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 obliged by the extract 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 on 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, Cesar, and Napoleon, could such be accumulated upon a living head. Do me the justice to suppose, that "video meliora proboque," however the "deteriora sequor" may have been applied to my conduct. I have the honour to be, your obliged and obedient servant, BYRON.

P. S. I do not know that I am addressing a clergyman; but I 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.

This letter, every one will admit, exhibits Lord Byron in a much more amiable point of view than the traits of his character sketched by Mr. Dallas, prior to the year 1818. The following account of his death-bed sentiments is extracted from "Last Days of Lord Byron."

A very few days before his Lordship's death, Mr. Parry relates :"It was seven o'clock in the evening when I saw him, and then I took a chair at his request, and sat down by his bedside, and remained till ten o'clock. He sat up in his bed, and was then calm and collected. He talked with me on a variety of subjects, connected with himself and his family. He spake of death also with great composure, and though he did not believe his end was so very near, there was something about him so serious and so firm, so resigned and composed, so different from any thing I had ever before seen in him, that my mind misgave, and at times foreboded his speedy dissolution. 'Parry,' he said, when I first went to him, I have much wished to see you to-day. I have had most strange feelings, but my head is now better. I have no gloomy thoughts, and no idea but I shall recover. I am perfectly collected-I am sure I am in my senses-but a melancholy will creep over me at times.' The mention of the subject brought the melancholy topics back, and a few exclamations showed what occupied Lord Byron's mind when he was left in silence and solitude. 'My wife! my Ada! my country! the situation of this place-my removal impossible, and perhaps death-all combine to make me sad. I am convinced of the happiness of domestic life. No man on earth respests a virtuous woman more than I do; and the prospect of retirement in England, with my wife and Ada, gives me an idea of happiness I have never experienced before. Retirement will be every thing to me, for heretofore to me life has been like the ocean in a storm. You have no conception of the uuaccountable thoughts which come into my mind when the fever attacks me.-Eternity and space are before me, but on this subject, thank

God, I am happy and at ease. The thought of living eternally, of again reviving, is a great pleasure. Christianity is the purest and most liberal religion in the world; but the numerous teachers who are continually worrying mankind with their denunciations and their doctrines, are the greatest enemies of religion. I have read with more attention than half of them the Book of Christianity, and I admire the liberal and truly charitable principles which Christ has laid down. There are questions connected with this subject which none but Almighty God can solve. Time and space who can conceive? None but God-on him I rely.'"

Who knows but the prayer of the amiable young lady, inserted above, was the mean of leading his Lordship to indulge such sentiments, and of ultimately securing his eternal happiness! "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." This consideration should not only excite us to offer up intercessions in behalf of particular individuals, but also to use every prudent and delicate mean-by conversation, epistolary correspondence or otherwise, to rouse the attention of those, especially in the higher circles of life, who appear unconcerned about "the things which relate to their everlasting peace."

The following lines, written by Lord Byron, are said to have been found in his Bible:

"Within this awful volume lies
The mystery of mysteries.

Oh! happiest they of human race,
To whom our God has given grace,
To hear, to read, to fear, to pray,
To lift the latch, and force the way;
But better had they ne'er been born,

Who read to doubt, or read to scorn."

With regard to Buonaparte, we have nothing so satisfactory as in the case of Byron, that might lead us to conclude that his moral and religious sentiments were changed for the better. In his solitude at St. Helena, however, it appears that the subject of religion occasionally occupied his attention. The following anecdote, extracted from La Casas' Journal, will show the opinion which he entertained of the morality of the New Testament:

In a conversation on the subject of religion, which he had with his friends at St. Helena, he said, among many other things, "How is it possible that conviction can find its way to our hearts, when we hear the absurd language, and witness the acts of iniquity of the greatest number of those whose business it is to preach to us? I am surrounded with priests who preach incessantly that their reign is not of this world, and yet they lay hands upon every thing they can get. The Pope is the head of that religion from heaven, and he thinks only of this world,' &c. The Emperor ended the conversation by desiring my son to bring him the New Testament, and taking it from the beginning, he read as far as the conclusion of the speech of Jesus on the mountain. He expressed himself struck with the highest admiration at the purity, the sublimity, the beauty of the morality it contained, and we all experienced the same feeling."

FINIS.