Massachusetts spy and Worcester advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1823-1825, 1824-07-07

LORD BYRON.

We are Indebted TO a friend, (says the Daily
Adveitiser,) for the following Interesting
notice OF Lord Byron from the Edinburgh
WeeAy Journal. II is written by Sir Wal
Ter SCOTT.
Amidst the general calmness Of the
political atmosphere, we have been
stunned, from another quarter, by one
of those death-notes, which are pealed
AT intervals, as from an Archangel's
trumpet, 10 awaken the soul Of whole
people at once. Lord Byron, who has
so long and SC amply filled the highest
place in the public eye, has shared the
lot of humanity. His Lordship died al
Nllssolonghi on the 10Th of April. That
mighty Genius, which walked amongst
men as something superior to ordinary
mortality, and whose powers were be-
held with wonder, and something ap-
pro1ching TO terror, as if we knew not
whether they were Of good or evil, is
laid as soundly to rest as the poor peas
ant whose IDEAS never went beyond his
dali! task. The voice of Just blame,
andot malignant censure, are at once ST.
lented: and we feel almost as if the
great laminary of Heaven had suddenly
disappeared from the sky, at the mo-
ment when every telescope was level
led Tor the examination of the spots
which dimmed its brightness.-It is not
nov The question, what were Byron's
iaats, what his mistakes; but, how is
the blank which he has left in British
literature TO be filled up? Not, we
fear. in one generation, which, among
many highly gifted persons, has produce
cd none who approached Byren in Or
lgmality, the first attribute of genius.
Only thirty-seven years old-so much
already done for immortality-so much
time remaining, as it seemed to us short
sighted mortals, TO maintain and 10 ex-
tend his fame, aad to atone for his err
rors in conduct, and levities in compo-
sition,-who will not grieve that such
race has been shortened, though not al
ways keeping the straight path, such a
light extinguished, though sometimes
flaming to dazzle and TO bewiIder? one
word on this ungratefui subject ere we
quit it for ever.
The errors Of Lord Byron arose neith-
er from depraviiy of art,--for nature
had not committed the anomaly of unit
ing to such extraordinary talents an i'm
perfect moral sense,-nor from feelings
dead to the admiration of virtue. No
man had ever a kinder heart for svmpa-
thy, or more open hand for the relief
OF distress; and no mind was ever more
formed for the enthusiastic admiration
of noble actions, provided he was con-
vinced that the actors had proceeded on
dlsinterested principles. Lord Byron
was totally free from the curse and deg
relation ofliteraturc, its jealousies we
mean, and its envy. But his wonderful
genius was of nature which disdained
restraint, even when restraint was most
wholesome. When at school, the tasks
in which he exceIIed, were those only
which he undertook voluntarily and
his situation as n young man of rank,
with strong passions, and in the uncon-
troIIed enjoyment of considerable for
tune, added to that Impotence of strict
ures or coercion which was natural TO
him. As an author he refused 10 plead
at the bar Of Criticism; as man, he
would not submit to be morally amena-
bic TO the tribunal of public opinion.
"Reminiscences from friend, of whose
intentions and kindness he was secure,
had otten'great weight with him; but
there were few who could venture on a
task SO difficult Reproof he endured