Mr. Leigh Hunt leaves England, and joins Lord Byron and Mr. Shelley at Pisa.
Mr. Medwin's account of Lord Byron's opinion of Mr. Hunt. The Liberal,
No. I. The Vision of Judgment. Mr. J. Hunt fined 1001. for publishing the
Vision of Judgment. Heaven and Earth. Translation of Pulci's Morgante
Moggioretin
639

CHAPTER XIV.

Age of Bronze. The Island. Mutiny of the crew of the Bounty. The Deformed
Transformed. Letter from Goethe to Mr. Medwin on the genius of Lord Byron.
Letter by Sir Walter Scott on the death of Lord Byron.

655

Italy becomes irksome to Lord Byron, and he resolves on quitting it. Determines
on visiting Greece, and aiding their cause. Embarks from Leghorn, and arrives
in Cephalonia. Count Gamba's account of an excursion from Cephalonia
to Ithaca. Hospitality of an Italian, resident in Greece. The party visit
Captain Knox at Vathi. Lord Byron relieves numerous fugitive families in
Ithaca. Arrangement of his occupations at Metaxata, Dreadful catastrophe,
and indignation of Lord Byron at the apathy of the by-standers. Lord Byron
becomes melancholy on hearing of his daughter Ada's illness. Visited by
Lord Sydney Osborne. Reasons for his staying at Metaxata. Party dissen-
sions among the Greeks previous to the arrival of Lord Byron at Cephalonia.
Death of Marco Bozzari. Extract from a letter of Marco Bozzari's, urging the
speedy arrival of Lord Byron. His Lordship offers two thousand dollars a
month for the succour of Missolonghi and the Suliotes. Narrative of the daring
enterprise of Marco Bozzari. Lord Byron's caution to prevent falling into the
hands of a party. Dr. Kennedy refuted by Lord Byron on points of religion.
Differences between the Greek chiefs, Coloctronis and Mavrocordatos. Pro-
ceedings of the Congress at Salamis. Lord Byron resolves on relieving Misso-
longhi. Extracts from letters by Mavrocordatos and Lord Byron on the critical
state of Greek affairs. Devotedness of his Lordship to the cause. His difficulty
and anxiety in procuring supplies. Sails for Missolonghi with Count Gamba,
in two Ionian vessels. The Count's vessel taken by a Turkish frigate. The
Count escapes by his admirable presence of mind, and arrives at Missolonghi.
Dangers attending Lord Byron's voyage. Enthusiastic reception of Lord
Byron at Missolonghi. Simplicity of his mode of living. Rescues a Turk from
the hands of some Greek sailors, and sends him to Patras. Lines on com.
pleting his thirty-sixth year. Letter to the Turkish chief, on liberating fout
Turkish prisoners. Lord Byron appointed to the command of three thousand
troops for the attack of Lepanto. Lancasterian schools and dispensaries for
the preservation of public health established at Missolonghi by Colonel
Stanhope. Two newspapers established at Missolonghi. Difference of opinion
between Lord Byron and Colonel Stanhope. Stanhope's defence of Mr.
Bentham against the attacks of Lord Byron. Colonel Stanhope accuses Lord
Byron of being an enemy to the liberty of the press. Prospectus of the Greek

Telegraph. The expedition against Lepanto retarded by the turbulence of the
Suliotes. Sudden indisposition of Lord Byron. Captain Sass killed in an
affray with a Suliote. Pastime of Lord Byron's Suliote guard. Attachment of
Lord Byron to his dog Lyon, and sagacity of the animal. Surprising swiftness
of the Suliotes. Simplicity and regularity of Lord Byron's daily habits.
Partially recovers his health, and is urged to change his residence, which he
refuses to do. Count Gamba's report of Lord Byron's last illness and death.
Mr. Parry's account of that melancholy event. Fletcher's account.
Dr.
Bruno's report of the examination of Lord Byron's body. Causes of Lord
Byron's death. Proclamation of the Provisional Government of Western Greece
on the lamented event. His Lordship's will. Difficulties in fixing the place
of interment. Mr. Parry's statement of Lord Byron's wish that his remains
should be sent to England. Funeral honours at Missolonghi. Oration
delivered over the body, by M. Spiridon Tricoupi. Arrival of the body in
England. Interment of the body in the family vault at Hucknell church.
Inscription on the coffin. Mr. Parry's account of the religious opinions of
Lord Byron. Of his superstitions. Reflections when about to read the
Memoirs of Lord Byron, written by himself, by T. Moore. Concluding
remarks.

678

THE LIFE AND WRITINGS

OF

LORD BYRON.

き

INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER.

THE premature and lamented death of Lord Byron has deprived England of the brightest genius that has adorned the age in which we live. That he was entitled to the first place among living poets will hardly now be denied by any one. Those persons who, from the most honest feelings, regretted the levity and censured the immorality of some of his latter productions, were never backward in acknowledging the pre-eminence of talents which they wished to have seen otherwise directed: it was only by the malignant and the envious that his powers were decried; and even their venom, now that the grave has closed upon Lord Byron, will be spared, because it is equally insignificant and impotent.

To say that he had faults, and that they were many and great, is only to say that he was human: they were the faults of his age, of his education, of unfortunate circumstances-perhaps of a constitutional eccentricity. They were not so enormous but that a small portion of Christian charity may enable us to excuse them: their consequences fell on his own head; and we cannot but believe that the sufferings of his proud and wounded spirit would, if they could be appreciated, be allowed, even by his most severe censurers, to have expiated his offences.

But while those failings by which his character was marked, and which are the lot of humanity, are remembered, let it not be forgotten that he possessed rare and supreme powers, which, if they did not raise him above his species, made him one of its chief ornaments.

As a poet, he stands among the most eminent that England has ever

B