The Last Moments Of Lord ...
The Times, 1824-08-12T00:00:00

* IFrom the last number of'tlie IVets,teReer. We are enabl-ed to present etir readers with a Tery detsiU.ed report Cf Lord Byroni's last illness: it is collectedl from thie moutli of. Mlr. Pletcher, who hes8 been for mnore thwi twventy years hie faithful and confidentiatattendant "ly master," says Air. Fletchcr, "1 continiued hiis usual custom of' ridinig daily, when, the weather would permit, until the 9th of April. Butt on that ill-fated day he get very wvet, and( on hiis return home, hiis Lordship) changeri the whole of lila dressq but lie hiad been too long in his wet clothes, and thie cold, of whic h e had complain- ea, mnore or'less, ever sine~e we left Ueplialonia, mae this attack be mrore severelY felt. ThouglC rather feverish urn the nighit, hiis Lordship slept pretty well, hut comnplaine~in the iorning of a pain in his hones and a hiead..ache; this di lotiowever, prevent hiim from taking a ridle in the afteroo,whiich I grieve to say was his last. ott hiis return, miy. matster said that the saddle was not perf'ectly dry, frotn beitig so wet ilte day before, and observedl that lie thought it liad miade himn worse. llis Lord- ship was again visited by thbe same slowv fever, and I was sorry to perceive on the next morning that hiis illness appm-sred to be in- creasing. He was very low, attd com?lained of not hiaving liad any sleep dttring the nights. Ih;s Lords-htp's appetite was also quite gorte. Iprep,ared a little arrow-root, of whichi he took thiree or four spoonsful, say-ing it was very good, bait could take no more. it wvas not till the third day, the 12Lh, that I began to be alarmed abotut my master. In all his fortmer colds, he always slept well, and was never affected by titis slowv fever, I therefore went to Dr. Bruno and Air. 3llillenigen, the two medic-al attefidants, attd inquired mninutely, into every circumstance contaccted with mny mraster's present illness;, bothi replied that there was no dainger, and I mighit make myself perfectly easy on ithe subiect, for all twould be well in a f'ew days. 'I'hiis wias on the 13th. On the followiing day, I founrIinmy mnaster in such a state, that I couldt nor feel itapp ih out supplitcating that he would send to Zarste for Dr. Thomas fe expresing my fears lest his Lordshtip shtould get worse, he desired me to consult the rdoctors, which I did, and was told there was no occasion for calling in any person, as litey litoped all wouldI be well in a f'ew days. HIere L shotiid'remark, titat his Lordship re- peatedIly said in the course of the day, lite was sure the doctors dlid not understand his dlisease; to wvhichi I answererd, 'Thecn, my L,Ord, have othier advice by all tueans.' ' Titev tell me,' said hiis Lodhip, 'that it is only a cominton Cold, which you kniow I have had. a thousanad tiames.' ' am lture, mly Lord$ said 1, 'thlat youi never had one of so serious a nature.'' I thitnk I never htad,' was hfis L-ordship's ansveir. 1 repeated my suapplications that Dr. Thormas should be sent for ott the l6th, ar.d wasi again assuredi lthat my master would be better in two or titrec clitys. After thiese confidient assurances, 1 dlid not renew my enitreaties until it was too late. WVith respect to the medicines that were given to my m)aster, I could not persuade ntyself that those of a strong purgative nature were the best adapted for Iitis comiplaint - con- cluding titat as he had nothing c'n his stomach, ithe only effect wouldI be to create pain ; indeed, this mnust have been thie cas,e with a pesn in perfecct health. The whole nourishmenit taken by my tnase for the last eight daIys contsisted of' a stnall quantity of brot at two or three different tilites,'and fwo spoensful of arrowroot on the 18thi, the day before his death, Tite first time I heard of there betng intention of bleeding his Lordship was on the 13thi. when it was proposed by Dr. Bruno, but objected to at first by my' master, who asked Air. Mlillingen if there was any great. reason for taking blood ; the latter replied that it might be of service, but added tha't it could be deferred until the next day. And accordingly my muaster w~~as bled in thee righit ann ott the,evening of the Wilh, and a pound of bood was taken. I bservedl at th e time that it itad a tnost tnflamed appearance. Dr. Boruno now began to say he hadl f'reqttenitly urged MY MoAster to be 'bledi, 'out thiat he always refused. A long disput.e tiow arose about the time thatt hadl bee:, lost, and the necessity ot I ending for medical assistattee to Zante, tipon which I was, iniformied Ifor the first tinte that it wduld beeof noi u4c, a, m y master wvould be better, or no mnore, before tite arrival of DI)r. Thionas. His Lorri shipi continued to get worse, but Dr. Brutto said lite thousrltt letting blood sgain would save his life ; and I lost no time in telling, miy tnasler bow necessRary it was to Comply with the doctor's wishes to this he replied by saying, lite feared they knew nothing ahooat hiis disorder, aned then stretching nut his arm said, ' Here, take miy armi, and tlo whatever you like.' His Lordship continued to get weaker ; on the l7rlt he was bled twice, in the morning anti at two o'clock in ithe afternoon ; the bleeding at hotit timies was follo wed by fainting-fits, and he would have fallen down moore than once hiad I not caujght itim in tny ainns. In order to prevent suclt an accident, I took catre nor to let hils Lordalsmip stir without supporting hiim. On this day my rnast,~r wAd to me twice-' I cannot sleep, and you well kniow I itave not been able to sleep for more titan a week ; I know,' added his Lordship, ' that antian can only bena certaiti titne wittit- ou=seep, and theni he mnust go mad witltout any one being able to sav hi; and I would tett times soioner shoot mnyself titan be miad, for I tmm not afraid of dying ; I am miore fir to dir than people thtink.' I do nor, however, believe that his Lordship had any ap- prehiension of his fare till the dlay after, the 1hint, whieii hi said 'I fear youd and 'Tita wvill be ill by sitting up) constantly night anti day.' I answered, 'We sltall never leave your Lordship till you are better.' As my master hart a alight fit ot'deliriunis ott the l6th, I took care to remfove thec pistols and stiletto, which litad hiithierto beet; kept at Ihts bed-side, in the night. On the 18th Itis Lordship addressed me freiuenitly, anid seetned to be very mucit disisat'isfiedl withi hi eia ratruent. I then siaid, "1 Do allow me to send for Dr. Titontas ;' to which he answered-' Do so, but be tjticik. I ami onlly sorry I dlidl not let you do so before, as I atti sure timev have mtistaken mny disease; write VOrThelef, for i know he would nor like to sce other dloctors htere.' I tild nor lose a nto. metit in Obeying iny masiter's Qrdters, and on infortming D)r. Brunto andI Ill r. Alillingeni of it, ttitey said it was very rigltt, as thiey now began to be afraid tltensselves. Oni returning to nty niaster's roonu, his first words vsere, 'Hfave yout sent ?' I I lhave. itty Lord,' was mly answer; upon which lite said, I' You itave dune righit, for I should like to know % tiat is tite miatter witit rue.' Altimouglit itis Lordship did not appear to think htis dissolutLion was so ttear, I could pecive he was getting weaker every hiour, and hie even began to 1 tarve loccasional firs of dteliriumn. He afterwards salid, ' I1 now begin to think I atti seriously ill, and in ease I shottild be taketi off antd- dernly, I wish to rive you several directions, which I hiope you will years, to execute them muth better ltiimself tItani I could.- To t`itis tny master replied, ' No I it is now nearly over;' and then added, I nmust tell von all without lostttg a momnent.' I tlhett said, 'Sitall I o, my L.,oi:s, and fetch pen, inik, trnd paper?' I Oh, tny Iort, no aeu will lose too mluchi titne, and I itave it not to spare, for iny timatentiorilow shr, said his L-ordship ; and ininiediately, after, ' Now pa teto.' Ills L-ordship) commienced by saying, ' Y'ou will be prorided for.' I begged ltitn, however, to procceed With nt;ii 'a of' moore consiequence; lite tliten continiuedt, ' Ohi, miy poor dear el'ttld toiy (lear Ada I miy Giod, could I but havfe seen tier!I give hier ttv blesising-and mylv dear sister Augusta at;d Iter chiildren ; and yoim will go to Lady Byron, andi say-tell hier every thing-you are friendts with Iter.'' His Lordlshmip appteared to be greatly atfcted at tltis t;tomettt. Here my maxter's vfoice aidleni Itiim ;, so thajt I couldJ otnly catch a word at intervals, but itekept limuttering soi4ethittg very seriously for sonic titne, anti would of-ten raise htis voice andsa' 'Fletcher, now if you do Hot execute every ordier whtich I htav-gie yen, I will torment you lhereaf'ter, ifilossille.' Here I told his Lord sitip, in e state of tite greatest perplexity, that I lhad itet understood at word of whiat lie said to whichi lite replied, I Oft, ttiy tod I thett all is lost ! for it is selw too late-Cat, it be pos.rible you hi:ve Not utt. derstoud mte ?' ' No, tony Lord,' said 1, ' ~ut I litray you to try andi iitfurim tiue otiee more.' ' fhow eati I ?' rejoinedi myi tizaster ; I it is now too late, antl all is over.' I said, ' Not ortr vwill, but (ud's be done;c' aitdi he answered, ' Y'es, liot timtiie be rhotte ; but I will try, 1Ilis Lordship d id inideed ttake several ellbrts to speak., but could onily repeut two or titree words at a timie ;, bucli as, I My wvife l miy cttildl I toy sister I you kt;owv all-you must say all-yutt kniow ttty wishtes;'-the resit was 'lulte unintelligible. A conttsultution was now heldi (abouit t;oon), whlen it twas dletertviimited to adiminister sotte Pertt-riani bark anid wine. Aly master liztatinow brettti i:te days witltout tiny sustettatice whatever, except wliat I hiave already, titett- tioekd. WVithi tite exceptioni of a 1'tw words. which cat, only lmtiet. eAt those to whiomti thiey were atddressed, and witiclit, if retfuiredt, I shiall coitutnunicate to itietrtselyes, it was ittpossible to urnderststtd atny tuinig liis Lorrlshiip said af'ter taking tite bairk. He express- er1 it wisht to sleep. I at one rim-e asked whether I shiould call Alr. Parry ? To whichl hie replied, I Yes, you miay call hint.' All . Parry de.ired him to compose ltf:itself. lie slierl tears, a-id apparetitlr, satik into a islumlber. Ailr. Parry went awaty, expectinig to Ltd hitii refreshed ott hiis rrturtn, but it was tile conimenccnement of the lethiargy precedit;g Ihis deathi. Tite last wordts f heard nsy mna-ter titter were at six o~Leloek tin Ithe evening of tlte 18itit, wben he said,' I miust sleeh)i now ;' upott whiclt he laidi down, niever to rise again for he did iito 'ttove- itanrl oJr foot during rite followinig ttventy.forur liotirs. Ill Lordship apt- here ttowvc,er, tu be in a state of suffocation at intervals, antd Itari a frene lttrttlingt inth; r hio thit ; or; thiese octasiorts, 1 callecl 'I'ira to assist ic in raising liis liead, anid I tlitouglit lite seemed to) getqluite stiff. 'l'ie rattlitig and choki g in ithe thiroat took plate ever-y hialf hoot andi we contitmued to raise hiis lhead whienever rite fir camie oni, till six o'rilock in the e-vening of rite 19tit, whien I sawv toy mnaster ellen hism eyes atid theti shu.t themIl, but withlout shiowin'g any symlp- toml of pail], or mioving ltantl or foot. '1 Oh, tioy (God !' 1 ex- claiimed, I I fear his 1ordAidp is prone ' Thie rioctors rume felt hiis pulse, ancd sa id, ' Y'ou are iightt-lie is gone.' "AI"- LAST MOMENTS OP LORD BYRON.