I congratulate you on your project
of publishing the religious conversations which you had with the honourable
Lord Byron, of excellent memory; but I
regret that I am not able to give further information respecting his intentions
about Methodism, except that he was not decidedly attached to it, although he
manifested
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I would tell you rather, that there scarcely passed a day
which was not marked by some act of beneficence, in which the poor and the
unhappy ever presented themselves at his lordship’s door without being
certain of having the balm of consolation; that among the other fine qualities
which adorned his lordship, predominated that of a compassionate heart, and a
feeling beyond measure for the miserable and the unfortunate, and that his
purse was always open in their favour. It is unnecessary for me to speak of his
restoring to their country those Turks, amounting to twenty-five; this was
entirely his own work; nor shall I notice to you the expenses he incurred, or
his intentions with respect to the education of that little Turk and her mother, whom you were to have received, but
who unfortunately wished to return to Prevesa, where the father of the child
was. When any poor person was seriously sick, either by a fall or fracture, or
other causes, my lord, without being asked, immediately sent me to these
unhappy people to cure them, furnished them with medicines, and every other
necessary assistance. He was one of the first in Missolunghi who gave money for
establishing an hospital. Lord B. loved
justice above all things, and would not tolerate a falsehood even in jest. He
was endowed with a sincerity without example, and was tolerant in the highest
degree in matters of religion. His benefactions in Cephalonia you know
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With pleasure, however, I inform you, that you were the fortunate cause that I read and studied the New Testament profoundly, and acquired a great disposition towards conversion to Methodism. Nevertheless I am not yet entirely a Methodist with regard to the belief, but I am so perfectly, and among the most enthusiastic, for its political tendency to the public good*. Since I see in Methodism the united advantages of all other religions; and that which is of the greatest importance, and in which the churches with all their pomp, their monks, their priests, their religious ceremonies and other things are deficient—which, moreover, cost the
* Be it remembered that this term is his own, for I do not think Dr. K. ever used it; it is a word imported by the English among the Italians and other foreigners. It is evidently here used in a favourable sense, though too often the English apply it in ridicule of those who will not go to the same excess with themselves: lately, however, it has been found not emphatic enough, and the word “Saint” is now introduced to supply the defect. In the mind of Dr. Bruno, the term Methodism, or strict discipline, does not appear to be associated with any thing narrow, vulgar, or bigoted; indeed his admiration for the system, as he called it, is fully expressed. |
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These men would lose much of their power, if the people were all Methodists, and vice versâ, people would make a vast acquisition towards liberty, by believing in the pure Gospel. On this account, especially, I have made other Methodists, and am busily occupied in increasing the number; and those whom I cannot persuade, or sufficiently convince with reasoning, and with proofs from the sacred Scriptures, and from the New Testament, I lead to Methodism by this political way, so beautiful and so good. But that which is most curious, is, that whilst I wish to convince others, and to bring them, as you call it, “into the good way,” I convince even myself more deeply, and become the more ardent for this noble and advantageous reformation.
I do not speak to you of the death of the worthy Lord Byron, in order not to irritate a wound which
is sufficiently painful of itself. Let it suffice to mention, that there were
two powerful causes of his death. A young English
doctor, who, in order to make his court and please my lord, (who
was repugnant to blood-letting,) opposed himself always to my warm entreaties,
that blood should be drawn, and ridiculed the threat and the
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Accept my compliments, and present the same to your respected
consort; to Mr. Muir, and to Count Della-
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