good humour. You make sad havoc among "us youth." It is lucky that Mad. de Stael has published her antisuicide at so killing a time-November too! I have not read it for fear the love of contradiction might lead me to a practical confutation. Do you know her? I don't ask if you have heard her?-her tongue is the perpetual motion.

7.-To Miss Milbanke.
[EXTRACT.]

Feb. 19, 1814.

I am at present a little feverish-I mean mentally— and as usual on the brink of something or other, which will probably crush me at last, and cut our correspondence short, with everything else.

8. To Miss Milbanke.

[EXTRACT.]

March 3rd 1814.

I thank you very much for your suggestion on religion. But I must tell you, at the hazard of losing whatever good opinion your gentleness may have bestowed upon me, that it is a source from which I never did, and I believe never can, derive comfort. If I ever feel what is called devout, it is when I have met with some good of which I did not conceive myself deserving, and then I am apt to thank anything but mankind. On the other hand, when I am ill or unlucky, I philosophize as well as I can, and wish it were over one way or the otherwithout any glimpses at the future. Why I came here, I know not. Where I shall go to, it is useless to inquire. In the midst of myriads of the living and the dead worlds -stars-systems-infinity-why should I be anxious. about an atom?

III.]

A WOMAN'S INFLUENCE.

9.-To Miss Milbanke.

[EXTRACT.]

409

March 15th 1814.

yet there are several opinions of yours I want to request[?] Though I have 2 or 3 able, and, I believe, very sincere friends, there is something preferable to me in the delicacy of a woman's perceptions. Of this at least I am sure-I am more liable to be convinced by their arguments.

APPENDIX IV.

SIR WALTER SCOTT'S RECOLLECTIONS OF

BYRON.1

(See p. 193, note 1.)

My first acquaintance with Byron began in a manner rather doubtful. I was so far from having any thing to do with the offensive criticism in the Edinburgh, that I remember

1. "A few passages at the beginning of these recollections," says Moore, "have been omitted, as containing particulars relative "to Lord Byron's mother, which have already been mentioned in "the early part of this work. Among these, however, there is one "anecdote, the repetition of which will be easily pardoned, on "account of the infinitely greater interest as well as authenticity "imparted to its details by coming from such an eye-witness as Sir "Walter Scott. I remember,' he says, 'having seen Lord Byron's "mother before she was married, and a certain coincidence rendered "the circumstance rather remarkable. It was during Mrs. Siddons's "first or second visit to Edinburgh, when the music of that wonder"ful actress's voice, looks, manner, and person, produced the "strongest effect which could possibly be exerted by a human being "upon her fellow-creatures. Nothing of the kind that I ever wit"nessed approached it by a hundred degrees. The high state of "excitation was aided by the difficulties of obtaining entrance, and "the exhausting length of time that the audience were contented "to wait until the piece commenced. When the curtain fell, a "large proportion of the ladies were generally in hysterics.

"I remember Miss Gordon of Ghight, in particular, harrowing "the house by the desperate and wild way in which she shrieked out "Mrs. Siddons's exclamation, in the character of Isabella, "Oh my "Byron! Oh my Byron!" A well-known medical gentleman, "the benevolent Dr. Alexander Wood, tendered his assistance; but "the thick-pressed audience could not for a long time make way "for the doctor to approach his patient, or the patient the physician. "The remarkable circumstance was, that the lady had not then seen "Captain Byron, who, like Sir Toby, made her conclude with """Oh!" as she had begun with it.'"

IV.]

SCOTT'S MEETING WITH BYRON.

411

remonstrating against it with our friend, the editor, because I thought the Hours of Idleness treated with undue severity. They were written, like all juvenile poetry, rather from the recollection of what had pleased the author in others than what had been suggested by his own imagination; but, nevertheless, I thought they contained some passages of noble promise. I was so much impressed with this, that I had thoughts of writing to the author; but some exaggerated reports concerning his peculiarities, and a natural unwillingness to intrude an opinion which was uncalled for, induced me to relinquish the idea.

When Byron wrote his famous Satire, I had my share of flagellation among my betters. My crime was having written a poem (Marmion, I think) for a thousand pounds; which was no otherwise true than that I sold the copyright for that sum. Now, not to mention that an author can hardly be censured for accepting such a sum as the booksellers are willing to give him, especially as the gentlemen of the trade made no complaints of their bargain, I thought the interference with my private affairs was rather beyond the limits of literary satire. On the other hand, Lord Byron paid me, in several passages, so much more praise than I deserved, that I must have been more irritable than I have ever felt upon such subjects, not to sit down contented, and think no more about the matter.

I was very much struck, with all the rest of the world, at the vigour and force of imagination displayed in the first cantos of Childe Harold, and the other splendid productions which Lord Byron flung from him to the public with a promptitude that savoured of profusion. My own popularity, as a poet, was then on the wane, and I was unaffectedly pleased to see an author of so much power and energy taking the field. Mr. John Murray happened to be in Scotland that season; and as I mentioned to him the pleasure I should have in making Lord Byron's acquaintance, he had the kindness to mention my wish to his Lordship, which led to some correspondence.

It was in the spring of 1815 that, chancing to be in London, I had the advantage of a personal introduction to Lord Byron. Report had prepared me to meet a man of

peculiar habits and a quick temper, and I had some doubts whether we were likely to suit each other in society. I was most agreeably disappointed in this respect. I found Lord Byron in the highest degree courteous, and even kind. We met, for an hour or two almost daily, in Mr. Murray's drawing-room, and found a great deal to say to each other. We also met frequently in parties and evening society, so that for about two months I had the advantage of a considerable intimacy with this distinguished individual. Our sentiments agreed a good deal, except upon the subjects of religion and politics, upon neither of which I was inclined to believe that Lord Byron entertained very fixed opinions. I remember saying to him, that I really thought, that if he lived a few years he would alter his sentiments. He answered, rather sharply, "I suppose you are one of those who prophesy I will turn Methodist." I replied, "No ; I don't expect your conversion to be of such an ordinary kind. I would rather "look to see you retreat upon the Catholic faith, and distinguish yourself by the austerity of your penances. The "species of religion to which you must, or may, one day attach "yourself must exercise a strong power on the imagination." He smiled gravely, and seemed to allow I might be right.

66

On politics, he used sometimes to express a high strain of what is now called Liberalism; but it appeared to me that the pleasure it afforded him as a vehicle of displaying his wit and satire against individuals in office was at the bottom of this habit of thinking, rather than any real conviction of the political principles on which he talked. He was certainly proud of his rank and ancient family, and, in that respect, as much an aristocrat as was consistent with good sense and good breeding. Some disgusts, how adopted I know not, seemed to me to have given this peculiar and, as it appeared to me, contradictory cast of mind; but, at heart, I would have termed Byron a patrician on principle.

Lord Byron's reading did not seem to me to have been very extensive either in poetry or history. Having the advantage of him in that respect, and possessing a good competent share of such reading as is little read, I was sometimes able to put under his eye objects which had for him the interest of novelty. I remember particularly repeating to him