Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-02-25
LORD BYRON-Ru n Ea,..;.,s.

Madame Beoc'S work has the merit ofin
PRODUCING the following piq"unt sketch of Lord
Byron's character, ftom the pen of VI. BeyIe
tbcttcr known under the fictitious name inf
Count 5tcndhal), a letter to whom froi., his
LoTdshIP, on the character OF Sir ~ alter Scott
has been printed by Captain McIwitiat the end
OF his "ConvCrsaiions:n
Il should be happy, Madame, 10 lie able 10
give you some information for the work which
you are preparing on Lord Byron 1t is true
that spent several months in the company of
thai great poet; but really ii is not an easy tIipo
tn speak OF ham. never saw Lord Byron At
any OF those decisive moments which fully dis
play the character: what | know OF that extra.
ordinary man Is nothing more than the rccol-
lection OF what felt in hls presence. How can
| give you an account at my rccu!lec.ious. with
out speaking of myself and how can venture
10 speak of myself, after naming Lord Byron?
I'll was during the autumn ot I8l6 that met
him nj tie Theatre of LA scala at Milan IN tbc
box of Slgnor Luigi de Brcmc. was particu-
Early struck with l.ory Byron's ewes, at the mo-
mcnt he was listening 10 scstetto in NIaver,s
opera OF Eienn. Never in my life had ever
seen any thing finer more expressive Even
at tins distance of time. whenever think of the
expression which great painter should give 10
Il genus, that sublime head all at once aprcars
before me. felt at The moment fit of cnthu-
slasn, and laying aside the Just rcaurnauce
which every man rather proud should feel in
getting himself presented To an English Noble
man, requested Signor de BreGne to-introduce
me 10 his Lordship. Next day dined with
hItn at The same GcnteInau's house, aloun with
the celebrated MontI. We talked about psn
'Fy and the question was asked. which were
the twelve most beautiful verses composed dur
n:f the last century in French, Italian. e. Enr
iI-Is 4 If,li
Ing 5tc twelve first verses OF Months poem
.HfschroRiana as The finest which their lam
guagc had produced for d century. Durinr fine
tune that Nlonu was good enough TO recite
thcrn TO lis, | looked at Lord Byron-he was in
rapiuras. That shade of haueur or rather bs
or gfd man w6tC,f feels himSeifin tie siiuaLion 0r
Tcpc|/in@ an ins;rUSiQn, which somewhat dist
cured his fine countenanCe, all At once disap
pearcd, and replaced by a look expressive
OF happiness The first canto IT the ,lIlscbc,,o
n7Ml't.T Of which Mont rGcited nearly tire
Whole, III obedience 10 the acclamatons of lhc
auditors, produced the strongest IMPRESSION nm
the author Of Childc Harold shall never
forget 'l'e divine expression Of his features; il
was tue serene air power and of genius, and
according TO my ferlDG, Lord iyron hed not
mat moment amy a;lccIation 10 reProach himself
with.
eve made comparison Of ilieri and @b;,
lcr's systems Of tragedy. Tie Tngish Poet
maintained tlal it WAS extremely ab~u,d that in
A!iicrI'' PHIp ii. Don Carlos should. without
any difficulty, and III tie vcrv first scene. he
found fetco-!oie with Tie wife Of Jealous pbIip
M"nII, WHO has been 50 happy in the y,,,acfjce OF
poetry. advanced such extraordinary posifious
ON The theory 0l the art, that Lord Byron. Turn
i.g to III. neighbour, said 10 hiri, speaking of
Won't, 'Vc tao,rs nO'hr is n poct.'
From dat da,, passed every evening with
Lord Byron W lieu he tgas cIcvaicd. and talk
ed with enthusiasm, his sentiments were noble
great. r"ncroue--in a word. on par with his
%"nus But ~ the prose moments Of his life
'hc c"Irpcnts Of tire Poet also ar> cared TO me
vnr' ordinary. He h.f great deal about him
81 I'tic van't' - constant and hU,ish dread of
appearing ridiculous, and if ma, venture To-
say i, oi tat hypocrisy Which tic English call
com. Ne seemed to nc alwa, ready to make
- con'promlNr with any prejudice if il procured
BIN T. applause.
There vas one point about him which par-
'iculary stuck fhc Italians. aid ihat was. that
Il was evident tI, great poet was much piouder
Of Isis descent rum The B,rOas Of Nounandy
who accompanied William The Couqucror to
England than If hcirc thc author of Parisina
and OF Lara. IVA, lucky enough TO raise his
curiosity By the personal details gave him about
poem Of Mouti on Bomaparte, composed on
occasion Of the death Of the celebrated eeoneter
Lorenzo Mascheroni.