Cheraw gazette and Pee Dee farmer. [volume] (Cheraw S.C.) 1838-1839, 1839-04-05
LETTER FROM LORD BYRON,

LETTER FROM LORD BYRON,
TO JOHN SHEPPARD, ESQ.,,
In answer to letter communicating q copy
of prayer, ,critten By the deceased 'oye
ofthe latter gentlemen, and epidenhy IN
behalf Of Lord Byron.
PISA, Dec.e. 1921.
Sir,-I have Just received your letter.
need not say, that the extract which It con.
,ains has affected me, because it would I'M
DIV wan, Of all feeling TO ohave read it with
Indifference. Though | am not quite surs
,ha, it was intended by the wrier for me, yet
the date, The place where it was written, with
some other circumstances which you men,
ton, render the allusion probnjle. But,
for whomsoeycr it was meant, have read
it with all The pleasure that can arise
from so melancholy a topic. say
pleasure, because your brief and SIM
pie picture of the life excellent person
whom trust ,Ira, you will again meet, cam
not be contemplated without the admiration
due to her virtues, and her pure and unpre.
tending piety. Her last moments were par
tcularly striking and do moi know, that
in the course Of reading the story OF man.
kind, and still less in my observations OF the
existing portion, ever met with any thing
so unos,en,aiously beautiful. lndisputably,
the firm believers in the gospel have great
advantage o'er all o:hcrs,-for this simple
reason, thai. if true, they will have their re-
ward hereafter and if there be no hereaf.
Ter, they can be but with the infdel in his
eternal sleep, having hadthe assistance OF
an exalted hope, through life, without sub
sequen, disappointment, since lat the worst
70. them)" out Of nothing can arise" not
even sorrow. But 4 mans creed does not
depend upon himself; who can say, | '0il'
believe,-lhis,-tlat,,-o or the olller ! and.
least Of all, that which he least can compre-
hend. have, however, observed, that those
who have begun life with an extreme faith,
have in the end greatly narrowed it, as
Chillingworth, Clarke, (who ended as an
| Arian,) Bayle, and Gbbon. (once Cath.
olic,) and some oilers while, on the other
hand, nothing is more common than for the
early scep,ic to end in firm belief, like
Maupertius, aud Ecrry Kirk White.
But my business is to acknowledge your
letter, and no, 10 make dissertation. |
am obliged 10 you for your good wishes,
and more than obliged by the extract from
The papers of the beloved object whose quail.
ties YOU have so well described in few
words. lean assure you that all tie fame
which ever cheated humanity into higher no.
lions of its own importance, would never
weigh in my mind against the pure and p''
ous interest which v:rtuous being may be
pleased TO take in my Welt re. In this point
Of view, would not exchange the prayer
of The deceased in my behalf for!he united
glory of siIomer, Cesar, and Napoleon,
could such be- accumulated npon a living
head. Do me al least the justice 10 suppose,
that
"Video meliora probo que"
however the Deteriora sequor" may have
been applied 10 my conduct.
have the honor 10 be,
Your obliged ard obediept Servant.
BYRON.
2. S. do not know that / am addressing
clergyman but presume tha, you will not
be afironted by tho mislnke Gf ii is onr) in
the address olthis letter. One who has SO
we'll explained, and deeply felt the doctrines
orrelision, will excuse the error which led
me 10 believe him its minister.