whom I know not, but evidently the composition of some one in the habit of writing, and of writing well. I do not know if he be the author of the Bioscope which accompanied them; but whoever he is, if you can discover him, thank him from me most heartily. The other letters were from ladies, who are welcome to convert me when they please; and if I can discover them, and they be young, as they say they are, I could convince them perhaps of my devotion. had also a letter from Mr. Walpole on matters of this world, which I have answered. So you are Lucien's publisher! I am promised an interview with him, and think I shall ask you for a letter of introduction, as 'the gods have made him poetical.' From whom could it come with a better grace than from his publisher and mine? Is it not somewhat treasonable in you to have to do with a relative of the 'direful foe,' as the Morning Post calls his brother? But my book on Diet and Regimen, where is it? I thirst for Scott's Rokeby; let me have your firstbegotten copy. The Anti-jacobin Review is all very well, and not a bit worse than the Quarterly, and at least less harmless. By-the-by, have you secured my books? I want all the Reviews, at least the critiques, quarterly, monthly, etc., Portuguese and English, extracted, and bound up in one volume for my old age; and pray, sort my Romaic books, and get the volumes lent to Mr. Hobhouse-he has had them now a long time. If anything occurs, you will favour me with a line, and in winter we shall be nearer neighbours.— Yours, etc., BYRON. P.S.-I was applied to to write the Address for Drury Lane, but the moment I heard of the contest, I gave up the idea of contending against all Grub Street, and threw a few thoughts on the subject into the fire. I did this out of respect to you, being sure you would have turned off any of your authors who had entered the lists with such scurvy competitors. To triumph would have been no glory; and to have been defeated-'sdeath!-I would have choked myself, like Otway, with a quartern loaf: so, remember I had, and have, nothing to do with it, upon my honour! TO LORD HOLLAND September 22, 1812. cxlviii My dear Lord,-In a day or two I will send you something which you will still have the liberty to reject if you dislike it. I should like to have had more time, but will do my best,—but too happy if I can oblige you, though I may offend a hundred. scribblers and the discerning public.—Ever yours. Keep my name a secret; or I shall be beset by all the rejected, and, perhaps, damned by a party. TO LORD HOLLAND Cheltenham, September 23, 1812. exlix Ecco-I have marked some passages with double readings-choose between them-cut-add-rejector destroy-do with them as you will-I leave it to you and the Committee-you cannot say so called 'a non committendo.' What will they do (and I do) with the hundred and one rejected Troubadours? 'With trumpets, yea, and with shawms,' will you be assailed in the most diabolical doggerel. I wish my name not to transpire till the day is decided. I shall not be in town, so it won't much matter; but let us have a good deliverer. I think Elliston should be the man, or Pope; not Raymond, I implore you, by the love of Rhythmus ! The passages marked thus ==, above and below, are for you to choose between epithets, and such like poetical furniture. Pray write me a line, and believe me ever, etc. My best remembrances to Lady H. Will you be good enough to decide between the various readings marked, and erase the other? or our deliverer may be as puzzled as a commentator, and belike repeat both. If these versicles won't do, I will hammer out some more endecasyllables. P.S.-Tell Lady H. I have had sad work to keep out the Phoenix-I mean the Fire Office of that name. It has insured the theatre, and why not the Address? TO LORD HOLLAND September 24. I send a recast of the four first lines of the con- cl cluding paragraph. This greeting o'er, the ancient rule obey'd, Receive our welcome too, whose every tone Springs from our hearts, and fain would win your own. And do forgive all this trouble. See what it is to have to do even with the genteelest of us.-Ever, etc. TO LORD HOLLAND cli Cheltenham, Sept. 25, 1812. Still 'more matter for a May morning.' Having patched the middle and end of the Address, I send one more couplet for a part of the beginning, which, if not too turgid, you will have the goodness to add. After that flagrant image of the Thames (I hope no unlucky wag will say I have set it on fire, though Dryden, in his Annus Mirabilis, and Churchill, in his Times, did it before me), I mean to insert this— As flashing far the new Volcano shone S meteors And swept the skies with lightnings not their own, I think thousands' less flat than crowds collected' -but don't let me plunge into the bathos, or rise into Nat Lee's Bedlam metaphors. By-the-by, the best view of the said fire (which I myself saw from a house-top in Covent Garden) was at Westminster Bridge, from the reflection on the Thames. Perhaps the present couplet had better come in after 'trembled for their homes,' the two lines after; -as otherwise the image certainly sinks, and it will run just as well. The lines themselves, perhaps, may be better thus -('choose' or 'refuse'-but please yourself, and don't mind 'Sir Fretful')— S sadly As flash'd the volumed blaze, and ghastly shone The last runs smoothest, and, I think, best; but you know better than best. 'Lurid' is also a less indistinct epithet than 'livid wave,' and, if you think so, a dash of the pen will do. I expected one line this morning; in the meantime, I shall remodel and condense, and, if I do not hear from you, shall send another copy.-I am ever, etc. TO LORD HOLLAND September 26, 1812. You will think there is no end to my villainous elii emendations. The fifth and sixth lines I think to alter thus Ye who beheld-O sight admired and mourn'd, because 'night' is repeated the next line but one; and, as it now stands, the conclusion of the paragraph, worthy him (Shakspeare) and you,' appears to apply the 'you' to those only who were out of bed and in Covent Garden market on the night of conflagration, instead of the audience or the discerning |