The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1824-07-06

We are indebted 70 friend FOR the follow
ing interesting notice Of Lord BYRoS, from
the Edinburgh Weekly Journal. II Is written
BY SIR WALTER ScoTT RspertOry
Amidst the general calmness OF the polIl-
zeal atmosphere, We have been stunned from
another quarter, By one Of those death notes.
which are pealed atinteryals. a. from On Arch
angels trumpet, to awaken the soul Of
whole people atonce.-LoRD Byron, who has
50 long and 20 amply filed The highest place
10 the public eye, has shared the lot Of hui
manity. Fills L0rdship died al Missoloughi 90
the 10Th Of April. That mighty Genus, which
walked amongst men as something superior 10
ordinary mortality, and whose powers were
behold with wonder. and something approach
Iug to terror, as If we knew not whether they
were Of good or of evil, is laid As soundy 10
rest az the poor peasant whose ideas never
went beyond his daily task. The voice Of Just
blame. and malignant censure, are at once ST.
fenced; and we feel almost as If the great ID
minary or Heaven had suddenly disappeared
from the sky, al the moment when every tel
escope was levelled for the examination Of the
spots which dimmed its brightness.--It is not
now the question, what were BYRoN's faults,
what bis mistakes; but, how Is the blank
which he has left in British literature % be
filled up Not, we fear, ia one generation,
which, among highly gifted persons, has pro-
duced none who approach BYRON in ORIGIN
Atty, the first attribute Of genius. Only
thirty seven years old--so much already done
for immortality--so much time remaining.
= ~ Ia. 49,
main Lin and 20 extend his fame, and to atone
for errors IN conduct, and levIties in compo-
will not grieve that such race
has been shortened, though not always keep
ing the straight path, such a light extn-uished,
though sometimes flaming 10 dazzle and to be-
wilder? One word o. this ungrateful subject
ere we quit il forever.
The errors Of Lord BYRON arose neither
from deprayity Of heart.--for nature had
not committed the anomaly of uniting ID such
extraordinary talents an imperfect moral
sense,-nor from feelings dead 70 the admin A.
lion OF virtue. No man had ever kinder
heart for sympathy. or a more opeu hand
ior the relief Of distress; and 40 mind was ev-
Ter more formed for the enthusiastic admira-
ton Of noble actions, provided be was convin-
cei tina; the actors had proceeded on dlsin-
terested principles. Lord BYRON was totally
free from the curse aud degradation Of litera-
ture, its lealousies we mem, and its envy
Bot his wonderful genius was Of nature winch
disdained restraint, even when restraint was
most wholesome. When al school, the tasks
ID which lie excelled, were those only which
he undertook voluntarily; and his situation
as Young man Of rank, with strong passions.
md in the uhcontro led enjoyment Of con
siderable fortune, added TO that impatieuce of
structures or coercion which was natural toI
him. As an author he refused 70 plead at the
bar Of criticism a. a man, he would not sub
init 10 be morally amenable ID the tribunal of
public opinion. RemonsIranCes from friend.
Of whose intentions and kindness be was Sc
cure, had often great weight with him; but
there were few who could venture on task 50
difficult. Reproof he endured with impotence,
and reproach hardened him in his error 80
that tie often resembled tie gallant war
steed, who rushes forward on the steel that
wounds him. Ia the most painful crisis Of his
private life, he evinced this irritabiity and
impotence Of censure in such a degree, as at
most 10 resemble the noble victim Of the bull
fight, which j. more mad1ened BY the sqnibs,
darts, aud petty annoy auces, Of the UNIV orthy
crowds beyond the lists, than hy the iance 0fI
W. noBler, and, % speak, his more iegiu
mate sRta gonist. In word, much OF That in
which he erred, was in bravade and scorn OfI
his censors. and was done with the motive oil
DRFpFN' Z spot, 10 shew his arbitrary pow
Itt' II y needless 10 say, that bis was faise
and prelld.ced view Of such a contest and
that ii tie noble bard gained sort Of triumph,
b. compelling the world 10 read poetry though
mixed with baser matter, because / was his,
be gave, In return, an unworthy triumph 4
the unworthy, besides deep sorrow b those
whose applause 10 his cooler moments he mos
valued.
TWAS the sane with bis politics, which or
several occasions assumed a tone menacing
and oontemptu0us ID the constitution Of his
country; while, ID fact. Lord Byron was 10
his own heart sufficiently sensible, not only
OF bis privileges as a Briton, but Of the dis
tinction attending bis high birth aud rank,
and was peculiarly sensitive Of those shades
which constitute what's termed the manners af
a gentleman. Indeed, notwithstanding his
having employed epigrams, and all the petty
war Of wit, when such would have been much
better abstained from. lie would have been
f0cnd, had a collision taken place betweeu the
aristocrasic and democratic parties 10 the
state, exerting all his energies in defence OF
that 10 which be naturally belonged. His
own feeling on these subjects he has explain
"a Ia tie very last canto Of Don Juaulsrand
they are IN eniire harmony with the opinion
which We have seen expressed in bis cores
podance. At a moment when matters appeared
io approach a serious struggle 10 bss' native
country
re was INDEPENDENTLY. much more.
Than ta0se who we're not paid for independence,
A. common soldiers. nr a commun---chofc.
Have il their several arts o. Fsfss asosndance
O'er she irsgaars u Lust o. gore,
Who 90 oct give professional Attendance
rhas OF the mnb at statesmen are as eager
rs prove their pride, As lootmen 20 abeggar
We are not. however, BrRoN's apolog'sts.
far aear. alas lac needs none. His excellen-
cies wili nor be universally acknowledge,
and his faults tIet rs hope and believe not
A 4 ~ II 81 - s.g~r.A