I do "blush" very often, if I may believe Ladies H. and M.;-but luckily, at present, no one sees me. Adieu. 340.-To John Murray. Stilton, Oct. 3, 1813. DEAR SIR, I have just recollected an alteration you may make in the proof to be sent to Aston.-Among the lines on Hassan's Serai, not far from the beginning, is this Unmeet for Solitude to share. Now to share implies more than one, and Solitude is a single gentlewoman; it must be thus For many a gilded chamber's there, and so on. My address is Aston Hall, Rotherham. - Will you adopt this correction? and pray accept a cheese from me for your trouble. Ever yours, B. P.S.-I leave this to your discretion; if any body thinks the old line a good one or the cheese a bad one, don't accept either. But, in that case, the word share is repeated soon after in the line To share the Master's "bread and salt;" and must be altered to To break the Master's bread and salt. This is not so well, though-confound it! 1813.] A LOAN TO WEBSTER. 275 Note. To partake of food-to break bread and taste salt with your host-ensures the safety of the guest; even though an enemy, his person from that moment becomes sacred. There is another additional note sent yesterday—on the Priest in the Confessional. 341.-To John Hanson. Nottingham, Oct. 10th, 1813. DEAR SIR, I am disposed to advance a loan of £1000 to James Webster Wedderburne Webster, Esqre., of Aston Hall, York County, and request you will address to me there a bond and judgement to be signed by the said as soon as possible. Of Claughton's payments I know nothing further, and the demands on myself I know also ; but W. is a very old friend of mine, and a man of property, and, as I can command the money, he shall have it. I do not at all wish to inconvenience you, and I also know that, when we balance accounts, it will be much in your favour; but if you could replace the sum at Hoare's from my advance of two thousand eight hundred in July, it would be a favour; or, still better, if C. makes further payments, which will render it unnecessary. Don't let the first part of the last sentence embarrass you at all; the last part about Claughton I would wish you to attend to. I have written this day-about his opening the cellar. Pray send the bond and judgement to Aston as directed. Ever, dear Sir, B. P.S.-Many, many thanks for your kind invitation; but it was too late. I was in this county before it arrived. My best remembrances to Mrs. H. and all the family. 342. To the Hon. Augusta Leigh. [Sunday], October 10th, 1813. MY DEAREST AUGUSTA,—I have only time to say that I am not in the least angry, and that my silence has merely arisen from several circumstances which I cannot now detail. I trust you are better, and will continue best. Ever, my dearest, Yours, B. 343.-To John Murray. Oct. 12, 1813. DEAR SIR,-You must look The Giaour again over carefully; there are a few lapses, particularly in the last page,—“I know 'twas false; she could not die;" it was, and ought to be-" knew." Pray observe this and similar mistakes. I have received and read the British Review.1 I really think the writer in most parts very right. The only mortifying thing is the accusation of imitation. 1. The British Review (No. ix.) criticized The Giaour severely (pp. 132-145). "Lord Byron," "it says, "has had the bad taste to imitate Mr. Walter Scott" (p. 135). Further on (p. 139) it charges him with borrowing a simile from Crabbe's Resentment. The passage to which the reviewer alludes will be found in lines 11-16 of that poem "Those are like wax-apply them to the fire, 1813.] IN NO IMMEDIATE PERIL. 277 Crabbe's passage I never saw; and Scott I no further meant to follow than in his lyric measure, which is Gray's, Milton's, and any one's who likes it. The Giaour is certainly a bad character, but not dangerous: and I think his fate and his feelings will meet with few proselytes. I shall be very glad to hear from or of you, when you please; but don't put yourself out of your way on my account. Yours ever, B. 344.-To the Hon. Augusta Leigh. [Monday], Nov. 8th, 1813. MY DEAREST AUGUSTA,—I have only time to say that I shall write tomorrow, and that my present and long silence has been occasioned by a thousand things (with which you are not concerned). It is not L' C. nor O.; but perhaps you may guess, and, if you do, do not tell. You do not know what mischief your being with me might have prevented. You shall hear from me tomorrow; in the mean time don't be alarmed. I am in no immediate peril. Believe me, ever yours, B. 345.-To John Murray. [Nov. 12, 1813. With first proof of Bride of Abydos correct.] DEAR SIR, I have looked over-corrected-and added—all of which you may do too-at least certainly the two first. There is more MS. within. Let me know tomorrow at your leisure how and when we shall proceed! It looks better than I thought at first. Look over again. I suspect some omissions on my part and on the printers'. Yours ever, B. Always print "een "even." I utterly abhor "een” -if it must be contracted, be it “ev'n.” 346.-To William Gifford. November 12, 1813. MY DEAR SIR,-I hope you will consider, when I venture on any request, that it is the reverse of a certain Dedication, and is addressed, not to "The Editor of the "Quarterly Review," but to Mr. Gifford. stand this, and on that point I need farther. You will undertrouble you no You have been good enough to look at a thing of mine in MS.-a Turkish story, and I should feel gratified if you would do it the same favour in its probationary state of printing. It was written, I cannot say for amusement, nor "obliged by hunger and request of friends," 1 but in a state of mind, from circumstances which occasionally occur to "us youth," that rendered it necessary for me to apply my mind to something, any thing but reality; and under this not very brilliant inspiration it was composed. Being done, and having at least diverted me from myself, I thought you would not perhaps be offended if Mr. Murray forwarded it to you. He has done so, and to apologise for his doing so a second time is the object of my present letter. I assure you I beg you will not send me any answer. very sincerely I know your time to be occupied, and it is 1. Pope, Epistle to Arbuthnot, 1. 44. |