Monks’ Parlour, which seemed to contain nothing of note, except a very fine stained window—­one of the figures representing St. Paul, surmounted by a cross.  We passed through Lord Byron’s Bedroom, the Haunted Chamber, the Library, and the Eastern Corridor, and halted in the Tapestry Bedroom, which is truly a magnificent apartment, formed by the Byrons for the use of King Charles II.  The ceiling is richly decorated with the Byron arms.  We next visited the grand Drawing-room, probably the finest in the building.  This saloon contains a large number of splendid portraits, among which is the celebrated portrait of Lord Byron, by Phillips.  In this room we took into our hand the Skull-cup, of which so much has been written, and that has on it a short inscription, commencing with—­“Start not—­nor deem my spirit fled.”  Leaving this noble room, we descended by a few polished oak steps into the West Corridor, from which we entered the grand Dining Hall, and through several other rooms, until we reached the Chapel.  Here we were shown a stone coffin which had been found near the high altar, when the workmen were excavating the vault, intended by Lord Byron for himself and his dog.  The coffin contained the skeleton of an Abbot, and also the identical skull from which the cup, of which I have made mention, was made.  We then left the building, and took a stroll through the grounds.  After passing a pond of cold crystal water, we came to a dark wood in which are two leaden statues of Pan, and a female satyr—­very fine specimens as works of art.  We here inspected the tree whereon Byron carved his own name and that of his sister, with the date, all of which are still legible.  However, the tree is now dead, and we were informed that Colonel Wildman intended to have it cut down so as to preserve the part containing the inscription.  After crossing an interesting and picturesque part of the gardens, we arrived within the precincts of the ancient Chapel, near which we observed a neat marble monument, and which we supposed to have been erected to the memory of some of the Byrons; but, on drawing near to it, we read the following inscription:—­

“Near this spot
are deposited the remains of one
who possessed beauty without vanity,
strength without insolence,
courage without ferocity,
and all the virtues of man without his vices. 
This praise, which would be unmeaning flattery,
if inscribed over human ashes,
is but a just tribute to the memory of
BOATSWAIN, a dog,
Who was born at Newfoundland, May, 1803,
and died at Newstead Abbey, November 18, 1808.”

By a will which his Lordship executed in 1811, he directed that his own body should be buried in a vault in the garden, near his faithful dog.  This feeling of affection to his dumb and faithful follower, commendable in itself, seems here to have been carried beyond the bounds of reason and propriety.