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. 66 Yours, &c. [In answer to this letter, Ashe mentioned as the sum necessary to extricate him from his difficulties, 1507.-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, 1811 **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 t 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 Lo London 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 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. I 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 advanced for the time at ten pounds per month. "P. S. I write in the greatest hurry, which may make my letter a little abrupt; but, as I said before, I have no wish to distress your feelings." sion to make his acquaintance, and there you are in my debt, for it is a promise of last summer which I still hope to see performed. Yesterday I had a let ter from Moore; you have probably heard from him lately; but if not, you will be glad to learn that he is the same in heart, head, and health." "There was no offence-there could be none.* * I "MY DEAR MERIVALE. thought it by no means impossible that we might "I have redde Roncesvaux with very great plea have 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 pro plot, 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 cofirst 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 trea thoughts, 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, sit, 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 nche 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 imagine he was offended at my observations, and that I had, in consequence, deprecated his wrath."-Galt. LETTER CXCIV. TO MR. MURRAY. "Sunday, Jan. 2, 1514. "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. fended both him and you, when I really meant to do "Mr. Dallas is very perverse; so that I have of good, at least to one, and certainly not to annoy either. 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. "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 my cacology. Pray perpend, pronounce, and don't Addison's from Johnson's; but I will try to mend fidget. But the Devil, who ought to be civil on such "My last epistle would probably put you in a place. * "I have got a devil of a long story in the press, 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 for your Dedication-if you will accept it. This is occasions, proved so, and took my letter to the right positively my last experiment on public literary "Is it not odd? the very fate I said she had esopinion, till I turn my thirtieth year, if so be Ĭ flourish until that downhill period. I have a concaped from she has now undergone from the fidence for you-a perplexing one to me, and, just claim to the character of Vates?' as he did in the worthy **. Like Mr. Fitzgerald, shall I not lay at present, in a state of abeyance in itself. * However, we shall see. In the mean time, you Morning Herald for prophesying the fall of Bonamay amuse yourself with my suspense, and put all parte, who, by-the-by, I don't think is yet fallen. I the justices of the peace in requisition, in case Isovereigns, having a mortal hate to all royal entails. wish he would rally and rout your legitimate come into your county with hack but bent.' 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 strange summer adventure, which I don't like to think of, (I don't mean *'s, however, which is laughable only,) the antithetical state of my lucubrations makes me alive, and Macbeth can sleep no more:'-he was lucky in getting rid of the drowsy sensation of waking again. "Pray write to me. I must send you a copy of 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. "P. S. Of course you will keep my secret, and don't even talk in your sleep of it. Happen what may, your Dedication is ensured, being already written; and I shall copy it out fair to-night, in case business or amusement-Amant alterna Camana." NOTE TO MR. MURRAY. "Jan. 7, 1814. But I am scrawling a treatise. Good night. Ever, &c." NOTE TO MR. MURRAY. "Jan. 11, 1814. "Correct this proof by Mr. Gifford's (and from the MSS.) particularly as to the pointing. I have added a section for Gulnare, to fill up the parting and dismiss her more ceremoniously. If Mr. Gifford or you dislike, 'tis but a sponge, and another midnight better employed than in yawning over Miss; who, by-the-by, may soon return the compliment. "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. Pray report my best acknowledgements to Mr. Gifford in any words that may best express how truly his kindness obliges me. I won't bore him with lip thanks or notes. NOTE TO MR. MOORE. "Jan. 13, 1814. "I have but a moment to write, but all is as it "You don't like the Dedication-very well; should be. I have said really far short of my opinthere is an other; but you will send the other to Mr.ion, but if you think enough, I am content. Will Moore, that he may know I had written it. I send you return the proof by the post, as I leave town on also mottos for the cantos. I think you will allow Sunday, and have no other corrected copy. I put that an elephant may be more sagacious, but can-'servant,' as being less familiar before the public; benot be more docile. "Yours, "The name is again altered to Medora."† LETTER CXCVI. TO MR. MOORE. "BN. "Jan, 8, 1814. "I had written to you a long letter of dedication, which 1 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 pocsy, 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 from astonishment) says, may do you harm-God forbid this alone makes me listen to him. The 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. very amusing-one's self. It might have been re-written--but to what pur pose? My praise could add nothing to your well-earned and firmly-estab in your conversation, you are already acquainted. In availing myself of lished fame; and with my most hearty admiration of your talents, and delight your friendly permission to inscribe this pocin 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 fragedy; 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 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 whoe even Mr. Croker array himself in all his terrors name you all turned whiter than the snow to whit 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 a 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 ta 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. addition to the Corsair. "Yours, &c." "In all points of difference between Mr. Gif and Mr. Dallas, let the first keep his place; adi all difference between Mr. Gifford and Mr. Anybodyelse, I shall abide by the former; if I am wrong, I can't help it. But I would rather not be right with any other person. So there is an end of that mat ter. After all the trouble he has taken about me and mine, I should be very ungrateful to feel or act otherwise. Besides, in point of judgment, he is act to be lowered by a comparison. In politics he may be right too; but that with me is a feeling, and can't torify my nature." LETTER CXCVIII. TO MR. MURRAY. "Newstead Abbey, Jan. 22, 1814. LETTER CXCIX. TO MR. MURRAY. "Newstead Abbey, Feb. 4, 1814. "I need not say that your obliging letter was very welcome, and not the less so for being unexpected. "You will be glad to hear of my safe arrival here. has pleased, and that the curtain drops gracefully. "It doubtless gratifies me much that our 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 yo 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. We 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 pro age, 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 for curred with my purchasers, I believe I should hardly feiting their favor in future. Besides, I have othe quit the place at all; but shut my door and let my views and objects, and think that I shall keep this beard grow. "Irgot to mention (and I hope it is unneces-snow-bound, and thaw-bound, and tempted with all resolution; for, since I left London, though shut up, sary) that the lines beginning-Remember him,&e., 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 put them to their combined uses, except in letters of business. My rhyming propensity is quite gore, be appended to the Corsair. Have the goodness to and I feel much as I did at Patras on recovering recollect this particularly. from my fever-weak, but in health, and only afraid "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? His translation of the pretty Portuguese song, "Tu mi chamas." Es "You call me still your life-ah I change the word- It will be recollected that he had announced the Corsar as "the production with which he should trespass on the public patience for some years," of a relapse I'do most frequently hope I never pendix. I am sorry that Childe Harold requires shall. some and such abetments to make him move off: "I see by the Morning Chronicle there hath been but, if you remember, I told you his popularity discussion in the Courier; and I read in the Morning would not be permanent. It is very lucky for the Post a wrathful letter about Mr. Moore, in which author that he had made up his mind to a temposome Protestant Reader has made a sad confusion rary reputation in time. The truth is, I do not about India and Ireland. think that any of the present day (and least of all, You are to do as you please about the smaller one who has not consulted the flattering side of poems; but I think removing them now from the human nature) have much to hope from posterity; Corsair looks like fear; and if so, you must allow and you may think it affectation very probably, but me not to be pleased. Í should also suppose that, to me, my present and past success has appeared after the fuss of these newspaper esquires, they very singular, since it was in the teeth of so many would materially assist the circulation of the Cor- prejudices. I almost think people like to be contrasair; an object I should imagine at present of more dicted. If Childe Harold flags, it will hardly be importance to yourself than Childe Harold's seventh worth while to go on with the engravings; but do appearance. Do as you like; but don't allow the as you please; I have done with the whole concern; withdrawing that poem to draw any imputation of and the enclosed lines written years ago, and copied dismay upon me.* from my skull-cap, are among the last with which Pray make my respects to Mr. Ward, whose you will be troubled. If you like, add them to praise I value most highly, as you well know; it is Childe Harold, if only for the sake of another out. in the approbation of such men that fame becomes cry. You received so long an answer yesterday, worth having. To Mr. Gifford I am always grate- that I will not intrude on you further than to repeat ful, and surely not less so now than ever. And so myself, Yours, &c. good night to my authorship. "P. S. Of course, in reprinting (if you have oc"I have been sauntering and dozing here very casion) you will take great care to be correct. The quietly and not unhappily. You will be happy to present editions seem very much so, except in the hear that I have completely established my title last note of Childe Harold, where the word respondeeds as marketable, and that the purchaser has sible occurs twice, nearly together; correct the succumbed to the terms, and fulfils them, or is to second into answerable." fulfil them forthwith. He is now here and we go on very amicably together-one in each wing of the Abbey. We set off on Sunday-I for town, he for Cheshire. NOTE TO MR. MURRAY. "Newark, Feb. 6, 1814. "Mrs. Leigh is with me-much pleased with the place, and less so with me for parting with it, to "I am thus far on my way to town. Master which not even the price can reconcile her. Your Ridge I have seen, and he owns to having reprinted parcel has not yet arrived-at least the Mags. &c.; some sheets, to make up a few complete remaining but I have received Childe Harold and the Corsair. copies! I have now given him fair warning, and it I believe both are very correctly printed, which is a he plays such tricks again, must either get an ingreat satisfaction. junction, or call for an account of profits, (as I "I thank you for wishing me in town; but I never have parted with the copyright,) or, in short, think one's success is most felt at a distance, and I any thing vexatious to repay him in his own way. enjoy my solitary self-importance in an agreeably If the weather does not relapse, I hope to be in sulky way of my own, upon the strength of your town in a day or two. letter-for which I once more thank you, and am, very truly, &c. "P. S. Don't you think Bonaparte's next publication will be rather expensive to the Allies? Perry's Paris letter of yesterday looks very reviving. What a Hydra and Briareus it is! I wish they would pacify: there is no end to this campaigning." LETTER CC. TO MR. MURRAY. "Newstead Abbey, Feb 5, 1814. I quite forgot, in my answer of yesterday, to mention that I have no means of ascertaining whether the Newark Pirate has been doing what you say. If so, he is a rascal, and a shabby rascal too; and if his offence is punishable by law or pugilism, he shall be fined or buffeted. Do you try and discover, and I will make some inquiry here. Perhaps some other in town may have gone on printing, and used the same deception. 66 NOTE TO MR. MURRAY. Yours, &c." "Feb. 7, 1814. "I see all the papers in a sad commotion with those eight lines; and the Morning Post, in particular, has found out that I am a sort of Richard III.-deformed in mind and body. The last piece of information is not very new to a man who passed five years at a public school. "I am very sorry you cut out those lines for Childe Harold. Pray reinsert them in their old place in The Corsair." LETTER CCI. TO MR. HODGSON. "Feb. 23, 1814. "There is a youngster-and a clever one, named Reynolds, who has just published a poem called 'Safie,' published by Cawthorne. He is in the most "The fac-simile is omitted in Childe Harold, natural and fearful apprehension of the Reviewers which is very awkward, and there is a note expressly and as you and I both know by experience the on the subject. Pray replace it as usual. effect of such things upon a young mind, I wish "On second and third thoughts, the withdraw-you would take his production into dissection, and ing the small poems from the Corsair (even to add do it gently. I cannot, because it is inscribed to to Childe Harold) looks like shrinking and shuf-me; but I assure you this is not my motive for fing, after the fuss made upon one of them by wishing him to be tenderly treated, but because I the Tories. Pray replace them in the Corsair's ap- know the misery, at his time of life, of untoward remarks upon first appearance. "Now for self. Pray thank your cousin-it is sent. Some of the papers have exactly said what just as it should be, to my liking, and probably might be expected. Now I do not, and will not be more than will suit any one else's. I hope and trust supposed to shrink. although myself and every that you are well, and well doing. Peace be with thing belonging to me were to perish with my vou. Ever yours, my dear friend." Yours, &c., memory. "Bx. "P. S. Pray attend to what I stated yesterday on technical topics." LETTER CCII. TO MR. MOORE. "Feb. 10, 1814. LETTER CCIII. TO MR. HUNT. *Feb. 9, 1814. "I arrived in town late yesterday evening, having been absent three weeks, which I passed in Notts. quietly and pleasantly. You can have no concep- "MY DEAR SIR, tion of the uproar the eight lines on the little Royalty's weeping in 1812 (now republished) have "I have been snow-bound and thaw-swamped cccasioned. The Regent, who had always thought (two compound epithets for you) in the valley of them yours, chose-God knows why-on discover- the shadow' of Newstead Abbey for nearly a month, ing them to be mine, to be affected, in sorrow rather and have not been four hours returned to London. than anger.' The Morning Post, Sun, Herald, Nearly the first use I make of my benumbed fingers, Courier, have all been in hysterics ever since. Mur- is to thank you for your very handsome note in the ray is in a fright, and wanted to shuffle-and the volume you have just put forth, only, I trust, to abuse against me in all directions is vehement, un- be followed by others on subjects more worthy your ceasing, loud-some of it good, and all of it hearty. notice than the works of contemporaries. Of my I feel a little compunctious as to the Regent's self, you speak only too highly, and you must think regret would he had been only angry! but I fear me strangely spoiled, or perversely peevish, even to suspect that any remarks of yours, in the spirit of "Some of these same assailments you have pro- candid criticism, could possibly prove unpalatable. bably seen. My person (which is excellent for the Had they been harsh, instead of being written as nonce') has been denounced in verses, the more like they are, in the indelible ink and friendly admonithe subject, inasmuch as they halt exceedingly. tion, had they been the harshest-as I knew and Then, in another, I am an atheist-a rebel-and, at know that you are above any personal bias, at least, last, the devil, (boiteux, I presume.) My demonism against your fellow-bards, believe me, they would seems to be a female's conjecture: if so, perhaps I not have caused a remonstrance, nor a moment of could convince her that I am but a mere mortal,-if rankling on my part. Your poem I read long 220 a queen of the Amazons may be believed, who says in the Reflector,' and it is not much to say it is the αριστον χολος οιφει. I quote from memory, so my best Session' we have, and with a more ditheal Greek is probably deficient; but the passage is subject, for we are neither so good nor so bad (taking the best and worst) as the wits of the olden time. him not.' meant to mean » "Seriously, I am in, what the learned call, a dilemma, and the vulgar, a scrape; and my friends "To your smaller pieces I have not yet had time desire me not to be in a passion, and like Sir Fret- to do justice by perusal, and I have a quantity of ful, I assure them that I am quite calm,'-but I am unanswered, and I hope unanswerable, letters to nevertheless in a fury. "Since I wrote thus far, a friend has come in, and we have been talking and buffooning, till I have quite lost the thread of my thoughts; and, as I won't send them unstrung to you, good morning, and Believe me ever, &c. "P. S. Murray, during my absence, omitted the Tears in several of the copies. I have made him replace them, and am very wroth with his qualms; as the wine is poured out, let it be drank to the dregs.' NOTE TO MR. MURRAY. "Feb. 10, 1814. wade through before I sleep, but to-morrow will see me through your volume. I am glad to see you have tracked Gray among the Italians. You will perhaps find a friend or two of yours there also, though not to the same extent; but I have always thought the Italians the most poetical moderns; cr Milton and Spenser, and Shakspeare, (the last through translations of their Tales,) are very Tuscan, and surely it is far superior to the French school You are hardly fair enough to Rogers. Why tes! you might surely have given him supper, if only a sandwich. Murray has, I hope, sent you my last bantling, The Corsair.' I have been regaled at every inn on the road by lampoons and other merry conceits on myself in the ministerial gazettes, occasioned by the republication of two stanzas, inserted in 1812, in Perry's paper. The hysterics of the Morning Post are quite interesting; and I hear (t have not seen) of something terrific in a last week's Courier: all which I take with the calm indiffer ence' of Sir Fretful Plagiary. The Morning Post has one copy of devices upon my deformity, which certainly will admit of no historic doubts' like Dickon my master's;' another upon my atheism, which is not quite so clear; and another very down rightly says, I am the devil, (boiteur, they might have added,) and a rebel, and what not: possibly, my accuser of diabolism may be Rosa Matilda; and "If you have copies of the Intercepted Let- if so, it would not be difficult to convince her that I ters, Lady Holland would be glad of a volume, am a mere man. I shall break in upon you in a day and when you have served others, have the goodness or two; distance has hitherto detained me; to think of your humble servant. hope to find you well, and myself welcome. "Ever your obliged and sincere "I am much better, and indeed quite well this morning. I have received two, but I presume there are more of the Ana, subsequently, and also something previous, to which the Morning Chronicle replied. You also mentioned a parody on the Skull. I wish to see them all, because there may be things that require notice either by pen or person. Yours, &c. "You need not trouble yourself to answer this; But send me the things when you get them." NOTE TO MR. MURRAY. Feb. 12, 1814. |