n
Dr. Holmes, classing him sometimes with Thomas Davis, sometimes with
Praed. If I write another series of Recollections, as, when Mr. May
will let me, I suppose I must, I shall certainly include Dr.
Parsons....

Has anybody told you the terrible story of that boy, Lord Ockham,
Lord Byron's grandson? I had it from Mr. Noel, Lady Byron's
cousin-german and intimate friend. While his poor mother was dying
her death of martyrdom from an inward cancer,--Mrs. Sartoris
(Adelaide Kemble), who went to sing to her, saw her through the
door, which was left open, crouching on a floor covered with
mattresses, on her hands and knees, the only posture she could
bear,--whilst she with the patience of an angel was enduring her
long agony, her husband, engrossed by her, left this lad of
seventeen to his sister and the governess. It was a dull life, and
he ran away. Mr. Noel (my friend's brother, from whom he had the
story) knew most of the youth, who had been for a long time staying
at his house, and they begged him to undertake the search. Lord
Ockham had sent a carpet-bag containing his gentleman's clothes to
his father, Lord Lovelace, in London; he was therefore disguised,
and from certain things he had said Mr. Noel suspected that he
intended to go to America. Accordingly he went first to Bristol,
then to Liverpool, leaving his description, a sort of written
portrait of him, with the police at both places. At Liverpool he was
found before long, and when Mr. Noel, summoned by the electric
telegraph, reached that town, he found him dressed as a sailor-boy
at a low public-house, surrounded by seamen of both nations, and
enjoying, as much as possible, their sailor yarns. He had given his
money, L36, to the landlord to keep; had desired him to inquire for
a ship where he might be received as cabin-boy; and had entered into
a shrewd bargain for his board, stipulating that he should have over
and above his ordinary rations a pint of beer with his Sunday
dinner. The landlord did not cheat him, but he postponed all
engagements under the expectation--seeing that he was clearly a
gentleman's son--that money would be offered for his recovery. The
worst is that he (Lord Ockham) showed no regret for the sorrow and
disgrace that he had brought upon his family at such a time. He has
two tastes not often