The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-06-09 00:00:00

ON THE DEATH OF LORD BYRON.

lIT 14. CIIASIES !WPM, MEMBER 0? THE FREYCI! LH'
PTITCTE, E7C-SLCULTABY 0? TILE lOVIAX ACADEMY, Q.C.
The cause of a people, whose ancestors have acquired
immortal renown—of a people who, inspired by this recol-
lection, also take up anns to conquer independence and
honour—this cause, so just and so glorious, has been suffi-
cient to animate generous hearts and vivid imaginations.
All men, whose elevated minds pay to the Muses a homage,
worthy of them, have united their hopes and applauses in
favour of a feeble but courageous people, who are braving the
danger of destruction, and paying with their blood the price
of the liberty they adore. Poets, historians, authors, ora-
tors, all the children of genius, whose names enlightened
nations pronounce with pride, have consecrated a portion of
their talents in honour of modern Greece. Their eulo-
gies have saved these noble efforts from the opprobrium
which is attached to impious or factious rebellions. But
amongst all those illustrious characters, who has distinguish-
ed himself like Lord Byron ? Al'hohas equalled him—l will
not ray in his poetry, in his prose, or in his oratory ; but
in his sacrifices? Who, like him, in the full sway of his
passions, i►► the flower of his age, in the bosom of luxury,
of pleasure, and of a dignified retirement, could at once
tear himself from the delights of life, from a voluptuous
country, and proceed to a soil impoverished by despotism,
and desolated by intestine war? Ile lands in Greece, to
encourage the timid—to animate the brave—to consecrate
his fortune to noble purposes—and his genius to painful
efforts; above all, to appease already siring dissensions.
and to double, by union, the power of a people whose
very existence is in danger. This is what has beoa done I
by Lord Byron. Such greatness of mind had no ex-
ample ; and hitherto it has had no imitators.
Bookies'', at some future day, when victory shall have
restored peace to Greece, and leisure to her hereditary
genius—at some future day, the Peloponntsus will again
be the theatre of the panegyrics, the festivals, and the games
of Delphi, of Nonce, and of Olympia, and the descend-
ants
of Pinder will re-awaken the lyre which celebrated'
the glory of the conquerors of Marathon, of Plattra, and
of Salamis. Then the most harmonious of languages will
consecrate the memory of the immortal poet who terminated
his career by an act of illustrious devotion, as imperishable
as the most beautiful of its own strains. 'rho], the posteri-
ty of Eschylus and of' 'Pyrtstus, of Themittocles and of
Aristides, will repeat chaunti which will asa•nd to Heaven,
aecompanitil by the unanimous waists of a whole nation,
grateful, as a free people know how to be.
Already have the inhabitants of Greece worthily paid
the first sepulchral honours to the generous nun who thus
espoused their cause. The entire nation is clad in mourn-
ing, and the people and the army, in the train of the Se-
nate and Magistrates, have solemnised his obsequies ; as in
modern times, and in another hemisphere, the countrymen
of an Adams and a Franklin, celebrated those of the
heroes of their independence. Poetry will Niro upon so
noble a theme. In all enlightened States, they who dedi-
cate their muse to magnanimous actions, will consecrate