Conversations on Religion, with Lord Byron
Memorandum
MEMORANDUM.
While this work was in the course of publication, a
correspondence took place between the Editor and one of the parties interested in the
previous conversations; and as the Editor is desirous that full justice should be awarded
to each, she has decided that the ensuing extract should be inserted; it does equal honour
to the writer, and to the person who is the subject.
“I cannot but feel a degree of apprehension at your intention of
giving to the world an account of the discussions that took place at Cephalonia,
because the public generally judge harshly and hastily, and it is very difficult to
make them understand that a person of the purest principles and with the best
intentions may endeavour to reconcile the Christian dispensation with the prominent
attributes of the Deity—I mean his omnipotence, justice, and mercy. I have always
been impressed with the ![]()
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beauty and excellence of the moral code
which Christianity has revealed to mankind, and on that account I have been most
anxious to comprehend its more abstruse doctrines. I am quite certain that Lord Byron was very sincere in his inquiries into the
merits of Christianity. He entertained the highest respect for the character of
Dr. K., and was engaged to attend to him
from a complete conviction of his real goodness and sincerity,—indeed, he told
me, that had he not entertained that conviction, he would not have listened to
Dr. K. a second time. No man was ever better calculated to
inculcate the excellent precepts of Christianity with better success, for his whole
character seemed to have been imbued with its best principles: he was so gentle, so
good, so patient, and so persevering to secure the happiness of others, that it was
impossible not to feel pleased and grateful for his efforts; and my heart must be much
more insensible than it is at present, not to recollect them with becoming gratitude.
Yet the motives for inquiry are subject to the misinterpretation of illiberal and
narrow-minded individuals.”—1830.
THE END.
London: Printed by W. Clowes,
Stamford-street.
James Kennedy (1793 c.-1827)
Scottish physician in the British forces; his experiences with Byron in Cephalonia were
published as
Conversations on Religion with Lord Byron
(1830).
