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tain C -, a most active and praise- vertheless, was taken in the wood, worthy magistrate of that county, of where he had thrown himself into a Martin's lying wounded in some of the furze bush, and in spite of the gatherislands of the lake. Early in the ing of the country people, he was semorning the Captain took the revenue cured, and at length lodged safe in the boat, well-manned, and proceeded on jail of Mullingar. his quest. While busied in searching He was tried, and condemned to die, one island, he perceived a boat putting but had frequent offers of pardon, if off from the other, rowed by two wo- he would confess and name his assomen, and a head evidently bobbing in ciates. All solicitations of the kind the stern, the wind being high, and were vain; he was resolute in betraythe water rough. All hands were call- ing none. I was present at his execued to the pursuit; and though the tion; it took place near the fatal scene boat was but a little a-head, the two of his last attack. As he ascended the lasses beat the revenue barge, with its ladder, he turned round to address the eight oars, the whole breadth of the assembled crowd, consisting of his old lake to the wood of St John's, where friends and accomplices. He eyed dropping Martin“ on dry land, up to each with a look of recognition, and his neck in the water," as they them- though pale and ghastly from his hurt selves would have said, they made and sickness, I shall never forget the down the wind, away from the dread- impressiveness with which he uttered ed magistrate. The Captain in vain these last words, -" It is a bad busiendeavoured to come up with them, ness, boys, and drop it; but, boys, I not to put them in irons, as they sup- die clane."* posed, but to help them from his Those who know what heroic sentiwhisky bottle for having so gallantly ment is, I leave to form their own outstripped him. Poor Martin, ne conclusion.

* By clane he meant true,_that he had betrayed nothing; the expression of “ a clean heart, clean conscience,” is very common with them.

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FAMILIAR EPISTLES TO CHRISTOPHER NORTH,
From an Old Friend with a New Face.

LETTER II.

On ANASTASIUS. By-Lord Byron.* MY TEAR Kit,

angry at the suppression of your wontI have been struck with wonder at ed sagacity on this occasion, as the the compassionate review of the three work, though full of a clever innate new Cantos of Don Juan in your last scoundrelism, is really not only too Number. But though you may be bad in many of its details, but calcupardoned in that instance, considering lated to profane many serious and sathe great pains poor Byron has of late cred things. But what can be said for taken to write himself down, I cannot Hope, who having been so laughed at, forgive you for the part you have hi- for his skill in contriving receptacles for therto affected to play towards the im- sitting parts, and disguises for certain postor Anastasius. In a word, Kit, to utensils, has been beguiled to stand be familiar with you, as our ancient godfather to Byron's abandoned profriendship fully authorizes me to be, I geny? He knows that the Thomas beg to know how it is that you have Hope, who writes so dedicatorily to allowed the soft-headed world to be- Louisa from Duchess Street, but whose lieve so long that the aforesaid rascal. name is not ventured on the title-page, !y Greek is a legitimate son of "the is meant for him who possesses so upholsterer.” You know as well as I many noseless statues and cracked do, that the stuff and bam about dedi- pitchers of antiquity,—and that he has

ing, and not dedicating to Louisa, is as little to say to the composition of a piece of quizzicalhumbug to cajole the Anastasius as the Whigs have to the gullibility of the reading public. How hospitalities of the King's reception in Byron must chuckle at the success of Ireland. Why he should, therefore, the device! 'I am, however, the more assent to the cajolery of taking in the

Anastasius, or Memoirs of a Greek; written at the close of the eighteenth century. 3 vols. London. Murray, 1820.'

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public with this licentious story, is self such an undeniable criterion of beyond my comprehension. Mr Hope identity.. Short essays, characteristic is a very respectable and decorous gen- of the blemishes and originalities of tleman,-he can write, with some writers, have been often well execuendeavour, passably about chests of ted; but such sports of fancy have drawers, paper hangings, and cushions ever been easily discovered from geas soft as his own or any other brains, nuine productions—caricature is albut that he has either the courage or ways obvious. But that any other the power to compile such a work as than the original author should be Anastasius, I utterly and entirely deny. able to treat at so much length, None but a man who was conscious of and with such circumstantiality, of previously possessing some influence such a variety of things, considering on public opinion would have dared to them as Byron alone would consisend out such a book. Mr Hope has 'der them, is a supposition too abno such influence.

surd to be seriously entertained. It But, not to deal too largely in the ex- would argue a resemblance in mind pression of my general persuasion of the without parallel ; or rather, an asfact, I would call your attention to a sumption of character, more extraorfew circumstances that, I conceive, you dinary than that transfusion of nature, will allow, constitute strong proofs that habits, and propensities, which is supAnastasius is the production of Byron. posed to accompany a transfusion of

In the first place, one of the great the blood of one animal into the veins features of the work is an intimate of another. I will as soon believe, that, knowledge of the localities of many of by the operation of transfusion, a frog the scenes, and an easy applicable fa- can be made to sing like Catalani, as miliarity with the vernacular terms that any nick-knacky gentleman, like for all Greek and Ottoman things, Hope, could so inhale from Byron's grades, and offices. Who ever heard works, the spirit of his bold, satirical, of Hope possessing any such know, and libertine genius, as to be able to ledge? The localities, it is true, might write a book, so like a book of his as be described from books of travels the work in question. The conception some of them are--but those which of the story, and the general style of are so borrowed can be easily discri- the narrative, is decidedly like Byron's minated from the allusions to places conceptions and execution. The chawhich the author actually visited. racter, too, of Anastasius, is exactly of With respect to the vernacular terms, a piece with Lord Byron's; that is, they too might be obtained from dic- with the one which pervades all his tionaries; but where are such dictiona- works, and so charitably considered as ries to be found? They have no ex

his own.

The spirit of Anastasius is istence in any Pagan, Christian, or that of Don Juan. Would Lord Byron Mahomedau language. Is it not, then, have made so obvious a copy from the probable that this minute kind of work of any other artist? The whole knowledge was acquired by the author story seems the chalk sketch of the himself? and it is known that Lord poem; and Anastasius himself, in his Byron, during his residence in Tur- riper years, is but another version of all key, made considerable progress in the the varieties of his Lordship's poetical languages of the country. Besides, it progeny, from Childe Harold to Beppo. is quite in his lordship’s way to em- Is it likely that any other but the oriploy the original names of things in ginal author would imagine such a chathe scenes where he places his actions. racter? or rather, have so melted all No other author has adopted this fa- Byron's characters into one? for Anasshion so much on principle; indeed tasius is a compilation of all those few, from their own knowledge, were which, under different names, have able to do it with true effect. Is it been spoken of as different individuals, probable that such a man as Hope but which are, in reality, but different could so well assume one of the most aspects of the same liberal, licentious, decided peculiarities of so peculiar an learned, brave, impassioned, and misauthor as Byron ? He is not qualified anthropic being. - he has neither the minute know- But, to leave generalities, I will now ledge, nor is it in his power, or that proceed to give you a few proofs from of any other man, through so long a the work itself, in corroboration of the story as Anastasius, to take upon him- opinion which I have here expressed ;

an opinion which has certainly not adopted as homogeneous to his own, been formed on particular passages, let him pray nine times a day, that he but from the whole effect of the story, may never be subjected to the tempta-and I appeal to the first chapter, in tions of adversity. For what in Byron the first instance. To give quotations is spleen, must, in one so enriched with would be ridiculous; but I request you the gifts of good fortune, be nothing to read it again, and say, if any man less than the innate malice of some unwho had ever enjoyed the solicitudes developed traitor, to all that is social of the parental hearth, and the intima- and kind in life. cies of fraternal affection, could have The second chapter, contains, I conconceived such a contemptuous repre- ceive, the ground work of the descripsentation of home. That a man who, tion, where Don Juan is represented i never since the second stage of boy- as a captive for sale; and this is a hood, knew properly what home or proof of the identity of the author. kindred was, might so write and con- The third chapter is full of the spiceive, is, however, highly probable. rit and fire of the Giaour, and I would Home is what mankind have always refer you to the following passages, as been accustomed to consider as the bearing the strongest traces of Byron's sanctuary of human happiness; and abrupt, satirical, and impassionate penit was natural, that one who owes much cil; independent altogether of those of his celebrity to his resolute deter- minute and descriptive touches respectmination to see every thing connected ing the dress of the Albanians, which with the social state, in a different none but one who was familiar with point of view from the rest of the them could have introduced, for they world, should try the shafts of his sa- are not such things as travellers are at tire on that which, above all things, all in the practice of recording. Byroni above even religion itself, has been held lived some time among the Albanians, most sacred and dearest. It was natu- he had two of them in his service, and ral, that a mind which suffers the sense in different parts of his declared works of solitude in cities, and which con- shews the most thorough knowledge templates the fickle ocean as the most of their customs and characteristics. invariable image of the unchangeable Hope knows nothing about them perdivinity, should delineate the state of sonally. home as one destitute of all regulated sympathy and habitual affection. That

“My great ambition had been to take a Mr Hope would ever have made such left the disabled man, as secure, to his own

prisoner,—to possess a slave. I therefore an attempt, cannot for a moment be meditations, and with my biggest voice supposed. He is

domestic animal, called to his companion to surrender. and has been linked into every descrip- Luckily he did not even look round at the tion of the social ties from his child- stripling who addressed him ; but presenthood. It never would have entered ly leaping down a little eminence, disapinto his head to degrade the cherished peared in a thicket, where I thought it sentiments which are associated with prudent to give up the hazardous chase. the remembrance of a father's roof, and

“ I now returned to the fellow whom I had the light free-hearted intercourse of left writhing on the ground, apparently at

the last gasp ; and when sufficiently near, intermingled children. But the case

lest there should still lurk about him some is different with Byron; and it is less latent spark of life, which might only wait his fault than his misfortune, that he to spend itself in a last home thrust, swiftdoes not feel that reverence for the do- ly sprung forward, and, for fear of foul mestic reciprocities in which other men play, put an extinguisher upon it, ere I so much delight. In him it was a na- ventured to take any other liberties with tural feeling; and, instead of inspiring his person. This done, I deliberately proany adverse sentiment, it ought to ceeded to the work of spoliation. With a make us reflect with sorrow, that a

hand all trembling with joy, I first took mind so ductile to impressions of the the silver-mounted pistols, and glittering good and fair in moral action, should poniard, and costly yatagan ; I next colhave been so cast on the world, as to clasps of the buskins, and still more valu

lected the massy knobs of the jacket, and imbibe so much of misanthropy and able sequins lying perdue in the folds of spleen. If Hope, that “prosperous the sash ; and lastly, feeling my appetite gentleman,” is capable of writing such for plunder increase in proportion as it was an account of a domestic circle, and gratified, thought it such a pity to leave while under feelings which he has any part of so showy an attire a prey to

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corruption, that I undressed the dead man The description of the approach to completely.

Constantinople from the Propontis " When, however, the business which could only have been made by one who engaged all my attention was entirely achie- had actually seen that magnificent view. ved, and that human body, of which, in

Byron sailed

up

the Hellespont in an the eagerness for its spoil, I had only thus

English frigate, and Anastasius is refar noticed the separate limbs one by one,

presented to have performed the voyas I stripped them, all at once struck,

my sight in its full dimensons, as it lay naked age in a Turkish man-of-war. before me ;—when I contemplated that fine

The description which Anastasius athletic frame, but a moment before full of gives of his employment at the arsenal life and vigor unto its fingers' ends, now

of Constantinople, is clever and ingerendered an insensible corpse by the ran- nious; but it wants those little inci. dom shot of a raw youth whom in close dents which actual experience would combat its little finger might have crushed, have given, while it shews that the I could not help feeling, mixed with my author's eye was acquainted with the exultation, a sort of shame, as if for a localities of the place. Hope might, cowardly advantage obtained over a supe, therefore, have written the account of rior being; and, in order to make a kind the employments, but he could not of atonement to the shade of an Epirote, have so spoken of the localities. of a kinsman-I exclaimed with outstretch,

An actual and familiar acquaintance ed hands, Cursed be the paltry dust which turns the warrior's arm into a mere engine, with the situation and environs of the and striking from afar an invisible blow, arsenal, such as no literature nor paintcarries death no one knows whence to nó ing could give, was requisite to enable one knows whom; levels the strong with the author to speak of it as Anastathe weak, the brave with the dastardly; sius speaks. In the same chapter the and, enabling the feeblest hand to wield its whole adventure with Theophania is fatal lightning, makes the conqueror slay full of the frolics of Byron's pen; and without anger, and the conquered die with his dismissal by Maroyeni could have out glory!'”

been written by no other.

« In the What follows this fine and animated twinkling of an eye the whole, Fanar passage is one of those freaks which was informed of the secretary's disByron alone would have ventured to grace ;-only it was ascribed to my indulge. Voltaire is the only other having, with a pistol in one hand, and writer that, after such impassioned a sword in the other, made such proeloquence, would have been so cruelly posals to Madame la Droguemane, as playfully as to add this

she could not possibly listen to

from her husband's clerk.” “ On the very point of departing after

The adventure with the Jew is full this sort of expiatory effusion; with my of absurdity, but it is redeemed from heavy but valuable trophy huddled on my back, the thought struck me that I might contempt by the rich embroidery of incur a suspicion of sporting plumes not imagination which is thrown over the my own, unless I brought my vouchers. grossest improbabilities. All Byron's With that view. I began detaching from stories are of this sort; they are either my Arnaoot's shaggy skull both the ears, wild, wonderful, or absurd. His exuas pledges for the remainder of the head, berant fancy alone makes them intewhen I should be at leisure to fetch it; resting and beautiful. The death of but considering how many gleaners stalked the Parsée is such, that none but himthe harvest field, and that if I lost my own self could have fancied and so descrihead, none other might be found to make bed. me amends, I determined to take at once all I meant to keep. The work was a 66 One evening, as we were returning tough one, and the operator at best still a from the Blacquernes, an old woman bungler, but I succeeded at last ;-and threw herself in our way, and taking now, in an ecstacy of delight, though al- hold of my master's garment, dragged most afraid to look at my bundle, T return- him almost by main force after her into a ed to our party for ever cured, by an al- mean-looking habitation just by, where lay most instantaneous transition to temerity, on a couch, apparently at the last gasp, a of every sentiment of fear. Indeed such man of foreign features. I have brought remained for some time the ferment of my a physician,' said the female to the patient, spirits, that, while I carried my load on • who, perhaps, may relieve you.' Why one arm, I kept brandishing my sword with will you', answered he faintly, still perthe other, still eager to lay about me, and sist to feel idle hopes! I have lived an outto cut down whomsoever I met.'

cast: suffer me at least to die in piece; nor VOL. X.

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disturb my last moments by vain illusions. of misfortune from his friends. There is
My soul pants to rejoin the supreme Spi- a sort of evidence to which the mind
rit'; arrest not its flight : it would only be becomes subject, that cannot be ana-
delaying my eternal bliss !'
“ As the stranger spoke these words works you may see how profoundly

lysed by reason; and in all Byron's
which struck even Yacoob sufficiently to he is liable to be affected by that kind
make him suspend his professional grimace
the last beams of the setting sun darted of inexplicable evidence. He
across the casement of the window upon his things happening together which have
pale, yet swarthy features. Thus visited, no connection with each other, but
he seemed for a moment to revive. “ I have they come so often that at last he con-
always,' said he, considered my fate as siders them as united, and the one
connected with the great huminary that an index to the other. This curious
rules the creation. I have always

paid it mysticism has certainly in principle a due worship, and firmly believed I could great affinity to superstition. It is not breathe my. last whilst its rays shone analogous to the chambermaid's faith upon me. Carry me therefore out, that I in the dregs of the tea-cup, and to the may take my last farewell of the heavenly astrologer's credulity in the aspect of ruler of my earthly destinies !'

“We all rushed forward to obey the the stars ; but being more general, it mandate : but, the stairs being too narrow,

seems more poetical, though it is not the woman only opened the window, and more philosophical. In the little sketch placed the dying man before it, so as to of Anagnosti, it is employed with

paenjoy the full view of the glorious orb, thetic effect, and even made condujust in the act of dropping beneath the ho- cive to an impression, not far short of rizon. He remained a few moments in the sublimity associated with ideas silent adoration; and mechanically we all of fate and destiny. The use which joined him in fixing our eyes on the object the author of Anastasius makes of it, of his worship. It set in all its splendour; is precisely such as Byron would have and when its golden disk had entirely dis- made; for the sentiment on which it is appeared, we looked round at the Parsee. founded being familiar to his mind, He too had sunk into everlasting rest.”

it does not occur to him to use it as an In the sixth chapter, the account of agent of any particular consequence. the Bagnio is rich in all the peculi- It is only episodically introduced in arities of Byron's impartial and mis- the story. Had any other author got anthropic satire. The comparison with hold of the same idea with the same hell might have occurred to any other fullness of grasp, he would have emmind, even to Furniture Hope's, for ployed it as the main spring, in all proa hell

upon earth is a vulgar enough bability, of the tale. It is however a idea ; but those specialties of morose feeling of a peculiar mind; and until reflection, which scowl throughout the Hope can be shewn to possess a mind picture, could only have presented framed and constituted like Byron's, themselves to one accustomed to con- I shall never believe that he can feel template the inward workings of guilt, like him, in this respect, even though and the physiognomy of passion, renhe could write as richly, and describe dered sullen in its energies by defeat as well. or disappo atment. Mackari is evi. The farther I proceed in the work, dently the Corsair. Hope certainly the evidences so thicken upon me, that might have copied the portrait, but I fear you cannot afford to give room could he or any other have done so in and verge enough for half I have a manner which in many points tran- to say.- Whenever the author treats scends the original, and that too in of any passion or feeling, the hand of points which seem only such as the Byron is visible ; but where he atfirst author could have imagined and tempts to imitate the freedom and nonbrought forward ; and who but By- chalance of Le Sage, his Gil Blas sinks ron could have embodied that sublime into absurdity. The story of the Eng. impersonation of the plague ?

lish Button-maker is an instance. It The story of Anagnosti is told is quite improbable that any man quite as Byron would tell such a story, would have submitted to be so markbut in this he might have been imita- ed in the forehead, and yet make no ted, and I should not lay on it much effort to revenge an insult so indelible. stress, were it not for one little touch It is in such endeavours to grapple at the conclusion, in which the ill-fa- with other characters, that the author ted dancer expresses his presentiment of Anastasius shews he can write but