Lord Byron (1788-1824) wrote a fascinating little final paragraph in a letter he had written to John Galt dated 11 December 1813, the letter, addressed to "My Dear Galt" ends -
"I don’t know how other men feel towards those they have met abroad, but to me there seems a kind of tie established between all who have met together in a foreign country, as if we had met in a state of pre-existence, and were talking over a life that had ceased. But I always look forward to renewing my travels; and though you, I think, are now stationary, if I can at all forward your pursuits there as well as here, I shall be truly glad in the opportunity. Ever yours very sincerely, B"
Lord Byron
Galt met Lord Byron in Gibraltar in 1809 and later in Athens. They travelled together for a short while before Galt returned to Britain and they continued their acquaintance in London in 1811. Galt sent this letter to Blackwood for publication in 1823 when he was living at Eskgrove near Musselburgh. His cover letter to Blackwood reads -
“My Dear Sir – Among a number of letters which I have been
lately looking over from Lord Byron, the enclosed, I think, may be published
without violating the proprieties of private life, or betraying the confidence
of friendship.”
The main business of the letter itself was in connection with Byron's The Bride of Abydos written 1813. Later, John Galt wrote a biography of Byron The Life of Lord Byron which was published in 1830. Byron, like Galt was also a great friend of the Countess of Blessington.
The Life of Lord Byron by John Galt is available to read free online.
