The Works of Lord Byron: Letters and Journals Volume I Part 16

48.--To John Hanson.

16, Piccadilly, March 3, 1806.

Sir,--I called at your House in Chancery Lane yesterday Evening, as I expected you would have been in Town, but was disappointed. If convenient, I should be glad to see you on Wednesday Morning about one o'Clock, as I wish for your advice on some Business. On Sat.u.r.day one of my Horses threw me; I was stunned for a short time, but soon recovered and suffered no material _Injury_; the accident happened on the Harrow Road. I have paid Jones's Bill amounting to 231.4.5 of which I expect to be reimbursed 75 for Furniture. I have got his Bankers' receipt and the account ready for your Inspection. I now owe nothing at Cambridge; but shall not return this Term, [1] as I have been extremely _unwell_, and at the same time can stay where I am at much less Expence and _equal Improvement_. I wish to consult you on several Subjects and expect you will pay me a visit on Wednesday; in the mean time,

I remain, yours, etc., BYRON.

[Footnote 1: Lectures began on February 5, 1806, as is stated on the College bills, sent in by Mr. Jones, the Senior Tutor of Trinity. But Byron preferred to remain in London. Augusta Byron writes to Hanson (March 7, 1806)----

"I trouble you again in consequence of some conversation I had last night with Lord Carlisle about my Brother. He expressed himself to me as kindly on that subject as on all others, and though he says it may not be productive of any good, and that he may be only _able to join his lamentations_ with yours, he should like to talk to you and try if anything can be done. I was much surprized and vexed to see my Brother a week ago at the Play, as I think he ought to be employing his time more profitably at Cambridge."]

49.--To John Hanson.

16, Piccadilly, near Park Lane, 10th March, 1806.

SIR,--As in all probability you will not make your appearance tomorrow I must disclose by Letter the Business I intended to have discussed at our interview.--We know each other sufficiently to render Apology unnecessary. I shall therefore without further Prelude proceed to the Subject in Question. You are not ignorant, that I have lately lived at considerable Expence, to support which my allotted Income by the 'sapient' Court of Chancery is inadequate.--I confess I have borrowed a trifling sum and now wish to raise 500 to discharge some Debts I have contracted; my approaching Quarter will bring me 200 due from my Allowance, and if you can procure me the other 300 at a moderate Interest, it will save 100 per cent I must pay my _Israelite_ for the same purpose.--You see by this I have an _excellent_ Idea of Oeconomy even in my Extravagance by being willing to pay as little Money as possible, for the Cash must be disbursed _somewhere_ or _somehow_, and if you decline (as in prudence I tell you fairly you ought), the _Tribe_ of _Levi_ will be my _dernier resort_. However I thought proper to make this Experiment with very slender hopes of success indeed, since Recourse to the _Law_ is at best a _desperate_ effort. I have now laid open my affairs to you without Disguise and Stated the Facts as they appear, declining all Comments, or the use of any Sophistry to palliate my application, or urge my request. All I desire is a speedy Answer, whether successful or not.

Believe me, yours truly, BYRON.

50.--To John Hanson.

16, Piccadilly, 25th March, 1806.

SIR,--Your last Letter, as I expected, contained much advice, but no Money. I could have excused the former unaccompanied by the latter, since any one thinks himself capable of giving that, but very few chuse to own themselves competent to the other. I do not now write to urge a 2nd Request, one Denial is sufficient. I only require what is my right. This is Lady Day. 125 is due for my last Quarter, and 75 for my expenditure in Furniture at Cambridge and I will thank you to remit.

The Court of Chancery may perhaps put in Force your Threat. I have always understood it formed a Sanction for legal plunderers to protract the Decision of Justice from year to year, till weary of spoil it at length condescended to give Sentence, but I never yet understood even its unhallowed Hands preyed upon the Orphan it was bound to protect. Be it so, only let me have your answer.

I remain, etc., etc., BYRON.

51.--To Henry Angelo. [1]

Trinity College, Cambridge, May 16, 1806.

SIR,--You cannot be more indignant, at the insolent and unmerited conduct of Mr. Mortlock, [2] than those who authorised you to request his permission. However we do not yet despair of gaining our point, and every effort shall be made to remove the obstacles, which at present prevent the execution of our project. I yesterday waited on the Master of this College, [3] who, having a personal dispute with the Mayor, declined interfering, but recommended an application to the Vice Chancellor, whose authority is paramount in the University. I shall communicate this to Lord Altamount,[4] and we will endeavour to bend the obstinacy of the _upstart_ magistrate, who seems to be equally deficient in justice and common civility. On my arrival in town, which will take place in a few days, you will see me at Albany Buildings, when we will discuss the subject further. Present my remembrance to the Messrs. Angelo, junior, and believe me, we will yet _humble_ this _impertinent bourgeois_.

I remain, Sir, your obedient servant,

BYRON.

[Footnote 1: Henry Angelo, the famous fencing-master, was at the head of his profession for nearly forty years. His position was recognized at least as early as 1787, when he published _The School of Fencing_, and fenced, with the Chevalier de St. George and other celebrities, before the Prince of Wales at Carlton House. In 1806 he was travelling down every other week to Cambridge, as he states in his _Pic Nic_ (1837), to visit his pupils. He had made Byron's acquaintance at Harrow by teaching him to fence, and in later years had many bouts with him with the foils, single-sticks, and Highland broadsword. His _Reminiscences_ (1830), together with his _Pic Nic_, contain numerous anecdotes of Byron, to whom he seems to have been sincerely attached. In 1806 he had several rooms in London for the use of his pupils. One of these was at 13, Bond Street, which he shared with Gentleman Jackson, the pugilist and ex-champion. In Cruikshank's picture of the room (Pierce Egan's _Life in London_, p. 254), two fencers have unmasked and stopped their bout to see Jackson spar with Corinthian Tom. Angelo contributed an article on fencing to Sir John Sinclair's _Code of Health and Longevity_, vol. ii.

p. 163.

Angelo, who retired from London in 1821, and lived near Bath, was in 1806 at the height of his reputation. An old Etonian (1767), he knew every one in London; had dined at the same table with the Prince of Wales, acted with Lord Barrymore, sung comic songs with Dibdin, punned with Bannister and Colman, fished at Benham on the invitation of the Margravine of Ans.p.a.ch, played the flute to Lady Melfort's accompaniment on the piano, and claimed his share of the table-talk at the Keep Line Club. Nearly every celebrity of the day, from Lord Sidmouth and Lord Liverpool to Kean and Macready, was his pupil.]

[Footnote 2: Mr. Mortlock, the Mayor of Cambridge, is thus mentioned in a letter from S. T. Coleridge to Southey, dated September 26, 1794: "All last night I was obliged to listen to the d.a.m.ned chatter of "Mortlock, our mayor, a fellow that would certainly be a pantisocrat "were his head and heart as highly illuminated as his face. In the tropical lat.i.tude of this fellow's nose was I obliged to fry" (_Letters of S. T. Coleridge_ (1895), vol. i. p. 87).]

[Footnote 3: William Lort Mansel, Master of Trinity, and Bishop of Bristol. (See page 84 [Letter 40], [Foot]note 1.)]

[Footnote 4: Howe Peter Browne, Lord Altamont (1788-1845), of Jesus College, succeeded his father in 1809 as second Marquis of Sligo. Byron spent some time with him at Athens in 1810. Lord Sligo's letter on the origin of the 'Giaour' is quoted by Moore ('Life', p. 178). (See also page 289 [Letter 144], [Foot]note 1 [3].)]

52.--To John M. B. Pigot. [1]

16, Piccadilly, August 9, 1806.

MY DEAR PIGOT,--Many thanks for your amusing narrative of the last proceedings of my amiable Alecto, who now begins to feel the effects of her folly. I have just received a penitential epistle, to which, apprehensive of pursuit, I have despatched a moderate answer, with a _kind_ of promise to return in a fortnight;--this, however (_entre nous_), I never mean to fulfil. Her soft warblings must have delighted her auditors, her higher notes being particularly musical, and on a calm moonlight evening would be heard to great advantage. Had I been present as a spectator, nothing would have pleased me more; but to have come forward as one of the _dramatis personae_--St. Dominic defend me from such a scene! Seriously, your mother has laid me under great obligations, and you, with the rest of your family, merit my warmest thanks for your kind connivance at my escape from "Mrs. Byron _furiosa_."

Oh! for the pen of Ariosto to rehea.r.s.e, in epic, the scolding of that momentous eve,--or rather, let me invoke the shade of Dante to inspire me, for none but the author of the Inferno could properly preside over such an attempt. But, perhaps, where the pen might fail, the pencil would succeed. What a group!--Mrs. B. the princ.i.p.al figure; you cramming your ears with cotton, as the only antidote to total deafness; Mrs.----in vain endeavouring to mitigate the wrath of the lioness robbed of her whelp; and last, though not least, Elizabeth and _Wousky_,--wonderful to relate!--both deprived of their parts of speech, and bringing up the rear in mute astonishment. How did S. B.

receive the intelligence? How many _puns_ did he utter on so _facetious_ an event? In your next inform me on this point, and what excuse you made to A. You are probably, by this time, tired of deciphering this hieroglyphical letter;--like Tony Lumpkin, you will p.r.o.nounce mine to be "a d.a.m.ned up and down hand." All Southwell, without doubt, is involved in amazement. _Apropos_, how does my blue-eyed nun, the fair----? Is she "_robed in sable garb of woe?_"

Here I remain at least a week or ten days; previous to my departure you shall receive my address, but what it will be I have not determined. My lodgings must be kept secret from Mrs. B. You may present my compliments to her, and say any attempt to pursue me will fail, as I have taken measures to retreat immediately to Portsmouth, on the first intimation of her removal from Southwell. You may add, I have proceeded to a friend's house in the country, there to remain a fortnight.

I have now _blotted_ (I must not say written) a complete double letter, and in return shall expect a _monstrous budget_. Without doubt, the dames of Southwell reprobate the pernicious example I have shown, and tremble lest their _babes_ should disobey their mandates, and quit, in dudgeon, their mammas on any grievance. Adieu. When you begin your next, drop the "lordship," and put "Byron" in its place.

Believe me yours, etc.,

BYRON.