Governor, to whom he had sent the rescued prisoners, and who, in this communication, thanked him for his humane interference, and requested a repetition of it. In the evening he conversed a good deal with Parry, who remained some hours by his bedside. "He sat up in his bed," says this officer, "and was then calm and collected. He talked with me on a variety of subjects connected with himself and his family; he spoke of his intentions as to Greece, his plans for the campaign, and what he should ultimately do for that country. He spoke to me about my own adventures. He spoke of death also with great composure, and though he did not believe his end was so very near, there was something about him so serious and so firm, so resigned and composed, so different from any thing I had ever before seen in him, that my mind misgave me, and at times foreboded his speedy dissolution." On revisiting his patient early next morning, Mr. Millingen learned from him, that having passed, as he thought, on the whole, a better night, he had not considered it necessary to ask Dr. Bruno to bleed him. What followed, I shall, in justice to Mr. Millingen, give in his own words. "I thought it my duty now to put aside all consideration of his feelings, and to declare solemnly to him, how deeply I lamented to see him trifle thus with his life, and show so little resolution. His pertinacious refusal had already, I said, caused most precious time to be lost;-but few hours of hope now remained, and, unless he submitted immediately to be bled, we could not answer for the consequences. It was true, he cared not for life; but who could assure him that, unless he changed his resolution, the uncontrolled disease might not operate such disorganization in his system as utterly and for ever to deprive him of reason?—I had now hit at last on the sensible chord; and, partly annoyed by our importunities, partly persuaded, he cast at us both the fiercest glance of vexation, and, throwing out his arm, said, in the angriest tone, 'There—you are, I see, a d-d set of butchers -take away as much blood as you like, but have done with it.' "We seized the moment," adds Mr. Millingen, "and drew about twenty ounces. On coagulating, the blood presented a strong buffy coat; yet the relief obtained did not correspond to the hopes we had formed, and during the night the fever became stronger than it had been hitherto. The restlessness and agitation increased, and the patient spoke several times in an incoherent manner." On the following morning, the 17th, the bleeding was repeated; for, although the rheumatic symptoms had been completely removed, the appearances of inflammation on the brain were now hourly increasing. Count Gamba, who had not for the last two days seen him, being con fined to his own apartment by a sprained ankle, now contrived to reach his room. "His countenance," says this gentleman, "at once awakened in me the most dreadful suspicions. He was very calm; he talked to me in the kindest manner about my accident, but in a hollow, sepulchral tone. 'Take care of your foot,' said he; ‘I know by experience how painful it must be.' I could not stay near his bed: a flood of tears rushed into my eyes, and I was obliged to withdraw." Neither Count Gamba, indeed, nor Fletcher, appear to have been sufficiently masters of themselves to do much else than weep during the remainder of this afflicting scenę. In addition to the bleeding, which was repeated twice on the 17th, MS. This gentleman is, I understand, about to publish the Narrative from which the above extract is taken. it was thought right also to apply blisters to the soles of his feet. “When on the point of putting them on," says Mr. Millingen, “Lord Byron asked me whether it would answer the p rpose to apply both on the same leg. Guessing immediately the mive that led him to ask this question, I told him that I would place them above the knees. 'Do so,' he replied." It is painful to dwell on such details, but we are now approaching the close. In addition to most of those sad varieties of wretchedness which surround alike the grandest and humblest deathbeds, there was also in the scene now passing around the dying Byron such a degree of confusion and uncomfort as renders it doubly dreary to contemplate. There having been no person invested, since his illness, with authority over the household, neither order nor quiet was maintained in his apartment. Most of the comforts necessary in such an illness were wanting; and those around him, either unprepared for the danger, were, like Bruno, when it came, bewildered by it; or, like the kindhearted Fletcher and Count Gamba, were by their feelings rendered no less helpless. "In all the attendants," says Parry, "there was the officiousness of zeal; but owing to their ignorance of each other's language, their zeal only added to the confusion. This circumstance, and the want of common necessaries, made Lord Byron's apartment such a picture of distress and even anguish during the last two or three days of his life, as I never before beheld, and wish never again to witness." The 18th being Easter day,-a holyday which the Greeks celebrate by firing off muskets and artillery,—it was apprehended that this noise might be injurious to Lord Byron and, as a means of attracting away the crowd from the neighbourhood, the artillery brigade was marched out by Parry, to exercise their guns at some distance from the town; while, at the same time, the town-guard patrolled the streets, and informing the people of the danger of their benefactor entreated them to preserve all possible quiet. About three o'clock in the afternoon, Lord Byron rose and went into the adjoining room. He was able to walk across the chamber, leaning on his servant Tita; and, when seated, asked for a book, which the servant brought him. After reading, however, for a few minutes, he found himself faint; and, again taking Tita's arm, tottered into the next room and returned to bed. At this time the physicians, becoming still more alarmed, expressed a wish for a consultation; and proposed calling in, without delay, Dr. Freiber, the medical assistant of Mr. Millingen, and Luca Vaya, a Greek, the physician of Mavrocordato. On hearing this, Lord Byron at first refused to see them; but being informed that Mavrocordato advised it, he said,-" Very well, let them come; but let them look at me and say nothing." This they promised, and were admitted; but when one of them, on feeling his pulse, showed a wish to speak— "Recollect," he said, "your promise, and go away." It was after this consultation of the physicians that, as it appeared to Count Gamba, Lord Byron was, for the first time, aware of his approaching end. Mr. Millingen, Fletcher, and Tita, had been standing round his bed; but the two first, unable to restrain their tears, left the room. Tita also wept; but, as Byron held his hand, could not retire. He, however, turned away his face; while Byron, looking at himsteadily, said, half smiling, "Oh questa è una bella scena." He then * For Mr. Millingen's account of this consultation, see Appendix. seemed to reflect a moment, and exclaimed, "Call Parry." Almost immediately afterward, a fit of delirium ensued; and he began to talk wildly, as if he were mounting a breach in an assault,-calling out, half in English, half in Italian, "Forwards-forwards-courage-follow my example," &c. &c. On coming again to himself, he asked Fletcher, who had then returned into the room, "whether he had sent for Doctor Thomas, as he desired?" and the servant answering in the affirmative, he replied, "You have done right, for I should like to know what is the matter with me." He had, a short time before, with that kind consideration for those about him which was one of the great sources of their lasting attachment to him, said to Fletcher, "I am afraid you and Tita will be ill with sitting up night and day." It was now evident that he knew he was dying; and between his anxiety to make his servant understand his last wishes, and the rapid failure of his powers of utterance, a most painful scene ensued. On Fletcher asking whether he should bring pen and paper to take down his words-" Oh no," he replied-" there is no time-it is now nearly over. Go to my sister-tell her-go to Lady Byron--you will see her, and say- Here his voice faltered, and became gradually indistinct; notwithstanding which he continued still to mutter to himself, for nearly twenty minutes, with much earnestness of manner, but in such a tone that only a few words could be distinguished. These, too, were only names,—“ Augusta”—“ Ada” -“Hobhouse”—“Kinnaird." He then said, "Now, I have told you all." "My lord," replied Fletcher, "I have not understood a word your lordship has been saying." "Not understand me?" exclaimed Lord Byron, with a look of the utmost distress, "what a pity!—then it is too late, all is over." "I hope not," answered Fletcher; "but the Lord's will be done." "Yes, not mine," said Byron. He then tried to utter a few words, of which none were intelligible, except "my sister-my child." The decision adopted at the consultation had been, contrary to the opinion of Mr. Millingen and Dr. Freiber, to administer to the patient a strong antispasmodic potion, which, while it produced sleep, but hastened, perhaps, death. In order to persuade him into taking this draught, Mr. Parry was sent for,* and, without any difficulty, induced him to swallow a few mouthfuls. "When he took my hand," says Parry, "I found his hands were deadly cold. With the assistance of Tita I endeavoured gently to create a little warmth in them; and also loosened the bandage which was tied round his head. Till this was done he seemed in great pain, clenched his hands at times, gnashed his teeth, and uttered the Italian exclamation of' Ah Christi!' He bore the loosening of the band passively, and, after it was loosened, shed tears; then taking my hand again, uttered a faint good 'ght, and sunk into a slumber." In about half an hour he again awoke, when a second dose of the strong infusion was administered to him. "From those about him," says Count Gamba, who was not able to bear this scene himself, "I collected that, either at this time, or in his former interval of reason, he could be understood to say-' Poor Greece !-poor town!—my poor From this circumstance, as well as from the terms in which he is mentioned by Lord Byron, it is plain that this person had, by his blunt, practical good sense, acquired far more influence over his lordship's mind than was possessed by any of the other persons about him. servants! Also, Why was I not aware of this sooner?' and 'My hour is come!-I do not care for death-but why did I not go home before I came here?' At another time he said, 'There are things which make the world dear to me [lo lascio qualche cosa di caro nel mondo]; for the rest, I am content to die.' He spoke also of Greece, saying, 'I have given her my time, my means, my health-and now I give her my life!-what could I do more ? "* It was about six o'clock on the evening of this day when he said, "Now I shall go to sleep; and then turning round fell into that slumber from which he never awoke. For the next twenty-four hours he lay incapable of either sense or motion,-with the exception of, now and then, slight symptoms of suffocation, during which his servant raised his head,—and at a quarter past six o'clock on the following day, the 19th, he was seen to open his eyes and immediately shut them again. The physicians felt his pulse-he was no more! To attempt to describe how the intelligence of this sad event struck upon all hearts would be as difficult as it is superfluous. He, whom the whole world was to mourn, had on the tears of Greece peculiar claim, as it was at her feet he now laid down the harvest of such a life of fame. To the people of Missolonghi, who first felt the shock that was soon to spread through all Europe, the event seemed almost incredible. It was but the other day that he had come among them, radiant with renown,-inspiring faith, by his very name, in those miracles of success that were about to spring forth at the touch of his ever-powerful genius. All this had now vanished, like a short dream: -nor can we wonder that the poor Greeks, to whom his coming had been such a glory, and who, on the last evening of his life, thronged the streets, inquiring as to his state, should regard the thunderstorm which, at the moment he died, broke over the town, as the signal of his doom, and, in their superstitious grief, cry to each other, "The great man is gone !" Prince Mavrocordato, who of all best knew and felt the extent of his country's loss, and who had to mourn doubly the friend of Greece and of himself, on the evening of the 19th issued this melancholy Proclamation. "PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT OF WESTERN GREECE. 66 ART. 1185. "The present day of festivity and rejoicing has become one of sorrow and of mourning. The Lord Noel Byron departed this life at six o'clock in the afternoon, after an illness of ten days; his death being caused by an inflammatory fever. Such was the effect of his lordship's illness on the public mind, that all classes had forgotten their usual recreations of Easter, even before the afflicting event was apprehended. "The loss of this illustrious individual is undoubtedly to be deplored by all Greece; but it must be more especially a subject of lamentation *It is but right to remind the reader, that for the sayings here attributed to Lord Byron, however natural and probable they may appear, there is not exactly the same authority of credible witnesses by which all the other details I have given of his last hours are supported. ↑ Parry's "Last Days of Lord Byron," p. 128. at Missolonghi, where his generosity has been so conspicuously displayed, and of which he had even become a citizen, with the further determination of participating in all the dangers of the war. "Everybody is acquainted with the beneficent acts of his lordship, and none can cease to hail his name as that of a real benefactor. "Until, therefore, the final determination of the National Government be known, and by virtue of the powers with which it has been pleased to invest me, I hereby decree, "1st. To-morrow morning, at daylight, thirty-seven minute guns will be fired from the Grand Battery, being the number which corresponds with the age of the illustrious deceased. “2d. All the public offices, even the tribunals, are to remain closed for three successive days. "3d. All the shops, except those in which provisions or medicines are sold, will also be shut; and it is strictly enjoined that every species of public amusement, and other demonstrations of festivity at Easter, shall be suspended. "4th. A general mourning will be observed for twenty-one days. "5th. Prayers and a funeral service are to be offered up in all the churches. (Signed) “ Given at Missolonghi, this 19th day of April, 1824." "A. MAVROCORDATO. "GEORGE PRAIDIS, Secretary. Similar honours were paid to his memory at many other places through Greece. At Salona, where the Congress had assembled, his soul was prayed for in the church; after which the whole garrison and the citizens went out into the plain, where another religious ceremony took place, under the shade of the olive-trees. This being concluded, the troops fired; and an oration, full of the warmest praise and gratitude, was pronounced by the High Priest. When such was the veneration shown towards him by strangers, what must have been the feelings of his near associates and attendants? Let one speak for all :-"He died," says Count Gamba, "in a strange land, and among strangers; but more loved, more sincerely wept, he never could have been, wherever he had breathed his last. Such was the attachment, mingled with a sort of reverence and enthusiasm, with which he inspired those around him, that there was not one of us who would not, for his sake, have willingly encountered any danger in the world." Colonel Stanhope, whom the sad intelligence reached at Salona, thus writes to the Committee:-"A courier has just arrived from the Chief Scalza. Alas! all our fears are realized. The soul of Byron has taken its last flight. England has lost her brightest genius, Greece her noblest friend. To console them for the loss, he has left behind the emanations of his splendid mind. If Byron had faults, he had redeeming virtues too-he sacrificed his comfort, fortune, health, and life, to the cause of an oppressed nation. Honoured be his memory!" Mr. Trelawney, who was on his way to Missolonghi at the time, describes as follows the manner in which he first heard of his friend's death:-"With all my anxiety I could not get here before the third day. It was the second, after having crossed the first great torrent, that I met some soldiers from Missolonghi, I had let them all pass me, ere I had resolution enough to inquire the news from Missolonghi. I then VOL. II.-LI 1 |