out of this damnable commercial speculation of Gamba's, for it is one of those pieces of impudence or folly which I don't forgive him in a hurry. I will of course see Stevens free of expense out of the transaction;-by the way, the Greek of a Corfiote has thought proper to draw a bill, and get it discounted at 24 dollars: if I had been there, it should have been protested also. "Mr. Blackett is here ill, and will soon set out for Cephalonia. He came to me for some pills, and I gave him some reserved for particular friends, and which I never knew any body recover from under several months; but he is no better, and, what is odd, no worse; and as the doctors have had no better success with him than I, he goes to Argostoli, sick of the Greeks and of a constipation. "I must reiterate my request for specie, and that speedily, otherwise public affairs will be at a stand-still here. I have undertaker to pay the Suliotes for a year, to advance in March 3000 dollars, besides, to the Government for a balance due to the troops, and some other smaller matters for the Germans, and the press, &c. &c. &c.; so that with these, and the expenses of my suite, which, though not extravagant, is expensive, with Gamba's d-d nonsense, I shall have occasion for all the monies I can muster; and I have credits wherewithal to face the undertakings, if realised, and expect to have more soon. "Believe me ever and truly yours, &c." fated to see, — he came from his bedroom into the apartment where Colonel Stanhope and some others were assembled, and said with a smile, "You were complaining the other day that I never 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 to them those beautiful stanzas, which, though already known to most readers, are far too affectingly associated with this closing scene of his life to be omitted among its details. Taking into consideration, indeed, every thing connected with these verses, the last tender aspirations of a loving spirit which they breathe, the self-devotion to a noble cause which they so nobly express, and that consciousness of a near grave glimmering sadly through the whole, - there is perhaps no production within the range of mere human composition, round which the circumstances and feelings under which it was written cast so touching an interest. "JANUARY 22D. "ON THIS DAY I COMPLETE MY THIRTY-SIXTH YEAR. 1. ""Tis time this heart should be unmoved, 2. "My days are in the yellow leaf; The flowers and fruits of love are gone; The worm, the canker, and the grief Are mine alone! DAY. CHAPTER LIV 1824. MISSOLONGHI.- LORD BYRON'S LAST BIRTH- SENDS 3. "The fire that on my bosom preys 4. "The hope, the fear, the jealous care, The exalted portion of the pain And power of love, I cannot share, But wear the chain. 5. "But 't is not thus - and 't is not here— Such thoughts should shake my soul, nor now, Where glory decks the hero's bier, Or binds his brow. 6. "The sword, the banner, and the field, Glory and Greece, around me see! The Spartan, borne upon his shield, Was not more free. 7. "Awake! (not Greece-she is awake !) 8. "Tread those reviving passions down, Unworthy manhood!- unto thee Indifferent should the smile or frown Of beauty be. 9. "If thou regret'st thy youth, why live? The land of honourable death Is here:- up to the field, and give 10. "Seek out-less often sought than foundA soldier's grave, for thee the best; Then look around, and choose thy ground, And take thy rest." "We perceived," says Count Gamba, "from these lines, as well as from his daily conversations, that his ambition and his hope were irrevocably fixed upon the glorious objects of his expedition to Greece, and that he had made up his mind to return victorious, or return no more.' Indeed, he often said to me, Others may do as they please they may go but I stay here, that is certain.' The same determination was expressed in his letters to his friends; and this resolution was not unaccompanied with the very natural presentiment that he should never leave Greece alive. He one day asked his faithful servant, Tita, whether he thought of returning to Italy? Yes,' said Tita: if your Lordship goes, I go.' Lord Byron smiled, and said, No, Tita, I shall never go back from Greece- - either the Turks, or the Greeks, or the climate, will prevent that.'" LETTER 540. TO MR. CHARLES HANCOCK. Missolonghi, February 5. 1824. "Dr. Muir's letter and yours of the 23d reached me some days ago. Tell Muir that I am glad of his promotion for his sake, and of his remaining near us for all our sakes; though I cannot but regret Dr. Kennedy's departure, which accounts for the previous earthquakes and the present English weather in this climate. With all respect to my medical pastor, I have to announce to him, that amongst other fire-brands, our firemaster Parry (just landed) has disembarked an elect blacksmith, intrusted with three hundred and twenty-two Greek Testaments. I have given him all facilities in my power for his works spiritual and temporal; and if he can settle matters as easily with the Greek Archbishop and hierarchy, I trust that neither the heretic nor the supposed sceptic will be accused of intolerance. "By the way, I met with the said Archbishop at Anatolico (where I went by invitation of the Primates a few days ago, and was received with a heavier cannonade than the Turks, probably,) for the second time (I had known him here before); and he and P. Mavrocordato, and the Chiefs and Primates and I, all dined together, and I thought the metropolitan the merriest of the party, and a very good Christian for all that. But Gamba (we got wet through on our way back) has been ill with a fever and colic; and Luke has been out of sorts too, and so have some others of the people, and I have been very well, except that I caught cold yesterday, with swearing too much in the rain at the Greeks, who would not bear a hand in landing the Committee stores, and nearly spoiled our combustibles; but I turned out in person, and made such a row as set them in motion, blaspheming at them from the Government downwards, till they actually did some part of what they ought to have done several days before, and this is esteemed, as it deserves to be, a wonder. "Tell Muir that, notwithstanding his remonstrances, which I receive thankfully, it is perhaps best that I should advance with the troops; for if we do not do something soon, we shall only have a third year of defensive operations and another siege, and all that. We hear that the Turks are coming down in force, and sooner than usual; and as these fellows do mind me a little, it is the opinion that I should go, firstly, because they will sooner listen to a foreigner than one of their own people, out of native jealousies; secondly, because the Turks will sooner treat or capitulate (if such occasion should happen) with a Frank than a Greek; and, thirdly, because nobody else seems disposed to take the responsibility- Mavrocordato being very busy here, the foreign military men too young or not of authority enough to be obeyed by the natives, and the Chiefs (as aforesaid) inclined to obey any one except, or rather than, one of their own body. As for me, I am willing to do what I am bidden, and to follow my instructions. I neither seek nor shun that nor any thing else they may wish me to attempt: as for personal safety, besides that it ought not to be a consideration, I take it that a man is on the whole as safe in one place as another; and, after all, he had better end with a bullet than bark in his body. If we are not taken off with the sword, we are like to march off with an ague in this mud basket; and to conclude with a very bad pun, to the ear rather than to the eye, better martially than marsh-ally; the situation of Missolonghi is not unknown to you. The dykes of Holland when broken down are the Deserts of Arabia for dryness, in comparison. I cannot tell; but, between Suliote chiefs, German barons, English volunteers, and adventurers of all nations, we are likely to form as goodly an allied army as ever quarrelled beneath the same banner. "And now for the sinews of war. "Well, it seems that I am to be Comthank you and Mr. Barff for your ready mander-in-Chief, and the post is by no means answers, which, next to ready money, is a a sinecure, for we are not what Major Sturpleasant thing. Besides the assets and ba- geon calls 'a set of the most amicable officers.' lance, and the relics of the Corgialegno cor- Whether we shall have a boxing bout berespondence with Leghorn and Genoa, (Itween Captain Sheers and the Colonel,' I sold the dog flour, tell him, but not at his price,) I shall request and require, from the beginning of March ensuing, about five thousand dollars every two months, i. e. about twenty-five thousand within the current year, at regular intervals, independent of the sums now negotiating. I can show you documents to prove that these are considerably within my supplies for the year in more ways than one; but I do not like to tell the Greeks exactly what I could or would advance on an emergency, because otherwise, they will double and triple their demands (a disposition that they have already sufficiently shown): and though I am willing to do all I can when necessary, yet I do not see why they should not help a little; for they are not quite so bare as they pretend to be by some accounts. "February 7. 1824. "February 8. 1824. Interrupted again by business yesterday, and it is time to conclude my letter. I drew some time since on Mr. Barff for a thousand dollars, to complete some money wanted by the Government. The said Government got cash on that bill here, and at a profit; but the very same fellow who gave it to them, after proposing to give me money for other bills on Barff to the amount of thirteen hundred dollars, either could not, or thought better of it. I had written to Barff advising him, but had afterwards to write to tell him of the fellow's having not come up to time. "I have been interrupted by the arrival of You must really send me the balance soon. Parry, and afterwards by the return of Hes- I have the artillerists and my Suliotes to keth, who has not brought an answer to my pay, and Heaven knows what besides; and epistles, which rather surprises me. You as every thing depends upon punctuality, all will write soon, I suppose. Parry seems a our operations will be at a stand-still unless fine rough subject, but will hardly be ready you use despatch. I shall send to Mr. Barff for the field these three weeks; he and I or to you further bills on England for three will (I think) be able to draw together, at thousand pounds, to be negotiated as speedleast, I will not interfere with or contradictily as you can. I have already stated here him in his own department. He complains grievously of the mercantile and enthusymusy part of the Committee, but greatly praises Gordon and Hume. Gordon would have given three or four thousand pounds and come out himself, but Kennedy or somebody else disgusted him, and thus they have spoil-firm what I have already stated. How much part of their subscription and cramped their operations. Parry says B * * * is a humbug, to which I say nothing. He sorely laments the printing and civilising expenses, and wishes that there was not a Sundayschool in the world, or any school here at present, save and except always an academy for artilleryship. ed 66 -- He complained also of the cold, a little to my surprise; firstly, because, there being no chimneys, I have used myself to do with out other warmth than the animal heat and one's cloak, in these parts; and, secondly, because I should as soon have expected to hear a volcano sneeze, as a firemaster (who is to burn a whole fleet) exclaim against the atmosphere. I fully expected that his very approach would have scorched up the town like the burning-glasses of Archimedes. and formerly the sums I can command at home within the year, without including my credits, or the bills already negotiated or negotiating, as Corgialegno's balance of Mr. Webb's letter, and my letters from my friends (received by Mr. Parry's vessel) con I may require in the course of the year I can't tell, but I will take care that it shall not exceed the means to supply it. "Yours ever, N. B. "P. S.-I have had, by desire of a Mr. Jerostati, to draw on Demetrius Delladecima (is it our friend in ultima analise?) to pay the Committee expenses. I really do not understand what the Committee mean by some of their freedoms. Parry and I get on very well hitherto: how long this may last, Heaven knows, but I hope it will, for a good deal for the Greek service depends upon it; but he has already had some miffs with Col. S., and I do all I can to keep the peace amongst them. However, Parry is a fine fellow, extremely active, and of strong, sound, practical talents, by all accounts. Enclosed are bills for three thousand pounds, drawn in the mode directed (i. e. parcelled out in smaller bills). A good opportunity occurring for Cephalonia to send letters on, I avail myself of it. Remember me to Stevens and to all friends. Also my compliments and every thing kind to the colonels and officers. out of the hands of some Greek sailors; and, towards the end of the month, having learned that there were a few Turkish prisoners in confinement at Missolonghi, he requested of the Government to place them at his disposal, that he might send them to Yussuff Pacha. In performing this act of humane policy, he transmitted with the rescued captives the fol LETTER 541. 'Highness! TO HIS HIGHNESS YUSSUFF "February 9. 1824. "P. S. 2d or 3d. I have reason to ex-lowing letter: :pect a person from England directed with papers (on business) for me to sign, somewhere in the Islands, by and by if such should arrive, would you forward him to me by a safe conveyance, as the papers regard a transaction with regard to the adjustment of a lawsuit, and a sum of several thousand pounds, which I, or my bankers and trustees for me, may have to receive (in England) in consequence. The time of the probable arrival I cannot state, but the date of my letters is the 2d Nov., and I suppose that he ought to arrive soon.' "Lord Byron possesses all the means of playing a great part in the glorious revolution of Greece. He has talent; he professes liberal principles; he has money, and is inspired with fervent and chivalrous feelings. He has commenced his career by two good measures 1st, by recommending union, and declaring himself of no party; and, 2dly, by taking five hundred Suliotes into pay, and acting as their chief. These acts cannot fail to render his Lordship universally_popular, and proportionally powerful. Thus advantageously circumstanced, his Lordship will have an opportunity of realising all his professions." "A vessel, in which a friend and some domestics of mine were embarked, was detained a few days ago, and released by order of your Highness. I have now to thank you; not for liberating the vessel, which, as carrying a neutral flag, and being under British protection, no one had a right to detain; but for having treated my friends with so much kindness while they were in your hands. "In the hope, therefore, that it may not be altogether displeasing to your Highness, I have requested the governor of this place to release four Turkish prisoners, and he has humanely consented to do so. I lose no time, therefore, in sending them 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, that your Highness will treat such Greeks as may henceforth fall into your hands with humanity; more especially since the horrors of war are sufficiently great in themselves, without being aggravated by wanton cruelties on either side. NOEL BYRON." Another favourite, and, as it appeared for some time, practicable object, on which he had most ardently set his heart, was the intended attack upon Lepanto a fortified town', That the inspirer, however, of these hopes which, from its command of the navigation was himself far from participating in them, is of the Gulf of Corinth, is a position of the a fact manifest from all he said and wrote on first importance. "Lord Byron," says Cothe subject, and but adds painfully to the lonel Stanhope, in a letter dated January 14., interest which his position at this moment "burns with military ardour and chivalry, and excites. Too well, indeed, did he both un- will accompany the expedition to Lepanto." derstand and feel the difficulties into which The delay of Parry, the engineer, who had he was plunged to deceive himself into any been for some months anxiously expected such sanguine delusions. In one only of the with the supplies necessary for the formation objects to which he had looked forward with of a brigade of artillery, had hitherto paraany hope, that of endeavouring to human-lysed the preparations for this important ise, by his example, the system of warfare on enterprise; though, in the mean time, whatboth sides, had he yet been able to gratify ever little could be effected, without his aid, himself. Not many days after his arrival an opportunity, as we have seen, had been afforded him of rescuing an unfortunate Turk 1 The ancient Naupactus, called Epacto by the modern Greeks, and Lepanto by the Italians. had been put in progress both by the appointment of a brigade of Suliotes to act under Lord Byron, and by the formation, at the joint expense of his Lordship and Colonel Stanhope, of a small corps of artillery. It was towards the latter end of January, as we have seen, that Lord Byron received his regular commission from the Government, as Commander of the expedition. In conferring upon him full powers, both civil and military, they appointed, at the same time, a Military Council to accompany him, composed of the most experienced Chieftains of the army, with Nota Bozzari, the uncle of the famous warrior, at their head. It had been expected that, among the stores sent with Parry, there would be a supply of Congreve rockets,—an instrument of warfare of which such wonders had been related to the Greeks as filled their imaginations with the most absurd ideas of its powers. Their disappointment, therefore, on finding that the engineer had come unprovided with these missiles was excessive. Another hope, too, that of being enabled to complete an artillery corps by the accession of those Germans who had been sent for into the Morea, was found almost equally fallacious; that body of men having, from the death or retirement of those who originally composed it, nearly dwindled away; and the few officers that now came to serve being, from their fantastic notions of rank and etiquette, far more troublesome than useful. In addition to these discouraging circumstances, the five Speziot ships of war which had for some time formed the sole protection of Missolonghi were now returned to their home, and had left their places to be filled by the enemy's squadron. Perplexing as were all these difficulties in the way of the expedition, a still more formidable embarrassment presented itself in the turbulent and almost mutinous disposition of those Suliote troops on whom he mainly depended for success in his undertaking. Presuming as well upon his wealth and generosity as upon their own military importance, these unruly warriors had never ceased to rise in the extravagance of their demands upon him; - the wholly destitute and homeless state of their families at this moment affording but too well-founded a pretext both for their exaction and discontent. Nor were their leaders much more amenable to 1 This brave Moriote, when Lord Byron first knew him, was particularly boyish in his aspect and manners, but still cherished, under this exterior, a mature spirit of patriotism which occasionally broke forth; and the noble poet used to relate that, one day, while they were playing at draughts together, on the name of Riga being management than themselves. "There were," says Count Gamba, "six heads of families among them, all of whom had equal pretensions both by their birth their and exploits; and none of whom would obey any one of his comrades." A serious riot to which, about the middle of January, these Suliotes had given rise, and in which some lives were lost, had been a source of much irritation and anxiety to Lord Byron, as well from the ill-blood it was likely to engender between his troops and the citizens, as from the little dependence it gave him encouragement to place upon materials so unmanageable. Notwithstanding all this, however, neither his eagerness nor his efforts for the accomplishment of this sole personal object of his ambition ever relaxed a single instant. To whatever little glory was to be won by the attack upon Lepanto, he looked forward as his only reward for all the sacrifices he was making. In his conversations with Count Gamba on the sub ject, "though he joked a good deal," says this gentleman, " about his post of Archistrategos,' or Commander-in-Chief, it was plain that the romance and the peril of the undertaking were great allurements to him." When we combine, indeed, his determination to stand, at all hazards, by the cause, with the very faint hopes his sagacious mind would let him indulge as to his power of serving it, I have little doubt that the "soldier's grave" which, in his own beautiful verses, he marked out for himself, was no idle dream of poetry; but that, on the contrary, his "wish was father to the thought," and that to an honourable death, in some such achievement as that of storming Lepanto, he looked forward, not only as the sole means of redeeming worthily the great pledge he had now given, but as the most signal and lasting service that a name like his, -echoed, as it would then be, among the watch-words of Liberty, from age to age,- could bequeath to her |