LETTERS, 1810. Fletcher having petitioned to accompany me into the my LETTER LX. TO MRS. BYRON. DEAR MOTHER, "Athens, July 25, 1810. further than Malta, where I beg you will in future send your letters, and not to this city. Fletcher is a poor creature, and requires comforts that I can dispense with. He is very sick of his travels, but you must not believe his account of the country; he sighs for ale, and idleness, and a wife, and the devil knows what besides. I have not been disappointed or disgusted. I have lived with the highest and the lowest. I have been for days in a Pacha's palace, and have passed many a night in a cowhouse, and I find the people inoffensive and kind. I have also passed some time with the principal Greeks in the Morea and Livadia, and, though inferior to the Turks, they are better than the Spaniards, who, in their turn, which is considered as singularly quick, particularly for "I have arrived here in four days from Con tantinopa excel the Portuguese. Of Constantinople you will find the season of the year. You northern gentry can have many descriptions in different travels; but Lady Wortley no conception of a Greek summer; which, however, is errs strangely when she says, 'St. Paul's would cut a perfect frost compared with Malta and Gibraltar, where strange figure by St. Sophia's.' I have been in both, I reposed myself in the shade last year, after a gentle surveyed them inside and out attentively. St. Sophia's gallop of four hundred miles, without intermission, is undoubtedly the most interesting from its immense an- through Portugal and Spain. You see, by my date, tiquity, and the circumstance of all the Greek emperors, that I am at Athens again, a place which I think I from Justinian, having been crowned there, and several prefer, upon the whole, to any I have seen. murdered at the altar, besides the Turkish sultans who attend it regularly. But it is inferior in beauty and size to some of the mosques, particularly 'Soleyman,' &c. and not to be mentioned in the same page with St. Paul's, (I speak like a Cockney.) However, I prefer the Gothic cathedral of Seville to St. Paul's, St. Sophia's, and any religious building I have ever scen. * * * 3 where I shall probably remain a month or two, and then "My next movement is to-morrow into the Morea, return to winter here, if I do not change my plans, which, however, are very variable, as you may suppose; but none of them verge to England. you "The Marquis of Sligo, my old fellow-collegian, is The walls of the Seraglio are like the walls of New- We shall go together for that purpose. Lord S. will here, and wishes to accompany me into the Morea. stead gardens, only higher, and much in the same order; afterward pursue his way to the capital; and Lord B. but the ride by the walls of the city, on the land side, is having seen all the wonders in that quarter, will let beautiful. Imagine four miles of immense triple battle-know what he does next, of which at present he is not ments, covered with ivy, surmounted with 218 towers, and, quite certain. Malta is my perpetual post-office, from on the other side of the road, Turkish burying-grounds, which my letters are forwarded to all parts of the habita(the loveliest spots on earth,) full of enormous cy-ble globe:-by-the-by, I have now been in Asia, Africa, presses. I have seen the ruins of Athens, of Ephesus, and the east of Europe, and, indeed, made the most of and Delphi. I have traversed great part of Turkey, and many other parts of Europe, and some of Asia; but I scenes of the ancient world. Fletcher, after having my time, without hurrying over the most interesting never beheld a work of nature or art which yielded an been toasted, and roasted, and baked, and grilled, and impression like the prospect on each side from the eaten by all sorts of creeping things, begins to philoso Seven Towers to the end of the Golden Horn. "Now for England. I am glad to hear of the pro-and promises at his return to become an ornament to phize, is grown a refined as well as resigned character, gress of 'English Bards,' &c.—of course, you observed his own parish, and a very prominent person in the I have made great additions to the new edition. Have future family pedigree of the Fletcher's, whom I take to you received my picture from Sanders, Vigo-lane, Lon-be Goths by their accomplishments, Greeks by their dion? It was finished and paid for long before I left acuteness, and ancient Saxons by their appetite. He England: pray, send for it. You seem to be a mighty (Fletcher) begs leave to send half a dozen sighs to reader of magazines: where do you pick up all this in- Sally his spouse, and wonders (though I do not) that his telligence, quotations, &c. &c.? Though I was happy ill writter, and worse spelled letters have never come to to obtain my seat without the assistance of Lord Carlisle, hand; as for that matter, there is no great loss in either I had no measures to keep with a man who declined in-of our letters, saving and except that I wish you to terfering as my relation on that occasion, and I have know we are well, and warm enough at this present done with him, though I regret distressing Mrs. Leigh, writing, God knows. You must not expect long letters poor thing!-I hope she is happy. "It is my opinion that Mr. B** ought to marry Miss brow, I assure you. It is rather singular that Mr. Hanat present, for they are written with the sweat of my R**. Our first duty is not to do evil; but, alas! that son has not written a syllable since my departure. is impossible: our next is to repair it, if in our power. Your letters I have mostly received, as well as others; The girl is his equal: if she were his inferior, a sum of from which I conjecture that the man of law is either money and provision for the child would be some, though angry or busy. a poor compensation: as it is, he should marry her. I "Believe me, yours very sincerely, *P.S How is Joe Murray? "BYRON. LETTER LXI. TO MRS. BYRON. DEAR MADAM, "Patras, July 30, 1810. prised, nor indeed have I any complaint to make, since you have written frequently, for which I thank you; but I very much condemn Mr. Hanson, who has not taken the smallest notice of my many letters, nor of my re quest before I left England, which I sailed from on this *In four days from Constantinople, with a favourable very day fifteen months ago. Thus one year and a wind, I arrived in the frigate at the island of Ceos, from quarter have passed away, without my receiving the whence I took a boat to Athens, where I met my friend least intelligence on the state of my affairs, and they the Marquis of Sligo, who expressed a wish to proceed were not in a posture to admit of neglect, and I do conwith me as far as Corinth. At Corinth we separated, ceive and declare that Mr. Hanson has acted negihe for Tripolitza, I for Patras, where I had some business gently and culpably in not apprizing me of his proceedwith the consul, Mr. Strané, in whose house I nowings; I will also add uncivilly. His letters, were there write. He has rendered me every service in his power any, could not easily miscarry: the communications since I quitted Malta on my way to Constantinople, with the Levant are slow, but tolerably secure, at least whence I have written to you twice or thrice. In a few as far as Malta, and there I left directions which I know days I visit the Pacha at Tripolitza, make the tour of would be observed. I have written to you several the Morea, and return again to Athens, which at present times from Constantinople and Smyrna. You will peris my headquarters. The heat is at present intense. ceive by my date I am returned into the Morea, of In England, if it reaches 98°, you are all on fire: the which I have been making the tour, and visiting the other day, in travelling between Athens and Megara, Pacha, who gave me a fine horse, and paid me all possithe thermometer was at 1250!! Yet I feel no incon-ble honours and attention. I have now seen a good venience; of course I am much bronzed, but I live tem- portion of Turkey in Europe and Asia Minor, and shall perately, and never enjoyed better health. remain at Athens, and in the vicinity, till I hear from England. I have punctually obeyed your injunctions of writing frequently, but I shall not pretend to describe countries which have been already amply treated of I believe before this time Mr. Hobhouse will have arrivec in England, and he brings letters from me, written a Sultan and the mosques, and that I swam from Sesto to Abydos, an exploit of which I take care to boast. "I am here on business at present, but Athens is my headquarters, where I am very pleasantly situated in 8 Franciscan convent. Before I left Constantinople, I saw the Sultan, (with Mr. Adair,) and the interior of the mosques, things which rarely happen to travellers. Mr. Hobhouse is gone to England: I am in no hurry to return, but have no particular communications for your country, except my surprise at Mr. Hanson's silence, and my desire Constantinople. In these I mention having seen the that he will remit regularly. I suppose some arrangement has been made with regard to Wymondham and Rochdale. Malta is my post-office, or to Mr. Strané, consul-general, Patras, Morea. You complain of my silence-I have written twenty or thirty times within the last year: never less than twice a month, and often nore. If my letters do not arrive, you must not contlude that we are eaten, or that there is a war, or a pestilence, or famine: neither must you credit silly reports, "P. S. Fletcher is well, and discontented as usual. which I dare say you have in Notts, as usual. I am his wife don't write, at least her scrawls have not ar very well, and neither more nor less happy than I usually rived. You will address to Malta. Pray have you em; except that I am very glad to be once more alone, never received my picture in oil from Sanders, Vigoor I was sick of my companion,-not that he was a bad lane, London ?" ane, but because my nature leads me to solitude, and diat every day adds to this disposition. If I chose, bere are many men who would wish to join me-one wants me to go to Egypt, another to Asia, of which I have seen enough. The greater part of Greece is already my own, so that I shall only go over my old ground, and look upon my old seas and mountains, the only acquaintances I ever found improve upon me. "Believe me to be, with great sincerity, LETTER LXIII. TO MR. HODGSON. "BYRON. "Patras, Morea, October 3d, 1810. "As I have just escaped from a physician and a fever which confined me five days to bed, you won't expect I have a tolerable suite, a Tartar, two Albanians, an much 'allegrezza' in the ensuing letter. In this place nterpreter, besides Fletcher; but in this country these there is an indigenous distemper, which, when the wind are easily maintained. Adair received me wonderfully blows from the gulf of Corinth, (as it does five months well, and indeed I have no complaints against any one. out of six,) attacks great and small, and makes wofil Hospitality here is necessary, for inns are not. I have work with visiters. Here be also two physicians, one ived in the houses of Greeks, Turks, Italians, and whom trusts to his genius (never having studied)-the English-to-day in a palace, to-morrow in a cowhouse; other to a campaign of eighteen months against the sick this day with the Pacha, the next with a shepherd. I of Otranto, which he made in his youth with great shall continue to write briefly, but frequently, and am effect. glad to hear from you; but you fill your letters with things from the papers, as if English papers were not found all over the world. I have at this moment a dozen before me. Pray take care of my books, and believe me, "My dear Mother, yours very faithfully, LETTER LXII. TO THE HON. MRS. BYRON. DEAR MADAM, "BYRON." "Patras, Oct. 24, 1810. "When I was seized with my disorder, I protested against both these assassins;-but what can a helpless, feverish, toasted-and-watered poor wretch do? In spite of my teeth and tongue, the English consul, my Tartar, Albanians, dragoman, forced a physician upon me, and in three days vomited and glystered me to the last gasp In this state I made my epitaph-take it. "Youth, Nature, and relenting Jove He beat all three-and blew it out. But Nature and Jove, being piqued at my doubts, did, It is now several months since I have received any fact, at last, beat Romanelli, and here I am, weil t communication from you; but at this I am not sur-weakly, at your service. LETTERS, 1811. Since I left Constantinople, I have made a tour of in appearance, if not in reality; and in such expectations the Morea, and visited Vely Pacha, who paid me great I remain, &c. honours and gave me a pretty stallion. H. is doubtless in England before even the date of this letter-he bears a despatch from me to your bardship. He writes to me from Malta, and requests my journal, if I keep one. I have none, or he should have it; but I have replied, in a consolatory and exhortatory epistle, praying him to abate three and sixpence in the price of his next Boke, seeing that half a guinea is a price not to be given for any thing save an opera-ticket. As for England, it is long since I have heard from it. Every one at all connected with my concerns is asleep, and you are my only correspondent, agents excepted. I have really no friends in the world; though all my old school-companions are gone forth into that world, and walk about there in monstrous disguises, in the garb of guardsmen, lawyers, parsons, fine gentlemen, and such other masquerade dresses. So, I here shake hands and cut with all these busy people, none of whom write to me. Indeed, I asked it not-and here I am, a poor traveller and heathenish philosopher, who hath perambulated the greatest part of the Levant, and seen a great quantity of very improvable land and sea, and, after all, am no better than when I set out-Lord help me! "I have been out fifteen months this very day, and I believe my concerns will draw me to England soon; but of this I will apprize you regularly from Malta. On all points, Hobhouse will inform you, if you are curious as to our adventures. I have seen some old English papers up to the 15th of May. I see the 'Lady of the Lake' advertised. Of course it is in his old ballad style, and pretty. After all, Scott is the best of them. The end of all scribblement is to amuse, and he certainly succeeds there. I long to read his new romance. "And how does 'Sir Edgar? and your friend, Bland? I suppose you are involved in some literary squabble. The only way is to despise all brothers of the quill. I suppose you won't allow me to be an author, but I contemn you all, you dogs!—I do. stance. LETTER LXIV. TO MRS. BYRON. "Athens, January 14, 1811. "MY DEAR MADAM, "I scize an occasion to write as usual, shortly, but regular communication, is, of course, very precarious. I frequently, as the arrival of letters, where there exists no have lately made several small tours of some hundred or two miles about the Morea, Attica, &c. as I have finished my grand giro by the Troad, Constantinople, &c. and am returned down again to Athens. I believe I have mentioned to you more than once, that I swam (in imitation of Leander, though without his lady) across the Hellespont, from Sestos to Abydos. Of this, and all other particulars, F. whom I have sent home with papers, &c. will apprize you. I cannot find that he is any loss, being tolerably master of the Italian and modern Greek languages, which last I am also studying with a master, enough for a reasonable man. Besides the perpetual can order and discourse more than tempt for every thing foreign, and insurmountable incalamentations after beef and beer, the stupid, bigoted conpacity of acquiring even a few words of any language, rendered him, like all other English servants, an incumbrance. I do assure you, the plague of speaking for him, the comforts he required, (more than myself by far,) the pilaws, (a Turkish dish of rice and meat,) which he could not eat, the wines which he could not drink, the bed where he could not sleep, and the long list of calamities, such as stumbling horses, want of tea!!! &c. which as to a spectator, and inconvenience to a master. After all, sailed him, would have made a lasting source of laughter the man is honest enough, and, in Christendom, capable enough; but in Turkey, Lord forgive me! my Albanian soldiers, my Tartars and Janizary, worked for him and us too, as my friend Hobhouse can testify. "You don't know D-s, do you? He had a farce ready for the stage before I left England, and asked me to enable me to do that, I must have remittances. My "It is probable I may steer homewards in spring; but, for a prologue, which I promised, but sailed in such a own funds would have lasted me very well; but I was hurry, I never penned a couplet. I am afraid to ask obliged to assist a friend, who, I know, will pay me; but, after his drama, for fear it should be damned-Lord for- in the mean time, I am out of pocket. At present, I do give me for using such a word!-but the pit, sir, you not care to venture a winter's voyage, even if I were know, the pit-they will do those things, in spite of otherwise tired of travelling; but I am so convinced of merit. I remember this farce from a curious circum-the advantages of looking at mankind instead of reading When Drury-lane was burnt to the ground, by about them, and the bitter effects of staying at home which accident Sheridan and his son lost the few re-with all the narrow prejudices of an islander, that I maming shillings they were worth, what doth my friend think there should be a law among us, to set our young Ddo? Why, before the fire was out, he writes a men abroad, for a term, among the few allies our wars uote to Tom Sheridan, the manager of this combustible have left us. concern, to inquire whether this farce was not converted mito fuel with about two thousand other unactable Germans, Danes, Greeks, Turks, Americans, &c. &c "Here I see and have conversed with French, Italians, manuscripts, which of course were in great peril, if not &c.; and, without losing sight of my own, I can judge o actually consumed. Now, was not this characteristic? the countries and manners of others. Where I see the -the ruling passions of Pope are nothing to it. While superiority of England, (which, by-the-by, we are a good The poor distracted manager was bewailing the loss of a deal mistaken about in many things,) I am pleased, and building only worth 300,000l. together with some twenty where I find her inferior, I am at least enlightened. thousand pounds of rags and tinsel in the tiring rooms, Now, I might have stayed, smoked in your towns, or Bluebeard's elephants, and all that-in comes a note fogged in your country, a century, without being sure of from a scorching author, requiring at his hands two acts this, and without acquiring any thing more useful or and odd scenes of a farce!! "Dear H. remind Drury that I am his well-wisher, intention of scribbling my travels. I have done with amusing at home. I keep no journal, nor have I any and let Scrope Davies be well affected towards me. look forward to meeting you at Newstead, and renewing vinced the critics of the world I was something more I authorship; and if, in my last production, I have conour old Champagne evenings with all the glee of antici-than they took me for, I am satisfied; nor will 1 hazard pation. I have written by every opportunity, and ex- that reputation by a future effort. It is true I have some pect responses as regular as those of the liturgy, and others in manuscript, but I leave them for those who somewhat longer. As it is impossible for a man in his come after me; and, if deemed worth publishing, they senses to hope for happy days, let us at least look may serve to prolong my memory when I myself shall forward to merry ones, which come nearest to the other cease to remember. I have a famous Bavarian arust aking some views of Athens, &c. &c. for me. This forget my diet, which it is very necessary for me to obwill be better than scribbling, a disease I hope myself serve. I am well in health, as I have generally been, cured of. I hope, on my return, to lead a quiet, recluse with the exception of two agues, both of which I quickly life, but God knows and does best for us all; at least, so got over. they say, and I have nothing to object, as, on the whole, I have no reason to complain of my lot. I am convinced, however, that men do more harm to themselves than ever the devil could do to them. I trust this will find you well, and as happy as we can be; you will, at least, be pleased to hear I am so, and yours ever." LETTER LXV. TO MRS. BYRON. "DEAR MADAM, "Athens, Feb. 28, 1811. "My plans will so much depend on circumstances, that I shall not venture to lay down an opinion on the subject. My prospects are not very promising, but I suppose we shall wrestle through life like our neighbours; indeed, by H.'s last advices, I have some apprehensions of finding Newstead dismantled by Messrs. Brothers, &c. and he seems determined to force me into selling it, but he will be baffled. I don't suppose I shall be much pestered with visiters; but if I am, you must receive them, for I am determined to have nobody breaking in upon my retirement: you know that I never was fond of society, and I am less so than before. I have brought von a shawl, and a quantity of attar of roses, but these I must smuggle, if possible. I trust to find my library in tolerable order. "As I have received a firman for Egypt, &c. I shall proceed to that quarter in the spring, and I beg you will "Fletcher is no doubt arrived. I shall separate the state to Mr. Hanson that it is necessary to further re-mill from Mr. B✶ ✶'s farm, for his son is too gay a demittances. On the subject of Newstead I answer, as ceiver to inherit both, and place Fletcher in it, who has before, no. If it is necessary to sell, sell Rochdale. served me faithfully, and whose wife is a good woman; Fletcher will have arrived by this time with my letters to besides, it is necessary to sober young Mr. B✶✶, or he that purport. I will tell you fairly, I have, in the first will people the parish with bastards. In a word, if he had place, no opinion of funded property; if, by any particu-seduced a dairymaid, he might have found something lar circumstances, I shall be led to adopt such a deter-like an apology; but the girl is his equal, and in high life mination, I will, at all events, pass my life abroad, as my or low life reparation is made in such circumstances. only tie to England is Newstead, and, that once gone, But I shall not interfere further than (like Buonaparte) neither interest nor inclination lead me northward. by dismembering Mr. B.'s kingdom, and erecting part of Competence in your country is ample wealth in the east, it into a principality for field-marshal Fletcher! I hope such is the difference in the value of money and the you govern my little empire and its sad load of national ebundance of the necessaries of life; and I feel myself debt with a wary hand. To drop my metaphor, I beg so much a citizen of the world, that the spot where I can leave to subscribe myself, yours, &c. "P. S. This letter was written to be sent from Porteenjoy a delicious climate, and every luxury, at a less expense than a common college life in England, will al- mouth, but, on arriving there, the squadron was ordered ways be a country to me; and such are in fact the to the Nore, from whence I shall forward it. This I shores of the Archipelago. This then is the alternative -if I preserve Newstead, I return; if I sell it, I stay away. I have had no letters since yours of June, but I have written several times, and shall continue, as usual, on the same plan. "Volage frigate, at sea, June 25th, 1811. DEAR MOTHER, have not done before, supposing you might be alarmed by the interval mentioned in the letter being longer than expected between our arrival in port and my appearance at Newstead." LETTER LXVII. TO MR. HODGSON. "Volage frigate, at sea, June 29th, 1811. "In a week, with a fair wind, we shall be at Portsmouth, and on the 2d of July, I shall have completed (to a day) two years of peregrination, from which I am returning with as little emotion as I set out. I think upon the whole, I was more grieved at leaving Greece than England, which I am impatient to see, simply because I am tired of a long voyage. "Indeed, my prospects are not very pleasant. Em. barrassed in my private affairs, indifferent to public, *This letter, which will be forwarded on our arrival at solitary without the wish to be social, with a body a little Portsmouth, probably about the fourth of July, is begun enfeebled by a succession of fevers, but a spint, I trust, about twenty-three days after our departure from Malta. yet unbroken, I am returning home without a hope, and I have just been two years (to a day, on the second of almost without a desire. The first thing I shall have to July) absent from England, and I return to it with much encounter will be a lawyer, the next a creditor, then the same feelings which prevailed on my departure, viz. colliers, farmers, surveyors, and all the agreeable attach. indifference; but within that apathy I certainly do not ments to estates out of repair and contested coal-pits. comprise yourself, as I will prove by every means in my In short, I am sick and sorry, and when I have a little repower. You will be good enough to get my apartments paired my irreparable affairs, away I shall march, either ready at Newstead, but don't disturb yourself on any to campaign in Spain, or back again to the East, where I account, particularly mine, nor consider me in any other can at least have cloudless skies and a cessation from light than as a visiter. I must only inform you that for impertinence. a long time I have been restricted to an entire vegetable "I trust to meet, or see you, in town or at Newstead, diet, neither fish nor flesh coming within my regimen; so whenever you can make it convenient.-I suppose you I expect a powerful stock of potatoes, greens, and biscuit; are in love and in poetry, as usual. That husband, H. I drink no wine. I have two servants, middle-aged men, Drury, has never written to me, albeit I have sent him and both Greeks. It is my intention to proceed first to more than one letter;-but I dare say the poor nian has town, to see Mr. Hanson, and thence to Newstead, on a family, and of course all his cares are confined to his my way to Rochdale. I have only to beg you will not circle. "For children fresh expenses get, And Dicky now for school is fit.'-Warton. If you see him, tell him I have a letter for him from Tucker, a regimental chirurgeon and friend of his, who prescribed for me, * ** and is a very worthy man, but too fond of hard words. I should be too late for a speech-day, or I should probably go down to Har row. * I regretted very much in Greece having omitted to carry the Anthology with me-I mean Bland and Merivale's. stances where death has saved a man from dainnation. You were the ruin of that poor fellow among you had it not been for his patrons, he might now have been in very good plight, shoe (not verse) making; but you have made him immortal with a vengeance. I write this, supposing poetry, patronage, and strong waters to have been the death of him. If you are in town in or about the be ginning of July, you will find me at Dorant's in Albe marle-street, glad to see you. I have an Imitation of Horace's Art of Poetry ready for Cawthorn, but don't let that deter you, for I shan't inflict it upon you. You * know I never read my rhymes to visiters. I shall quit What has Sir Edgar done? And the Imitations and town in a few days for Notts, and thence to Rochdale. Translations-where are they? I suppose you don't! shall send this the moment we arrive in harbour, tha! mean to let the public off so easily, but charge them is a week hence. home with a quarto. For me, I am poesy and prate,' and shall leave the state' to Bufo, or any body else. But you are a senti mental and sensibilitous person, and will rhyme to the end of the chapter. Howbeit, I have written some 4000 lines, of one kind or another, on my travels. * * * * * * sick of fops and "I need not repeat that shall be happy to see you. I shall be in town about the 8th, at Dorant's Hotel, in Albemarle-street, and proceed in a few days to Notts, and thence to Rochdale on business. "After two years' absence (on the second) and some odd days, I am approaching your country. The day of our arrival you will see by the outside date of my letter. At present, we are becalmed comfortably, close to Brest Harbour; I have never been so near it since I left Duck Puddle. * We left Malta thirty-four days ago, and have had a tedious passage of it. You will either see or hear from or of me, soon after the receipt of this, as I pass tl.rough town to repair my irreparable affairs; and thence I want to go to Notts, and raise rents, and to Lancs. and sell collieries, and back to London and pay debts; for it seems I shall neither have coals or comfort till I go down * "Volage frigate, at sea, June 28th, 1811. After two years' absence, (to a day, on the 2d of July, before which we shall not arrive at Portsmouth,) I am retracing my way to England. I have, as you know, spent the greater part of that period in Turkey, excepto Rochdale in person. two months in Spain and Portugal, which were then ac- "I have brought home some marbles for Hobhouse; cessible. I have seen every thing most remarkable in for myself, four ancient Athenian skulls, dug out of Turkey, particularly the Troad, Greece, Constantinople, Sarcophagi; a phial of attic hemlock;† four live tortoises; and Albania, into which last region very few have pene- a greyhound, (died on the passage ;) two live Greek sertrated so high as Hobhouse and myself. I don't know that I have done any thing to distinguish me from other voyagers, unless you will reckon my swimming from Sestos to Abydos, on May 3d, 1810, a tolerable feat for a modern. vants, one an Athenian, t' other a Yaniote, who can speak nothing but Romaic and Italian; and myself, as Moses in the Vicar of Wakefield says, slily, and I may say it too, for I have as little cause to boast of my expedition as he had of his to the fair. "I am coming back with little prospect of pleasure at "I wrote to you from the Cyanean Rocks, to tell you I home, and with a body a little shaken by one or two had swum from Sestos to Abydos; have you received my smart fevers, but a spirit I hope yet unbroken. My letter? * * * Hodgson, I suppose, is four affairs, it seems, are considerably involved, and much deep by this time. What would he have given to have business must be done with lawyers, colliers, farmers, seen, like me, the real Parnassus, where I robbed the and creditors. Now this, to a man who hates bustle as Bishop of Crissæ of a book of geography; but this I only he hates a bishop, is a serious concern. But enough of call plagiarism, as it was done within an hour's ride of my home department. Delphi." "I find I have been scolding Cawthorn without a cause, as I found two parcels with two letters from you on my return to Malta. By these it appears you have not received a lotter from Constantinople, addressed to Longman's, but it was of no consequence. "My Satire, it seems, is in a fourth edition, a success rather above the middling run, but not much for a production which, from its topics, must be temporary, and of course be successful at first, or not at all. At this period, when I can think and act more coolly, I regret that have written it, though I shall probably find it forgotten by all except those whom it has offended. "Mr. Hobhouse's Miscellany has not succeeded, but he himself writes sc good humouredly on the subject, I course, and am, don't know whether to laugh or cry with him. He met with your son at Cadiz, of whom he speaks highly. "With great respect, yours ever, "Yours and Pratt's protegé, Blackett the cobbler,* is "F. S. You will consider Newstead as your house, dead, in spite of his rhymes, and is probably one of the in- not mine; and me only as a visiter." • See note to Hints from Horace. page 39C • Given afterward to Sir Walter Scott. t in the possession of Mr. Murray. |