Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-03-27
From tie Life Of Byron, by Moore.
SIR WALTER SCOTr'S INTRODUCrro,

SIR WALTER SCOTS INTRODUCyJo>
TO BYRON. AVN
NV first acquaintance with Byron BEGAN :,
manner rather doubtful. was so far FINN H. hue
ing anv thing to do with the offensive critic S
the Edinburgh, that remember rcmons,ra;t
against it with our friend the editor. bec,n.D;
thought the Hours of Idleness treated with M
severity. They were written, like the Juys"a
poetry, rather from the recollection of VIVA, 5.5
pleased the author in others, than what had h.ss
suggested by his own imagination: but. rsr osN
theless, thought they contained some pas,,H.'
of noble promise. Twas so much impressed vis
this. that had thoughts of writing to the au,ha,,
but some exaggerated report concerning his Nae,
liarities, and natural unwil!ingness toiutrddas
an opinion which was uncalled for, induced n.
to rellnquish the idea.
When Byron wrote the famous Satire. b,l
my share Of fasellation among my bet,ers w.
crime was, having written poem tMarmon
think,) for a thousand pounds; which was ~
otherwise true, than that sold the copyright,
that sum. Now, not to mention that an au,io,
can hardly be censured for accepting such .rr
as the booksellers are willing to give him, e,s
ciaIIy as the gentlemen of the trade made :,
complaint of the bargain. | thought the iner,
renee with my private affairs was rather beymJ
the limits of literary satire. On the other hand
Lord Byron paid me, in several passages :,
much more praise than deserved, that mn.
have been much more irritable than have r,
felt upon such Subjects not to sit down con,co,I
and think no more about the matter.
was very much struck. with all the resrofA,
90 a., ,,,,x,, ,nl fn.oa g ;,,,u..
PLAYED in the first Cantos of Chide Harold, an
the other splendid productions which Lord R., |
ron flung from him to the public with prOmpi.
tude that savored of profusion. NV own DAM
larity, as a poet, was then on the wane. and
was unaffectedly pleased to see an author Of
much power and energy taking the field. NJ
John Murray happened to be in Scotland Ia
season. and as mentioned to him the plea,gr,
should have in making Lord Byron's acQnan,
ance, he had the kindness to mention nv viii,
his lordship, which led to some correspondent
1t was in the spring of 1915, that, chancnst
be in London, had the advantage Of persn,
introduction to Lord Byron. Report had PIE
pared me to meet man of peculiar habits All
quick temper, and had some doubt Vletis
we were likely to suit each other, society.
was most agreeably disappointed in til; re.
spect. found Lord Byron in the highest de:n
courteous, and even kind. We met for an tcu
or two, almost daily, in Mr.. Murray's dragus
room, and found great deal to say to each OhG
We also met frequently in parties aud eyenlg
society, so that for about two months had b,
advantage of considerable intimacy with TIL, d.
dividual. Our sentiments agreed a good da
except upon the subjects of religion and pCliG
upon neither of which was inclined to beLse
that Lord Byron entertained very fixed OpinaA
| remember saying to him, that really thought
if he lived few years, he would alter ais 'eiO
ments. He answered, rather sharply i up
pose YOU are one Of those who prophecy VII
turn Methodist replied, No. don't egst
your conversion to be Of such an ordinary kid
would rather look to see you retreat upon D,
Catholic faith, and distinguish yourself BY @
austerity of your penance. The species Of ret
gion to which you must, or may, one day aina
Yourself, must exercise strong power on th
Imagination He smiled gravely, and seenedN
allow might be right.
On politics, he used sometimes to cypress
high strain of what is now called Llberall'm; oH
it appeared to me that the pleasure It afforded
him as vehicle of displaying his wit and a'T
against individuals in office was at the bottom
this habit of thinking, rather than any real co.,
viction of the political principles on ThGa .
talked. He was certainly proud OF hi RANK hl
ancient family, and, in that respect a. n'a y
aristocrat as was consistent with goOa sem .I ~
good breeding. Some disgust. how a G!
know not, seemed to me to have gwen m: p,
liar, and. as it appeared to me, cont'aaa%s
cast of mind; but, at heart. would have Nl''
Byron patrician in principle.
Lord Byron's reading did not seem , o q"
been very extensive, either in poetry Or ns" u
Having the advantage of him in that fe'PyS, 80, >.
possessing good competent share Of .uV rr -" q,
ING as is read, was sometimes ape - p%; IN,
der his eve objects which had, tor h''' IL, .'n,,
est of novelty. | remember particular! , ,Iir
ing to him the fine poem of Hardy SaIu'e' t aJ
tation of the old Scottish Ballad, WIN NI ,,.r
was so much affected, that some one VIM W w.,
the same apartment asked what c1aa p a..
have been telling Byron, by which ne W.
much agitated. g..
Isaw Byron. for the last time, in 1895, as
returned from France. He dined, or .anr
with me at Longs, in bond street. ne'S
him so full of gaiety and good hulnor' .S,na
the presence Of Mr.. Mathews, the cU''''r ",,.l
ded not little. Poor Terry was al'o r., n
After one of the gayest parties was eve 81
o,4 - $40, 4, Il Io,,, tsayalIar MIR. SCOt. VI Il