LETTER 100. TO LORD HOLLAND. "September 27. 1812. "I have just received your very kind letter, and hope you have met with a second copy corrected and addressed to Holland House, with some omissions and this new couplet, "As glared each rising flash 1, and ghastly shone The skies with lightnings awful as their own. As to remarks, I can only say I will alter and acquiesce in any thing. With regard to the part which Whitbread wishes to omit, I believe the Address will go off quicker without it, though, like the agility of the Hottentot, at the expense of its vigour. I leave to your choice entirely the different specimens of stucco-work; and a brick of your own will also much improve my Babylonish turret. I should like Elliston to have it, with your leave. Adorn' and 'mourn' are lawful rhymes in Pope's Death of the unfortunate Lady.-Gray has 'forlorn' and 'mourn' - and 'torn' and 'mourn' are in Smollett's famous Tears of Scotland.? "As there will probably be an outcry amongst the rejected, I hope the Committee will testify (if it be needful) that I sent in nothing to the congress whatever, with or without a name, as your Lordship well knows. All I have to do with it is with and through you; and though I, of course, wish to satisfy the audience, I do assure you my first object is to comply with your request, and in so doing to show the sense I have of the many obligations you have conferred upon me. Yours ever, LETTER 101. TO LORD HOLLAND. "B." 6 with glowing dome,' in case you prefer burning' added to this 'wave' metaphorical. The word 'fiery pillar' was suggested by the pillar of fire' in the book of Exodus, which went before the Israelites through the Red Sea. I once thought of saying like Israel's pillar,' and making it a simile, but I did not know, the great temptation was leaving the epithet fiery' for the supplementary wave. I want to work up that passage, as it is the only new ground us prologuizers can go upon "This is the place where, if a poet Shined in description, he might show it. If I part with the possibility of a future conflagration, we lessen the compliment to Shakspeare. However, we will e'en mend it thus "Yes, it shall be the magic of that name, That scorns the scythe of Time, the torch of Flame, Blame not our judgment should we acquiesce, Oh, since your Fiat stamps the Drama's laws, From {babes and brutes redeem} a nation's taste; The last couplet but one was again altered in a subsequent copy, thus: "The past reproach let present scenes refute, Nor shift from man to babe, from babe to brute." 4 The form of this couplet, as printed, is as follows: "Till blackening ashes and the lonely wall Usurp'd the Muse's realm, and mark'd her fall." There the deuce is in it, if that is not an improvement to Whitbread's content. Recollect, it is the‘name,' and not the magic,' that has a noble contempt for those same weapons. If it were the magic,' my metaphor would be somewhat of the maddest so the 'name' is the antecedent. But, my dear Lord, your patience is not quite so immortal-therefore, with many and sincere thanks, I am "Yours ever most affectionately. "P. S.-I foresee there will be charges of partiality in the papers; but you know I sent in no Address; and glad both you and I must be that I did not, for, in that case, their plea had been plausible. I doubt the Pit will be testy; but conscious innocence (a novel and pleasing sensation) makes me bold." LETTER 102. TO LORD HOLLAND. *September 28. "I have altered the middle couplet, so as I hope partly to do away with W.'s objection. I do think, in the present state of the stage, it had been unpardonable to pass over the horses and Miss Mudie, &c. As Betty is no longer a boy, how can this be applied to him? He is now to be judged as a man. If he acts still like a boy, the public will but be more ashamed of their blunder. I have, you see, now taken it for granted that these things are reformed. I confess, I wish that of the Address to stand; but if W. is part inexorable, e'en let it go. I have also newcast the lines, and softened the hint of future combustion, and sent them off this morning. Will you have the goodness to add, or insert, the approved alterations as they arrive? They come like shadows, so depart;' occupy me, and, I fear, disturb 66 "September 29. 1812. Shakspeare certainly ceased to reign in one of his kingdoms, as George III. did in America, and George IV.2 may in Ireland? Now, we have nothing to do out of our own realms, and when the monarchy was gone, his majesty had but a barren sceptre. I have cut away, you will see, and altered, but make it what you please; only I do implore, for my own gratification, one lash on those accursed quadrupeds 'a long shot, Sir Lucius, if you love me.' I have altered wave,' &c., and the 'fire,' and so forth for the timid. "Let me hear from you when convenient, and believe me, &c. "P. S.-Do let that stand, and cut out elsewhere. I shall choke, if we must overlook their d-d menagerie." LETTER 104. TO LORD HOLLAND. September 30. 1812. for I am not so well as I was, and find I "I send you the most I can make of it; 'pall in resolution.' Tetbury by twelve on Saturday; and from "I wish much to see you, and will be at thence I go on to Lord Jersey's. It is imof the Stage, but I have lightened it, and enpossible not to allude to the degraded state deavoured to obviate your other objections. There is a new couplet for Sheridan, allusive to his Monody. All the alterations I have parison with the other copy. marked thus, -as you will see by comI have cudgelled my brains with the greatest willingness, and only wish I had more time to have done better. "You will find a sort of clap-trap laudatory couplet inserted for the quiet of the Committee, and I have added, towards the end, the couplet you were pleased to like. The whole Address is seventy-three lines, still perhaps too long; and, if shortened, you will save time, but, I fear, a little of what I meant for sense also. 2 Some objection, it appears from this, had been made to the passage, "and Shakspeare ceased to reign." "Will you choose between these added to the lines on Sheridan? I think they will wind up the panegyric, and agree with the train of thought preceding them. "Now, one word as to the Committee how could they resolve on a rough copy of an Address never sent in, unless you had been good enough to retain in memory, or on paper, the thing they have been good enough to adopt? By the by, the circumstances of the case should make the Committee less ' avidus gloriæ,' for all praise of them would look plaguy suspicious. If necessary to be stated at all, the simple facts bear them out. They surely had a right to act as they pleased. My sole object is one which, I trust, my whole conduct has shown; viz. that I did nothing insidious- sent in no Address whatever-but, when applied to, did my best for them and myself; but, above all, that there was no undue partiality, which will be what the rejected will endeavour to make out. Fortunately-most fortunately - I sent in no lines on the occasion. For I am sure that had they, in that case, been preferred, it would have been asserted that I was known, and owed the preference to private friendship. This is what we shall probably have to encounter ; but, if once spoken and approved, we sha'n't be much embarrassed by their brilliant conjectures; and, as to criticism, an old author, like an old bull, grows cooler (or ought) at every baiting. "The only thing would be to avoid a party on the night of delivery - afterwards, the more the better, and the whole transaction inevitably tends to a good deal of discussion. Murray tells me there are myriads of ironical Addresses ready — some, in imitation of what is called my style. If they are as good as the Probationary Odes, I These added lines, as may be seen by reference to the printed Address, were not retained. "A copy of this still altered is sent by the post, but this will arrive first. It must be humbler'—yet aspiring' does away the modesty, and, after all, truth is truth. Besides, there is a puff direct altered, to please your plaguy renters. - but "I shall be at Tetbury by 12 or 1 send this for you to ponder over. There are several little things marked thus / altered for your perusal. I have dismounted the cavalry, and, I hope, arranged to your general satisfaction. "Ever, &c." "At Tetbury by noon.I hope, after it is sent, there will be no more elisions. It is not now so long-73 lines two less than allotted. I will alter all Committee objections, but I hope you won't permit Elliston to have any voice whatever, - except in speaking it." CHAPTER XVI. 1812-1813. THE DR. BUSBY.PUBLI CHELTENHAM.-LETTERS TO MR. MURRAY, LAUDERDALE, -SHERIDAN.-HORNE TOOKE.-FLOOD. COURTENAY. THE time comprised in the series of letters to Lord Holland, which, as being exclusively on one subject, I have thought it right to give without interruption, Lord Byron passed, for the most part, at Cheltenham; and during the same period, the following letters to other correspondents were writ ten. LETTER 107. TO MR. MURRAY. "High Street, Cheltenham, Sept. 5. 1812. my "Pray have the goodness to send those despatches, and a No. of the Edinburgh Review with the rest. I hope you have written to Mr. Thompson, thanked him in name for his present, and told him that I shall be truly happy to comply with his request. How do you go on? and when is the graven image, with bays and wicked rhyme upon't, to grace, or disgrace, some of our tardy editions? "Send me Rokeby. Who the deuce is he? no matter, he has good connections, and will be well introduced. I thank you for your inquiries: I am so so, but my thermometer is sadly below the poetical point. What will you give me or mine for a poem of six cantos, (when complete -no rhyme, no recompense,) as like the last two as I can make them? I have some ideas that one day may be embodied, and till winter I shall have much leisure. My last question is in the true style of Grub Street; but, like Jeremy Diddler, I only ask for information.' Send me Adair on Diet and Regimen, just republished by Ridgway." LETTER 108. TO MR. MURRAY. "Cheltenham, Sept. 14. 1812. · "The parcels contained some letters and verses, all (but one) anonymous and complimentary, and very anxious for my conversion from certain infidelities into which my good-natured correspondents conceive me to have fallen. The books were presents of a convertible kind also, Christian Knowledge' and the Bioscope,' a religious Dial of Life explained:to the author of the former (Cadell, publisher,) I beg you will forward my best thanks for his letter, his present, and, above all, his good intentions. The 'Bioscope' contained a MS. copy of very excellent verses, from [In Kenney's farce of " Raising the Wind."] 2 [The author of both works was Granville Penn, Esq., a gentleman descended from the family of Penn of Pennsylvania, and much distinguished for his learning and piety.] whom I know not, but evidently the composition of some one in the habit of writing, and of writing well. I do not know if he be the author of the Bioscope' which accompanied them; but whoever he is, if you can discover him, thank him from me most heartily. The other letters were from ladies, who are welcome to convert me when they please; and if I can discover them, and they be young, as they say they are, I could convince them perhaps of my devotion. I had also a letter from Mr. Walpole on matters of this world, which I have answered. 66 So you are Lucien's publisher! I am promised an interview with him, and think I shall ask you for a letter of introduction, as 'the gods have made him poetical.' From whom could it come with a better grace than from his publisher and mine? Is it not somewhat treasonable in you to have to do with a relative of the direful foe,' as the Morning Post calls his brother? "But my book on 'Diet and Regimen,' where is it? I thirst for Scott's Rokeby; let me have your first-begotten copy. The Anti-jacobin Review is all very well, and not a bit worse than the Quarterly, and at least less harmless. By the by, have you secured my books? I want all the Reviews, at least the critiques, quarterly, monthly, &c., Portuguese and English, extracted, and bound up in one volume for my old age; and pray, sort Romaic books, and get the had them now a long time. If any thing volumes lent to Mr. Hobhouse occurs, you will favour me with a line, and in winter we shall be nearer neighbours. "Yours, &c. my he has "BYRON." "P. S.-I was applied to to write the Address for Drury Lane, but the moment I heard of the contest, I gave up the idea of contending against all Grub Street, and threw a few thoughts on the subject into the fire. I did this out of respect to you, being sure you would have turned off any of your authors who had entered the lists with such scurvy competitors. To triumph would have been no glory; and to have been defeated 'sdeath! I would have choked myself, like Otway, with a quartern loaf: so, remember I had, and have, nothing to do with it, upon my honour!" LETTER 109. TO MR. WILLIAM BANKES. "Cheltenham, September 28. 1812. "My dear Bankes, "When you point out to one how people can be intimate at the distance of some seventy leagues, I will plead guilty to your charge, and accept your farewell, but not wittingly, till you give me some better reason than my silence, which merely proceeded from a notion founded on your own declaration of old, that you hated writing and receiving letters. Besides, how was I to find out a man of many residences? If I had addressed you now, it had been to your borough, where I must have conjectured you were amongst your constituents. So now, in despite of Mr. N. and Lady W., you shall be as much better' as the Hexham postoffice will allow me to make you. I do assure you I am much indebted to you for thinking of me at all, and can't spare you even from amongst the superabundance of friends with whom you suppose me surrounded. "You heard that Newstead' is soldthe sum 140,000.; sixty to remain in mortgage on the estate for three years, paying interest, of course. Rochdale is also likely to do well- so my worldly matters are mending. I have been here some time drinking the waters, simply because there are waters to drink, and they are very medicinal, and sufficiently disgusting. In a few days I set out for Lord Jersey's, but return here, where I am quite alone, go out very little, and enjoy in its fullest extent the 'dolce far niente.' What you are about I cannot guess, even from your date; not dauncing to the sound of the gitourney in the Halls of the Lowthers? one of whom is here, ill, poor thing, with a phthisic. I heard that you passed through here (at the sordid inn where I first alighted) the very day before I arrived in these parts. We 1 "Early in the autumn of 1812," says Mr. Dallas," he told me that he was urged by his man of business, and that Newstead must be sold." It was accordingly brought to the hammer at Garraway's, but not, at that time, sold, only 90,000. being offered for it The private sale to which he alludes in this letter took place soon after, Mr. Claughton, the agent for Mr. Leigh, being the purchaser. It was never, however, for reasons which we shall see, completed. 2 [The party were returning from Tintern Abbey in a pleasure boat, and were preparing to land below the bridge at Chepstow, when, on coming through the centre arch, where a barge was moored across, the rope taking the bottom of the boat, upset it. Out of the twelve of which the party consisted, seven actually perished.] 3 A mode of signature he frequently adopted at this time. ^ [“ Three-and-forty addresses, properly folded, sealed, had a very pleasant set here; at first the Jerseys, Melbournes, Cowpers, and Hollands, but all gone; and the only persons I know are the Rawdons and Oxfords, with some later acquaintances of less brilliant descent. "But I do not trouble them much; and as for your rooms and your assemblies, 'they are not dreamed of in our philosophy!!'- Did you read of a sad accident in the Wye t' other day? A dozen drowned; and Mr. Rossoe, a corpulent gentleman, preserved by a boat-hook or an eel-spear, begged, when he heard his wife was saved -no- -lost- to be thrown in again!! as if he could not have thrown himself in, had he wished it; but this passes for a trait of sensibility. What strange beings men are, in and out of the Wye! 2 "I have to ask you a thousand pardons for not fulfilling some orders before I left town; but if you knew all the cursed entanglements I had to wade through, it would be unnecessary to beg your forgiveness. When will Parliament (the new one) meet? -in sixty days, on account of Ireland, I presume the Irish election will demand a longer period for completion than the constitutional allotment. Yours, of course, is safe, and all your side of the question. Salamanca is the ministerial watchword, and all will go well with you. I hope you will speak more frequently, I am sure at least you ought, and it will be expected. I see Portman means to stand again. Good night. "Ever yours most affectionately, marked and directed, reached the committee. The builders of the lofty pile were totally at a loss to know how to dispose of the builders of the lofty rhyme: the latter all spoke different languages, and all, to the former, equally unintelligible. The committee were alike confounded with the number of addresses, and their own debates. No such confusion of tongues had accompanied any erection since the building of Babel; nor could matters have been set to rights (unless by a miracle), if the convenient though not very candid plan of rejecting all the addresses had not occurred as a mezzotermine in which the whole committee might safely agree; and the addresses were rejected accordingly. We do not think that they deserved, in true poetical justice, a better fate: not one was excellent, two or three only were tolerable, and the rest so execrable that we wonder this committee of taste did not agree upon one of them. But, as the several bards were induced to expend their precious time |