xl title, but I mean to retain it with this addition: The (British) English Bards and Scotch Reviewers; and, if we call it a Satire, it will obviate the objection, as the Bards also were Welch. Your title is too humorous;—and as I know a little of I wish not to embroil myself with him, though I do not commend his treatment of ———. I shall be glad to hear from you, or see you, and beg you to believe me yours very sincerely, BYRON. TO MR. DALLAS or, February 7, 1809. My dear Sir, Suppose we have this couplet Though sweet the sound, disdain a borrow'd tone, 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 come against me; my annotation must stand. We shall never sell a thousand; then why print so many? Did you receive my yesterday's note? I am troubling you, but I am apprehensive some of the lines are omitted by your young amanuensis, to whom, however, I am infinitely obliged.—Believe me, yours very truly, BYRON. TO MR. DALLAS February 11, 1809. I wish you to call, if possible, as I have some xli alterations to suggest as to the part about Brougham. B. TO MR. DALLAS February 12, 1809. Excuse the trouble, but I have added two lines xlii which are necessary to complete the poetical character of Lord Carlisle : in his age His scenes alone had damn'd our sinking stage; -Yours, etc., B. B. TO MR. DALLAS February 15, 1809. I wish you much to call on me, about One, not xliii later, if convenient, as I have some thirty or forty lines for addition.-Believe me, etc. TO MR. DALLAS xliv February 16, 1809. Ecce iterum Crispinus!—I send you some lines to be placed after 'Gifford, Sotheby, M'Neil.' Pray call to-morrow any time before two, and believe me, etc., B. P.S.-Print soon, or I shall overflow with more rhyme. TO MR. DALLAS February 19, 1809. xlv I enclose some lines to be inserted, the first six after 'Lords too are bards, etc.,' or rather immediately following the line: 'Ah! who would take their titles with their rhymes.' The four next will wind up the panegyric on Lord Carlisle, and come after 'tragic stuff.'-Yours truly, In these our times with daily wonders big, Still less that such should woo the graceful Nine? Yet at their judgment let his Lordship laugh, TO MR. DALLAS February 22, 1809. A cut at the opera.-Ecce signum from last night's xlvi observation, and inuendos against the Society for the suppression of Vice. The lines will come well in after the couplets concerning Naldi and Catalani.— Yours truly, BYRON. TO THE HONOURABLE MRS. BYRON 8 St. James's Street, March 6, 1809. Dear Mother, -My last letter was written under xlvii great depression of spirits from poor Falkland's death, who has left without a shilling four children and his wife. I have been endeavouring to assist them, which, God knows, I cannot do as I could wish, from my own embarrassments and the many claims upon me from other quarters. What you say is all very true: come what may, Newstead and I stand or fall together. I have now lived on the spot, I have fixed my heart upon it, and no pressure, present or future, shall induce me to barter the last vestige of our inheritance. I have that pride within me which will enable me to support difficulties. I can endure privations; but could I obtain in exchange for Newstead Abbey the first fortune in the country, I would reject the proposition. Set your mind at ease on that score; Mr. Hanson talks like a man of business on the subject, -I feel like a man of honour, and I will not sell Newstead. I shall get my seat on the return of the affidavits from Carhais, in Cornwall, and will do something in the House soon: I must dash, or it is all over. My Satire must be kept secret for a month; after that you may say what you please on the subject. Lord Carlisle has used me infamously, and refused to state any particulars of my family to the Chancellor. 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, etc. P.S.-You shall have a mortgage on one of the farms. xlviii 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 send down to you by this post a certain Satire |