The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-05-18

LORD BYRON AND THE MoNK-A writer in late num-
Der of Eliza Cooks Journal. in giving description OF
Nswstead Abbey Lord Byron's former residence, relates
the following:
At the end Of gallery. huge stone coffin met our
gaze with several other relics OF the dead, such as
bones skulls &c, which dug up, during Lord BY
residence at the Abbey from under the tagging IN
the coisers It appears that at time his ordship
an sena up Of dead Whether
that he ianced the thrifty friars had filled their collins
with gold before taking their departure from this neither
rapid transition the next; whether he expected to
find some more brazen eagles or, what would be still
better the great iron chest, filled with gold and Jewels,
that reported 10 be buried or sunk somewhere either
in the grounds lake, whether il was mere curl.
osity for seeking up antiquarian relics cannot pretend
tell. though report hints at the two former motives
However, amongst other things, this coffin was brought
TO light, and with il the skeleton OF a monk Another
OF the noble lords strange fancies have the skull
ofdhs said skeleton cleaned mounted with silver, and
dozen sanzas, which are probably well known to the
public, beginning;
"S,arn not, nor deem my spirit fed
and which were afterwards engraved the silver The
cup was shown TO by the housekeeper, and with it
the following somewhat strange and new story. Mind,
don't say that believed it, neither do ask you, gen.
lie reader, believe it'll merely tell you the tale it
told us by the worthy womans own lips. She as
sured US it universally credited by the whole house
hold. The story is this When Byron first drank out OF
this cup, 1t was at party IN the large drawing loom
Some ladies' were seated beside him, laughing talking,
and enjoying with him the festvity of the evening.
Scarce however, had he raised the fatal goblet his
lips, when 10 at the doorway appeared'.blaok, ter
ritic and in dusky garb arrayed-the headess trunk
OF a human beng, apparently monk. The ladies
sheked tainted and many could hurried out of the
Byron, however, boldly faced the spectre, and de-
manded Of him his GRAND. The monk approached and
accused him with bitter words OF his and guilt IN
thus removing from their resting place the bones
of the pous dead and approprating to such vile
uses the skull OF fellow mortal who thought.
spoke and quafied the wine like himself He concluded
by foreleng him the place, day. hour and all the par
tcuars of his death, whch-as the good lady assured
us-all came 10 pass exactly as predicted.
Thus ends this short, bu, strange story But this il
but hundred OF the hobgoblin tales which are
told OF this ancient place. Byron himself believed,
pretended 10 believe great many OF them and 10
tabled vsant especially be has given the most perfect
sanction BY his credence and caused him
familiar inmate OF the Abbey This is the famous
goblin riar, who is said to walk nightly through the
halls and closies, and to have been by Byron him
self several important occasions, always portehding
evil One OF these occasions short time previous
TO his unfortunate marriage with Miss Alilbank. How
far this report Is true not prepared TO say. His
lodshp has however, Embodied the tradition IN ballad
in which he thus speaks OF him:
Z" When n heir is born he's heard to mourn;
And when aught is to bclali
That ancient liae, In. the rne moonshne
He walks from hall 10 j.
His form you may trace, but not hi. face
IT'S shadowcd by has cowi
And his eyes may be seen from the folds between,
Aud they seem OF a parted soul"