who retired from the service a few years ago on account of bad health, and is now resident upon his property in his native isle. The General's remains were sent down to Scotland for

interment, and have been deposited in the family vault of the Macquaries, at Iona.

No. XVII.

LORD BYRON.

GEORGE GORDON BYRON, LORD BYRON, OF ROCHDALE, IN THE COUNTY OF LANCASTER.

In the history of genius, of its strength and of its weakness, perhaps there never was a man whose character and conduct roused more public attention, and afforded more of real and speculative topic for admiration and censure, than Lord Byron. He entered the world of poetry, as Chatham did that of oratory, scarcely heard of in the lists, until he had obtained the honours of triumph. As the resentment of Walpole elicited from the young statesman the first flashes of an eloquence that burned with inextinguishable fire to the last hour of his earthly glory, so did the rude repulse which was given to the boyish aspirings of the noble bard discover, even to himself, by the re-action it created, all the wonderful resources of his intellect, and place him at once on the splendid summit of poetic ambition. Unfortunately, however, the excitement was of such a nature, that it appeared to exasperate his muse; and, uniting with the intractable violence of passions fostered by early indulgence, and their severe disappointment in an attachment prematurely formed, thenceforward to communicate to his various productions, energetic and beautiful as they are, but too much of gloom, bitterness, and misanthropy. Nor were there wanting other causes of deep regret, when the noble poet, unhappily for himself and for the world, descended from that lofty region which was his proper dominion — the sublime.

Lord Byron had illustrious ancestry. From the time of the conquest his family were distinguished, not merely for

their extensive manors in Lancashire and other parts of the kingdom, but for their prowess in arms. When Edward the First was preparing an expedition against the Scots, John de Byron was summoned to attend him with his forces; and was afterwards required, by the same monarch, to accompany him in an expedition abroad. Two of the Byrons fell at the battle of Cressy. Another member of the family, Sir John de Byron, rendered good service, in Bosworth Field, to the Earl of Richmond; and contributed, by his valour, to transfer the crown from the head of Richard the Third to that of Henry the Seventh. This Sir John de Byron was a man of honour, as well as a brave warrior. He was very intimate with his neighbour Sir Gervase Clifton; and although Byron fought under Henry, and Clifton under Richard, it did not diminish their friendship, but, on the contrary, put it to a severe test. Previous to the battle, the prize of which was a kingdom, they had mutually promised, that whichever of them was vanquished, the other should endeavour to prevent the forfeiture of his estate. While Clifton was bravely fighting at the head of his troop, he was struck off his horse, which Byron perceiving, he quitted the ranks and ran to the relief of his friend, whom he shielded, but who died in his arms. Sir John de Byron was as good as his word; he interceded with the king; the estate was preserved to the Clifton family; and is now in the possession of a descendant of the gallant Sir Gervase.

In the wars between Charles the First and his parliament, the Byrons adhered to the royal cause. Sir Nicholas Byron, the eldest member and representative of the family, was an eminent loyalist; who, having distinguished himself in the wars of the Low Countries, was appointed Governor of Chester, in 1642. Lord Clarendon says he was "a soldier of very good command; who, being a person of great affability and dexterity, as well as martial knowledge, gave great life to the designs of the well-affected there; and, with the encouragement of some gentlemen of North Wales, in a short

skirmishes with the enemy; sometimes with notable advantage; never with any signal loss."

Sir Nicholas had two sons, who both died without issue; and his younger brother, Sir John, became their heir. This person was made a Knight of the Bath at the coronation of James the First. He had eleven sons, of whom the major part distinguished themselves for their loyalty and gallantry on the side of Charles the First. Sir Thomas, a younger son, commanded the Prince of Wales's regiment at the battle of Hopton-heath; and Lord Clarendon calls him "a gentleman of great courage and very good conduct, who charged with good execution."

At the battles of Edge-hill and Newbury, the Byrons rendered themselves conspicuous; and at the still more fatal contest at Marston-moor, where seven brothers of the name were engaged, four of them fell in defence of the royal cause. Sir John Byron, one of the survivors, was appointed to many important commands, and makes a great figure in the pages of Lord Clarendon. "In truth," says that noble historian, "there was no gentleman in the kingdom of a better reputation among all sorts of men." On his appointment to the Lieutenancy of the Tower of London, the opponents of the court remonstrated; and the king answered, that "he did not expect, having preferred a person of known fortune and unquestionable reputation to that trust, he should have been pressed to remove him without any particular charge:" but afterwards, when Sir John himself desired to "be freed from the agony and vexation of that place," his majesty consented. On the 26th of October, 1643, Sir John Byron was created Lord Byron, with a collateral remainder to his brothers; and, after various honourable services, he was, on the decline of the king's affairs, appointed governor to the Duke of York. In this office he died in France, in 1652, without issue; upon which, his brother Richard, who was knighted by Charles the First, and had a command at the battle of Edge-hill, became the second Lord Byron. He was governor of Appleby Castle, and also distinguished himself in the government of Newark.

He died 1697, aged 74; and it is recorded on his tomb in the church of Hucknall Torkard, that "with the rest of his family, being seven brothers, he faithfully served King Charles the First in the civil wars," and that they "suffered much for their loyalty, and lost all their fortunes; yet it pleased God so to bless the honest endeavours of the said Richard, Lord Byron, that he re-purchased part of their ancient inheritance, which he left to his posterity; with a laudable memory for great piety and charity.”

This second Lord Byron was succeeded by his eldest son, William; who married Elizabeth, the daughter of John Viscount Chaworth, of the kingdom of Ireland; by whom he had five sons; all of whom died young, except William, whose eldest son, William, was born in 1722, and succeeded to the title in 1736.

William, Lord Byron, passed the early part of his life in the navy. He afterwards acquired considerable influence at court, so much so, as to procure the office of Master of the Stag Hounds, in 1763. Being, however, a man of ungovernable passions, he was, in 1765, sent to the Tower, on a charge of having killed his relation, Mr. Chaworth, in a duel. This duel took place, under very peculiar circumstances, at the Star and Garter Tavern, in Pall Mall. It originated in a dispute at table; and was fought, in the evening, in a small room, with only the light which one glimmering candle afforded. Being the more expert swordsman of the two, Lord Byron inflicted on Mr. Chaworth a mortal wound; although he lived long enough to settle his affairs, and supply such information, as led the coroner's jury to return a verdict of "wilful murder" against his lordship. The trial, which excited intense public interest, came on at Westminster Hall, before the House of Lords. It lasted two days, and ended by an unanimous conviction of manslaughter, pronounced by upwards of two hundred and fifty members of the upper house. Upon being brought up for judgment, Lord Byron pleaded his privilege as a peer, and was, in consequence, discharged. After this affair, he was shunned by his relations,