said, 'I must sleep now;' upon which he laid Oh! answer; upon which he said, 'you have done [parently sunk into a slumber. Mr. Parry right, for I should like to know what is the went away, expecting to find him refreshed matter with me.' Although his lordship did on his return, but it was the commencement not appear to think his dissolution was so near, of the lethargy preceding his death. The last I could perceive he was getting weaker every words I heard my master utter, were at six hour, and he even began to have occasional o'clock on the evening of the 18th, when he fits of delirium. He afterwards said, 'I now begin to think I am seriously ill, and in case I should be taken off suddenly, I wish to give you several directions, which I hope you will be particular in seeing executed.' I answered I would, in case such an event came to pass, but expressed a hope that he would live many years to execute them much better himself than I could. To this my master replied, No, it is now nearly over;' and then added, "I must tell you all, without losing a moment!' I then said, 'Shall I go, my lord, and fetch pen, ink, and paper?' 'Oh, my God! no; you will lose too much time, and I have it not to spare, for my time is now short,' said his lordship, and immediately after, 'Now, pay attention!" His lordship commenced by saying, 'You will be provided for.' I begged him, however, to proceed with things of more consequence. He It would be vain to attempt a description then continued, 'Oh, my poor dear child! my of the universal sorrow that ensued at Missodear Ada! my God! could I but have seen her! longhi. Not only Mavrocordato and his imGive her my blessing-and my dear sister mediate circle, but the whole city and all its Augusta, and her children; and you will go inhabitants were, as it seemed, stunned by this to Lady Byron, and say-tell her every thing, blow; it had been so sudden, so unexpected. -you are friends with her.' His lordship His illness, indeed, had been known, and for seemed to be greatly affected at this moment. the last three days none of his friends could Here my master's voice failed him, so that I walk in the streets, without anxious inquiries could only catch a word at intervals; but he from every one, of "How is my lord?" kept muttering something very seriously for On the day of this melancholy event, Prince some time, and would often raise his voice, Mavrocordato issued a proclamation expresand said, 'Fletcher, now if you do not exe-sive of the deep and unfeigned grief felt by all cute every order which I have given you, I classes, and ordering every public demonstrawill torment you hereafter, if possible.' Here tion of respect and sorrow to be paid to the I told his lordship, in a state of the greatest memory of the illustrious deceased, by firing perplexity, that I had not understood a word minute-guns, closing all the public offices and of what he said; to which he replied, Oh, shops, suspending the usual Easter festivities, my God! then all is lost, for it is now too late! and by a general mourning, and funeral prayCan it be possible you have not understood ers in all the churches. It was resolved that me?'-'No, my lord,' said I, 'but I pray you the body should be embalmed, and after the to try and inform me once more.' 'How can suitable funeral honours had been performed, I?' rejoined my master, 'it is now too late, should be embarked for Zante,-thence to be and all is over!' I said, 'Not our will, but conveyed to England. Accordingly the medGod's be done!'-and he answered, 'Yes, not ical men opened the body and embalmed it, and mine be done!—but I will try.' His lordship having enclosed the heart, and brain, and indid indeed make several efforts to speak, but testines in separate vessels, they placed it in could only speak two or three words at a time, a chest lined with tin, as there were no means ---such as 'My wife! my child! my sister!of procuring a leaden coffin capable of holdyou know all-you must say all-you knowing the spirits necessary for its preservation my wishes'-the rest was quite unintelligible, on the voyage. Dr. Bruno drew up an acA consultation was now held (about noon), count of the examination of the body, by when it was determined to administer some which it appeared his lordship's death had Peruvian bark and wine. My master had been caused by an inflammatory fever. Dr. now been nine days without any sustenance Meyer, a Swiss physician, who was present, whatever, except what I have already men- and had accidentally seen Madame de Stael tioned. With the exception of a few words, after her death, stated, that the formation of which can only interest those to whom they the brain in both these illustrious persons was were addressed, and which, if required, I shall extremely similar, but that Lord Byron had communicate to themselves, it was impossible a much greater quantity. to understand any thing his lordship said after On the 22d of April, 1824, in the midst of taking the bark. He expressed a wish to his own brigade, of the troops of the govein. sleep. I at one time asked whether I should ment, and of the whole population, on the call Mr. Parry, to which he replied, Yes, shoulders of the officers of his corps, relieved you may call him.' Mr. Parry desired him occasionally by other Greeks, the most preto compose himself. He shed tears, and ap-cious portion of his honoured remains were D An urn accompanied the coffin, and on it “Within this urn are deposited the heart, brain, etc. of the deceased Lord Byron." interment took place. Lord Byron was buried in the family vault, at the village of Huck- was inscribed: nall, 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 An elegant Grecian tablet of white marble, testimony of respect to his memory. In one has been placed in the chancel of the Hucknall of his earlier poems, he had expressed a wish church. We subjoin a copy of the inscripthat his dust might mingle with his mother's, tion. and, in compliance with this wish, his coffin was placed in the vault next to hers. It was vided into lines, as under: The words are in Roman capitals, and ditwenty minutes past four o'clock, on Friday, July 16th, 1824, when the ceremony was con IN THE VAULT BENEATH, cluded, when the tomb closed for ever on By- WHERE MANY OF HIS ANCESTORS AND HIS MOTHER ron, and when his friends were relieved from every care concerning him, save that of doing justice to his memory, and of cherishing his fame. The following inscription was placed on THE the coffin: "George Gordon Noel Byron, Lord Byron, 1 Mr. Dallas says Dover which is undoubtedly correct. ARE BURIED, LIE THE REMAINS OF GEORGE GORDON NOEL BYRON, LORD BYRON, OF ROCHDALE, IN THE COUNTY OF LANCASTER; AUTHOR OF "CHILDE HAROLD'S PILGRIMAGE." HE WAS BORN IN LONDON, ON THE HE DIED AT MISSOLONGHI, IN WESTERN GREECE, ENGAGED IN THE GLORIOUS ATTEMPT TO RESTORE HIS SISTER, THE HONOURABLE PLACED THIS TABLET TO HIS MEMORY. |