LIST OF PLATES.

LORD BYRON, AT THE AGE OF 17.... FROM A PORTRAIT BY SAUNDERS.

...... FROM A PICTURE BY SIR T. LAWRENCE, P.R.A.

TEMPLE OF THESEUS, AT ATHENS. W. PAGE.

TEMPLE OF VESTA, TIVOLI......... J. D. HARDING.

LORD BYRON

AT THE AGE OF 17.

From a Portrait painted by Saunders.

MR. D'ISRAELI, in his preface to the "Literary Character," says of Lord Byron :

"This man of genius was a moral phenomenon, which vanished at the moment when, by its indications, a change was silently operating on the most ductile and versatile of human minds. I consider, that had he lived the complete development of his powerful capacity, the elevation of his generous temper, in a word, the perfect formation of his character, would have been the necessary consequence of his nature. They who, while they ascribe his imperfections to a deficient education, and consider at the same time that this alleged cause was a bar against all perfection, only shew that they are not entitled to speculate upon the philosophy of the human mind.

“The man who, independent of a constant struggle after intellectual truth, perceptible in all his writings, had the power twice completely to revolutionise his principles of taste and his style of composition, and at

each great change attained greater excellence - this man can only be classed among the very highest and most capable intellects. The culture of Lord Byron was imperfect, but it could only have been perfected by his own solitary exertions; and that this perfection would have been consummated, is to me not a matter of doubt.

"If the mind of Byron were disorganised and unsettled, so also was it searching and inquisitive. His opinions, indeed, were already greatly changed his self-knowledge much increased-his knowledge of nature much more just - his knowledge of mankind much more profound. Already had he discovered that misanthropy is impossible, and that that sublime selfism, which would exist without the sympathies of life, only gratifies our vanity without satisfying our feelings. Another step, and he would have discovered that virtue is a reality, and happiness a positive existence. He would have found that the hum of human cities is not torture, that society is not a peopled desert, and that this world is only a place of strife and agony to those who are hostile, and, therefore, agonised.

"For his own fame he lived long enough; for society he died too soon. With all their errors, the works of Byron have elevated the character of his countrymen. Let us hope that that which he has left

LORD BYRON.

:

unperformed will not remain unfinished, and that the rising race, over whom he has had so powerful an influence, will not be left amidst a moral darkness and disorganisation a thousand times more fearful than the material darkness and disorganisation which he has so finely described. He has taught our youth to think they must now be taught to think justly. He has taught them to feel they must now learn to feel virtuously. In the pride of his eloquence the poet has proved the strength of human intellect, even when he has cursed, rather than deplored, its weakness. We must shew that there is no strength where there is no order; and that that existence, the objects of which were to him a source of doubt or dissatisfaction, is neither doubtful nor unsatisfactory, when, in the study of our nature, we become acquainted with its wants and its capacity."

Moore, in his "Life of Lord Byron," has sketched with great truth and power his constitutional peculiarities, as well as their influence upon the important events of his life events of common occurrence to common minds, but assailing his, produced those overwhelming bursts of indignation and of retribution, and that intense effervescence of a withering heart, which demanded the world's commiseration and sympathy.

"Had he been," says his friend and biographer, "of that class of unfeeling and self-satisfied natures