[Footnote 78:  A few passages at the beginning of these recollections have been omitted, as containing particulars relative to Lord Byron’s mother, which have already been mentioned in the early part of this work.  Among these, however, there is one anecdote, the repetition of which will be easily pardoned, on account of the infinitely greater interest as well as authenticity imparted to its details by coming from such an eye-witness as Sir Walter Scott:—­“I remember,” he says, “having seen Lord Byron’s mother before she was married, and a certain coincidence rendered the circumstance rather remarkable.  It was during Mrs. Siddons’s first or second visit to Edinburgh, 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