THE KEATS CENTENARY.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 February 1921, Page 11

THE KEATS CENTENARY.

A LINK WITH TARANAKI. EARLY SETTLER. A FRIEND OF THE POET. (By J. Liddell Kelly.) “Oh, weep for Adenais. He is dead.” With these words, a hundred years ago, Shelly opened the magnificent poem in which he lamented the premature death of John Keats; and the words, echoing down through the bustling century that has passed since then, will evoke a. sympathetic response in the breast of every lover of poesy who has an acquaintance with the works of the brilliant genius whose early demise constituted a grievous loss to English poetical literature. It was on the 23rd of February, J 821, that Keats died at Rome, leaving as his legacy to posterity a small but priceless collection of poetry, the quality of which gave assurance that, had his powers gained maturity, his achievements would have placed him in the forefront of his contemporaries; even although the ’list of these comprises the names of such “immortals” as Byron, Wordsworth, Shelley, Scott, Southey and others. While some of those stars in the poetical firmament have suffered eclipse, and the lustre of others has been dimmed, the fame of Keats has grown with the lapse of time, and it may still be said that “The soul of Adonais, like a star, Beacons from the abode where the. Eternal are.”

The object of the present writer is not, however, to pronounce an appreciation or eulogium of Keats, but rather to show reason why New Zealanders should take an especial interest in the poet and his works. In doing this, there will be disclosed some facts in relation to the poet that are not generally known, and a peep will be given into the personality and career of a close friend of Keats who was among the band of immigrants who founded the Taranaki or New Plymouth settlement.

In the biography of Keats which is attached to the Oxford edition (1913) 6f his works there, occurs a passing reference to Mr. Charles Armitage Brown, whose name, the biographer states, is “universally associated with that of Keats,” and it is added that Mr. Brown, after working for some years at the arranging of Keats’s literary remains, and collecting materials for his biography, emigrated to New Zealand—leaving his uncompleted work in the hands of Lord Houghton for the latter to finish. Who was this Mr. Charles Armitage Brown? And how comes it that we in New Zealand know so little of one who must nave been a person of some note and outstanding merit? These questions called so persistently for an answer that the writer addressed a letter of inquiry to the Auckland Star, in the remote hope of some one of its many readers being able to supply the desired information. The usefulness of the Press was never more strikingly exemplified. Within twenty hours after the publication of the letter of inquiry, full particulars of Mr. Brown were supplied by a lady reader, and a little later a communication was received from a grandson of Mr. Brown, both informants being resident in or near Auckland city. Mr. Charles Armitage Brown was, it seems, a gentleman of Scottish tion. born in 17'86, and in early life was a merchant engaged in trade with Russia. He always had literary taste and ability, and at the age of 23 composed a comic opera, “Marensky, or The Road to Yaroslaft,” which was produced at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. He was intimately acquainted with Thomas Hood, Charles W T entworth Dilke, J. H. Reynolds, Leigh Hunt, Wai. ter Savage Landor and Lord Byron, but his special friend was John Keats, for whom Mr. Brown had a brotherly affection. The later years of Mr. Brown’s life in England were spent largely in the company of authors and artists. He had no little artistic ability, and on one occasion Keats remarked that if his friend Brown had followed his advice he might have ranked among the first painters of his day. In June, 1818, Keats and Brown started on a walking tour among the English lakes and the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. During the tour, Keats caught a severe cold among the swamns of the island of Mull from which hr never quite recovered. The summer of 1819 was spent by the two friends at Shanklin, in the Isle of Wight, where they amused themselves by sketching, and conjointly wrote the tragedy of “Otho the Great.” On returning to London, Keats ruptured a blood-vessel in his lungs—Brown being unremitting in his attention to his friend. In May of the following year Mr. Brown visited Scotland, and shortly afterwards Keats left for Italy, thinking a residence there would benefit his health. Mr. Severn, the artist and composer, went with him. When Mr. Brown learned in September of the increasing illness of Keats, he at once set out for Italy; but owing to the delays and difficulties of travel in those days did not reach his destination until after Keats had passed away. In 1826, Mr. Dilke with his son visited Rome and went with Mr. Brown to see Keats’s tomb, which had been erected by his friend 'Severn, who nursed him on his deathbed. Mr. Brown and young Dilke were both moved to tears.

After his return to England, Mr. Brown lived at Laira Green, near Plymouth, where he edited the Plymouth Journal. The chief task to which he applied himself was the publication of the “remains” of his friend Keats. Arrangements for publication were in progress when the accident of attending a meeting for the formation of a Plymouth Company for colonising a portion of New Zealand, led Mr. Brown to alter all his plans. So eager was he to take part in the new settlement that, while he remained in England to wind up his affairs, he despatched his only son to New Plymouth by the vessel Amelia Thompson, which sailed rom Plymouth Sound on March 25, 1841. He himself followed three months later in the ship’ Oriental, arriving in Taranaki on November 19th. His colonial career was short, as he suddenly expired in a fit of apoplexy in June, 1842. He was buried on the brow of Marsland Hill, New Plymouth, fading 'the sea. A large slab of stone was placed oyer his' g¥ave, but when the hill was es'earped and fortified during the war with the natives this memorial was covered with earth, and there are probably very few who can now point out his resting place. This is matter for regret, and it might be A> a fitting memorial an

the occasion of the Keats centenary, that the people of New Plymouth, along with others who might care to co-oper-ate, should have the spot of burial marked by some adequate monument to the friend of Keats—not only because of his association with the great poet, but also in recognition of his own worth. Although he himself was not spared to take part in the development of the settlement, his only son, the late Major Brown, became a conspicuous figure. He was chosen to be the first superintendant of the province of Taranaki, and in this and* other -capacities served his day and generation well and worthily. Major Brown’s widow and daughter are now residents of Remuera, and he is also survived by twin sons (Charles and William) By’ a previous marriage Major Brown’ had four daughters. A number of remaining able sketches by Charles Armitage Brown are preserved and treasured by the family, along with many mementoes of Keats. Most of the foregoing particulars have been derived from the “History of Taranaki,” by the late Mr. Benjamin Wells, and were supplied by Mrs. C. D. Whitcombe of Northcote, a daughter of Mr. Wells. The writer is also indebted for some details to Mr. W. A. Brown, of tfie Bank of New South Wales, Auckland, who is a grandson of Charles Armitage Brown.