The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-09-11
LORD BYRON IN HIS COFFIN.


Byron was brought from Missolonghi to England
and on being landed from the "Florida" was reno
we'd to the house of Sir Edward Knaichbull, who
then resided in Great Georges street, Westminster
Having awaited myself Of peculiar facilities, saw
one occasion the corpse Of the poet~-the lid OF
the coffin being for some necessary purpose, reno
we'd.
1t was at night that the opening of the shell COM
menced. This was soon effected, and when the
covering removed, we behed the face Of the il.
lustrious dead
IAN cold aud all serene"
Were to live thousand years should never, new
er forget that moment For years had been intimate
with the mind Of Byron. His wonderous works
had thrown u charm around my daily paths, and
with all the enthusiasm of youth had most adored
his genius With his features, 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 pictured there they lay
marble repose.
The body was not attired in that most awful OF
habiiments-a shroud. 1t was wrapped in a blue
cloth cloak, and the throat and head were uncover
ed. The former was beautifully moulded. The
head Of the poet covered with short crisp curly
locks, slightly streaked with grey hairs; especially
over the temples, which ample and free from
hair, as we in the portrait The face had moth
ing Of the appearance Of death about it; il was nei-
Their sunken discolored the least but of dead
whiteDess; the expression that Of stern dsauet-
ude How cusslcally beautiful was the curved up-
per lip and chin. farcied the nose appeared as IL
Il was not in harmony with the other features but
1t might possibly have been little dssured by the
process Of embalming. The forehead was high and
broad, indeed, the whole head was extremely large;
it must have been SO to have contained brain OF
such capacity.
But what struck me most was the exceeding beau
ty OF the profile, as | observed when the head was
tted for the purpose of adjusting the furniture. II
was perfect IN its way, and seemed like production
Of Phdas Indeed, 1t far more resembled an exaui-
site piece Of sculpture than the face of the dead-so
still, so sharply Defined marbe-like in its repose
caught the view of il but for a moment vet il was
long enough to have it stand upon my memory as
"A thing ofbeauty,"
which poor Keats tells us is "a ioy for ever.n |,
is, indeed, melancholy Joy to me to have gazed
upon the poet. As Washington Irving says Of the
old sexton, who crept into the vault where Shakes
peare was entombed, and beheld there the dust OF
ages-"It was something even to have seen the dust
Of Byron"
Among the persons engaged in the performance
ofthe removal, noticed one-a tall thin man, who
spoke little, and seemed absorbed in grief He
would scarcely allow any one to touch the corpse;
and with his own hands he composed the head in
its new restng-place. The words, 'My dear lord!''
were frequently uttered by him, while performing
his melancholy duties. 1t was Fletcher-Byron g
faithful valet. This man afterwards told me tie
particulars Of the noble poets death, and gave me
lock of his hair Fletcher did not long survive his
master.-Pen and Ink Sketches.