The only reasons which, as far as I am able to judge, can have induced Dr. Bruno to publish these extraordinary statements, on his arrival in England, must have been his belief in the report of my death, which, before his departure from Zante, had been circulated. No doubt, he thought that he might, with impunity, sacrifice the reputation of one, who, being dead, could not refute him. He, doubtless, thought, too, that he might sacrifice the feelings of Lord Byron's relations, at the shrine of his own vanity and interest.

I must first observe, that not knowing a syllable of English, although present at the conversation I had with Lord Byron, Dr. Bruno could neither understand the force of the language, I employed to surmount his lordship's deep-rooted prejudice and aversion for bleeding, nor the positive refusals, he repeatedly made before I could obtain his promise to consent to the operation. Yet he boldly states, that I spoke to Lord Byron, in a very undecided manner, of the benefits of such an operation: and that I even ventured to recommend procrastination: and these, he says, are the reasons, that induced him to consent to the delay; as if he were himself indifferent to such treatment; or as if a few words from me were sufficient to determine him! Conduct like this, it is not difficult to appreciate: I shall, therefore, forbear abandoning myself to the indignation, such a falsehood might naturally excite; nor shall I repel his unwarrantable accusation, by relating the causes of that deep-rooted jealousy, which Dr. Bruno entertained against me, from the day he perceived the preference, which Lord Byron indicated in favour of English physicians. physicians. This narrow-minded, envious feeling, as I could prove, prevented him from

insisting on immediately calling me, or other medical men at Mesolonghi, to a consultation. Had he done so, he would have exonerated himself from every responsibility; but his vanity made him forget the duty he owed to his patient, and even to himself. For I did not see Lord Byron (medically) till I was sent for by his lordship himself, without any participation on the part of Dr. Bruno.

I can refute Dr. Bruno's calumnies not only from the testimony of others, but even from his own. For the following extract from the article, published in the Telegrafo Greco, announcing the death of Lord Byron, was, at the request of Count Gamba (himself a witness of whatever took place during the fatal illness of his friend), composed by the doctor. "Notwithstanding the most urgent entreaties, and representations of the imminent danger, attending his complaint made to him from the onset of his illness, both by his private physician and the medical man, sent by the Greek Committee, it was impossible to surmount the great aversion and prejudice, he entertained against bleeding, although he lay under imperious want of it."-Vide Telegrafo Greco, il di 24 Aprile, 1824.

The Editor of the Greek Chronicle also, Dr. Meyer (a medical man, and no friend of mine), who was minutely informed of the whole treatment, published the following notice. "We are not aware what could induce Lord Byron not to yield to the repeated entreaties made to him by Dr. Bruno, and Mr. T. Millingen, a medical man sent out by the Greek Committee, to allow himself to be bled."-(Vide Ap. 29.) Were not these testimonies amply sufficient, I might publish a letter from Dr. Freiber, in which he alludes, in the strongest terms, to Dr. Bruno's

ungentlemanly conduct towards me, and his total disregard to truth.

As to the assertion, confidently made by Dr. Bruno, that, had his patient submitted at the onset of his malady to phlebotomy, he would have infallibly recovered; I believe every medical man, who maturely considers the subject, will be led to esteem this assertion as being founded rather on presumption than on reason. Positive language, which is in general so misplaced in medical science, becomes in the present case even ridiculous; for if different authors be consulted, it will appear that the very remedy, which is proclaimed by some as the anchor of salvation, is by others condemned as the instrument of ruin. Bleeding (as many will be found to assert) favours metastasis in rheumatic fevers; and, in confirmation of this opinion, they will remark, that in this case, as soon as the lancet was employed, the cerebral symptoms manifested themselves on the disappearance of the rheumatic; while those, who incline to Dr. Reid's and Dr. Heberden's opinion, will observe, that after each successive phlebotomy, the cerebral symptoms not only did not remain at the same degree, but that they hourly went on increasing. In this dilemmatic position, it is evident, that whatever treatment might have been adopted, detractors could not fail to have some grounds for laying the blame on the medical attendants. The more I consider this dif ficult question, however, the more I feel convinced, that whatsoever method of cure had been adopted, there is every reason to believe, that a fatal termination was inevitable; and here I may be permitted to observe, that it must have been the lot of every medical man to observe, how frequently the fear of death produces it; and how seldom a patient, who

persuades himself that he must die, is mistaken. The prediction of the Scotch fortune-teller was ever present to Lord Byron; and, like an insidious poison, destroyed that moral energy, which is so useful to keep up the patient in dangerous complaints. "Did I not tell you," said he repeatedly to me, "that I should die at thirty-seven?"

CHAPTER XV.

Anecdotes of Lord Byron during his last illness-Post mortem appearances.

DURING the last days of Lord Byron's illness, he was remarkably taciturn; but his mind was occupied by anxious thoughts. He had made his will before his departure from Genoa; the only legacy, which he made during his illness, was to Lucca, to whom he gave the receipt by which the. Mesolonghiots engaged themselves, to pay, on the arrival of the loan, the two thousand dollars, which had been lent them by Lord Byron to enable them to pay the arrears of the discontented Suliots. He recommended Lucca to send this sum to his mother; a paralytic widow, who had fled from Patras to Ithaca with her daughters and son. Lord Byron, hearing of their miseries, had, on his visit to that island, taken the whole family under his protection. In respect to his servants, he informed them, that he had recommended them all to his executors.

I was not a little surprised to hear him ask me on the 15th, whether I could not do him the favour of inquiring in the town for any very old and ugly witch? As I turned his question in derision, he repeated to me with a serious air; "Never mind whether I am superstitious or not; but I again entreat of you to bring me the most celebrated one there is, in order that she may examine whether this sudden