1158.-To Samuel Barff. April 9, 1824. DEAR SIR,-The above is a copy of a letter1 from Messrs. Ransom received this morning.—I have also to acknowledge yours and one from Mr. Barry of Genoa (Partner of Messrs. Webb and Co. of Genoa and Leghorn) who had forwarded the same to you for my address. I agree with you in opinion, and shall continue to draw directly on England as the safest (and perhaps least expensive method) instead of having dollars up from Genoa or Leghorn. This will be the preferable course as long as the exchange is fair in the Islands. Will you instruct me how to regulate myself about the order of firsts and seconds, etc., of Exchange as indicated in the second paragraph of the letter copied, as I am not very accurate or intelligent in technical matters of business of this sort and wish to be quite correct. 1. The following is the copy of the letter to which Byron refers: "London, 10th Febry., 1824. "MY LORD,-In compliance with your Lordship's directions "communicated to our Mr. Kinnaird by Mr. Barry of Genoa, a 'copy of whose letters we herewith annex, we this day open a "credit in your Lordship's favor for four thousand pounds sterling, "to which, we have no doubt, they will attend. 66 "We request your Lordship will be pleased henceforth in drawing "upon us one and the same date, to divide the Bills into sums of "different amounts, so that no two of such Bills may be for the same 'sum, or so number them that we may run no risk of accepting for 'more than your Lordship intends us to pay. We have already 'accepted £3100 stg. part of your Lordship's Drafts upon us for £4000 stg. in favor of I. Hamilton Brown, Esqre., all dated 28 "November last at 60 days, some firsts, some seconds, and some "thirds of Exchange, of which six are for £250 stg. each, 2 of "£500 stg., 1 of £400, and 1 of £200 stg., but we have done this at the risk of having accepted firsts and seconds of the same set of "Bills, not thinking it right to put your Lordship to the very heavy 'expense attending our refusing to accept. 66 "We have the honor to be, etc., natives as well as foreigners, Cap. Parry included; but the fine weather may bring them about again. Yours ever, N. B. 1157.-To Samuel Barff. April 7th, 1824. DEAR SIR,-The Greeks here of the Government have been boring me for more money. As I have the Brigade to maintain, and the Campaign is apparently soon to open, and as I have already spent 59,000 dollars in three months upon them in one way or another, and more especially as their public Loan has succeeded, so that they ought not to draw from individuals at that rate, I have given them a refusal, and as they would not take that,-another refusal in terms of considerable sincerity. They wish now to try in the Islands for a few Thousand Dollars on the ensuing Loan. If you can help them, perhaps you will, (in the way of information, at any rate,) and I will see that you have fair play; but still I do not advise you, except to act as you please. Almost every thing depends upon the arrival, and the speedy arrival, of a portion of the Loan to keep peace amongst themselves. If they can but have sense to do this, I think they will be a match, and better, for any force that can be brought against them for the present. We are all doing as well as we can. I am, yours very truly, N. B. 1158.-To Samuel Barff. April 9, 1824. DEAR SIR,-The above is a copy of a letter1 from Messrs. Ransom received this morning.—I have also to acknowledge yours and one from Mr. Barry of Genoa (Partner of Messrs. Webb and Co. of Genoa and Leghorn) who had forwarded the same to you for my address. I agree with you in opinion, and shall continue to draw directly on England as the safest (and perhaps least expensive method) instead of having dollars up from Genoa or Leghorn. This will be the preferable course as long as the exchange is fair in the Islands. Will you instruct me how to regulate myself about the order of firsts and seconds, etc., of Exchange as indicated in the second paragraph of the letter copied, as I am not very accurate or intelligent in technical matters of business of this sort and wish to be quite correct. 1. The following is the copy of the letter to which Byron refers : "London, 10th Febry., 1824. "MY LORD,-In compliance with your Lordship's directions "communicated to our Mr. Kinnaird by Mr. Barry of Genoa, a copy of whose letters we herewith annex, we this day open a "credit in your Lordship's favor for four thousand pounds sterling, "to which, we have no doubt, they will attend. " "We request your Lordship will be pleased henceforth in drawing "upon us one and the same date, to divide the Bills into sums of "different amounts, so that no two of such Bills may be for the same "sum, or so number them that we may run no risk of accepting for "more than your Lordship intends us to pay. We have already accepted £3100 stg. part of your Lordship's Drafts upon us for "L4000 stg. in favor of I. Hamilton Brown, Esqre., all dated 28 "November last at 60 days, some firsts, some seconds, and some "thirds of Exchange, of which six are for £250 stg. each, 2 of "£500 stg., 1 of £400, and 1 of 200 stg., but we have done this "at the risk of having accepted firsts and seconds of the same set of "Bills, not thinking it right to put your Lordship to the very heavy "expense attending our refusing to accept. "We have the honor to be, etc., Have you any further news of the Greek Loan? Is it really settled and how? for my advices are not recent enough to treat of this fully. Some say one thing, and some another here. Bowring's letter to me is sanguine, but others are less decisive, though not discouraging to the Greeks. I hope that you have received various letters of mine, as you do not state having received any since the 30th, I mention this accordingly. Lega will state the various dates of the expedition of letters. The Letter of Credit for 4 instead of £3,000 stg (as mentioned in your letter of this morning, perhaps by mistake) but the number is of no material difference (as you are sufficiently aware) when I draw direct on my London Correspondents. Ever and truly yours, N. B. 1159.-To Charles F. Barry. April 9th 1824. DEAR BARRY,-The Account up to 11th July was 40,541, etc., Genoese livres in my favour: since then I have had a letter of Credit of Messrs. Webb for 60,000 Genoese livres, for which I have drawn; but how the account stands exactly, you do not state. The balance will of course be replaced by my London Correspondent, referring more particularly to the Honble Douglas Kinnaird, who is also my Agent and trustee, as well as banker, and a friend besides since we were at College together-which is favourable to business, as it gives confidence, or ought to do so. I had hoped that you had obtained the price of the Schooner from L Blessington: you must really tell him that I must make the affair public, and take other steps which will be agreeable to neither, unless he speedily pays the money, so long due, and contracted by his own headstrong wish to purchase. You know how fairly I treated him in the whole affair. Every thing except the best (i.e. the Green travelling Chariot) may be disposed of, and that speedily, as it will assist to balance our accompt. As the Greeks have gotten their loan, they may as well repay mine, which they no longer require: and I request you to forward a copy of the agreement to Mr. Kinnaird, and direct him from me to claim the money from the Deputies. They were welcome to it in their difficulties, and also for good and all, supposing that they had not got out of them; but, as it is, they can afford repayment, and I assure you that, besides this, they have had many "a strong and "long pull" at my purse, which has been (and still is) disbursing pretty freely in their cause: besides, I shall have to re-expend the same monies, having some hundred men under orders, at my own expense, for the Gk. Government and National service. Of all their proceedings here, health, politics, plans, acts, and deeds, etc.-good or otherwise, Gamba or others will tell you truly or not truly, according to their habits. Yours ever, N. BN1 1. This is, apparently, one of Byron's last two letters. On Friday, April 9, the day on which the letter was written, Byron rode out with Gamba. He came home wet, and, in the evening, complained of rheumatic pains and feverishness. On Saturday, April 10, he was, however, able to ride as usual. The following day, Sunday, April 11, Parry thought him so ill, that he persuaded him (Last Days, pp. 116, 117), "to go immediately to Zante, and try "change of air and change of scene." Byron consented to go: all was prepared for his departure; but the gale which sprang up on Monday, April 12, prevented him from leaving Mesolonghi. On the 15th he was for the first time unable to get up (ibid., p. 118). |