Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-08-29


9th, was stopped, and postponed to fu-
ture day.
Mr. Joseph Lancaster, the celebrated
teacher, has arrived in this city, by the
washington from London. Ibid
From the Jorrnal Of he Times.
LORD BYRON.
This strange eccentric and hayward
character has been amongst all ranks and
classes the theme of conversation, OF re-
marks, of review, Of alternate censure and
applause. His wonderful genius, 1t is much
10 be amented, has given sort OF eonse-
Grafton TO all the errors OF his life. When
we compare his earliest publications with
his latest. we shall find every sentiment
and opinion advanced in the former, with
the exception of his in6delity, deliberately
abandoned. He formerly reproached Wal
ter Scott for writing for hire, and now this
peer oft realm follows his example
He formerly censured the editors OF the
Edinburg Review in terms OF Immeasura-
6le asperiiy after the revolution OF few
years, he asks forgiveness OF these very
men, ard takes them TO his confidence and
to his friendship. He formerly declared
that the idol of his heart was slumberlng
in the grave and that his affections were
entombed in the same sepulchre. Yet,
after this solemn pledge and declaration
have been given, he loves or at leastmarrles,
and as if to round the circle Of contradic-
tons, ahandons the wife Of his bosom.
How shall such inconsistencies, such almost
anomalies in the human character be ac-
counted for! Perhaps they may be explain
ed in this manner the passions OF the mo-
ment arc the deties he worships. Led on
by frenetic impulse, he follows those
blind guides, careless wherever they lead
him, whether over mountain or moor, and
as long as their dominion lasts, never stops
or pauses to inquire whittier he is going
The deity or rather the demon of the hour,
has the sole and exclusive possession of his
suu-ater the reign OF this transitory tyrant
is abolished, he is succeeded by another
who drives with the same unsparlng vio-
lence to the end of his career, and then
resigns his charge to another demon. Lord
Byron is an example, and an awful ex-
ample, of the dreadful slavery that a man
is doomed to undergo, who resigns himself
to the sway of his own passions-he is
never himself, and it is no paradox to as
sert that he does not know what his own
opinions are. The transitory ASSIGNS that
take alternately the possession OF his soul
constitute biz only guides. Divine Provi-
dence, ds if TO leave standing mark Of the
ignominy which attends servitude 10 the
passions, has bestowed on their present
victim all the brilliancy otgenius. This
heaven Illuminated lamp shines in the hand
OF this mailman with its brightest lustre.
! Thousands and thousands behold and adj
| mile the radiance of its beams, while the
frantic possessor of the lamp runs wild as
If he were driven by the furies. This
lamp is not a guiding light-it is shaken by
one insensible 10 the value of such gift.
Whether Lord Byron will still continue his
ippetGous career, is question known only
10 The Deity but we think the probability
is that he Gill reform. Passions so intense
as those that agitate the bosom OF Lord
Byron must be transitoy-They burn too
6erceiy to remain otlong duration. Should
the term of his lie be extended TO the or
binary age of man, these passions must
abate their vehemence. He will then see
and lament his mad career-but what will
repentance avail The gift Of heayen-the
lamp of his genius will shew to thousands
yet unborn all the deiormities Of his char
acter, every step and stage OF his irenzicd
career. Alter these moral volcanoes have
burnt out, we may hope that the lava will
yet become productive. Bat if Divine Pro-
violence should in the hour OF his relorma-
ton and amendment resume his gitt-it he
should remove 1.-The lamp from lis place"
that then must be the sensation OF tue re-
formed prodigaI alter his return 10 his
fathers house
From Ike SavGnndh Museum.
Extract from the Lcg-book kept on board
OF the Buenos Ayrian brig Gen. San-mar-
tin, during her last cruise.
No al. H.