Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1845-07-10
PROM TIE BOSTON Atlas
THE LAST LOOK OF BYRON.

In the month OF July, 1924, the body Of
Lord Byron was orough, from Missolong.
hi TO England and on beng landed from
the Florida" was removed to the house
of Sir Edward Knatchbul, who then resi-.
ded in Great George street, Westminster.
At the house of Sir Edward it lay in state
for two days, and was visited by hundreds
Of persons, who paid their last tribute OF
the genius Of the mighty-slumberer by ga
ENG 90 his coffin lid. After the lying in
state had been terminated, it was found
necessary to remove the body, for the
purpose Of placing j, in better construc-
ted leaden coffin than that which had
been prepared in Greece. A friend of
mite happened to know the undertaken,
and kindly offered TO procure me admis-
sion 10 the chamber where the removal
of the body was to be elfscted--an offer
which, need not say was gladly accep.
ted. Accordingly, on the afternoon OF
the l1th of July, proceeded TO Sir Ed
ward knatchbull's, and found three OF
four gentlemen, attracted thither, like my
self, to witness the solemn face of the po-
ct for the last time, ere it should be shut
up IN the darkness Of death. Mr. Rogers,
the author of tho pleasures Of Memory"
Mr., now Sir John Cam Hobhouse, and
John Hanson, Esq, the two latter Lord
! Byron's executors and one or two others,
whose names did not learn, were pres
emit.
The body lay in the large drawing
room, on the first story, which was hung
with black cloth and lighted with wax
candles. Soon after my arrival the work
of opening commenced. This was soon
effected, and when the last covering was
removed, we behed tho face of the illus.
tFous dead,
"all cold and all serene"
Were to live thousand years,
should never, never forget that moment.
| For years | had been intimate with the
mind Of Byron. Hiswondrous works had
thrown charm around my daily paths,
and with all the enthusiasm of youth | had
almost adored bis genus. With his fea-
lures, through the medium of paintings, |
had been familiar from my boyhood; and
now, far more beautiful even in death,
than my most vivid fancy had ever plctu-
red, there they lay in marble repose.
The body was not attifed in that most
awful Of habiliments--a shroud. 1t was
wrapped in blue cloth cloak, and the
throat and head were uncovered. The
former beautifully moulded. The head Of
the poet was covered with short, crisp,
curling locks, slightly streaked with grey
hairs, especially over the temples, which
were ample and free from hair, as we see
in the portraits The face had nothing OF
the appearance of death about tit was
neither sunken nor dscolored in the least,
bu; of a dead marble whiteness-the ex.
preston was that Of stern repose. How
classcally beautiful was the curved upper
lip and chin. fancied the nose appear.
ed as II it was in harmony with the other
features; but it might possibly have been
a little disfgured by the process ofembal-
ming, The forehead was high and broad
indeed, the whole head was extremely
large-it must have been so TO contain a
brain ofsuch a capacity.
But what struck me most was the ex.
ceeding beauty of his proGie, as | obser.
we'd It when the head was lifted 10 the OPP
GRAFTON of removing the corpse. II was
perfect 10 lis way and seemed like pro.
duction OF Phidias. Indeed,it far more
resembled an exquisite piece ofscupture
than the face Of tho dead-so sill, so
sharply defined, and so marble like in its
repose. caught the view OF il but for a
moment; yet it was long enough to have
It stamped upon my memory as
"a thing of beauty
which poor Keats tel us rs ga 10y forev-
Fer." 1t is indeed melancholy Joy to me
TO have gazed upon the silent poet. As
Washington Irving says OF the old sexton
who crep, into the vault where Shakes.
peare was entombed, and beheld there the
dust Of ages:-'It was something oven TO
have eeen the dust Of Byron"
Among the persons engaged in the per.
Torrance Of the Office of removal, noted
one--a tall, thin man, who spoke little,
and seemed absorbed n grief. lie would
scarcely allow any one 10 touch the corpse
land with his own hands, composed the
head 10 its new resting place. The
words "My dear Lorj" were frequently
uttered by him, while performing his mel
ancholy duties. 1t was Fleicher--By-
ron's faithful valet. This man afterward
told me the particulars OF the noble Poets
death, and gave me a lock Of his hair
Fletcher did not long survive his beloved
master.