LETTER CCCCLXVII. TO MR. MOORE. "Ravenna, Dec. 9, 1820. "Besides this letter, you will receive three packets, containing, in all, 18 more sheets of Memoranda, which, I fear, will cost you more in postage than they will ever produce by being printed in the next century. Instead of waiting so long, if you could make any thing of them now in the way of reversion, (that is, after my death,) I should be very glad, as, with all due regard to your progeny, I prefer you to your grandchildren. Would not Longman or Murray advance you a certain sum now, pledging themselves not to have them published till after my decease, think you?-and what say you? "Over these latter sheets I would leave you a discretionary power; because they contain, perhaps, a thing or two which is too sincere for the public. If I consent to your disposing of the reversion now, where would be the harm? Tastes may change. I would, in your case, make my essay to dispose of them, not publish, now; and if you (as is most likely) survive me, add what you please from your own knowledge, and, above all, contradict any thing, if I have mis-stated; for my first object is the truth, even at my own expense. "I have some knowledge of your countryman, Muley Moloch, the lecturer. He wrote to me several letters upon Christianity, to convert me; and, if I had not been a Christian already, I should probably have been now, in consequence. thought there was something of wild talent in him, mixed with a due leaven of absurdity,-as there must be in all talent let loose upon the world without a martingale. * * "The ministers seem still to persecute the Queen * *but they won't go out, the sons of b-es. Damn reform-I want a place-what say you? You must applaud the honesty of the declaration, whatever you may think of the intention. "I have quantities of paper in England, original and translated-tragedy, &c. &c.; and am now copying out a Fifth Canto of Don Juan, 149 stanzas. So that there will be near three thin Albemarle, or two thick volumes of all sorts of my Muses. I mean to plunge thick, too, into the contest upon Pope, and to lay about me like a dragon till I make manure of *** for the top of Parnassus. "Those rogues are right-we do laugh at t' others-eh? -do n't we?* You shall see-you shall see what things I'll say, 'an it pleases Providence to leave us leisure. But in these parts they are all going to war; and there is to be liberty, and a row, and a constitution-when they can get them. But I won't talk politics-it is low. Let us talk of the Queen, and her bath, and her bottle-that's the only motiey now-a-days. "If there are any acquaintances of mine, salute them. The priests here are trying to persecute me,-but no "Yours, &c." matter. LETTER CCCCLXVIII. TO MR. MOORE. "Ravenna, Dec. 9, 1820. "I open my letter to tell you a fact, which will show the state of this country better than I can. The commandant of the troops is now lying dead in my house. He was shot at a little past eight o'clock, about two hundred paces from my door. I was putting on my great-coat to visit Madame la Contessa G. when I heard the shot. On coming into the hall, I found all my servants on the balcony, ⚫ He here alludes to a humorous article, of which I had told him, in Blackwood's Magazine, where the poets of the day were all grouped together in a variety of fantastic shapes, with Lord Byron and little Moore laughing behind, as if they would split," at the rest of the fraternity-Motre. ↑ See Don Juan, Canto V, Stanza 33. exclaiming that a man was murdered. I immediately ran down, calling on Tita (the bravest of them) to follow me. The rest wanted to hinder us from going, as it is the custom for every body here, it seems, to run away from the stricken deer.' "However, down we ran, and found him lying on his back, almost, if not quite, dead, with five wounds, one the heart, two in the stomach, one in the finger, and the other in the arm. Some soldiers cocked their guns, and wanted to hinder me from passing. However, we passed, and I found Diego, the adjutant, crying over him uke a child--a surgeon, who said nothing of his profession-a priest, sobbing a frightened prayer-and the commandani, all this time, on his back, on the hard, cold pavement, without light or assistance, or any thing around him but confusion and dismay. "As nobody could, or would, do any thing but howl and pray, and as no one would stir a finger to move him, for fear of consequences, I lost my patience-made my servant and a couple of the mob take up the body-sent off two soldiers to the guard-despatched Diego to the Cardinal with the news, and had the commandant carried up stairs into my own quarter. But it was too late, he was gone-not at all disfigured-bled inwardly-not above an ounce or two came out. "I had him partly stripped-made the surgeon examine him, and examined him myself. He had been shot by cut balls, or slugs. I felt one of the slugs, which had gone through him, all but the skin. Every body conjectures why he was killed, but no one knows how. The gun was found close by him—an old gun, half filed down. "He only said, 'O Dio!' and 'Gesu! two or three times, and appeared to have suffered little. Poor fellow! he was a brave officer, but had made himself much disliked by the people. I knew him personally, and had met him of ei at conversazioni and elsewhere. My house is full of soldiers, dragoons, doctors, priests, and all kinds of per sons,-though I have now cleared it, and clapped senunels at the doors. To-morrow the body is to be moved The town is in the greatest confusion, as you may suppose. "You are to know that, if I had not had the body moved, they would have left him there till morning in the street, for fear of consequences. I would not choose to let even a dog die in such a manner, without succour ;— and, as for consequences, I care for none in a duty. "Yours, &c. "P. S. The lieutenant on duty by the body is smoking his pipe with great composure.-A queer people this." LETTER CCCCLXIX. TO MR. MOORE. "Ravenna, Dec. 25, 1820. "You will or ought to have received the packet and letters which I remitted to your address a fortnight ago, (or it may be more days,) and I shall be glad of an answer, as, in these times and places, packets per post are in some risk of not reaching their destination. "I have been thinking of a project for you and me, in case we both get to London again, which (if a Neapolitan war do n't suscitate) may be calculated as possible for one of us about the spring of 1821. I presume that you, too, will be back by that time, or never; but on that you wil give me some index. The project, then, is for you and me to set up jointly a newspaper-nothing more nor lessweekly, or so, with some improvement or modifications upon the plan of the present scoundrels, who degrade that department,-but a newspaper, which we will edit in duo form, and, nevertheless, with some attention. "There must always be in it a piece of poesy from one or other of us two, leaving room, however, for such diettanti rhymers as may be deemed worthy of appearing in the same columna; but this must be a sine qui non; and alm as much prose as we can compass. We will take an office our names not announced, but suspected-and, by the blessing of Providence, give the age some new lights upon policy, poesy, biography, criticism, morality, theology, and all other ism, ality, and ology whatsoever. "Why, man, if we were to take to this in good earnest, your debts would be paid off in a twelvemonth, and by dint of a ittle diligence and practice, I doubt not that we could distance the commonplace blackguards, who have so long disgraced common sense and the common reader. They have no merit but practice and impudence, both of which we may acquire, and, as for talent and culture, the devil's m't if such proofs as we have given of both can't furnish out something better than the 'funeral baked meats' which have coldly set forth the breakfast table of all Great Britain for so many years. Now, what think you? Let me know; and recollect that, if we take to such an enterprise, we must do so in good earnest. Here is a hint,--do you make it a plan. We will modify it into as literary and classical a concern as you please, only let us put out our powers upon it, and it will most likely succeed. But you must live in London, and I also, to bring it to bear, and we must keep it a secret. "As for the living in London, I would make that not difficult to you, (if you would allow me,) until we could see whether one means or other (the success of the plan, for instance) would not make it quite easy for you, as well as your family; and, in any case, we should have some fun, composing, correcting, supposing, inspecting, and supping together over our lucubrations. If you think this worth a thought, let me know, and I will begin to lay in a small literary capital of composition for the occasion. "Yours ever affectionately, "B. were not a burden to whomsoever he might serve under he would repair to whatever place the Neapolitan government might point out, there to obey the orders and partcipate in the dangers of his commanding officer, without any other motive than that of sharing the destiny of a brave nation, defending itself against the self-called Holy Alliance, which but combines the vice of hypocrisy with despotism." LETTER CCCCLXX. TO MR. MOORE. "Ravenna, Jan. 2, 1821. "Your entering into my project for the Memoir is pleasant to me. But I doubt (contrary to my dear Made MacF**, whom I always loved, and always shall-not only because I really did feel attached to her personally, but because she and about a dozen others of that sex were all who stuck by me in the grand conflict of 1815) but I doubt, I say, whether the Memoir could appear in my lifetime;—and, indeed, I had rather it did not, for a man always looks dead after his Life has appeared, and I should certes not survive the appearance of mine. The first part I cannot consent to alter, even although Made de Stael's opinion of Benjamin Constant, and my remarks upon Lady Caroline's beauty, (which is surely great, and I suppose that I have said so-at least, I ought,) should go down to our grandchildren in unsophis.. ticated nakedness. | "As to Madame de Stael, I am by no means bound to be her beadsman-she was always more civil to me in person than during my absence. Our dear defunct friend, Matthew Lewis, who was too great a bore ever to lie, assured me, upon his tiresome word of honour, that, at "P. S. If you thought of a middle plan between a Spec- Florence, the said Madame de Stael was open-mouthed tator and a newspaper, why not?-only not on a Sunday. against me; and, when asked, in Switzerland, why she had Not that Sunday is not an excellent day, but it is engaged changed her opinion, replied, with laudable sincerity already. We will call it the 'Tenda Rossa,' the name that I had named her in a sonnet with Voltaire, RousTassoni gave an answer of his in a controversy, in allu-seau, &c. &c. and that she could not help it, through sion to the delicate hint of Timour the Lame, to his ene-decency. Now, I have not forgotten this, but I have mies, by a 'Tenda' of that colour, before he gave battle. been generous, as mine acquaintance, the late Captain Or we will call it 'Gli,' or 'I Carbonari,' if it so please Whitby of the navy, used to say to his seamen (when you or any other name full of 'pastime and prodigality,' 'married to the gunner's daughter')-two dozen, and which you may prefer. * Let me let you off easy. The 'two dozen' were with the cat-have an answer. I conclude poetically, with the bellman, nine-tails ;-the 'let you off easy' was rather his own 'A merry Christmas to you!' opinion than that of the patient. * * * ADDRESS * * TO THE NEAPOLITAN GOVERNMENT. "My acquaintance with these terms and practices arises from my having been much conversant with ships of war and naval heroes in the years of my voyages in the Mediterranean. Whitby was in the gallant action off Lissa in 1811. He was brave, but a disciplinarian. When he left his frigate, he left a parrot, which was taught by the crew the following sounds-(It must be remarked that Captain Whitby was the image of Fawcett the actor in voice, face, and figure, and that he squinted.) The Parrot loquitur. "Whitby! Whitby! funny eye! funny eye! two dozen, and let you off easy. Oh you .! "Now, if Madame de B. has a parrot, it had better be "With regard to our purposed Journal, I will call it what you please, but it should be a newspaper, to make it pay. We can call it 'The Harp,' if you like-or any thing. "An Englishman, a friend to liberty, having understood that the Neapolitans permit even foreigners to contribute to the good cause, is desirous that they should do him the honour of accepting a thousand louis, which he takes the überty of offering. Having already, not long since, been an ocular witness of the despotism of the Barbarians in the States occupied by them in Italy, he sees, with the enthusiasm natural to a cultivated man, the generous deter-taught a French parody of the same sounds. nination of the Neapolitans to assert their well-won Independence. As a member of the English House of Peers, he would be a traitor to the principles which placed the reigning family of England on the throne, if he were not grateful for the noble lesson so lately given both to "I feel exactly as you do about our 'art,' but it comes people and to kings. The offer which he desires to make over me in a kind of rage every now and then, like is small in itself, as must always be that presented from an and then, if I don't write to empty individual to a nation; but he trusts that it will not be the my mind, I go mad. As to that regular, uninterrupted last they will receive from his countrymen. His distance love of writing, which you describe in your friend, I do from the frontier, and the feeling of his personal incapacity not understand it. I feel it as a torture, which I must to contribute efficaciously to the service of the nation, get rid of, but never as a pleasure. On the contrary, I prevents him from proposing himself as worthy of the think composition a great pain. lowest commission, for which experience and talent might be requisite. But if, as a mere volunteer, his presence * "I wish you to think seriously of the Journal schemefor I am as serious as one can be, in this world, about LETTERS, 1821. any thing. As to matters here, they are high and mighty spring bubbling in the sun? and this I take to be the dif "I shall remain here till May or June, and, unless 'honour comes unlooked-for,' we may perhaps meet, in France or England, within the year. "Yours, &c. "Of course, I cannot explain to you existing circumstances, as they open all letters. "Will you set me right about your cursed' Champs Elysées ?-are they'és' or 'ées' for the adjective? I know nothing of French, being all Italian. Though I can read and understand French, I never attempt to speak it; for I hate it. From the second part of the Memoirs cut what you please." up LETTER CCCCLXXI. TO MR. MURRAY. a "Ravenna, January 4, 1821. "I just see, by the papers of Galignani, that there is new tragedy of great expectation by Barry Cornwall.* Of what I have read of his works I liked the Dramatic Sketches, but thought his Sicilian story and Marcian Colonna, in rhyme, quite spoiled, by I,know not what affectation of Wordsworth, and Moore, and myself,-all mixed into a kind of chaos. I think him very likely to produce a good tragedy, if he keep to a natural style, and not play tricks to form harlequinades for an audience. As he (Barry Cornwall is not his true name) was a schoolfellow of mine, I take more than common interest in his success, and shall be glad to hear of, it speedily. If I had been aware that he was in that line, I should have spoken of him in the preface to Marino Faliero. He will do a world's wonder if he produce a great tragedy. I am, however, persuaded, that this is not to be done by following the old dramatists,-who are full of gross faults, pardoned only for the beauty of their language, but by writing naturally and regularly, and producing regular tragedies, like the Greeks; but not in imitation,-merely the outline of their conduct, adapted to our own times and circumstances, and of course no chorus. "You will laugh, and say, 'Why don't you do so?" I have, you see, tried a sketch in Marino Faliero; but many people think my talent' essentially undramatic,' and I am not at all clear that they are not right. If Marino Faliero don't fall-in the perusal-I shall, perhaps, try think that love is again, (but not for the stage ;) and as not the principal passion for tragedy, (and yet most of ours turn upon it,) you will not find me a popular writer. Unless it is love, furious, criminal, and hapless, it ought not to make a tragic subject. When it is melting and maudlin, it does, but it ought not to do; it is then for the gallery and second-price boxes. LETTER CCCCLXXII. TO MR. MURRAY. "Ravenna, January 19, 1821. it is hardly even gentlemanly, to persist in this appropria "I have already sent you by last post a short protest to the public, (against this proceeding;) in case that they persist, which I trust that they will not, you must then publish it in the newspapers. I shall not let them off with that only, if they go on, but make a longer appea! on that subject, and state what I think the injustice of their mode of behaviour. It is hard that I should have all the buffoons in Britain to deal with-pirates who will publish, and players who will act-when there are thousands of worthy men who can neither get bookseller nor manager for love nor money. "You never answered me a word about Galignani. one's any posIf you mean to use the two documents, do; if not, burn them. I do not choose to leave them in session; suppose some one found them without the let ters, what would they think? why, that I had been doing the opposite of what I have done, to wit, referred the whole thing to you-an act of civility, at least, which required saying, 'I have received your letter.' I thought that you might have some hold upon those publications by this means; to me it can be no interest one way or the other. "The third canto of Don Juan is 'dull,' but you must really put up with it: if the first two and the two following are tolerable, what do you expect? particularly as I neither dispute with you on it as a matter of criticism or as a matter of business. "Besides, what am I to understand? you, and Douglas Kinnaird, and others, write to me, that the first two published cantos are among the best that I ever wrote, and are reckoned so; Augusta writes that they are thought execrable' (bitter word that for an author-ch. Murray ?) as a composition even, and that she had heard so much against them that she would never read them, and never has. Be that as it may, I can't alter; that is not my forte. If you publish the three new ones without ostentation, they may perhaps succeed. "Pray publish the Dante and the Pulci, (the Prophecy of Dante, I mean.) I look upon the Pulci as my grand "If you want to have a notion of what I am trying, performance. The remainder of the 'Hints,' where be take up a translation of any of the Greek tragedians. If they? Now, bring them all out about the same time. I said the original, it would be an impudent presumption otherwise the variety' you wot of will be less obvious. "I am in bad humour:-some obstructions in business of mine; but the translations are so inferior to the origi nals that I think I may risk it. Then judge of the 'sim-with those plaguy trustees, who object to an advantageous olicity of plot,' &c. and do not judge me by your old mad loan which I was to furnish to a nobleman on mortgago dramatists, which is like drinking usquebaugh and then because his property is in Ireland, bave shown me how a proving a fountain. Yet, after all, I suppose that you man is treated in his absence. Oh, if I do come back, do not mean that spirits is a nobler element than a clear will make some of those who little dream of it spin-or they or I shall go down." • See Don Juan. Canto XI. Stanza 59, LETTER CCCCLXXIII. TO MR. MURRAY. "January 20, 1821. I not think to have troubled you with the plague ant postage of a double letter this time, but I have just read han tubun paper, 'That Lord Byron has a tragedy coming out, &c. &c. &c. and that the Courier and Morning Caronicle, &c. &c. are pulling one another to pieces about bim, &c. mean to present an address at Brandenburgh-house, 'in armour,' and with all possible variety and splendour of brazen apparel? "The Braziers, it seems, are preparing to pass An address, and present it themselves all in brass- "Of ****, the grand metaquizzical poet, A man of vast merit, though few people know it; you and I Now I do reiterate and desire, that every thing may be done to prevent it from coming out on any theatre, for I owe, in great part, to my passion for pastry. which it never was designed, and on which (in the present ries,' to Venice; but it was from Fusina that "Mestri and Fusina are the 'trajects, or common ferstate of the stage of London) it could never succeed. I embarked, though the wicked necessity of rhyming' has have sent you my appeal by last post, which you must pub-made me press Mestri into the voyage. lish in case of need; and I require you even in your own name (if my honour is dear to you) to declare that such re-glad of it, and shall be very happy to see the volume. "So, you have had a book dedicated to you? I am presentation would be contrary to my wish and to my judgment. If you do not wish to drive me mad altogether, you will hit upon some way to prevent this. "Yours, &c. which is fit only for the (*****) closet, and which it "I am in a peck of troubles about a tragedy of mine, seems that the managers, assuming a right over published "P.S. I cannot conceive how Harris or Elliston should their own alterations by Mr. Dibdin, I presume. I have poetry, are determined to enact, whether I will or no, with be so insane as to think of acting Marino Faliero; they written to Murray, to the Lord Chamberlain, and to others, might as well act the Prometheus of Eschylus. I speak to interfere and preserve me from such an exhibition. I of course humbly, and with the greatest sense of the dis-want neither the impertinence of their hisses nor the intance of time and merit between the two performances; but merely to show the absurdity of the attempt. "The Italian paper speaks of a 'party against it?' to be sure there would be a party. Can you imagine, that after having never flattered man, nor beast, nor opinion, nor politics, there would not be a party against a man, who is also a popular writer-at least a successful? Why, all parties would be a party against." LETTER CCCCLXXIV. TO MR. MURRAY. solence of their applause. I write only for the reader, and close one's book with good-humour and quiet contentinent. care for nothing but the silent approbation of those who beg of him to meditate with Harris and Elliston to for "Now if you would also write to our friend Perry, to bear this intent, you will greatly oblige me. The play is quite unfit for the stage, as a single glance will show them, and, I hope, has shown them; and, if it were ever so fit will never have any thing to do willingly with the theatres. "Yours ever, in haste, &c," LETTER CCCCLXXVI. TO MR. MURRAY. Ravenna, January 20, 1821. "If Harris or Elliston persist, after the remonstrance which I desired you and Mr. Kinnaird to make on my behalf, and which I hope will be sufficient-but if, I say, they "Ravenna, January 27, 1821. "I differ from you about the Dante, which I think should do persist, then I pray you to present in person the enclosed be published with the tragedy. But do as you please: letter to the Lord Chamberlain: I have said in person, be- you must be the best judge of your own craft. I agree cause otherwise I shall have neither answer nor know-with you about the title. The play may be good or bad ledge that it has reached its address, owing to the 'inso- but I flatter myself that it is original as a picture of that solence of office.' convinced that I should have done precisely what the Doge kind of passion, which to my mind is so natural, that I am did on those provocations. "I wish you would speak to Lord Holland, and to all my friends and yours, to interest themselves in preventing this cursed attempt at representation. "God help me! at this distance, I am treated like a corpse or a fool by the few people that I thought I could rely upon; and I was a fool to think any better of them than of the rest of mankind. "Pray write. "Yours, &c. "P. S. I have nothing more at heart (that is, in literature) than to prevent this drama from going upon the stage: in short, rather than permit it, it must be suppressed altogether, and only forty copies struck off privately for presents to my friends. What cursed fools those speculating buffoons must be not to see that it is unfit for their fair-or their booth!" "I am glad of Foscolo's approbation. "Excuse haste. I believe I mentioned to you that— I forget what it was; but no matter. "Thanks for your compliments of the that it will be pleasanter than the last. I speak with reyear. I hope had every kind of disappointment-lost an important lawference to England only, as far as regards myself, where I suit-and the trustees of Lady Byron refusing to allow of an advantageous loan to be made from my property to Lord Blessington, &c. &c. by way of closing the four sea sons. These, and a hundred other such things, made a year of bitter business for me in England. Luckily, things were a little pleasanter for me here, else I should have taken the liberty of Hannibal's ring. "Pray thank Gifford for all his goodnesses. The winter is as cold here as Parry's polarities. I must now take a canter in the forest; my horses are waiting. "Yours ever and truly. LETTER 3, 1821. when a man treads on your toes and begs your pardon the And Thou who makest and unmakest suns :' change this to •And Thou who kindlest and who quenchest suns ;' that is to say, if the verse runs equally well, and Mr. Gifford thinks the expression improved. Pray have the bounty to attend to this. You are grown quite a minister of state. Mind if some of these days you are not thrown out. says the first will not be always a Tory, though Johnson Whig was the Devil. the society in each of those countries, and to have display- "You say the Doge will not be popular: did I ever write for popularity? I defy you to show a work of mine (except a tale or two) of a popular style or complexion. It appears to me that there is room for a different style of the drama; neither a servile following of the old draina, which is a grossly erroneous one, nor yet too French, like those who succeeded the older writers. It appears to me that good English, and a severer approach to the rules, "You have learned one secret from Mr. Galignani's might combine something not dishonourable to our literature. I have also attempted to make a play without love, (somewhat tardily acknowledged) correspondence: this and there are neither rings, nor mistakes, nor starts, nor Is, that an English author may dispose of his exclusive copyright in France,—a fact of some consequence (in time) will prevent its popularity, but does not persuade me that of peace) in the case of a popular writer. Now I will teli outrageous ranting villains, nor melodrame in it. All this shall do, and take no advantage of you, though it is therefore faulty. Whatever faults it has will arise you what you letter from deficiency in the conduct, rather than in the concep you were scurvy enough never to acknowledge my for three months. Offer Galignani the refusal of the copy"So you epigrammatize upon my epigram? I will pay right in France; if he refuses, appoint any bookseller in tion, which is simple and severe. you for that, mind if I do n't, some day. I never let any France you please, and I will sign any assignment you one off in the long run, (who first begins.) Remember You unplease, and it shall never cost you a sou on my account. "Recollect that I will have nothing to do with it, except***, and see if I do n't do you as good a turn. as far as it may secure the copyright to yourself. I will have no bargain but with the English booksellers, and I desire no interest out of that country. "Now, that's fair and open, and a little handsomer than your dodging silence, to see what would come of it. You are an excellent fellow, mio caro Moray, but there is still a little leaven of Fleet-street about you now and then-a erum of the old loaf. You have no right to act suspiciously I shall always with me, for I have given you no reason. be frank with you; as, for instance, whenever you talk with the votaries of Apollo arithmetically, it should be in guineas, not pounds-to poets, as weli as physicians, and bidders at auctions. "I shall say no more at this present, save that I am "Yours, &c. "P. S. If you venture, as you say, to Ravenna this year, I will exercise the rites of hospitality while you live, and bury you handsomely, (though not in holy ground,) if you get 'shot or slashed in a creagh or splore,' which are rather frequent here of late among the native parties. But perhaps your visit may be anticipated; I may probably come to your country; in which case write to her ladyship the duplicate of the epistle the king of France wrote to Prince John " "Ravenna, Feb. 16, 1821. "In the month of March will arrive from Barcelona Signor Curioni, engaged for the Opera. He is an acquaintance of mine, and a gentlemanly young man, high in his profession. I must request your personal kindness and patronage in his favour. Pray introduce him to such of the theatrical people, editors of papers, and others, as may be useful to him in his profession, publicly and privately. are a paper cannibal! "In the letter on Bowles, (which I sent by Tuesday's "So Foscolo says he will get you a seal cut better in Italy? he means a throat-that is the only thing they do dexterously. The Arts-all but Canova's, and Mor ghen's, and Ovid's (I do n't mean poetry)—are as low as Bankes, and own it. How came George Bankes to quote need be: look at the sea! which I gave to William English Bards' in the House of Commons? All the "Belzoni is a grand traveller, and his English is very world keep flinging that prettily broken. poem in my face. "As for news, the Barbarians are marching on Naples, and if they lose a single battle, all Italy will be up. It wil be like the Spanish row, if they have any bottom. "Letters opened?'-to be sure they are, and that's the reason why I always put in my opinion of the German There is not an Italian who Austrian scoundrels. loathes them more than I do; and whatever I could do tu scour Italy and the earth of their infamous oppressicu would be done con amore. "Yours, &c." LETTER CCCCLXXIX. TO MR. MURRAY. "Ravenna, Feb. 21, 1821.* The fifth is so far from being the last of Don Juan, "In the forty-fourth page, volume first, of Turner's Tra that it is hardly the beginning. I meant to take him the tour of Europe, with a proper mixture of siege, battle, and Byron, when he expressed such confidence of its practiadventure, and to make him finish as Anacharsis Cloots, vels, (which you lately sent me,) it is stated that 'Lord in the French Revolution. To how many cantos this may extend, I know not, nor whether (even if I live) I shall cability, seems to have forgotten that Leander swam both complete it; but this was my notion. I meant to have ways, with and against the tide; whereas he (Lord Byron) made him a cavalier servente in Italy, and a cause for a only performed the easiest part of the task by swimming divorce in England, and a sentimental Werther-faced with it from Europe to Asia. I certainly could not have man' in Germany, so as to show the different ridicules afj • See Dr. Juan, Canto il, Star za 156, £ |