Star.
London, England, 1826-10-26 00:00:00

LORD BYRON, FIFTEEN YEARS AGO.

We were interrupted in the midst of our debate by
the entrance of a stranger. whom, on the first glance I
guessed to be an Englishman but lately arrived at
Constantinope. He wore a scarlet coat richly embroi-
dered aith gold, in the style of as English aide-de-
camp's dress uniform, with two heavy epaulettes. His
countenance announced him to be about the age of two-
and-twenty. His features were remarkably delicate,
and would have given him a feminine appearance, but
for the manly expression of his fine blue eyes. On enter-
ing the inner shop, he took off his feathered cocked-
hat, and skewed a head of curly auburn hair, which
improved in r•-o small degree the uncommon beauty of
his face. Tke impression which his whole appearance
made on my mind was such, that it has ever since re-
mained deeply engraven on it ; and although fifteen
years have since gone by, the lapse of time has not in
the slightest degree impaired the freshness of the re-
collection.
He was attended by a Janissary attached to the
English embassy, and by a person who professionally
acted as a Ciceroni to strangers. These circumstances,
together with a very visible lameness in one of his legs,
convinced me at once he was Lord Byron. I had already
heard of his Lordship, and of his late arrival in the
Salcette frigate, which. had come up from the Smyrna
station, to fetch away Mr. Adair, our Ambassador to'
the Porte. Lord Byron had been previously travelling
in Epirus and Asia Minor, with his friend Mr. Hob-
house, and had become a great amateur of smoking;
he was conducted to this shop for the purpose of pur-
chasing a few pipes. The indifferent Italian, in which
language he spoke to his Ciceroni, and the latter's sun
more imperfect Turkish, made it difficult for the shop-
keeper to understand their wishes; and, as this seemed
to vex the stranger, I addressed him in English, offa-
iog to interpret for him. When his Lordship thus dis-
covered me to be an Englishman, he shook me cordially
by the hand, and assured me, with some warmth in his
manner, that he always felt great pleasure when be met
with a countryman abroad. His purchase and my
bargain being completed, we walked out together and
rambled about the streets, in several of which I had the
pleasure of directing his attention to sonic of the
most remarkable curiosities in Constantinople.
The peculiar circumstances under which our ac-
tnaintance took place, established between us, in one
day, a certain degree of intimacy, which two or three
years frevienting each other's company in England
would most likely not have accomplished. I frequently
addressed him by his name, but he did not think of in-
gulling how I came to learn it, nor of asking mine.—
Ilk Lordship had not yet laid the foundation of that lite-
rary renown which he afterwards acquired; on the con-
trary, he was only known as the author of his " Hours
of Idleness and the severity with which the Edin-
burgh Reviewers had criticised that production, was
still fresh in every English reader's recollection. I could
not, therefore, be supposed to seek his acquaintance
from any of those motives of vanity which have attuated
-so many others since; but it was natural, that after our
accidental rencontre, and all that passed between us on
that occasion, I should, on meeting him in the courte of
the same week at dinner at the English Ambassador's,
have requested one of the secretaries, who was intimately
acquainted with him, to introduce me to him in regular
form. His Lordship here testified his perfect recollec-
tion of me, but in the coldest manner, and immediately
after toured his back on me. This unceremonious pro-
c-eding, forming a striking contrast with previous oc-
currences, had something so strange in it that I was at
a loss how to account for it, and felt at the same time
much disposed to entertain a less favourable opinion of
his Lordship than his apparent frankness had inspired
me with at our fiat meeting. It was' not, therefore,
without surprise, that, some days after, I saw him in
the stie•ts, coming up to me with a smile of good na-
ture in his countenance. He accosted me in a familiar
manner, and offering me his hand, said—" I am an
enemy to English etiquette, especially out of England;
and I always make my own acquaintances without
waiting for the formality of an introduction. If you
have nothing to do, and are disposed for another ram-
ble, I shAl be gl id of your company." There was that
irresistible attraction in his manner, of which those who
have had the good fortune to be admitted into his inti-
macy can alone have felt the power in his moments of
good humour; and I readily accepted his proposal.—
We visited attain more of the most remarkable curiosi-
ties of the capital, a description of which would here be
but a repetition of what a hundred travellers have al-
ready detailed x ith the utn,ost minuteness and accuracy ;
but his Lordship expressed much disappointment at
their want of interest. He praised the picturesque beau-
ties of the town itself, and its surrounding scenery; and
seemed of opinion that nothing else was worth looking
at. He spoke cf the Turks in a manner which might
• have given reason to suppose be had made a long resi-
dence among them, and closed his observations with
these words—" The Greeks will stoner or later rise
against them ; but if tney do not make haste, I hope
Buonapaite will come and drive the- useless rascals
a o ay.— New Monthly Magazine.

Wednesday se'nnight, three vessels—the Grace, Row;
the Bideford, MOLLARD, and the Betsey, Taaxaa—worked out of
the pier at St. Ives, with the intention of keeping company to the
Westein Islands, to which they were bouud. It blew a stiff breeze,
which occasioned each to take an additional number of bands tu
work them over the Ridge, as it is called ; on board the Betsey
were several friends of the Muter, who intended to return after a
short excursion. Having passed the Ridge, the additional bands
took leave; the gig which was alongside the Betsey had on board
seventeen persons, and in pushing off, it by some means got foul
and was overact. The must prompt assistance was afforded, and
fifteen persons were picked up; the other two, named Hodge and
Williams, sunk almost instantly and were drowned. One of those
picked up, named Sicily, expired almost immediately on being taken
on board. The body of Hedge has been washed on shore, the head
dreadfully cut, supposed by striking against the bottom of the vessel,
as she passed over him. Williams was married; the ethers were
single men.— West Brims.
DZATH BY FIGHTINGHBR keswell, a coachman,
and Buxton, a mason, having quarrelled at a public.
l nu e at Kingston, on Monday evening, they agreed to
decide it in the morning, for love and a sovereign,
wltiah was staked. They both appeared at the scratch
in fighting trim yesterday morning, and =nuzzled in
earnest. They fought for an hour, and capped each
other with telling hits until both were at a stand still.
The mason appeared to have the best of the fight, but
he was dropped at last by a blow on the head, of which
he died in less than an boar.

Two friends exchanging pinches of snuff at a coffee-
house, an observer remarked, 0 You are making a pro-
fitable barter, Gentlemen." " That cannot Ise," said
one of the snuLtakers, " as it is only pinch for pinch."
•• Nay," rejoined the observer, " you each get scent
per scent by it !"