164), to see the execution. He
"was accompanied on the occasion by his old schoolfellows, Mr. Bailey
and Mr. John Madocks. They went together from some assembly, and, on
their arriving at the spot, about three o'clock in the morning, not
finding the house that was to receive them open, Mr. Madocks undertook
to rouse the inmates, while Lord Byron and Mr. Bailey sauntered, arm
in arm, up the street. During this interval, rather a painful scene
occurred. Seeing an unfortunate woman lying on the steps of a door,
Lord Byron, with some expression of compassion, offered her a few
shillings; but, instead of accepting them, she violently pushed away
his hand, and, starting up with a yell of laughter, began to mimic the
lameness of his gait. He did not utter a word; but 'I could feel,'
said Mr. Bailey, 'his arm trembling within mine, as we left her.'"
In Byron's 'Detached Thoughts' is an anecdote of Baillie, whose name is
here misspelt by Moore:
"Baillie (commonly called 'Long' Baillie, a very clever man, but odd)
complained in riding, to our friend Scrope Davies, that he had a
'stitch' in his side. 'I don't wonder at it,' said Scrope, 'for you
ride like a _tailor_.' Whoever has seen B. on horseback, with his very
tall figure on a small nag, would not deny the justice of the
repartee."]
* * * * *
238.--To Bernard Barton [1].
8, St. James's St., June 1, 1812.
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