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former letter I never had the honour to receive;-be assured, in whatever part of the world it had found me, I should have deemed it my duty to return and answer it in person.

SIR,

LETTER CVI.

TO MR. MOORE.

"8, St. James's-street, Oct. 30, 1811.

The advertisement you mention, I know nothing of. -At the time of your meeting with Mr. Jeffrey, I had recently entered College, and remember to have heard "You must excuse my troubling you once more upon and read a number of squibs on the occasion, and from this very unpleasant subject. It would be a satisfaction the recollection of these I derived all my knowledge on to me, and I should think, to yourself, that the unopened the subject, without the slightest idea of 'giving the lie' letter in Mr. Hodgson's possession, (supposing it to prove to an address which I never beheld. When I put my your own,) should be returned 'in statu quo' to the name to the production which has occasioned this cor-writer, particularly as you expressed yourself 'not respondence, I became responsible to all whom it might quite easy under the manner in which I had dwelt on its concern, to explain where it requires explanation, and miscarriage.'

where insufficiently or too sufficiently explicit, at all "A few words more, and I shall not trouble you events to satisfy. My situation leaves me no choice; further. I felt, and still feel, very much flattered by it rests with the injured and the angry to obtain repara-those parts of your correspondence, which held out the non in their own way. prospect of our becoming acquainted. If I did not

With regard to the passage in question, you were meet them in the first instance as perhaps I ought, let certainly not the person towards whom I felt personally the situation in which I was placed be my defence. hostile. On the contrary, my whole thoughts were en-You have now declared yourself satisfied, and on that grossed by one whom I had reason to consider as my point we are no longer at issue. If, therefore, you still worst literary enemy, nor could I foresee that his former retain any wish to do me the honour you hinted at, I antagonist was about to become his champion. You shall be most happy to meet you, when, where, and how do not specify what you would wish to have done: I can you please, and I presume you will not attribute my neither retract nor apologize for a charge of falsehood saying thus much to any unworthy motive. which I never advanced.

"In the beginning of the week, I shall be at No. 8, St. James's-street.-Neither the letter nor the friend to whom you stated your intention ever made their appearance.

Your friend, Mr. Rogers, or any other gentleman delegated by you, will find me most ready to adopt any conciliatory proposition which shall not compromise my own honour,-or, failing in that, to make the atonement vou deem it necessary to require.

"I have the honour to be, sir,

"Your most obedient, humble servant,
"BYRON."

LETTER CV.

TO MR. MOORE.

"8, St. James's-street, Oct. 29, 1811.

"Soon after ny return to England, my friend, Mr. Hodgson, apprized me that a letter for me was in his possession; but a domestic event hurrying me from London immediately after, the letter (which may most probably be your own) is still unopened in his keeping. If, on examination of the address, the similarity of the handwriting should lead to such a conclusion, it shall be opened in your presence, for the satisfaction of all parties. Mr. H. is at present out of town-on Friday I shall see him, and request him to forward it to my address.

"SIR,

"I have the honour to remain, &c."

LETTER CVII.

TO MR. MOORE.

"8, St. James's-street, Nov 1, 1811.

"As I should be very sorry to interrupt your Sunday's engagement, if Monday, or any other day of the ensuing week, would be equally convenient to yourself and friend, I will then have the honour of accepting his invitation. Of the professions of esteem with which Mr. Rogers has honoured me, I cannot but feel proud, though undeserving. I should be wanting to myself if insensible to the praise of such a man: and should my approaching interview with him and his friend lead to any degree of intimacy with both or either, I shall regard our past correspondence as one of the happiest events of my life. "I have the honour to be, "Your very sincere and obedient servant, "BYRON,"

LETTER CVIII.

TO MR. HARNESS.

"8, St. James's-street, Dec. 6, 1811.

"MY DEAR HARNESS,

"I will write again, but don't suppose I mean to lay such a tax on your pen and patience as to expect regular replies. When you are inclined, write; when silent, I "With regard to the latter part of both your letters, shall have the consolation of knowing that you are much until the principal point was discussed between us, I felt better employed. Yesterday, Bland and I called or myself at a loss in what manner to reply. Was I to an- Mr. Miller, who, being then out, will call on Bland toticipate friendship from one, who conceived me to have day or to-morrow. I shall certainly endeavour to bring charged him with falsehood? Were not advances them together.-You are censorious, child; when you under such circumstances, to be misconstrued,-not, are a little older, you will learn to dislike (very body, but perhaps, by the person to whom they were addressed, abuse nobody. but by others? In my case, such a step was impracti- "With regard to the person of whom you speak, your eable. If you, who conceived yourself to be the offended own good sense must direct you. I never pretend to person, are satisfied that you had no cause for offence, it advise, being an implicit believer in the old provert. will not be difficult to convince me of it. My situation, This present frost is detestable. It is the first I have as I have before stated, leaves me no choice. I should nave felt proud of your acquaintance, had it commenced under other circumstances; but it must rest with you to determine how far it may proceed after so auspicious a beginning. "I have the honour to be, &c."

felt these three years, though I longed for one in the oriental summer, when no such thing is to be had, unless I had gone to the top of Hymettus for it.

"I thank you most truly for the concluding part of your letter. I have been of late not much accustomed to kindness from any quarter, and I am not the less

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pleased to meet with it again from one, where I had Known it earliest. I have not changed in all my ramblings,-Harrow and, of course, yourself never left me, and the

'Dulces reminiscitur Argos'

range for both with a little contrivance. I wish H. was not quite so fat, and we should pack better. Has he left off vinous liquors? He is an excellent soul; but I don't think water would improve him, at least internally You will want to know what I am doing-chewing tobacco.

attended me to the very spot to which that sentence alludes in the mind of the fallen Argive.-Our intimacy "You see nothing of my allies, Scrope Davies and began before we began to date at all, and it rests with Matthews-they don't suit you; and how does it happen you to continue it till the hour which must number it and me with the things that were.

"Do read mathematics,-I should think X plus Y at least as amusing as the Curse of Kehama, and much more intelligible. Master S.'s poems are, in fact, what parallel lines might be-viz. prolonged ad infinitum without meeting any thing half so absurd as themselves. What news, what news? Queen Oreaca, What news of scribblers five?

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that I-who am a pipkin of the same pottery-contine in your good graces? Good night,-I will go on in the morning.

"Dec. 9.-In a morning I'm always sullen, and today is as sombre as myself. Rain and mist are worse than a sirocco, particularly in a beef-eating and beerdrinking country. My bookseller, Cawthorne, has just left me, and tells me, with a most important face, that he is in treaty for a novel of Madame D'Arblay's, for which 1000 guineas are asked! He wants me to read the MS. (if he obtains it,) which I shall do with pleasure; but I should be very cautious in venturing an opinion on her whose Cecilia Dr. Johnson superintended. If he lends it to me, I shall put it into the hands of Rogers and Moore, who are truly men of taste. I have filled the sheet, and beg your pardon; I will not do it again. I shall, perhaps, write again, but if not, believe, silent or scribbling, that I am, "My dearest William, ever, &c."

LETTER CX.

TO ME. HODGSON.

"8, St. James's-street, Dec. 8, 1811. "Behold a most formidable sheet, without gilt or black edging, and consequently very vulgar and indecorous, particularly to one of your precision; but this being Sunday, I can procure no better, and will atone for its length by not filling it. Bland I have not seen since my last Letter; but on Tuesday he dines with me and will meet M✶✶e, the epitome of all that is exquisite in poetical or personal accomplishments. How Bland has settled with Miller, I know not. I have very little interest with either, and they must arrange their concerns according to their own gusto. I have done my endeavours, at your "I have gotten a book by Sir W. Drummond, (printed, request, to bring them together, and hope they may agree but not published,) entitled Edipus Judaicus, in which to their mutual advantage. he attempts to prove the greater part of the Old Testa

"I never heard but of one man truly fortunate, and he was Beaumarchais, the author of Figaro, who buried two wives and gained three lawsuits before he was thirty.

"London, Dec. 8, 1811. and now take a dose in another style. I wrote it a day "I sent you a sad Tale of Three Friars the other day or two ago, on hearing a song of former days.

'Away, away, ye notes of wo, &c. &c.'

* *

"Coleridge has been lecturing against Campbell.ment an allegory, particularly Genesis and Joshua. He Rogers was present, and from him I derive the informa-professes himself a theist in the preface, and handles the tion. We are going to make a party to hear this Ma- literal interpretation very roughly. I wish you could nichean of poesy.-Pole is to marry Miss Long, and see it. Mr. W✶ ✶ has lent it ine, and I confess, to me. will be a very miserable dog for all that. The present it is worth fifty Watsons. ministers are to continue, and his majesty does continue "You and Harness must fix on the time for your visit in the same state. So there's folly and madness for you, to Newstead; I can command mine at your wish, unless both in a breath. any thing particular occurs in the interim. Bland dines with me on Tuesday to meet Moore Coleridge has attacked the 'Pleasures of Hope,' and all other pleasures whatsoever. Mr. Rogers was present, and heard himself indirectly rowed by the lecturer. "And now, child, what art thou doing? Reading, I We are going in a party to hear the new Art of Poetry trust. I want to see you take a degree. Remember by this reformed schismatic; and were I one of these this is the most important period of your life; and don't poetical luminaries, or of sufficient consequence to be disappoint your papa and your aunt, and all your kin-noticed by the man of lectures, I should not hear him besides myself. Don't you know that all male children without an answer. For, you know, 'an' a man will be are begotten for the express purpose of being graduates? beaten with brains, he shall never keep a clean doubiet.' and that even I am an A. M. though how I became so the Public Orator only can resolve. Besides, you are to be a priest; and to confute Sir William Drummond's late book about the Bible, (printed, but not published,) and all other infidels whatever. Now leave master H.'s gig, and master S.'s Sapphics, and become as immortal as Cambridge can make you.

Campbell will be desperately annoyed. I never saw a man (and of him I have seen very little) so sensitive ;what a happy temperament! I am sorry for it; what can he fear from criticism? I don't know if Bland has seen Miller, who was to call on him yesterday.

"To-day is the Sabbath,-a day I never pass pleasantly, but at Cambridge; and, even there, the organ is "You see, Mio Carissimo, what a pestilent corre- a sad remembrancer. Things are stagnant enough in spondent I am likely to become; but then you shall be as town,-as long as they don't retrograde, 't is all very well. quiet at Newstead as you please, and I won't disturb Hobhouse writes and writes and writes, and is an author. your studies, as I do now. When do you fix the day, I do nothing but eschew tobacco. I wish parliament that I may take you up according to contract? Hodg-were assembled, that I may hear, and perhaps some day son talks of making a third in our journey: but we can't be heard ;-but on this point I am not very sanguine. I stow nim, inside at least. Positively you shall go with have many plans;-sometimes I think of the East again me as was agreed, and don't let me have any of your politesse to H. on the occasion. I shall manage to ar

• See Poems p. 186.

and dearly beloved Greece. I am weil, but weakly. thus much of the cause. You know I am not one of Yesterday Kinnaird told me I looked very ill, and sent your dolorous gentlemen: so now let us laugh again. me home happy. "Yesterday I went with Moore to Sydenham to visit "You will never give up wine;-see what it is to be Campbell. He was not visible, so we jogged homeward thirty; if you were six years younger, you might leave merrily enough. To-morrow I dine with Rogers, and off any thing. You drink and repent, you repent and am to hear Coleridge, who is a kind of rage at present. drink. Is Scrope still interesting and invalid? And Last night I saw Kemble in Coriolanus;-he was glor how does Hinde with his cursed chymistry? To Har-ous, and exerted himself wonderfully. By good luck, I ness I have written, and he has written, and we have all got an excellent place in the best part of the house, which written, and have nothing now to do but write again, till death splits up the pen and the scribbler.

was more than overflowing. Clare and Delaware, who were there on the same speculation, were less fortunate. I saw them by accident,-we were not together. I wished for you, to gratify your love of Shakspeare and of fine acting to its fullest extent. Last week I saw an exhibition of a different kind in a Mr. Coates, at the Haymarket, who performed Lothario in a damned and damnable manner.

The Alfred has 354 candidates for six vacancies. The cook has run away and left us liable, which makes our committee very plaintive. Master Brook, our head serving man, has the gout, and our new cook is none of the best. I speak from report,-for what is cookery to a leguminous-eating ascetic? So now you know as much of the matter as I do. Books and quiet are still "I told you of the fate of B. and H. in my last. So there, and they may dress their dishes in their own way much for these sentimentalists, who console themselves for me. Let me know your determination as to New-in their stews for the loss-the never to be recovered stead, and believe me,

LETTER CXI.

TO MR. HODGSON.

Yours ever,
“ Νωαιρῶν.”

"8, St. James's-street, Dec. 12, 1811. "Why, Hodgson! I fear you have left off wine and me at the same time,-I have written and written and written, and no answer! My dear Sir Edgar, water disagrees with you,-drink sack and write. Bland did not come to his appointment, being unwell, but Moore supplied all other vacancies most delectably. I have bopes of his joining us at Newstead. I am sure you would like him more and more as he developes,--at least I do.

loss-the despair of the refined attachment of a couple of drabs! You censure my life, Harness: when I compare myself with these men, my elders and my betters, I really begin to conceive myself a monument of prudence -a walking statue-without feeling or failing; and yet the world in general hath given me a proud pre-eminence over them in profligacy. Yet I like the men, and, God knows, ought not to condemn their aberrations. But I own I feel provoked when they dignify all this by the name of love-romantic attachments for things marketable for a dollar!

"Dec. 16.-I have just received your letter. I feel your kindness very deeply. The foregoing part of my letter, written yesterday, will I hope, account for the tons of the former, though it cannot excuse it. I do like to hear from you-more than like. Next to seeing you, I

and greater pleasures, and I should regret to take a moment from either. H** was to call to-day, but I have not seen him. The circumstances you mention at the close of your letter is another proof in favour of my opinion of mankind. Such you will always find themselfish and distrustful. I except none. The cause of this is the state of society. In the world, every one is to stir for himself-it is useless, perhaps selfish, to expect any thing from his neighbour. But I do not think we are born of this disposition; for you find friendship as a schoolboy, and love enough before twenty.

"How Miller and Bland go on, I don't know. Caw-have no greater satisfaction. But you have other duties thorne talks of being in treaty for a novel of Me. D'Arblay's, and if he obtains it (at 1000 gs.!!) wishes me to see the MS. This I should read with pleasure,-not that I should ever dare to venture a criticism on her whose writings Dr. Johnson once revised, but for the pleasure of the thing. If my worthy publisher wanted a sound opinion, I should send the MS. to Rogers and Moore, as men most alive to true taste. I have had frequent letters from Wm. Harness, and you are silent ceries, you are not a schoolboy. However, I have the consolation of knowing that you are better employed, viz. reviewing. You don't deserve that I should add another. svilable, and I won't. "Yours, &c. "P.S. I only wait for your answer to fix our meeting."

LETTER CXII.

TO MR. HARNESS.

"I went to see **; he keeps me in town, where I don't wish to be at present. He is a good man, but totally without conduct. And now, my dearest William, I must wish you good morrow, and remain ever most sincerely and affectionately yours, &c."

LETTER CXIII.

TO MR. MOORE.

"MY DEAR MOORE,

"December 11, 1811.

"8, St. James's-street, Dec. 15, 1811. *I wrote you an answer to your last, which, on refleccon, pleases me as little as it probably has pleased yourself. I will not wait for your rejoinder; but proceed to tell you, that I had just then been greeted with an epistle "If you please, we will drop our formal monosyllables, of **'s, full of his petty grievances, and this at the mo- and adhere to the appellations sanctioned by our godfa ment when (from circumstances it is not necessary to thers and godmothers. If you make it a point, I will arter upon) I was bearing up against recollections to withdraw your name; at the same time there is no ocwhich his imaginary sufferings are as a scratch to a casion, as I have this day postponed your election 'sine cancer. These things combined, put me out of humour with him and all mankind. The latter part of my life has been a perpetual struggle against affections which imbittered the earliest portion; and though I flatter myself I have in a great measure conquered them, yet there are moments (and this was one) when I am as foolish as formerly. I never said so much before, nor had I said this now, if I did not suspect myself of having been rather savage in my letter, and wish to inform you

die,' till it shall suit your wishes to be among us. I do not say this from any awkwardness the erasure of your proposal would occasion to me, but simply such is the state of the case; and, indeed, the longer your name is up, the stronger will become the probability of success, and your voters more numerous. Of course you will de cide-your wish shall be my law. If my zeal has already outrun discretion, pardon me, and attribute mv officiousness to an excusable motive.

"I wish you would go down with me to Newstead. the language you used to the girl was (as she stated it) Hodgson will be there, and a young friend, named Har-highly improper.

ness, the earliest and dearest I ever had from the third "You say that you also have something to complain form at Harrow to this hour. I can premise you good of; then state it to me immediately; it would be very wine, and, if you like shooting, a manor of 4000 acres, unfair, and very contrary to my disposition, not to hear fires, books, your own free will, and my own very indif- both sides of the question. ferent company. 'Balnea, vina ***

* * *

"Hodgson will plague you, I fear, with verse ;-for my own part, I will conclude, with Martial, 'nil recitabo tibi and surely the last inducement is not the least. Ponder on my proposition, and believe me, my dear Moore, "Yours ever,

LETTER CXIV.

TO MR. MOORE.

*MY DEAR MOORE,

"BYRON."

"January 29, 1812.

"I wish very much I could have seen you; I am in a state of ludicrous tribulation.

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"Why do you say that I dislike your poesy? I have expressed no such opinion, either in print or elsewhere. In scribbling, myself, it was necessary for me to find fault, and I fixed upon the trite charge of immorality, because I could discover no other, and was so perfectly qualified, in the innocence of my heart, to 'pluck that mote from my neighbour's eye.'

"I feel very, very much obliged by your approbation; but, at this moment, praise, even your praise, passes by me like the idle wind.' I meant and mean to send you a copy the moment of publication; but now, I can think of nothing but damned, deceitful,-delightful woman, as Mr. Liston says in the Knight of Snowdon.

"Believe me, my dear Moore,

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'ever yours, most affectionately,
"BYRON."

LETTER CXV.

TO ROBERT RUSHTON.

"If any thing has passed between you before or since my last visit to Newstead, do not be afraid to mention it. I am sure you would not deceive me, though she would. Whatever it is. you shall be forgiven. I have not been without some suspicions on the subject, and am certain that, at your time of life, the blame could not attach to you. You will not consult any one as to your answer but write to me immediately. I shall be more ready to hear what you have to advance, as I do not remember ever to have heard a word from you before against any human being, which convinces me you would not maliciously assert an untruth. There is not any one who can do the least injury to you while you conduct yourself properly. I shall expect your answer immediately. "BYRON" "Yours, &c.

LETTER CXVII.

TO MR. HODGSON.

"8, St. James's-street, Feb. 16, 1812.

"DEAR HODGSON,

"I send you a proof. Last week I was very ill and confined to bed with stone in the kidney, but I am now quite recovered. If the stone had got into my heart instead of my kidneys, it would have been all the better The women are gone to their relatives, after many attempts to explain what was already too clear. However, I have quite recovered that also, and only wonder at my folly in excepting my own strumpets from the general corruption,-albeit, a two months' weakness is better than ten years. have one request to make, which is, never mention a woman again in any letter to me, or even allude to the existence of the sex. I won't even. read a word of the feminine gender; it must all be 'propria quæ maribus.'

"8, St. James's-street, Jan. 21, 1812. "In the spring of 1813 I shall leave England for ever Though I have no objection to your refusal to carry Every thing in my affairs tends to this, and my inclina Letters to Mealey's, you will take care that the letters are tions and health do not discourage it. Neither my taken by Spero at the proper time. I have also to ob-habits nor constitution are improved by your customs or serve, that Susan [a servant in the family] is to be your climate. I shall find employment in making myself treated with civility, and not insulted by any person over a good oriental scholar. I shall retain a mansion in one whom I have the smallest control, or, indeed, by any one of the fairest islands, and retrace, at intervals, the most whatever, while I have the power to protect her. I am interesting portions of the East. In the mean time, I truly sorry to have any subject of complaint against you; am adjusting my concerns, which will (when arranged) I have too good an opinion of you to think I shall have leave me with wealth-sufficient even for home, but enough occasion to repeat it, after the care I have taken of you, for a principality in Turkey. At present they are inand my favourable intentions in your behalf. I see no volved, but I hope, by taking some necessary but unoccasion for any communication whatever between you pleasant steps, to clear every thing. Hobhouse is exand the women, and wish you to occupy yourself in pre-pected daily in London; we shall be very glad to see paring for the situation in which you will be placed. If him; and, perhaps, you will come up and drink deep common sense of decency cannot prevent you from ere he depart,' if not, 'Mahomet must go to the mounconducting yourself towards them with rudeness, I should tain;' but Cambridge will bring sad recollections to him, at least hope that your own interest, and regard for a and worse to me, though for very different reasons. master who has never treated you with unkindness, will believe the only human being that ever loved me in truth have some weight. "Yours, &c. and entirely was of, or belonging to, Cambridge, and, in that, no change can now take place. There is one consolation in death-where he sets his seal, the impression can neither be melted or broken, but endureth for ever. "Yours always,

"BYRON.

"P. S.-I wish you to attend to your arithmetic, to occupy yourself in surveying, measuring, and making yourself acquainted with every particular relative to the and of Newstead, and you will write to me one letter every week, that I may know how you go on.

LETTER CXVI.

TO ROBERT RUSHTON.

"8, St. James's-street, Jan. 25, 1812.

Your refusal to carry the letter was not a subject of

LETTER CXVIII.

TO MASTER JOHN COWELL.

"B."

"8, St. James's-street, Feb. 12, 1812.

"MY DEAR JOHN,

I

"You have probably long ago forgotten the writer of

remonstrance; it was not a part of your business; but these lines, who would, perhaps, be unable to recognise

you self, from the difference which must naturally have done is far inferior in quality, hardly marketable at hoina taken place in your stature and appearance since he and hurried over with a view to exportation. Surely saw you last. I have been rambling through Portugal, my lord, however we may rejoice in any improvement in Spain, Greece, &c. &c. for some years, and have found the arts which may be beneficial to mankind, we must so many changes on my return, that it would be very not allow mankind to be sacrificed to improvements in unfair not to expect that you should have had your share mechanism. The maintenance and well-doing of the of alteration and improvement with the rest. I write to industrious poor is an object of greater consequence to request a favour of you: a little boy of eleven years, the the community than the enrichment of a few monopolists son of Mr. **, my particular friend, is about to become by any improvement in the implements of trade, which an Etonian, and I should esteem any act of protection or deprives the workman of his bread, and renders the lakindness to him as an obligation to myself; let me beg bourer 'unworthy of his hire.' My own motive for op of you then to take some little notice of him at first, till posing the bill is founded on its palpable injustice, and he is able to shift for himself. its certain inefficacy. I have seen the state of these

I was happy to hear a very favourable account of miserable men, and it is a disgrace to a civilized country. you from a schoolfellow a few weeks ago, and should be Their excesses may be condemned, but cannot be glad to learn that your family are as well as I wish them subject of wonder. The effect of the present bill would to be. I presume you are in the upper school; as an be to drive them into actual rebellion. The few words Etonian, you will look down upon a Harrow man; but II shall venture to offer on Thursday will be founded never, even in my boyish days, disputed your superiority, which I once experienced in a cricket match, where I had the honour of making one of eleven, who were beaten to their hearts' content by your college in one innings.

"Believe me to be, with great truth, &c. &c."

LETTER CXIX.

TO MR. ROGERS.

MY DEAR SIR,

"February 4, 1812.

With my best acknowledgments to Lord Holland, I have to offer my perfect concurrence in the propriety of the question previously to be put to ministers. If their answer is in the negative, I shall, with his lordship's approbation, give notice of a motion for a Committee of Inquiry. I would also gladly avail myself of his most able advice, and any information or documents with which he might be pleased to intrust me, to bear me out in the statement of facts it may be necessary to submit to the

House.

"From all that fell under my own observation during my Christmas visit to Newstead, I feel convinced that, if conciliatory measures are not very soon adopted, the most unhappy consequences may be apprehended. Nightly outrage and daily depredation are already at their height, and not only the masters of frames, who are obnoxious on account of their occupation, but persons in no degree connected with the malcontents or their oppressors, are liable to insult and pillage.

"I am very much obliged to you for the trouble you have taken on my account, and beg you to believe me ever your obliged and sincere, &c."

LETTER CXX.

TO LORD HOLLAND.

#8, St. James's-street, Feb. 25, 1812.

upon these opinions formed from my own observations on the spot. By previous inquiry, I am convinced these men would have been restored to employment and the county to tranquillity. It is, perhaps, not yet too late, and is surely worth the trial. It can never be too late to employ force in such circumstances. I believe your lordship does not coincide with me entirely on this subject, and most cheerfully and sincerely shall I submit to your superior judgment and experience, and take some other line of argument against the bill, or be silent altogether, should you deem it more advisable. Condemning, as every one must condemn, the conduct of these wretches, I believe in the existence of grievances which call rather for pity than punishment. I have the honour to be, with great respect, my lord,

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"Your lordship's

most obedient and obliged servant,
"BYRON.

"P. S.-I am a little apprehensive that your lordship will think me too lenient towards these men, and half a frame-breaker myself.”

LETTER CXXI.

TO MR. HODGSON.

"8, St. James's-street, March 5, 1812. "MY DEAR HODGSON,

"We are not answerable for reports of speeches in the papers, they are always given incorrectly, and on this occasion more so than usual, from the debate in the Commons on the same night. The Morning Post should have said eighteen years. However, you will find the speech, as spoken, in the Parliamentary Register, when it comes out. Lords Holland and Grenville, particularly the latter, paid me some high compliments in the course of their speeches, as you may have seen in the papers, and Lords Eldon and Harrowby answered me. I have had many marvellous culogies repeated to me since, in person and by proxy, from divers persons ministerial"MY LORD, yea ministerial!-as well as oppositionists; of them] With my best thanks, I have the honour to return shall only mention Sir F. Burdett. He says, it is the the Notts. letter to your lordship. I have read it with best speech by a lord since the Lord knows when,' attention, but do not think I shall venture to avail myself probably from a fellow-feeling in the sentiments. Lord of its contents, as my view of the question differs in some H. tells me I shall beat them all if I persevere, and measure from Mr. Coldham's. I hope I do not wrong Lord G. remarked that the construction of some of my him, but his objections to the bill appear to me to be periods are very like Burke's!! And so much for founded on certain apprehensions that he and his coad-vanity. I spoke very violent sentences with a sort of jutors might be mistaken for the 'original advisers' (to modest impudence, abused every thing and every body, quote him) of the measure. For my own part, I con- and put the Lord Chancellor very much out of humour; sider the manufacturers as a much injured body of men, and if I may believe what I hear, have not lost any sacrificed to the views of certain individuals who have character by the experiment. As to my delivery, loud enriched themselves by those practices which have de- and fluent enough, perhaps a little theatrical. I could Drived the frame-workers of employment. For instance; not recognise myself or any one else in the newspapers. -by the adoption of a certain kind of frame, one man performs the work of seven-six are thus thrown out of business. But it is to be observed that the work thus

*

See his first Speech, page 272.

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