“With all this power,” said Stanhope, “which by the way you never possessed, you went to the prince, and poisoned his ear.”
Lord Byron then disclaimed against the liberals. “What liberals?” cried Stanhope. “Did you borrow your notions of freemen from the Italians?”
“No: from the Hunts, Cartwrights, and such.”
“And yet your Lordship presented Cartwright’s Reform Bill, and aided Hunt by praising his poetry and giving him the sale of your works.”
“You are worse than Wilson,” exclaimed Byron, “and should quit the army.”
“I am a mere soldier,” replied Stanhope, “but never will I abandon my principles. Our principles are diametrically opposite, so let us avoid the subject. If Lord Byron acts up to his professions, he will be the greatest, if not, the meanest of mankind.”
“My character,” said his Lordship, “I hope, does not depend on your assertions.”
“No: your genius has immortalized you. The worst will not deprive you of fame.”
Lord Byron then rejoined, “Well; you shall see: judge of me by my acts.” And, bidding the colonel good night, who took up the light to conduct him to the passage, he added, “What! hold up a light to a Turk!”
Such were the Franklins, the Washingtons, and the Hamiltons who undertook the regeneration of Greece.