beings I ever loved, (females excepted:) I am therefore a solitary animal, miserable enough, and so perfectly a citizen of the world, that whether I pass my days in Great Britain or Kamschatka is to me a matter of perfect indifference. I cannot evince greater respect for your alteration than by immedi"Your critique* is valuable for many reasons: ately adopting it-this shall be done in the next in the first place, it is the only one in which flattery edition. I am sorry your remarks are not more frehas borne so slight a part; in the next, I am cloyed quent, as I am certain they would be equally benewith insipid compliments. I have a better opinion ficial. Since my last I have received two critical of your judgment and ability than your feelings. opinions. from Edinburgh, both too flattering for me Accept my most sincere thanks for your kind de- to detail. One is from Lord Woodhouslee, at the cision, not less welcome, because totally unex- head of the Scotch literati, and a most voluminous pected. With regard to a more exact estimate, I writer, (his last work is a life of Lord Kaimes ;) the need not remind you how few of the best poems, in other from Mackenzie, who sent his decision a secour language, will stand the test of minute or verbal ond time, more at length. I am not personally criticism; it can therefore hardly be expected the acquainted with either of these gentlemen, nor ever effusions of a boy, (and most of these pieces have requested their sentiments on the subject: their been produced at an early period,) can derive much praise is voluntary, and transmitted through the merit either from the subject or composition. Many medium of a friend, at whose house they read the of them were written under great depression of productions.

row,

*

*

spirits, and during severe indisposition; hence the "Contrary to my former intention, I am now gloomy turn of the ideas. We coincide in opinion We coincide in opinion preparing a volume for the public at large; my. that the poesies érotiques' are the most exception- amatory pieces will be exchanged, and others substiable; they were however, grateful to the deities on tuted in their place. The whole will be considerably whose altars they were offered-more I seek not. enlarged, and appear the latter end of May This "The portrait of Pomposust was drawn at Har- is a hazardous experiment; but want of better emafter a long sitting; this accounts for the re- ployment, the encouragement I have met with, and semblance, or rather the caricatura. He is your my own vanity, induce me to stand the test, though friend, he never was mine-for both our sakes I not without sundry palpitations. The book will shall be silent on this head. The collegiate rhymes circulate fast enough in this country, from mere are not personal; one of the notes may appear so, curiosity, what I prin but could not be omitted. I have little doubt they will be deservedly abused; a just punishment for my unfilial treatment of so excellent an Alma Mater. I sent you no copy, lest we should be placed in the situation of Gil Blas and the Archbishop of Grenada: though running some hazard from the experiment, I wished your verdict to be unbiassed. Had my Libellus' been presented previous to your letter, it would have appeared a species of bribe to purchase compliment. I feel no hesitation in saying, I was more anxious to hear your critique, however severe, than the praises of the million. On this, would have been presented before, had I not "The volume* of little pieces which accompanies the same day I was honored with the enconiums of Mackenzie, the celebrated author of the 'Man of been apprehensive that Miss Falkner's indisposition Feeling.' Whether his approbation or yours elated might render such trifles unwelcome. There are me most, I cannot decide. some errors of the printer which I have not had "You will receive my Juvenilia, at least all yet with all its imperfections on its head,' a heavy time to correct in the collection: you have it thus, published. I have a large volume in manuscript,

SIR,

LETTER XIII.

TO MR. FALKNER.

which may in part appear hereafter; at present I weight, when joined with the faults of its author. have neither time nor inclination to prepare it for the Such 'Juvenilia,' as they can claim no great degree press. In the spring I shall return to Trinity, to dis-of approbation, I may venture to hope, will also mantle my rooms, and bid you a final adieu. The escape the severity of uncalled for, though perhaps Cam will not be much increased by my tears on the not undeserved, criticism.

occasion. Your father remarks, however, caustic or "They were written on many and various occabitter to a palate vitiated with the sweets of adula- sions, and are now published merely for the perusal tion, will be of service. Johnson has shown us of a friendly circle. Believe me, sir, if they afford that no poetry is perfect; but to correct mine would the slightest amusement to yourself and the rest of be an Herculean labor. In fact I never looked be- my social readers, I shall have gathered all the bays I ever wish to adorn the head of yond the moment of composition, and published "Yours, very truly, merely at the request of my friends. Notwith"BYRON. standing so much has been said concerning the 'Genus irritabile vatum,' we shall never quarrel on "P. S.. I hope Miss F. is in a state of recovery." the subject. Poetic fame is by no means the 'acme' of my wishes. Adieu.

"Yours ever,

"BYRON."

you arrive at this d-d place, where I am detained two years younger than myself. I found him growr. by the publication of my rhymes.

"Adieu.-Believe me yours very truly, "BYRON. "P. S. Since we met, I have reduced myself by violent exercise, much physic, and hot bathing, from fourteen stone six lb. to twelve stone seven lb. In all I have lost twenty-seven pounds. Bravo!-what

say you?"

LETTER XV

TO MISS PIGOT.

"DEAR QUEEN BESS,

"June 11, 1807.

considerably, and, as you will suppose, very glad to see his former Patron. He is nearly my height, very thin, very fair complexion, dark eyes, and light locks. My opinion of his mind you already know; -I hope I shall never have occasion to change it. Every body here conceives me to be an invalid The university at present is very gay, from the fêtes of divers kinds. I supped out last night, but eat (or ate) nothing, sipped a bottle of claret, went to bed at two and rose at eight. I have commenced early rising, and find it agrees with me. The Masters and the Fellows all very polite, but look a little askance-don't much admire lampoons-truth always disagreeable.

Write, and tell me how the inhabitants of your menagerie go on, and if my publication goes off well: do the quadrupeds growl? Apropos, my bull "Savage ought to be immortal :-though not a dog is deceased-Flesh both of cur and man is thorough-bred bull-dog, he is the finest puppy I ever grass.' Address your answer to Cambridge. If I saw, and will answer much better; in his great and am gone, it will be forwarded. Sad news just manifold kindness he has already bitten my fingers, arrived-Russians beat-a bad set, eat nothing but and disturbed the gravity of old Boatswain, who is oil, consequently must melt before a hard fire. I grievously discomposed. I wish to be informed what get awkward in my academic habiliments for want he costs, his expenses, &c., &c., that I may indemnify rio at St. Mary's, popped down in the middle of the of practice. Got up in a window to hear the oratoMy thanks are all I can give for the trouble he has taken, make a long speech and con- Messiah, tore a woful rent in the back of my best clude it with 1234567.* I am out of practice, black silk gown, and damaged an egregious pair I am out of practice, of breeches. Mem.-never tumble from a church so deputize you as Legate,-ambassador would not do in a matter concerning the Pope, which I pre-remember me to any body:-to forget and be forgotwindow during service. Adieu, dear ****! do not sume this must, as the whole turns upon a Bull. ten by the people of Southwell is all I aspire to."

Mr. G

“Yours,

"BYRON.

"P. S. I write in bed."

LETTER XVI.

TO MISS FIGOT.

LETTER XVII.

TO MISS PIGOT.

"Trin. Coll. Camb. July 5, 1807.

"Since my last letter I have determined to reside "Cambridge, June 30, 1807. another year at Granta, as my rooms, &c., &c., are "Better late than never, Pal,' is a saying of finished in great style, several old friends come up which you know the origin, and as it is applicable on again, and many new acquaintances made; conthe present occasion, you will excuse its conspic-shall return to college in October, if still alive. My sequently, my inclination leads me forward, and I uous place in the front of my epistle. I am almost superannuated here. My old friends, (with the life here has been one continued routine of dissipaexception of a very few,) all departed, and I am tion-out at different places every day, engaged to preparing to follow them, but remain till Monday to more dinners, &c., &c., than my stay would permit be present at three Oratorios, two Concerts, a Fair, me to fulfil. At this moment I write with a bottle and a Ball. I find I am not only thinner, but taller of claret in my head, and tears in my eyes; for I by an inch since my last visit. I was obliged to tell have just parted from my Cornelian,' who spent As it was our last interview, every body my name, nobody having the least recol- the evening with me. lection of my visage or person. Even the hero of I postponed my engagement to devote the hours my Cornelian, † (who is now sitting vis-à-vis, read- of the Sabbath to friendship :-Edleston and I have ing a volume of my Poetics,) passed me in Trinity separated for the present, and my mind is a chaos To-morrow I set out for walks without recognising me in the least, and was of hope and sorrow. To-morrow thunderstruck at the alteration which had taken London: you will address your answer to Gordon's place in my countenance, &c., &c. Some say I Hotel, Albemarle street,' where I sojourn during my look better, others worse, but all agree I am thinner visit to the metropolis.

-more I do not require. I have lost two pounds in "I rejoice to hear you are interested in my my weight since I left our cursed, detestable and protege: he has been my almost constant associate abhorred abode of scandal, where, excepting your-His voice first attracted my attention, his countesince October, 1805, when I entered Trinity College. self and John Becher, I care not if the whole race were consigned to the Pit of Acheron, which Inance fixed it, and his manners attached me to him would visit in person rather than contaminate my for ever. He departs for a mercantile house in town sandals with the polluted dust of Southwell. Seri- in October, and we shall probably not meet till the ously, unless obliged by the emptiness of my purse his decision either entering as a partner through expiration of my minority, when I shall leave to to revisit Mrs. B., you will see me no more.

"On Monday I depart for London. I quit Cam- my interest, or residing with me altogether. Of bridge with little regret, because our set are vanished, course he would in his present frame of mind prefer and my musical protegé before mentioned has left the latter, but he may alter his opinion previous to the choir, and is stationed in a mercantile house of that period; however, he shall have his choice. I considerable eminence in the metropolis. You may certainly love him more than any human being, and have heard me observe he is exactly, to an hour, neither time nor distance have had the least effect on my (in general) changeable disposition. short, we shall put Lady E. Butler and Miss Ponsonby to the blush, Pylades and Orestes out of

* He here alludes to an odd fancy or trick of his own: whenever he was at a loss for something to say, he used to gabble over "1 2 3 4 5 6 7."

In

† Mr. Edleston. See the lines "to E." Hours of Idleness, page 415; countenance, and want nothing but a catastrophe

and "The Cornelian." Hours of Idleness, page 417.

like Nisus and Euryalus, to give Jonathan and

David the 'go by.' He certainly is perhaps more can't accord with your insulated ideas of decorum attached to me than even I am in return. During and other silly expressions not inserted in our the whole of my residence at Cambridge we met vocabulary.

every day, summer and winter, without passing one "Oh! Southwell, Southwell, how I rejoice to tiresome moment, and separated each time with have left thee, and how I curse the heavy hours 1 increasing reluctance. I hope you will one day see dragged along, for so many months, among the us together-he is the only being I esteem, though Mohawks who inhabit your kraals!-However, one I like many.* thing I do not regret, which is having pared off a "The Marquis of Tavistock was down the other sufficient quantity of flesh to enable me to slip into day; I supped with him at his tutor's-entirely a 'an ecl skin,' and vie with the slim beaux of modern whig party. The opposition muster strong here times; though, I am sorry to say, it seems to be now, and Lord Huntingdon, the Duke of Leinster, the mode among gentlemen to grow fat, and I am &c., &c., are to join us in October, so every thing told I am at least fourteen pounds below the will be splendid. The music is all over at present. fashion. However, I decrease instead of enlarging, Met with another accidency'-upset a butter-boat which is extraordinary, as violent exercise in Lonin the lap of a lady-look'd very blue-spectators don is impracticable; but I attribute the phenomgrinned curse 'em!' Apropos, sorry to say, been enon to our evening squeezes at public and private drunk every day, and not quite sober yet-however, parties. I heard from Ridge this morning, (the touch no meat, nothing but fish, soup, and vegeta- 14th, my letter was begun yesterday :) he says the bles, consequently it does me no harm-sad dogs Poems go on as well as can be wished, the seventyall the Cantabs. Mem.-we mean to reform next five sent to town are circulated, and a demand for January. This place is a monotony of endless variety fifty more complied with, the day he dated his like it-hate Southwell. Has Ridge sold well? epistle, though the advertisements are not yet half or do the ancients demur? What ladies have published. Adieu. bought? "P. S. Lord Carlisle, on receiving my poems, "Saw a girl at St. Mary's the image of Anne **, sent, before he opened the book, a tolerably handthought it was her-all in the wrong-the lady some letter:-I have not heard from him since. stared, so did I-I blushed, so did not the lady-sad His opinions I neither know nor care about; if he thing-wish women had more modesty. Talking is the least insolent, I shall enroll him with Butler* of women, puts me in mind of my terrier Fanny- and the other worthies. He is in Yorkshire, poor how is she? Got a headache, must go to bed, up man! and very ill! He said he had not time to early in the morning to travel. My protegé break-read the contents, but thought it necessary to fasts with me; parting spoils my appetite-except- acknowledge the receipt of the volume immediately. ing from Southwell. Mem.-I hate Southwell. Perhaps the earl 'bears no brother near the throne,' -if so, I will make his sceptre totter in his hands. Adieu !"

*

*

*

*

*

"Yours, &c."

*

LETTER XVIII.

TO MISS PIGOT.

"Gordon's Hotel, July 13, 1807.

LETTER XIX.

TO MISS PIGOT.

August 2, 1807. "London begins to disgorge its contents-town "You write most excellent epistles-a fig for is empty-consequently I can scribble at leisure, as other correspondents with their nonsensical apolo- occupations are less numerous. In a fortnight I gies for knowing nought about it,'-you send me a shall depart to fulfil a country engagement; but delightful budget. I am here in a perpetual vortex expect two epistles from you previous to that of dissipation, (very pleasant for all that,) and, period. Ridge does not proceed rapidly in Nottsstrange to tell, I get thinner, being now below very possible. In town things wear a more promiseleven stone considerably. Stay in town a month, ing aspect, and a man whose works are praised by perhaps six weeks, trip into Essex, and then, as a reviewers, admired by duchesses, and sold by every favor, irradiate Southwell for three days with the bookseller in the metropolis, does not dedicate light of my countenance; but nothing shall ever much consideration to rustic readers. I have now a make me reside there again. I positively return to review before me, entitled 'Literary Recreations,' Cambridge in October; we are to be uncommonly where my bardship is applauded far beyond my gay, or in truth I should cut the University. An deserts. I know nothing of the critic, but think extraordinary circumstance occurred to me at Cam-him a very discerning gentleman, and myself a bridge, a girl so very like *** made her appear- devilish clever fellow. His critique pleases me ance, that nothing but the most minute inspection particularly because it is of great length, and a could have undeceived me. I wish I had asked if proper quantum of censure is administered, just to

she had ever been at H***.

"What the devil would Ridge have? is not fifty I hate insipid, unqualified, common-place compligive an agreeable relish to the praise. You know in a fortnight, before the advertisements, a sufficient ment. If you would wish to see it, order the sale? I hear many of the London booksellers thirteenth number of Literary Recreations' for have them, and Crosby has sent copies to the the last month. I assure you I have not the most principal watering-places. Are they liked or not in distant idea of the writer of the article-it is printed Southwell? * * ** I wish Boatswain had in a periodical publication-and though I have swallowed Damon! How is Bran? by the immortal written a paper, (a review of Wordsworth,†) which gods, Bran ought to be a Count of the Holy Roman Empire. * * *

to

• Dr. Butler. See Letter XI.

†The first attempt of Lord Byron at reviewing, (for he, once or twice

"The intelligence of London cannot be interesting you, who have rusticated all your life-the annals afterward, tried his hand at this least poetical of employments,) is remarkable of routs, riots, balls and boxing-matches, cards and only as showing how plausibly he could assume the established tone and crim. cons., parliamentary discussions, political phraseology of these minor judgment-seats of criticism. For instance :--details, masquerades, mechanics, Argyle street "The volumes before us are by the Author of Lyrical Ballads, a collection Institution and aquatic races, love and lotteries, which has not undeservedly met with a considerable share of public applause. Brooks's and Bonaparte, opera-singers and orato- though occasionally inharmonious, verse,-strong, and sometimes irresistible rios, wine, women, waxworks, and weathercocks, appeals to the feelings, with unexceptionable sentiments. Though the

* Edleston See Letter 101.

The characteristics of Mr. Wordsworth's muse are simple and flowing,

present work may not equal his former efforts, many of the poems possess native elegance," &c. &c.-Moore.

appears in the same work, I am ignorant of every, "Last week I swam in the Thames from Lamother person concerned in it-even the editor, beth through the two bridges, Westminster and whose name I have not heard. My cousin, Lord Blackfriars, a distance, including the different Alexander Gordon, who resided in the same hotel, turns and tacks made on the way, of three miles! told me his mother, her Grace of Gordon, requested You see I am in excellent training in case of a he would introduce my poetical Lordship to her squall at sea. I mean to collect all the Erse tradiHighness, as she had bought my volume, admired it tions, poems, &c., and translate, or expand the subexceedingly in common with the rest of the fashion-ject to fill a volume, which may appear next spring able world, and wished to claim her relationship under the denomination of The Highland Harp, with the author. I was unluckily engaged on an or some title equally picturesque. Of Bosworth excursion for some days afterward, and as the Field, one book is finished, another just begun. It duchess was on the eve of departing for Scotland, will be a work of three or four years, and most probI have postponed my introduction till the winter, ably never conclude. What would you say to some when I shall favor the lady, whose taste I shall not stanzas on Mount Hecla? they would be written at dispute, with my most sublime and edifying con- least with fire. How is the immortal Bran ? and versation. She is now in the Highlands, and the Phoenix of canine quadrupeds, Boatswain? I Alexander took his departure a few days ago, for have lately purchased a thorough-bred bull-dog, the same blessed seat of dark rolling winds."' worthy to be the coadjutor of the aforesaid celestials his name is Smut!-bear it, ye breezes, on your balmy wings.'

"Crosby, my London publisher, has disposed of his second importation, and has sent to Ridge for a third-at least so he says. In every bookseller's "Write to me before I set off, I conjure you by window I see my own name and say nothing, but the fifth rib of your grandfather. Ridge goes on enjoy my fame in secret. My last reviewer kindly well with the books-I thought that worthy had requests me to alter my determination of writing not done much in the country. In town they have no more, and a Friend to the Cause of Literature been very successful; Carpenter (Moore's publisher) begs I will gratify the public with some new work told me a few days ago they sold all theirs immedi'at no very distant period.' Who would not be a ately, and had several inquiries made since, which, bard?-that is to say, if all critics would be so from the books being gone, they could not supply. polite. However, the others will pay me off, I The Duke of York, the Marchioness of Headfort, doubt not, for this gentle encouragement. If so, the Duchess of Gordon, &c., &c., were among the have at 'em! By-the-by, I have written at my purchasers, and Crosby says the circulation will be intervals of leisure, after two in the morning, three still more extensive in the winter; the summer seahundred and eighty lines in blank verse, of Bosworth son being very bad for a sale, as most people are Field. I have luckily got Hutton's account. I absent from London. However, they have gone off shall extend the Poem to eight or ten books, and extremely well altogether. I shall pass very near you shall have finished it in a year. Whether it will be on my journey through Newark, but cannot appublished or not must depend on circumstances. proach. Don't tell this to Mrs. B., who supposes I So much for egotism! My laurels have turned my travel a different road. If you have a letter, order brain, but the cooling acids of forthcoming criticisms it to be left at Ridge's shop, where I shall call, or will probably restore me to modesty. the post-office, Newark, about six or eight in the "Southwell is a damned place I have done with evening. If your brother would ride over, I should place--I it—at least in all probability: excepting yourself, I be devilish glad to see him-he can return the same esteem no one within its precincts. You were my night, or sup with us and go home the next mornonly rational companion; and in plain truth, I had ing-the Kingston Arms is my inn. Adieu. Yours more respect for you than the whole bevy, with ever, whose foibles I amused myself in compliance with their prevailing propensities. You gave yourself more trouble with me and my manuscripts than a thousand dolls would have done. Believe mẹ, I have not forgotten your good-nature in this circle of sin, and one day I trust I shall be able to evince my gratitude. Adieu, yours, &c.

"P. S. Remember me to Dr. P."

LETTER XX.

TO MISS PIGOT.

"MY DEAR ****

LETTER XXI.

TO MISS PIGOT.

"BYRON."

"Trinity College, Cambridge, Oct. 26, 1807.

"Fatigued with sitting up till four in the morning for the last two days at hazard, I take up my pen to inquire how your highness and the rest of my female acquaintance at the seat of archiepiscopal grandeur go on. I know I deserve a scolding for my negligence in not writing more frequently: but racing up and down the country for these last three months, how was it possible to fulfil the duties of a London, August 11, 1807. correspondent? Fixed at last for six weeks, I write, “On Sundav next I set off for the Highlands.* as thin as ever, (not having gained an ounce since A friend of mine accompanies me in my carriage to my reduction,) and rather in better humor;-but, Edinburgh. There we shall leave it, and proceed in after, all, Southwell was a detestable residence. a tandem, (a species of open carriage,) through the Thank St. Dominica, I have done with it: I have western passes to Inverary, where we shall purchase been twice within eight miles of it, but could shelties, to enable us to view places inaccessible to not prevail on myself to suffocate in its heavy vehicular conveyances. On the coast we shall hire atmosphere. This place is wretched enough-a a vessel and visit the most remarkable of the He- villanous chaos of din and drunkenness, nothing brides, and, if we have time and favorable weather, but hazard and Burgundy, hunting mathematics mean to sail as far as Iceland, only three hundred and Newmarket, riot and racing. Yet it is a paramiles from the northern extremity of Caledonia, to dise compared with the eternal dulness of Southpeep at Hecla. This last intention you will keep a well. Oh! the misery of doing nothing but make secret, as my nice mamma would imagine I was on love, enemies, and verses. a Voyage of Discovery, and raise the accustomed maternal war-whoop.

"Next January (but this is entre nous only, and pray let it be so, or my maternal persecutor will be throwing her tomahawk at any of my curious projwith my cousin, Capt. Bettesworth, who commands

* This plan (which he never put in practice) had been talked of by him ects) I am going to sea, for four or five months,

before he left Southwell.-Moore.

the Tartar, the finest frigate in the navy. I have mention the two Lords Lyttleton in a manner they seen most scenes, and wish to look at a naval life. respectively deserve, and will be surprised to hear We are going probably to the Mediterranean, or to the person who is now addressing you has been the West Indies, or to the d-1; and if there is a frequently compared to the latter. I know I am inpossibility of taking me to the latter Bettesworth juring myself in your esteem by this avowal, but will do it; for he has received four-and-twenty the circumstance was so remarkable from your obwounds in different places, and at this moment pos-servation, that I cannot help relating the fact. The sesses a letter from the late Lord Nelson, stating events of my short life have been of so singular a Bettesworth as the only officer in the navy who had nature, that though the pride commonly called more wounds than himself.* honor has, and I trust ever will, prevent me from

"I have got a new friend, the finest in the world, disgracing my name by a mean or cowardly action, a tame bear. When I brought him here, they asked I have been already held up as the votary of licenme what I meant to do with him, and my reply was, tiousness, and the disciple of infidelity. How far he should sit for a fellowship.' Sherard will ex-justice may have dictated this accusation I cannot plain the meaning of the sentence, if it is ambigu- pretend to say, but like the gentleman to whom my ous. This answer delighted them not. We have religious friends, in the warmth of their charity, have several parties here, and this evening a large as- already devoted me, I am made worse than I really sortment of jockeys, gamblers, boxers, authors, am. However, to quit myself, (the worst theme I parsons, and poets, sup with me,-a precious mix- could pitch upon,) and return to my Poems, I canture, but they go on well together: and for me, I not sufficiently express my thanks, and I hope I am a spice of every thing except a jockey; by-the- shall some day have an opportunity of rendering by, I was dismounted again the other day. them in person. A second edition is now in the

"Thank your brother in my name for his treatise. press, with some additions and considerable omisI have written 214 pages of a novel,-one poem of sions; you will allow me to present you with a copy. 380 lines,† to be published (without my name) in a The Critical, Monthly, and Anti-Jacobin Reviews few weeks, with notes,-560 lines of Bosworth have been very indulgent; but the Eclectic has proField, and 250 lines of another poem in rhyme, be-nounced a furious Philippic, not against the book sides half a dozen smaller pieces. The poem to be but the author, where you will find all I have menpublished is a Satire. Apropos, I have been praised tioned asserted by a reverend divine who wrote the to the skies in the Critical Review, and abused critique.

greatly in another publication. So much the better, "Your name and connexion with our family have they tell me, for the sale of the book; it keeps up been long known to me, and I hope your person controversy, and prevents it being forgotten. Be- will be not less so; you will find me an excellent sides, the first men of all ages have had their share, compound of a 'Brainless' and a 'Stanhope.'* I nor do the humblest escape;-so I bear it like a am afraid you will hardly be able to read this, for philosopher. It is odd two opposite critiques came my hand is almost as bad as my character, but you out on the same day, and out of five pages of abuse will find me, as legibly as possible, my censor only quotes two lines from different poems, in support of his opinion. Now the proper way to cut up, is to quote long passages, and make them appear absurd, because simple allegation is no proof. On the other hand, there are seven pages of praise, and more than my modesty will allow said on the subject. Adieu.

"P S. Write, write, write!!!"

"Your obliged and obedient servant,

LETTER XXIII.

"BYRON."

"SIR,

LETTER XXII.

TO MR. DALLAS.

"Dorant's Hotel, Albemarle street, Jan. 20, 1808.

TO MR. DALLAS.

"Dorant's, January 21, 1808.

"Whenever leisure and inclination permit me the pleasure of a visit, I shall feel truly gratified in a personal acquaintance with one whose mind has been long known to me in his writings.

"You are so far correct in your conjecture, that I am a member of the University of Cambridge, where I shall take my degree of A. M. this term; "Your letter was not received till this morning, I but were reasoning, eloquence, or virtue the objects presume from being addressed to me in Notts, of my search, Granta is not their metropolis, nor is where I have not resided since last June, and the place of her situation an 'El Dorado,' far less as the date is the 6th, you will excuse the delay of a Utopia. The intellects of her children are as stagnant as her Cam,† and their pursuits limited to the church-not of Christ, but of the nearest benefice.

my answer.

"If the little volume you mention has given pleasure to the author of Percival and Aubrey, I am sufficiently repaid by his praise. Though our "As to my reading, I believe I may aver, without periodical censors have been uncommonly lenient, I hiperbole, it has been tolerably extensive in the hisconfess a tribute from a man of acknowledged genius torical; so that few nations exist, or have existed is still more flattering. But I am afraid I should with whose records I am not in some degree acforfeit all claim to candor, if I did not decline such quainted, from Herodotus down to Gibbon. Of the praise as I do not deserve; and this is, I am sorry classics, I know about as much as most school boys to say, the case in the present instance. after a discipline of thirteen years; of the law of

"My compositions speak for themselves, and the land as much as enables me to keep within the must stand or fall by their own worth or demerit: statute'-to use the poacher's vocabulary. I did thus far I feel highly gratified by your favorable study the Spirit of Laws' and the Law of of Naopinion. But my pretences to virtue are unluckily tions; but when I saw the latter violated every so few, that though I should be happy to merit, I month, I gave up my attempts at so useless an accannot accept your applause in that respect. One complishment;-of geography, I have seen more passage in your letter struck me forcibly: you land on maps than I should wish to traverse on foot;-of mathematics, enough to give me the

* See postscript to the English Bards and Scotch Reviewers.

English Bards and Scotch Reviewers.

Hours of Idleness.

* Characters in the novel called Percival.

↑ See E. B. and S. R. page 465.