1.] A LETTER FROM SHELLEY. 497 APPENDIX I. LETTERS FROM SHELLEY TO BYRON, FROM JANE CLAIRMONT TO BYRON, AND FROM SHELLEY TO JANE CLAIRMONT. (See p. 14, note 1, and p. 73, note 2.) (1) Letter from Shelley to Byron. "MY DEAR LORD BYRON,-I have no conception of what Clare's letter to you contains, and but an imperfect one of the subject of her correspondence with you at all. One or two of her letters, but not lately, I have indeed seen; but as I thought them extremely childish and absurd, and requested her not to send them, and she afterwards told me she had written and sent others in place of them, I cannot tell if those which I saw on that occasion were sent to you or not. I wonder, however, at your being provoked at what Clare writes; though that she should write what is provoking is very probable. You are conscious of performing your duty to Allegra, and your refusal to allow her to visit Clare at this distance you conceive to be part of that duty. That Clare should have wished to see her is natural. That her disappointment should vex her, and her vexation make her write absurdly, is all in the natural order of things. But, poor thing, she is very unhappy and in bad health, and she ought to be treated with as much indulgence as possible. The weak and the foolish are in this respect like kings; they can do no wrong. "I think I have said enough to excuse myself for declining to be the instrument of the communication of her wishes or sentiments to you; of course I should be always happy to convey yours to her. But at present I do not see that you need trouble yourself further than to take care that she should receive regular intelligence of Allegra's health, etc. You can write to me, or make your secretary write to her (as you do not like writing yourself), or arrange it in any manner most convenient to yourself. Of course I should be happy to hear from you on any subject. "Galignani tells us that on the 17th of August you arrived in London, and immediately drove to the Queen's house with dispatches from Italy. If your wraith indited the note which I received, VOL. V. 2 K he also will receive this answer. Do you take no part in the important nothings which the most powerful assembly in the world is now engaged in weighing with such ridiculous deliberation? At least, if ministers fail in their object, shall you or not return as a candidate for any part of the power they will lose? Their successors, I hope, and you, if you will be one of them, will exert that power to other purposes than their's. As to me, I remain in Italy for the present. If you really go to England, and leave Allegra in Italy, I think you had better arrange so that Clare might see Allegra in your absence if she pleases. The objections now existing against a visit either to or from her, would be then suspended; and such a concession would prevent all future contention on the subject. People only desire with great eagerness that which is forbidden or withheld. Besides that, you should shew yourself above taking offence at any thing she has written, which of course you are. "It would give me great pleasure to hear from you, and to receive news of more cantos of Don Juan, or something else. You have starved us lately. Mrs. S. unites with me in best regards, and I remain, my dear Lord Byron, "Pisa, Sep. 17, 1820. "Your very sincere, etc., "P.S.-If I were to go to the Levant or Greece, could you be of any service to me? If so, I should be very much obliged to you." (2) Letter from Jane Clairmont to Byron. "I have just received the letter which announces the putting Allegra into a convent. Before I quitted Geneva you promised me-verbally, it is true that my child, whatever its sex, should never be away from one of its parents. This promise originated in my being afflicted at your idea of placing it under the protection of Mrs. Leigh. This promise is violated, not only slightly, but in a mode and by a conduct most intolerable to my feeling of love for Allegra. It has been my desire and my practice to interfere with you as little as possible; but were I silent now, you would adopt this as an argument against me at some future period. I therefore represent to you that the putting Allegra, at her years, into a convent, away from any relation, is to me a serious and deep affliction. Since you first gave the hint of your desire, I have been at some pains to inquire into their system, and I find that the state of the children is nothing less than miserable. I see no reason to believe that convents are better regulated at Ravenna, a secondary, out-ofthe-way town of the Roman States, than at Florence, the capital of Tuscany. Every traveller and writer upon Italy joins in condemning them, which would be alone sufficient testimony, without adverting to the state of ignorance and profligacy of the Italian women, all pupils of convents. They are bad wives, most unnatural mothers; licentious and ignorant, they are the dishonour and unhappiness of society. This then, with every advantage in your power, of wealth, 1.] A MOTHER'S APPEAL. 499 of friends, is the education you have chosen for your daughter. This step will procure to you an innumerable addition of enemies and of blame, for it can be regarded but in one light by the virtuous, of whatever sect or denomination. Allegra's misfortune, in being condemned by her father to a life of ignorance and degradation, in being deprived of the advantages which the belonging to the most enlightened country in the world entitle her to, and of the protection and friendship of her parents' friends (so essential to the well-being of a child in her desolate situation), by the adoption of a different religion and of an education known to be contemptible, will be received by the world as a perfect fulfilment on your part of all the censures passed upon you. How will Lady Byron-never yet justified for her conduct towards you-be soothed, and rejoice in the honourable safety of herself and child, and all the world be bolder to praise her prudence, my unhappy Allegra furnishing the condemning evidence! I alone, misled by love to believe you good, trusted to you, and now I reap the fruits. "I do not describe my feelings of sorrow that this is to be Allegra's destiny, because I know what an excitement it would be to you to continue and if possible to augment the burthen. But I entreat you to retract this step, if not for her sake, at least for your own. Be assured that no reasons can be found to justify this measure. If you doubt that passion may hinder my judging rightly about it, take the opinion of Mrs. Hoppner-a lady every way worthy your attention. Her great knowledge of the world will ensure you the most safe and laudable conduct to be pursued with regard to Allegra's education, and I feel so much confidence in her goodness and sound judgment, that I should submit to her decision with the greatest pleasure. I resigned Allegra to you that she might be benefitted by advantages which I could not give her. It was natural for me to expect that your daughter would become an object of affection, and would receive an education becoming the child of an English nobleman. Since, however, you are indifferent to her, or that the purity of your principles does not allow you to cherish a natural child, I entreat you, as an act of justice, to allow the following scheme to be put into execution, that Allegra may have the benefits her mother can procure to her. I propose to place her, at my own expense, in one of the very best English boardingschools, where, if she is deprived of the happiness of a home and paternal care, she at least would receive an English education, which would enable her, after many years of painful and unpro tected childhood, to be benefitted by the kindness and affection of her parents' friends. This school shall be chosen by your own friends. I will see her only so often as they shall decide, because I hope to induce you, by this sacrifice of myself, to yield the child to proper hands. By adopting this plan you will save your credit and also the expense; and the anxiety for her safety and well-being need never trouble you; you will become as free as if you had no such tie. I entreat you earnestly not to be obdurate on this point. Believe me, in putting Allegra into a convent to ease yourself of the trouble, and to hurt me in my affection for her, you have done almost a greater injury to yourself than to me or her. So blind is hatred! I have already mentioned the evil to your reputation; besides which, in separating her from you at this early age, her attachment is weakened, and the difference of religion, added to the evil stories concerning you, will, in a few years more, completely alienate her from you. Such is the miserable and unsatisfactory state produced by this step to all three. To none does it procure one atom of advantage or pleasure. I add another remark upon this convent scheme: If it is a place suited to Allegra, why need you pay a double pension to ensure her proper treatment and attention? This little fact, coming from yourself, says every thing in condemnation of the plan. I know not how to address you in terms fit to awaken acquiescence to the above requests; yet neither do I know why you should doubt the wisdom and propriety of what I propose, seeing that I have never, with regard to Allegra, sought anything but her advantage, even at the price of total unhappiness to myself. My heart,' to use the words of an author, 'is rather wise because it loves much than because it knows much,' and the great affection I feel for her makes me to arrive at the knowledge of what is her good, almost as it were instinctively. I pray you to allow yourself to be advised on this point, and I mention Mdme. Hoppner because she is friendlily disposed towards you, and enabled by her situation to judge fairly what difference exists between an Italian and English education. You would have had this letter much sooner, but I was absent at Florence when the letter from Ravenna arrived at Pisa. They, not willing to annoy me when on a visit, kept it some time; but as my stay became longer, sent it to me. I beg you will address to Pisa as usual, to which city I return in another week. I cannot say how anxiously I expect your answer. Since I read the letter I have not had a moment's content, fearing to allow myself ease, lest Allegra should be suffering from neglect. Nor can I be happy until some plan is decided upon of a real advantage to her. I am desirous also of knowing how far Bagna-cavallo is from Ravenna, and if on the seacoast; also whether Allegra is entered only for a short time or for a fixed period. The answer to these questions is of the greatest importance to me. Again, I entreat you to yield, so that we may both be easy about her; I not suffering from anxiety and injury, nor you from the contention in your heart of hatred and pride which my entreaties awaken. I know that expressions of affection and friendship only exasperate you, yet I cannot help wishing you as much happiness as you inflict unjust misery upon me. Then, indeed, you would be blessed. "Florence, March 24, 1821." "CLAIRE. Across the top at the end of this letter, Byron has written "DR HOPPNER,-The moral part of the letter upon the Italians, 1.] ADVICE FROM SHELLEY. 501 etc., comes with an excellent grace from the writer now living with a man and his wife-and having planted a child in the R. Foundling, etc. With regard to the rest of the letter, you know as well as any one how far it is or is not correct." (3) Letter from Shelley to Jane Clairmont. "Pisa, Sunday mor.1 "MY DEAR CLARE,-I know not what to think of the state of your mind, or what to fear for you. Your late plan about Allegra seems to me, in its present form, pregnant with irremediable infamy to all the actors in it except your self; in any form wherein I must actively co-operate, with inevitable destruction. I COULD NOT refuse Lord Byron's challenge; though that, however to be deprecated, would be the least in the series of mischiefs consequent upon my intervention in such a plan. I say this because I am shocked at the thoughtless violence of your designs, and I wish to put my sense of their madness in the strongest light. I may console myself, however, with the reflection that the attempt even is impossible, as I have no money. So far from being ready to lend me 3 or 400 pounds, Horace Smith has lately declined to advance 6 or 7 napoleons for a musical instrument which I wished to buy for Jane at Paris, nor have I any other friend to whom I could apply. "You think of going to Vienna. The change might have a favourable effect upon your mind, and the occupations and exertions of a new state of life wean you from counsels so desperate as those to which you have been lately led. I must try to manage the money for your journey, if so you have decided. You know how different my own ideas are of life. I also have been struck by the heaviest inflictions almost which a high spirit and a feeling heart ever endured. Some of yours and of my evils are in common, and I am therefore in a certain degree a judge. If you would take my advice, you would give up this evil pursuit after shadows, and temper yourself to the season; seek in the daily and affectionate intercourse of friends, a respite from these perpetual and irritating projects. Live from day to day, attend to your health, cultivate literature and liberal ideas to a certain extent, and expect that from time and change which no exertions of your own can give you. Serious and calm reflection has convinced me that you can never obtain Allegra by such means as you have lately devised, or by any means to be devised. Lord Byron is inflexible, and he has her in his power. Remember, Clare, when you rejected my earnest advice at Milan, and how vain is now your regret! This is the second of my Sybillaic volumes; if you wait for the third, it may be sold at a still higher price. If you think well, this summer go to Vienna; but wherever you go or stay, let the past be past. 1. The date is fixed as March, 1822, by the reference to the affray at Pisa. |