NOTE TO MR. MURRAY. "Nov. 22, 1813. Sharpe, and Lady Holland, and Lady Caroline Lamb, copies of The Bride,' as soon as convenient. "P. S. Mr. Ward and myself still continue our and hope all is right. I care less than you will purpose; but I shall not trouble you on any "I have no time to cross-investigate, but I believe believe about its success, but I can't survive a arrangement on the score of the Giaour and The single misprint: it chokes me to see words misused Bride till our return-or, at any rate, before May. by the printers. Pray look over, in case of some 1814--that is, six months from hence: and before eye-sore escaping me. that time you will be able to ascertain how far your offer may be a losing one; if so, you can deduct proportionably; and if not, I shall not at any rate allow you to go higher than your present proposal, which is very handsome, and more than fair.* "P. S. Send the earliest copies to Mr. Frere, Mr. Canning, Mr. Heber, Mr. Gifford, Lord Holland, Lord Melbourne (Whitehall,) Lady Caroline Lamb (Brocket,) Mr. Hodgson (Cambridge,) Mr. Merrivale, Mr. Ward, from the author." NOTE TO MR. MURRAY. "Nov. 23, 1813. "You wanted some reflections, and I send you per Selim, (see his speech in canto II., page 46,) eighteen lines in decent couplets, of a pensive, if not an ethical tendency. One more revise-positively the last, if decently done-at any rate the penultimate. Mr. Canning's approbation (if he did approve) I need not say makes me proud. As to printing, print as you will and how you will-by itself, if you like; but let me have a few copies in sheets. "I have had-but this must be entre nous,--a very kind note, on the subject of 'The Bride,' from Sir James Mackintosh, and an invitation to go there this evening, which it is now too late to |accept." NOTE TO MR. MURRAY. "Nov. 29, 1813. "Sunday-Monday morning-3 o'clock-in my doublet and hose, swearing. "I send you in time an errata page, containing an omission of mine which must be thus added, as it is too late for insertion in the text. The passage is an imitation altogether from Medea in Ovid, and is incomplete without these two lines. Pray let this be done, and directly; it is necessary; will add one page to your book (making), and can do no "You must pardon me once more, as it is all for harm, and is yet in time for the public. Answer your good: it must be thus "Nov. 24, 1813. "If you look over this carefully by the last proof, with my corrections, it is probably right; this you can do as well or better:-I have not now time. The copies I mentioned to be sent to different friends last night, I should wish to be made up with the new Giaours, if it also is ready. If not, send the Giaour afterward. me, thou oracle, in the affirmative. You can send the loose pages to those who have copies already, if they like; but certainly to all the critical copyholders. "P. S. I have got out of my bed, (in which, however, I could not sleep, whether I had amended this or not,) and so good morning. I am trying whether De L'Allemagne will act as an opiate, but I doubt it.' NOTE TO MR. MURRAY. "Nov. 29, 1813. "You have looked at it!' to much purpose, to allow so stupid a blunder to stand; it is not 'courage,' but carnage;' and if you don't want me to cut my own throat, see it altered. "I am very sorry to hear of the fall of Dresden." LETTER CLXXXVII. TO MR. MURRAY. "Nov. 29, 1813, Monday. "The Morning Post says I am the author of Nourjahad!!! This comes of lending the drawings for their dresses; but it is not worth a formal contradiction. Besides, the criticisms on the supposi- "You will act as you please upon that point; tion will, some of them, be quite amusing and but whether I go or stay, I shall not say another furious. The Orientalism-which I hear is very word on the subject till May-nor then, unless splendid-of the melodrame (whosoever it is, and I quite convenient to yourself. I have many things am sure I don't know) is as good as an advertise- I wish to leave to your care, principally papers. ment for your Eastern Stories, by filling their heads The vases need not now be sent, as Mr. Ward is with glitter. gone to Scotland. You are right about the errata page; place it at the beginning. Mr. Perry is a little premature in his compliments; these may do harm by exciting expectation, and I think we ought to be above it-though I see the next paragraph is on the Journal,† which makes me suspect you as the author of both. I "P. S. You will of course say the truth, that am not the melodramatist-if any one charges me in your presence with the performance." LETTER CLXXXVI. TO MR. MURRAY. "Would it not have been as well to have said 'in Two Cantos' in the advertisement? they will else think of fragments, a species of composition very well for once like one ruin in a view; but one would not build a town of them. The Bride, such as it is, is my first entire composition of any length, "Send another copy (if not too much of a (except the Satire, and be d-d to it,) for the request) to Lady Holland of the Journal, in my name, when you receive this; it is for Earl Grey-and I will relinquish my own. Also, to Mr. "Nov. 28, 1813. Penrose's Journal, a book published by Mr. Murray at this time. Giaour is but a string of passages, and Childe * Mr. Murray had offered him a thousand guineas for the two poems. † Penrose's Journal. eluded. I return Mr. Hay's note, with thanks to 67, which must be corrected with the pen, if no him and you. other way remains; it is the omission of 'not' "There have been some epigrams on Mr. Ward: before 'disagreeable,' in the note on the amber one I see to-day. The first I did not see, but heard rosary. This is really horrible, and nearly as bad yesterday. The second seems very bad. I only as the stumble of mine at the threshold-I mean hope that Mr. Ward does not believe that I had the misnomer of Bride. Pray do not let a copy go any connexion with either. I like and value him without the 'not;' it is nonsence and worse than too well to allow my politics to contract into spleen, nonsense as it now stands. I wish the printer was or to admire any thing intended to annoy him or saddled with a vampire. his. You need not take the trouble to answer this, as I shall see you in the course of the afternoon. "P. S. It is still hath instead of have in page 20; never was any one so misused as I am by your devils "P. S. I have said this much about the epi- of printers. grams, because I lived so much in the opposite "P. S. I hope and trust the 'not' was inserted camp, and, from my post as an engineer, might be in the first edition. We must have somethingsuspected as the flinger of these hand-gernadoes; but with a worthy foe, I am all for open war, and not any thing-to set it right. It is enough to answer for one's own bulls, without other people's." this bush-fighting, and have not had, nor will have, any thing to do with it. I do not know the author." LETTER CLXXXVIII. TO MR. MURRAY. "Dec. 27, 1813. "Lord Holland is laid up with the gout, and would feel very much obliged if you could obtain, and send as soon as possible, Madame D'Arblay's (or even Miss Edgeworth's) new work. I know they are not out; but it is perhaps possible for your Majesty to command what we cannot with much suing purchase, as yet. I need not say that when you are able or willing to confer the same favor on ine, I shall be obliged. I would almost fall sick myself to get at Madame D'Arblay's writings. "P. S. You were talking to-day of the American edition of a certain unquenchable memorial of my younger days. As it can't be helped now, I own I have some curiosity to see a copy of Transatlantic typography. This you will perhaps obtain, and one for yourself; but I must beg that you will not import more, because, seriously, I do wish to have that thing forgotten as much as it has been forgiven. "If you send to the Globe editor, say that I Don't send the copies to the country till this is all want neither excuse nor contradiction, but merely right." NOTE TO MR. MURRAY. “Dec. 2, 1813. "When you can, let the couplet enclosed be inserted either in the page, or in the errata page. I trust it is in time for some of the copies. This alteration is in the same part-the page but one before the last correction sent. "P. S. I am afraid, from all I hear, that people are rather inordinate in their expectations, which is very unlucky, but cannot now be helped. This comes of Mr. Perry and one's wise friends; but do not you wind your hopes of success to the same pitch, for fear of accidents, and I can assure you that my philosophy will stand the test very fairly; and I have done every thing to ensure you, at all events, from positive loss, which will be some satisfaction to both." NOTE TO MR. MURRAY. "Dec. 3, 1813. a discontinuance of a most ill-grounded charge. I never was consistent in any thing but my politics; and as my redemption depends on that solitary last anchor.' virtue, it is murder to carry away my "SIR, LETTER CLXXXIX. TO MR. ASHE.* "4 Bennet street, St. James's, Dec. 14, 1813. "I leave town for a few days to-morrow: on my return, I will answer your letter more at length. Whatever may be your situation, I cannot but commend your resolution to abjure and abandon the publication and composition of works such as those to which you have alluded. Depend upon it, they amuse few, disgrace both reader and writer, "I send you a scratch or two, the which heal. and benefit none. It will be my wish to assist you, The Christian Observer is very savage, but certainly as far as my limited means will admit, to break well written and quite uncomfortable at the naugh- such a bondage. In your answer, inform me what tiness of book and author. I rather suspect you sum you think would enable you to extricate yourwon't much like the present to be more moral, if it self from the hands of your employers, and to is to share also the usual fate of your virtuous regain at least temporary independence, and I shall At volumes. be glad to contribute my mite towards it. Your name is not "Let me see a proof of the six before incorpora- present I must conclude. unknown to me, and I regret, for your own sake, NOTE TO MR. MURRAY. "Monday evening, Dec. 6, 1813. * Author of a publication relating to the Queen, called "The Book: also of "Travels through America," and other notorious libels. He had written to Lord Byron, alleging poverty as his excuse for the vile uses to "It is very well, except that the lines are not which he had prostituted his pen, and soliciting the means of obtaining some numbered properly, and a diabolical mistake, page 'honest employment. that you have ever leant it to the works you men- [now stationary, if I can at all forward your pursuits tion. In saying this, I merely repeat your own there as well as here, I shall be truly glad in the op words in your letter to me, and have no wish what- portunity. Ever yours very sincerely, ever to say a single syllable that may appear to "B. insult your misfortunes. If I have, excuse me; it is unintentional. "Yours, &c. "BYRON." [In answer to this letter, Ashe mentioned as the sum necessary to extricate him from his difficulties, 150%.-and, some short delay having occurred in the reply to this demand, he, in renewing his suit, complained, it appears, of neglect.] "P. S. I believe I leave town for a day or two, on Monday, but after that I am always at home, and happy to see you until half past two. ' LETTER CXCII. TO MR. LEIGH HUNT. "Dec. 22, 1813. SIR, LETTER CXC. TO MR. ASHE. "Jan. 5, 1814. "MY DEAR SIR, "I am, indeed, 'in your debt'-and what is still worse, am obliged to follow royal example, [he has just apprized his creditors that they must wait till the meeting,] and entreat your indulgence for, I "When you accuse a stranger of neglect, you hope, a very short time. The nearest relation, and forget that it is possible business or absence from almost the only friend I possess, has been in LonLondon may have interfered to delay his answer, as don for a week, and leaves it to-morrow, with me, for has actually occurred in the present instance. But her own residence. I return immediately; but we to the point. I am willing to do what I can to meet so seldom, and are so minuted when we meet extricate you from your situation. Your first at all, that I give up all engagements, till now, scheme I was considering; but your own impa- without reluctance. On my return, I must see you tience appears to have rendered it abortive, if not to console myself for my past disappointments. irretrievable. I will deposit in Mr. Murray's hands should feel highly honored in Mr. B's permis(with his consent) the sum you mentioned, to be sion to make his acquaintance, and there you are in advanced for the time at ten pounds per month. my debt, for it is a promise of last summer which I "P. S. I write in the greatest hurry, which may still hope to see performed. Yesterday I had a letmake my letter a little abrupt; but, as I said before, ter from Moore; you have probably heard from him I have no wish to distress your feelings." lately; but if not, you will be glad to learn that he is the same in heart, head, and health.' " I "MY DEAR MERIVALE. "There was no offence-there could be none.* I thought it by no means impossible that we might "I have redde Roncesvaux with very great pleahave hit on something similar, particularly as you sure, and (if I were so disposed) see very little are a dramatist, and was anxious to assure you of room for criticism. There is a choice of two lines the truth, viz., that I had not wittingly seized upon in one of the last cantos,-I think Live and proplot, sentiment, or incident; and I am very glad tect' better, because 'Oh who?' implies a doubt of that I have not in any respect trenched upon your Roland's power of inclination. I would allow the subjects. Something still more singular is, that the-but that point you yourself must determine onfirst part, where you have found a coincidence in I mean the doubt as to where to place a part of the some events within your observations on life, was poem, whether between the actions or no. Only if drawn from observation of mine also; and I meant you wish to have all the success you deserve, never to have gone on with the story, but on second listen to friends, and-as I am not the least trouthoughts, I thought myself two centuries at least blesome of the number-least of all to me. too late for the subject; which, though admitting "I hope you will be out soon. March, sir, of very powerful feeling and description, yet is not March, is the month for the trade, and they must adapted for this age, at least this country, though be considered. You have written a very noble the finest works of the Greeks, one of Schiller's poem, and nothing but the detestable taste of the and Alfieri's, in modern times, besides several of day can do you harm,—but I think you will beat it. our old (and best) dramatists, have been grounded Your measure is uncommonly well chosen and on incidents of a similar cast. I therefore altered wielded." * * it as you perceive, and, in so doing, have weakened the whole by interrupting the train of thought; and, in composition, I do not think second thoughts are the best, though second expressions may improve the first ideas. "I do not know how other men feel towards those they have met abroad, but to me there seems a kind of tie established between all who have met together in a foreign country, as if we had met in a state of preexistence, and were talking over a life that has ceased; but I always look forward to renewing my travels, and though you, I think, are * It would appear that he had written to me something which led me to LETTER CXCIV. TO MR. MURRAY. "Sunday, Jan. 2, 1814. "Excuse this dirty paper-it is the penultimate half-sheet of a quire. Thanks for your book and the Ln. Chron. which I return. The Corsair is copied, and now at Lord Holland's; but I wish Mr. Gifford to have it to-night. "Mr. Dallas is very perverse; so that I have ofimagine he was offended at my observations, and that I had, in consequence, fended both him and you, when I really meant to do good, at least to one, and certainly not to annoy deprecated his wrath."-Galt. ei.her.* But I shall manage him, I hope. I am | fact is, he is a damned Tory, and has, I dare swear, pretty confident of the Tale itself; but one cannot something of self, which I cannot divine, at the be sure. If I get it from Lord Holland, it shall be bottom of his objection, as it is the allusion to Iresent. Yours, &c." land to which he objects. But he be d-d, though a good fellow enough, (your sinner would not be worth a d―n.) LETTER CXCV. TO MR. MOORE. "Jan. 6, 1814. My last epistle would probably put you in a "Take your choice; no one, save he and Mr. Dallas, has seen either, and D. is quite on my side, and for the first.* If I can but testify to you and the world how truly I admire and esteem you, I shall be quite satisfied. As to prose, I don't know "I have got a devil of a long story in the press, my cacology. Pray perpend, pronounce, and don't Addison's from Johnson's; but I will try to mend entitled The Corsair,' in the regular heroic mea-be offended with either. sure. It is a pirate's isle, peopled with my own creatures, and you may easily suppose they do a world of mischief through the three cantos. Now fidget. But the Devil, who ought to be civil on such your Dedication—if you will accept it. This is occasions, proved so, and took my letter to the right place. positively my last experiment on public literary opinion, till I turn my thirtieth year,-if so be I flourish until that downhill period. I have a confidence for you—a perplexing one to me, and, just at present, in a state of abeyance in itself. * However, we shall see. In the mean time, you may amuse yourself with my suspense, and put all the justices of the peace in requisition, in case I come into your county with hack but bent.' for * * * * * "Is it not odd? the very fate I said she had escaped from **, she has now undergone from the claim to the character of Vates?' as he did in the worthy ** Like Mr. Fitzgerald, shall I not lay Morning Herald for prophesying the fall of Bonaparte, who, by-the-by, I don't think is yet fallen. I wish he would rally and rout your legitimate sovereigns, having a mortal hate to all royal entails. But I am scrawling a treatise. Good night. Ever, &c." NOTE TO MR. MURRAY. "Jan. 11, 1814. "Seriously, whether I am to hear from her or him, it is a pause, which I shall fill up with as few thoughts of my own as I can borrow from other people. Any thing is better than stagnation; and now, in the interregnum of my autumn and a "Correct this proof by Mr. Gifford's (and from strange summer adventure, which I don't like to the MSS.) particularly as to the pointing. I have think of, (I don't mean **'s, however, which is added a section for Gulnare, to fill up the parting laughable only,) the antithetical state of my lucu- and dismiss her more ceremoniously. If Mr. Gifbrations makes me alive, and Macbeth can sleep ford or you dislike, 'tis but a sponge, and another no more:'-he was lucky in getting rid of the midnight better employed than in yawning over drowsy sensation of waking again. Miss **; who, by-the-by, may soon return the "Pray write to me. I must send you a copy of compliment. the letter of Dedication. When do you come out? | I am sure we don't clash this time, for I am all at sea, and in action,—and a wife, and a mistress, &c., &c. "Thomas, thou art a happy fellow; but if you wish us to be so, you must come up to town, as you did last year; and we shall have a world to say, and to see, and to hear. Let me hear from you. "Wednesday or Thursday. "P. S. I have redde **. It is full of praises of Lord Ellenborough!!! (from which I infer near and dear relations at the bar,) and * * "I do not love Madame de Staël, but depend upon it, she beats all your natives hollow as an authoress, in my opinion; and I would not say this if I could help it. "P. S. Of course you will keep my secret, and "P. S. Pray report my best acknowledgements to don't even talk in your sleep of it. Happen what Mr. Gifford in any words that may best express how may, your Dedication is ensured, being already truly his kindness obliges me. I won't bore him written; and I shall copy it out fair to-night, with lip thanks or notes." in case business or amusement-Amant alterna Camana." "Jan, 8, 1814. NOTE TO MR. MOORE. "Jan. 13, 1814. "I have but a moment to write, but all is as it should be. I have said really far short of my opinion, but if you think enough, I am content. Will you return the proof by the post, as I leave town on Sunday, and have no other corrected copy. I put 'servant,' as being less familiar before the public; because I don't like presuming upon our friendship to infringe upon forms. As to the other word, you may be sure it is one I cannot hear or repeat too often. "I write in an agony of haste and confusion. Perdonate." "I had written to you a long letter of dedication, which I suppress, because, As it would not be fair to press you into a Dedi-though it contained something relating to you which every one had been glad cation, without previous notice, I send you two, and to hear, yet there was too much about politics, and poesy, and all things I will tell why two. The first, Mr. Murray, who whatsoever, ending with that topic on which most men are fluent, and none sometimes takes upon him the critic (and I bear it very amusing-one's self. It might have been re-written-but to what purfrom astonishment) says, may do you harm-God pose? My praise could add nothing to your well-earned and firmly-estab forbid! this alone makes me listen to him. The in your conversation, you are already acquainted. In availing myself of • He had made a present of the copyright of the Corsair to Mr. Dallas, which occasioned some embarrassment between him and Mr. Murray. † It had been at first Genevra. lished fame; and with my most hearty admiration of your talents, and delight your friendly permission to inscribe this poem to you, I can only wish the "BYRON." LETTER CXCVII. TO MR. MURRAY. "Jan. 15, 1814. "Just before I left town, Kemble paid me the compliment of desiring me to write a tragedy; I wish I could, but find my scribbling mood subsiding-not before it was time; but it is lucky to check it at all. If I lengthen my letter you will think it is coming on again; so, good-bye. Yours alway, "B. "Before any proof goes to Mr. Gifford, it may be as well to revise this, where there are words omitted, faults committed, and the devil knows what. As to the dedication, I cut out the parenthesis of Mr.* but not another word shall move unless for a better. "P. S. If you hear any news of battle or retreat Mr. Moore has seen, and decidedly preferred, the on the part of the Allies, (as they call them,) pray part your Tory bile sickens at. If every syllable send it. He has my best wishes to manure the were a rattlesnake, or every letter a pestilence, they fields of France with an invading army. I hate should not be expunged. Let those who cannot invaders of all countries, and have no patience with swallow, chew the expressions on Ireland; or should the cowardly cry of exultation over him, at whose even Mr. Croker array himself in all his terrors name you all turned whiter than the snow to which against them, I care for none of you, except Gif-you are indebted for your triumphs. ford; and he won't abuse me except I deserve it— "I open my letter to thank you for yours just which will at least reconcile me to his justice. As received. The Lines to a Lady Weeping' must go to the poems in Hobhouse's volume, the transla- with the Corsair. I care nothing for consequence tion from the Romaic is well enough; but the best on this point. My politics are to me like a young of the other volume (of mine, I mean) have been mistress to an old man-the worse they grow, the already printed. But do as you please-only, as I fonder I become of them. As Mr. Gifford likes the shall be absent when you come out, do, pray, let Portuguese Translation,' '* pray insert it as an Mr. Dallas and you have a care of the press. Yours, &c." NOTE TO MR. MURRAY. addition to the Corsair. "In all points of difference between Mr. Gifford and Mr. Dallas, let the first keep his place; and in all difference between Mr. Gifford and Mr. Anybody[1814, Jan. 15.J else, I shall abide by the former; if I am wrong, I "I do believe that the Devil never created or per- can't help it. But I would rather not be right with verted such a fiend as the fool of a printer. I am any other person. So there is an end of that matobliged to enclose you, luckily for me, this second ter. After all the trouble he has taken about me and proof, corrected, because there is an ingenuity in his mine, I should be very ungrateful to feel or act blunders peculiar to himself. Let the press be otherwise. Besides, in point of judgment, he is not guided by the present sheet. to be lowered by a comparison. In politics he may be right too; but that with me is a feeling, and I can't torify my nature.' "Burn the other. "Yours, &c. “Correct this also by the others in some things which I may have forgotten. There is one mistake he made, which, if it had stood, I would most certainly have broken his neck." LETTER CXCVIII. TO MR. MURRAY. "Newstead Abbey, Jan. 22, 1814. LETTER CXCIX. TO MR. MURRAY. We "Newstead Abbey, Feb. 4, 1814. "I need not say that your obliging letter was very welcome, and not the less so for being unexpected. "It doubtless gratifies me much that our finale "You will be glad to hear of my safe arrival here. has pleased, and that the curtain drops gracefully.† The time of my return will depend upon the You deserve it should, for your promptitude and weather, which is so impracticable that this letter good nature in arranging immediately with Mr. has to advance through more snows than ever Dallas; and I can assure you that I esteem your opposed the emperor's retreat. The roads are im- entering so warmly into the subject, and writing to passable, and return impossible for the present; me so soon upon it, as a personal obligation. which I do not regret, as I am much at my ease, shall now part, I hope, satisfied with each other. and six-and-twenty complete this day-a very pretty I was and am quite in earnest in my prefatory proage, if it would always last. Our coals are excel-mise not to intrude any more; and this not from any lent, our fire-places large, my cellar full, and my affectation, but a thorough conviction that it is the head empty; and I have not yet recovered my joy best policy, and is at least respectful to my readers, at leaving London. If any unexpected turn oc- as it shows I would not willingly run the risk of forcurred with my purchasers, I believe I should hardly feiting their favor in future. Besides, I have other quit the place at all; but shut my door and let my views and objects, and think that I shall keep this beard grow. resolution; for, since I left London, though shut up, "I forgot to mention (and I hope it is unneces-snow-bound, and thaw-bound, and tempted with all sary) that the lines beginning-Remember him, &c., kinds of paper, the dirtiest of ink, and the bluntest must not appear with the Corsair. You may slip of pens, I have not even been haunted by a wish to them in with the smaller pieces newly annexed to Childe Harold; but on no account permit them to be appended to the Corsair. Have the goodness to recollect this particularly. مله "The books I have brought with me are a great consolation for the confinement, and I bought more as we came along. In short, I never consult the thermometer, and shall not put up prayers for a thaw, unless I thought it would sweep away the rascally invaders of France. Was ever such a thing as Blucher's proclamation? * He had, at first, after the words "Scott alone," inserted, in a parenthesis,- "He will excuse the Mr.-' we do not say Mr. Cæsar.' 1 See Poems, p. 539. See Pocms, p. 546. |