Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1817-11-13
NiISCEIAASX.
eoaMCNIcATgD FOR THE GAZETTE
LORD BYRON.
Continued from London Rerif''.


resting coun,enance, expressive OF a de-
lection belonging aelther 10 the rank. the
pre-, nor the success Of this young noble
man, without feeling an indctinable Gu
rius;ty TO ascertain whether it had
aeener cause than habit or constitutional
Temperament. 1t was obviously Of de.
gree meal, ..lably more serious than that
alluded to by prince Arthur
- remember when was in France
YDsar gentlemen would be as sad as night
Only for wantonness.
Bat howsoever derived, this, joined to
lord Byron's air Of mingling in amuSe-
ments and sports, as if he condemned
them and felt that his sphere was tar a.
hove The frivolous crowd which surround
ed him, gave stronse--effect OF Color
inc TO a cha. acter whose tints were o.
tberyise romantic. Noble and far de-
scended, his miid fraught with ancient
learning anil modern accomplishments,
the pilgrim of distant and savage coun-
ties, eminent as poet among the first
whom Britain has produced, and having
besides cast around him mysterious
rharm arising from the sonb;e tone OF his
poetry, aud the occasional melancholy OF
his department, lord Byron occupied the
eyes and Interested the feelings Of all
The enthusiast looked on him to admire,
the serious with wish to admonish, and
the soft with desire to console. Even
literary envy, a base sensation, IRON
which, perhaps, this aye is more ee than
any other. forsave The man whose sPlen-
dor d;mmel the fame Of his competitors.
The generosity Of lord Byron's disPosi,
lion, his readiness to assist melit il dis
,ress. and to bring it forward where un-
known, deserved and ubtai"ed the gene
raj regard Of thoe who partook Of such
merit, wi e his paetical illusions, pour
ed forth VITA equal free and fertility,
showed at once a daring confidence 10
his own powers and determination to
maintain by continued effort the nigh
Mace he had attained in British tiiera-
ture. Tbs raTdity Of composition aud
publication we Rave heard blamed as en-
dange,ing the fame of the author, while
it gave such proofs Of talent. We are
inclined to dispute the PrOPositiOn-at
least in the present instance.
We are sometimes tempted to blame
the timidi'y of those poets who, possess
ing powers TO arrest the atteHtion OF the
public, are yet too much aft aid OF ct"sur'
to come frequently forward and thus de-
fraud themselves of their fame, and the
public Of tho delight which they might
afford US. Where success has Peen un-
expectedly and, perhaps, undeservedly
obtained BY the cspricious vote OF fash
ion, it may be well for the adventurer To
draw his stake and leave The game, as
every succeeding hazard will diminish
= the chance o! his rising a winner. Bat
shey cater i'll for the public, aud give IN
different advice TO the poet, supposing
him possessed Of the highest qualities OF
hi, art. who do not advise him to labor
while the laurel around his brOys yet e.
ta;n its freshness. Sketches from lord
Byron are more valuable than finished
pictures from others; nor are we at all
sure that any labor which he might be-
STOW in reyisal would not rather eface
fSan refine those outlines of striking and
powerful originality which they exhibit
when flung rough from the hand oil the
master. No one would have wished to
condemn Michael Angelo to work upon
as;ng,e block Of marble until he had sa-
tisfed in every point the petty criticism
Of that Pope, who, neslscting the sub'ime
and magnificent cha acter and attitude
Of his Moses, descended to blare wnn'
kls in the fold Of the garment. Should n
Be urged that, in thus stimulating genius