Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1858-07-02

Byron formed his opinion of the inhab-
itants of this planet from books; persons
alIy he knew as little about them as it he
belonged to another. From reading
Rochefoucauld. Machiarelli. and other
soured cynic', he learned to distrust peo.
pie in general, SO. as he could do nothing
without them, he was always complain.
ing Of being over reached and never get
ting what he wanted l don't think he
ever knew what he did want; few there
are that do. ." ".
To resume my log on board the good
ship "Hercules. On the Cd Of August,
the islands OF Cephalonia and L ante were
in sight, and shortly after, Byron, points
ing out the Morea, said. IL don't know
why it is. but feel as if the eleven long
Years OF bitterness which l have passed
through since was here, were taken off
my shoulders. and vas scudding thro'
the Greek Archipelago with old Bathurst,
in his frigate.'' That night we anchored
in the roadstead. the next morning we
worked into Argosloli, the harbor Of
Cephalonia, and anchored near :he town.
An officer from the Health Office having
examined our papers and log, gave us
pratiQue. The Secretary of the Resident,
Shpl. NcuuSuSV ShinS Ou OOhIN1 ue LON
US Col. Napier was absent. but that we
might depend on the Colonel's readiness
to aid, US in anything that his orders 20
preserve strict neutrality permitted. The
Captain gave, us the latest news from the
seat of war, and said Baquere had gone
to England. at W hich Byron was sorely
vexed. The ruth flashed across his
mind. that he had been merely used asa
decoy by the Committee. Nov thsy
have got me thus far. they think l must
go,on, and they care nothing as to the, re-
suit. They are deceived. | won't bulge
a--foot farther until l SEQ my way; we
will stay here; if that is objected to, |
will buy an isltAd from the Greeks or
Turks; there must be plenty of them in
market" The instinct thrt enables the
vulture 10 detect carrion alar off, is sur~
passed by the marvellous acutencss Of the
Greeks in scenting money. The morn.
ing after our arrival flock of ravenous
Zuliote refugees alighted on our decks.
attracted by Byron's dollars. Lega, the
steward, a thorough miser, coiled himself
on the money chest like "a viper. Our
sturdy skipper was for driving them over
board with hand pixies. Byron came on
deck in exuberant spirits, pleased with
their savage aspect and wild attire, as
was his wont, promised a great deal
more than he should have done; day and
night they clung to his heels like a pack
of iackals, till he stood at bay like a
hunted lien, and was glad to buy them
off. by shipping them to the Morea On
Colonel Napier's return TO the island, he
warmly urged Byron, and indeed all Of
us. to take up our quarters at his house,
from first to last, all the English on the
island, the military as we'll as the civil
ians; We'd with each other in friendly and
hospitable acts. Byron preferred staying
on board; every afternoon he and |
crossed the harhor in a boat. aud landed
on rock to bathe; on one of these occa-
sions he held out his right leg to me, say
ing:
II hope thigeaecprsed limb will be
knocked of in the war;" l,:r..
alt won't improve your swim ming. 1
answered; II will exchange legs if you
will give me portion of your brains
You would repent your bargain" he
said; "at times feel my brains boiling,
as Shelly's did whilst you were griIling
him."
After bathing. we landed in IN olive
grove, eating our frugal supper under
the trees. Our Greek passenger during
the voyage said that the Greeks generals
ly were in favor Of a monarchial govern.
ment; the Greeks on the island confirmed
this. saying it was the only way to get rid
Of the robber chiefs who now tyrannized
and kept the country in state of anar-
chy; and as they must have a foreigner
for king, they could not do better than
elect Byron. The Poet treated this sug-
gestion lightly. saying, "If they make me
the offer. ], shall take care of my own
'sma peculiar;' for if it don't suit my hu-
NOR. shall; like Sancho. abdicate." By.
ron several times alluded to this. in a
bantering vein; it left an impression on
his mind. Had he lived to reach the
congress of Stpna as commissionar OF
the loan. the. dispenser Of a million silver
crowns would haye been offered golden
one. ''''' = "a = . - 3.
Our party made an sxeur sion 70 the
neighboring island of Ithaca; contrasted
with the arid waters and barren red hills Of
Cephalonia, the yerdapt, valleys. spark
ling streams, and high land, clothed il
evergreen shrubs. were 5strikingly beau
titul. After landing, it was proposed tc
Byront to visit some of the localities tha
anliquaries have dubbed with the titles o
Homsr's sehool-Ulysses'7 stronghold
etc. he turned pseyishly;away. saying t,
me- "Do look like one of those emascu