headache without clearing the part affected :-of "I meant to have been down in July; but thinkphilosophy, astronomy, and metaphysics, more ing my appearance, immediately after the publicathan I can comprehend, and of common sense so tion, would be construed into an insult, I directed little, that I mean to leave a Byronian prize at each my steps elsewhere. Besides, I heard that some of our Alma Matres' for the first discovery,- of the boys had got hold of my Libellus, contrary though I rather fear that of the Longitude will pre-to my wishes certainly, for I never transmitted a cede it. single copy till October, when I gave one to a boy, "I once thought myself a philosopher, and since gone, after repeated importunities. You will, talked nonsense with great decorum: I defied pain, I trust, pardon this egotism. As you had touched and preached up equanimity. For some time this on the subject, I thought some explanation necesdid very well, for no one was in pain for me but my sary. Defence I shall not attempt, Hic murus friends, and none lost their patience but my hear- aheneus esto, nil conscire sibi' and 'so on' (as ers. At last, a fall from my horse convinced me Lord Baltimore said, on his trial for a rape)-I have bodily suffering was an evil; and the worst of an been so long at Trinity as to forget the conclusion argument overset my maxims and my temper at the of the line; but, though I cannot finish my quota same moment, so I quitted Zeno for Aristippus, and tion, I will my letter, and entreat you to believe conceive that pleasure constitutes the ro kalov. In me, gratefully and affectionately, &c. morality, I prefer Confucius to the Ten Command- "P. S. I will not lay a tax on your time by ments, and Socrates to St. Paul, though the latter requiring an answer, lest you say, as Butler said to two agree in their opinion of marriage. In religion, Tatersall, (when I had written his reverence an I favor the Catholic emancipation, but do not ac- impudent epistle on the expression before menknowledge the Pope; and I have refused to take tioned,) viz., 'that I wanted to draw him into a the Sacrament, because I do not think eating bread correspondence.' or drinking wine from the hand of an earthly vicar LETTER XXIV. TO MR. HENRY DRURY.* "Dorant's Hotel, Jan. 13, 1808. * LETTER XX v TO MR. HARNESS. "Dorant's Hotel, Albemarle street, Feb. 11 1308 "MY DEAR HARNESS, "As I had no opportunity of returning my verbal thanks, I trust you will accept my written acknowledgments for the compliment you were pleased to pay some production of my unlucky muse last November-I am induced to do this not less from the pleasure I feel in the praise of an old schoolfellow, than from justice to you, for I had heard the story with some slight variations. Indeed, when we met this morning, Wingfield had not undeceived "MY DEAR SIR, me, but he will tell you that I displayed no resent"Though the stupidity of my servants, or the ment in mentioning what I had heard, though I porter of the house, in not showing you up stairs, was not sorry to discover the truth. Perhaps you (where I should have joined you directly,) pre- hardly recollect some years ago a short, though, for vented me the pleasure of seeing you yesterday, I the time, a warm friendship between us! Why it hoped to meet you at some public place in the eve- was not of longer duration, I know not. I have ning. However, my stars decreed otherwise, as still a gift of yours in my possession, that must they generally do, when I have any favor to re- always prevent me from forgetting it. I also quest of them. I think you would have been sur- remember being favored with the perusal of many prised at my figure, for, since our last meeting, I am of your compositions and several other circumreduced four stone in weight. I then weighed four-stances very pleasant in their day, which I will not teen stone seven pound, and now only ten stone and force upon your memory, but entreat you to believe a half. I have disposed of my superfluities by me, with much regret at their short continuance, means of hard exercise and abstinence. * and a hope they are not irrevocable, yours very "Should your Harrow engagements allow you to sincerely, &c. visit town between this and Febuary, I shall be most happy to see you in Albemarle street. If I am not so fortunate, I shall endeavor to join you for an afternoon at Harrow, though, I fear, your cellar will by no means contribute to my cure. As for my worthy preceptor, Dr. B., our encounter would by no means prevent the mutual endearments he and I were wont to lavish on each other. We have only spoken once since my departure from Harrow in 1805, and then he politely told Tatersall I was not a proper associate for his pupils. This "We both seem perfectly to recollect, with a was long before my strictures were in verse: but, in mixture of pleasure and regret, the hours we once plain prose, had I been some years older, I should passed together, and I assure you most sincerely have held my tongue on his perfections. But being they are numbered among the happiest of my brief laid on my pack, when that schoolboy thing was chronicle of enjoyment. I am now getting into written or rather dictated-expecting to rise no years, that is to say, I was twenty a month ago, and more, my physician having taken his sixteenth fee, and I his prescription, I could not quit this earth without leaving a memento of my constant attachment to Butler in gratitude for his manifold good offices. * Son of Doctor Drury, Lord Byron's former Master at Harrow School. LETTER XXVI. "BYRON." TO MR. HARNESS.-[FRAGMENT.] "March, 1808. another year will send me into the world to run my career of folly with the rest. I was then just fourteen,-you were almost the first of my Harrow friends, certainly the first in my esteem, if not in date; but an absence from Harrow for some time, shortly after, and new connexions on your side, and the difference in our conduct (an advantage decidedly LETTER XXVIII, TO MR. BECHER. "Dorant's, March 28, 1808. in your favor) from that turbulent and riotous disposition of mine, which impelled me into every species of mischief,-all these circumstances combined to destroy an intimacy, which Affection urged me to continue, and Memory compels me to regret. But there is not a circumstance attending that "I have lately received a copy of the new edition period, hardly a sentence we exchanged, which is from Ridge, and it is high time for me to return my not impressed on my mind at this moment. I need best thanks to you for the trouble you have taken not say more, this assurance alone must convince in the superintendence. This I do most sincerely, you, had I considered them as trivial, they would and only regret that Ridge has not seconded you as have been less indelible. How well I recollect the I could wish,-at least, in the bindings, paper, &c., perusal of your first flights!' There is another of the copy he sent to me. Perhaps those for the circumstance you do not know;-the first lines I public may be more respectable in such articles. ever attempted at Harrow were addressed to you. "You have seen the Edinburgh Review, of You were to have seen them; but Sinclair had the course. I regret that Mrs. Byron is so much copy in his possession when we went home; and, on annoyed. For my own part, these 'paper bullets our return, we were strangers. They were destroyed, and certainly no great loss; but you will perceive from this circumstance my opinions at an age when we cannot be hypocrites. of the brain' have only taught me to stand fire; and, as I have been lucky enough upon the whole, my repose and appetite are not discomposed. Pratt, the gleaner, author, poet, &c., &c., addressed a "I have dwelt longer on this theme than I long rhyming epistle to me on the subject, by way intended, and I shall now conclude with what I of consolation; but it was not well done, so I do cught to have begun. We were once friends,-nay, not send it, though the name of the man might we have always been so, for our separation was the make it go down. The E. R's. have not performed effect of chance, not of dissension. I do not know their task well; at least the literati tell me this, how far our destinations in life may throw us and I think I could write a more sarcastic critique together, but if opportunity and inclination allow on myself than any yet published. For instance, you to waste a thought on such a harebrained being instead of the remark,-ill-natured enough, but not as myself, you will find me at least sincere, and not keen,-about Mac Pherson, I (quoad reviewers) so bigoted to my faults as to involve others in the could have said, 'Alas, this imitation only proves consequences. Will you sometimes write to me? the assertion of Doctor Johnson, that many men, I do not ask it often, and, if we meet, let us be women, and children could write such poetry as what we should be and what we were.” Ossian's.' LETTER XXVII. TO MR. BECHER. "MY DEAR BECHER, * "Dorant's Hotel, Feb. 26, 1808. "I am thin and in exercise. During the spring or summer I trust we shall meet. I hear Lord Ruthyn leaves Newstead in April. *** As soon as he quits it for ever, I wish you would take a ride over, survey the mansion, and give me your candid opinion on the most advisable mode of proceeding with regard to the house. Entre nous, I am cursedly dipped; my debts, every thing inclusive, will be nine or ten thousand before I am twenty-one. But I have reason to think my property will turn out better than general expectation may conceive. Of Newstead I have little hope or care; but Hanson, * Now for Apollo. I am my agent, intimated my Lancashire property was happy that you still retain your predilection, and worth three Newsteads. I believe we have it that the public allow me some share of praise. I hollow; though the defendants are protracting the am of so much importance that a most violent surrender, if possible, till after my majority, for the attack is preparing for me in the next number of purpose of forming some arrangement with me, the Edinburgh Review. This I had from the thinking I shall probably prefer a sum in hand to a authority of a friend who has seen the proof and reversion. Newstead I may sell-perhaps I will manuscript of the critique. You know the system not,-though of that more anon. I will come of the Edinburgh gentlemen is universal attack. down in May or June. * They praise none; and neither the public nor the author expect praise from them. It is, however, something to be noticed, as they profess to pass judgment only on works requiring the public attention. You will see this, when it comes out ;it is, I understand, of the most unmerciful description; but I am aware of it, and hope you will not be hurt by its severity. DEAR JACK, * "Yours most truly, &c." LETTER XXIX. TO MR. JACKSON.* N. A. Notts, Sept. 18, 1809. Tell Mrs. Byron not to be out of humor with them, and to prepare her mind for the greatest hostility on their part. It will do no injury whatever, and I trust her mind will not be ruffled. They defeat their object by indiscriminate abuse, and they never praise, except the partizans of Lord Holland "I wish you would inform me what has been and Co. It is nothing to be abused when Southey, done by Jekyll, at No. 40 Sloane Square, concernMoore, Lauderdale, Strangford, and Payne Knight ing the pony I returned as unsound. share the same fate. "I have also to request you will call on Louck "I am sorry-but 'Childish Recollections' must at Brompton, and inquire what the devil he mean: be suppressed during this edition I have altered, by sending such an insolent letter to me at Brightat your suggestion, the obnoxious auusions in the on; and at the same time tell him I by no means sixth stanza of my last ode. can comply with the charge he has made for things "And now, my dear Becher, I must return my pretended to be damaged. "Ambrose behaved most scandalously about the best acknowledgments for the interest you have taken in me and my poetical bantlings, and I shall pony. You may tell Jekyll if he does not refund ever be proud to show how much I esteem the the money, I shall put the affair into my lawyer's advice and the adviser. "Believe me most truly, &c." * The Pugilist. See note to Don Juan, Canto XI. hands. Five-and-twenty guineas is a sound price] LETTER XXX. TO MR. JACKSON. "N. A., Notts, Oct. 4, 1808. "I have no beds for the H **s, or any body else. at present. The H**s sleep at Mansfield. I dc not know that I resemble Jean Jacques Rousseau.† I have no ambition to be like so illustrious a madman-but this I know, that I shall live in my own manner, and as much alone as possible. When my rooms are ready I shall be glad to see you; at present it would be improper, and uncomfortable to both parties. You can hardly object to my render"You will make as good a bargain as possible ing my mansion habitable, notwithstanding my with this Master Jekyll, if he is not a gentleman. departure for Persia in March, (or May at farthest,) If he is a gentleman, inform me, for I shall take very since you will be tenant till my return; and in case different steps. If he is not, you must get what of any accident,) for I have already arranged my you can of the money, for I have too much business will to be drawn up the moment I am twenty-one,) on hand at present to commence an action. Besides, I have taken care you shall have the house and maAmbrose is the man who ought to refund, but I nor for life, besides a sufficient income. So have done with him. You can settle with L. out my improvements are not entirely selfish. As of the balance, and dispose of the bidets, &c., as I have a friend here, we will go to the Infirmary you best can. Ball on the 12th; we will drink tea with Mrs. Byron at eight o'clock, and expect to see you at the ball. If that lady will allow us a couple of rooms to dress in, we shall be highly obliged :-if we are at the ball by ten or eleven it will be time enough, and we shall return to Newstead about three or four. Adieu. Believe me, "I should be very glad to see you here; but the house is filled with workmen, and undergoing a thorough repair. I hope, however, to be more fortunate before many months have elapsed. "If you see Bold Webster, remember me to him, and tell him I have to regret Sydney, who has perished, I fear, in my rabbit warren, for we have seen nothing of him for the last fortnight. "Adieu.-Believe me, &c." Yours, very truly, you see "BYRON LETTER XXXI. TO MR. JACKSON. "MY DEAR JACK, "N. A., Notts, Dec. 12, 1808. "You will get the greyhound from the owner at any price, and as many more of the same breed (male or female) as you can collect. I am "If you please, we will forget the things you mention. I have no desire to remember them. When my rooms are finished, I shall be happy to see you; as I tell but the truth, you will not suspect me of evasion. I am furnishing the house more for "Tell D'Egville his dress shall be returned-I you than myself, and I shall establish you in it beam obliged to him for the pattern. I am sorry you fore I sail for India, which I expect to do in March, should have so much trouble, but I was not aware if nothing particularly obstructive occurs. of the difficulty of procuring the animals in ques- now fitting up the green drawing-room; the red for tion. I shall have finished part of my mansion in a bed-room, and the rooms over as sleeping-rooms. a few weeks, and, if you can pay me a visit at They will be soon completed ;-at least, I hope so. Christmas, I shall be very glad to see you. "I wish you would inquire of Major Watson "Believe me, &c." (who is an old Indian) what things will be necessary to provide for my voyage. I have already procured a friend to write to the Arabic professor at Cambridge for some information I am anxious to procure. I can easily get letters from Government to the ambassadors, consuls, &c., and also to the governors at Calcutta and Madras. I shall place my property and will in the hands of trustees till my return, and I mean to appoint you one. From Hanson I have heard nothing-when I do you shall have the particulars. LETTER XXXII. TO MR. BECHER. "Newstead Abbey, Notts, Sept. 14, 1808. 'MY DEAR BECHER, "After all, you must own my project is not a bad "I am much obliged to you for your inquiries, one. If I do not travel now, I never shall, and all and shall profit by them accordingly. I am going men should one day or other. I have at present no to get up a play here; the hall will constitute a most connections to keep me at home; no wife, or unadmirable theatre. I have settled the dram. pers. provided sisters, brothers, &c. I shall take care of and can do without ladies, as I have some young you, and when I return I may possibly become a friends who will make tolerable substitutes for politician. A few years' knowledge of other counfemales, and we only want three male characters, tries than our own will not incapacitate me for that beside Mr. Hobhouse and myself, for the play we part. If we see no nation but our own we do not have fixed on, which will be the Revenge. Pray direct Nicholson the carpenter to come over to me • Thus addressed always by Lord Byron, but without any right to the immediately, and inform me what day you will dine distinction. and pass the night here. "Believe me, &c." † See Memorandum, page 1013. "Though soft the echo, scorn a borrow'd tone, "So much for your admonitions; but my note of notes, my solitary pun must not be given up-no, rather "Let mightiest of all the beasts of chace, "BYRON "A few weeks ago I wrote to ***, to request he would receive the son of a citizen of London, well known to me, as a pupil; the family having been particularly polite during the short time I was with come against me: my annotation must stand. them induced me to this application. Now, mark "We shall never sell a thousand; then why print what follows,-as somebody sublimely saith. On so many? Did you receive my yesterday's note? this day arrives an epistle, signed ***, containing I am troubling you, but I am apprehensive some of not the smallest reference to tuition, or intuition, the lines are omitted by your young amanuensis, to but a petition for Robert Gregson, of pugilistic no- whom, however, I am infinitely obliged. "Believe me, yours very truly, toriety, now in bondage for certain paltry pounds sterling, and liable to take up his everlasting abode in Banco Pegis. Had the letter been from any of my lay acquaintance, or, in short, from any person but the gentleman whose signature it bears, I should have marvelled not. If *** is serious, I congratulate pugilism on the acquisition of such a patron, and shall be most happy to advance any sum necessary for the liberation of the captive Gregson. But I certainly hope to be certified from you, or some respectable housekeeper, of the fact, before I write to *** on the subject. When I say the fact, I mean of the letter being written by ***, not having any doubt as to the authenticity of the statement. The letter is now before me, and I keep it for your perusal." "My only reason for not adopting your lines* is because they are your lines. You will recollect what Lady Wortley Montague said to Pope: 'No touching, for the good will be given to you, and the bad attributed to me.' I am determined it shall be all my own, except such alterations as may be absolutely requisite; but I am much obliged by the trouble you have taken and your good opinion. "The couplet on Lord C. may be scratched out, and the following inserted: "Roscommon ! Sheffield! with your spirits fled, &c. NOTES TO MR. DALLAS. "Feb. 11, 1809. "I wish you to call, if possible, as I have some alterations to suggest as to the part about Brougham. "B." "Excuse the trouble, but I have added two lines which are necessary to complete the poetical character of Lord Carlisle. "I wish you much to call on me, about one, not later, if convenient, as I have some thirty or forty lines for addition. Believe me, &c. "B." "Feb. 15, 1809." "Ecce iterum Crispinus !-I send you some lines to be placed after 'Gifford, Sotheby, McNeil, Pray call to-morrow any time before two, and believe "B." "P. S. Print soon, or I shall overflow with more rhyme. "Feb. 16, 1809." "I enclose some lines to be inserted, the six first after, Lords too are bards, &c.,' or rather immediately following the line: "Oh! who would take their titles with their rhymes?' The four next will wind up the panegyric on Lord "Feb. 19, 1809." "B." "A cut at the opera-Ecce signum! from last night's observation, and inuendees against the Society for the suppression of Vice. The lines will come well in after the couplets concerning Naldi "Yours truly, and Catalini. "Feb. 22, 1809." “BYRON.” LETTER XXXVIII. "DEAR MOTHER, TO MRS. BYRON. "8, St. James's st., March, 6, 1809. "I am going abroad, if possible, in the spring, and before I depart I am collecting the pictures of my most intimate schoolfellows; I have already a few, and shall want yours, or my cabinet will be incomplete. I have employed one of the first miniature-painters of the day to take them, of course at my own expense, as I never allow my "My last letter was written under great depres-acquaintance to incur the least expenditure to sion of spirits from poor Falkland's death, who gratify a whim of mine. To mention this may has left without a shilling four children and his seem indelicate; but when I tell you a friend of wife. I have been endeavoring to assist them, ours first refused to sit, under the idea that he was which, God knows, I cannot do as I could wish, to disburse on the occasion, you will see that it is from my own embarassments, and the many claims necessary to state these preliminaries to prevent upon me from other quarters. the recurrence of any similar mistake. I shall see "What you say is all very true: come what may you in time, and will carry you to the limner. It Newstead and I stand or fall together. I have now will be a tax on your patience for a week, but pray lived on the spot, I have fixed my heart upon it, excuse it, as it is possible the resemblance may be and no pressure, present or future, shall induce me the sole trace I shall be able to preserve of our past to barter the last vestige of our inheritance. I friendship and present acquaintance. Just now it have that pride within me which will enable me seems foolish enough, but in a few years, when to support difficulties. I can endure privations; some of us are dead, and others are separated by but could I obtain in exchange for Newstead inevitable circumstances, it will be a kind of satisAbbey the first fortune in the country, I would re-faction to retain in these images of the living the ject the proposition. Set your mind at ease on that idea of our former selves, and to contemplate in the score; Mr. Hanson talks like a man of business on resemblance of the dead, all that remains of judgthe subject, I feel like a man of honor, and I will ment, feeling, and a host of passions. But all this not sell Newstead. would be dull enough for you, and so good night, and to end my chapter, or rather my homily, believe me, dear H., yours most affectionately. "I shall get my seat on the return of the affidavits from Čarhais, in Cornwall, and will do something in the House soon; I must dash, or all is over. "P. S. I do not know how you and Alma Mater My Satire must be kept secret for a month; after agree. I was but an untoward child myself, and I that you may say what you please on the subject. you please on the subject: Lord Carlisle has used me infamously, and refused believe the good lady and her brat were equally to state any particulars of my family to the Chan-rejoiced when I was weaned; and, if I obtained her benediction at parting, it was, at best, equivocal." cellor. I have lashed him in my rhymes, and perhaps his Lordship may regret not being more conciliatory. They tell me it will have a sale; I hope so, for the bookseller has behaved well, as far as publishing well goes. Believe me, yours truly. "P. S. You shall have a mortgage on one of the farms." "DEAR SIR, LETTER XL. TO R. C. DALLAS, ESQ. April 25, 1809. LETTER XXXIX. TO MR. HARNESS. "8, St. James's street, March 18, 1809. "There was no necessity for your excuses; if you have time and inclination to write, for what we receive, the Lord make us thankful.'-If I do not hear from you, I console myself with the idea that you are much more agreeably employed. "I am just arrived at Batt's Hotel, Jermyn street St. James's, from Newstead, and shall be very glad to see you when convenient or agreeable. Hobhouse is on his way up to town, full of printing resolution, and proof against criticism. "Believe me, with great sincerity, yours truly, "BYRON.' LETTER XLI. TO MR. WILLIAM BANKES. Twelve o'clock, Friday night. "I send down to you by this post a certain Satire lately published, and in return for the three and sixpence expenditure upon it, only beg that if you should guess the author, you will keep his name secret; at least, for the present. London is full of the Duke's business. The Commons have been at it these last three nights and are not yet come to a "MY DEAR BANKES, decision. I do not know if the affair will be brought before our House, unless in the shape of an impeach"I have just received your note; believe me, I ment. If it makes its appearance in a debatable regret most sincerely that I was not fortunate form, I believe I shall be tempted to say something enough to see it before, as I need not repeat to you, on the subject-I am glad to hear you like Cam- that your conversation for half an hour would have bridge: firstly, because to know that you are happy been much more agreeable to me than gambling or is pleasant to one who wishes you all possible sub- drinking, or any other fashionable mode of passing lunary enjoyment; and, secondly, I admire the mo- an evening abroad or at home. I really am very rality of the sentiment. Alma Mater was to me sorry that I went out previous to the arrival of your injusta noverca; and the old Beldam only gave me despatch: in future, pray let me hear from you my M. A. degree because she could not avoid it. before six, and whatever my engagements may be, I You know what a farce a noble Cantab. must per-deference which I have always from my childhood will always postpone them. Believe me, with that form. * See English Bards, and note p. 461. paid to your talents, and with somewhat a better |