NOTES ON THE MSS. OF CHILDE HAROLD. I. THE original MS. of the First and Second Cantos of Childe Harold, consisting of ninety-one folios bound up with a single bluish-grey cover, is in the possession of Mr. Murray.' A transcript from this MS., in the handwriting of R. C. Dallas, with Byron's autograph corrections, is preserved in the British Museum (Egerton MSS., No. 2027). The first edition (4to) was printed from the transcript as emended by the author. The "Addition to the Preface" was first published in the Fourth Edition. The following notes in Byron's handwriting are on the outside of the cover of the original MS. :— "Byron-Joannina in Albania Begun Oct. 31st 1809. Concluded, Canto 24, Smyrna, BYRON. 1. "The first and second cantos of Childe Harold were written in separate portions by the noble author. They were afterwards arranged for publication; and when thus arranged, the whole was copied. This copy was placed in Lord Byron's hands, and he made various alterations, corrections, and large additions. These, together with the notes, are in his Lordship's own handwriting. The manuscript thus corrected was sent to the press, and was printed under the direction of Robt. Chas. Dallas, Esq., to whom Lord Byron had given the copyright of the poem. The MS., as it came from the printers, was preserved by Mr. Dallas, and is now in the possession of his son, the Rev. Alex. Dallas." [See Dallas Transcript, p. 1. Mus. Brit. Bibl. Egerton, 2027. Press 526. H. T.] "The marginal remarks pencilled occasionally were made by two friends who saw the thing in MS. sometime previous to publication. 1812." On the verso of the single bluish-grey cover, the lines, "Dear Object of Defeated Care," have been inscribed. They are entitled, "Written beneath the picture of J. U. D." They are dated, " Byron, Athens, 1811." The following notes and memoranda have been bound up with the MS. : "Henry Drury, Harrow. Given me by Lord Byron. Being his original autograph MS. of the first canto of Childe Harold, commenced at Joannina in Albania, proceeded with at Athens, and completed at Smyrna." "How strange that he did not seem to know that the volume contains Cantos I., II., and so written by Ld. B.!" [Note by J. Murray.] SIR, I desire that you will settle any account for Childe Harold with Mr. R. C. Dallas, to whom I have presented the copyright. "To Mr. John Murray, "Bookseller, 66 32, Fleet Street, 66 London, Mar. 17, 1812." "Yr. obedt. Servt.. "BYRON. "Received, April 1st, 1812, of Mr. John Murray, the sum of one hundred pounds 15/8, being my entire half-share of the profits of the 1st Edition of Childe Harold's Pilgrimage 4to. "R. C. DALLAS. Mem. This receipt is for the above sum, in part of five hundred guineas agreed to be paid by Mr. Murray for the Copyright of Childe Harold's Pilgrimage." "LIOI 15: 8. The following poems are appended to the MS. of the First and Second Cantos of Childe Harold : 1. "Written at Mrs. Spencer Smith's request, in her memorandum-book "As o'er the cold sepulchral stone.'" 2. Stanzas written in passing the Ambracian Gulph, November 14, 1809.” 3. "Written at Athens, January 16th, 1810 "The spell is broke, the charm is flown.'" 4. "Stanzas composed October 11, 1809, during the night in a thunderstorm, when the guides had lost the road to Zitza, in the range of mountains formerly called Pindus, in Albania." On a blank leaf bound up with the MS. at the end of the volume, Byron wrote "DEAR D.,-This is all that was contained in the MS., but the outside cover has been torn off by the booby of a binder. "Yours ever, "B." The volume is bound in smooth green morocco, bordered by a single gilt line. "MS." in gilt lettering is stamped on the side cover. II. COLLATION OF FIRST EDITION, QUARTO, 1812, WITH MS. OF THE FIRST CANTO. The MS. numbers ninety-one stanzas, the First Edition ninety-three stanzas. OMISSIONS FROM THE MS. Stanza vii. "Of all his train there was a henchman page," viii. "Him and one yeoman only did he take,"- xxv. "In golden characters right well designed,”— lxxxviii. “There may you read with spectacles on eyes,"― lxxxix. “There may you read-Oh, Phœbus, save Sir John," xc. "Yet here of Vulpes mention may be made,”— INSERTIONS IN THE FIRST EDITION. Stanza i. "Oh, thou! in Hellas deemed of heavenly birth,”viii. "Yet oft-times in his maddest mirthful mood,”ix. "And none did love him!-though to hall and bower," xliii. “Oh, Albuera! glorious field of grief!"— lxxxv. "Adieu, fair Cadiz ! yea, a long adieu!"— Ixxxvi. "Such be the sons of Spain, and strange her Fate," lxxxviii. "Flows there a tear of Pity for the dead?"- xci. "And thou, my friend !-since unavailing woe,"- The MS. of the Second Canto numbers eighty stanzas ; the First Edition numbers eighty-eight stanzas. OMISSIONS FROM THE MS. Stanza viii. “Frown not upon me, churlish Priest ! that I,” xiv. "Come, then, ye classic Thieves of each degree,”xv. "Or will the gentle Dilettanti crew," 66 lxiii. Childe Harold with that Chief held colloquy,"— INSERTIONS IN THE FIRST EDITION. Stanza viii. “Yet if, as holiest men have deemed, there be,”— ix. "There, Thou! whose Love and Life together fled," 66 XV. Cold is the heart, fair Greece! that looks on lii. "Oh! where, Dodona! is thine agéd Grove?"- Stanza lxxxvi. “Oh! ever loving, lovely, and beloved ! lxxxvii. “Then must I plunge again into the crowd,”— lxxxviii. What is the worst of woes that wait on Age?" ADDITIONS TO THE SEVENTH EDITION, 1814. The Second Canto, in the first six editions, numbers eightyeight stanzas; in the Seventh Edition the Second Canto numbers ninety-eight stanzas. ADDITIONS. The Dedication, To Ianthe. Stanza xxvii. "More blest the life of godly Eremite,”66 lxxvii. The city won for Allah from the Giaour,”lxxviii. "Yet mark their mirth, ere Lenten days begin," lxxix. "And whose more rife with merriment than thine," lxxx. "Loud was the lightsome tumult on the shore," lxxxi. “Glanced many a light Caique along the foam," lxxxii. "But, midst the throng in merry masquerade,❞— lxxxiii. "This must he feel, the true-born son of Greece," lxxxix. "The Sun, the soil-but not the slave, the same," xc. "The flying Mede, his shaftless broken bow," |