The Works of Lord Byron: Letters and Journals Volume I Part 37

[Footnote 2: Bob Gregson (1778-1824), the big-boned, burly landlord of the Castle, Holborn, known as "Bob's Chop-house," was a familiar figure in the sporting world. When captain of the Liverpool and Wigan Packet, he established his reputation in Lancashire as a fighter. He stood 6 feet 1-1/2 inches in height, and weighed 15 stone 6 pounds. But, in spite of the eulogies of Pierce Egan--a low-caste Irishman, who was first a compositor, then a comedian, and afterwards a newspaper reporter (see Grantley Berkeley's 'My Life and Recollections', vol. i. pp. 107, 108)--Gregson had no science, and depended only on his strength, courage, and endurance. He was beaten by Gully at Six Mile Bottom in 1807, and again in 1808 at Markyate Street; also by Tom Cribb at Moulsey Hurst in 1808 ('Pugilistica', vol. i. pp. 237-241). Failing as landlord of the Castle, he set up a school of boxing at Dublin, where he afterwards kept "the Punch House," in Moor Street. He died at Liverpool in 1824. According to Egan ('Boxiana', vol. i. pp. 357, 358), Gregson "united Pugilism with Poetry." On this claim he adopted the letters "P.P." after his name. Egan gives some of his doggerel among "Prime Chaunts for the Fancy" ('ibid'., p. 358). Moore, in 'Tom Crib's Memorial to Congress', attributes to him his "Lines to Miss Grace Maddox" (pp.

75-77); "Ya-Hip, my Hearties!" (pp. 80-83); and "The Annual Pill" (pp.

84-86).]

109.--To John Hanson.

Newstead Abbey, Jan. 15th, 1809.

My Dear Sir,--I am much obliged by your kind invitation, but I wish you, if possible, to be here on the 22nd. [1] Your presence will be of great service, everything is prepared for your reception exactly as if I remained, and I think Hargreaves will be gratified by the appearance of the place, and the humours of the day. I shall on the first opportunity pay my respects to your family, and though I will not trespa.s.s on your hospitality on the 22nd, my obligation is not less for your agreeable offer, which on any other occasion would be immediately accepted, but I wish you much to be present at the festivities, and I hope you will add Charles to the party. Consider, as the Courtier says in the tragedy of _Tom Thumb_ [2]--

"This is a day; your Majesties may boast of it, And since it never can come o'er, 'tis fit you make the most of it."

I shall take my seat as soon as circ.u.mstances will admit. I have not yet chosen my side in politics, nor shall I hastily commit myself with professions, or pledge my support to any men or measures, but though I shall not run headlong into opposition, I will studiously avoid a connection with ministry. I cannot say that my opinion is strongly in favour of either party; [3] on the one side we have the late underlings of Pitt, possessing all his ill fortune, without his talents; this may render their failure more excusable, but will not diminish the public contempt; on the other, we have the ill-a.s.sorted fragments of a worn-out minority; Mr. Windham with his coat _twice_ turned, and my Lord Grenville who perhaps has more sense than he can make good use of; between the two and the shuttlec.o.c.k of both, a Sidmouth, and the general _football_ Sir F. Burdett, kicked at by all, and owned by none.

I shall stand aloof, speak what I think, but not often, nor too soon.

I will preserve my independence, if possible, but if involved with a party, I will take care not to be the _last_ or _least_ in the ranks.

As to _patriotism_, the word is obsolete, perhaps improperly, so, for all men in the Country are patriots, knowing that their own existence must stand or fall with the Const.i.tution, yet everybody thinks he could alter it for the better, and govern a people, who are in fact easily governed, but always claim the privilege of grumbling. So much for Politics, of which I at present know little and care less; bye and bye, I shall use the senatorial privilege of talking, and indeed in such times, and in such a crew, it must be difficult to hold one's tongue.

Believe me, etc.,

BYRON.

[Footnote 1: Byron's coming of age was celebrated at Newstead on January 22, 1809.]

[Footnote 2: See O'Hara's acting version of Fielding's _Tom Thumb the Great_, act i. sc. I--

"_Doodle_. A Day we never saw before; A Day of fun and drollery.

_Noodle_. That you may say, Their Majesties may boast of it; And since it never can come more, 'Tis fit they make the most of it."]

[Footnote 3: Lord Grenville (1759-1834) became First Lord of the Treasury; Lord Sidmouth, Lord Privy Seal; and William Windham, Secretary for War, in February, 1806. They, with Fox and his friends, formed the administration of "All the Talents," which in March, 1807, fell over the Roman Catholic question. They were succeeded by the Duke of Portland's Ministry, which included the "late underlings of Pitt,"--Perceval, Canning, Dundas, etc. "Weatherc.o.c.k" Windham, in the Ministry of "All the Talents," was responsible for the conduct of a war which, as leader of the so-called "New Opposition," he had vigorously opposed. Sir Francis Burdett's zeal for Parliamentary Reform involved him in hostility to both Whigs and Tories, who had combined to exclude him from Parliament after his election for Middles.e.x (1802-6). In 1807 he had been elected for Westminster.]

110.--To R. C. Dallas.

Reddish's Hotel, Jan. 25, 1809.

My Dear Sir,--My only reason for not adopting your lines is because they are _your_ lines. [1] You will recollect that Lady Wortley Montague said to Pope: "No touching, for the good will be given to you, and the bad attributed to me." I am determined it shall be all my own, except such alterations as may be absolutely required; but I am much obliged by the trouble you have taken, and your good opinion.

The couplet on Lord C. [2] may be scratched out and the following inserted:

Roscommon! Sheffield! with your spirits fled, No future laurels deck a n.o.ble head.

Nor e'en a hackney'd Muse will deign to smile On minor Byron, nor mature Carlisle.

This will answer the purpose of concealment. Now for some couplets on Mr. Crabbe, [3] which you may place after "Gifford, Sotheby, M'Niel:"

There be who say, in these enlightened days, That splendid lies are all the Poet's praise; That strained invention, ever on the wing, Alone impels the modern Bard to sing.

'Tis true that all who rhyme, nay, all who write, Shrink from that fatal word to genius, trite: Yet Truth will sometimes lend her n.o.blest fires, And decorate the verse herself inspires.

This fact in Virtue's name let Crabbe attest; Though Nature's sternest painter, yet the best.

I am sorry to differ with you with regard to the t.i.tle, [4] but I mean to retain it with this addition: _The British [the word "British" is struck through] English Bards and Scotch Reviewers_; and if we call it a _Satire_, it will obviate the objection, as the Bards also were Welch. Your t.i.tle is too humorous;--and as I know a little of----, I wish not to embroil myself with him, though I do not commend his treatment of----. I shall be glad to hear from you or see you, and beg you to believe me,

Yours very sincerely,

BYRON.

[Footnote 1: Dallas (January 24, 1809) takes "the liberty of sending you some two dozen lines," etc.]

[Footnote 2: The couplet on Lord Carlisle, as it stood in 'British Bards', was--

"On one alone Apollo deigns to smile, And crowns a new Roscommon in Carlisle."

(See 'English Bards, etc.', lines 723, 'et seqq.'; see also line 927, note 2. For Lord Carlisle, see page 36, note 2.)]

[Footnote 3: For "Gifford, Sotheby, Macneil," see 'English Bards, etc'., line 818, and 'notes'. Dallas had written (January 24, 1809),

"I am sorry you have not found a place among the genuine sons of Apollo for Crabbe, who, in spite of something bordering on servility in his dedication, may surely rank with some you have admitted to his temple"

(see 'English Bards, etc'., lines 849-858).]

[Footnote 4: Dallas suggested as a t.i.tle, 'The Parish Poor of Parna.s.sus'.]

111.--To R. C. Dallas.

February 7, 1809.

My Dear Sir,--Suppose we have this couplet--