LORD  BYRON  and  his  TIMES
Byron
Documents Biography Criticism
Lady Morgan’s Memoirs
Sydney Inwood Jones to Lady Morgan, 17 October 1857
INTRODUCTION & INDEXES
DOCUMENT INFORMATION
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Preface
Vol. I Contents.
Prefatory Address
Chapter I
Chapter II
Chapter III
Chapter IV
Chapter V
Chapter VI
Chapter VII
Chapter VIII
Chapter IX
Chapter X
Chapter XI
Chapter XII
Chapter XIII
Chapter XIV
Chapter XV
Chapter XVI
Chapter XVII
Chapter XVIII
Chapter XIX
Chapter XX
Chapter XXI
Chapter XXII
Chapter XXIII
Chapter XXIV
Chapter XXV
Chapter XXVI
Chapter XXVII
Chapter XXVIII
Chapter XXIX
Chapter XXX
Chapter XXXI
Chapter XXXII
Chapter XXXIII
Chapter XXXIV
Chapter XXXV
Chapter XXXVI
Chapter XXXVII
Chapter XXXVIII
Vol. I Index
Vol. II Contents
Chapter I
Chapter II
Chapter III
Chapter IV
Chapter V
Chapter IV
Chapter VII
Chapter VIII
Chapter IX
Chapter X
Chapter XI
Chapter XII
Chapter XIII
Chapter XIV
Chapter XV
Chapter XVI
Chapter XVII
Chapter XVIII
Chapter XIX
Chapter XX
Chapter XXI
Chapter XXII
Chapter XXIII
Chapter XXIV
Chapter XXV
Chapter XXVI
Chapter XXVII
Chapter XXVIII
Chapter XXIX
Chapter XXX
Chapter XXXI
Chapter XXXII
Chapter XXXIII
Chapter XXXIV
Chapter XXXV
Chapter XXXVI
Chapter XXXVII
Chapter XXXVIII
Chapter XXXIX
Chapter XL
Vol. II Index
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Dublin,
October 17, 1857.
Dearest Lady Morgan,

Your last letter was so beautifully written, that it put me quite out, and I could not read it! It is too bad, after devoting the best part of my life to deciphering your dear old hieroglyphics, to be at this time of day treated to a common place, plain hand writing, that any one can read. Well, let it pass; and now for my news. The inauguration of Moore’s statue was a curious sight; and I believe that in no town in Europe could there have been another like it. Conceive a mob of, I should think, six thousand persons,
PASSING AWAY.539
collected, perfectly well disposed, and, I must say, far more civil and courteous than an English mob, for José and I passed through it (being separated from our gentlemen) without the slightest annoyance or pressure. We were at last discovered by Papa, who, in his capacity of steward of the committee, marshalled us up, with his long white wand of office, to seats near Lady Charlemont and Lord Carlisle. Conceive all this in the open streets, the gentlemen with their hats off, and the ladies in the most charming of light dresses. The speeches were all spoken from the little circle, of which Lord Carlisle was the centre. Lord Charlemont spoke with feeling and good taste; Lord Carlisle’s speech was all poetry and pathos, and was charmingly delivered; his quotations from Moore’s beautiful verses were very apposite; and of course he was enthusiastically applauded, for his speech did honour to his heart as well as his head, which you know always goes a great way with us in Ireland. But the speaker of the day, out and out for eloquence and extraordinary oratorical powers (such as I never heard, and could only imagine Grattan’s or Curran’s to have been) was Mr. O’Hagans’s! It was perfectly astounding. Now I understand what is called Irish eloquence. The immense flow of words of the best language, gave one the idea that his imagination was overflowing. It was extraordinary. I think, with all this, he would have no success in our English house of parliament; and that men would go to sleep on the benches with the word “bosh” on their lips, and they would not be altogether wrong.

540 LADY MORGAN'S MEMOIR.  

The Lord Mayor said his petit mot with the richest of Irish brogues, and with a simplicity that brought us all down from Moore’s pedestal (where the great orators had left us) to the shop in Grafton Street. He created a deal of merriment amongst the mob, who encouraged him with sundry “Don’t be frightened, my boy,” and “spake out like a man.” When all this was over, and the statue uncovered, I could not help thinking that it was the least inspiring object I ever saw. It is almost grotesque, and might be any one else than little Moore. The crowd dispersed in perfect good humour. The tops of houses, the roofs of the Bank and College, and lamp posts, were all crowded with spectators. It was really a very curious scene, and I was glad to witness it. And now good bye, dear, for I am quite tired after the Powerscourt fête of fêtes, from which we did not get home till five o’clock this morning, of which I shall tell you in my next.

S. I. J.