Life of Lord Byron, Vol. 2: With His Letters and JournalsMoore, Thomas
General
Life of Lord Byron, Vol. 2: With His Letters and Journals
Moore, Thomas
Byron, George Gordon Byron, Baron, 1788-1824; Poets, English -- 19th century -- Biography
injustice, and its certain inefficacy. I have seen the state of
these miserable men, and it is a disgrace to a civilised country.
Their excesses may be condemned, but cannot be subject of wonder.
The effect of the present bill would be to drive them into actual
rebellion. The few words I shall venture to offer on Thursday will
be founded upon these opinions formed from my own observations on
the spot. By previous enquiry, I am convinced these men would have
been restored to employment, and the county to tranquillity. It is,
perhaps, not yet too late, and is surely worth the trial. It can
never be too late to employ force in such circumstances. I believe
your Lordship does not coincide with me entirely on this subject,
and most cheerfully and sincerely shall I submit to your superior
judgment and experience, and take some other line of argument
against the bill, or be silent altogether, should you deem it more
advisable. Condemning, as every one must condemn, the conduct of
these wretches, I believe in the existence of grievances which call
rather for pity than punishment. I have the honour to be, with
great respect, my Lord, your Lordship's
"Most obedient and obliged servant,
"BYRON.
"P.S. I am a little apprehensive that your Lordship will think me
too lenient towards these men, and half a _framebreaker myself_."
* * * * *
It would have been, no doubt, the ambition of Lord Byron to acquire
distinction as well in oratory as in poesy; but Nature seems to set
herself against pluralities in fame. He had prepared himself for this
debate,--as most of the best orators have done, in their first
essays,--not only by composing, but writing down, the whole of his
speech beforehand. The reception he met with was flattering; some of the
noble speakers on his own side complimented him very warmly; and that he
was himself highly pleased with his success, appears from the annexed
account of Mr. Dallas, which gives a lively notion of his boyish elation
on the occasion.
"When he left the great chamber, I went and met him in the passage; he
was glowing with success, and much agitated. I had an umbrella in my
right hand, not expecting that he would put out his hand to me;--in my
haste to take it when offered, I had advanced my left hand--'What!' said
he, 'give your friend your left hand upon such an occasion?' I showed
the cause, and immediately changing the umbrella to the other hand, I
gave him my right hand, which he shook and pressed warmly. He was
greatly elated, and repeated some of the compliments which had been paid
him, and mentioned one or two of the peers who had desired to be
introduced to him. He concluded with saying, that he had, by his speech,
given me the best advertisement for Childe Harold's Pilgrimage."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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