Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1830-03-11
From the Philadelphia National Ga.ea..

first volume OF Noore's Life of Lord Byron
Which alone has appeared II seems 10 us
u obabe that they merely looked into The book
before they expressed an opinion We have
read The London qiaTto throughout, with close
attention. As a literary effort, II W i'll not aue-
ment the reputation of the author nor will It
eAaf him as n mOralIsf. We have not found
in the mass of its contents. evidence in favor
oil LORD Byrnns memory, on the contrary, we
mink hat his conduct and sentiments gpner,
ally, here discussed, must produce addition,
disgust N every SQUAD heart and understand.
ing. Moore CLOSES, pallates. spppresses, cor.
lectures, tasks his ingenuity to excuse aud
varnlsh the excuses an reckless prohigacy OF
his friend while he says fulsone tribute 10 his
own vanity 1T the eulogies OF Lord Byron on
himself, that are thicllly sown in the oorrespon.
dence which forms ID considerable part of he
volume.
Though we could not admit that the author
has manifested particular talent III this biog,e
ply, we should readily acknowledge thai By.
ron's letters aud diary possess irresistible N.
ierest from the characters ot the persons. and
the nature OF the topics, TO which he refers, and
from the insight winch they afford into the
recesses of his own baleful spirit, and the secret
terment of these fierce passions Of which he
was the sport aud victim. The new matter
collected nv Moore, is not calculated 10 enhance
IN II opinion OF the poets genius and scholar.
ship, which his works inspire. Judging by
those. we estimated his attainment, al higher
rae than we now do but /: may not he alto
gether just TO decide upon this point, or upon
M)ore's execution of his task, until the whole
biography be exlant.
Byrons residence in Italy. and his expedition
IN (,Ia Of nj D. .tb oh
remarkable letters and curious details must bp
connected The mercenary motives of his
marriage are sufficiently explained in the first
volume-,he causes of the rupture betweeo him
aud his unexceplionable WIFE, do not appear no
have been ekac,y known TO the author, or
have been siudiously obscured. Moore cites
from memory. in order to remove from THE
husband, as much blame as possible passages
OF those autographed Memoirs, ~hiGh we're
sent to him from Italy OF Greece. and which be
surrendered to the flames. We are surprised
at the boIdness ofthis refereuce-he sold or
sacrificed the Memoirs 10 the relatives Of his
Trend, and, II may be supposed. Ia save his per
sonal lame from utter wreCk; what was lh4s
used, should not have been the subject OF even
an allusion capable OF being applied 10 the dis
advantage OF other parties.
The example Of Byron 50 splendidy gifted
so Premainrely distinguished, so wildly nnprO-
vident, so desperately sicops. so intensely mist
rabie, teens with striking and saluiary lessons.
which, thus far, the spurious philosophy. elHbo'
rate exi"nuation, selfish partially, aud iimh
or treacherous reserve of Moore, has n tended
cy 10 counterfeit, Nevertheless whoever peru
ses the book with unadnlteratc moral sense and
temperate fancy-wi'hout prepoSsesslon OF al
horring admiration for pUetical abilities aud
tr'umyhs-will clearly see and deeply teel those
lessons. :" ChiIde Harold" was wholly devoid
OF the prime pies which arm the soul for pro-
porous and adverse iortune-he could be de no
erately base or ruthless cruel-he was Tor
ward, depraved. wol6sh boy--a bad spnt-'
brutal husband--a precocious dehauchee--'
otter misanthrope-a headlong prodIgal--'
drunkard-an iniidel-indeed. usually an ab'o
lutte madmsn. This is the true sum or 'uo
stance of Moores regulations.