The Works of Lord Byron: Letters and Journals Volume I Part 4

BYRON.

[Footnote 1: Henry, third Earl of Suss.e.x, died in 1799, when the earldom lapsed. He was, however, succeeded in the ancient barony of Grey de Ruthyn by his daughter's son, Henry Edward, twentieth Baron Grey de Ruthyn (1780-1810), to whom Newstead was let.

"I am glad," writes Mrs. Byron to Hanson, March 10, 1803, "that Newstead is well let. I cannot find Lord Grey de Ruthin's t.i.tle in the Peerage of England, Ireland, or Scotland. I suppose he is a _new_ Peer."

Lord Grey de Ruthyn married, in 1809, Anna Maria, daughter of William Kelham, of Ryton-upon-Dunsmore, Warwick. (See postscript to Byron's Letter to his mother, August 11, 1809.) The lease of Newstead terminated in April, 1808.]

[Footnote 2: Probably the wife of General the Hon. William Harcourt (1742-1830), who distinguished himself in the War of American Independence, succeeded his only brother in 1809 as third (and last) Earl Harcourt, was created a field-marshal in 1821, and died in 1830. He married, in 1778, Mary, daughter of the Rev. William Danby, and widow of Thomas Lockhart. She died in 1833.]

9.--To the Hon. Augusta Byron.

[At General Harcourt's, St. Leonard's Hill, Windsor, Berkshire.]

Burgage Manor, April 2d, 1804.

I received your present, my beloved Augusta, which was very acceptable, not that it will be of any use as a token of remembrance, No, my affection for you will never permit me to forget you.

I am afraid, my Dear Girl, that you will be absent when I am in town.

I cannot exactly say when I return to Harrow, but however it will be in a very short time. I hope you were entertained by Sir Wm. Fawcet's funeral on Sat.u.r.day. [1] Though I should imagine such spectacles rather calculated to excite Gloomy ideas. But I believe _your motive was not quite of so mournful a cast_.

You tell me that you are tired of London. I am rather surprised to hear that, for I thought the Gaieties of the Metropolis were particularly pleasing to _young ladies_. For my part I detest it; the smoke and the noise feel particularly unpleasant; but however it is preferable to this horrid place, where I am oppressed with _ennui_, and have no amus.e.m.e.nt of any kind, except the conversation of my mother, which is sometimes very _edifying_, but not always very _agreeable_. There are very few books of any kind that are either instructive or amusing, no society but old parsons and old Maids;--I shoot a Good deal; but, thank G.o.d, I have not so far lost my reason as to make shooting my only amus.e.m.e.nt. There are indeed some of my neighbours whose only pleasures consist in field sports, but in other respects they are only one degree removed from the brute creation.

These however I endeavour not to imitate, but I sincerely wish for the company of a few friends about my own age to soften the austerity of the scene. I am an absolute Hermit; in a short time my Gravity which is increased by my solitude will qualify me for an Archbishop.r.i.c.k; I really begin to think that I should become a mitre amazingly well. You tell me to write to you when I have nothing better to do; I am sure writing to you, my Dear Sister, must ever form my Greatest pleasure, but especially so, at this time. Your letters and those of one of my Harrow friends form my only resources for driving away _dull care_.

For G.o.dsake write me a letter as long as may fill _twenty sheets_ of paper, recollect it is my only pleasure, if you won't Give me twenty sheets, at least send me as long an epistle as you can and as soon as possible; there will be time for me to receive one more Letter at Southwell, and as soon as I Get to Harrow I will write to you. Excuse my not writing more, my Dear Augusta, for I am sure you will be sufficiently tired of reading this complaining narrative. G.o.d bless you, my beloved Sister. Adieu.

I remain your sincere and affectionate

Friend and Brother,

BYRON.

Remember me kindly to Mrs. Harcourt.

[Footnote 1: General the Right Hon. Sir William Fawcett, K.B.

(1728-1804), Colonel of the 3rd Dragoon Guards, Adjutant-General (1778-1797), and Governor of Chelsea Hospital (1796-1804), died at his house in Great George Street, Westminster, March 22, 1804. He had served during the rebellion of 1745, and distinguished himself during the Seven Years' War, where he was aide-de-camp first to General Elliot, and afterwards to the Marquis of Granby. An excellent linguist, he translated from the French, 'Reveries: or Memoirs upon the Art of War, by Field-Marshal Count Saxe' (1757); and from the German, 'Regulations for the Prussian Cavalry' (1757), 'Regulations for the Prussian Infantry', and 'The Prussian Tacticks' (1759). His military and diplomatic services were commemorated by a magnificent funeral on Sat.u.r.day, March 31, 1804. The body was carried through the streets from Westminster to the chapel of Chelsea Hospital, the Prince Regent, the Duke of Clarence, and the Duke of Kent following the hea.r.s.e, and eight general officers acting as pall-bearers.]

10.--To the Hon. Augusta Byron.

[At General Harcourt's, St. Leonard's Hill, Windsor, Berkshire.]

Burgage Manor, April 9th, 1804.

A thousand thanks, my dear and Beloved Augusta, for your affectionate Letter, and so ready compliance with the request of a peevish and fretful Brother; it acted as a cordial on my drooping spirits and for a while dispelled the Gloom which envelopes me in this uncomfortable place. You see what power your letters have over me, so I hope you will be liberal in your epistolary consolation.

You will address your next letter to Harrow as I set out from Southwell on Wednesday, and am sorry that I cannot contrive to be with you, as I must resume my studies at Harrow directly. If I speak in public at all, it will not be till the latter end of June or the beginning of July. You are right in your conjecture for I feel not a little nervous in the antic.i.p.ation _of my Debut_ [1] as _an orator_.

By the bye, I do not dislike Harrow. I find _ways_ and _means_ to amuse _myself very pleasantly_ there; the friend, whose correspondence I find so amusing, is an old sporting companion of mine, whose recitals of Shooting and Hunting expeditions are amusing to me as having often been his companion in them, and I hope to be so still oftener.

My mother Gives a _party_ to night at which the princ.i.p.al _Southwell Belles_ will be present, with one of which, although I don't as yet know whom I shall so far _honour, having never seen them_, I intend to _fall violently_ in love; it will serve as an amus.e.m.e.nt _pour pa.s.ser le temps_ and it will at least have the charm of novelty to recommend it, then you know in the course of a few weeks I shall be quite _au desespoir_, shoot myself and Go out of the world with _eclat_, and my History will furnish materials for a pretty little Romance which shall be ent.i.tled and denominated the loves of Lord B. and the cruel and Inconstant Sigismunda Cunegunda Bridgetina, etc., etc., Princess of Terra Incognita.

Don't you think that I have a very good Knack for _novel writing_? I have Just this minute been called away from writing to you by two Gentlemen who have given me an invitation to go over to Screveton, a village a few miles off, and spend a few days; but however I shall not accept it, so you will continue to address your letters to Harrow as usual. Write to me as soon as possible and give me a long letter.

Remember me to Mrs. Harcourt and all who enquire after me. Continue to love me and believe me,

Your truly affectionate Brother and Friend,

BYRON.

P.S.--My Mother's love to you, Adieu.

[Footnote 1: Mrs. Byron, writing to Hanson, July 24, 1804, says,

"I was informed by a Gentleman yesterday that he had been at Harrow and heard him speaking, and that he acquitted himself uncommonly well."

Byron's name occurs in three of the Harrow speech-bills--July 5, 1804; June 6, 1805; and July 4, 1805. The three bills are printed below:--

HARROW SCHOOL PUBLIC SPEECHES.

1. JULY 5, 1804.

Erskine, Maj. Caesar } Ex Sall.u.s.tio.

Sinclair Cato } Long C. Canuleius ad Pleb. Ex Livio.

Molloy, Sr. The Country Box Lloyd.

Lord Byron Latinus } Leeke Drances } Ex Virgilio.

Peel, Sr. Turnus } Chaplin Henry the Fifth to his Shakespear.

Soldiers Clayton Micispa ad Jugurtham Ex Sall.u.s.tio.

Rowley Germanicus moriens Ex Tacito.

Grenside, Sr. General Wolfe to his Enfield.

Soldiers Morant, Sr. Dido Ex Virgilio.

Mr. Calthorpe, Sr. In Catilinam Ex Cicerone.