298 Sketches of Manners-The Hermit in London. [VOL. 4 sisted upon my playing at battledoor She had been twice up to the saddle in and shuttlecock with them, which I re- water, had been once nearly knocked luctantly did. At length, after the lapse down by the bough of a tree, and had of an hour, my Lord made his appear- taken some very desperate leaps. My ance, in a very slovenly undress, his Lord talked to the Curate all dinner hands quite dirty, and an unfinished time about farming, with all the ardour needle-case between his finger and of a novice, and all the ignorance imathumb. He had been turning in his ginable. Lady Ann and Lady Elizaworkshop (his favorite amusement) and beth quarrelled together most part of the apologized for his delay. His first anx- time about some trifling matter or other. iety was to show me his shop, his tools, Mademoiselle Martin appeared to be the and his performances. He then stunned great favourite of the young Officer; and me with the noise of a wheel, and pre- Lady Mary annoyed me by asking a sented me with a pen-case, which I could thousand silly questions about what was have bought, better done, for sixpence. doing in town-what was the last fashHis next care was to take me over his ion-if I could get her a new novel, and improvements, which business lasted the like. two hours, and fatigued me exceeding- The circulation of the bottle after ly. I had the honour to visit his dinner was slow and confined. The piggery, to get knee deep in ma- Parson drank two to one to his neighnure in his farm yard, to catch cold af- bour. The Militaire tippled wine and ter walking fast in his dairy, and to as- water, complaining of being feverish, sist him in reclaiming a horse which and took a walk with the young broke through a fence. In our walk, and their governess, who kept them runhe praised himself a good deal, talked to ning races, whilst she was flirting with me of the size of his cattle, and added the Captain. something about a cross in his sheep, which escaped my attention at the time, and which is not worth the trying to re member. ladies Lord Riverbank now proposed another walk, but I declined it on the score of my morning's fatigue. I accordingly went up to the drawing-room, We now came in to dress for dinner, where I found her Ladyship sleeping and the family assembled together. on the sofa, overcome with the hard Lord Greenthorn had caught three small riding of the hunt,and Miss M'Clintach, fish, and had pricked his finger whilst a Highland unmarried lady of about baiting his hook. The Sergeant was fifty, whose pardon I beg for not having heard in praise of Lady Ann, who per- named her at dinner. This Caledonian formed as well, he said, as if she had lady is the quintessence of old maidish-been an old soldier. Coachee was in- ness, yet affected in the extreme, and terrogated respecting Lady Elizabeth, much inclined to be taken for twentywho, he assured my Lord, would five years of She is so formal, age. in a short time make a very pretty however, withal, that she would not sit whip. The Governess's evidence was next a man at table, for fear that he not so favourable to Lady Mary, who, might touch her by accident with his she complained, would not be still a knee. minute. This was very bad; but Lady When the walking party returned, Mary stated in her defence, that it was cards were proposed; but we could not impossible whilst waltzing was going on. Inake up a party. Miss M'Clintach said My Lord patted her on the head, and, it did not do for young people to gamble, turning to me observed, She's a fine and (in a very broad accent) observed wild girl, an't she?" to which I assen- that cards were the decvle's bukes. ted. Waltzing was then mentioned; and two Dinner was now served up in a sump- couples started, whilst the third sister tuous style, but all was stiffness and played on the piano-forte. There was a formality. I was seated next to her quarrel at starting, as to who was to get Ladyship, whose conversation ran upon the Captain. The eldest daughter, howthe pleasures and the dangers of the chase. ever, claimed the right of primogeniture, VOL. 4.7 Sketches of Society--The Hermit in London. 299 whilst the second sister danced with hunting, and Lady Riverbank fishingtears in her eyes for disappointment, and had the young Lord been in the hands Mademoiselle looked as black as a of his drill serjeant, or driving out for thunder-cloud. I was set down to cards the purpose of becoming an able chariotwith the Parson, and lost every game at eer-had Lady Ann been dancing in the piquette. Lord Greenthorn established place of her governess-and had Lady a game at forfeits for the younger Elizabeth and the recumbent Lady Mary children, and in this Miss M'Clintach been employed at their music or at study, joined, by way of appearing young and whilst Mademoiselle might be altering innocent. When, however, it came to some dress-it strikes me that the purher turn to be saluted, she made a most suits of the family would have been desperate resistance, appealing to the more analogous to the age, sex, rank higher powers, and exclaiming very and understandings of its members. As loudly and in a most extreme northern for the turning, carpenter, and cabinetaccent, "A beg leave to state that a set making lines, they might have been my face against the measure entirely." omitted altogether. A roar of laughter from all quarters fol- We indeed hear of a Royal locksmith,. lowed this remark; and the cause was and of one king's making buttons, and given against the lady, who slapped the another crowned head being employed young Lord's face, and retired in a rage, in the art of embroidering (a courtly amidst thundering applause, or rather thing enough, when not performed by a thundering mirth at her expense. needle ;) yet cannot tailoring or any Fatigued with turning, Lord River- operative mean handicraft trade ever be bank now fell asleep; and I, taking the fitted for royalty, or even for manhood. hint, slipped unperceived to my room, The sceptre should never be exchanged where I noted down all the transactions for the hammer or saw, nor the sword of the day. After breakfast the follow- laid aside for the bodkin or scissors. To ing morning, I took my leave, resolved honest mechanics let such occupations never again to pass such a day in the be left, they are suited to their educa country, unless brought there on some tions and to their habits; but the noblemost urgent and pressing occasion. My man or gentleman who makes amuseLord's estate is a fine one, his house is ments of them, is surely much out of roomy and expensively fitted up; but his sphere. comfort is no where to be found in his domain; and as for improvements, there is great room yet for many more, beginning with the family itself. His mind must be sadly confined, and his time must hang heavy indeed, who would plane, and saw, and hammer,and nail, whilst the book of nature and of On my way home, I could not help science is spread out before him—whilst thinking that there was much truth in his library is open to his researches, the the remark of a Frenchman, who stated, whole face of the earth to his improveas his opinion, that we find in life fewer ment, and whilst his country may dethings positively and intentionally bad, mand his services in the senate or in the than things out of place, des choses de field. I beg pardon of the operative placées. This led me to consider the mechanical quality of my acquaintance, pursuits and pleasures of the Riverbank but I cannot help saying, that I would family, all innocent in themselves, but send a lord cabinet-maker, turner, or quite out of place, as if the family had tailor, to keep company with a lady changed sexes, sides and conditions, and shoe-maker, or farrier, for such there did every thing by a rule contrary to all are, and not at all admired by old established propriety. Thus had Lord Riverbank been stag THE HERMIT IN LONDON. 300 Lord Byron's Residence at the Island of Mitylene. LORD BYRON'S RESIDENCE AT MITYLENE. "The world was all before him, where to choose IN [VOL. 4 spacious closet annexed. They were all simply decorated: plain green-stained walls, marble tables on either side, a N sailing through the Grecian Ar- large myrtle in the centre, and a small chipelago, on board one of his Ma- fountain beneath, which could be made jesty's vessels, in the year 1812, we to play through the branches by moving put into the harbour of Mitylene, in the a spring fixed in the side of a small island of that name. The beauty of bronze Venus in a leaning posture: a this place, and the certain supply of cat- large couch or sofa completed the furnitle and vegetables always to be had ture. In the hall stood half a dozen there, induce many British vessels to English cane chairs, and an empty visit it, both men of war and merchant- book-case: there were no mirrors, nor men; and though it lies rather out of a single painting. The bed-chamber the track for ships bound to Smyrna, had merely a large mattress spread on its bounties amply repay for the devia- the floor, with two stuffed cotton quilts tion of a voyage. We landed, as usual, and a pillow-the common bed throughat the bottom of the bay, and whilst the out Greece. In the sitting room we men were employed in watering, and observed a marble recess, formerly, the the purser bargaining for cattle with the old man told us, filled with books and natives, the clergyman and myself took papers, which were then in a large seaa ramble to the cave called Homer's man's chest in the closet: it was open, School, and other places, where we had but we did not think ourselves justified been before. On the brow of Mount in examining the contents. On the Ida (a small monticule so named) we tablet of the recess lay Voltaire's, Shakmet with and engaged a young Greek speare's, Boileau's, and Rousseau's as our guide, who told us he had come works complete: Volney's Ruins of from Scio with an English lord, who Empires; Zimmerman, in the German left the island four days previous to our language; Klopstock's Messiah; Kotarrival in his felucca. "He engaged zebue's novels; Schiller's play of the me as a pilot," said the Greek, "and Robbers; Milton's Paradise Lost, an would have taken me with him, but I Italian edition, printed at Parma in did not choose to quit Mitylene, where 1810; several small pamphlets from I am likely to get married. He was the Greek press at Constantinople, much an odd, but a very good man. The torn, but no English book of any decottage over the hill, facing the river, scription. Most of these books were belongs to him, and he has left an old filled with marginal notes, written with man in charge of it: he gave Domi- a pencil, in Italian and Latin. nick the wine trader, six hundred zechines for it, (about 2501. English currency,) and has resided there about fourteen months, though not constantly; for he sails in his felucca very often to the different islands." The Messiah was literally scribbled all over, and marked with slips of paper, on which also were remarks. The old man said: "The lord had been reading these books the evening before he sailed, and forgot to place This account excited our curiosity them with the others; but," said he, very much, and we lost no time in has-"there they must lie until his return : tening to the house where our country- for he is so particular, that were I to man had resided. We were kindly move one thing without orders, he would received by an old man, who conducted frown upon me for a week together; us over the mansion. It consisted of he is otherways very good. I once did four apartments on the ground floor him a service; and I have the produce an entrance hall, a drawing-room, a of this farm for the trouble of taking sitting parlour, and a bed-room, with a care of it, except twenty zechines which VOL. 4.] Lord Byron's Residence at the Island of Mitylene. 301 I pay to an aged Armenian who re- Dominick, his banker, who had gone sides in a small cottage in the wood, to Candia. "The Armenian," said and whom the lord brought here from our conductor, “could tell, but I am Adrianople; I don't know for what sure he will not." reason.' "And cannot you tell, old friend ?" said I." If I can," 66 The appearance of the house exter- said he, “I dare not." We had not nally was pleasing. The portico in time to visit the Armenian, but on our front was fifty paces long and fourteen return to the town we learnt several broad, and the fluted marble pillars with particulars of the isolated lord. He had black plinths and fret-work cornices, portioned eight young girls when he (as it is now customary in Grecian ar- was last upon the island, and even chitecture,) were considerably higher danced with them at the nuptial feast. than the roof. The roof, surrounded He gave a cow to one man, horses to by a light stone balustrade, was covered others, and cotton and silk to the girls by a fine Turkey carpet, beneath an who live by weaving these articles. He awning of strong coarse linen. Most also bought a new boat for a fisherman of the house-tops are thus furnished, as who had lost his own in a gale, and he upon them the Greeks pass their even- often gave Greek Testaments to the ings in smoking, drinking light wines, poor children. In short, he appeared such as "lachryma christi," eating fruit, to us, from all we collected, to have and enjoying the evening breeze. been a very eccentric and benevolent On the left hand, as we entered the character. One circumstance we learnt, house, a small streamlet glided away, which our old friend at the cottage grapes, oranges, and limes were cluster- thought proper not to disclose. He had ed together on its borders, and under a most beautiful daughter, with whom the shade of two large myrtle bushes, a marble seat with an ornamental wooden back was placed, on which, we were told, the lord passed many of his evenings and nights till twelve o'clock, reading, writing, and talking to himself. "I suppose," said the old man, “praying, for he was very devout, and always at tended our church twice a week, besides Sundays." the lord was often seen walking on the sea-shore, and he had brought her a piano forte, and taught her himself the use of it. Such was the information with which we departed from the peaceful isle of Mitylene; our imaginations all on the rack,guessing who this rambler in Greece could be. He had money it was evident; he had philanthropy of disposiThe view from this seat was what tion, and all those eccentricities which may be termed "a bird's eye view." A mark peculiar genius. Arrived at Paline of rich vineyards led the eye to lermo, all our doubts were dispelled. Mount Calcla, covered with olive and Falling in company with Mr. Foster, myrtle-trees in bloom, and on the sum- the architect, a pupil of Wyatt's, who mit of which an ancient Greek temple had been travelling in Egypt and appeared in majestic decay. A small Greece, "The individual," said he, stream issuing from the ruins descended "about whom you are so anxious, in broken cascades, until it was lost in is Lord Byron; I met him in my trathe woods near the mountain's base. vels on the island of Tenedos, and I The sea smooth as glass, and an hori- also visited him at Mitylene."-We zon unshadowed by a single cloud, ter- had never then heard of his lordship's minates the view in front and a little fame, as we had been some years from on the left, through a vista of lofty ches- home: but " Childe Harold” being put nut and palm-trees, several small islands into our hands, we recognized the rewere distinctly observed, studding the cluse of Calcla in every page. Deeply light blue wave with spots of emerald did we regret not having been more cu. green. I seldom enjoyed a view more rious in our researches at the cottage, than I did this; but our enquiries but we consoled ourselves with the idea were fruitless as to the name of the per- of returning to Mitylene on some fuson who had resided in this romantic ture day but to me that day will solitude : none knew his name but never return. I make this statement, 302 Woman or Minor Maxims. A Sketch. [VOL. 4 believing it not quite uninteresting, and and over whose head Benevolence hath in justice to his lordship's good name, thrown her mantle. No man can read which has been grossly slandered. He the preceding pleasing" traits" without has been described as of an unfeeling feeling proud of him as a countryman. disposition, averse to associating with With respect to his loves or pleasures, human nature, or contributing in any I do not assume a right to give an way to soothe its sorrows or add to its opinion. Reports are ever to be receivpleasures. The fact is directly the re- ed with caution, particularly when diverse, as may be plainly gathered from rected against a man's moral integrity; these little anecdotes. All the finer and he who dares justify himself before feelings of the heart, so elegantly de- that awful tribunal where we all must picted in his lordship's poems, seem to appear, alone may censure the errors of have their seat in his bosom. Tender- a fellow-mortal. Lord Byron's characness, sympathy, and charity appear to ter is worthy of his genius. To do guide all his actions; and his courting good in secret, and shun the world's the repose of solitude is an additional applause, is the surest testimony of a reason for marking him as a being on virtuous heart, and self-approving conwhose heart Religion hath set her seal, science. JOHN M. MITFORD. WOMAN.* From the Literary Gazette, Oct. 1818. AMONG the friends of Mrs. Eger- more than patience, with delight, be ton is a Mrs. Barbara Maude, cause it would deliciously flavour the whose society is eagerly courted, although fruit and ripen the corn. she is not possessed of any of the brilliant attainments which are generally supposed to be necessary to those who would excel in conversation. The cause is thus explained : "Were the frailties of her acquaintances the theme of conversation, she was sure on the instant to recollect their merits, and as sure to make the latter outweigh the former. Was she told of the ill-natured observations passed on her own defects, she immediately set some remembered kindness against the satire, or acknowledged its justice; in either case escaping the sensations of anger and vexation. "It was the manner not the matter of Mrs. Barbara's discourses that possessed the charm to please the inveterate, incurable habit of looking always on the most cheerful side of events, on the most amiable points of character this was the whole secret of the maiden's "This propensity to blunt the thorns winning eloquence. Talk of the that strew the path of life, and to extract weather, she never failed to remember the sweets from all its flowers, accomthe past sunshine rather than the past panied her every hour, and in every act. gloom-to anticipate calms and not If she took a short walk into the village storms; a passing shower or pending or across the heath, she encountered tempest was certain to make her remark more agreeable events, and beheld more that fine weather always followed foul; pleasing objects, than Smellfungus and that tomorrow's serenity and beau- would have discovered in a voyage ty might overpay the roughness and round the world. Half an hour's chat cloudiness of to-day. Two days after with her after one of these little exthe twenty-first of December she began cursions was as enlivening as a fairy her dissertation on the charm of length- tale; she had met with so much goodening days, and with the first snow- ness-she had experienced so much drop commenced her anticipations of the kindness-she had witnessed so much approaching spring. She welcomed a beauty and so much novelty! flowers boisterous gale, because it would cer- bloomed fair and breathed sweet in untainly dissipate all unwholesome air; precedented perfection; the verdure of and she bore the summer-heat with fields and trees was never before so lovely-the lambs sported on purpose * See Ath. vol.24, page 267. |