gh, when the music of
that wonderful actress's voice, looks, manner, and person, produced the
strongest effect which could possibly be exerted by a human being upon
her fellow-creatures. Nothing of the kind that I ever witnessed
approached it by a hundred degrees. The high state of excitation was
aided by the difficulties of obtaining entrance and the exhausting
length of time that the audience were contented to wait until the piece
commenced. When the curtain fell, a large proportion of the ladies were
generally in hysterics.

"I remember Miss Gordon of Ghight, in particular, harrowing the house by
the desperate and wild way in which she shrieked out Mrs. Siddons's
exclamation, in the character of Isabella, 'Oh my Byron! Oh my Byron!' A
well-known medical gentleman, the benevolent Dr. Alexander Wood,
tendered his assistance; but the thick-pressed audience could not for a
long time make way for the doctor to approach his patient, or the
patient the physician. The remarkable circumstance was, that the lady
had not then seen Captain Byron, who, like Sir Toby, made her conclude
with 'Oh!' as she had begun with it."]

[Footnote 79: Mr. Murray had, at the time of giving the vase, suggested
to Lord Byron, that it would increase the value of the gift to add some
such inscription; but the feeling of the noble poet on this subject will
be understood from the following answer which he returned:--

"April 9. 1815.

"Thanks for the books. I have great objection to your proposition
about inscribing the vase,--which is, that it would appear
_ostentatious_ on my part; and of course I must send it as it is,
without any alteration.

"Yours," &c.
]

* * * * *

LETTER 220. TO MR. MOORE.

"April 23. 1815.

"Lord Wentworth died last week. The bulk of his property (from
seven to eight thousand per ann.) is entailed on Lady Milbanke and
Lady Byron. The first is gone to take possession in Leicestershire,
and attend the funeral, &c. this day.

"I have mentioned the facts of the settlement of Lord W.'s
property, because the newspapers, with their usual accuracy, have
been making all kinds of blunders in their statement. His will is
just as expected--the principal part settled on Lady Milbanke (now
Noel) and Bell, and a separate estate left for sale to pay debts
(which are not great) and legacies to his natural son and