with that kind consideration for those about him which was one of the great sources of their lasting attachment to him, said to Fletcher, I am afraid you and Tita will be ill with sitting up night and day.' It was now evident that he knew he was dying; and between his anxiety to make his servant understand his last wishes, and the rapid failure of his powers of utterance, a most painful scene ensued. On Fletcher asking whether he should bring pen and paper to take down his words- Oh no,' he replied- there is no time it is now nearly over. Go to my sister-tell her-go to Lady Byron-you will see her, and say

Here his voice faltered, and became gradually indistinct; notwithstanding which he continued still to mutter to himself, for nearly twenty minutes, with much earnestness of manner, but in such a tone that only a few words could be distinguished. These, too, were only names,- Augusta,'-' Ada'- Hobhouse,' -Kinnaird.' He then said, 'Now, I have told you 'all.' My lord,' replied Fletcher, I have not un'derstood a word your lordship has been saying.' 'Not understand me?' exclaimed Lord Byron, with a look of the utmost distress, what a pity!-then it is too late, all is over.' 'I hope not,' answered Fletcher; but the Lord's will be done.' 'Yes, not mine,' said Byron. He then tried to utter a few words, of which none were intelligible, except my sister-my child.'

The decision adopted at the consultation had been, contrary to the opinion of Mr. Millingen and Dr. Freiber, to administer to the patient a strong antispasmodic potion, which, while it produced sleep, but hastened, perhaps, death. In order to persuade him.

VOL. III.

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into taking this draught, Mr. Parry was sent for*, and, without any difficulty, induced him to swallow a few mouthfuls. When he took my hand (says Parry) I 'found his hands were deadly cold. With the assistance of Tita I endeavoured gently to create a little warmth in them; and also loosened the bandage which was tied round his head. Till this was done. he seemed in great pain, clenched his hands at 'times, gnashed his teeth, and uttered the Italian exclamation of "Ah Christi!" He bore the loosening of the band passively, and, after it was loosened, 'shed tears; then taking my hand again, uttered a 'faint good night, and sunk into a slumber.'

In about half an hour he again awoke, when a second dose of the strong infusion was administered to him. From those about him (says Count Gamba, 'who was not able to bear this scene himself) I col'lected that, either at this time, or in his former interval of reason, he could be understood to say"Poor Greece!-poor town!-my poor servants!" Also, "Why was I not aware of this sooner?" and My hour is come!-I do not care for death-but I why did I not go home before I came here?" At another time he said, "There are things which 'make the world dear to me [Io lascio qualche cosa di 'caro nel mondo]: for the rest, I am content to die." He spoke also of Greece, saying, " I have given her my time, my means, my health-and now I give her my life!-what could I do more†?""

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*From this circumstance, as well as from the terms in which he is mentioned by Lord Byron, it is plain that this person had, by his blunt, practical good sense, acquired far more influence over his lordship's mind than was possessed by any of the other persons about him.

It is but right to remind the reader, that for the sayings here attri

It was about six o'clock on the evening of this day when he said, Now I shall go to sleep;' and then turning round fell into that slumber from which he never awoke. For the next twenty-four hours he lay incapable of either sense or motion,—with the exception of, now and then, slight symptoms of suffocation, during which his servant raised his head,—and at a quarter past six o'clock on the following day, the 19th, he was seen to open his eyes and immediately shut them again. The physicians felt his pulse-he

was no more!

To attempt to describe how the intelligence of this sad event struck upon all hearts would be as difficult as it is superfluous. He, whom the whole world was to mourn, had on the tears of Greece peculiar claim,— as it was at her feet he now laid down the harvest of such a life of fame. To the people of Missolonghi, who first felt the shock that was soon to spread through all Europe, the event seemed almost incredible. It was but the other day that he had come among them, radiant with renown,-inspiring faith, by his very name, in those miracles of success that were about to spring forth at the touch of his everpowerful genius. All this had now vanished, like a short dream-nor can we wonder that the poor Greeks, to whom his coming had been such a glory, and who, on the last evening of his life, thronged the streets, inquiring as to his state, should regard the thunder-storm which, at the moment he died, broke over the town, as a signal of his doom, and in their superstitious grief, cry to each other, 'The great man ' is gone * !'

buted to Lord Byron, however natural and probable they may appear, there is not exactly the same authority of credible witnesses by which all the other details I have given of his last hours are supported.

* Parry's 'Last Days of Lord Byron,' p. 128.

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Prince Mavrocordato, who of all best knew and felt the extent of his country's loss, and who had to mourn doubly the friend of Greece and of himself, on the evening of the 19th issued this melancholy Proclamation.

'PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT OF WESTERN GREECE. " ART. 1185.

'The present day of festivity and rejoicing has become one of sorrow and of mourning. The Lord Noel Byron departed this life at six o'clock in the ' afternoon, after an illness of ten days; his death 'being caused by an inflammatory fever. Such was 'the effect of his lordship's illness on the public mind, 'that all classes had forgotten their usual recreations ' of Easter, even before the afflicting event was appre'hended.

"The loss of this illustrious individual is undoubtedly 'to be deplored by all Greece; but it must be more especially a subject of lamentation at Missolonghi, 'where his generosity has been so conspicuously displayed, and of which he had even become a citizen, with the further determination of participating in all the dangers of the war.

Every body is acquainted with the beneficent acts ' of his lordship, and none can cease to hail his name as that of a real benefactor.

Until, therefore, the final determination of the 'National Government be known, and by virtue of the powers with which it has been pleased to invest 'me, I hereby decree,

1st. To-morrow morning, at daylight, thirty-seven 'minute guns will be fired from the Grand Battery, being the number which corresponds with the 'the illustrious deceased.

age

of

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6

́ 2d. All the public offices, even the tribunals, are to remain closed for three successive days.

3d. All the shops, except those in which pro'visions or medicines are sold, will also be shut; and it is strictly enjoined that every species of public 'amusement, and other demonstrations of festivity at Easter, shall be suspended.

4th. A general mourning will be observed for twenty-one days.

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5th. Prayers and a funeral service are to be offered up in all the churches.

(Signed)

'A. MAVROCORDATO.

'GEORGE PRAIDIS, Secretary.

* Given at Missolonghi, 'this 19th day of April, 1824.

Similar honours were paid to his memory at many other places through Greece. At Salona, where the Congress had assembled, his soul was prayed for in the Church; after which the whole garrison and the citizens went out into the plain, where another religious ceremony took place, under the shade of the olive trees. This being concluded, the troops fired; and an oration, full of the warmest praise and gratitude, was pronounced by the High Priest.

:

When such was the veneration shown towards him by strangers, what must have been the feelings of his near associates and attendants? Let one speak for all He died (says Count Gamba) in a strange land, and amongst strangers; but more loved, more sincerely wept he never could have been, wherever he had breathed his last. Such was the attachment, ' mingled with a sort of reverence and enthusiasm, with which he inspired those around him, that there