26 JULY 1924, Page 3

We regret that the decision of the Dean of Westminster

is against placing a Memorial Tablet to Byron in the Abbey. It is true that Byron was a man of bad life, but so were Charles II., Mary, Queen of Scots, and many other persons who are commemorated in the Abbey. The essential consideration of the case is : Was Byron a great poet ? Without question he was ; and that is a universal, not a national, verdict. Therefore he should be com- memorated in the Abbey. Surely there is a Statute of Limitations to be pleaded in such cases. His misdeeds are dead. His verse lives. Imploret pacem. That is the pass-word, and it should be repeated.

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