Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1830-04-14

Harold and the other splendid produce
tons which Lord Byron flung from him
to the public with promptitude that sa-
voured of profusion. My own popular
ity, as a poet was then on the wane, and
l was unafiectedly pleased to see an
author of so much power and energy ta-
king the field. Mr.. John Murray hap
pened to be in Scotland that season, and
as ] mentioned to him the pleasure
should have in making LUd Byron's ac-
quaintance, he had the kindness to men
ton my wish to his lordship, which led
to some correspondence.
1t was in the spring of 1915, that,
CHANGING to be in London, had the ad-
vantage of personal introduction to
Lord Byron. Report had prepared me
to meet man of peculiar habits and a
quick temper, and l had some doubts
whether we should be likely to suit each
other in society. l was most agreeably
disappointed in this respect. found
Lord Byron in the highest degree cour-
teous, and even kind. We met for an
hour or two almost daily in Mr.. Murray's
drawing room, and found great deal to
say to each other. We also met fire.
quently in parties and evening society,
so that for two months / had the advan-
tage of considerable intimacy with that
distinguished individual. Our sentiments
agreed good deal, except upon the sub
jects of religion and politics, upon neither
of which l was inclined to Believe that
Lord Byron entertained very fixed opin-
ions. I..remember saying to him, that l
really thought, that if he lived few
years he would alter his sentiments
He answered rather sharply, 81 suppose
you are one ofthose who prophesy l will
turn Methodist" l replied, "No-I
don't expect your conversion to be of such
ali ordinary kind. i would rather look
to see you retreat upon the Catholic faith,
and distinguish yourself by the austerity
of your penances. The species of re-
ligion to which you must, or may, one
day attach yourself must excite strong
power OH the Imagination" He smiled
gravely, and seemed to allow l might be
right
On politics, he used sometimes to ex-
press "a high strain of what is now called
Liberalism but it appeared to me
that the pleasure it afforded to him as a
vehicle of displaying his wit and satire
against individuals in office was at the
bottom of this habit of thinking, rather
than any real conviction of the political
principles on which he talked. He was
certainly proud of his rank and ancient
family, and, in that respect was as much
of an aristocrat as was consistent with
good sense and good breeding. Some
disgusts, how adopted know not, seemed
to give this peculiar and it appeared to
me, contradictory cast of mind but, at
heart l would have termed Byron pa
trician on principle.
"Lord Byron's reading did not seem
to me to have been very extensive either
in poetry or history. Having the ad-
vantage of him in that respect, and pos
sessing a good competent share of such
reading as is little read, Twas sometimes
able to put under his eye objects which
mad tor him the interest of novelty. I
remember particularly repeating to him
the fine poem of Hardyknute, an imita-
ton of the old Scottish Ballad, with
which he was so much affected, that
some one who was in the same apart
ment asked me what l could possibly
have been telling Byron by which he
was so much agitated.
saw Byron for the last time, in 1915,
after returned from France. He dined,
or luncheA, with me at Longs in Bond
street. never saw him so full ofgayety
and good humor, to which the presence
of Matthews, the comedian, added not
a little. Poor Terry was also present.
After one of the gayest parties ] ever
was present at, my fellow traveller, Mr..
Scott Of Gala, and |, set off for Scotland,
and l, never saw Lord Byron again
Several letters passed between us-one
perhaps every half year. Like the old