LETTER 183.

LETTER 184.

TO MR. MOORE.

" June 14. 1814.

The bleeding phantom of each martial form

feel disgusted, but simply indifferent to almost Dim in the cloud, or darkling in the storm ;

all excitements. The proof of this is, that While sad, she chants the solitary song, The soft lament for him who tarries long

obstacles, the slightest even, stop me. This For him, whose distant relics vainly crave

can hardly be timidity, for I have done some The coronach's wild requiem to the brave !

impudent things too, in iny time ; and in " "Tis Heaven – not man — must charm away the woe

almost all cases, opposition is a stimulus. Which bursts when Nature's feelings newly flow:

In mine, it is not ; if a straw were in my Yet tenderness and time may rob the tear

way, I could not stoop to pick it up. Of half its bitterness for one so dear :

“ I have sent this long tirade, because I A nation's gratitude perchance may spread

would not have you suppose that I have A thornless pillow for the widow'd head;

been trifling designedly with you or others. May lighten well her heart's maternal care,

If you think so, in the name of St. Hubert And wean from penury the soldier's heir."

(the patron of antlers and hunters) let me be

married out of hand — I don't care to whom, TO MR. MOORE.

so it amuses any body else, and don't inter“ May 31. 1814.

fere with me much in the day time. “ As I shall probably not see you here

Ever, &c.” to-day, I write to request that, if not inconvenient to yourself, you will stay in town till Sunday; if not to gratify me, yet to please a great many others, who will be very sorry to lose you. As for myself, I can only “ I could be very sentimental now, but I repeat that I wish you would either remain won't. The truth is, that I have been all a long time with us, or not come at all ; for my life trying to harden my heart, and have these snatches of society make the subse- not yet quite succeeded — though there are quent separations bitterer than ever. great hopes — and you do not know how it

“ I believe you think that I have not been sunk with your departure. What adds to quite fair with that Alpha and Omega of my regret is having seen so little of you beauty, &c. with whom you would willingly during your stay in this crowded desert, have united me. But if you consider what where one ought to be able to bear thirst her sister said on the subject, you will less like a camel, the springs are so few, and wonder that my pride should have taken most of them so muddy. the alarm ; particularly as nothing but the “The newspapers will tell you all that is every-day flirtation of every-day people ever to be told of emperors, &c. . They have occurred between your heroine and myself. dined, and supped, and shown their fat Had Lady ** appeared to wish it

faces in all thoroughfares, and several saloons. not to oppose it - I would have gone on, and Their uniforms are very becoming, but rather very possibly married (that is, if the other short in the skirts ; and their conversation had been equally accordant) with the same is a catechism, for which and the answers I indifference which has frozen over the ‘ Black refer you to those who have heard it. Sea' of almost all my passions. It is that “I think of leaving town for Newstead very indifference which makes me so un

If so, I shall not be remote from certain and apparently capricious. It is not your recess, and (unless Mrs. M. detains eagerness of new pursuits, but that nothing you at home over the caudle-cup and a new impresses me sufficiently to fix ; neither do I cradle) we will meet. You shall come to

or even

soon.

i

“ The papers have told you, no doubt, of the fusses,

The fêtes, and the gapings to get at these Russes –
Of his Majesty's suite, up from coachman to Hetman,
And what dignity decks the flat face of the great man.
I saw him, last week, at two balls and a party, —
For a prince, his demeanour was rather too hearty.
You know, we are used to quite different graces,

m

my third

me, or I to you, as you like it ; — but meet and possesses character and talents entitled we will.

An invitation from Aston has to general respect. My mornings are late, reached me, but I do not think I shall go. and passed in fencing and boxing, and a I have also heard of ***- I should like to variety of most unpoetical exercises, very see her again, for I have not met her for wholesome, &c., but would be very disyears ; and though the light that ne'er can agre ble to my friends, whom I am obliged shine again' is set, I do not know that 'one to exclude during their operation.

I never dear smile like those of old' might not go out till the evening, and I have not been make me for a moment forget the dulness' fortunate enough to meet Mr. W. at Lord of life's stream.'

Lansdowne's or Lord Jersey's, where I had “ I am going to R **'s to-night — to one hoped to pay him my respects. of those suppers which ought to be dinners.' * I would have written to him, but a few I have hardly seen her, and never him, since words from you will go further than all the you set out. I told you, you were the last apologetical sesquipedalities I could muster link of that chain. As for * *, we have not on the occasion. It is only to say that, syllabled one another's names since. The without intending it, I contrive to behave post will not permit me to continue my very ill to every body, and am very sorry scrawl. More anon.

for it. Ever, dear Moore, &c. .

“Ever, dear R., &c." "P. S. – Keep the Journal' ; I care not what becomes of it ; and if it has amused

The following undated notes to Mr. Rogers

must have been written about the same you, I am glad that I kept it. “Larais

time : finished, and I am copying him for vol., now collecting ; — but no separate publication."

“ Sunday. “ Your non-attendance at Corinne's is very TO MR. MURRAY.

à

propos, as I was on the eve of sending

you an excuse. I do not feel well enough 'I return your packet of this morning. to go there this ening, and have een Have you heard that Bertrand has returned obliged to despatch an apology. I believe I to Paris with the account of Napoleon's need not add one for not accepting Mr. having lost his senses? It is a report ; but, Sheridan's invitation on Wednesday, which if true, I must, like Mr. Fitzgerald and I fancy both you and I understood in the Jeremiah (of lamentable memory), lay claim

with him the saying of to prophecy ; that is to say, of saying, that Mirabeau, that " words are things,' is not to he ought to go out of his senses, in the be taken literally. penultimate stanza of a certain Ode ?,

the

“Ever, &c." which, having been pronounced nonsense by several profound critics, has a still further

“ I will call for you at a quarter before pretension, by its unintelligibility, to inspir- seven, if that will suit you. I return you ation,

Ever, &c. Sir Proteus 4, and shall merely add in return,

as Johnson said of, and to, somebody or other, 'Are we alive after all this censure?'

“ Believe me, &c." "I am always obliged to trouble you with my awkwardnesses, and now I have a fresh one. Mr. W.3 called on me several times, “ Sheridan was yesterday, at first, too and I have missed the honour of making his sober to remember your invitation, but in acquaintance, which I regret, but which you, the dregs of the third bottle he fished up his who know my desultory and uncertain habits, memory. The Stael out-talked Whitbread, will not wonder at, and will, I am sure, was ironed by Sheridan, confounded Sir attribute to any thing but a wish to offend a Humphry, and utterly perplexed your slave. person who has shown me much kindness, The rest (great names in the red book,

“ June 14. 1814.

same sense :

LETTER 185.

TO MR. ROGERS.

TO MR. MURRAY.

66

LETTER 186.

TO MR. ROGERS.

nevertheless,) were mere segments of the printer, and nearly ready for publication. circle. Ma'mselle danced a Russ saraband He had, before I left town, repeated to me, with great vigour, grace, and expression. as we were on our way to some evening

Ever, &c. party, the first one hundred and twenty

lines of the poem, which he had written the day before,

at the same time giving me a “ June 21. 1814. general sketch of the characters and the

story. I suppose · Lara' is gone to the devil,

His short notes to Mr. Murray, during which is no great matter, only let me know, the printing of this work, are of the same that I may be saved the trouble of copying impatient and whimsical character as those, the rest, and put the first part into the fire of which I have already given specimens, I really have no anxiety about it, and

shall in my account of his preceding publications : not be sorry to be saved the copying, which but, as matter of more interest now presses goes on very slowly, and may prove to you upon us, I shall forbear from transcribing that you may speak out or I should be them at length. In one of them he less sluggish. “Yours, &c.”

says, have just corrected some of the most horrible blunders that ever crept into a

proof :" — in another, I hope the next

“ June 27. 1814. proof will be better ; this was one which * You could not have made me a more

would have consoled Job, if it had been of acceptable present than Jacqueline, she his 'enemy's book :”” - a third contains is all grace and softness, and poetry ; there only the following words : “Dear sir, you is so much of the last, that we do not feel demanded more battle — there it is. Yours, the want of story, which is simple, yet

&c.” enough. I wonder that you do not oftener unbend to more of the same kind. I have The two letters that immediately follow some sympathy with the softer affections,

were addressed to me, at this time, in though very little in my way, and no one

town. can depict them so truly and successfully as yourself. I have half a mind to pay you in kind, or rather unkind, for I have just * supped full of horror' in two cantos of

“ July 8. 1814. darkness and dismay.

I returned to town last night, and had “Do you go to Lord Essex's to-night ?

some hopes of seeing you to-day, and would if so, will you let me call for you at your have called, — but I have been (though in own' hour? I dined with Holland-house exceeding distempered good health) a little yesterday at Lord Cowper's ; my Lady very head-achy with free living, as it is called, gracious, which she can be more than any and am now at the freezing point of returnone when she likes. I was not sorry to see ing soberness. Of course, I should be sorry them again, for I can't forget that they have that our parallel lines did not deviate into been very kind to me.

intersection before you return to the coun“Ever yours most truly,

try, - after that same nonsuit', whereof the “ BN.

papers have told us, — but, as you must be “ P.S. - Is there any chance or possibility much occupied, I won't be affronted, should of making it up with Lord Carlisle, as I feel your time and business militate against our disposed to do any thing reasonable or meeting. unreasonable to effect it? I would before,

“ Rogers and I have almost coalesced into but for the 'Courier,' and the possible mis

a joint invasion of the public. Whether it constructions at such a time. Perpend, will take place or not, I do not yet know, pronounce."

and I am afraid Jacqueline (which is very

beautiful) will be in bad company.' But in On my return to London, for a short this case, the lady will not be the sufferer. time, at the beginning of July, I found his Scotland, and I have been doing nothing,

am going to the sea, and then to poem of · Lara,' which he had begun at the latter end of May, in the hands of the

- that is, no good, — and am very truly, &c.”

LETTER 187.

TO MR. MOORE.

“I ar

LETTER 188.

TO MR. MOORE.

LETTER 189.

TO MR. MURRAY.

66

6

me, &c.”

" I suppose, by your non-appearance, that

July 23. 1814. the philasophy of my note, and the previous silence of the writer, have put or kept you

“I am sorry to say that the prints is by in humeur. Never mind — it is hardly

no means approved of by those who have

seen it, who are pretty conversant with the worth while. This day have I received information original

, as well as the picture from whence

it is taken. I rather suspect that it is from from my man of law of the non - and

the never likely to be performance of pur- in this dilemma would recommend a sus

,

and not the exhibited portrait, and chase by Mr. Claughton, of impecuniary pension, if not an abandonment, of the prememory. He don't know what to do, or when to pay; and so all my hopes and fi.rion to the volumes which you purpose in

flicting upon the public. worldly projects and prospects are gone to the devil. He (the purchaser, and the devil | hurry. I have not yet made up my mind on

“With regard to Lara, don't be in any too, for aught I care), and I, and my legal the subject, nor know what to think or do advisers, are to meet to-morrow, the said till I hear from you ; and Mr. Moore appurchaser having first taken special care to peared to me in a similar state of indeterinquire whether I would meet him with mination. I do not know that it may not temper ?' — Certainly: The question is be better to reserve it for the entire pubthis I shall either have the estate back, lication you proposed, and not adventure in which is as good as ruin, or I shall go on hardy singleness, or even backed by the with him dawdling, which is rather worse. I have brought my pigs to a Mussulman all kinds of doubts, &c. &c. since I left

fairy Jacqueline. I have been seized with market. If I had but a wife now, and

London. children, of whose paternity I entertained

Pray let me hear from you, and believe doubts, I should be happy, or rather fortunate, as Candide or Scarmentado. In the mean time, if you don't come and see me, I shall think that Sam.'s bank is broke too; and that you, having assets there, are de

July 24. 1814. spairing of more than a piastre in the pound for your dividend. Ever, &c.”

“ The minority must, in this case, carryi

it, so pray let it be so, for I don't care sixpence for any of the opinions you mention,

on such a subject : and P * * [Phillips] “ July 18. 1814.

must be a dunce to agree with them. For “ You shall have one of the pictures. I my own part, I have no objection at all ; wish you to send the proof of 'Lara' to Mr. but Mrs. Leigh and my cousin must be betMoore, 33. Bury Street, to-night, as he leaves ter judges of the likeness than others; and town to-morrow, and wishes to see it before they hate it; and so I won't have it at he goes'; and I am also willing to have all. the benefit of his remarks. Yours, &c.” “ Mr. Hobhouse is right as for his con

clusion : but I deny the premises. The

name only is Spanish * ; the country is not

July 18. 1814. Spain, but the Morea. “ I think you will be satisfied even to re

“Waverley is the best and most interesting pletion with our northern friends 3, and I novel I have redde since I don't know won't deprive you longer of what I think when. I like it as much as I hate 'Patronwill give you pleasure ; for my own part, age,' and the Wanderer,' and 'O'Donnell,

and all the feminine trash of the last four my modesty, or my vanity, must be silent.

months. Besides, it is all easy to me, be“P. S.- If you could spare it for an cause I have been in Scotland so much hour in the evening, I wish you to send it (though then young enough too), and feel up to Mrs. Leigh, your neighbour, at the at home with the people, Lowland and London Hotel, Albemarle Street."

LETTER 190.

TO MR. MURRAY.

TO MR. MURRAY.

TO MR. MURRAY.

;

66

TO MR. MURRAY.

A note will correct what Mr. Hobhouse quaintance with my old friend Ocean ; and thinks an error (about the feudal system in I find bis bosom as pleasant a pillow for an Spain); - it is not Spain. If he puts a hour in the morning as his daughters of Pafew words of prose any where, it will set phos could be in the twilight. I have been all right.

swimming and eating turbot, and smuggling " I have been ordered to town to vote. neat brandies and silk handkerchiefs, – and I shall disobey. There is no good in so listening to my friend Hodgson's raptures much prating, since 'certain issues strokes about a pretty wife-elect of his, — and walkshould arbitrate. If you have any thing to ing on cliffs, and tuinbling down hills, and say, let me hear from you.

making the most of the dolce far-niente' “Yours, &c.” for the last fortnight. I met a son of Lord

Erskine's, who says he has been married a LETTER 191.

year, and is the ‘happiest of men ;' and I

have met the aforesaid H., who is also the

“ August 3. 1814. " It is certainly a little extraordinary that happiest of men ;' so, it is worth while you have not sent the Edinburgh Review, as being here, if only to witness the superlative I requested, and hoped it would not require their tails, and would persuade the rest to

felicity of these foxes, who have cut off a note a day to remind you. I see advertisements of Lara and Jacqueline; pray, why? part with their brushes to keep them in when I requested you to postpone publica

countenance. tion till my return to town.

“ It rejoiceth me that you like 'Lara.' “ I have a most amusing epistle from the I suppose you have got. He is only too

Jeffrey is out with his 45th Number, which Ettrick bard — Hogg ; in which, speaking kind to me, in my share of it, and I begin to of his bookseller, whom he denominates the fancy myself a golden pheasant, upon the shabbiest’ of the trade for not ‘lifting his bills,' he adds, in so many words, &-a strength of the plumage wherewith he hath

bedecked me. d-n him and them both.' This is a pretty

But then, surgit amari,' &c. prelude to asking you to adopt him. (the Perry, have got hold (I know not how) of

the gentlemen of the Champion, and said Hogg); but this he wishes ; and if you the condolatory address to Lady Jersey on please, you and I will talk it over. He has the picture-abduction by our Regent, and a poem ready for the press (and your bills have published them — with my name, too, too, if • liftable'), and bestows some bene- smack — without even asking leave, or indictions on Mr. Moore for his abduction of Lara from the forthcoming Miscellany."

quiring whether or no! D-n their impu

dence, and d-n every thing. It has put “ P. S. Sincerely, I think Mr. Hogg me out of patience, and so, I shall say no would suit you very well ; and surely he is

more about it. a man of great powers, and deserving of

“ You shall have Lara and Jacque (both encouragement. I must knock out a Tale with some additions) when out; but I am for him, and you should at all events con

still demurring and delaying, and in a fuss, sider before you reject his suit. Scott is and so is Rogers in his way. gone to the Orkneys in a gale of wind; and “ Newstead is to be mine again. ClaughHogg says that, during the said gale, ' he is ton forfeits twenty-five thousand pounds ; sure that Scott is not quite at his ease, to

but that don't prevent me from being very say the best of it.' Ah! I wish these home- prettily ruined. I mean to bury myself keeping bards could taste a Mediterranean there — and let my

beard
grow -

—and hate white squall, or 'the Gut' in a gale of wind, you all. or even the ‘Bay of Biscay' with no wind “Oh! I have had the most amusing at all.”

letter from Hogg, the Ettick minstrel and shepherd. He wants me to recommend him to Murray; and, speaking of his present

bookseller, whose bills' are never · lifted, Hastings, August 3. 1814.

he adds, totidem verbis, ‘God d-n him and “ By the time this reaches your dwelling, them both. I laughed, and so would you I shall (God wot) be in town again pro- too, at the way in which this execration is bably. I have been here renewing my ac- introduced. The said Hogg is a strange

LETTER 192.

TO MR. MOORE.

;

I Mr. Hogg had been led to hope that he should be per- of the work arose certainly not from any ill will to this inmitted to insert this poem in a Miscellany which he had genious and remarkable man, but from a consideration at this time some thoughts of publishing ; and whatever of what I thought most advantageous to the fame of Lord advice I may have given against such a mode of disposing Byron.