LIFE OF LORD BYRON. he kept a young bear in his room for some rate character, who is never mentioned by the The following descriptions of Newstead's hallowed pile will be found interesting: Walpole, who had visited Newstead, gives, in his usual bitter, sarcastic manner, the following account of it: This abbey was founded in the year 1170, by Henry II., as a priory of Black Canons, and dedicated to the Virgin Mary. It confined in the family of the Byrons until the time of the late lord, who sold it first to Mr. "As I returned I saw Newstead and AlClaughton for the sum of 140,000l., and on that gentleman's not being able to fulfil the agrement, and thus paying 20,000l. of a for- thorpe; I like both. The former is the very fes, was afterwards sold to another person, abbey. The great east window of the church and most of the money vested in trustees for remains, and connects with the house; the the punture of the Hon. Mrs. Byron. The hall entire, the refectory entire, the cloister greater part of the edifice still remains. The untouched, with the ancient cistern of the present possessor, Major Wildman, is, with convent, and their arms on it: it has a private gene Gothac taste, repairing this beautiful chapel quite perfect. The park, which is still pecimen of architecture. The late Lord charming, has not been so much unprofaned. Byron repaired a considerable part of it; The present lord has lost large sums, and paid bet, forgetting the roof, he had turned his at- part in old oaks, five thousand pounds' worth tention to the inside, and the consequence of which have been cut near the house. En was, that in a few years, the rain paying a revanche, he has built two baby forts, to pay t to the apartments, soon destroyed all his country in castles for damage done to the these elegant devices which his lordship had navy, and planted a handful of Scotch firs, contrived. His lordship's own study was a that look like ploughboys dressed in old family neat little apartment, decorated with some liveries for a public day. In the hall is a very good classic busts, a select collection of books, good collection of pictures, all animals. The am antique cross, a sword in a gilt case, and, refectory, now the great drawing-room, is full at the end of the room, two finely polished of Byrons: the vaulted roof remaining, but skalls on a pair of light fancy stands. In the the windows have new dresses making for This is a careless but happy description of garden, likewise, was a great number of these them by a Venetian tailor." akas, taken from the burial-ground of the abbey, and piled up together; but afterwards one of the noblest mansions in England, and they were recommitted to the earth. A writer, it will now be read with a far deeper interest visted it soon after Lord Byron had sold than when it was written. Walpole saw the Euş: “In one corner of the servants' hall seat of the Byrons, old, majestic, and veneralay a stone coffin, in which were fencing ble; but he saw nothing of that magic beauty gloves and foils, and on the walls of the ample which fame sheds over the habitations of ge cheerless kitchen was painted in large let- nius, and which now mantles every turret of ters, Waste not-want not.' During the mi- Newstead Abbey. He saw it when decay Benty of Lord Byron, the abbey was in the was doing its work on the cloister, the refecpoon of Lord G, his hounds, and tory, and the chapel, and all its honours seemed Carers colonies of jackdaws, swallows, and mouldering into oblivion. He could not know strings. The internal traces of this Goth that a voice was soon to go forth from those were swept away; but without, all appeared antique cloisters, that should be heard through serade and unreclaimed as he could have left all future ages, and cry, 'Sleep no more to all With the exception of the dog's tomb, a the house. Whatever may be its future fate, ous and elegant object, I do not re- Newstead Abbey must henceforth be a memoelect the slightest trace of culture or im-rable abode. Time may shed its wild flowers provement. The late lord, a stern and despe- on the walls, and let the fox in upon the court yard and the chambers; it may even pass into travelling would not incapacitate him, the hands of unlettered pride, or plebeian he wished to judge of men by experienc opulence: but it has been the mansion of a At length, in July, 1809, in company mighty poet. Its name is associated with glo- John Cam Hobhouse, Esq. (with whom hi ries that cannot perish, and will go down to quaintance commenced at Cambridge), 1 posterity in one of the proudest pages of our Byron embarked at Falmouth for Lisbon. annals. thence proceeded, by the southern provi Lord Byron showed, even in his earliest of Spain, to the Mediterranean. The ob years, that nature had added to the advan- that he met with as far as Gibraltar see tages of high descent the richest gifts of genius have occupied his mind, to the tempo and of fancy. His own tale is partly told in exclusion of his gloomy and misanthr two lines of Lara: "Left by his sire, too young such loss to know, Lord of himself, that heritage of woe." thoughts; for a letter which he wrote to mother from thence contains no indicatio them, but, on the contrary, much playful scription of the scenes through which he His first literary adventure, and its fate, are passed. At Seville, Lord Byron lodged in well remembered. The poems which he pub-house of two single ladies, one of whom, lished in his minority had, indeed, those faults ever, was about to be married. Thoug of conception and diction which are insepara- remained there only three days, she paid ble from juvenile attempts, and in particular the most particular attentions, and, at may rather be considered as imitative of what parting, embraced him with great tender had caught the ear and fancy of the youthful cutting off a lock of his hair, and presenting author, than as exhibiting originality of con- with one of her own. With this specime ception and expression. It was like the first Spanish female manners, he proceeded to essay of the singing-bird, catching at and imi- diz, where various incidents occurred to tating the notes of its parent, ere habit and firm the opinion he had formed at Sevi time have given the fulness of tone, confi- the Andalusian belles, and which made dence, and self-possession which render assist- leave Cadiz with regret, and determine to ance unnecessary. Yet though there were turn to it. Lord Byron wrote to his mo many, and those not the worst judges, who from Malta, announcing his safety, and a discerned in his "Hours of Idleness" a depth from Previsa, in November. Upon arri of thought and felicity of expression which at Yanina, Lord Byron found that Ali P promised much at a more mature age, the was with his troops in Illyrium, besic work did not escape the critical lash of the Ibrahim Pacha in Berat; but the vizier, "Scotch Reviewers," who could not resist the ing heard that an English nobleman wa opportunity of pouncing upon a titled poet, his country, had given orders at Yanin of showing off their own wit, and of seeking supply him with every kind of accomm to entertain their readers with a flippant ar- tion, free of expense. From Yanina, I ticle, without much respect to the feelings of Byron went to Tepaleen. Here he was loo the author, or even to the indications of merit in the palace, and the next day introduce which the work displayed. The review was Ali Pacha, who declared that he knew read, and excited mirth; the poems were to be a man of rank from the smallness of neglected, the author was irritated, and took ears, his curling hair, and his white ha his revenge in keen iambics, which, at the and who sent him a variety of sweetme same time, proved the injustice of the offend- fruits, and other luxuries. In going i ing critic and the ripening talents of the bard. Turkish ship of war, provided for him Having thus vented his indignation against Ali Pacha, from Previsa, intending to sail the reviewers and their readers, and put all Patras, Lord Byron was very near being the laughter on his side, Lord Byron went in but a moderate gale of wind, from the is abroad, and the controversy was for some rance of the Turkish officers and sailors, years forgotten. was driven on the coast of Suli. An insta It was at Newstead, just before his coming of disinterested hospitality in the chief of age, he had planned his future travels, and Suliote village occurred to Lord Byron his original intention included a much larger consequence of his disasters in the Turk portion of the world than that which he after-galliot. The honest Albanian, after assist wards visited. He first thought of Persia, to him in his distress, supplying his wants, which idea indeed he for a long time adhered. lodging him and his suite, refused to rece He afterwards meant to sail for India, and had any remuneration. When Lord Byron pres so far contemplated this project as to write him to take money, he said: "I wish you for information from the Arabic professor at love me, not to pay me." At Yanina, on Cambridge, and to ask his mother to inquire return, he was introduced to Hussien I of a friend who had lived in India, what things and Mahomet Pacha, two young children would be necessary for his voyage. He formed Ali Pacha. Subsequently, he visited Smyr his plan of travelling upon very different whence he went in the Salsette frigate grounds from those which he afterwards ad- Constantinople. vanced. All men should travel at one time or On the 3d of May, 1810, while this frig another, he thought, and he had then no connexions to prevent him; when he returned he might enter into political life, for which was lying at anchor in the Dardanelles, L Byron, accompanied by Lieutenant Eke head, swam the Hellespont from the Europe wore to the Asiatic-about two miles wide. and the gratification which he manifested on Teade of the Dardanelles runs so strong, observing the superiority, in every respect, of tatis impossible either to swim or to sail England to other countries, proved that patritoy given point. Lord Byron went from otism was far from being extinct in his bosom. Beastie to Abydos, and landed on the oppo- The embarrassed state of his affairs at length ste store, full three miles below his meditated induced him to return home, to endeavour to pure of approach. He had a boat in attend- arrange them; and he arrived in the Volage Der all the way; so that no danger could be frigate on the 2d of July, 1811, having been prehended even if his strength had failed. absent exactly two years. His health had not Harisup records, in one of his minor suffered by his travels, although it had been p, that he got the ague by the voyage; interrupted by two sharp fevers; but he had it was well known, that when he landed, put himself entirely on a vegetable diet, and be was so much exhausted, that he gladly ac-drank no wine. ceyed the offer of a Turkish fisherman, and Soon after his arrival, he was summoned to red in his hut for several hours; he was Newstead, in consequence of the serious illten very ill, and as Lieutenant Ekenhead ness of his mother; but on reaching the abbelled to go on board his frigate, he bey, found that she had breathed her last. He was left alone. The Turk had no idea of the suffered much from this loss, and from the disrank or consequence of his inmate, but paid appointment of not seeing her before her death; an most marked attention. His wife was and while his feelings on the subject were still Isurse, and, at the end of five days, he left very acute, he received the intelligence, that the ore, completely recovered. When he a friend, whom he highly esteemed, had been out to embark, the Turk gave him a drowned in the Cam. He had not long before large loaf, a cheese, and a skin filled with heard of the death, at Coimbra, of a schoolvite, and then presented him with a few fellow, to whom he was much attached. These about a penny each), prayed Allah to three melancholy events, occurring within the tam, and wished him safe home. His space of a month, had, no doubt, a powerful Are made him no return to this, more than effect on Lord Byron's feelings. ag be felt much obliged. But when he Towards the termination of his "English arved at Abydos, he sent over his man Ste- Bards and Scotch Reviewers," the noble aufano, to the Turk, with an assortment of fish-thor had declared, that it was his intention to , a fowling piece, a brace of pistols, break off, from that period, his newly-formed and twelve yards of silk to make gowns for connexion with the Muses, and that, should taste. The poor Turk was astonished, and he return in safety from the "Minarets" of What a noble return for an act of hu- Constantinople, the "Maidens" of Georgia, ty! He then formed the resolution of and the "Sublime Snows" of Mount Cauring the Hellespont, and, in propria casus, nothing on earth should tempt him to pe, thanking his lordship. His wife ap- resume the pen. Such resolutions are seldom of the plan; and he had sailed about maintained. In February, 1812, the first two Sway across, when a sudden squall upset cantos of "Childe Harold's Pilgrimage" (with b, and the poor Turkish fisherman the manuscript of which he had presented his S a watery grave. Lord Byron was friend Mr. Dallas,) made their appearance, distressed when he heard of the catas-producing an effect upon the public, equal to th, and, with all that kindness of heart that of any work which has been published was natural to him, he sent to the within this or the last century. #ty dollars, and told her he would This poem is, perhaps, the most original in be her friend. This anecdote, so highly the English language, both in conception and arable to his lordship's memory, is very execution. It is no more like Beattie's Minknown. Lieutenant Hare, who was on strel than Paradise Lost-though the former Det at the time, furnished the particulars, production was in the noble author's mind aded that, in the year 1817, Lord Byron, when first thinking of Childe Harold. A great Breeding to Constantinople, landed at poet, who gives himself up free and unconsme spot, and made a handsome present tined to the impulses of his genius, as Byron adow and her son, who recollected did in the better part of this singular creation, the rumstance, but knew not Lord Byron, shows to us a spirit as if sent out from the and appearance having so altered hands of nature, to range over the earth and the societies of men. Even Shakspeare himIt was not until after Lord Byron arrived self submits to the shackles of history and tinople that he decided not to go society. But here Byron has traversed the Persia, but to pass the following summer whole earth, borne along by the whirlwind of Morea. At Constantinople, Mr. Hob- his own spirit. Wherever a forest frowned, fim to return to England. On losing or a temple glittered-there he was priviton, Lord Byron went again, and leged to bend his flight. He suddenly starts over rinch of the old track which he had up from his solitary dream, by the secret founVisited, and studied the scenery and tain of the desert, and descends at once into of Greece especially, with the search- the tumult of peopled or the silence of deof a poet and a painter. His mind serted cities. Whatever actually lived-had and occasionally to have some tendency perished heretofore-or that had within it a and a recovery from the morbid state of power to kindle passion, became the materiel rapathy which he had previously evinced, of his all-embracing song. There are no unities of time or place to fetter him-and we fly denizen in the first circles. This passport with him from hill-top to hill-top, and from not necessary to Lord Byron, who posses tower to tower, over all the solitude of nature, the hereditary claims of birth and rank. and all the magnificence of art. When the the interest which his genius attached to past pageants of history seemed too dim and presence, and to his conversation, was faded, he would turn to the splendid specta- nature far beyond what these heredit cles that have dignified our own days, and the claims could of themselves have confer images of kings and conquerors of old gave and his reception was enthusiastic bey place to those that were yet living in sove-any thing imaginable. Lord Byron was reignty and exile. Indeed, much of the power one of those literary men of whom it may which Byron possessed was derived from this truly said, minuit præsentia famam. A co source. He lived in a sort of sympathy with tenance, exquisitely modeled to the expr the public mind-sometimes wholly distinct sion of feeling and passion, and exhibiting from it--sometimes acting in opposition to it remarkable contrast of very dark hair -sometimes blending with it, but, at all eyebrows, with light and expressive ey times, in all his thoughts and actions, bearing presented to the physiognomist the most a reference to the public mind. His spirit teresting subject for the exercise of his needed not to go back into the past,-though The predominating expression was that it often did so,-to bring the objects of its love deep and habitual thought, which gave way back to earth in more beautiful life. The ex- the most rapid play of features when he istence he painted was the present. The gaged in interesting discussion; so tha objects he presented were marked out to him brother poet compared them to the sculpt by men's actual regards. It was his to speak of a beautiful alabaster vase, only seen to of all those great political events which were fection when lighted up from within. objects of such passionate and universal sym- flashes of mirth, gaiety, indignation, or pathy. But chiefly he spoke our own feelings, tirical dislike, which frequently animated L exalted in thought, language, and passion. Byron's countenance, might, during an ev His travels were not, at first, the self-impelled ing's conversation, be mistaken by a stran act of a mind severing itself in lonely roaming for its habitual expression, so easily and from all participation in the society to which happily was it formed for them all; but th it belonged, but rather obeying the general who had an opportunity of studying his f notion of the mind of that society. tures for a length of time, and upon vari "When from the heart where Sorrow sits, And clouds the brow, or fills the eye- And bleed within their silent cell." The indications of a bold, powerful, and occasions, both of rest and emotion, kn original mind, which glanced through every that their proper language was that of mel line of Childe Harold, electrified the mass of choly. Sometimes shades of this gloom int readers, and placed at once upon Lord By-rupted even his gayest and most happy r ron's head the garland for which other men ments; and the following verses are said of genius have toiled long, and which they have dropped from his pen to excuse a tr have gained late. He was placed pre-eminent sient expression of melancholy which ov among the literary men of his country, by clouded the general gaiety. general acclamation. Those who had so rigorously censured his juvenile essays, and perhaps "dreaded such another field," were the first to pay warm homage to his matured efforts; while others, who saw in the sentiments of Childe Harold much to regret and to censure, did not withhold their tribute of applause to the depth of thought, the power and force of expression, and the energy of sentiment, which animated the "Pilgrimage." Thus, as longing neither to the rank, the age, nor It was impossible to notice a dejection all admired the poem, all were prepared to success of this young nobleman, with greet the author with that fame which is the feeling an indefinable curiosity to ascert: poet's best reward. It was amidst such feel-whether it had a deeper cause than habit ings of admiration that Lord Byron fully en- constitutional temperament. It was obviou tered on that public stage, where, to the close of a degree incalculably more serious than th of his life, he made so distinguished a figure, alluded to by Prince ArthurEvery thing in his manner, person, and conversation, tended to maintain the charm which his genius had flung around him; and those admitted to his conversation, far from finding that the inspired poet sunk into ordinary mortality, felt themselves attached to him not only by many noble qualities, but by the interest of a mysterious, undefined, and almost painful curiosity. I remember when I was in France, Young gentlemen would be as sad as night, Only for wantonness But, howsoever derived, this, joined to Lo Byron's air of mingling in amusements a sports as if he contemned them, and felt th his sphere was far above the fashionable a frivolous crowd which surrounded him, ga It is well known how wide the doors of so- a strong effect of colouring to a charact ciety are opened in London to literary merit, whose tints were otherwise decidedly roma even to a degree far inferior to Lord Byron's, tic. Noble and far descended, the pilgrim and that it is only necessary to be honourably distant and savage countries, eminent as distinguished by the public voice, to move as a poet among the first whom Britain has pi LIFE OF LORD BYRON. duced, and having besides cast around him a olic claims, which gave good hopes of his bemysterious charm arising from the sombre coming an orator; and the other related to a tone of his poetry, and the occasional melan-petition from Major Cartwright. Byron himcholy of his deportment, Lord Byron occu- self says, the Lords told him "his manner ped the eyes and interested the feelings of all. was not dignified enough for them, and would The enthusiastic looked on him to admire, better suit the lower house;" others say, they the serious with a wish to admonish, and the gathered round him while speaking, listening Not with a desire to console. Even literary with the greatest attention-a sign at any rate envy, a base sensation, from which, perhaps, that he was interesting. He always voted thus age is more free than any other, forgave with the opposition, but evinced no likelihood The following is a pleasing instance of the the man whose splendour dimmed the fame of of becoming the blind partisan of either side. his competitors. The generosity of Lord Byrons disposition, his readiness to assist merit generosity, the delicacy, and the unwounding A young lady of considerable talents, but in distress, and to bring it forward where un- benevolence of Byron's nature: known, deserved and obtained general regard; while his poetical effusions, poured forth who had never been able to succeed in turnwith equal force and fertility, showed at once ing them to any profitable account, was rea daring confidence in his own powers, and a duced to great hardships through the misfordetermination to maintain, by continued ef- tunes of her family. The only persons from abroad, and so urged on, more by the sufferfort, the high place he had attained in British whom she could have hoped for relief were bterature. At one of the fashionable parties where the ings of those she held dear than by her own, Doble bard was present, His Majesty, then she summoned up resolution to wait on Lord Prince Regent, entered the room: Lord By- Byron at his apartments in the Albany, and rua was at some distance at the time, but, on ask his subscription to a volume of poems: learning who he was, His Royal Highness she had no previous knowledge of him except sent a gentleman to him to desire that he from his works, but from the boldness and weald be presented. Of course the presenta- feeling expressed in them, she concluded that to took place; the Regent expressed his he must be a man of kind heart and amiable duration of Childe Harold's Pilgrimage," disposition. Experience did not disappoint and entered into a conversation which so fas- her, and though she entered the apartment cated the poet, that had it not been for an with faltering steps and a palpitating heart, accident which deferred a levee intended to she soon found courage to state her request, have been held the next day, he would have gue to court. Soon after, however, an unrtunate influence counteracted the effect of roval praise, and Lord Byron permitted himw to write and speak disrespectfully of the Prince. which she did in the most simple and delicate manner: he heard it with the most marked attention and the keenest sympathy; and when she had ceased speaking, he, as if to not be but painful to her, began to converse avert her thoughts from a subject which could that she hardly perceived he had been writThe whole of Byron's political career may in words so fascinating, and tones so gentle, "But," be summed up in the following anecdotes: The Earl of Carlisle having declined to in- ing, until he put a folded slip of paper into her troduce Lord Byron to the House of Peers, hand, saying it was his subscription, and that be resolved to introduce himself, and accord- he most heartily wished her success. mgly went there a little before the usual hour, added he, "we are both young, and the world when he knew few of the lords would be is very censorious, and so if I were to take present. On entering, he appeared rather any active part in procuring subscribers to aashed, and looked very pale, but, passing your poems, I fear it would do you harm rather the woolsack, where the Chancellor (Lord than good." The young lady, overpowered Eldon) was engaged in some of the ordinary by the prudence and delicacy of his conduct, tine of the house, he went directly to the took her leave, and upon opening in the street tabe, where the oaths were administered to the paper, which in her agitation she had not in the usual manner. The Lord Chan- previously looked at, she found it was a draft The enmity that Byron entertained towards cellor then approached, and offered his hand upon his banker for fifty pounds! is the most open familiar manner, congratu Jaring him on bis taking possession of his seat. the Earl of Carlisle, was owing to two causes: Led Byron only placed the tips of his fingers the Earl had spoken rather irreverently of in Ge Chancellor's hand; the latter returned the "Hours of Idleness," when Byron exto his seat, and Byron, after lounging a few pected, as a relation, that he would have minates on one of the opposition benches, re- countenanced it. He had moreover refused d. To his friend, Mr. Dallas, who followed to introduce his kinsman to the House of his out, be gave as a reason for not entering Lords, even, it is said, somewhat doubting his The Earl of Carlisle was a great admirer into the spirit of the Chancellor, "that it right to a seat in that honourable house. might have been supposed he would join the sixpenny pamphlet, in which he strenuously cort party, whereas he intended to have no- of the classic drama, and once published a hing at all to do with politics." He only addressed the house three times: argued in behalf of the propriety and necesSest of his speeches was on the Frame-sity of small theatres: on the same day that rk Bill; the second in favour of the Cath-this weighty publication appeared, he sub |