New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-04-23
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
,uco,1pcr1oNs OF lord BYRON.

sTo mn $40 Harper Brothers IHB eAME. C III
Two PARTS $40. PIP. 49, 45l. j. b. Lpplhcot % w.
AI.ho,sb this volume is announced as the long
oromised work of the Countess GuicciOG,-the lady
10 whom tho attachment of Lord Byron, according
to Moore "cannot be considered otherwise than as
op event fortunate both for his reputation ana nap
piness-it is altogether too ingenious ana piausDie
a specimen of special pleading to be ascrOeo 10 ner
unaided authorship. The most that we can safely
accept in that regard is the probable suggestion Oh
Tho pIan and the furnishing OF portion OF the
o+ar;ols The execution of the work betTays skill
IN ormment and freshness and vigor of illustra-
tion. for which we can scarcely give credit TO an
italian woman, whose acquaintance with Byron
commenced fully half century ago, and who has
never been deemed remarkable for intellectual
ability or literary cultivation. At that time, she
was young and simple girl OF eighteen just
emerging from the restraints of a convent TO the
freedom Of married life, with imperfect educa-
ton. and no experience of the world. The lapse OF
wears has doubtless given her intellect wider scope
while the idolatry with which she regarded the
object of her youthful love still appears 10 retain us
warmth and intensity.
The present volume is less biography OF LORD by
ron, than a paneeyric. 1t has been compiled trom
various sources including the
the Countess Guiccio but is devoted rather 10 the
illustration of his character than to the narrative OIL
facts The features of Byrons life which caled1Or
the inst reprehenson of his contemporaries arc COW
cred with an artificial gloss, while every clrcum-
stance that can be pleaded in his favor Is set forth
with the attractions Of an entieing elOquence.
Probably no revelations are here made that VIII
change the established impressions concerning the
character of the celebrated poet sThe vehement pre-
dices that were excited against HIM during hs life
time by the malignity of partyspirit and the base
.n;fa haV a
gree died out. Byron is no longer considered the
monster which his enemies painted him. Maynard
passionate and reckless he was his nature was by
no means destitute of admirable qualities. which are
certainly presented in attractive light in the por-
traitures of this work. although they fail to make
him out model Of angelic, or even of human virtue
The exhibition of ByrOns religious opinions which
is here presented possesses considerable interest lie
appears to have had great susceptibility to religious
Impressions from the earliest age, although he never
was doce receiver of the traditions of the priest
hood During his residence at Cambridge especially.
he became the subject of manifold doubts, and when
he left England for the first time, his mind was IN
state of painful INDIGESTION. But the charge OF
atheism which was brought against him seems TO
have been utterly without foundation. He was dis
gusted with the pretensons of dogmatic systems but
never ceased to cling to the faith in God in which he
ite reading, in the magnificent poetry of which he
found the highest inspiration. He even cherished
preference for Catholicism at least in tho latter years
of his Efe decning the doctrine of Purgatory more
in accordance with the divine mercy than the ALSO
lutte punishment of sin IS taught in the creed OF
Cslyinism.
The marriage of Lord Byron naturally fills i'm
portant space in this volume. 1t is represented as
the great misfortune which was the source Of all
Others exerting the most deplorable influence over
his character and destiny But the tone of satire and
contempt in which Miss Milbank is spoken of, is Of
fensVe to good taste, and unwarranted by fact. She
is described female bellgerent wrapped in coat
of mail of faultless Projections with heart dead
ened by the study of mathematics and destitute of
the womanly traits of tenderness pity, and forbear
ance Lady Byrons subsequent life is evidence of
the fslseness of her pOrrature pesOn of extreme
jealousy, with pedantic attachment to her own
ways and no power of Cancellation, with mind in
capable of sound judgment, though expert in the
technical forms of reasoning, and with no touch
of the feminine softness and sympathy which forms
the atmosphere of happy domestic life. Even Moore.
with all his partiality for bis friend abstains from
such ungenerOus disparagement, ascribing the I'M
happiness of his marriage to the want of adaptation
between the "ealm affections and comforts" of we'd
lock, and the higher order of genius.p Absurd as
the elaborate sophstry of tho biographer this
subject il is far tOlerable than the malignant
insnuatons of the compiler of this volume
Among the virtues of Lord Byron, great stress is
laid on his beneyolence and kindness, which GER
tanly appear to have entered largely into his COM
position. Even as q child he showed symptoms of
the cruelty which often innate property of
that age He was always sensitive to the pleasure
the pain Of those with whom he lived and was easily
overcome by smile or frown. He was ready to
sacrifice his own talent 10 the remonstrances of his
friends and even at times carried this docility to
extreme length. One of his poems the first edition
of Hours of Idleness' was kindly censured by
friend as too free, upon which he withdrew and
burned the whole edition. At the solicitation of
Dallas and Clifford, he suppressed his favorite stan
zas of Chlde Harold and at the instance of another
friend he ceased writing the first canto of Don JUAN
His indulgence, great toward all, was excessive
toward his interiors He was the best of masters,
nnd was beloved by his servants. They were 30
attached TO him that they would have borne every
thing for his sake His death plunged them into the
deepest grief HIS love of children another sign
of his natural goodness of heart. He treated them
with incompatible tenderness, and was never hap
pier than when he made them happy.
Many other aspects of the better part OF Lord
Byron's nature are exhibited with certain adrot-
ness and even force of illustration. showing that he
was in many cases, the victim of harsh and untena-
bic Judgments but by means disproving the self
willed vehemence of his temper, and his scornful
defiance of the wholesome decorums of society. His
early death doubt prevented the ripenIng of the
higher qualities Of which his life presents the un
Irstakable germs the youthful eferyescence of his
passions might have given place to a nOber intellec
tual development; but he must have been endowed
with attributes of which humanity can rarely boast
In order tn have hecome the parapon of axcalenca
which is held up to admiration in the prisnatc
colors of this volume.
CAUSES OF CONSUMPTION.