Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-08-27
mONDAY AlDaN1Na, AUG 3p 90, as8s,

much, that endeavored to point out the inutility
of ceremony between people who coui d have no
ideas in common, and observed, that the gege
of finding oneself with people of totally different
habits and feelings, was i'll repaid by the respect
their civillty indicated. Byron is person to be
excessively bored by the constraint that any
change of system would occasion, even for day;
but yet his amour propre is wounded by any
marks Of iuciviity or want Of respect he meets
with. Poor Byron! he is still far from arriving
at the philosophy that he aims at and thinks he
has acquired, when the absence or presence OF a
person who is indifferent TO him, whatever his
station in life may be, can occupy his thoughts
for moment.
have observed in Byron a habit of attaching
importance TO triies, and, vice versa, turning Sc
rious events into ridicule; he is extremely super
stitious, and seems offended with those who can
not. or will not, partake this weakness. He has
frequently touched on this subject. and taunting-
Iy observed to me that must believe "a yself wis
err than him, because was not supersitious.
answered, that the vivdness of his imagination,
which was proved BY his works, furnished sui
fcentexcuse for his superstition, which was c;.us-
ed bv an overcxcitement Of that faculty; but that
l. not being blessed by the camera tucida of ina
gnaton could have no excuse for the camera o6-
scura, which looked TN superstition to be. -
This did not, ho@ever, content him, and | a m
sure he left me- with lower opinion OF my facul-
ties than before To deprecate his anger, OBJ
served that nature was SD wise and good that she
gave conversations to all her offspring; that as
to him she had given the brightest gift genius; so
as 70 those whom she had not so distinguished,
she gave the less brilliant, but perhaps as useful,
gift Of plain and unsophistcated reason This
&. :. and nI
evidently displeased at my want of superstition.
Byron i. believe, sincere in his belief IN su.
pernatural appearances; he assumes grave and
mysterious air when he talks on the subject, which
he is fond of doing, and has told me some extra
ordinary stories relative to Mr.. Shelley. who, he
assures rAe, had an Implicit belief IN ghosts. He
also told me tina, Mr. ShelIey's spectre had APP
peared to lady, walking in garden, and he
seemed to Law great stress on this. Though some
of the wisest o. mankind, as witness Johnson,
Shared this weakness In common VITA Eyruh,-
still there is something so unusual in our matter
offact DAYS in giving way to it, that was at first
doubtful! that Byron was serious IN his belief, He
Is also supprsttious about days, and other trilng
thinss,-belicyes in lucky and unscky days
dislkes undertaking any thing on Friday, he'll p
ng or being bel ped to salt at table. spiiilng salt
or oil, letting bread tall, and breaking mirrors;
in short, he gives way TO thousand fantastcal
notions. that prove that even 'esprt le plus fort
has its weak side. Having declined riding with
Byron one day. on the plea of going to visit some
of the Genoese palaces and pictures, II furnished
him with subject of attack at our next inter-
view; he declared that he never believed people
serious in their admiration Of pictures, statues,
&C. and that those who expressed the NEST ad.
miratIon were 81 Amator senZa Amore, ane Con-
oscltori senza Cosaizione."
replied, that as had never talked to him OF
pictures. hoped he would give me credit for be-
inc sincere IN my admiration OF them; but he was
IN no humor to give me credit for any thing on
this occasion, as he felt that our giving prefer
ence to seeing sights. when we might have pass
ed the hours with him. was not fiatterng To ms
vanity. should say that Byron was not either
skilled in, or an admirer of works of art: he con
fessed to me that very lew had'cxcI'ed his atten-
tiun. and that to admire these he had been fore
ed to draw on his imagin alton. OF objects OF
taste or vrtu he was equally regardless, and an.
tiquities had 10 interest for him; nay, he carried
this SO far. that he disbeiieved the possibility OF
their exciting interest in any one, and sail that
they merely served as excuses for INDUCING the
vanity aud os,entation of those who had no other
means of exciting attention. Music he liked.
. THOUGH Ne NdS uo VI u, NC WV" N'N' VIZ
the power Of association 1t possessed, and dc.
clared that the notes Of a wel-knOwn air could
transport him TO scenes and events. presenting
objects before him with vividness that quite pa
nisned the present. Perfumes. he said, Pr"duc'
ed tie same effect. though less forc'bly, an'l, ad
! ded he. with his mock smile, often, make me
quite sentimental.
Byron is of very suspicious nature; he dread:
imposition on all points, declares that he forrsoes
many things, from the fear Of being cheated IN
the purchase and is afraid TO give way to the ma
tural impulse Of his character, lest he should be
duped or Knocked This does not interfere with HI:
charities, which are frequent and liberal; but he
had got into habit of calculating es.'n his most
trifiing personal expenses, mat is often ludicrous
/ and would in Ensland expose him TO ridiculs -
He INDUCES in a self.complacency when ta!kin:
of his own defects that is amusing and he is ra'
Their fond than reluctant of bringing them into
observation. He says that money is wisdom
knowledge, and power all combined. and tina
this conviction is the only one he has 10 common
with all his countrymen. He dwells with grea
asperity on an acquaintance to whom he len
some money. aud who has not repaid him.