LORD  BYRON  and  his  TIMES
Byron
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Recollections of the Life of Lord Byron
Contents
INTRODUCTION & INDEXES
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Table of Contents
Preliminary Statement
Chapter I
Chapter II
Chapter III
Chapter IV
Chapter V
Chapter VI
Chapter VII
Chapter VIII
Chapter IX
Chapter X
Chapter XI
Chapter XII
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RECOLLECTIONS

OF THE

LIFE OF LORD BYRON,


FROM THE YEAR

1808 TO THE END OF 1814;


EXHIBITING


HIS EARLY CHARACTER AND OPINIONS, DETAILING THE PROGRESS OF HIS
LITERARY CAREER, AND INCLUDING VARIOUS UNPUBLISHED
PASSAGES OF HIS WORKS.



TAKEN FROM AUTHENTIC DOCUMENTS.
IN THE POSSESSION OF THE AUTHOR.


BY THE LATE
R. C. DALLAS, Esq.


TO WHICH IS PREFIXED


AN ACCOUNT OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES LEADING TO THE SUPPRESSION
OF LORD BYRON’S CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE AUTHOR,
AND HIS LETTERS TO HIS MOTHER, LATELY
ANNOUNCED FOR PUBLICATION.






LONDON:

PRINTED FOR CHARLES KNIGHT, PALL-MALL-EAST.

MDCCCXXIV.





CONTENTS.

Preliminary Statement of the circumstances leading to the suppression of Lord Byron’s Correspondence with the Author, and of his Letters to his Mother—p. i to cxvii.

Note as to the birth place of Lord Byron—cxix.

Chap. I. p. 1—18.

Family connexions of Lord Byron—Juvenile Poems— “Hours of Idleness”—Letter of Mr. Dallas—agreeable communication from his Lordship—second Letter of 21st July, 1808, and reply to it—first interview with Lord Byron—pleasing impressions excited by the Poem strengthened by personal acquaintance—“engrafted” religious opinions—visit on his 21st birth-day—his indignation at Lord Carlisle’s behaviour estranges him from his family connexions—attack upon the Edinburgh Reviewers.

Chap. II. p. 19—47.

The Satire “British Bard and Scotch Reviewers”—originally printed in the country—considerably altered in preparing for publication—Letters of 24th Jan., 1809—variation of the title suggested—notices of Southey—
CONTENTS
Little—Lord Carlisle—progress through the press—publication offered to Longman and Co. and declined—published by Cawthorn—ideas suggested on reading the Poem—extracts from the original manuscript, with the printed variations—Lord Byron’s sensibility respecting his personal defect—Jeffery—Letter of the 6th of February, 1809—arrangement with the publisher of the Satire—Letter of the 7th of February, 1809—further alterations suggested—intercourse with Lord Byron during the publication—additions—argument originally intended to precede the Satire.

Chap. III. p. 48—67.

The death of Lord Falkland suggests some new passages in the Satire—Lord Byron naturally benevolent—effect of his feelings upon his countenance—publication of the Satire—takes his seat in the House of Lords—neglect of his relative Lord Carlisle—reception by the Lord Chancellor—repulsive coolness of Lord Byron—his reasons—leaves town for Newstead Abbey—Mr. Dallas’s Letter of the 17th of April, 1809—public notices of the Satire—additions and alterations in the Second Edition—his misanthropic feelings—he leaves England—presents Mr. Dallas with his Letters to his Mother.

Chap. IV. p. 68—90.

Letters to his Mother—influence of his literary repu-
CONTENTS
tation upon his mind—original intention of travelling—arrangements in his first will—rejects a proposal for the sale of Newstead Abbey—state of his affairs on quitting England—his travelling suite—route—Library of the convent at Mafra—adventure at Seville—Mr. Hobhouse—his propensity to noting. Entertainment at Yanina—Ali Pacha—palaces at Telapeen—introduction to Ali—his attention to Lord Byron—voyage from Previsa to Patras—hospitality of a Suliote—return to Yanina—grand children of Ali Pacha—swims across the Hellespont—determines to pass the summer of 1810 in the Morea—return of Mr. Hobhouse to England—advantages derived by Lord Byron from his travels—satisfaction at being alone, his mind reverting to its natural activity—intentions to be put in practice on his return to England—determination to appear no more as an author—the sale of Newstead again proposed to him—his objections—determination in the event of the sale being unavoidable—his return to England on the 2nd of July, 1811.

Chap. V. p. 91—126.

Announcement to Mr. Dallas of his return—Blackett, a poetical shoemaker—his patrons—death—his works published by Mr. Pratt—general observations on genius—Lord Byron’s remarks on Blackett and others—his arrival and interview with Mr. Dallas—intention respect-
CONTENTS
ing future publications—“Hints from Horace,” an unpublished Poem, with extracts—the MS of “Childe Harold” presented to Mr. Dallas—Letter of the 16th July—Lord Byron’s unfavourable opinion of the Poem—is persuaded to allow the publication of it, and consents to revise the manuscript—Cawthorne—Miller—arrangement with Murray—introductory Stanzas and improvements—illness of Lord Byron’s mother—departure for Newstead—protest against sceptical stanzas in Childe Harold.

Chap. VI. p. 127—152.

Lord Byron writes to Mr. Dallas from Newstead Abbey—death of his mother and his friends—despondency—Letter of condolence—he disclaims acuteness of feeling—estimate of his deceased friends—direct attack upon the Christian religion—declines metaphysical argument—outline of correspondence upon the subject—the discussion discouraged by Lord Byron—probability of a change in his opinions—Kirke White, and Chatterton—Townshend—Lord Byron’s moral feelings—ideas relative to his peculiar situation with society—his own opinion of impropriety—another death—Letter from Mr. Dallas, of the 27th of October.

Chap. VII. p. 153—to 187.

Reluctance of Lord Byron to attach his name to the publication of “Childe Harold”—intention to add to another
CONTENTS
edition—disclaims identity of character with the “Childe”—anxiety for the appearance of “Hints from Horace”—Letter of Mr. Dallas, with the first proof—Mr. Gifford—encouragement to complete the Poem—subjects pointed out—sceptical stanzas—reasons for abstaining from the avowal of improper sentiments and for attaching Lord Byron’s name to the Poem—Waller Wright—Kirke White—reasons that Mr. Gifford should not see the MS.—passages expressive of a disbelief in futurity—alteration—the fac simile—note to stanzas of the second Canto—Convention at Cintra—Letter of 3d of October, 1811—omissions—the objectionable stanzas—Letter relative to an objectionable note on Spain and Portugal—note—observations on detached passages of the Poem.

Chap. VIII. p. 188—218.

Retrospect—progress of the publication—depression of Lord Byron—Newstead Abbey—notice of the family—Capt. George Anson Byron—involvement of Lord Byron’s affairs—intention to reside in the Archipelago—abstemiousness—disturbances in Nottinghamshire—frame-breaking bill—Lord Holland’s debate on the bill—favourable impression of Lord Byron’s first speech—the speech.

Chap. IX. p. 219—239.

Anxiety for the success of the Poem—a review of “Childe Harold” precedes the publication through delay
CONTENTS
the printer of it—appearance of the Poem—terms suggested by the bookseller for the copyright—edition sold in three days—Newstead Abbey—Letter on Lord Byron’s affairs—Letters to Mr. Dallas’ family respecting Lord Byron and the Poem—Lord Byron universally complimented—arrangement for a second edition—reluctance of Mr. Dallas to accept the copyright—a copy sent by Lord Byron to Mrs. Dallas—another to his Lordship’s sister—his note written in his sister’s copy—literary reputation at this period, (March, 1812)—introduction to the Prince Regent—his intention to attend a levee—disappointment—change in his feelings and opinions—copy of Childe Harold, ordered by the Princess Charlotte to be magnificently bound—Letter from Dr. Clarke.

Chap. X. p. 240—263.

Evil consequences of the adulation with which Lord Byron was assailed—mingles with society—consequent suppression of the 5th edition of the “Satire” and “Hints from Horace”—edition destroyed—dissatisfaction of the publisher—Lord Byron speaks on the Catholic Question—his fame—change in his manners and opinions in consequence—an equivocal messenger—Newstead Abbey offered for sale by auction—sold by private contract for 140,000l.—contract voided, and 20,000l. forfeited—Mr. Dallas’ feeling respecting Newstead—notices of the Abbey, by Hor. Walpole, and in the Edinburgh Re-
CONTENTS
view—Lord Byron’s neglect of Mr. Dallas—retires to the country—intercourse recommenced upon his return to town in the beginning of 1813—Lord Byron’s proposition to write a novel jointly with Mr. Dallas—the commencement.

Chap. XI. 264—299.

The Giaour—Lord Byron’s wish that Mr. Dallas should print all his works after his death—Bride of Abydos—offer of the publisher—American Poem and the Edinburgh Review—Mr. Murray—the Corsair—copyright of the Poem presented to Mr. Dallas—dedicated to Mr. Moore—“Stanzas on a Lady Weeping.”—virulence of the press—Lord Byron annoyed by the accusation of receiving money for his writings—Letter to the Morning Post—effect of the Letter—rapid sale of the Corsair—Lara—Newstead Abbey—observations on Lara—engraved portraits of Lord Byron—posthumous volume—Lord Byron’s feelings toward Mr. Dallas—resolution to leave England upon the separation from Lady Byron—his wish that Mr. Dallas’ son should accompany him—final departure from England in 1816—tendency of his subsequent writings—estimate of his poetical and personal character—concluding remarks.

Chap. XII. p. 300—344.

Death of Mr. Dallas—intrusts the conclusion of the Recollections and its publication to his son—remarks on
CONTENTS
the general character of Lord Byron, as depicted in the preceding Chapters—publication of Medwin’s “Conversations”—observations on the character and tendency of that work, and upon the conduct of Lord Byron as therein portrayed—Letter of Mr. Dallas to Lord Byron of the 10th November, 1819—the original and acquired character of Lord Byron—his feelings upon religion—consequences of adulation upon the mind and conduct—regret of Mr. Dallas that from those consequences he had been instrumental in bringing Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage before the public—concluding passage from the original MS. of Mr. Dallas.


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