Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-03-11
E.ou n. PHILADELPHIA National Gazette.

The London Editors Warmly 'ommtnd the
first volume OF Moore's Life If Byron, which a
lone has aDDeared II seems 10 Us probaoe
,ba, ,hey merely looked in o the book, before
thew EXPRESSED an opinion We have read The
Jondor ousrto ,hrou ghout with close attention.
A., effort, il will not augment me rep.
u,atioo of he au, hor; nor will il x him rs a
msralist. We have not found in the nass oil lis
contents evidence in favor Of Lord BY, on's mem
ory: on the contrary, we think that hi, c"hd' c.
and sentiments generalyl,a las here disclos' d,m"st
produce additional disgust in every SQUAD hear
and under standing Moore CLOSES, paiiiaes,
suppresses, conjec,urrs; tasks his ingenuity L"
excuse and varnish he excesses and reckless
profligacy Of his friend; while he pays tule"me
tribute TO his own vanity in the eulosies OF Lord
Byron on himself, ,ha, are ,bicky sown in he
correspondence which forms considerable
part Of the volume.
Though we could not admit that The author
has manifested particular talent in sAis bio
graphy, we should readily acknowledge that
Byron's letters and diary possess irresistible
lot, rest, from the characters of persons, and
the nature Of the topics, to which he refers;
and from The insight which they afford INFO
the recess Of bis own baleiul spirit, and the Sc
crct ferment Of those fierce passions Of which
he was tne sport and victim. The new matter
collected by Moore. is no, calrulaed to enhance
that opinion Of the poets genius and scholar
ship which his works inspire. Judging by
these, we estimated, his artainments at CHER
rate than we now do; but il may moi be aliogeth-
er Just to decide upon the poin,,or upon Moofe's
execution Of his task unril the whole biography
be- extant.
Byron's residence in Italy, and his expedi.
If hi 70 hi,h
MANY remarkable letters and curious details
must be connected. The mercenary motives
OF his marriage are suffi, iensly planned in the
FIRST voIums; he csuke of he rupture between
him and his unexceptionsble wife, do not APP
pear 10 have been exactly known TO the author.
or have been studiously obscured. Moore cites
from memory, in order to remove from the
husband as much blame as possible, passages
of those Autographed Memoirs, which we're
sent 10 him from Italy or Greece, and which he
surrendered the flames. We are surprised
at tn boldness Of this reference; he sold or
sacrificed the memoirs 10 the relatives OF his
friend, aud il may be supposed, 10 save his
personal fame from utter wreck: what was thus
used, should not have been the subject OF even
an aIlusion capable of being applied 10 the dis.
advantage Of other parties.
The example OF Byron so splendidly gifted,
so 2rema,urely distinguished, so widely i'm
provident, SO desperately vicious, so intensely
miserable, teens with striking and saluta'y
lessons, which, thus far the spurious Philoso-
ply, elaborate ex'enua'ion, selfish Partially,
and ,imid or reacherous reserve Of Moore have
a tendency TO counipraot. Nevertheless, who
ever peruses the book with nadulteratcd moral
sense and temperate fancy,-wihout prepos-
session or absorbing admiration for poeucal
abilities and 'riumphs,-w clearly see aud
deeply feel those lessons. "Childe Ha old" was
wholly devoid Of the principles which arm the
soul for prosp rous or adverse fortune; he could
be deliberately base and ruth!essly cruel; he
was forward drpra'ed, wuIiish bow bad son;
brutal husband; precocious d. luchec;
bitter misan,hrope;a he adlong pr odigal; drunk.
ard and an in6deI; Indeed. usually and ab,o>
mtely mailman. This is the true sum or suo-
stance Of Moore's revelations.