The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-12-24

che letters constitute an important oontribu-
tion to our knowledge Of the time. for they moi
only throw copious light upon the character
and experiences Of Scott himself within the
earlier and happier portion Of his life. but
they abound with references to Byron. Shell
ley. Wordsworth. Campbell. southey. Cole
ridge. and other eminent men and women In
the contem porary world Of letters
The 1rst allusion to Byron occurs In letter
70 John Bacon Morritt under date OF May 4.
1912. agree very much" Scott writes, I'm
what you say Of Childe Harold. Though there
70 SOM tbing provoking and insulting both to
morality and feeling in his mlsanthropical
humor. II gives neVerthel ess an odd punRency
to his descriptions and reflections, and, upon
the whole. IL IL poem OF most extrao rdinary
power and may rank it's author with our first
poets I ses the Edinburgh Rerie,o has hauled
its wind which I suppose Is as much owing to
Lord Byron's political conversion as to their
conviction Of his increasing power" Writing
sight months later to Lady Abercorn. Scott re-
fers to the same subject: You ask ne how
like Lord Byron's poem. and l answer. very
much. There 10 more original strength and
force OF thinking in IT, as we'll as command
OF language and versiHcatlon. than in almost
any modern poem Of the same len 9Th that
have happened to meet with. 1t is really q
powerful poem the more powerful because IL
arrests the attention without the aid OF mar
ratives. and without the least apparent wish
to conciiate the favor OF the reader. but
rather an affectation Of the contrary. say an
a6ectdiion OF the contrary. because / should be
sorry to think that q young man OF Lord
Byron's powers should really and unaffectedly
entertain and encourage q contemp for oil
auhlunarv COmfOFta and aniOvmanta That
We can be completely happy in this state OF
things. that 10 to say that we can be so placed
rs neither to feel a void in our hearts
or In our imagination. is altogether incon-
sistent with our nature. and to mourn. there
fore. 10 as wise as to regret that we have not
wings. or that We lack the lamp OF Aladdin,
neither OF which. by the way. would make us
. BIT happier II we had It, But any one who
enjoys peace and competence. and what hold
equal to either. at least to the latter. the i'd
vantage OF q well-informed mind. need only
look around him to ind out by comparison
abundant reason for being thankful for the
rank In which Providence has placed him;
and the wisest as well as happiest. man 10 he
who makes himself as easy In II as he can.
This tinge OF discomfort. or. perhaps. one may
almost say misanthropy. Is the only objec-
ton have to Lord BIS very powerful and
original work" Scott goes on to mention that
he had temporary correspondence with
Lord D. on several occasions. The Prince Re-
gent who now makes pate dc peiotTs to the
gems des lettres. desired at some party that Lord
Il should be introduced to him tLord b.. By
the way. had written q very severe spigram
on the fracas with Lord Lauderdalel and said
many polite things to him. and what your lady
ship would hardly guess. q great many about
your friend. Lord B.. knowing the value OF
princes good word. put ell these sugar plums
In the possession Of q person who presented
them to me. and could do no less than thank
the donor. and so 1 had q civil letter from
Childe Harold upon the subject. By the way,
there Is report Childe Harold is to be married
70 IN heiress OF our northern cline"
John Bacon Merritt. who was one OF SCOTS
most asstduous correspondents. tells him in
June. 1888: Lord Byron has written a new
poem. He calls 1t the Giaour word
that has sadly plagued the Bas-bie,l for they
cannot talk about II until we Turks have In
structed them In the pronunciation. He has
paid you an neutrality-suspicious.. for. In many
OF his passages. he has copied your manner;
but he seems fated to compliment aud to Gull
tivate every man In turn whom his earlier pro-
ductions abuse. The story. where It is told at
all. IL powerfully and spiritedly done" That
Byron had initiated Scott in the Glaour was the
opinion also Of Joanna Baillis. whose trage-
dies were much admired In SCOTS time
though they are now unread She speaks as
one having authority to Scott: II have
been reading lately Lord Byron's new
poem. The Giaour.' which suppose you
have seen. Lord B. has no mean por-
tion OF native Reniusi but he seems
TO me. notwithstanding the very different
character of his persons and stories. TO have
ono Scott perpetuAlly In his eye. 1 wonder
II he is himself aware OF this, and whether he |
HOuld not h. rAadW In he.
ing So There were touches here and there at |
which could not help calling out your name,
viz. where he says that on the ambushed foes |
firing on the followers OF Hassan. four or Ave |
Il forget the mum ber-cams to the ground. |
and three shall never mount again Isay not |
this to his discrsdit; ] believe he has not i'm |
itAtsd such graces from you. but caught them. |
Though passion. as he chooses to paint It IL |
revolving. yet 1t Is naturally and forcIbly ex- |
pressed. and II he thought more worthily OF |
human nature. he might. should think. excel |
IN tragedy. and possibly he may turn his |
thoughts this way"
H.
II seems that Scott was among those persons
% whom an appeal was made to endeAvor TO
'ffeet reconciliation between Lord Byron
md his wife. Scott was too wise man TO In
erpOse. He tells Joanna Baillle. In April,
Sld: am glad you are satisfied with my
eason for declining direct Interference with
ord b Ihaye not. however. been quite idle.
md. as an old seaman. mad tried to go by a
ide wind. where had not the means OF going
'efors 1t. and this will be so far plain to you
Ehen Isay that have every reason to believe
he news Is true that a separation is signed be-
Ween Lord and Lady Byron. II am not as
nRry as you expect. It Is from deep sorrow
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