The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1830-08-19
From Conversations on Religion rifh
Lord Byron: BY the late James Kennedy,
W. ID. London. Just pa5iishsd.l

ron heard Of IL, and wished To be present.
| had seven or eight meetings al which he
was not present. aud had seven or eigh,
meetings with Byron alone.
lndeclSion rather than unbelief, was the
pcrvading feature OF his mind; witness a
passage m one OF Count Gambss letters.
In my opinion, tho sentiments of HE
lordship on religion were not fixed, that
~, he was not held more 10 one religious
sect than anoihet but his profound sen
Iincnts were religious, and he profcsscd q
deep respect for the doctrines Of Jesus
Christ, as the source Of virtue and felicity.
With respect 10 The recondite mysteries ef
faith. his mind was involved in doubts.
which, however, he had desire to dissi
pate as troublesome, and on this account
he never stunned conversations on this
subject, Us you well know. have had oc
cas0n to observe him often in hose stu
ations in which the most Involuntary and
most sincere sentiments Of the mind are
unfolded,-in serious danger Of the stormy
sea, or otherwisc--in the contemplation OF
fine and tranquil night Of summer--and
! IN the midst OF a solitude--snd ! have oh
served his emotions and, his thoughts to be
deeply tnctured with religion. The frs,
7
subject was at Ravenna, my native country,
about four years ago, while We were rid.
ing on horseback in an extensive, solitary
wood Of pines. The scene invited TO ie-
J ligious meditation. II was fino day In
spring. How he said, raising our eyes
to heaven, or directing them TO the earth,
can we doubt ofthe existence Of God ?--or
how, turning them to what is within us,
can we doubt that there is something with
in us more noble and more durable than
the clay Of which We are forn,cdf Those
who do not hear, or arc unwilling TO listen
to those feelings, mus, necessarily be Of
vile nature"
Again, he observes: aPrayer does not
CONSIST in the act of kneeling, nor in re.
pesting certain words in a solemn manner,
Devotion is the affection Of the heart, and
this feel; for when view the wonders of
creation. bow to tho Majesty of heaven;
and when feel the enjoymen,s of life,
health, and happiness, I feel grestfol to
God for having bestowed these upon me. q"
The following dialogue is Interesting,
though it has only reloreAcs 10 his private
feslingG--
Il have had letters from England said
Lord b., which mention that Ada has
been unwell, ,--she is now better. Hor
' complaint was a determination of blood &c
:. the head what is the cause Of II al he,
age" This depends OIL various causcs
- and could not pretend 10 Judge what th'
cause Is IN her case, unless ! saw her.
'Do you asked he, think thatsuch q CON
d plant is hsbitusl" No, Il IL not ncces
q sarily so,' replied. 1T is curious he an
n swcred, that II is complaint to which
II myself am subject j could easily sup
g p0se so,' | said. from your mode Of life
"a and habits ofstudy,- irregular, but intense
4 and think could have inferred 80 fron
S. the state OF your eyes. Your right cy'
\ appears inhamed.' That is from havini
- cad good deal Of late; but il will sasIl
if he removed, when | remove the cause
- Ada no continued, is, | understand, yer
h fond Of reading. She lies on the sofa
ed great part ofthe day readiag, and display
n perhaps, q premature strength OF min'
10. and quic kness of Understandings u hope
;. | rejoined, that her inclination for acquiI
- ing knowledge will no, be pushed too 70
to tho injury OF her health, or even TO tn
exhaustion Of her intellectual powers. q
10 too often done by foolish ond fond p,
rents j hope not, said Lord b.; and
am sure that can rely OH Lady BIS Judl
. Lord | said, that hope ere long to st
the day when your lordship will again
~ united to Lady b., and enjoy all the hal
~ piness Of domestic life, instead oi follow
'"' ing your present wandering and nnsetiIt
state, so unsuitable to one OF your rank ~
L. station What makes you think s.
Have you had any private inflammation
es; asked Lord Is. NO. ] replied; i Judt
from circumstances, which ] will mentIs
III. # they are not likely to offend your ior
: ship by all means, tell mo what th'
ice are i Judge from the siyle in which y
~ poke Of Lady b. when We we're ts'ki'
OF whom we would save, at former co
versation, that your affection Tor her 's
ex,inguisbed by absence. nor by oil Ia
ish has happened; that, in fact. she 10 not
OF different TO YOU IL said any thing U
rly respectful Of Lady b., | sm very much
sB. blame. Lady B deserves every resp'
md from me, and certainly nothing could 81
the me greater pleasure than o reconciIis'io
ots with such sentiments, how 70 possir
Ter. that Q separation has taken pIses' OF be
od 10 il that . reunion CANNOT DC encce'
,oe Under such circumstances, neither y
as, nor she can b. happy; and the cause mu
the he singular which two ps'ssn' 81 sacn ,sl
and understanding cannot hnd ou, aho
,,ove.' 4 do not, indeed, know the eau
- ot separation ssid Lord %. j know IN
,nauy faisehoods have been spread sofo
= such as my bringing actresses TO
2, hou.e--bu, they we're oil false. Lady
20 isft me without sxplsining the cause.
'.o .sn, JIobhouse to her. vho almost went
-. knses. but in vain: 'nd a, lsngh
on ,.bsd 20 institute M scion sgainst h'
.ss .ss thai !, roich, be sOsn what were her III
~ An snecdote bers shows how pssin'
o ere bs feelious 90 the subject OF
"' d.arhter. onc day Colonel ID. rode Q