habits and a quick temper, and I had some
doubts whether we were likely to suit each other in society. I was most
agreeably disappointed in this respect. I found Lord Byron in the
highest degree courteous, and even kind. We met, for an hour or two
almost daily, in Mr. Murray's drawing-room, and found a great deal to
say to each other. We also met frequently in parties and evening
society, so that for about two months I had the advantage of a
considerable intimacy with this distinguished individual. Our sentiments
agreed a good deal, except upon the subjects of religion and politics,
upon neither of which I was inclined to believe that Lord Byron
entertained very fixed opinions. I remember saying to him, that I really
thought, that if he lived a few years he would alter his sentiments. He
answered, rather sharply, 'I suppose you are one of those who prophesy
I will turn Methodist.' I replied, 'No--I don't expect your conversion
to be of such an ordinary kind. I would rather look to see you retreat
upon the Catholic faith, and distinguish yourself by the austerity of
your penances. The species of religion to which you must, or may, one
day attach yourself must exercise a strong power on the imagination.' He
smiled gravely, and seemed to allow I might be right.

"On politics, he used sometimes to express a high strain of what is now
called Liberalism; but it appeared to me that the pleasure it afforded
him as a vehicle of displaying his wit and satire against individuals in
office was at the bottom of this habit of thinking, rather than any real
conviction of the political principles on which he talked. He was
certainly proud of his rank and ancient family, and, in that respect, as
much an aristocrat as was consistent with good sense and good breeding.
Some disgusts, how adopted I know not, seemed to me to have given this
peculiar and, as it appeared to me, contradictory cast of mind: but, at
heart, I would have termed Byron a patrician on principle.

"Lord Byron's reading did not seem to me to have been very extensive
either in poetry or history. Having the advantage of him in that
respect, and possessing a good competent share of such reading as is
little read, I was sometimes able to put under his eye objects which had
for him the interest of novelty. I remember particularly repeating to
him the fine poem of Hardyknute, an imitation of the old Scottish
Ballad, with which he was so much affected, that some one who was in