Byron

level of the waters, 'which a few centuries ago must have covered the spot, as may be judged from the nature of the soil, consisting of decomposed seaweed and dried

Missolonghi must indeed have been a wretched place even for a strong man in his full powers and vitality-for Byron it was nothing short of Death! Trelawny tells us that this place is situated on the verge of a dismal swamp. The marvel to him was that Byron, who was always liable to fevers, should have consented to live three months on this mud-b

h was destined to be the last home

same districts. Mavrocordato, at that time Governor-General of the province, was President of the Assembly, with a bodyguard of 5,000 armed men. The first object of this assembly, says Gamba, was to organize the military forces, the assignment of the soldiers' pay, and the establishment of the national constitution and some regular form of government

g. The Peloponnesus, with exception of the castles of the Morea and of Patras, of Modon and of Covon, was in the hands of the Greeks. The northern shore of t

n a moment of impetuosity, he had cast in his lot with some particular faction. It was his fixed intention, as it was clearly his best policy, to reconcile differences, and to bring the contending factions closer together. His influence amongst all parties was daily increasing, and everyone believed that Byron would eventually be able to bring discordant voi

ed at his own expense, was given quarters at Byron's house until an opportunity occurred of sending him in freedom to Patras. About a fortnight later, hearing that four Turkish prisoners were at Missolo

ghn

ur Highness. I have now to thank you, not for liberating the vessel, which as carrying a neutral flag, and being under British

hem back, in order to make as early a return as I could, for your courtesy on the late occasion. These prisoners are liberated without any conditions; but should the circumstance find a place in your recollection, I venture to beg

l By

solo

ry 23,

The horrors of war were sufficient in themselves without that unnecessary crue

cted with Byron's clemency to a prisoner p

; their importunity became more violent, and they refused to leave the room without their Turk (such was their expression) on which Lord Byron, presenting a pistol at the intruders, threatened to proceed to extremities unless they instantly retired. The

ts siege would have proved a very arduous undertaking even with regular troops; but with raw Greek levies its reduction, except by famine, would have been almost impossible. On January 14, 1824, Colonel Stanhope writes to Mr. Bowring in the following terms: 'Lord Byron has taken 500 Suliotes into pay. He burns with military ardour and chivalry, and will proceed with the expedition to Lepanto.' Circumstances w

brought cannons, ammunition, printing-presses, medicines, and all the apparatus necessary for the establishment of a military labor

llery Brigade, the best officers in the brigade tendered their resignations, stating that, while they would be proud to serve under Lord Byron, neither their honour nor the interests of the service would allow them to serve under a man who had no practical experience of military evolutions. The German officers also, who had previously served in the Pru

of military mechanics, he bullied its members into a belief that his pretentions were well founded. As a matter of fact, Parry proved to be unsuited for high command, although it must be admitted that he worked indefatigably. He made plans for the erection of a laboratory, and presided over the works. He paved the yard of the Seraglio, repaired the batteries, instructed the troops in musketry and gunnery; he gave lessons with the broadsword, inspected the fortifications, and directed the operations of Cocchini, the chief engineer. He repaired gun-carriages,

e had brought with him, and these men were unable to work without materials, which were not obtainable. Thus the prin

of getting a little fresh air was by paddling through the murky waters in a sort of canoe. During these expeditions, says Gamba, who always accompanied him, he spoke often of his anxiety to begin

ountry like Greece; and irregular troops alone are only just better than nothing. Only let the loan be raised; and in the meantime let us try to form a strong national Government, ready to apply our pecuniary resources, when they arrive, to the organization of troops, the establishmen

rmans would join the party, play on their flutes, and sing their national airs to the accompaniment of a guitar. By

nel Stanhope, turned Odysseans assembled at Byron's house, and enjoyed the ch

"Don Juan." He was indeed too open, and too indiscreet in respect to the reminiscences of his early days. Sometimes, when his vein of humour flowed more copiously than usual, he would play tricks on individuals. Fletcher's boundless credulity afforded him an ever-ready fund of amusement, and he one evening planned a farce, which was as well executed and as laughable as any ever exhibited on the stage. Having observed how nervous Parry had been, a few days before, during

possessed a fund of quaint expressions that made up for the deficiency of real wit. Millingen says that he could tell, in his coarse language, a good story, and could play Falstaff's, or the part of a c

ing at Missolonghi. Byron took the matter in hand, and insisted on joining personally in the expedition. He was so determined on this project that Mavrocordato and others, realizing the folly of exposing so valuable a life on so desperate an ente

er write any poetry now: this is my birthday, and I have just finished something, which, I think, is better than what I usually write.' He then produced those affecting

evocably fixed upon the glorious objects of his expedition to Greece, and that he had made up his mind to "return victorious,

ithful servant Tita whether he thought of returning to Italy. 'Yes,' said Tita; 'if your lordship goes, I go.' Lord Byron smil

on's mind on this point

and my personal exertions, shall be cheerfully done. When Greece is secure against external enemies, I will leave the Greeks to settle their government as they like. One service more, and an eminent service it will be, I think I may perform for them. You shall have a schooner built for me, or I will buy a vessel; the Greeks shall invest me with the character of their Ambassado

inst Turks, and slaves struggling to be free. There never was a cause which had such strong c

ten by Mr. George Finlay in June, 1824,

my stay there, in the forenoon I rode out with Lord Byron; and

, he would have no objections to purchase likewise, as he wished to have some real property in Greece; and he authorized me to treat for him. I always urged him to make Corinth his headquarters. Sometimes he appeared inclined to do so, and remarked, that it would be a strange coincidence if, after writing an unsu

and Mr. Scrope B. Davies-told many anecdotes of himself which are well known, and many which were amusing from his narration, but which would lose their interest from another; but what ast

ave kept it as the old abbey; but he enjoyed the excellent bargain he had made at the sale. A solicitor sent him a very long bill, and, on his grumbling at the amount, he said he was silenced by a letter, reminding him that he had received ￡20,000

frightened and ran towards his room; the maid saw him, and fled more frightened than he; she declared she had seen a ghost. Lord Byron said, he was so frightened at the maid, he kept the secret till she was turned away; and, he added, he never since kept a secret half so long. The first passion he ever felt was for a young lady who was on a visit to his mother while they lived in Scotland; he was at the time about six years old, and the young lady about nine, yet he was almost ill on her leaving his mo

think." He certainly did not consider much of the poetry of the present day as "possessing buoyancy enough to float down the stream of time." I remarked, he ought really to alter the passage in the preface of "Marino Faliero," on living dramatic talent; he exclaimed, laughing, "Do you mean me to erase the name of moral me?" In this manner he

f the works of a female author of some note, he s

ded commencing it again in Greece, he said, "I hate the book; it makes you too well acquainted wi

rgolis though his attacks were chiefly directed against the drawings, and particularly the view of the bay. He told me he was the author of the

o strangely conversant in an author of such inferior merit, and that he should so continually have the most melodious lines of Shakspeare in his mouth as examples of blank verse. He said once, when we were alone, "I like to astonish Englishmen: they come abroad full of Shakspeare, and contempt for the dramatic literature of other nations; they think it blasphemy to find a fault in his writings, which are full of them. People talk of the tendency of my writings, and yet read the sonnets to Master Hughes." Lord B. certainly did not admire the French tragedians enthusiastically. I said to him, "There is a subject for the Drama w

an repeat the advertisements of a newspaper and such nonsense; but of all the innumerable no

had Maurice by a daughter of Maurice of Saxony: he repeated the names of all the children. I said, "This is the most extraordinary instance of your memory I ever heard." He replied, "It's not very extraordinary-I read it all a few days ago in Watson's "Philip II.," and you will find it in a note at the bo

said, "Sir Aubrey was at Harrow, I remember, but he was younger than me. He was an excellent swimmer, and once saved a boy's life; nobody would venture in

e Vere Hunt, who inquired if I knew the boy, who must now be a man, but said,

use see it in Albania, and that he at last persuaded him to burn it. He said Hobhouse had robbed the world of a treat. He used to say that many o

erse to the publication of a European newspaper in Greece, he gave, "To the Greeks foolishne

and modern Greeks, he said: "At least we have St. Paul's authority that they had their pres

ad displayed some poetical talent, but that she would not tell him who, as she hoped she should hear no more of it. I said "That is a strange wish from the sister of

nt actions of his life he has acted with no common consistency, and his death attests his sincerity. To attempt by scattered facts to illustrate his character is really useless. A hundred could be immediately told to prove him a miser; as many to prove him the most generous of men; an equal number, perhaps, to show he was nervously alive to the distresses of others, or heartlessly unfeeling; at times that he indulged in every desire; at others, that he pursued the most determined system of self-denial; that he ridiculed his friends, or defended them with the greatest anxiety. At one time he was