PART II. 



"\T ZITH what extraordinary characters of ancient 

 and modern times would John Mytton stand 

 a comparison ? With Nero ? Yes ; for Nero fiddled 

 whilst Rome was burning, and Mytton would have 

 laughed had he seen Halston in flames. But Nero 

 murdered his mother, and Mytton made a noble pro- 

 vision for his.* With Timon of Athens ? Yes, as a 

 spendthrift ; but the one hated, and the other was 

 kind to all mankind. With Napoleon Bonaparte ? 

 Yes, for his historian says of him, " Extreme agitation 

 was the basis of his existence ; motion was his repose; 

 he lived in a hurricane, and fattened on anxiety and 

 care." But one drank coffee seven times a day, and 

 the other drank as many bottles of port wine ! With 

 the poet Byron ? Yes, inasmuch as each was at 

 Harrow School, and each fought eight pitched battles 



• He added 500/. per annum to her jointure. 



