III.] THE DUPUY LAWSUIT. 413 APPENDIX III. BYRON AT LEGHORN. (See p. 92, note 2.) IN the Nuova Antologia for July, 1874 (p. 147, et seq.), reprinted in his Saggi (pp. 211-224), Signor Tribolati gives an account of a civil action instituted by Byron against his landlord, Francesco Dupuy. The story throws some light on the state of Byron's mind, when he received Hunt at Leghorn, and the circumstances in which he decided upon his expedition to Greece. On April 9, 1822, Byron hired from Francesco Dupuy a furnished house, with stables, coach-house, and garden, at a rent of 100 francesconi the month, from May I to October 31. One of the conditions of the lease was a continuous supply of good water to the house and stables, and the quality of the water had been the subject of correspondence between Dupuy and Zambelli, who stated that Byron was particularly careful that the water which he drank was absolutely pure. The supply, it was alleged, proved inadequate in quantity and bad in quality. Byron, therefore, offered Dupuy 50 scudi to take the remainder of his term off his hands, and, this offer being refused, claimed to rescind the contract. Frederigo del Rosso, a well-known advocate of Leghorn, assisted by Collini of Florence, conducted Byron's case. Dupuy claimed that Byron, being a foreigner, could not appear in an action, unless he gave security for costs, etc. The law was clear in the banker's favour. But Byron absolutely refused to make the required deposit. Matters seemed at a deadlock, until his pride was saved by Henry Dunn (see p. 69, note 1) undertaking to deposit the required security. Another characteristic incident occurred. Through Zambelli, Byron desired his advocate to protest against his opponent speaking of him as "Signore," instead of using his proper title of "Lord." But Del Rosso declined to raise the point, on the ground that all ranks of persons were spoken of by the Italian title. The legal proceedings dragged on for months, the delay being mainly caused by Byron's refusal to discuss the details of the matter with his advocate. Once, in April, 1823, a compromise seems to have been arranged between the lawyers. But one of the principals refused to consent to it, and finally, in July, 1823, Byron was condemned to pay 300 francesconi, being three months' rent, together with interest. The lawsuit with Dupuy was not, however, the only cause of Byron leaving Montenero. The story is completed by Torelli (Saggi, p. 201, and Nineteenth Century for November, 1891, p. 761. See also Leigh Hunt's Autobiography, ed. 1850, vol. iii. pp. 7-10). On the 28th of June, 1822, a scuffle took place in the gardens of the Villa Dupuy between the servants of Count Gamba and of Byron, in which Byron's coachman, Vincenzo Papi, and his cook, Gaetano Forestieri, took part. Knives were drawn and used. Though Byron appeared on the balcony with his pistols in his hand, and threatened to shoot the whole party if they did not drop their knives, the police had to be called in to quell the disturbance. The Government were already anxious to be rid of Byron, who had recently made the inconvenient request that his yacht, the Bolivar, should be allowed to embark and disembark persons along the Tuscan coast without hindrance from the authorities. They therefore took advantage of the riot at the Villa Dupuy. Byron's courier and Gamba's valet were sent over the frontier of the grand-duchy under the charge of the police, and the Gambas were warned that, unless they left the country within three days, formal sentence of banishment would be passed upon them. As soon as Byron heard the news, he wrote a letter to the Governor of Leghorn, of which Torelli gives the following translation (Saggi pp. 201, 202): "SIGNORE,-Vi scrivo in inglese, perchè so che ci fate l'onore d'intendere la nostra lingua. E uscito per parte vostra un ordine di arresto e d'esilio pel mio corriere, e una intimazione alla famiglia del conte Gamba di lasciare la Toscana dentro il termine di tre giorni. Io mi preparo a partire con loro perchè non voglio più stare in un paese ove si perseguitano i miei amici, e dove si nega asilo agli sventurati. Siccome ho da sistemare qualche interesse, così vi prego di accordare ad essi una dilazione, acciò io possa partire con loro." A respite of a few days was granted to the Gambas. On the 8th of July they took passports for Genoa, intending to go first to the Baths of Lucca, whence they hoped to make interest for permission to return to Pisa. For this purpose a letter from Mr. Dawkins, addressed to the Marquis Mansi, Minister of Foreign Affairs to the Grand-Duke of Lucca, was presented by Count Gamba to the Minister (Nineteenth Century, November, 1891, pp. 761, 762). “Lord Byron," writes Dawkins, "wishes to know whether the Government "of Lucca would permit the Counts Gamba, father and son, "to reside in its territory, depositing any caution it might 'please to impose." The question was one which Mansi could not solve without reference to the Grand-Duke; but in the end the request was granted. Meanwhile Byron returned to Pisa. APPENDIX IV. AMERICAN EDITIONS OF BYRON'S POEMS BETWEEN 1811 AND 1822. (See p. 72, note 2.) BYRON, in 1822, was delighted to find that his poetry was widely read in the United States. His popularity was proved by the numerous editions already published in that country. For the following list of early editions, most of which are to be found in the Boston Public Library, the Boston Athenæum, or the Library of Harvard College, I am indebted to Professor Charles Norton : English Bards, and Scotch Reviewers; a Satire. Philadelphia and Charleston, 1811, 86 pp. 8vo. Childe Harold's Pilgrimage. Philadelphia, 1812, 174 pp. 24mo. The Giaour. Boston, 1813, 72 pp. 24mo. The Giaour. Philadelphia, 1813, 53 pp. 24mo. The Bride of Abydos; a Turkish Tale. Philadelphia, 1814, 72 pp. 24mo. The Bride of Abydos; a Turkish Tale. Boston, 1814, 72 pp. 32mo. The Corsair. New York, 1814, xi., 108 pp. 24mo. The Corsair. Philadelphia, 1814, 16mo. Lara. Boston, 1814, iv., 8-98 pp. 12mo. Lara. New York, 1814, 136 pp. 24m0. English Bards, and Scotch Reviewers. Boston, 1814, 72 pp. small 12mo. Ode to Napoleon Bonaparte. Boston, 1814, 13 pp. 8vo. IV.] AMERICAN EDITIONS OF BYRON'S POEMS. 417 Hebrew Melodies. Boston, 1815, 43 (2) pp. 24m0. Ode: Napoleon's Farewell. New York, 1816, 8vo. Childe Harold's Pilgrimage. Canto the Third. Boston, Childe Harold's Pilgrimage. Canto III., with The Prisoner of Chillon, and other Poems. Philadelphia, 1817, 16mo. Beppo; a Venetian Story. Boston, 1818, 36 pp. small 12mo. Childe Harold's Pilgrimage. York, 1818, 177 (1) pp. 24m0. Canto the Fourth. New Childe Harold's Pilgrimage. Canto 4th. To which are added Beppo, and other Poems. Philadelphia, 1818, 270 pp. 24mo. Mazeppa. Boston, 1819, 24m0. The Prophecy of Dante. Philadelphia, 1821, 48 pp. small 12mo. Marino Faliero. Philadelphia, 1821, 179 pp. 24mo. The Two Foscari. New York, 1822, 114 pp. 24m0. VOL. VI. 2 E |