Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-09-24
LORD BYRON.

j ne fOli0WltS pdS,dbC ID hob VIZ -'SS
Monthly Magazine FOR August. 1t appears on
der the head of " Skerches from the Portfolio
Of Sexagenerian." We thI"k tina our read
ers cannot fail 10 be graiifed by The amiabie
ligh, in which il presents The character OF the
late noble and la,nenled Poet. Ii exhibits him
in an interesting point of view, for nothing can
be more characteristic than the vein oil humane
and friendly feeling which pervades his Lord
| ships remarks when contemplating The field OF
| battle as con,radistinguished from tbs notions
of national glory, which upon such an occasion
nigh, have well Shut out every o,her consider
alton from the mind. The history Of the ORR
gin Of the two beautiful stauzas upon he Bat
tie Of Waterloo, which appear in The Sd Caato
Of Ch,lde Harold, rs extremely increasing; but
we could hav. wished iha, the S xagenerian
had given US the rude germ OF ,tf idea as his
| Lordship inserted il in the Lady's .8k6um. -
| We should have liked to see he rough ore
before the masters hand had fashioned it to an
ornamental shape: 81 London Courier.
GAS he proposed visiting Waterloo on the
following morning, l offered my services as mis-
cIcerone, which were graciously accepted, and
we set out at an early hour, accompanied by his
conlpagnor de uoydse The weather was propi-
tious, but the poets spirits seemed depressed,
and we passed through The gloomy forest Of
Soignies without much conversation. AS The
plan Of the inspection Of the field had been left
to me, ordered our postilIion to drive 10 Mont
ST. Jean, without stopping at Waterloo We
got out at the Monuments. LORD BYRON gaz
ed about for five minutes without uttering syl
liable al last, turning 10 me, he said am
not disappointed. / have seen the plains of Ma
raj hon, and these are as fine. Can you tell
me- he continued, where Pictun fell because
| have heard that my friend Howard was killed
at his side, and nearly at the same moment
The spot was well known, and pointed
with my finger to some trees near it, al the dis
tarce Of one hundred and fifty yards; we walk
ed 10 the spot Howard said his Lordship
with a sigh, was nv relation and dear friend !;
but we quarrelled, and was in The wrong: we
were, however, reconcied, at which now re-
| ioice' He spoke these words with great feel
ing, and we returned to examine the monument
Of Sir Alexander Gordon, broken column. on
which he made some criticisms, bestowiDg
great praise on The fraternal affection of his
brother who had erected il. He did not seem
much interested about the positions Of the
troops, which l pointed out 20 him; and we
got into our carriage and drove to the Chateau
Goumon:, the poet remaining silent, pensive,
and in musing mood, which took care no,
10 interrupt.
The gallant defence of this post seemed to
interest him more, and recapi,ulaled all the
particulars / knew Of the attack, From the
bravery displayed by the handful Of troops (the
Guards) who defended it, it has acquired its
repu alton. Though they were reinforced
more than once, the number never exceeded
twelve hundred; and, notwithstanding The ene-
my having, by ba:tering down the gate Of the
farm>yard, and setting fire to the straw in it,
got possession Of the outer works, in the
evening attack, they could make no impression
on the strong hold, the garden
sWhose close pleach'd walls and bowers have been
The deadly marksman's lurking screen
They reaped no advantage by these assaults !;
on the contrary, they sacrificed grea, many
brave men without any purpose. 1t was mos,
important post; for had they succeeded in get.
ting possession Of it, ana driving ou our troops,
their guns would have enfladed US, and we
should have been obliged 10 change our trout.
The pompous title Of chateau gives little ad,
ditionsl importance to this position, though it
is only miserable dwelling Of two stories,
somewhat resembling the habi,a,lons ef our
bonnet Ldirds about the beginning of the last
century. The area of the house is about TWO