Lord Byron to Rev. Mr. Sheppard—Answer to preceding Letter.

the sublime, my Lord; for this intercession was offered, on your account, to the Supreme source of happiness. It sprang from a faith more confirmed than that of the French poet, and from a charity which, in combination with faith, showed its power unimpaired amid the languors and pains of approaching dissolution. I will hope that a prayer, which I am sure was deeply sincere, may not be always unavailing.

It would add nothing, my Lord, to the fame with which your genius has surrounded you, for an unknown and obscure individual to express his admiration of it. I had rather be numbered with those who wish and pray that "wisdom from above,” and." peace," and "joy," may enter such a mind.

JOHN SHEPPARD.

XII.-ANSWER TO PRECEDING LETTER.

Lord Byron to Rev. Mr. Sheppard.

PISA, December 3d, 1821.

SIR: I have received your letter. I need not say that the extract which it contains has affected me, because it would imply a want of all feeling to have read it with indifference. Though I am not quite sure that it was intended by the writer for me, yet the date, the place where it was written, with some other circumstances that you mention, render the allusion probable. But for whomsoever it was meant, I have read it with all the pleasure which can arise from so melancholy a topic. I say pleasure, because your brief and simple picture of the life and demeanor of the excellent person, whom I trust you will again meet, cannot be contemplated without the admiration due to her virtues and her pure and unpretending piety. Her last moments

Lord Byron to Rev. Mr. Sheppard-Answer to preceding Letter.

were particularly striking, and I do not know that, in the course of reading the story of mankind, and still less in my observations upon the existing portion, I ever met with any thing so unostentatiously beautiful. Indisputably, the firm believers in the Gospel have a great advantage over all others, for this simple reason: that, if true, they will have their reward hereafter; and if there be no hereafter, they can be but with the infidel in his eternal sleep, having had the assistance of an exalted hope, through life, without subsequent disappointment, since (at the worse for them) "out of nothing, nothing can arise," not even sorrow. But a man's creed does not depend upon himself; who can say I will believe this, that, or the other? and, least of all, that which he least can comprehend? I have, however, observed those who have begun life with extreme faith, have in the end greatly narrowed it, as Chillingworth, Clarke (who ended as an Arian), Bayle, and Gibbon (once a Catholic), and some others; while, on the other hand, nothing is more common than for the early sceptic to end in a firm belief, like Maupertius and Henry Kirke White. But my business is to acknowledge your letter, and not to make a dissertation. I am obliged to you for your good wishes, and more than obliged by the extracts from the papers of the beloved object whose qualities you have so well described in a few words. I can assure you, that all the fame which ever cheated humanity into higher notions of its own importance, would never weigh in my mind against the pure and pious interest which a virtuous being may be pleased to take in my welfare. In this point of view, I would not exchange the prayer of the deceased in my behalf, for the united glory of Homer, Cæsar, and Napoleon, could such be accumulated upon a living head. Do me at least the justice to

Mrs. Grant to Mrs. Brown-Bishop Porteus and the Prince of Wales.

suppose that" Video meliora proboque," however the "deteriora sequor" may have been applied to my conduct. I have the honor to be your obliged and obedient servant,

I

BYRON.

P. S. I do not know that I am addressing a clergyman, but presume that you will not be affronted by the mistake (if it is one) on the address of this letter. One who has so well explained and deeply felt the doctrines of religion, will excuse the error which led me to believe him its minister.

XIII.-BISHOP PORTEUS AND THE PRINCE OF WALES.

Mrs. Grant to Mrs. Brown.

EDINBURGH, 25th January, 1811.

MY DEAR MRS. BROWN: I lose no time in telling you how glad I am to hear of you, and to know, by added experience, how good and kind you are in thinking of, and acting for me. How happy for a poor mortal like me, tossed from one exigency to another, to have friends so attached and attentive as all mine, in different ways, have been!

My time is at present very much occupied, but I shall avail myself of a short interval of leisure to tell you what I am sure you will be interested in hearing-the particulars of the final interview between the Prince of Wales and the late Bishop of London,* which have lately been communicated to me from a source which appears to me quite authentic. Among other good people with whom my informant is intimate is Mr. Owen, minister of Fulham, who was in a manner the Bishop's parish clergyman, *Dr. Porteus.

Mrs. Grant to Mrs. Brown-Bishop Porteus and the Prince of Wales.

and long his chaplain. Mr. Owen gave my friend an account of this interview, as the Bishop gave it to him two days before his death.

It seems his Royal Highness had sent out a summons for a great military review, which was to take place on a Sunday. The Bishop had been confined, and did not hope nor, I suppose, wish ever in this world to go out again. He ordered his carriage, however, upon hearing this, proceeded to Carlton House, and waited on the Prince, who received him very graciously. He said, "I am come, sir, urged by my regard to you, to your father, and to this great nation, who are anxiously beholding every public action of yours. I am on the verge of time; new prospects open to me; the favor of human beings or their displeasure, is as nothing to me now. I am come to warn your Royal Highness of the awful consequences of your breaking down the very little that remains of distinction to the day that the Author of all power has hallowed and set apart for himself." He went on in pathetic terms to represent the awful responsibility to which the Prince exposed himself, and how much benefit or injury might result to the immortal souls of millions by his consulting or neglecting the revealed will of the King of kings; and, after much tender and awful exhortation, concluded with saying, "You see how your father, greatly your inferior in talent and capacity, has been a blessing to all around him and to the nation at large, because he made it the study and business of his life to exert all his abilities for the good of his people, to study and to do the will of God, and to give an example to the world of a life regulated by the precepts of Christian morality; he has been an object of respect and veneration to the whole world for so doing. If he has done much, you, with your ex

Mrs. Grant to Mrs. Brown-Bishop Porteus and the Prince of Wales.

cellent abilities and pleasing and popular manners, may do much more. It is impossible for you to remain stationary in this awful crisis; you must rise to true glory and renown, and lead millions in the same path by the power of your example, or sink to sudden and perpetual ruin, aggravated by the great numbers whom your fall will draw with you to the same destruction. And now, were I able to rise, or were any one here who would assist me, I should, with the awful feeling of a dying man, give my last blessing to your Royal Highness." The Prince, upon this, burst into tears, and fell on his knees before the Bishop, who bestowed upon him, with folded hands, his dying benediction; the Prince then, in the most gracious and affecting manner, assisted him himself to go down, and put him into his carriage. The Bishop went home, never came out again, and died the fifth day after. On hearing of his death, the Prince shut himself up, and was heard by his attendants to sob as under deep affliction.

I think I have now given you a brief but faithful account of this transaction as I heard it. *

I can easily believe that a mind so well regulated as yours, has in itself resources that make "quiet, though sad, the remnant of your days." But I think that a life somewhere balanced between your pensive tranquillity and my ever-during bustle would be preferable to either. Such is that of our dear friend and sister at Jordanhill, whose brating ever since I returned here. ness to your mother and aunt, and ately, dear old friend, yours always,

felicities I have been celeRemember me in all kindbelieve me, most affection

ANNE GRANT.