must be published by some one. As to 'clamours,' the die is cast; and, 'come one, come all,' we will fight it out-at least one of us."

LETTER CCCCXCVII.

TO MR MOORE.

Montenero, Villa Dupoy, near Leghorn, June 8th, 1822. << I have written to you twice through the medium of Murray, and on one subject, trite enough,— the loss of poor little Allegra by a fever; on which topic I shall say no more—there is nothing but time.

«A few days ago, my earliest and dearest friend, Lord Clare, came over from Geneva on purpose to see me before he returned to England. As I have always loved him (since I was thirteen, at Harrow) better than any (male) thing in the world, I need hardly say what a melancholy pleasure it was to see him for a day only; for he was obliged to resume his journey immediately.

*

*

I have heard, also, many other things of our acquaintances which I did not know: amongst others that * *. Do you recollect, in the year of revelry 1814, the pleasantest parties and balls all over London? and not the least so at ** 's. Do you recollect your singing duets with Lady * *, and my flirtation with Lady * *, and all the other fooleries of the time? while * * was sighing, and Lady ** ogling him with her clear hazel eyes. But eight years have passed, and, since that time, ** has ****** *; - has run away with * *

**; and mysen (as my Nottinghamshire friends call themselves) might as well have thrown myself out of the

window while you were singing, as intermarried where I did. You and **** have come off the best of us. I speak merely of my marriage, and its consequences, distresses, and calumnies; for I have been much more happy, on the whole, since, than I ever could have been

I have read the recent article of Jeffrey in a faithful transcription of the impartial Galignani. I suppose the long and short of it is, that he wishes to provoke me to reply. But I won't, for I owe him a good turn still for his kindness by-gone. Indeed, I presume that the present opportunity of attacking me again was irresistible; and I can't blame him, knowing what human nature is. I shall make but one remark:-what does he mean by elaborate? The whole volume was written with the greatest rapidity, in the midst of evolutions, and revolutions, and persecutions, and proscriptions of all who interested me in Italy. They said the same of 'Lara,' which, you know, was written amidst balls and fooleries, and after coming home from masquerades and routs, in the summer of the sovereigns. Of all I have ever written, they are perhaps the most carelessly composed; and their faults, whatever they may be, are those of negligence, and not of labour. I do not think this a merit, but it is a fact.

may

« Yours ever and truly,

« N. B. « P.S. — You see the great advantage of my new signature; it either stand for 'Nota Bene' or 'Noel Byron,' and as such, will save much repetition, in writing either books or letters. Since I came here, I have been invited on board of the American squadron, and treated with all possible honour and ceremony. They have

asked me to sit for my picture; and, as I was going away, an American lady took a rose from me (which had been given to me by a very pretty Italian lady that very morning), because, she said, 'She was determined to send or take something which I had about me to America.' There is a kind of Lalla Rookh incident for you! However, all these American honours arise, perhaps, not so much from their enthusiasm for my 'Poeshie,' as their belief in my dislike to the English,—in which I have the satisfaction to coincide with them. I would rather, however, have a nod from an American, than a snuff-box from an emperor. "

LETTER CCCCXCVIII.

TO MR ELLICE.

« Montenero, Leghorn, June 12th, 1822.

"MY DEAR ELLICE,

« It is a long time since I have written to you, but I have not forgotten your kindness, and I am now going to tax it-I hope not too highly-but don't be alarmed, it is not a loan, but information which I am about to solicit. By your extensive connexions, no one can have better opportunities of hearing the real state of South America-I mean Bolivar's country. I have many years had transatlantic projects of settlement, and what I could wish from you would be some information of the best course to pursue and some letters of recommendation in case I should sail for Angostura. I am told that land is very cheap there; but though I have no great disposable funds to vest in such purchases, yet my

income, such as it is, would be sufficient in any country (except England) for all the comforts of life, and for most of its luxuries. The war there is now over, and as I do not go there to speculate, but to settle without any views but those of independence and the enjoyment of the common civil rights, I should presume such an arrival would not be unwelcome.

« All I request of you is, not to discourage nor encourage, but to give me such a statement as you think prudent and proper. I do not address my other friends upon this subject, who would only throw obstacles in my way, and bore me to return to England; which I never will do, unless compelled by some insuperable cause. I have a quantity of furniture, books, etc. etc. etc. which I could easily ship from Leghorn; but I wish to 'look before I leap' over the Atlantic. Is it true that for a few thousand dollars a large tract of land may, be obtained? I speak of South America, recollect. I have read some publications on the subject, but they seemed violent and vulgar party productions. Please to address your answer1 to me at this place, and believe me ever and truly yours, etc. »

About this time he sat for his picture to Mr West, an American artist, who has himself given, in one of our

The answer which Mr Ellice returned was, as might be expected, strongly dissuasive of this design. The wholly disorganized state of the country and its institutions, which it would take ages, perhaps, to restore even to the degree of industry and prosperity which it had enjoyed under the Spaniards, rendered Columbia, in his opinion, one of the last places in the world to which a man desirous of peace and quiet, or of security for his person and property, should resort as an asylum. As long as Bolivar lived and maintained his authority, every reliance, Mr Ellice added, might be placed on his integrity and firmness; but with his death a new era of struggle and confusion would be sure to arise.

periodical publications, the following account of his noble sitter:

<< On the day appointed, I arrived at two o'clock, and began the picture. I found him a bad sitter. He talked all the time, and asked a multitude of questions about America-how I liked Italy, what I thought of the Italians, etc. When he was silent, he was a better sitter than before; for he assumed a countenance that did not belong to him, as though he were thinking of a frontispiece for Childe Harold. In about an hour our first sitting terminated, and I returned to Leghorn, scarcely able to persuade myself that this was the haughty misanthrope whose character had always appeared so enveloped in gloom and mystery, for I do not remember ever to have met with manners more gentle and attractive.

« The next day I returned and had another sitting of an hour, during which he seemed anxious to know what I should make of my undertaking. Whilst I was painting, the window from which I received my light became suddenly darkened, and I heard a voice exclaim 'è troppo bello!' I turned and discovered a beautiful female stooping down to look in, the ground on the outside being on a level with the bottom of the window. Her long golden hair hung down about her face and shoulders, her complexion was exquisite, and her smile completed one of the most romantic-looking heads, set off as it was by the bright sun behind it, which I had ever beheld. Lord Byron invited her to come in, and introduced her to me as the Countess Guiccioli. seemed very fond of her, and I was glad of her presence, for the playful manner which he assumed towards her made him a much better sitter.

He

<< The next day, I was pleased to find that the progress which I had made in his likeness had given satisfaction,