That some such vent for the resources of his mind had long been contemplated by him appears from a letter of his to myself, in which it will be recollected he says,—­“If I live ten years longer, you will see that it is not over with me.  I don’t mean in literature, for that is nothing; and—­it may seem odd enough to say—­I do not think it was my vocation.  But you will see that I shall do something,—­the times and Fortune permitting,—­that ’like the cosmogony of the world will puzzle the philosophers of all ages.’” He then adds this but too true and sad prognostic:—­“But I doubt whether my constitution will hold out.”

His zeal in the cause of Italy, whose past history and literature seemed to call aloud for redress of her present vassalage and wrongs, would have, no doubt, led him to the same chivalrous self-devotion in her service, as he displayed afterwards in that of Greece.  The disappointing issue, however, of that brief struggle is but too well known; and this sudden wreck of a cause so promising pained him the more deeply from his knowledge of some of the brave and true hearts embarked in it.  The disgust, indeed, which that abortive effort left behind, coupled with the opinion he had early formed of the “hereditary bonds-men” of Greece, had kept him for some time in a state of considerable doubt and misgiving as to their chances of ever working out their own enfranchisement; nor was it till the spring of this year, when, rather by the continuance of the struggle than by its actual success, some confidence had begun to be inspired in the trust-worthiness of the cause, that he had nearly made up his mind to devote himself to its aid.  The only difficulty that still remained to retard or embarrass this resolution was the necessity it imposed of a temporary separation from Madame Guiccioli, who was herself, as might be expected, anxious to participate his perils, but whom it was impossible he could think of exposing to the chances of a life, even for men, so rude.

At the beginning of the month of April he received a visit from Mr. Blaquiere, who was then proceeding on a special mission to Greece, for the purpose of procuring for the Committee lately formed in London correct information as to the state and prospects of that country.  It was among the instructions of this gentleman that he should touch at Genoa and communicate with Lord Byron; and the following note will show how cordially the noble poet was disposed to enter into all the objects of the Committee.

LETTER 519.  TO MR. BLAQUIERE.

“Albaro, April 5. 1823.

“Dear Sir,

“I shall be delighted to see you and your Greek friend, and the sooner the better.  I have been expecting you for some time,—­you will find me at home.  I cannot express to you how much I feel interested in the cause, and nothing but the hopes I entertained of witnessing the liberation of Italy itself prevented me long ago from returning to do what little I could, as an individual, in that land which it is an honour even to have visited.