real mischief and sapping +licentiousness in a single French prose novel, in a Moravian hymn, or +a German comedy, than in all the actual poetry that ever was penned, +or poured forth, since the rhapsodies of Orpheus. The sentimental +anatomy of Rousseau and Mad. de S. are far more formidable than any +quantity of verse. They are so, because they sap the principles, by +_reasoning_ upon the _passions_; whereas poetry is in itself passion, +and does not systematise. It assails, but does not argue; it may be +wrong, but it does not assume pretensions to Optimism. + +Mr. Bowles now has the goodness "to point out the difference between +a _traducer_ and him who sincerely states what he sincerely +believes." He might have spared himself the trouble. The one is a +liar, who lies knowingly; the other (I speak of a scandal-monger of +course) lies, charitably believing that he speaks truth, and very +sorry to find himself in falsehood;--because he + + "Would rather that the dean should die, + Than his prediction prove a lie." + +After a definition of a "traducer," which was quite superfluous +(though it is agreeable to learn that Mr. Bowles so well understands +the character), we are assured, that "he feels equally indifferent, +Mr. Gilchrist, for what your malice can invent, or your impudence +utter." This is indubitable; for it rests not only on Mr. Bowles's +assurance, but on that of Sir Fretful Plagiary, and nearly in the +same words,--"and I shall treat it with exactly the same calm +indifference and philosophical contempt, and so your servant." + +"One thing has given Mr. Bowles concern." It is "a passage which +might seem to reflect on the patronage a young man has received." +MIGHT seem!! The passage alluded to expresses, that if Mr. Gilchrist +be the reviewer of "a certain poet of nature," his praise and blame +are equally contemptible."--Mr. Bowles, who has a peculiarly +ambiguous style, where it suits him, comes off with a "_not_ to the +_poet_, but the critic," &c. In my humble opinion, the passage +referred to both. Had Mr. Bowles really meant fairly, he would have +said so from the first--he would have been eagerly transparent.--"A +certain poet of nature" is not the style of commendation. It is the +very prologue to the most scandalous paragraphs of the newspapers, +when + + "Willing to wound, and yet afraid to strike." + +"A certain high personage,"--"a certain peeress,"--"a certain +illustrious foreigner,"--what do these words ever precede, but +defamation? Had he felt a spark of kindling kindness for John Clare, +he would have named him. There is a sneer in the sentence as it +stands. How a favourable review of a deserving poet can "rather +injure than promote his cause" is difficult to comprehend. The +article denounced is able and amiable, and it _has_ "served" the +poet, as far as poetry can be served by judicious and honest +criticism. + +With the two next paragraphs of Mr. Bowles's pamphlet it is pleasing +to concur. His mention of "Pennie," and his former patronage of +"Shoel," do him honour. I am not of those who may deny Mr. Bowles to +be a benevolent man. I merely assert, that he is not a candid editor. + +Mr. Bowles has been "a writer occasionally upwards of thirty years," +and never wrote one word in reply in his life "to criticisms, merely +_as_ criticisms." This is Mr. Lofty in Goldsmith's Good-natured Man; +"and I vow by all that's honourable, my resentment has never done the +men, as mere men, any manner of harm,--that is, _as mere men_." + +"The letter to the editor of the newspaper" is owned; but "it was not +on account of the criticism. It was because the criticism came down +in a frank _directed_ to Mrs. Bowles!!!"--(the italics and three +notes of admiration appended to Mrs. Bowles are copied verbatim from +the quotation), and Mr. Bowles was not displeased with the criticism, +but with the frank and the address. I agree with Mr. Bowles that the +intention was to annoy him; but I fear that this was answered by his +notice of the reception of the criticism. An anonymous letter-writer +has but one means of knowing the effect of his attack. In this he has +the superiority over the viper; he knows that his poison has taken +effect, when he hears the victim cry;--the adder is _deaf_. The best +reply to an anonymous intimation is to take no notice directly nor +indirectly. I wish Mr. Bowles could see only one or two of the +thousand which I have received in the course of a literary life, +which, though begun early, has not yet extended to a third part of +his existence as an author. I speak of _literary_ life only. Were I +to add _personal_, I might double the amount of _anonymous_ letters. +If he could but see the violence, the threats, the absurdity of the +whole thing, he would laugh, and so should I, and thus be both +gainers. + +To keep up the farce,--within the last month of this present writing +(1821), I have had my life threatened in the same way which menaced +Mr. Bowles's fame,--excepting that the anonymous denunciation was +addressed to the Cardinal Legate of Romagna, instead of to Mrs. +Bowles. The Cardinal is, I believe, the elder lady of the two. I +append the menace in all its barbaric but literal Italian, that Mr. +Bowles may be convinced; and as this is the only "promise to pay," +which the Italians ever keep, so my person has been at least as much +exposed to a "shot in the gloaming," from "John Heatherblutter" (see +Waverley), as ever Mr. Bowles's glory was from an editor. I am, +nevertheless, on horseback and lonely for some hours (_one_ of them +twilight) in the forest daily; and this, because it was my "custom in +the afternoon," and that I believe if the tyrant cannot escape amidst +his guards (should it be so written?), so the humbler individual +would find precautions useless. + +Mr. Bowles has here the humility to say, that "he must succumb; for +with Lord Byron turned against him, he has no chance,"--a declaration +of self-denial not much in unison with his "promise," five lines +afterwards, that "for every twenty-four lines quoted by Mr. +Gilchrist, or his friend, to greet him with as many from the +'Gilchrisiad';" but so much the better. Mr. Bowles has no reason to +"succumb" but to Mr. Bowles. As a poet, the author of "The +Missionary" may compete with the foremost of his cotemporaries. Let +it be recollected, that all my previous opinions of Mr. Bowles's +poetry were _written_ long before the publication of his last and +best poem; and that a poet's _last_ poem should be his best, is his +highest praise. But, however, he may duly and honourably rank with +his living rivals. There never was so complete a proof of the +superiority of Pope, as in the lines with which Mr. Bowles closes his +"_to be concluded in our next_." + +Mr. Bowles is avowedly the champion and the poet of nature. Art and +the arts are dragged, some before, and others behind his chariot. +Pope, where he deals with passion, and with the nature of the +naturals of the day, is allowed even by themselves to be sublime; but +they complain that too soon-- + + "He stoop'd to truth and moralised his song," + +and _there_ even _they_ allow him to be unrivalled. He has succeeded, +and even surpassed them, when he chose, in their own _pretended_ +province. Let us see what their Coryphaeus effects in Pope's. But it +is too pitiable, it is too melancholy, to see Mr. Bowles "_sinning_" +not "_up_" but "_down_" as a poet to his lowest depth as an editor. +By the way, Mr. Bowles is always quoting Pope. I grant that there is +no poet--not Shakspeare himself--who can be so often quoted, with +reference to life;--but his editor is so like the devil quoting +Scripture, that I could wish Mr. Bowles in his proper place, quoting +in the pulpit. + +And now for his lines. But it is painful--painful--to see such a +suicide, though at the shrine of Pope. I can't copy them all:-- + + "Shall the rank, loathsome miscreant of the age + Sit, like a night-mare, grinning o'er a page." + + "Whose pye-bald character so aptly suit + The two extremes of Bantam and of Brute, + Compound grotesque of sullenness and show, + The chattering magpie, and the croaking crow." + + "Whose heart contends with thy Saturnian head, + A root of hemlock, and a lump of lead. + Gilchrist proceed," &c. &c. + + "And thus stand forth, spite of thy venom'd foam, + To give thee _bite for bite_, or lash thee limping home." + +With regard to the last line, the only one upon which I shall venture +for fear of infection, I would advise Mr. Gilchrist to keep out of +the way of such reciprocal morsure--unless he has more faith in the +"Ormskirk medicine" than most people, or may wish to anticipate the +pension of the recent German professor, (I forget his name, but it is +advertised and full of consonants,) who presented his memoir of an +infallible remedy for the hydrophobia to the German diet last month, +coupled with the philanthropic condition of a large annuity, provided +that his cure cured. Let him begin with the editor of Pope, and +double his demand. + +Yours ever, + +BYRON. + + +_To John Murray, Esq_. + +P.S. Amongst the above-mentioned lines there occurs the following, +_applied_ to Pope-- + + "The assassin's vengeance, and the coward's lie." + +And Mr. Bowles persists that he is a well-wisher to Pope!!! He has, +then, edited an "assassin" and a "coward" wittingly, as well as +lovingly. In my former letter I have remarked upon the editor's +forgetfulness of Pope's benevolence. But where he mentions his faults +it is "with sorrow"--his tears drop, but they do not blot them out. +The "recording angel" differs from the recording clergyman. A fulsome +editor is pardonable though tiresome, like a panegyrical son whose +pious sincerity would demi-deify his father. But a detracting editor +is a paricide. He sins against the nature of his office, and +connection--he murders the life to come of his victim. If his author +is not worthy to be mentioned, do not edit at all: if he be, edit +honestly, and even flatteringly. The reader will forgive the weakness +in favour of mortality, and correct your adulation with a smile. But +to sit down "mingere in patrios cineres," as Mr. Bowles has done, +merits a reprobation so strong, that I am as incapable of expressing +as of ceasing to feel it. + + +_Further Addenda_. + +It is worthy of remark that, after all this outcry about "_in-door_ +nature" and "artificial images," Pope was the principal inventor of +that boast of the English, _Modern Gardening_. He divides this honour +with Milton. Hear Warton:--"It hence appears, that this _enchanting_ +art of modern gardening, in which this kingdom claims a preference +over every nation in Europe, chiefly owes _its origin_ and its +improvements to two great poets, Milton and _Pope_." + +Walpole (no friend to Pope) asserts that Pope formed _Kent's_ taste, +and that Kent was the artist to whom the English are chiefly indebted +for diffusing "a taste in laying out grounds." The design of the +Prince of Wales's garden was copied from _Pope's_ at Twickenham. +Warton applauds "his singular effort of art and taste, in impressing +so much variety and scenery on a spot of five acres." Pope was the +_first_ who ridiculed the "formal, French, Dutch, false and unnatural +taste in gardening," both in _prose_ and verse. (See, for the former, +"The Guardian.") + +"Pope has given not only some of our _first_ but _best_ rules and +observations on _Architecture_ and _Gardening_." (See Warton's Essay, +vol. ii. p. 237, &c. &c.) + +Now, is it not a shame, after this, to hear our Lakers in "Kendal +Green," and our Bucolical Cockneys, crying out (the latter in a +wilderness of bricks and mortar) about "Nature," and Pope's +"artificial in-door habits?" Pope had seen all of nature that +_England_ alone can supply. He was bred in Windsor Forest, and amidst +the beautiful scenery of Eton; he lived familiarly and frequently at +the country seats of Bathurst, Cobham, Burlington, Peterborough, +Digby, and Bolingbroke; amongst whose seats was to be numbered +_Stowe_. He made his own little "five acres" a model to princes, and +to the first of our artists who imitated nature. Warton thinks "that +the most engaging of _Kent_'s works was also planned on the model of +Pope's,--at least in the opening and retiring shades of Venus's +Vale." + +It is true that Pope was infirm and deformed; but he could walk, and +he could ride (he rode to Oxford from London at a stretch), and he +was famous for an exquisite eye. On a tree at Lord Bathurst's is +carved "Here Pope sang,"--he composed beneath it. Bolingbroke, in one +of his letters, represents them both writing in the hay-field. No +poet ever admired Nature more, or used her better, than Pope has +done, as I will undertake to prove from his works, _prose_ and +_verse_, if not anticipated in so easy and agreeable a labour. I +remember a passage in Walpole, somewhere, of a gentleman who wished +to give directions about some willows to a man who had long served +Pope in his grounds: "I understand, sir," he replied: "you would have +them hang down, sir, _somewhat poetical_." Now, if nothing existed +but this little anecdote, it would suffice to prove Pope's taste for +_Nature_, and the impression which he had made on a common-minded +man. But I have already quoted Warton and Walpole (_both_ his +enemies), and, were it necessary, I could amply quote Pope himself +for such tributes to _Nature_ as no poet of the present day has even +approached. + +His various excellence is really wonderful: architecture, painting, +_gardening_, all are alike subject to his genius. Be it remembered, +that English _gardening_ is the purposed perfectioning of niggard +_Nature_, and that without it England is but a hedge-and-ditch, +double-post-and-rail, Hounslow Heath and Clapham Common sort of +country, since the principal forests have been felled. It is, in +general, far from a picturesque country. The case is different with +Scotland, Wales, and Ireland; and I except also the lake counties and +Derbyshire, together with Eton, Windsor, and my own dear Harrow on +the Hill, and some spots near the coast. In the present rank +fertility of "great poets of the age," and "schools of poetry"--a +word which, like "schools of eloquence" and of "philosophy," is never +introduced till the decay of the art has increased with the number of +its professors--in the present day, then, there have sprung up two +sorts of Naturals;--the Lakers, who whine about Nature because they +live in Cumberland; and their _under-sect_ (which some one has +maliciously called the "Cockney School"), who are enthusiastical for +the country because they live in London. It is to be observed, that +the rustical founders are rather anxious to disclaim any connexion +with their metropolitan followers, whom they ungraciously review, and +call cockneys, atheists, foolish fellows, bad writers, and other hard +names not less ungrateful than unjust. I can understand the +pretensions of the aquatic gentlemen of Windermere to what Mr. Braham +terms "_entusumusy_," for lakes, and mountains, and daffodils, and +buttercups; but I should be glad to be apprised of the foundation of +the London propensities of their imitative brethren to the same "high +argument." Southey, Wordsworth, and Coleridge have rambled over half +Europe, and seen Nature in most of her varieties (although I think +that they have occasionally not used her very well); but what on +earth--of earth, and sea, and Nature--have the others seen? Not a +half, nor a tenth part so much as Pope. While they sneer at his +Windsor Forest, have they ever seen any thing of Windsor except its +_brick_? + +The most rural of these gentlemen is my friend Leigh Hunt, who lives +at Hampstead. I believe that I need not disclaim any personal or +poetical hostility against that gentleman. A more amiable man in +society I know not; nor (when he will allow his sense to prevail over +his sectarian principles) a better writer. When he was writing his +"Rimini," I was not the last to discover its beauties, long before it +was published. Even then I remonstrated against its vulgarisms; which +are the more extraordinary, because the author is any thing but a +vulgar man. Mr. Hunt's answer was, that he wrote them upon principle; +they made part of his "_system!!_" I then said no more. When a man +talks of his system, it is like a woman's talking of her _virtue_. I +let them talk on. Whether there are writers who could have written +"Rimini," as it might have been written, I know not; but Mr. Hunt is, +probably, the only poet who could have had the heart to spoil his own +Capo d'Opera. + +With the rest of his young people I have no acquaintance, except +through some things of theirs (which have been sent out without my +desire), and I confess that till I had read them I was not aware of +the full extent of human absurdity. Like Garrick's "Ode to +Shakspeare," _they "defy criticism_." These are of the personages who +decry Pope. One of them, a Mr. John Ketch, has written some lines +against him, of which it were better to be the subject than the +author. Mr. Hunt redeems himself by occasional beauties; but the rest +of these poor creatures seem so far gone that I would not "march +through Coventry with them, that's flat!" were I in Mr. Hunt's place. +To be sure, he has "led his ragamuffins where they will be well +peppered;" but a system-maker must receive all sorts of proselytes. +When they have really seen life--when they have felt it--when they +have travelled beyond the far distant boundaries of the wilds of +Middlesex--when they have overpassed the Alps of Highgate, and traced +to its sources the Nile of the New River--then, and not till then, +can it properly he permitted to them to despise Pope; who had, if not +_in Wales_, been _near_ it, when he described so beautifully the +"_artificial_" works of the Benefactor of Nature and mankind, the +"Man of Ross," whose picture, still suspended in the parlour of the +inn, I have so often contemplated with reverence for his memory, and +admiration of the poet, without whom even his own still existing good +works could hardly have preserved his honest renown. + +I would also observe to my friend Hunt, that I shall be very glad to +see him at Ravenna, not only for my sincere pleasure in his company, +and the advantage which a thousand miles or so of travel might +produce to a "natural" poet, but also to point out one or two little +things in "Rimini," which he probably would not have placed in his +opening to that poem, if he had ever seen Ravenna;--unless, indeed, +it made "part of his system!!" I must also crave his indulgence for +having spoken of his disciples--by no means an agreeable or +self-sought subject. If they had said nothing of _Pope_, they might +have remained "alone with their glory" for aught I should have said +or thought about them or their nonsense. But if they interfere with +the "little Nightingale" of Twickenham, they may find others who will +bear it--_I_ won't. Neither time, nor distance, nor grief, nor age, +can ever diminish my veneration for him, who is the great moral poet +of all times, of all climes, of all feelings, and of all stages of +existence. The delight of my boyhood, the study of my manhood, +perhaps (if allowed to me to attain it) he may be the consolation of +my age. His poetry is the Book of Life. Without canting, and yet +without neglecting religion, he has assembled all that a good and +great man can gather together of moral wisdom clothed in consummate +beauty. Sir William Temple observes, "that of all the members of +mankind that live within the compass of a thousand years, for one man +that is born capable of making a _great poet_, there may be a +_thousand_ born capable of making as great generals and ministers of +state as any in story." Here is a statesman's opinion of poetry: it +is honourable to him and to the art. Such a "poet of a thousand +years" was _Pope_. A thousand years will roll away before such +another can be hoped for in our literature. But it can _want_ +them--he himself is a literature. + +One word upon his so brutally abused translation of Homer. "Dr. +Clarke, whose critical exactness is well known, has _not been_ able +to point out above three or four mistakes _in the sense_ through the +whole Iliad. The real faults of the translation are of a different +kind." So says Warton, himself a scholar. It appears by this, then, +that he avoided the chief fault of a translator. As to its other +faults, they consist in his having made a beautiful English poem of a +sublime Greek one. It will always hold. Cowper and all the rest of +the blank pretenders may do their best and their worst: they will +never wrench Pope from the hands of a single reader of sense and +feeling. + +The grand distinction of the under forms of the new school of poets +is their _vulgarity_. By this I do not mean that they are _coarse_, +but "shabby-genteel," as it is termed. A man may be _coarse_ and yet +not _vulgar_, and the reverse. Burns is often coarse, but never +_vulgar_. Chatterton is never vulgar, nor Wordsworth, nor the higher +of the Lake school, though they treat of low life in all its +branches. It is in their _finery_ that the new under school are +_most_ vulgar, and they may be known by this at once; as what we +called at Harrow "a Sunday blood" might be easily distinguished from +a gentleman, although his clothes might be the better cut, and his +boots the best blackened, of the two;--probably because he made the +one, or cleaned the other, with his own hands. + +In the present case, I speak of writing, not of persons. Of the +latter, I know nothing; of the former, I judge as it is found. Of my +friend Hunt, I have already said, that he is any thing but vulgar in +his manners; and of his disciples, therefore, I will not judge of +their manners from their verses. They may be honourable and +_gentlemanly_ men, for what I know; but the latter quality is +studiously excluded from their publications. They remind me of Mr. +Smith and the Miss Broughtons at the Hampstead Assembly, in +"Evelina." In these things (in private life, at least,) I pretend to +some small experience; because, in the course of my youth, I have +seen a little of all sorts of society, from the Christian prince and +the Mussulman sultan and pacha, and the higher ranks of their +countries, down to the London boxer, the "_flash and the swell_," the +Spanish muleteer, the wandering Turkish dervise, the Scotch +highlander, and the Albanian robber;--to say nothing of the curious +varieties of Italian social life. Far be it from me to presume that +there ever was, or can be, such a thing as an _aristocracy_ of +_poets_; but there _is_ a nobility of thought and of style, open to +all stations, and derived partly from talent, and partly from +education,--which is to be found in Shakspeare, and Pope, and Burns, +no less than in Dante and Alfieri, but which is nowhere to be +perceived in the mock birds and bards of Mr. Hunt's little chorus. If +I were asked to define what this gentlemanliness is, I should say +that it is only to be defined by _examples_--of those who have it, +and those who have it not. In _life_, I should say that most +_military_ men have it, and few _naval_;--that several men of rank +have it, and few lawyers;--that it is more frequent among authors +than divines (when they are not pedants); that _fencing_-masters have +more of it than dancing-masters, and singers than players; and that +(if it be not an Irishism to say so) it is far more generally +diffused among women than among men. In poetry, as well as writing in +general, it will never _make_ entirely a poet or a poem; but neither +poet nor poem will ever be good for any thing without it. It is the +_salt_ of society, and the seasoning of composition. _Vulgarity_ is +far worse than downright _blackguardism_; for the latter comprehends +wit, humour, and strong sense at times; while the former is a sad +abortive attempt at all things, "signifying nothing." It does not +depend upon low themes, or even low language, for Fielding revels in +both;--but is he ever _vulgar_? No. You see the man of education, the +gentleman, and the scholar, sporting with his subject,--its master, +not its slave. Your vulgar writer is always most vulgar, the higher, +his subject; as the man who showed the menagerie at Pidcock's was +wont to say,--"This, gentlemen, is the _eagle_ of the _sun_, from +Archangel, in Russia; the _otterer_ it is, the _igherer_ he flies." +But to the proofs. It is a thing to be felt more than explained. Let +any man take up a volume of Mr. Hunt's subordinate writers, read (if +possible) a couple of pages, and pronounce for himself, if they +contain not the kind of writing which may be likened to +"shabby-genteel" in actual life. When he has done this, let him take +up Pope;--and when he has laid him down, take up the cockney +again--if he can. + + * * * * * + + _Note to the passage in page_ 396. _relative to Pope's + lines upon Lady Mary W. Montague_.] I think that I could + show, if necessary, that Lady Mary W. Montague was also + greatly to blame in that quarrel, _not_ for having + rejected, but for having encouraged him: but I would rather + decline the task--though she should have remembered her own + line, "_He comes too near, that comes to be denied_." I + admire her so much--her beauty, her talents--that I should do + this reluctantly. I, besides, am so attached to the very name + of _Mary_, that as Johnson once said, "If you called a + dog _Harvey_, I should love him;" so, if you were to call + a female of the same species "Mary," I should love it better + than others (biped or quadruped) of the same sex with a + different appellation. She was an extraordinary woman: she + could translate _Epictetus_, and yet write a song worthy + of Aristippus. The lines, + + "And when the long hours of the public are past, + And we meet, with champaigne and a chicken, at last, + May every fond pleasure that moment endear! + Be banish'd afar both discretion and fear! + Forgetting or scorning the airs of the crowd, + He may cease to be formal, and I to be proud, + Till," &c. &c. + + There, Mr. Bowles!--what say you to such a supper with such a + woman? and her own description too? Is not her "_champaigne + and chicken_" worth a forest or two? Is it not poetry? It + appears to me that this stanza contains the "_puree_" of + the whole philosophy of Epicurus:--I mean the _practical_ + philosophy of his school, not the precepts of the master; for + I have been too long at the university not to know that the + philosopher was himself a moderate man. But, after all, would + not some of us have been as great fools as Pope? For my part, + I wonder that, with his quick feelings, her coquetry, and his + disappointment, he did no more,--instead of writing some + lines, which are to be condemned if false, and regretted if + true. + + + + +INDEX. + + * * * * * + +The Roman letters refer to the Volume; the Arabic figures to the Page. + + * * * * * + +A. + +ABERDEEN, Mrs. Byron's residence at + the day school there at which Lord Byron was a pupil + his allusion to the localities of + affection of the people of, for his memory +Absence, consolations in +Abstinence, the sole remedy for plethora +Abydos, Lord Byron's swimming feat from Sestos to + See Bride of Abydos +Abyssinia, Lord Byron's project of visiting +Academical studies, effect of, on the imaginative faculty +Acerbi, Giuseppe +Acland, Mr., Lord Byron's school-fellow at Harrow +Acting, no immaterial sensuality so delightful +Actium, remains of the town of +Actors, an impracticable race +Ada + See Byron, Augusta-Ada +Adair, Robert, esq. +Adams, John, the Southwell carrier + Lord Byron's epitaph on +Addison, Joseph, his character as a poet + His conversation + His 'Drummer' +'Adolphe,' Benjamin Constant's +Adversity +'AEneid, the,' written for political purposes +AEschylus + His 'Prometheus' + His 'Seven before Thebes' +'Agathon,' Wieland's history of +Aglietti, Dr., MS. letters in his profession offered to Mr. Murray +Albania +Albanians, their character and manners +Alberoni, Cardinal +Albrizzi, Countess, some account of + Her conversazioni + Her 'Ritratti di Uomini Illustri' + Her portrait of Lord Byron +Alder, Mr +Alexander the Great, his exclamation to the Athenians +Alfieri, Vittorio, his description of his first love + Effect of the representation of his 'Mira' on Lord Byron + His conduct to his mother + His tomb in the church of Santa Croce + Coincidences between the disposition and habits of Lord Byron and + His 'Life' quoted +Alfred Club +Algarotti, Francesco, his treatment of Lady M.W. Montagu +Ali Pacha of Yanina, account of + Lord Byron's visit to + His letter in Latin to Lord Byron +Allegra (Lord Byron's natural daughter) + Her death + Inscription for a tablet to her memory +Allen, John, esq., a 'Helluo of books' +Althorp, Viscount +Alvanley (William Arden), second Lord +Ambrosian library at Milan, Lord Byron's visit to +'Americani,' patriotic society so called +Americans, their freedom acquired by firmness without excess +Amurath, Sultan +'Anastasius,' Mr. Hope's, his character +'Anatomy of Melancholy,' a most amusing medley of quotations and + classical anecdotes +Ancestry, pride of, one of the most decided features of Lord Byron's + character +Andalusian nobleman, adventures of a young +Animal food +Annesley, the residence of Miss Chaworth +Annesley, Mr., Lord Byron's schoolfellow at Harrow +Anstey's 'Bath Guide' +'Anti-Byron,' a satire +Anti-Jacobin Review +Antiloctius, tomb of +Antinous, the bust of, super-natural +'Antiquary,' character of Scott's novel so called +'Antony and Cleopatra,' observations on the play of +Apollo Belvidere +Arethusa, fountain of, Lord Byron's visit to +Argenson, Marquis d', his advice to Voltaire +Argyle Institution +Ariosto, Lord Byron's imitation of + his portrait by Titian + Measure of his poetry + spared by the robber who had read his 'Orlando Furioso' + his courage +Aristides +Aristophanes, Mitchell's translation of +'Armageddon,' Townshend's poem so called +Armenian Convent of St. Lazarus + Language + Grammar +Art, not inferior to nature, for poetical purposes +Arts, gulf of +Ash, Thomas, author of 'The Book' + Lord Byron's generous conduct towards +Athens, Lord Byron's first visit to + account of the maid of +Atticus, Herodes +Aubonne +Augusta, stanzas to +Augustus Caesar, his times +'Auld lang syne' +Authors, an irritable set +Avarice +'Away, away, ye notes of woe' +'A year ago you swore,' &c. + + +B. + +Bacon, Lord, on the celibacy of men of genius + Inaccuracies in his Apophthegms +Baillie, Joanna, the only woman capable of writing tragedy +Baillie, Dr., Lord Byron put under his care +----, Dr. Matthew, consulted on Lord Byron's supposed insanity +Baillie 'Long' +Baillie, Mr. D. +Balgounie, brig of +Ballater, a residence of Lord Byron in his youth +Bandello, his history of Romeo and Juliet +Bankes, William, esq. + Letters to +Barbarossa, Aruck +Barber, J.T., the painter +Barff, Mr., Lord Byron's letters to, on the Greek cause +Barlow, Joel, character of his 'Columbiad' +Barnes, Thomas, esq. +Barry, Mr., the banker of Genoa +Bartley, George, the comedian +----, Mrs., the actress +Bartolini, the sculptor, his bust of Lord Byron +Bartorini, princess, her monument at Bologna +Bath, Lord Byron at +'Bath Guide,' Anstey's +Baths of Penelope, Lord Byron's visit to +'Baviad and Maeviad,' extinguishment of the Delia Cruscans by the +Bay of Biscay +Bayes, Mr., caricature of Dryden +Beattie, Dr., his 'Minstrel' +Beaumarchais, his singular good fortune +Beaumont, Sir George +Beauvais, Bishop of +Beccaria, anecdote of +Becher, Rev. John, Lord Byron's friend + His epilogue to the 'Wheel of Fortune' + His influence over Lord Byron + Letters to +Beckford, William, esq., his 'Tales' in continuation of 'Vathek' +Beggar's Opera,' Gay's, a St. Giles's lampoon +Behmen, Jacob, his reverses +Bellingham, Lord Byron present at his execution +Beloe, Rev. William, character of his 'Sexagenarian' +Bembo, Cardinal, amatory correspondence between Lucretia Borgia and +Benacus, the (now the Lago di Garda) +Bentham, Jeremy, quackery of his followers +Benzoni, Countess, her conversazioni + Some account of +'Beppo, a Venetian Story' + See also +Bergami, the Princess of Wales's courier and chamberlain +Bernadotte, Jean-Baptiste-Jules, King of Sweden +Berni, the father of the Beppo style of writing +Berry, Miss +'Bertram,' Mathurin's tragedy of +Bettesworth, Captain (cousin of Lord Byron), the only officer in the + navy who had more wounds than Lord Nelson +Betty, William Henry West (the young Roscius) +Beyle, M., his 'Histoire de la Peinture en Italie' + His account of an interview with Lord Byron at Milan +Bible, the, read through by Lord Byron before he was eight years old +Biography +'Bioscope, or Dial of Life,' Mr. Grenville Penn's +Birch, Alderman +Blackett, Joseph, the poetical cobbler + His posthumous writings +Blackstone, Judge, composed his Commentaries with a bottle of port + before him +Blackwood's Magazine +Blake, the fashionable tonsor +Bland, Rev. Robert +Blaquiere, Mr. +Bleeding, Lord Byron's prejudice against +Blessington, Earl of + Letters to +----, Countess of + Impromptu on her taking a villa called 'Il Paradiso' + Lines written at the request of + Letters to +Blinkensop, Rev. Mr., his Sermon on Christianity +Bloomfield, Nathaniel +----, Robert +Blount, Martha, Pope's attachment to +Blucher, Marshal +'BLUES, THE; a Literary Eclogue' +'Boatswain,' Lord Byron's favourite dog +Boisragon, Dr. +Bolivar, Simon +Bolder, Mr., Lord Byron's schoolfellow at Harrow +Bologna, Lord Byron's visit to the cemetery of +Bolton, Mr., letters of Lord Byron to, respecting his will +Bonneval, Claudius Alexander, Count de +Bonstetten, M. +Books, list of, read by Lord Byron before the age of 15 +Borgia, Lucretia, her amatory correspondence with Cardinal Bembo +'Born in a garret +Borromean Islands +'Bosquet de Julie' +'Bosworth Field,' Lord Byron's projected epic entitled +Botzari, Marco, his letter to Lord Byron + His death +Bowers, Mr. (Lord Byron's school-master at Aberdeen) +Bowles, Rev. William Lisle, his controversy concerning Pope + His 'Spirit of Discovery,' + His 'invariable principles of poetry,' + His hypochondriacism + His 'Missionary,' + Lord Byron's 'Letter on his Strictures on the Life and Writings of + Pope,' + Lord Byron's 'Observations upon Observations; a Second Letter,' &c. +Bowring, Dr., Lord Byron's letters to, on the Greek cause, and his + intention to embark in it +Boxing +Bradshaw, Hon. Cavendish +Braham, John, the singer +Breme, Marquis de +'BRIDE OF ABYDOS; a Turkish Tale' +Bridge of Sighs at Venice, account of +Brientz, town and lake of +'Brig of Balgounie' +'British Critic' +'British Review' +----, 'my Grandmother's Review' + Lord Byron's letter to the editor +Broglie, Duchess of (daughter of Mad. de Stael), her character + Anecdote of + Her remark on the errors of clever people +Brooke, Lord (Sir Fulke Greville), account of a MS. poem by +Brougham, Henry, esq. (afterwards Lord Brougham and Vaux), a candidate + for Westminster against Sheridan +Broughton, the regicide, his monument at Vevay +Brown, Isaac Hawkins, his 'Pipe of Tobacco' + his 'lava buttons' +Browne, Sir Thomas, his 'Religio Medici' quoted +Bruce, Mr. +Brummell, William, esq. +Bruno, Dr., Lord Byron's medical attendant in Greece + Anecdote of +Brussels +Bryant, Jacob, on the existence of Troy +Brydges, Sir Egerton, his 'Letters on the Character and Poetical Genius + of Byron' + His 'Ruminator' +Buchanan, Rev. Dr. +Bucke, Rev. Charles +Buonaparte, Lucien, his 'Charlemagne' +----, Napoleon, one of the most extraordinary of men + that anakim of anarchy + poor little pagod + ode on his fall + fortune's favourite +Burdett, Sir Francis + His style of eloquence +Burgage Manor, Notts, the residence of Lord Byron +Burgess, Sir James Bland +Burke, Rt. Hon. Edmund, his oratory +Burns, Robert, his habit of reading at meals + His elegy on Maillie + 'What would he have been + His unpublished letters + His rank among poets + 'Often coarse, but never vulgar' +Burton's 'Anatomy of Melancholy,' 'a most amusing and instructive + medley' +Burun, Ralph de, mentioned in Doomsday Book +Busby, Dr., Dryden's reverential regard for +----, Thomas, Mus. Doct., his monologue on the opening of Drury Lane + Theatre + His translation of Lucretius +Butler, Dr. (headmaster at Harrow) + Reconciliation between Lord Byron and +BYRON, Sir John, the Little, with the great beard +----, Sir John, 1st Lord, his high and honourable services +----, Sir Richard, tribute to his valour and fidelity +----, Admiral John (the grand-father of the poet), his shipwreck + and sufferings +----, William, fifth Lord (grand-uncle of the poet) + His trial for killing Mr. Chaworth in a duel + His death + His eccentric and unsocial habits +BYRON, John (father of the poet), his elopement with Lady Carmarthen + His marriage with Miss Catherine Gordon + His death at Valenciennes +----, Mrs. (mother of the poet), descended from the Gordons of Gight + Vehemence of her feelings + Ballad on the occasion of her marriage + Her fortune + Separates from her husband + Her capricious excesses of fondness and of anger + Her death + Lord Byron's Letters to + See also +----, Honourable Augusta (sister of the poet) + See Leigh, Honourable Augusta +----, (GEORGE-GORDON-BYRON), sixth Lord-- + 1788. Born Jan. 22 + 1790--1791. Taken by his mother to Aberdeen + Impetuosity of his temper + Affectionate sweetness and playfulness of his disposition + The malformation of his foot a source of pain and uneasiness to him + His early acquaintance with the Sacred Writings + Instances of his quickness and energy + Death of his father + 1792--1795; Sent to a day-school at Aberdeen + His own account of the progress of his infantine studies + His sports and exercises + 1796--1797. Removed into the Highlands + His visits to Lachin-y-gair + First awakening of his poetic talent + His early love of mountain scenery + Attachment for Mary Duff + 1798. Succeeds to the title + Made a ward of Chancery, under the guardianship of the Earl of + Carlisle, and removed to Newstead + Placed under the care of an empiric at Nottingham for the cure of + his lameness + 1799. First symptom of a tendency towards rhyming + Removed to London, and put under the care of Dr. Baillie + Becomes the pupil of Dr. Glennie, at Dulwich + 1800-1804. His boyish love for his cousin, Margaret Parker + His 'first dash into poetry' + Is sent to Harrow + Notices of his school-life + His first Harrow verses + His school friendships + His mode of life as a schoolboy + Accompanies his mother to Bath + His early attachment to Miss Chaworth + Heads a 'rebelling' at Harrow + Passes the vacation at Southwell + 1805. Removed to Cambridge + His college friendships + 1806. Aug.-Nov., prepares a collection of his poems for the press + His visit to Harrowgate + Southwell private theatricals + Prints a volume of his poems; but, at the entreaty of Mr. Becher + commits the edition to the flames + 1807. Publishes 'Hours of Idleness' + List of historical writers whose works he had perused at the age + of nineteen + Reviews Wordsworth's Poems + Begins 'Bosworth Field,' an epic. Writes part of a novel + 1808. His early scepticism + Effect produced on his mind by the critique on 'Hours of Idleness,' + in the Edinburgh Review + Passes his time between the dissipations of London and Cambridge + Takes up his residence at Newstead + Forms the design of visiting India + Prepares 'English Bards and Scotch Reviewers,' for the press + 1809. His coming of age celebrated at Newstead + Takes his seat in the House of Lords + Loneliness of his position at this period + Sets out on his travels + State of mind in which he took leave of England + Visits Lisbon, Seville, Cadiz, Gibraltar, Malta, Prevesa, Zitza + Tepaleen + Is introduced to Ali Pacha + Begins 'Childe Harold' at Ioannina + Visits Actium, Nicopolis; nearly lost in a Turkish ship of war + proceeds through Acarnania and AEtolia towards the Morea + Reaches Missolonghi + Visits Patras, Vostizza, Mount Parnassus, Delphi, Lepanto, Thebes + Mount Cithaeron + Arrives, on Christmas-day, at Athens + 1810. Spends ten weeks in visiting the monuments of Athens; makes + excursions to several parts of Attica + The Maid of Athens + Leaves Athens for Smyrna + Visits ruins of Ephesus + Concludes, at Smyrna, the second canto of 'Childe Harold' + April, leaves Smyrna for Constantinople + Visits the Troad + Swims from Sestos to Abydos + May, arrives at Constantinople + June, expedition through the Bosphorus to the Black Sea + July + Aug.--Sept., makes a tour of the Morea + Returns to Athens + 1811. Writes 'Hints from Horace,' and 'Curse of Minerva.' + Returns to England + Effect of travel on the general character of his mind and + disposition + His first connection with Mr. Murray + Death of his mother + Of his college friends, Matthews and Wingfield + And of 'Thyrza' + Origin of his acquaintance with Mr. Moore + Act of generosity towards Mr. Hodgson + 1812. Feb. 27., makes his first speech in the House of Lords + Feb. 29., publishes the first and second cantos of 'Childe Harold,' + Presents the copyright of the poem to Mr. Dallas + Although far advanced in a fifth edition of 'English Bards,' + determines to commit it to the flames + Presented to the Prince Regent + Writes the Address for the opening of Drury Lane Theatre + 1813. April, brings out anonymously 'The Waltz' + May, publishes the 'Giaour' + His intercourse, through Mr. Moore, with Mr. Leigh Hunt + Makes preparations for a voyage to the East + Projects a journey to Abyssinia + Dec., publishes the 'Bride of Abydos' + Is an unsuccessful suitor for the hand of Miss Milbanke + 1814. Jan., publishes the 'Corsair' + April, writes 'Ode on the Fall of Napoleon Buonaparte' + Comes to the resolution, not only of writing no more, but of + suppressing all he had ever written + May, writes 'Lara;' makes a second proposal for the hand of Miss + Milbanke, and is accepted + Dec., writes 'Hebrew Melodies' + 1815. Jan 2., marries Miss Milbanke + April, becomes personally acquainted with Sir Walter Scott + May, becomes a member of the sub-committee of Drury Lane + theatre + Pressure of pecuniary embarrassments + 1816. Jan., Lady Byron adopts the resolution of separating from him + Samples of the abuse lavished on him + March, writes 'Fare thee well,' and 'A Sketch' + April, leaves England + His route--Brussels, Waterloo, &c. + Takes up his abode at the Campagne Diodati + Finishes, June 27, the third canto of 'Childe Harold' + Writes, June 28, 'The Prisoner of Chillon' + Writes + 'Darkness,' 'Epistle to Augusta,' 'Churchill's Grave,' + 'Prometheus,' 'Could I remount,' 'Sonnet to Lake Leman,' + and part of 'Manfred' + August, an unsuccessful negotiation for a domestic reconciliation + Sept., makes a tour of the Bernese Alps + His intercourse with Mr. Shelley + Oct., proceeds to Italy--route, Martiguy, the Simplon, Milan + Verona + Nov., takes up his residence at Venice + Marianna Segati + Studies the Armenian language + 1817. Feb., finishes 'Manfred' + March, translates from the Armenian, a correspondence between + St. Paul and the Corinthians + April + Makes a short visit to Rome, and writes there a new third act to + 'Manfred' + July, writes, at Venice, the fourth canto of 'Childe Harold' + Oct., writes 'Beppo' + 1818. The Fornarina, Margaritta Cogni + July, writes 'Ode on Venice' + Nov., finishes 'Mazeppa' + 1819. Jan., finishes second canto of 'Don Juan' + April, beginning of his acquaintance with the Countess Guiccioli + June, writes 'Stanzas to the Po' + Dec., completes the third and fourth cantos of 'Don Juan' + Removes to Ravenna + 1820. Jan., domesticated with Countess Guiccioli + Feb., translates first canto of the 'Morgante Maggiore' + March, finishes 'Prophecy of Dante' + Translates 'Francesa of Rimini' + And writes 'Observations upon an Article in Blackwood's + Magazine' + April--July, writes 'Marino Faliero' + Oct.--Nov., writes fifth canto of 'Don Juan' + 1821. Feb., writes 'Letter on the Rev. W.L. Bowles's Strictures on + the Life of Pope' + March, 'Second Letter,' &c. + May, finishes 'Sardanapalus' + July, 'The Two Foscari' + Sept., 'Cain' + Oct., writes 'Heaven and Earth, a Mystery' + and 'Vision of Judgment' + Removes to Pisa + 1822. Jan., finishes 'Werner' + Sept, removes to Genoa + His coalition with Hunt in the 'Liberal' + 1823. April, turns his views towards Greece + Receives a communication from the London committee + May, offers to proceed to Greece, and to devote his resources + to the object in view + Preparations for his departure + July 14., sails for Greece + Reaches Argostoli + Excursion to Ithaca + Waits, at Cephalonia, the arrival of the Greek fleet + His conversations on religion with Dr. Kennedy at Mataxata + His letters to Madame Guiccioli + His address to the Greek government + And remonstrance to Prince Mavrocordati + Testimonies to the benevolence and soundness of his views + Instances of his humanity and generosity while at Cephalonia + 1824. Jan. 5., arrives at Missolonghi + Writes 'Lines on completing my thirty-sixth year' + Intended attack upon Lepanto + Is made commander-in-chief of the expedition + Rupture with the Suliotes + The expedition suspended + His last illness + His death + His funeral + Inscription on his monument + His will + His person + His sensitiveness on the subject of his lameness + His abstemiousness + His habitual melancholy + His tendency to make the worst of his own obliquities + His generosity and kind-heartedness + His politics + His religious opinions + His tendency to superstition + Portraits of him +Byron, Lady + Her remarks on Mr. Moore's Life of Lord Byron + Lord Byron's letters to + ----, Honourable Augusta Ada + Byron, (George) seventh lord + ----, Eliza + ----, Henry + + +C. + +Cadiz, described +Caesar, Julius, his times +Cahir, Lady +'CAIN, a Mystery,' alleged blasphemies + See also +Caledonian meeting, 'Address intended to be recited at' +Calvert, Mr., Lord Byron's schoolfellow at Harrow +Cambridge, Lord Byron's entry into Trinity College + A chaos of din and drunkenness + Lord Byron's distaste to +Camoens, distinguished himself in war +Campbell, Thomas, esq., his first introduction to Lord Byron + Coleridge lecturing against him + His 'Pleasures of Hope' + The best of judges + His unpublished poem on a scene in Germany + Inadvertencies in his 'Lives of the Poets' + His 'Gertrude of Wyoming' full of false scenery + See, also +Canning, Right Hon. George + His oratory +----, Sir Stratford, his poem entitled 'Buonaparte' +Canova + His early love +Cant, 'the grand primum mobile of England' +Cantemir, Demetrius, his 'History of the Ottoman Empire,' +Carlile, Richard, folly of his trial +Carlisle (Frederick Howard), fifth Earl of, becomes Lord Byron's + guardian + His alleged neglect of his ward + Proposed reconciliation between Lord Byron and +Caroline, Queen of England +Carmarthen, Marchioness of +Caro, Annibale, his translations from the classics +Carpenter, James, the bookseller +Carr, Sir John, the traveller +Cartwright, Major +Cary, Rev. Henry Francis, his translation of Dante +Castanos, General +Castellan, A.L., his 'Moeurs des Ottomans' +Castlereagh, Viscount, (Robert Stewart, Marquis of Londonderry) +Catholic emancipation +'Cato,' Pope's prologue to +Catullus, his 'Atys' not licentious +'Cavalier Servente' +Cawthorn, Mr., the bookseller +Caylus, Count de +'Cecilia,' Miss Burney's +Celibacy of eminent philosophers +Centlivre, Mrs., character of her comedies + Drove Congreve from the stage +'Cenci,' Shelley's +Chamouni, remarks on the scenery of +Charlemont, Lady, Lord Byron's admiration of +----, Mrs. +Charles the Fifth +Charlotte, the Princess, attacks upon Lord Byron in consequence of his + verses to + Death of +Chatham, Lord, a notice of + His oratory +Chatterton, Thomas, self-educated + Never vulgar +Chaucer, Geoffrey, character of his poetry +Chauncy, Captain +Chaworth, Mary Anne (afterwards Mrs. Musters), Lord Byron's early + attachment to + His last farewell of her + Her marriage + Interview with, after her marriage +Cheltenham, Lord Byron at +Childe Alarique +'CHILDE HAROLD'S PILGRIMAGE,' the poem commenced + first produced to Mr. Dallas + The author's false judgment concerning + Identification of Lord Byron's character with + Mr. Gifford's opinion of the poem + Preparations for publication + Its progress through the press + Mr. Moore's opinion + Its publication and instantaneous success + alleged resemblance to Marmion in it + The 3d Canto written + Progress of the 4th Canto + 2500 guineas asked for it + The translation confiscated in Italy + 'The sublimest poetical achievement of mortal pen' +Chillon, Castle of +'CHILLON, PRISONER OF +Christ, what proved him the Son of God +'Christabel', Lord Byron's admiration of +Cicero, Antony's treatment of +Cid +Cigars +Cintra, the most beautiful village in the world +Clare (John Fitzgibbon), Earl of +Clare, John, the poet +Clarens +Claridge, Mr. +'Clarissa Harlowe.' +Clarke, Rev. James Stanier, his 'Naufragia.' +Clarke, Hewson +Classical education +Claudian, the 'ultimus Romanorum.' +Claughton, Mr. +Clayton, Mr. +Clitumnus, the river +Clubs +Coates, Romeo, his Lothario +Cobbett, William +Cochrane, Lord +'Cockney school' of poetry +Cogni, Margarita (the Fornarina), story of +Coldham, Mr. +Coleridge, Samuel Taylor, esq., his 'Devil's Walk' + His 'Remorse' + His 'Zopolia' + His 'Biographia Literaria' + His 'Christabel' + Lord Byron's letters to + See also +Colman, George, esq., his prologue to 'Philaster' +----, George, jun., esq., parallel between Sheridan and +Colocotroni +Colonna, Cape + Columns of +Comedy more difficult to compose than Tragedy +Concanen, Mr. +Congreve, self-educated + His comedies + Driven from the stage by Mrs. Centlivre +Constance (a German lady) +Constant, Benjamin de, his 'Adolphe' +Constantinople, St. Sophia + The seraglio + The first sea view +Cooke, George Frederick, tragedian, an American Life of + The most natural of actors +Coolidge, Mr., of Boston +Copet +Cordova, Admiral +----, Sennorita +'Corinne,' notes written by Lord Byron in +Corinth +----, capture of + See 'SIEGE OF CORINTH.' +Cork, Countess of +Cornwall, Barry (Bryan Walter Proctor) +'CORSAIR, the; a Tale' +'Cosmopolite,' an amusing little volume full of French flippancy +Cotin, L'Abbe +Cottin, Madame +'Could I remount the river of my years' +'Courier' +Courtenay, John, esq., anecdotes of +Cowell, Mr. John, Letters to +Cowley, Abraham, his 'Essays' quoted + His character +Cowper, Earl +----, Countess +----, William, famous at cricket and football + His remark on the English system of education + His spaniel 'Beau' + An example of filial tenderness + 'No poet' + His translation of Homer +Crabbe, Rev. George, the just tribute to + His 'Resentment' + His quality as a poet + 'The father of present poesy' +Crebillon, the younger, his marriage +Cribb, Tom, the pugilist +Cricketing, one of Lord Byron's most favourite sports +'Critic,' Sheridan's, 'too good for a farce' +'Critical Review' +Croker, Right Hon. John Wilson, his query concerning the title of the + 'Bride of Abydos' + His 'guess' as to the origin of 'Beppo' + Lord Byron's letter to + His 'Boswell' quoted +Crosby, Benjamin +Crowe, Rev, William, his criticism in 'English Bards' +Curioni, Signor, singer +Curran, Right Hon. John Philpot, Lord Byron's enthusiastic praise +'Curse of Kebama' +'CURSE OF MINERVA' +Curzon, Mr. +Cuvier, Baron + + +D. + +Dallas, Robert Charles, commencement of his acquaintance with Lord + Byron + Childe Harold first shown to him + Copywright of the Corsair presented to him + His ingratitude + See also + Lord Byron's letters to +Dalrymple, Sir Hew +D'Alton, John, esq., his 'Dermid' +Dandies +Dante, his early passion for Beatrice + His infelicitous marriage + His poem celebrated long before his death + His popularity + His gentle feelings + Lord Byron's resemblance to + See also + 'PROPHECY OF' +D'Arblay, Madame (Miss Burney), 1000 guineas asked for one of her + novels + Her 'Cecilia' + See also +Darnley, death of, a fine subject for a drama +'DARKNESS' +Darwin, Dr. Erasmus, put down by the Anti-Jacobin +Davies, Scrope, esq. +Davy, Sir Humphry +Dawkins, Mr. +'DEAR DOCTOR, I have read your play' +Death +Death +De Bath, Lord +Deformity, an incentive to distinction +D'Egville, John, the ballet-master +Delaval, Sir Francis Blake +Delawarr (George-John West), fifth Earl +Delia, poetical epistle from, to Lord Byron +Delladecima, Count + His opinion of Lord Byron's conduct in Greece +Delphi, fountain of +Demetrius +Denham, his 'Cowper's Hill' +Dent de Jument +Dervish Tahiri, Lord Byron's faithful Arnaout guide +'Devil's Drive,' the +Devil's Walk,' Porson's +Devonshire, Duchess of (Lady Elizabeth Foster), her character of the + Roman government +'Diary of an Invalid,' Matthews's +Dibdin, Thomas, play-wright +Dick, Mr. +Diderot, his definition of sensibility +Digestion +Dioclesian +Dionysius at Corinth +D'Israeli, J., esq. his 'Essay on the Literary Character' + His 'Quarrels of Authors' + His remark on the effect of medicine upon the mind and spirits +'Distrest Mother,' excellence of the epilogue to +D'Ivernois, Sir Francis +Divorce +Dogs, fidelity of +-----, Lord Byron's fondness for + His epitaph on 'Boatswain' +Don, Brig of +Donegal, Lady +'DON JUAN,' a scene in it adapted from the 'Narrative of the Shipwreck + of the Juno + Commencement of the poem + The 1st canto finished + 50 copies to be printed privately + 2nd canto + 'Nonsensical prudery' against it + Mr. Murray in a fright about it + The papers not so fierce as was anticipated + Authorship to be kept anonymous + General outcry against the poem + Spurious 3rd cantos + Mr. Murray going to law + The author hurt but not frightened + A French lady's compliments + Third canto + The fifth canto hardly the beginning of the poem + The Countess Guiccioli's intercession for its discontinuance + Shelley's opinion of it + The poem all 'real life' + Errors of the press + Partiality of the Germans for + Permission from the Countess to continue it + Three more cantos + Another + The 'Quarterly' Review of the poem + An epitome of the author's character +Donna Bianca, or White Lady of Colalto the story of her supernatural + appearance +D'Orsay, Count + His 'Journal' + Lord Byron's letter to +Dorset (George-John Frederick), fourth Duke of + 'LINES occasioned by the death of' +Dorville, Mr +Dovedale, Lord Byron's eulogy of the scenery of +Dramatists, old English, 'full of gross faults' + 'Not good as models' +'DREAM,' The + The most mournful and picturesque story that ever came from the pen + and heart of man + 'One of the most interesting' of Lord Byron's poems +Dreams +Drummond, Sir William + His 'OEdipus Judaicus' +----, Mr., Lord Byron's schoolfellow at Harrow +Drury, Rev. Henry, Lord Byron's letters to +----, Rev. Dr. Joseph, his account of Lord Byron's disposition and + capabilities while at Harrow + Lord Byron's character of + His retirement from the mastership of Harrow +Drury, Mark +Drury Lane Theatre + 'ADDRESS, spoken at the opening of' +Dryden, his praise of Oxford, at the expense of Cambridge + Eulogy of his 'Fables' by Lord Byron +'Duenna,' Lord Byron's partiality for the songs in +Duff, Colonel (Lord Byron's god-father) +----, Miss Mary (afterwards Mrs. Robert Cockburn), Lord Byron's + boyish attachment for +Dulwich, Lord Byron at school there +Dumont, M +Duncan, Mr., Lord Byron's writing-master at Aberdeen +Dwyer, Mr +Dyer's 'Grongar Hill' + + +E. + +Eagles, a flight of +Eboli, Princess of, epigram on her losing an eye +Eclectic Review +Eddleston, the Cambridge chorister, Lord Byron's protege +Edgecombe, Mr +Edgehill, Battle, seven brothers of the Byron family at +Edgeworth, Richard Lovell, esq., sketch of +----, Maria +Edinburgh Annual Register +Edinburgh Review + Its effect on the author + Its review of the 'Corsair' and 'Bride of Abydos' +Education, English system of +Elba, Isle of, Lord Byron's 'Ode to Napoleon Buonaparte' on his retreat + to +Eldon, Earl of + Anecdote of +Elgin, Earl of, severe treatment of + The 'Curse of Minerva' levelled against him +Ellice, Edward, esq., letter to +Ellis, George, esq. +Ellison, Lord Byron's school-fellow at Harrow +Elliston, Robert William, comedian, Lord Byron's wish that he should + speak his 'Address' at Drury Lane theatre +Eloquence, state of +Endurance, of more worth than talent +ENGLISH BARDS AND SCOTCH REVIEWERS, the groundwork laid before the + appearance of the critique in the 'Edinburgh Review' + Sent to Mr. Harness + Success of the satire + The author's regret in having written it + Refusal to republish it + Attempted publication of +Englishman, Otway's three requisites for an +Envy +Ephesus, ruins of +EPIGRAM on Moore's Operatic Farce, or Farcical Opera +Erskine, Lord, his eloquence + his famous pamphlet + See, also +Essex (George-Capel), fifth Earl of +Euxine, or Black Sea, description of +Ewing, Dr. +Exeter 'Change + + +F. + +Faber, Rev. George +Fainting, sensation of +Falconer, his 'Shipwreck' +Falkland (Lucius Gary), Viscount, killed in a duel by Mr. Powell +'Father of Light! Great God of Heaven!' +Falkner, Mr., Lord Byron's letter to, with a copy of his poems +Fall of Terni +Falmouth +Fame, first tidings of, to Lord Byron + See. also +'FARE THEE WELL, and if for ever' +Farrell, D., esq. +Fatalism +'Faust,' Goethe's +'Faustus,' Marlow's +Fawcett, John, comedian +'Fazio,' Milman's tragedy of +Fear +Ferrara, Lord Byron's visit to +Fersen, Count +Fidler, Ernest +Fielding, 'the prose Homer of human nature.' +Finlay, Kirkman, esq. +Fitzgerald, Lord Edward +----, William Thomas, esq., poetaster +Flemish school of painting +Fletcher, William (Lord Byron's valet) +Flood, Right Hon. Henry, his debut in the House of Commons +'Florence,' the lady addressed under this title in 'Childe Harold' + (Mrs., Spencer Smith) +Florence, Lord Byron's visits to the picture gallery +Foote, Miss, the actress (afterwards, Countess of Harrington), her + debut in the 'Child of Nature' +Forbes, Lady Adelaide +Forresti, G. +Forsyth, Joseph, esq., his 'Italy' +Fortune, Lord Byron attributed everything to + See, also +'Foscari, the Two; an Historical Tragedy' +Foscolo, Ugo + His 'Essay on Petrarch' +Fountain of Arethusa, Lord Byron's visit to +Fox, Right Hon. Charles James, notice of + poems + His Oratory +----, Henry +'Frament, A' +'FRANCESCA OF RIMINI; from the Inferno of Dante' +Francis, Sir Philip, the probable author of 'Junius' +'Frankenstein,' Mrs. Shelley's +Franklin, Benjamin +Frederick the Second, 'the only monarch worth recording in Prussian + annals' +Free press in Greece +Frere, Right Hon. John Hookham, his 'Whistlecraft' +Fribourg +Friday, supposed unluckiness of + + +G. + +Galignani, M. +Gait, John, esq., his life of Lord Byron + See, also +Gamba, Count Pietro, the Countess Guiccioli's letter to + Mr. Moore + His friendship with Lord Byron + His arrest at Ravenna + His notices of Lord Byron on his departure for Greece + Remarks on Lord Byron's death +Garrick, Sheridan's Monologue on +Gay, Madame Sophie +----, Mlle. Delphine +Gell, Sir William + Review of his 'Geography of Ithaca,' and 'Itinerary of Greece' +Geneva, Lake of +George the Third, granted a pension to Mrs. Byron +George the Fourth, his interview with Lord Byron + His indignation against 'Cain' + The 'Vault reflection' +'Georgics,' a finer poem than the AEneid +Germany and the Germans +Ghost, the Newstead +'Giaour, The; a Fragment of a Turkish Tale', the author's fears for it + First publication of, and its brilliant success + Additions to + The author's endeavours to 'beat' it + The story on which it is founded +Gibbon, Edward, esq., his remark on public schools + His acacia + His remark on his own History +Gifford, William, esq., his opinion of 'English Bards' + Lord Byron's disinclination that 'Childe Harold' should be shown to + him + Influence of his opinion on Lord Byron + And Jeffrey, monarch-makers in poetry and prose + The 'Bride of Abydos' submitted to + Lord Byron's letters to +Gilchrist, Octavius +Gillies, R.P., the author of 'Childe Alarique' +Giordani, Signor +Giorgione + His 'picture of his wife + His judgment of Solomon +Giraud, Nicolo, Lord Byron's Greek protege +'Glenarvon,' Lady Caroline Lamb's +Glenbervie (Sylvester Douglas), first Lord, his treatise on timber + His 'Ricciardetto' +Glennie, Dr. (Lord Byron's preceptor) + His account of his pupil's studies +Glover, Mrs., actress +Godwin, William, Lord Byron's munificence to +Goethe, his 'Kennst du das Land,' &c. imitated + His saying of Lord Byron + His 'Faust + His remarks on 'Manfred.' + Dedication of 'Marino Faliero' to + His 'Werther.' + His 'Giaour' story + Lord Byron's letter to + His tribute to the memory of Byron +Goetz, Countess +Gordon, Sir John, of Bogagicht +----, Sir William, grandson of James I., an ancestor of Lord Byron's +----, Duchess of +----, Mr. +----, Lord Alexander +----, Pryce, esq. +Gordons of Gight +Gower, Lord Granville Leveson (now Earl and Viscount Granville) +'Gradus ad Parnassum,' Lord Byron's triangular +Grafton (George Henry Fitzroy), fourth Duke of +Grainger, his 'Ode to Solitude.' +Grant, David, his 'Battles and War Pieces.' +Grattan, Right Hon. Henry, his oratory + Curran's mimicry of him +Gray, his description of Cambridge + His preference for his Latin poems + An example of filial tenderness + His 'Elegy.' +----, May (Lord Byron's nurse) +Greece, past and present condition of +Small extent of +Greek islands, resources for an emigrant population in +Greeks, character of the + Cause of the purity with which they wrote their own language +Gregson, the pugilist +Grenville (William Wyndham), Lord +Greville, Colonel, challenges Lord Byron for an insinuation in + 'English Bards.' +Grey, Charles (afterwards Earl Grey), his oratory + See also +Grey de Ruthven, Lord, Newstead Abbey let to him +Grillparzer, his tragedy of Sappho + Character of his writings +Grimaldi, Joseph, Covent Garden clown +Grimm, Baron + His 'Correspondence' as valuable as Muratori or Tiraboschi +Grindenwald, the +'Grongar Hill,' Dyer's +Guerrino, a picture of his at Milan +Guiccioli, Count +----, Countess, her first introduction to Lord Byron + attacked with fever + sincerity of Lord Byron's attachment to her + accompanies Lord Byron to Venice + disinterestedness of her conduct, and + returns with the Count to Ravenna + Lord Byron follows her + efforts for a separation + the Pope pronounces for it + the Countess retires to her father's villa + arrest of her father and brother + Shelley's opinion of her connexion with Lord Byron + her intercession for the discontinuance of Don Juan + Lord Byron's unwilling departure for Greece + his letters to the Countess from Greece + See also +Guildford, Earl of +Guinguene, P.L. +Gulley, John, the pugilist (in 1832 M. P. for Pontefract) + + +H. + +Hafiz, the oriental Anacreon +Hailstone, Professor +Hall, Captain Basil, Lord Byron's attention to + his letter to +Hamilton, Lady Dalrymple +Hancock, Charles, esq. + Lord Byron's letters to +Hannibal, saying of +Hanson, John, esq. (Lord Byron's solicitor) +----, Miss (afterwards Countess of Portsmouth) + Lord Byron's presence at her marriage +'Hardyknute,' the fine poem so called +Harrington, Earl of. See Stanhope +----, Countess of. See Foote +Harley, Lady Charlotte (the 'lanthe' to whom the first and second + cantos of 'Childe Harold' are dedicated) +----, Lady Jane +Harness, Rev. William + His sermons quoted + Lord Byron's letters to +Harris, his 'Philosophical Inquiries' +Harrow, Lord Byron's entrance at + his first Harrow verses + his magnanimity in behalf of his friend Peel + 'Byron's tomb' + his attachment to Harrow +Harrowby, Earl of +Harrowgate, Lord Byron's visit to +Hartington, Marquis of (afterwards sixth Duke of Devonshire) +Harvey, Mrs. Jane +Hatchard, Mr. John +Hawke (Edward Harvey), third Lord +Hay, Captain +Hayley, his 'Triumphs of Temper,' Lord Byron's eulogy of +Hayreddin +Hazlitt, William, his style +Headfort, Marchioness of +'HEBREW MELODIES' +Helen, 'LINES on Canova's bust of' +Hellespont, Lord Byron's swimming feat from Sestos to Abydos +Hemans, Mrs., her 'Restoration' + Character of her poetry +Henley, Orator +Herbert of Cherbury, Lord, his life much interested Lord Byron +Hero and Leander +Hill, Aaron +'Hills of Annesley, bleak and barren.' +'HINTS FROM HORACE,' written at Athens + first produced to Mr. Dallas + singular preference given by the author to them + See also +Hippopotamus at Exeter Change +Historians, list of, perused by Lord Byron at nineteen +Hoare, Mr., Lord Byron's schoolfellow at Harrow +Hobbes, Thomas +Hobhouse, Right Hon. Henry +----, Right Hon. Sir John Cam, Bart., his 'Journey through + Albania' quoted + His 'Historical Notes to Childe Harold' +Hodgson, Rev. Francis, Lord Byron's well-timed assistance to + His 'Friends' + Lord Byron's letters to + See also +Hogg, James, the Ettrick shepherd +Holerott, Thomas, his 'Memoirs' +Holderness, Lady +Holland, Lord, the allusion to + commencement of Lord Byron's acquaintance with + his oratory + Lord Byron's letters to +Holland, Lady +----, Dr. +Holmes, Mr., the miniature painter +Homer, geography of, Visit to the school of +Hope, Thomas, esq., his 'Anastasius' +Hoppner, R B., esq., his account of Lord Byron's mode of life at + Venice + 'LINES on the birth of his son' + Lord Byron's letters to + see also +Horace, Lord Byron's early dislike to + Quoted +'Horace in London' + See 'Hints from Horace' +Horestan Castle, Derbyshire, held by Lord Byron's ancestors +'Horsae Ionicae +Homer, Francis, esq. +'HOURS OF IDLENESS,' first publication of + a review of + another in the 'Critical Review,' + furious philippic in the 'Eclectic' + Critique of the Edinburgh Review +Howard, Hon. Frederick +Hume, David, his Essays + His 'Treatise of Human Nature' +Hunt, John +----, Leigh, Lord Byron's first acquaintance with + Described + His 'Rimini' + His 'Foliage' + His 'Byron and some of his Contemporaries' + See also +Hunter, P., esq. +Hurd, Bishop, his remark on academical studies +Hutchinson, Colonel, his Memoirs +'Huzza! Hodgson, we are going' +Hymettus +Hypochondriacism + + +I + +Ida, mount +Imagination +Immortality of the soul +Improvisatore, account of one at Milan +'Ina,' Mrs. Wilmot's tragedy of +Inchbald, Mrs., her 'Simple Story' + Her 'Nature and Art' +Incledon, Charles, singer +'INEZ,' Stanzas to +Interlachen +Invention +Iris, the +'IRISH AVATAR' +Irving, Washington, esq. +Italian manners +Italians, bad translators, except from the classics +Italy, the only modern nation in Europe that has a poetical language +Ithaca, excursion to + + +J. + +Jackson, 'John, the professor of pugilism +Lord Byron's letters to +Jacobson, M. +'Jacqueline,' Mr. Rogers's +Jeffrey, Francis, esq., allusion to in 'English Bards' + his duel with Mr. Moore + his review of the 'Giaour' + his criticisms on Lord Byron's works + his review of Coleridge's 'Christabel' +Jersey, Earl of +----, Countess of +Jesus Christ +Job +Jocelyn, Lord, (afterwards Earl of Roden) +Johnson, Dr. + His prologue on opening Drury Lane theatre + His 'Vanity of Human Wishes' + His melancholy + His 'Lives of the Poets' + His 'London' + Lord Byron's high opinion of him +Jones, Mr., tutor at Cambridge +----, Richard, comedian +Jordan, Mrs., actress +Joukoffsky, the Russian poet +Joy, Henry, esq., his visit to Byron +Juliet's tomb + See Romeo +Julius Caesar, his times +Jungfrau, the +Junius's letters +'Juno,' shipwreck of the +Jura mountains +Juvenal + + +K. + +Kay, Mr., painter +Kayo, Sir Richard +Kean, Edmund, tragedian, his Richard the Third + Lord Byron's enthusiastic admiration of + Effect of his Sir Giles Over-reach on +Keats, John, his poems + Died through bursting a blood-vessel on reading the article on his + 'Endymion' in the Quarterly Review + His depreciation of Pope +Kelly, Miss, actress +Kemble, John Philip, esq., his Coriolanus + His Hamlet + Intreats Lord Byron to write a tragedy + His acting described + His Othello + His Iago +Kennedy, Dr., his 'Conversations on religion with Lord Byron in + Cephalonia' + Lord Byron's letters to +Kent, Mr., his taste in gardening formed by Pope +Kidd, Captain + Strange story related to Lord Byron by +Kien Long, his 'Ode to Tea' +Kinnaird, Hon. Douglas + Lord Byron's letters to +Klopstock +Knight, Galley, esq. + His 'Persian Tales' +Knox, Captain (British resident at Ithaca) +Kosciusko, General +Koran, sublime poetical passages in + + +L. + +La Bruytere +Lachin-y-gair +Lago Maggiore +Lake Leman +Lake School of Poetry +'Lakers,' the +'Lalla Rookh' +Lamartine, M. +Lamb, Hon. George +----, Lady Caroline + Her 'Glenarvon' +'LAMENT OF TASSO' +Lansdowne, (Henry Fitzmaurice Pitty), fourth Marquis of +'LAKA; a Tale' +Lauderdale, Earl of, his oratory +Laura, her portrait +La Valiere, Madame +Lavender, the Nottingham empiric +Lawrence, Sir Thomas +Leacroft, Mr. +----, Miss +Leake, Colonel + His 'Outlines of the Greek Revolution' +Leandor and Hero +Leckie, Gould Francis, esq. +Leigh, Mr., Lord Byron's schoolfellow at Harrow +----, Colonel +----, Hon. Augusta (Lord Byron's sister) +Leinster, Duke of +Leman, Lake +Le Man, Mr. +Leoni, Signor, his translation of Childe Harold +Lepanto, Gulf of +Lerici +Leveson-Gower, Lady Charlotte (afterwards Countess of Surrey) +Levis, Due de +Lewis, Matthew Gregory, esq. +'Liberal,' the +Liberty +Life +Likenesses +Lisbon +'Lisbon packet' +Liston, Sir Robert +----, John, comedian +Little's Poems +Liverpool, Earl of +Livy +Lloyd, Charles, esq. +Lobster nights, Pope's and Lord Byron's +Loch Leven +Locke, his treatise on education + His contempt for Oxford +Lockhart, J.G., esq., his 'Life of Burns' + His marriage with Miss Scott +----, Mrs. +Lodburgh, his 'Death Song' +Lofft, Capel +Londo, Andrea, the Greek patriot + Account of + Lord Byron's letter to +Londonderry (Robert Stewart), second Marquis of +Long, Edward Noel, esq., Lord Byron's schoolfellow at Harrow +Long, Miss (afterwards Mrs. Long Pole Wellesley) +Longevity +Longmans, Messrs. +Love, 'Not the principal passion for tragedy.' + Success in, dependent on fortune + Woman's +Low spirits +Lowe, Sir Hudson +Lucretius +Luc, Jean Andre de +Ludlow, General, the regicide, his monument + His domal inscription +Lushington, Dr., his letter to Lady Byron +Lutzerode, Baron +Luxembourg, Marechal +Lyttleton, George, Lord. + Lord Byron compared to +----, Thomas, Lord + + +M. + +Machinery, effects of +Mackenzie, Henry, esq., his notice of Lord Byron's early poems +Mackintosh, Sir James, brightest of northern constellations + his review of Rogers in the Edinburgh Review + a rare instance of the union of very transcendent talent and great + good nature + his letter in the 'Morning Chronicle + high expectation of his promised history + strong impression made by him on Lord Byron +Macnamara, Arthur, esq. +Mafra, the palace of, the boast of Portugal +Mahomet +Maid of Athens + Account of +Maintenon, Madame + letters +Malamocco, wall of +'MANFRED; A DRAMATIC POEM,' finished + extracts sent to Mr. Murray + offered to him for 300 guineas + a sort of mad Drama; instructions for its title + the third act to be re-written + new third act sent to Mr. Murray + a critique on; omission of a line + critique of the 'Edinburgh Review + a menaced version of the poem + Goethe's remarks on +Mansel, Dr., Bishop of Bristol +Manton gun, Lord Byron's +'Manuel,' Mathurin's +Marden, Mrs., actress +Marianna Segati +'MARINO FALIERO, DOGE of VENICE; an Historical Tragedy.' Intention to + write the tragedy + commenced + advanced into the second act + completed + not intended for the stage + Mr. Gifford's opinion of it + a note to be introduced + the author's talent 'especially undramatic + a phrase to be altered + the poem not popular + lines to be introduced + reported representation of the play and its condemnation + a note for the next edition +Marlow, his 'Faustus.' +'Marmion.' +Marriage ceremony +Marriages, great cause of unhappy ones +'Mary,' Lord Byron's love for the name +---- of Aberdeen +Massaniello +Materialism +Mathews, Charles, comedian +Mathurin, Rev. Charles + His 'Bertram.' + His 'Manuel,' +Matlock, Lord Byron at +Matter +Matthews, John, esq., of Belmont, some account of +----, Charles Skinner, esq. + Lord Byron's account of + His visit to Newstead + Tributes to his memory +----, Henry, esq. + His 'Diary of an Invalid' + Account of +----, Rev. Arthur +Matthison, Frederic, his 'Letters from the Continent' +Maugiron, epigram on the loss of his eye +Mavrocordato, Prince + Lord Byron's letters to + Proclamation issued by him, on Lord Byron's death +Mawman, Joseph, bookseller +Mayfield, Mr. Moore's residence in Staffordshire +'MAZEPPA' +Medicine, effects of, on the mind and spirits +Medwin, Captain, his acquaintance with Lord Byron at Pisa +Meillerie +Melbourne, Lady +Mendelsohn, his habitual melancholy +Mengaldo, Chevalier +Merivale, J.H., esq. + His 'Roncesvalles' + His review of 'Grimm's Correspondence' + Lord Byron's letter to +Metastasio +Meyler, Richard, esq. +Mezzophanti, 'a monster of languages' +Milan cathedral + Ambrosian library at + Brera gallery + Napoleon's triumphal arch + State of society at +Milbanke, Sir Ralph +----, Lady. See Noel +----, Miss (afterwards Lady Byron) + See Byron +Miller, Rev. Dr., his 'Essay on Probabilities' +----, William, bookseller, refuses to publish Childe Harold +Millingen, Mr., His account of the consultation on Lord Byron's last + illness +Milman, Rev. Henry Hart, now Dean of St. Paul's, his 'Fazio' +Milnes, Robert, esq. +Milo +Milton, his imitation of Ariosto + His practice of dating his poems followed by Lord Byron + His dislike to Cambridge + His infelicitous marriage + His disregard of painting and sculpture + His politics kept him down + His 'material thunder.' +Mirabeau, his eloquence +'Mirra,' of Alfieri, effect of the representation of, on Lord Byron +Missiaglia, Venetian bookseller +Mistress, 'cannot be a friend +Mitchell, T., esq., his translation of Aristophanes +'Mobility' +Modern gardening, Pope the chief inventor of +Moira, Earl of (afterwards Marquis of Hastings) +Moliere +Moncada, Marquis +'Monk,' Lewis's, 'The philtered ideas of a jaded voluptuary' +Mont Blanc +Montague, Edward Wortley +----, Lady Mary Wortley, proposed Italian translation of her letters + and new life of + three pretty notes by her + Pope's lines on her +Montbovon +'Monthly Literary Recreations,' Lord Byron's review of Wordsworth's + poems in +Monti, his Aristodemo +----, account of +Moore, Thomas, esq., his prefaces to his 'Life of Lord Byron,' + His first acquaintance with Lord Byron + Duel between Mr. Jeffrey and + His person and manners described + His poetry + 'LINES on his last Operatic Farce or Farcical Opera' + His 'Lalla Rookh' + His 'Loves of the Angels' + Lord Byron's letters to + See also +Moore, Peter, esq. +Morgan, Lady + Her 'Italy' +----, Lord Byron's school-fellow at Harrow +'MORGANTE MAGGIORE, of Pulci.' translation of the first canto + commenced + finished + not a line to be omitted + the author's opinion of it +'Morning Post' +Morosini. his siege of Athens +Mosaic chronology +Mosti, Count +Mother, future conduct of a child dependent on the +Muir, Mr., letter to +Mule, Mrs., Lord Byron's housemaid +Mueller, the historian +Muloch, Muley + His 'Atheism answered' +Murat, Joachim, death of +Muratori +Murillo, Lord Byron's opinion of +Murray, John, esq, his first connection with Lord Byron + Childe Harold placed in his hands + shows the poem to Mr. Gifford + purchases the copyright + 'The [Greek: anax] of publishers' + recommended by Lord Byron to Mr. Moore as 'among the first of the + trade,' + offers 1000 guineas for the 'Giaour' and 'Bride of Abydos,' + Lord Byron's high compliment to + pays 1000 guineas for the 'Siege of Corinth' and 'Parisina' + the 'Mokanna' of publishers' + offers 1500 guineas for the 4th canto of 'Childe Harold' + poetical epistle to + 'Strahan, Tonson, Lintot, of the times' + conduct to Mr. Moore + Lord Byron's last letter to + letters and allusions to, _passim_ +Music, Lord Byron's love of simple + See, also +Musters, Mr. John, his marriage to Miss Chaworth +Musters, Mrs. + See Chaworth +'MY BOAT is on the shore' +'MY DEAR Mr. Murray' + + +N. + +Napier, Colonel + His testimony to the benevolence and soundness of Lord Byron's views + with regard to Greece +Naples, 'the second best sea view +Napoleon. See Buonaparte +Nathan, his 'Hebrew nasalities' +Nature +----, 'PRAYER of.' +'Naufragia,' Clarke's +Nelson, Southey's Life of +Nepean, Mr. +----, Sir Evan +Nerni +Newstead, granted by Henry VIII. to Sir John Byron +A prophecy of Mother Shipton's respecting +Let to Lord Grey de Ruthen +Lord Byron's affection for +Description of, and of the noble owner +Attempted sale of +Nicopolis, ruins of +Night +Nobility of thought and style defined +Noel, Lady +Norfolk (Charles Howard), twelfth Duke of +Nottingham frame breaking bill +----, Lord Byron's residence at +'Nourjahad,' a drama, falsely attributed to Lord Byron +Novels + + +O. + +Oak, the Byron +'ODE ON VENICE' +O'Donnovan, P.M., his 'Sir Proteus.' +'OH! banish care.' +'OH! Memory, torture me no more.' +O'Higgins, Mr., his Irish tragedy +Olympus +O'Neil, Miss, actress +Orators, only two thorough ones + 'Things of ages.' +Orchomenus +Orrery, Earl of, his Life of Swift quoted +Osborne, Lord Sidney +'Otello,' Rossini's +Otway, his three requisites for an Englishman +His 'Beividera.' +Ouchy +Owenson, Miss + See Morgan, Lady +Oxford, Gibbon's bitter recollections of + Dryden's praise of, at the expense of Cambridge +Oxford, Earl of +----, Countess of + +P. + +'PARISINA,' 1000 guineas offered for it and the 'Siege of Corinth,' by + Mr. Murray + Fancied resemblance between part of the poem and a similar scene in + 'Marmion.' +Parker, Sir Peter, stanzas written by Lord Byron on his death +----, Lady +----, Margaret, Lord Byron's boyish love for +Parkins, Miss Fanny +PARLIAMENT, Lord Byron's Speeches in +Parnassus, Lord Byron's visit to, and stanzas upon +Parr, Dr. +Parry, Captain +Parruca, Signor, letter to +Parthenon +Pasquali, Padre +Past, 'the best prophet of the future.' +Paterson, Mr. (Lord Byron's tutor at Aberdeen) +Patrons +Paul, St., translation from the Armenian, of correspondence between + the Corinthians and +Paul's, St., Cathedral, comparison with St. Sophia's +Pausanias, his 'Achaics' quoted +Payne, Thomas, bookseller +Peel, Right Hon. Sir Robert + Lord Byron's form-fellow at Harrow +----, William, Esq., one of Lord Byron's friends +Penelope, baths of, Lord Byron's visit to +Penn, Granville, esq., his 'Bioscope, or Dial of Life, explained +----, William, the founder of Quakerism +Perry, James, esq +Petersburgh +Petrarch, his literary and personal character interwoven + His severity to his daughter + In his youth a coxcomb + His portrait in the Manfrini palace + his popularity + See also +Phillips, Ambrose, his pastorals +----, S.M., esq +----, Thomas, esq., R.A +Philosophers, celibacy of eminent +Phoenix, Sheridan's story of the +Physic +Pictures +Pierce Plowman +Pigot, Miss + Account of her first acquaintance with Lord Byron + Lord Byron's letters to +Pigot, Dr + His account of Lord Byron's visit to Harrowgate + Lord Byron's letters to +Pigot, Mrs., Lord Byron's letter to +Pigot, family +Pindemonte, Ippolito, Lord Byron's portrait of +Pitt, Rt. Hon. William +Plagiarism +Players, an impracticable people +'Pleasures of Hope.' +'Pleasures of Memory.' +Plethora, abstinence the sole remedy for +Poetry, distasteful to Byron when a boy + When to be employed as the interpreter of feeling + Addiction to, whence resulting + New school of + 'The feeling of a former world and future' + Descriptive + Ethical, 'the highest of all + See also +Poets, self-educated ones + Lord Byron's list of celebrated poets of all nations + Unfitted for the calm affections and comforts of domestic life + Querulous and monotonous lives of + Female +See also +Polidori, Dr. + Some account of + Anecdotes of + His 'Vampire + His tragedy +Political consistency +Politics +Pomponius Atticus +Pope, Alexander, a self-educated poet +Lord Byron's enthusiastic admiration of +His youth and Byron's compared +An example of filial tenderness + His Prologue to Cato + His ineffable distance above all modern poets + The parent of real English poetry + Atrocious cant and nonsense about + The Christianity of English poetry + Ten times more poetry in his 'Essay on Man' than in the 'Excursion' + Keats' depreciation of + The most faultless of poets + His imagery + The greatest name in our poetry + His Essay upon Phillips's Pastorals a model of irony + The principal inventor of modern gardening + His 'Homer' + 'LETTER ON BOWLES'S STRICTURES ON THE LIFE AND WRITINGS OF,' + SECOND LETTER + See, also +Porson, Professor, his 'Devil's Walk' + Lord Byron's recollection of +Portrait painter, agonies of a +Pouqueville, M. de +Powerscourt, Lord, one of Lord Byron's friends +Pratt, Samuel Jackson +Priestley, Dr., his Christian materialism +Prince Regent + Lord Byron's introduction to + See George IV. +Prior's Paulo Purgante +'PRISONER OF CHILLON' +Probabilities, Dr. Miller's Essay on +Probationary Odes +Prologues, 'only two decent ones in our language' +'PROMETHEUS,' of AEschylus +'PROPHECY OF DANTE +Prophets +Pulci, his 'Morgante Maggiore' + 'Sire of the half serious rhyme' +Punctuation + + +Q. + +Quarrels of Authors, D'Israeli's +Quarterly Review +'Quentin Durward' + + +R. + +Rae, John, comedian +Rainsford, Lord Byron's schoolfellow at Harrow +Rancliffe, Lord +Raphael, his hair +Rashleigh, Lord Byron's schoolfellow at Harrow +Ravenna +Raymond, James Grant, comedian +Reading, the love of +Regnard, his hypochondriacism +Reinagle, R.R., his chained eagle +'Rejected Addresses,' 'the best of the kind since the Rolliad,' +----, the Genuine +Republics +Reviewers +Reviews +Reynolds, Sir Joshua, 'not good in history' +Reynolds, J.H., his 'Safie' +'Ricciardetto,' Lord Glenbervie's translation of +Rice, Lord Byron's schoolfellow at Harrow +Richardson, 'the vainest and luckiest of authors' +Riddel, Lady, her masquerade at Bath, at which Lord Byron appeared +Ridge, printer +Riga, the Greek patriot +Roberts, Mr. (editor of the British Review) +Robins, George, auctioneer +Robinson Crusoe, the first part said to be written by Lord Oxford +Rocca, M. de +Rochdale estate +Rochefoucault, 'always right' + Sayings of +Rogers, Samuel, esq., his 'Pleasures of Memory' + His 'Jacqueline' + 'The Tithonus of poetry' + 'The father of present poesy' + His Tribute to the memory of Lord Byron + Lord Byron's letters to + See also +----, Mr., of Nottingham (Lord Byron's Latin tutor) +Rokeby, Lord Byron's schoolfellow at Harrow +Roman Catholic religion +Romanelli, physician +Rome, 'the wonderful' + Finer than Greece +Romeo and Juliet, the story of +Rose, William Stewart, esq., his 'Animali' + His 'Lines to Lord Byron' +Rose glaciers +'Rose-water' +Ross, Rev. Mr. (Lord Byron's tutor at Aberdeen) +Rossini, his 'Otello' +Roscoe, Mr +Rossoe, Mr., story of +Roufigny, Abbe de +Rousseau, Jean Jacques, Lord Byron's resemblance to + Comparison between Lord Byron and + His marriage + His 'Heloise' + His 'Confessions' + Force and accuracy of his descriptions +Rowcroft, Mr +Royston, Lord Byron's school-fellow at Harrow +Rubens, his style +Rushton, Robert (the 'little page' in Childe Harold) + Lord Byron's letters to +'Ruminator,' the, by Sir Egerton Brydges +Rusponi, Countess +Russell, Lord John +Rycaut, his 'History of the Turks' first drew Lord Byron's attention + to the East + See, also + + +S. + +St. Lambert, his imitation of Thomson +Sanders, Mr., his portraits of Lord Byron +'Sappho,' of Grillparzer +'SARDANAPALUS,' outline of the Tragedy sketched + Four acts completed + The play finished + A disparagement of it +Sarrazin, General +Satan, Lord Byron's opinion of his real appearance to the Creator +'Satirist' +Scaligers, tomb of the +Scamander +Schiller, his 'Thirty years War' + His 'Robbers' + His 'Fiesco' + His 'Ghost-seer' +Schlegel, Frederick, his writings + Anecdotes of +'School for Scandal' +School of Homer, Lord Byron's visit to +Scotland, the impressions on Lord Byron's mind by the mountain scenery + of + Lord Byron 'Half a Scot by birth and bred a whole one' + 'A canny Scot till ten years' old' +Scott, Sir Walter, his dog 'Maida' + His 'Rokeby' + The 'monarch of Parnassus' + His 'Lives of the Novelists' + His 'Waverley' + His first acquaintance with Byron + His 'Antiquary' + His review of 'Childe Harold' in the Quarterly + His 'Tales of my Landlord' + 'The Ariosto of the North' + The first British poet titled for his talent + His 'Ivanhoe' + His 'Monastery' + His 'Abbot' + His imitators + The 'Scotch Fielding' + His countenance + His novels 'a new literature in themselves' + His 'Kenilworth' + His 'Life of Swift' + Lord Byron's letters to + See, also +Scott, Mr., of Aberdeen +----, Mr. Alexander +----, Mr. John +'Scotticisms' +Scriptures, Lord Byron's knowledge of the + See, also, Bible +'Scourge,' proceedings against the, for a libel on Mrs. Byron +Sculpture, the most artificial of the arts + Its superiority to painting + More poetical than nature +Secheron +Self-educated poets +Sensibility +Separation, miseries of +Seraglio at Constantinople, description of +Sestos +Settle, Elkanah, his 'Emperor of Morocco' +'Seven before Thebes' +Seville +Seward, Anne, her 'Life of Darwin' +'Sexagenarian,' Beloe's +'Shah Nameh,' the Persian Iliad +Shakspeare, his infelicitous marriage + 'The worst of models' + 'Will have his decline' +Sharp, William (the engraver, and disciple of Joanna Southcote) +Sharpe, Richard, esq. (the 'Conversationist') +Sheil, Richard, esq. +Sheldrake, Mr. +Shelley, Percy Bysshe, esq., his 'Queen Mab' + His portrait of Lord Byron + Particulars concerning + His visit to Lord Byron at Ravenna + His praise of Don Juan + Lord Byron's letters to + His letters to Lord Byron + See also +----, Mrs. + Her 'Frankenstein' + Lord Byron's letters to +Shepherd, Rev. John, his letter enclosing his wife's prayer on Lord + Byron's behalf + Lord Byron's answer +Sheridan, Right Hon. Richard Brinsley, anecdotes of + And Colman compared + His eloquence + His conversation + 'Whatever he did, was the best of its kind' + Defence of + His phoenix story + 'MONODY on the Death of' +'Shipwreck,' Falconer's +Shoel, Mr. +Shreikhorn +Shrewsbury, Earl of, his letter to Sir John Byron's grandson +Siddons, Mrs., her performance of the character of Isabella + Lord Byron's praise of + Effect of her acting at Edinburgh + An allusion to +'SIEGE OF CORINTH' +Sigeum, Cape +Simplon, the +Sinclair, George, esq., 'the prodigy' of Harrow School +Sirmium +'Sir Proteus,' a satirical ballad +'SKETCH,' a +Skull-cup +Slave trade +Slavery +Sligo, Marquis of + His letter on the origin of the 'Giaour' +Smart, Christopher +Smith, Sir Henry +----, Horace, esq., his 'Horace in London' +----, Mrs. Spencer. See 'Florence.' +----, Miss (afterwards Mrs. Oscar Byrne), dancer +Smyrna, Lord Byron's stay at +Smythe, Professor +Socrates +Sonnets, 'the most puling, petrifying, stupidly platonic compositions,' +Sorelli, his translation of Grillparzer's 'Sappho' + Sotheby, William, esq., his tragedies + his 'Ivan' accepted for Drury Lane Theatre + similarity of a passage in 'Ivan' to one in the 'Corsair' + a 'row' about 'Ivan' + the AEschylus of the age + his 'Orestes' + See also + Lord Byron's letters to +Southcote, Joanna +Southey, Robert, esq., LL.D., his person and manners + His prose and poetry + His 'Roderick' + his 'Curse of Kehama' + Lord Byron's intention to dedicate 'Don Juan' to him + his 'Joan of Arc' would have been better in rhyme + See also +Southwell, Notts, Lord Byron's residence at +Southwood, on the Divine Government +SPEECHES IN PARLIAMENT, Lord Byron's +Spence's Anecdotes (Singer's edition) +Spencer, Dowager Lady +----, William, esq. +----, Countess +Spenser, Edmund, his measure +Staeel, Madame de, her essay against suicide + Her 'De l'Allemagne' + Her personal appearance + Her death + Notes written by Lord Byron in her 'Corinne' + See also +Stafford, Marquis of (now Duke of Sutherland) +Stafford, Marchioness of (now Duchess of Sutherland) +Stanhope, Hon. Col. Leicester, (now Earl of Harrington) + his arrival in Greece to assist in effecting its liberation + His 'Greece in 1823-1824' + Lord Byron's letters to +----, Lady Hester, Lord Byron taken to task by +Steele, Sir Richard +Stella, Swift's +Sterne, his affected sensibility +Stephenson, Sir John +Stockhorn +Storm, aspect of one in the Archipelago +'STRAHAN, Tonson, Lintot of the times' +Strangford, Lord, his 'Camoens' +Strong, Mr., Lord Byron's school-fellow at Harrow +Stuart, Sir Charles (now Lord Stuart de Rothsay) +Suleyman, of Thebes +'Sunshiny day' +Supernatural appearances +Suppers + lobster nights +'Sweet Florence, could another ever share' +Swift, Dr. Jonathan + Similarity between the character of Lord Byron and + Gave away his copyrights + His Stella and Vanessa +Swoon, the sensation described +Sylla +Symplegades +Switzerland and the Swiss + + +T. + +Taaffe, Mr. + His 'Commentary on Dante' +Tahiri, Dervise +'Tales of my Landlord' +Tasso, an expert swordsman and dancer + an example of filial tenderness + his imprisonment + his popularity in his lifetime + remade the whole of his 'Jerusalem' + his sensitiveness to public favour + 'LAMENT of' +Tattersall, Rev. John Cecil (Lord Byron's school acquaintance) +Tavernier, the eastern traveller, his chateau at Aubonne +Tavistock, Marquis of +Taylor. John, esq., Lord Byron's letter to in respect of an allusion to +Lady Byron in the 'Sun' newspaper +Teeth +Temple, Sir William, his opinion of poetry +Tepaleen +Terni, Falls of +Terry, Daniel, comedian +Theatricals, private, at Southwell +Thirst +'This day of all our days has done' +Thomas of Ercildoune +Thompson, Mr. +Thomson, James, the poet, his 'Seasons' would have been better in + rhyme +Thorwaldsen, the sculptor, his bust of Lord Byron +'THOUGH the day of my destiny's o'er' +Thoun + 'THROUGH life's dull road, so dim and dirty' +Thurlow (Thomas Hovell Thurlow) second Lord +Thyrza +Tiberius +Tiraboschi +''Tis done and shivering in the gale.' + Lord Byron's stanzas to Mrs. Musters on leaving England +Titian, his portrait of Ariosto + His pictures at Florence +Toderinus, his 'Storia della Letteratura Turchesca' +Town life +Townshend, Rev. George, his 'Armageddon' +Travelling, Lord Byron's opinion of the advantages of +Travis, the Venetian Jew +Trelawney, Edward, esq. +Troad, the +Troy + Authenticity of the tale of +Tuite, Lady, her stanzas to Memory +Tally's 'Tripoli' +Turkey, women of +Turner, W., esq., his 'Tour in the Levant' +Twiss, Horace, esq. +Tyranny + + +U. + +Ulissipont +Unities, the +Usurers + + +V. + +Vacca, Dr. +Valentia, Lord (now Earl of Mountnorris) +Valiere, Madame la +'VAMPIRE, The, a Fragment' + Superstition +Vanbrugh, his comedies +Vanessa, Swift's +'Vanity of Human Wishes,' Johnson's +Vascillie +'Vathek' +'VAULT REFLECTIONS' +Velasquez +Veli Pacha +Venetian dialect +Venice, the gondolas + St. Mark's + Theatres + Women + Carnival + Morals and manners in + Nobility of + Riaito + Manfrini palace + Bridge of Sighs +'VENICE, Ode on' +Venus de Medici, more for admiration than love +Verona, how much Catullus, Claudian, and Shakspeare have done for it + Amphitheatre of + Juliet's tomb at + Tombs of the Scaligers +Versatility +Vestris, Italian comedian +Vevay +Vicar of Wakefield +Voltaire, gave away his copyrights + D'Argenson's advice to +Voluptuary +Vondel, the Dutch Shakspeare +Vostizza +Vulgarity of style + + +W. + +Waite, Mr. (Lord Byron's dentist) +Wales, Princess of (afterwards Queen Caroline) +Wallace, the Scottish chief +Wallace-nook +Walpole, Sir Robert, his conversation at table +'WALTZ, THE; an Apostrophic Hymn' + The authorship of it denied by Lord Byron +Ward, Hon. John William (afterwards Earl of Dudley), his review +of Horne Tooke's Life in the Quarterly + His style of speaking + Lord Byron's pun on + His review of Fox's Correspondence + Epigrams on +Warren, Sir John +Washington, George +Waterloo, Lord Byron's verses on the battle of +Wathen, Mr. +Watier's club +'Waverley,' character of +Way, William, esq. +Webster, Sir Godfrey +Webster, Wedderburn, esq. +'WEEP, daughter of a royal line' +Wellesley, Sir Arthur. See Wellington +----, Richard, esq. +Wellington, Duke of, 'the Scipio of our Hannibal' +Wengen Alps +Wentworth, Lord + 'WERNER; or, THE INHERITANCE; a Tragedy' + 'Werther,' Goethe's effects of + Mad. de Staeel's character of +West, Mr. (American artist), his conversations with Lord Byron +Westall, Richard, esq.. R.A. +Westminster Abbey +Westmoreland, Lady +Wetterhorn +'What matter the pangs' +'When man expelled from Eden's bowers' +'When Time, who steals our years away' +Whigs +'Whistlecraft' +Whitbread, Samuel, esq. + 'The Demosthenes of bad taste' +Whitby, Captain +White, Henry Kirke, esq. +----, Lydia +'White Lady of Avenel' +'White Lady of Colalto' +'Who killed John Keats?' +'Why, how now, saucy Tom?' +Wieland + His history of 'Agathon' + Resemblance between Byron and +Wilberforce, William, esq., his style of speaking + Personified by Sheridan +Wildman, Thomas, esq. +----, Colonel, present proprietor of Newstead +Wilkes, John, esq. +Will, Lord Byron's + His last +Williams, Captain +Williams, Mrs., the fortune-teller, her prediction concerning Byron +Wilmot, Mrs., her tragedy +Wilson, Professor +Windham, Right Hon. William +'WINDSOR POETICS' +Wingfield, Hon. John + His death +Women, society of + Cannot write tragedy + State of, under the ancient Greeks +Woodhouselee, Lord, his opinion of Lord Byron's early poems +Woolriche, Dr. +Wordsworth, William, esq., Lord Byron's review of his early poems + The allusion to + His 'Excursion' + His powers to do 'anything' + Influence of his poetry on Lord Byron + Never vulgar + See also +Wrangham, Rev. Francis +Wright, Walter Rodwell, esq., his 'Horae Ionicae' +Writers, tragic, generally mirthful persons + +Y. + +Yanina +York, Duke of +Young, Dr. E. +Yussuff, Pacha +Yverdun + +Z. + +Zitza +Zograffo, Demetrius + + + + +THE END. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Life of Lord Byron, Vol. 6 (of 6), by Thomas Moore + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LIFE OF LORD BYRON, VOL. 6 (OF 6) *** + +***** This file should be named 14841.txt or 14841.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/4/8/4/14841/ + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Leonard Johnson and the PG Online +Distributed Proofreading Team. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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