The Works of Lord Byron: Letters and Journals Volume II Part 83

and 'Bride'), and told M'e. de Stael that he had _paid_ them to me!! I should be glad to be able to tell her so too. But the truth is, he would; but I thought the fair way was to decline it till May, and, at the end of 6 months, he can safely say whether he can afford it or not--without running any risk by Speculation. If he paid them now and lost by it, it would be hard. If he gains, it will be time enough when he has already funded his profits. But he needed not have told "_la Baronne_" such a devil of an uncalled for piece of--premature _truth_, perhaps--but, nevertheless, a _lie_ in the mean time.

[Footnote 1: Hodgson, now engaged to Miss Tayler, was anxious to clear off his father's liabilities. Byron gave him from first to last the sum of 1500 for the purpose. Hodgson, in a letter to his uncle, thus describes the gift ('Memoir of Rev. F. Hodgson', vol. i. pp. 268, 269):

"My n.o.ble-hearted friend, Lord Byron, after many offers of a similar kind, which I felt bound to refuse, has irresistibly in my present circ.u.mstances ... volunteered to pay all my debts, and within a few pounds it is done! Oh, if you knew (but _you_ do know) the exultation of heart, aye, and of head too, I feel at being free from these depressing embarra.s.sments, you would, as I do, bless my dearest friend and brother Byron."]

366.--To John Murray.

Dec. 2, 1813.

Dear Sir,--When you can, let the couplet enclosed be inserted either in the page, or in the Errata page. I trust it is in time for some of the copies. This alteration is in the same part--the page _but one_ before the last correction sent.

Yours, etc.,

B.

P.S.--I am afraid, from all I hear, that people are rather inordinate in their expectations, which is very unlucky, but cannot now be helped.

This comes of Mr. Perry and one's wise friends; but do not _you_ wind _your_ hopes of success to the same pitch, for fear of accidents, and I can a.s.sure you that my philosophy will stand the test very fairly; and I have done every thing to ensure you, at all events, from positive loss, which will be some satisfaction to both.

367.--To Leigh Hunt.

4, Bennet St., Dec. 2, 1813.

My dear Sir,--Few things could be more welcome than your note, and on Sat.u.r.day morning I will avail myself of your permission to thank you for it in person. My time has not been pa.s.sed, since we met, either profitably or agreeably. A very short period after my last visit, an incident occurred with which, I fear, you are not unacquainted, as report, in many mouths and more than one paper, was busy with the topic.

That, naturally, gave me much uneasiness. Then I nearly incurred a lawsuit on the sale of an estate; but that is now arranged: next--but why should I go on with a series of selfish and silly details? I merely wish to a.s.sure you that it was not the frivolous forgetfulness of a mind, occupied by what is called pleasure (_not_ in the true sense of Epicurus), that kept me away; but a perception of my, then, unfitness to share the society of those whom I value and wish not to displease. I hate being _larmoyant_, and making a serious face among those who are cheerful.

It is my wish that our acquaintance, or, if you please to accept it, friendship, may be permanent. I have been lucky enough to preserve some friends from a very early period, and I hope, as I do not (at least now) select them lightly, I shall not lose them capriciously. I have a thorough esteem for that independence of spirit [1] which you have maintained with sterling talent, and at the expense of some suffering.

You have not, I trust, abandoned the poem you were composing, when Moore and I partook of your hospitality in the summer. I hope a time will come when he and I may be able to repay you in kind for the _latter_--for the rhyme, at least in _quant.i.ty_, you are in arrear to both.

Believe me, very truly and affectionately yours,

Byron.

[Footnote 1: The following is Leigh Hunt's answer:

"My dear Lord,--I need not tell you how much your second letter has gratified me, for I am apt to speak as sincerely as I think (you must suffer me to talk in this way after what you have been kind enough to say of my independence), and it always rejoices me to find that those whom I wish to regard will take me at my word. But I shall grow egotistical upon the strength of your Lordship's good opinion. I shall be heartily glad to see you on Sat.u.r.day morning, and perhaps shall prevail upon you to take a luncheon with us at our dinner-time(3). The nature of your letter would have brought upon you a long answer, filled perhaps with an enthusiasm that might have made you smile; but I am keeping your servant in the cold, and so, among other good offices, you see what he has done for you. However, I would not make a light thing of so good a matter as I mean my enthusiasm to be, and intend, before I have done, that you shall have as sound a regard for it, as I have for the feelings on your Lordship's part that have called it forth.

"Yours, my dear Lord, most sincerely and cordially,

"Leigh Hunt.

"Surrey Jail, 2'd Dec'r., 1813."]

368.--To John Murray.

Dec. 3, 1813.

I send you a _scratch_ or _two_, the which _heal_. The _Christian Observer_ [1] is very savage, but certainly uncommonly well written--and quite uncomfortable at the naughtiness of book and author. I rather suspect you won't much like the _present_ to be more moral, if it is to share also the usual fate of your virtuous volumes.

Let me see a proof of the _six_ before _incorporation_.

[Footnote 1: The 'Christian Observer' for November, 1813 (pp. 731-737) felt compelled to review 'The Giaour', because of its extraordinary popularity; but it found that some of the pa.s.sages savoured "too much of Newgate and Bedlam for our expurgated pages." It acknowledged one obligation to Byron.

"He never attempts to deceive the world by representing the profligate as happy.... And his testimony is of the more value, as his situation in life must have permitted him to see the experiment tried under the most favourable circ.u.mstances. He has probably seen more than one example of young men of high birth, talents, and expectancies, ...

sink under the burden of unsubdued tempers, licentious alliances, and ennervating indulgence.... He has _seen_ all this; nay, perhaps--But we check our pen," etc., etc.]