samption in making such an application. At ten not, however, prevent him from taking a ride in o'clock, accordingly, he attended his master with the afternoon, which, I grieve to say, was his great trembling and fear, but stuttered so when last. On his return, my master said that the he attempted to speak, that he could not make saddle was not perfectly dry, from being so wet himself understood; Lord Byron endeavouring, the day before, and observed that he thought it almost in vain, to preserve his gravity, reproved had made him worse. His lordship was again him severely for his presumption. Blacky stut-visited by the same slow fever, and I was sorry tered a thousand excuses, and was ready to do to perceive, on the next morning, that his illness any thing to appease his massa's anger. His great appeared to be increasing. He was very low, and yellow eyes wide open, he trembling from head complained of not having had any sleep durto foot, his wandering and stuttering excuses, hising the night. His lordship's appetite was also visible dread-all tended to provoke laughter; quite gone. I prepared a little arrow-root, of and Lord Byron, fearing his own dignity would which he took three or four spoonfuls, saying it be hove overboard, told him to hold his tongue, was very good, but he could take no more. It and listen to his sentence. I was commanded to was not till the third day, the 12th, that I began In all his former enter it in his memorandum-book, and then he to be alarmed for my master. pronounced in a solemn tone of voice, while colds he always slept well, and was never affected Placky stood aghast, expecting some severe pu- by this slow fever. I therefore went to Dr Bruno nishment, the following doom: My determina- and Mr Millingen, the two medical attendants, tion is, that the children born of these black and inquired minutely into every circumstance women, of which you may be the father, shall be connected with my master's present illness: both my property, and I will maintain them. What replied that there was no danger, and I might say you? 'Go-Go-God bless you, massa, make myself perfectly easy on the subject, for all may you live great while,' stuttered out the would be well in a few days. This was on the On the following day, I found my master groom, and sallied forth to tell the good news to 13th. the two distressed women.» in such a state, that I could not feel happy without supplicating that he would send to After expressing my Zante for Dr Thomas. The luxury of Lord Byron's living at this time may be seen from the following order, which he gave his superintendant of the household, for the daily expenses of, his own table. It amounts to no more than one piastre. Bread, a pound and a half. Fish Paras. 15 7 5 3 40 This was his dinner; his breakfast consisted of a single dish of tea, without milk or sugar. The circumstances that attended the death of this illustrious and noble-minded man, are described in the following plain and simple statement by his faithful valet and constant follower, 'I am fears lest his lordship should get worse, he desired me to consult the doctors, which I did, and was told there was no occasion for calling in any person, as they hoped all would be well in a few days. Here I should remark, that his lordship repeatedly said, in the course of the day, he was sure the doctors did not understand his disease; to which I answered, 'Then, my lord, have other advice by all means.' 'They tell me,' said his lordship, that it is only a common cold, which, you know, I have had a thousand times.' sure, my lord,' said I, 'that you never had one of so serious a nature.' 'I think I never had,' was his lordship's answer. I repeated my supplications that Dr Thomas should be sent for, on the 15th, and was again assured that my master would be better in two or three days. After these confident assurances, I did not renew my My master, says Mr Fletcher," « continued entreaties until it was too late. With respect to his usual custom of riding daily when the wea- the medicines that were given to my master, I ther would permit, until the 9th of April. But could not persuade myself that those of a strong on that ill-fated day he got very wet, and on his purgative nature were the best adapted for his return home his lordship changed the whole of complaint, concluding that, as he had nothing on his dress; but he had been too long in his wet his stomach, the only effect would be to create dothes, and the cold, of which he had' complain-pain; indeed, this must have been the case with ed more or less ever since we left Cephalonia, a person in perfect health. The whole nourishmade this attack be more severely felt. Though ment taken by my master, for the last eight days, rather feverish during the night, his lordship slept pretty well, but complained in the morning of a pain in his bones, and a head-ache: this did Mr Fletcher:— consisted of a small quantity of broth, at two or three different times, and two spoonfuls of arrowroot on the 18th, the day before his death. The с first time I heard of there being any intention of To did not let you do so before, as I am sure they 6 I do not, however, believe that his lordship had any apprehension of his fate till the day after the 18th, when he said, 'I fear you and Tita will be ill by sitting continually night and day.' I answered, We shall never leave your lordship till you are better.' As my master had a slight fit of delirium on the 16th, took care | God! then all is lost, for it is now too late ! to remove the pistol and stiletto, which had hitherto been kept at his bedside in the night. On the 18th his lordship addressed me frequently, and seemed to be very much dissatisfied with his medical treatment. I then said, 'Do allow me to send for Dr Thomas?' to which he answered, "Do so, but be quick; I am sorry I Can it be possible you have not understood me?" No, my lord,' said I, but I pray you to try and inform me once more.' How can I?' rejoined my master, it is now too late, and all is over!' I said, “ Not our will, but God's be done "—and he answered, Yes, not mine be done!--but I will try.' His lordship did indeed placed it in a chest lined with tin, as there were no means of procuring a leaden coffin capable of holding the spirits necessary for its preservation on the voyage. Dr Bruno drew up an account of the examination of the body, by which it appeared his lordship's death had been caused by an inflammatory fever. Dr Meyer, a Swiss physician, who was present, and had accidentally seen Madame de Stael after her death, stated that the formation of the brain in both these illustrious persons was extremely similar, but that Lord Byron had a much greater quantity. make several efforts to speak, but could only speak two or three words at a time, such as, My wife! my child! my sister!-you know all-you must say all-you know my wishes' the rest was quite unintelligible. A consultation was now held (about noon), when it was determined to administer some Peruvian bark and wine. My master had now been nine days without any sustenance whatever, except what I have already mentioned. With the exception of a few words, which can only interest those to whom they were addressed, and which if required I shall communicate to themselves, it was On the 22d of April, 1824, in the midst of impossible to understand any thing his lordship his own brigade, the troops of the government, said after taking the bark. He expressed a wish and the whole population, the most precious to sleep. I at one time asked whether I should portion of his honoured remains was carried call Mr Parry, to which he replied, 'Yes, you to the church, where lie the bodies of Marco may call him.' Mr Parry desired him to com- Botzaris and of General Normann. The coffin pose himself. He shed tears, and apparently was a rude, ill-constructed chest of wood; a black | sank into a slumber. Mr Parry went away ex-mantle served for a pall, and over it were placed pecting to find him refreshed on his return,- a helmet, a sword, and a crown of laurel. But no but it was the commencement of the lethargy funeral pomp could have left the impression, preceding his death. The last words I heard my nor spoken the feelings, of this simple ceremony. master utter were at six o'clock on the evening The wretchedness and desolation of the place of the 18th, when he said, 'I must sleep now;' itself, the wild and half-civilized warriors present, upon which he laid down never to rise again! their deep-felt, unaffected grief, the fond recolfor he did not move hand or foot during the lections, the disappointed hopes, the anxieties and following twenty-four hours. His lordship ap- sad presentiments which might be read on every peared, however, to be in a state of suffocation countenance-all contributed to form a scene more at intervals, and had a frequent rattling in the truly affecting than perhaps was ever before throat; on these occasions I called Tita to assist witnessed round the grave of a great man. When me in raising his head, and I thought he seemed the funeral service was over, the bier was left to get quite stiff. The rattling and choking in the middle of the church, where it remained in the throat took place every half-hour, and until the evening of the next day, guarded by a | we continued to raise his head whenever the fit detachment of his own brigade, when it was pricame on, till six o'clock in the evening of the vately carried back by his officers to his own 19th, when I saw my master open his eyes and house. The coffin was not closed till the 29th of then shut them, but without showing any symp- the month. tom of pain, or moving hand or foot. Oh! my God!' I exclaimed, 'I fear his lordship is gone!' the doctors then felt his pulse, and said, 'You are right-he is gone!'» On the day of this melancholy event, Prince Mavrocordato issued a proclamation expressive of the deep and unfeigned grief felt by all classes, and ordering every public demonstration of respect and sorrow to be paid to the memory of the illustrious deceased, by firing minute-guns, closing all the public-offices and shops, suspending the usual Easter festivities, and by a general mourning and funeral prayers in all the churches. It was resolved that the body should be embalmed, and after the suitable funeral honours had been performed, should be embarked for Zante,-thence to be conveyed to England. Accordingly the medical men opened the body and embalmed it, and having enclosed the heart, and brain, aud intestines in separate vessels, they On the 2d of May the remains of Lord Byron were embarked, under a salute from the guns of the fortress. «< How different, exclaims Count Gamba, «< from that which had welcomed the arrival of Byron only four months ago!» After a passage of three days, the vessel reached Zante, and the precious deposit was placed in the quarantine house. Here some additional precautions were taken to ensure its safe arrival in England, by providing another case for the body. On the 10th May, Colonel Stanhope arrived at Zante, from the Morea, and, as he was on his way back to England, he took charge of Lord Byron's remains, and embarked with them on board the Florida. On the 25th of May she sailed from Zante, on the 29th of June entered the Downs, and from thence proceeded to Stangate Creek, to perform quarantine, where she arrived on Thursday, July 1. John Cam Hobhouse, Fsq. and John Hanson, Esq., Lord Byron's executors, after having proved | his will, claimed the body from the Florida, and under their directions it was removed to the house of Sir Edward Knatchbull, Westminster, where it lay in state several days. A few select friends and admirers of the noble bard followed his remains to the grave. As the funeral procession passed through the streets of London, a fine-looking honest tar was observed to walk near the hearse uncovered, and on being asked whether he formed part of the cortège, he replied he came there to pay his respects to the deceased, with whom he had served in the Levant, when he made the tour of the Grecian islands. The poor fellow was offered a place by some of the servants; but he said he was strong, and had rather walk near the hearse. The interment took place on Friday, July 16th. Lord Byron was buried in the family vault, at the village of Hucknell, eight miles beyond Nottingham, and within two miles of the venerable Abbey of Newstead. He was accompanied to the grave by crowds of persons eager to show this last testimony of respect to his memory. As in one of his earlier poems he had expressed a wish that his dust might mingle with his mother's, his coffin was placed in the vault next to hers. It bore the following inscription: George Gordon Noel Byron, Lord Byron, of Rochdale, Born in London,' Jan. 22, 1788, died at Missolonghi, in Western Greece, April 19th, 1824. » Mr Dallas savs Dover. An urn accompanied the coffin, and on it was inscribed: Within this urn are deposited the heart, of the deceased Lord Byron. An elegant Grecian tablet of white marble, has been placed in the chancel of Hucknell church, with the following inscription in Roman capitals : IN THE VAULT BENEATH, WHERE MANY OF HIS ANCESTORS AND HIS MOTHER ARE BURIED, LIE THE REMAINS OF GEORGE GORDON NOEL BYRON, LORD BYRON, OF ROCHDALE, IN THE COUNTY OF LANCASTER; THE AUTHOR OF « CHILDE HAROLD'S PILGRIMAGE, » HE WAS BORN IN LONDON, ON THE 22D OF JANUARY, 1788. HE DIED AT MISSOLONGHI, IN WESTERN GREECE, ON THE 19TH OF APRIL, 1824, ENGAGED IN THE GLORIOUS ATTEMPT TO RESTORE THAT COUNTRY TO HER ANCIENT FREEDOM AND RENOWN. HIS SISTER, THE HONOURABLE AUGUSTA MARIA LEIGH, PLACED THIS TABLET TO HIS MEMORY. THE COMPLETE WORKS OF LORD BYRON. Hours of Idleness. Μήτ' ἄρ με μάλ' αἴνες, μήτε τι νείκει. HOMER. Iliad. 10. He whistled as he went for want of thought. DRYDEN. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE FREDERICK, EARL OF CARLISLE, KNIGHT OF THE GARTER, ETC. These Poems are Jnscribed, BY HIS OBLIGED WARD, AND AFFECTIONATE KINSMAN, THE AUTHOR. Tanoush thy battlements, Newstead, the hollow winds whistle; Thou, the hall of my fathers, art gone to decay; Of the mail-cover'd barons, who proudly, to battle No more doth old Robert, with harp-stringing numbers, On Marston, with Rupert 3 'gainst traitors contending, Four brothers enrich'd with their blood the bleak field; *Horistan Castle, in Derbyshire, an ancient seat of the Byron family. The battle of Marston Moor, where the adherents of Charles I. were defeated. For the rights of a monarch, their country defending, EPITAPH ON A FRIEND. Αστηρ πριν μεν ελάμπες ενι ζώοισιν έωος. LAERTIUS. On, Friend! for ever loved, for ever dear! 1 Son of the Elector Palatine, and related to Charles I. He after- Thou still hadst lived, to bless my aching sight, warda commanded the fleet, in the reign of Charles II. Thy comrade's honour, and thy friend's delight. |