ther could I enter into the details; but the Countess G.
G. has had the goodness to give the necessary orders to
Mr. Dunn, who superintends the embarkation, and will
write to you. I wish it to be buried in Harrow church.
"There is a spot in the churchyard, near the foot path,
on the brow of the hill looking towards Windsor, and a
tomb under a large tree, (bearing the name of Peachie,
or Peachey,) where I used to sit for hours and hours
when a boy. This was my favourite spot; but as I wish
to erect a tablet to her memory, the body had better be
deposited in the church. Near the door, on the left hand
as you enter, there is a monument with a tablet contain-
ing these words:-

'When Sorrow weeps o'er Virtue's sacred dust,
Our tears bocome us, and our grief is just :
Such were the tears she shed, who grateful pays
This last sad tribute of her love and praise.'

I went over the Constitution, (the Commodore's flag-ship,)
and saw, among other things worthy of remark, a little
boy born on board of her by a sailor's wife. They had
christened him 'Constitution Jones.' I, of course, ap-
proved the name; and the woman added, 'Ah, sir, if he
turns out but half as good as his name!'
"Yours ever, &c."

LETTER DLXIII.

TO MR. MURRAY.

"Montenero, near Leghorn, May 29, 1822. "I return you the proofs* revised. Your printer has made one odd mistake:-'poor as a mouse,' instead of 'poor as a miser.' The expression may seem strange, I recollect them, (after seventeen years,) not from any will add the Mystery, and publish as soon as you can. but it is only a translation of 'semper avarus eget.' You thing remarkable in them, but because from my seat in the gallery I had generally my eyes turned towards that I care nothing for your' season,' nor the blue approbations monument. As near it as convenient I could wish Alle-or disapprobations. All that is to be considered by you gra to be buried, and on the wall a marble tablet placed,

with these words:

"In Memory of
Allegra,

Daughter of G. G. Lord Byron,
who died at Bagna Cavallo,
in Italy, April 20th, 1822,
aged five years and three months.

'I shall go to her, but she shall not return to me.'
2d Samuel, xii. 23.

"The funeral I wish to be as private as is consistent with decency; and I could hope that Henry Drury will, perhaps, read the service over her. If he should decline it, it can be done by the usual minister for the time being. I do not know that I need add more just now.

that to your notions, (even to the running the risk entirely
on the subject is as a matter of business; and if I square
myself,) you may permit me to choose my own time and
mode of publication. With regard to the late volume,
the present run against it or me may impede it for a time,
but it has the vital principle of permanency within it, as
you may perhaps one day discover. I wrote to you on
another subject a few days ago.
"Yours,

"N. B.

"P. S. Please to send me the Dedication of Sardanapalus to Goethe. I shall prefix it to Werner, unless you prefer my putting another, stating that the former had been omitted by the publisher.

"On the titlepage of the present volume, put 'Published for the Author by J. M.'"

LETTER DLXIV.

TO MR. MURRAY.

"Since I came here, I have been invited by the Americans on board their squadron, where I was received with all the kindness which I could wish, and with more ceremony than I am fond of. I found them finer ships than your own of the same class, well manned and officered. "Montenero, Leghorn, June 6, 1822 A number of American gentlemen also were on board at "I return you the revise of Werner, and expect the rest. the time, and some ladies. As I was taking leave, an With regard to the Lines to the Po, perhaps you had American lady asked me for a rose which I wore, for the better put them quietly in a second edition (if you reach purpose, she said, of sending to America something which one, that is to say) than in the first; because, though they I had about me, as a memorial. I need not add that I have been reckoned fine, and I wish them to be preserved, telt the compliment properly. Captain Chauncey showed I do not wish them to attract IMMEDIATE observation, me an American and very pretty edition of my poems, on account of the relationship of the lady to whom they and offered me a passage to the United States, if I would are addressed with the first families in Romagna and the go there. Commodore Jones was also not less kind and Marches. attentive. I have since received the enclosed letter, de- "The defender of 'Cain' may or may not be, as you siring me to sit for my picture for some Americans. It term him, 'a tyro in literature: however, I think both you is singular that, in the same year that Lady Noel leaves and I are under great obligation to him. I have read the by will an interdiction for my daughter to see her father's Edinburgh Review in Galignani's Magazine, and have portrait for many years, the individuals of a nation not not yet decided whether to answer them or not; for, if I remarkable for their liking to the English in particular, do, it will be difficult for me not 'to make sport for the nor for flattering men in general, request me to sit for my Philistines' by pulling down a house or two; since, when 'pourtraicture,' as Baron Bradwardine calls it. I am I once take pen in hand, I must say what comes upperalso told of considerable literary honours in Germany. most, or fling it away. I have not the hypocrisy to preGoethe, I am told, is my professed patron and protector. At Leipsic, this year, the highest prize was proposed for a translation of two cantos of Childe Harold. I am not sure that this was at Leipsic, but Mr. Rowcroft was my authority-a good German scholar, (a young American,) and an acquaintance of Goethe's.

tend impartiality, nor the temper (as it is called) to keep always from saying what may not be pleasing to the hearer or reader. What do they mean by 'elaborate? Why, you know that they were written as fast as I could put pen to paper, and printed from the original MSS. and never revised but in the proofs: look at the dates and the MSS. themselves. Whatever faults they have must spring from carelessness, and not from labour. They said the same of 'Lara,' which I wrote while undressing, after coming home from balls and masquerades in the year of

"Goethe and the Germans are particularly fond of Don Juan, which they judge of as a work of art. I had neard something of this before through Baron Lutzerode. The translations have been very frequent of several of the works, and Goethe made a comparison between revelry, 1814

Faust and Manfred.

"All this is some compensation for your English native brutality, so fully displayed this year to its highest extent.

I forgot to mention a little anecdote of a different kind.

"Yours. "June 8, 1822.

* You give me no explanation of your intention as to the

• Werner.

Vision of Quevedo Redivivus,' one of my best things: an American lady took a rose from me, (which had been indeed, you are altogether so abstruse and undecided given to me by a very pretty Italian lady that very morn lately, that I suppose you mean nie to write 'John Mur-ing,) because she said, 'She was determined to send or ray, Esq. a Mystery,'-a composition which would not take something which I had about me to America.' There displease the clergy nor the trade. I by no means wish is a kind of Lalla Rookh incident for you! However, all you to do what you don't like, but merely to say what you these American honours arise, perhaps, not so much from will do. The Vision must be published by some one. their enthusiasm for my 'Poeshie,' as their belief in my As to clamours,' the die is cast; and, 'come one, come dislike to the English,-in which I have the satisfaction all we will fight it out at least one of us." to coincide with them. I would rather, however, have a nod from an American, than a snuff-bcx from an emperor."

"I have written to you twice through the medium of Murray, and on one subject, trite enough,-the-loss of poor little Allegra by a fever; on which topic I shall say no more-there is nothing but time.

LETTER DLXVI.

TO MR. ELLICE.

"Montenero, Leghorn, June 12, 1822.

MY DEAR ELLICE,

have not forgotten your kindness, and I am now going to "It is a long time since I have written to you, but I "A few days ago, my earliest and dearest friend, Lord not a loan, but information which I am about to solicit. tax it-I hope not too highly-but do n't be alarmed, it is Clare, came over from Geneva on purpose to see me be- By your extensive connexions, no one can have better fore he returned to England. As I have always loved opportunities of hearing the real state of South America— him (since I was thirteen, at Harrow) better than any I mean Bolivar's country. I have many years had trans(male) thing in the world, I need hardly say what a me- atlantic projects of settlement, and what I could wish lancholy pleasure it was to see him for a day only; for from you would be some information of the best course to he was obliged to resume his journey immediately

*

*

I have heard, also, many other things of our acquaintances which I did not know; among others, that

*

pursue, and some letters of recommendation in case I should sail for Angostura. I am told that land is very cheap there; but though I have no great disposable funds to vest in such purchases, yet my income, such as it is, would * *. Do you recollect, in the year be sufficient in any country, (except England,) for all the of revelry, 1814, the pleasantest parties and balls all over comforts of life, and for most of its luxuries. The war London? and not the least so at **'s. Do you recol- there is now over, and as I do not go there to speculate, lect your singing duets with Lady**, and my flirtation but to settle without any views but those of independence with Lady * and all the other fooleries of the time? and the enjoyment of the common civil rights, I should while * was sighing, and Lady✶✶ ogling him with presume such an arrival would not be unwelcome. her clear hazel eyes. But eight years have passed, and since that time, **has✶✶✶✶✶

has run

"All I request of you is, not to discourage nor encou rage, but to give me such a statement as you think prudent and proper. I do not address my other friends upon this subject, who would only throw obstacles in my way, and bore me to return to England; which never will do,

I have

away with * * * * *; and mysen (as my Nottinghamshire friends call themselves) might as well have thrown myself out of the window while you were singing, as intermarried where I did. You and ***** have come unless compelled by some insuperable cause. off the best of us. I speak merely of my marriage, and a quantity of furniture, books, &c. &c. &c. which I could its consequences, distresses, and calumnies; for I have easily ship from Leghorn; but I wish to look before I been much more happy, on the whole, since, than I ever leap' over the Atlantic. Is it true that for a few thousand

could have been with *

*

*

I have read the recent article of Jeffrey in a faithful transcription of the impartial Galignani. I suppose the long and short of it is, that he wishes to provoke me to reply. But I won't, for I owe him a good turn still for his kindness by-gone. Indeed, I presume that the present opportunity of attacking me again was irresistable; and I can't blame him, knowing what human nature is. I shall make but one remark-what does he mean by elaborate? The whole volume was written with the greatest rapidity, in the midst of evolutions and revolutions, and persecutions, and proscriptions of all who interested me in Italy. They said the same of 'Lara,' which, you know, was written amid balls and fooleries, and after coming home from masquerades and routs, in the summer of the sovereigns. Of all I have ever written, they are perhaps the most carelessly composed; and their faults, whatever they may be, are those of negligence, and not of labour, I do not think this a merit, but it is a fact.

dollars a large tract of land may be obtained? I speak of South America, recollect. I have read some publications on the subject, but they seemed violent and vulgar party productions. Please to address your answer to me at this place, and believe me ever and truly yours,

to

LETTER DLXVII.

TO MR. MURRAY

&c."

"Pisa, July 6, 1822. "I return you the revise.* I have softened the part Michael to Raphael, who was an angel of gentler symwhich Gifford objected, and changed the name of pathies. By-the-way, recollect to alter Michael to Raphael in the scene itself throughout, for I have only had time to do so in the list of the dramatis personæ, and scratch out all the pencil-marks, to avoid puzzling the printers. "N. B. "P.S. You see the great advantage of my new signaI have given the' Vision of Quevedo Redivivus' to John ture:-it may either stand for 'Nota Bene' or 'Noel Hunt, which will relieve you from a dilemma. He must Byron,' and, as such, will save much repetition, in writing publish it at his own risk, as it is at his own desire. Give either books or letters. Since I came here, I have been him the corrected copy which Mr. Kinnaird had, as it is invited on board of the American squadron, and treated mitigated partly, and also the preface.

"Yours ever and truly,

with all possible honour and ceremony. They have asked me to sit for my picture; and, as I was going away,

"Yours, &c."

• Of Heaven and Earth."

LETTER DLXVIII.

TO MR. MURRAY.

"Pisa, July 8, 1822. "Last week I returned you the packet of proofs. You had perhaps, better not publish in the same volume the Po and Rimini translation.

"I have consigned a letter to Mr. John Hunt for the Vision of Judgment,' which you will hand over to him. Also the 'Pulci, original and Italian, and any prose tracts of mine; for Mr. Leigh Hunt is arrived here, and thinks of commencing a periodical work, to which I shall contribute. I do not propose to you to be the publisher, because I know that you are unfriends; but all things in your care, except the volume now in the press, and the manuscript purchased of Mr. Moore, can be given for this purpose, according as they are wanted.

"With regard to what you say about your want of memory,' I can only remark that you inserted the note to Marino Faliero against my positive revocation, and that you omitted the Dedication of Sardanapalus to Goethe, (place it before the volume now in the press,) both of which were things not very agreeable to me, and which I could wish to be avoided in future, as they might be with a very little care, or a simple memorandum in your pocket book.

to start him handsomely-any lyrical, irical, or what you please.

"Has not your Potato Committee been blundering! Your advertisement says, that Mr. L. Callaghan (a queer name for a banker) hath been disposing of money in Ireland 'sans authority of the Committee.' I suppose it will end in Callaghan's calling out the Committee, the chairman of which carries pistols in his pocket, of course. "When you can spare time from duetting, coquetting and clareting with your Hibernians of both sexes, let me have a line from you. I doubt whether Paris is a good place for the composition of your new poesy."

LETTER DLXX.

TO MR. MOORE.

"Pisa, August 8, 1822. "You will have heard by this time that Shelley and another gentleman (Captain Williams) were drowned about a month ago, (a month yesterday,) in a squall off the Gulf of Spezia. There is thus another man gone, about whom the world was ill-naturedly, and ignorantly, and brutally mistaken. It will, perhaps, do him justice now, when he can be no better for it. You were all "It is not impossible that I may have three or four mistaken about Shelley, who was, without exception, the cantos of Don Juan ready by autumn, or a little later, as best and least selfish man I ever knew.'

I obtained a permission from my dictatress to continue "I have not seen the thing you mention,* and only it,-provided always it was to be more guarded and deco-heard of it casually, nor have I any desire. The price rous and sentimental in the continuation than in the com- is, as I saw in some advertisements, fourteen shillings, mencement. How far these conditions have been fulfilled may be seen, perhaps, by-and-by; but the embargo was only taken off upon these stipulations. You can answer at your leisure. "Yours, &c."

LETTER DLXIX.

TO MR. MOORE.

"Pisa, July 12, 1822. "I have written to you lately, but not in answer to your tast letter of about a fortnight ago. I wish to know (and request an answer to that point) what became of the stanzas to Wellington,* (intended to open a canto of Don Juan with,) which I sent you several months ago. If they have fallen into Murray's hands, he and the Tories will suppress them, as those lines rate that hero at his real value. Pray be explicit on this, as I have no other copy, having sent you the original; and if you have them, let ine have that again, or a copy correct. *

*

*

which is too much to pay for a libel on one's self. Some one said in a letter, that it was a Doctor Watkins, who deals in the life and libel line. It must have dimished your natural pleasure, as a friend, (vide Rochefoucault,) to see yourself in it.

"With regard to the Blackwood fellows, I never published any thing against them; nor, indeed, have seen their Magazine (except in Galignani's extracts) for these three years past. I once wrote, a good while ago, some remarks on their review of Don Juan, but saying very little about themselves,-and these were not published. If you think that I ought to follow your example (and I like to be in your company when I can) in contradicting their impudence, you may shape this declaration of mine into a similar paragraph for me. It is possible that you may have seen the little I did write (and never published) at Murray's; it contained much more about Southey than about the Blacks.

"If you think that I ought to do any thing about Wat kins's book, I should not care much about publishing my Memoir now, should it be necessary to counteract the "I subscribed at Leghorn two hundred Tuscan crowns fellow. But in that case, I should like to look over the to your Irishism committee: it is about a thousand francs, press myself. Let me know what you think, or whether more or less. As Sir C. S., who receives thirteen thou- I had better not;-at least, not the second part, which sand a-year of the public money, could not afford more touches on the actual confines of still existing matters. than a thousand livres out of his enormous salary, it would "I have written three more Cantos of Don Juan, and have appeared ostentatious in a private individual to pre-am hovering on the brink of another, (the ninth.) The tend to surpass him; and therefore I have sent but the above sum, as you will see by the enclosed receipt. "Leigh Hunt is here, after a voyage of eight months, during which he has, I presume, made the Periplus of Hanno the Carthaginian, and with much the same speed. He is setting up a Journal, to which I have promised to contribute; and in the first number the 'Vision of Judgment, by Quevedo Redivivus,' will probably appear, with

other articles.

"Can you give us any thing? He seems sanguine about the matter, but (entre nous) I am not. I do not, however, like to put him out of spirits by saying so; for he is bilious and unwell. Do. pray, answer this letter immediately.

"Do send Hunt any thing, in prose or verse, of yours,

⚫ Ses Don Juan, Canto IX. Stanza 1.

reason I want the stanzas again which I sent you is, that
as these cantos contain a full detail (like the storm in
Canto Second) of the siege and assault of Ismael with
much of sarcasm on those butchers|| in large business,
your mercenary soldiery, it is a good opportunity of grac
ing the poem with *
*. With
these things and these fellows, it is necessary, in the pre-
sent clash of philosophy and tyranny, to throw away the
scabbard. I know it is against fearful odds; but the battle
must be fought; and it will be eventually for the good of

*

*

"We have been burning the bodies of Shelley and "I am afraid the Journal is a bad business, and won' Williams on the seashore, to render them fit for removal do; but in it I am sacrificing myself for others-I car and regular interment. You can have no idea what an have no advantage in it. I believe the brothers Hunts to extraordinary effect such a funeral pile has, on a desolate be honest men; I am sure that they are poor ones: they shore, with mountains in the back-ground and the sea before, and the singular appearance the salt and frankincense gave to the flame. All of Shelley was consumed, except his heart, which would not take the flame, and is now preserved in spirits of wine.

"However, I believe-at least, hope-that after all you may be a good fellow at bottom, and it is on this presum¡► tion that I now write to you on the subject of a man of the name of Yossy, who is, or was, an author of The particulars of this event had. it is evident, not yet reached yours, as she says, and published a book or Swizerland in 1816. patronized by the 'Court and Colonel M·Mahon

But it seems that neither the Court nor the Colonel could struck (or supposed to be stricken) by a thunderbolt. I et over the portentous price of three pounds thirteen was so near the window that I was dazzled and my eyes and sixpence,' which alarmed the too susceptible public; hurt for several minutes, and everybody in the house felt and, in short, the book died away,' and, what is worse, an electric shock at the moment. Madame Guiccioli was *he poor soul's husband died too, and she writes with the frightened, as you may suppose. man a corpse before her; but instead of addressing the "I have thought since that your bigots would have bishop or Mr. Wilberforce, she hath recourse to that 'saddled me with a judgnient,' (as Thwackum did Square proscribed, atheistical, syllogistical, phlogistical person, when he bit his tongue in talking metaphysics,) if any aysen, as they say in Notts. It is strange enough, but thing had happened of consequence. These fellows althe rascaille English, who calumniate me in every direc-ways forget Christ in their Christianity, and what he said tion and on every score, whenever they are in great dis- when 'the tower of Siloam fell.' tress recur to me for assistance. If I have had one example of this, I have had letters from a thousand, and as far as is in my power have tried to repay good for evil, and purchase a shilling's worth of salvation as long as my pocket can hold out.

"Now, I am willing to do what I can for this unfortunate person; but her situation and her wishes (not unreasonable, however) require more than can be advanced by one individual like myself; for I have many claims of the same kind just at present, and also some remnants of debt to pay in England-God, he knows, the latter how reluctantly! Can the Literary Fund do nothing for her? By your interest, which is great among the pious, I dare say that something might be collected. Can you get any of her books published? Suppose you took her as author in my place, now vacant among your ragamuffins: she is a moral and pious person, and will shine upon your shelves. But, seriously, do what you can for her."

"To-day is the 9th, and the 10th is my surviving daughter's birthday. I have ordered, as a regale, a mutton chop and a bottle of ale. She is seven years old, I believe. Did I ever tell you that the day I came of age I dined on eggs and bacon and a bottle of ale? For once in a way they are my favourite dish and drinkable, but as neither of them agree with me, I never use them but on great jubilees-once in four or five years or so.

"I see somebody represents the Hunts and Mrs. Shelley as living in my house; it is a falsehood. They reside at some distance, and I do not see them twice in a month. I have not met Mr. Hunt a dozen times since 1 came to Genoa, or near it. "Yours ever, &c "

LETTER DLXXIII.

TO MR. MURRAY.

"Genoa, 9bre 23, 1822.

LETTER DLXXIV.

TO MR. MURRAY.

"Genoa, 10bre 25o, 1822. "I had sent you back the Quarterly without perusa', having resolved to read no more reviews, good, bad, or indifferent; but who can control his fate? Galigns, to whom my English studies are confined, has forwarded a copy of at least one-half of it in his indefatigable ca'ch

"I have to thank you for a parcel of books, which are penny weekly compilation; and as, 'like honour, it came very welcome, especially Sir Walter's gift of 'Halidon unlooked for,' I have looked through it. I must say that. Hill. You have sent me a copy of Werner,' but with-upon the whole, that is, the whole of the half which I have cut the preface. If you have published it without, you read, (for the other half is to be the segment of Galignawill have plunged me into a very disagreeable dilemma, ni's next week's circular,) it is extremely handsome, and because I shall be accused of plagiarism from Miss Lee's any thing but unkind or unfair. As I take the good in German's Tale, whereas I have fully and freely acknow-good part, I must not, nor will not, quarrel with the bad ledged that the drama is entirely taken from the story.

"I return you the Quarterly Review, uncut and unopened, not from disrespect, or disregard, or pique, but it is a kind of reading which I have some time disused, as I think the periodical style of writing hurtful to the habits of the mind by presenting the superficies of too many things at once. I do not know that it contains any thing disagreeable to me-it may or it may not; nor do I return it on account that there may be an article which you hinted at in one of your late letters, but because I have left off reading these kind of works, and should equally have returned you any other number.

"I am obliged to take in one or two abroad because solicited to do so. The Edinburgh came before me by mere chance in Galignani's picnic sort of gazette, where he had inserted a part of it.

"You will have received various letters from me lately, in a style which I used with reluctance; but you left me no other choice by your absolute refusal to communicate with a man you did not like upon the mere simple matter of transfer of a few papers of little consequence, (except to their author,) and which could be of no moment to yourself.

"I hope that Mr. Kinnaird is better. It is strange that you never alluded to his accident, if it be true, as stated in the papers.

"I am yours, &c. &c. "I nope that you have a milder winter than we have had here. We have had inundations worthy of the Trent or Po, and the conductor (Franklin's) of my house was

What the writer says of Don Juan is harsh, but it is inevitable. He must follow, or at least not directly oppose, the opinion of a prevailing and yet not very firmly seated party. A review may and will direct and turn awry' the currents of opinion, but it must not directly oppose them tended, a Satire on abuses of the present state of society Don Juan will be known, by-and-by, for what it is inand not an eulogy of vice.* It may be now and then voluptuous :-I can't help that. Ariosto is worse; Smollett (see Lord Strutwell in vol. 2d of Roderick Random) ten times worse; and Fielding no better. No girl will ever be seduced by reading Don Juan:-no, no; she will go to Little's poems and Rousseau's Romans for that, or even to the immaculate De Staël. They will encourage her, and not the Don, who laughs at that, and-and-most other things. But never mind-ca ira!

"Now, do you see what you and your friends do by your injudicious rudeness ?-actually cement a sort of connexion which you strove to prevent, and which, had tinued. As it is, I will not quit them in their adversity the Hunts prospered, would not in all probability have conthough it should cost mè character, fame, money, and the usual et cetera.

"My original motives I already explained, (in the let ter which you thought proper to show :) they are the true and I abide by them, as I tell you, and I told Leigh ones, Hunt when he questioned me on the subject of that letter. He was violently hurt, and never will forgive me at bot

• See Don Juma Cante IV Stanzue 5 96, de