Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-03-05

LEIGH HUNT. Leigh Hunts new work I,
entitled Lord Byron and some his Cotempo-
raries,' is now in the press, aud vii! BIO spoedi-
ly offered 10 the literary circles Of this country
Copous extracts from it have been G wen in
the European journals, TO whet the appetite
of the million for IT. r,ccption. From these
extracts NC are led TO think, that it will be
found unusually interesting, and will afford au-
ihcniic information touching his Loldship's life
and history, which have not heretofore been
placed before the gaze Of a curious, and an ca
ger world. Mr.. Hunt has related some par
ticu!ars relative 10 Byron, which he might
have suppressed with great proprieiy, and
without injusing the merits Of the work. De-
tcrmned to be full and impartial in his deln-
cations, he has exposed many Of his lordship's
faults and semi-viccs, which private friendship
would gladly have covered with a MANTLE
Lord Byron, Mr.. Hun; says wrote his Don Juan
late at night--went to bed late, and rose late.
when little rpened, with his favouri,e bev-
erago, gin the real Wcsp'-not Barber's
bost'--hc was agreeable and enie ri aiming
from the iro5rialing qualities Of the chalice,
WAS morose, sour, reserved, and held himself
aloof from the world, and its social cnJoyments.
He WAS careless Of his dress - -obowed tobAc-
CO immede deraiely-wns exceedingly penurious,
and even exactcd bond of indemnity from the
government Of Greece, before he suffered it to
touch shilling of thc loan, he was reported
to have made gratuitously. He rarely ever
conferred an ct of kindness on friend, with
out making tho receiver severely feel the obli-
CATION, and took care TO remind him Of it,
whenever an opportunity offered. Ilo wrote
his Don Juan, whaut adhering TO any regular
plan, but often said that he thought of making
methodist of him, before he concluded his
cantos. He affected to dislike Shakespeare,
and pretended to be unable TO discover his mer-
its, and often declared, that the h:yh reputation
the works of the bald Of Avon enjoyed, was
acquired more by the whims and fas hens of
the world than by their merits. He liked
Doctor Johnson, ,and praised his productions but
denied that Spencer, was either wit or po-
ct. His Lordshp, if we believe Mr. Hunt,
had but limited acquaintance with books. and
had made man his principal study. To believe
! this would be to dsbelicve the evidences of our
senses, for we know Of no author, whose writ
| jngs wo have read who has evinced more inti-
mate acquaintance with books, than Byren.
| That Mr. Hunt had as fair an opportunity y
to become acquainted with the pecuiarities of
Byron, as any man living, we are fully aware
but we fear he has augmented his faults, and his
numerous admitted errors This we believe to be
fact from the knowledge, that for some time
before Byron's death, Hunt and his Lordship,
were not on the most favorable terms. Byron
had loaned Hunt n a-considerable sum Of money,
which the latter was un able to pay;- dcfalca-
lion was the natural consequence, and the nat
ural consequence OF tho dcfalcation, was i'll
blood and personal hostility. We look, how
ever, with some impatiencc, for Mr.. Hunts
book.