The Arkansas advocate., 1830-04-28

ltst}sI .tlNtl cCeNoO43S ee-NA NS7 " him the pleasure l should have in naly- ing Lord Byron's acquaintance, he had the kindness to mention my wish to his lordship, which led to some correspond ence.
 It was in the spring of 1915 that, to be in London, l had the ad- vantage of a personal introduction to Lord Byron. Report had prepared me to meet man of peculiar habits and a quick temper, and had some doubt whether we were likely to suit each others society. l was most agreeably disappointed in this respect. found Lord Byron in the highest degree couf- teous, and even kind. We met fer an hour or two, almost daily, in Mir. Mur- rays drawing-room, and found a great deal to say to each other. We also met frequently in parties and evening socie- ty, so that for about two months, had the advantage of considerable intimacy with this individual. Our sentiments agreed a good deal, except upon the subjects of religion and politics, upon neither of which was inclined to be- lieve that Lord Byron entertained very fixed opinions. remember saying to him, that really thought, if he lived few years, he would alterhis sentiments. He answered, rather sharply, q sup pose you are one of those who pro- phesy Twill turn methodist lreplied, ''No, don't expect your conversionto be of such an ordinary kind. would ra- ther look to see you retreat upon the Catholic faith, and distinguish yourself by the austerity of your penance. The species of religion to which you must, or may, one day attach yourself, must ex- ercise a strong power on the imagina- tion." He smiled gravely, and seemed to allow l might be right.
 On politics, he used sometimes te ex press high strain of what is now called Liberalism; but it appeared to me that the pleasure it afforded 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 princi- ples on which he talked. He was cer- tainly proud of his rank and ancient fa- mily, and, in that respect, as much an aristocrat as was consistent with good sense and good breeding. Some dis gusty how adopted ] know not, seemed to me to have given this peculiar, and, as 1t appeared to me, contradictory cast of mind; but, at heart, ] would have termed Byron a patrician in principle.
 Lord Byron's reading did not seem to have been very extensive either in poe try or history. Having the advantage of him in that respect, and possessing a good competent share of such reading as IS read, l was sometimes able to put under his eye objects which had for him the interest of novelty. l remember particularly repeating to him the fine poem of Hardykanute, an imitation of the old Scottish Ballad, with which he was so much affected, that some one who was in the same apartment asked me what could possibly have been tel ling Byron by which he was so much agitated.
 isaw Byron, fer the last time, in 1895, after returned from France. lie di- ned, or lunched with me at Longs. in Bond street. 1 never saw him so full of gaiety and good humor, to which the presence of Mir. Matthews, the come dian, added not little. Poor Terry was also present. After one of the gay est parties l was ever present at, my lel- low-traveller, Mir. Scott, of Gala, and l. set off for Scotland, and l never saw Lord Byron again. Several letters pass ed between us-one, perhaps every half year. Like the old heroes in Ho- ner, we exchanged gilts-I gave By- ron a beautiful dagger mounted with gold, which has been the property off the redouhted Elf Bey. But i was to play the part of Diomed, in the Had. for Byron sent me, some time after, a large sepulchral vase of silver. It was fullof dead mems bones, and had inserip- tlons on two sides ofthe base. One ran thus" The bones contained in this urn were found in certain sepulchres within the land walls of Athens, in Feb ruary, l8ll."
 To the above 1 have added third inscription, in these words-ss The gift of Lord Byron to Walter Scott.n There was q letter with this vase more yalua- ble than the giftitself, from the kindness