The Works of Lord Byron: Letters and Journals Volume II Part 49

"Junius's Letters, by Woodfall, 3 vol., _Large Paper_, 1812."]

273.--To William Bankes.

December 26, [1812].

The mult.i.tude of your recommendations has already superseded my humble endeavours to be of use to you; and, indeed, most of my princ.i.p.al friends are returned, Leake from Joannina, Canning and Adair from the city of the Faithful, and at Smyrna no letter is necessary, as the consuls are always willing to do every thing for personages of respectability. I have sent you _three_; one to Gibraltar, which, though of no great necessity, will, perhaps, put you on a more intimate footing with a very pleasant family there. You will very soon find out that a man of any consequence has very little occasion for any letters but to ministers and bankers, and of them we have already plenty, I will be sworn.

It is by no means improbable that I shall go in the spring; and if you will fix any place of rendezvous about August, I will _write_ or _join_ you.--When in Albania, I wish you would inquire after Dervise Tahiri and Vascillie (or Bazil), and make my respects to the viziers, both there and in the Morea. If you mention my name to Suleyman of Thebes, I think it will not hurt you; if I had my dragoman, or wrote Turkish, I could have given you letters of _real service;_ but to the English they are hardly requisite, and the Greeks themselves can be of little advantage.

Liston [1] you know already, and I do not, as he was not then minister.

Mind you visit Ephesus and the Troad, and let me hear from you when you please. I believe G. Forresti is now at Yanina; but if not, whoever is there will be too happy to a.s.sist you. Be particular about _firmauns;_ never allow yourself to be bullied, for you are better protected in Turkey than any where; trust not the Greeks; and take some knicknackeries for _presents--watches, pistols,_ etc., etc., to the Beys and Pachas. If you find one Demetrius, at Athens or elsewhere, I can recommend him as a good dragoman. I hope to join you, however; but you will find swarms of English now in the Levant.

Believe me, etc.

[Footnote 1: Robert Liston, afterwards Sir Robert Liston (1742-1836), succeeded Adair as Amba.s.sador at Constantinople in 1811.]

274.--To John Murray.

Eywood, Presteign, January 8, 1813.

Dear Sir,--You have been imposed upon by a letter forged in my name to obtain the picture left in your possession. This I know by the confession of the culprit [1] and as she is a woman (and of rank), with whom I have unfortunately been too much connected, you will for the present say very little about it; but if you have the letter _retain_ it--write to me the particulars. You will also be more cautious in future, and not allow anything of mine to pa.s.s from your hands without my _Seal_ as well as Signature.

I have not been in town, nor have written to you since I left it. So I presume the forgery was a skilful performance.--I shall endeavour to get back the picture by fair means, if possible.

Yours ever,

BYRON.

P.S.--Keep the letter if you have it. I did not receive your parcel, and it is now too late to send it on, as I shall be in town on the 17th. The _delinquent_ is one of the first families in this kingdom; but, as Dogberry says, this is "flat burglary." [2]

Favour me with an answer. I hear I am scolded in the 'Quarterly'; but you and it are already forgiven. I suppose that made you bashful about sending it.

[Footnote 1: The culprit was Lady Caroline Lamb, who imitated Byron's handwriting with remarkable skill.]

[Footnote 2: 'Much Ado about Nothing', act iv. sc. 2.]

275.--To Francis Hodgson.

February 3, 1813.

My Dear Hodgson,--I will join you in any bond for the money you require, be it that or a larger sum. With regard to security, as Newstead is in a sort of abeyance between sale and purchase, and my Lancas.h.i.+re property very unsettled, I do not know how far I can give more than personal security, but what I can I will. At any rate you can try, and as the sum is not very considerable, the chances are favourable. I hear nothing of my own concerns, but expect a letter daily. Let me hear from you where you are and will be this month. I am a great admirer of the 'R. A.'

['Rejected Addresses'], though I have had so great a share in the cause of their publication, and I like the 'C. H.' ['Childe Harold'] imitation one of the best. [1] Lady Oxford has heard me talk much of you as a relative of the c.o.kes, etc., and desires me to say she would be happy to have the pleasure of your acquaintance. You must come and see me at K[insham]. I am sure you would like _all_ here if you knew them.

The "Agnus" is furious. You can have no idea of the horrible and absurd things she has said and done [2] since (really from the best motives) I withdrew my homage. "Great pleasure" is, certes, my object, but "_why brief_, Mr. Wild?" [3] I cannot answer for the future, but the past is pretty secure; and in it I can number the last two months as worthy of the G.o.ds in 'Lucretius'. I cannot review in the "_Monthly;_" in fact I can just now do nothing, at least with a pen; and I really think the days of Authors.h.i.+p are over with me altogether. I hear and rejoice in Eland's and Merivale's intentions [4].

Murray has grown great, and has got him new premises in the fas.h.i.+onable part of the town [5].

We live here so shut out of the _monde_ that I have nothing of general import to communicate, and fill this up with a "happy new year," and drink to you and Drury.

Ever yours, dear H., B.

I have no intention of continuing "_Childe Harold._" There are a few additions in the "body of the book" of description, which will merely add to the number of pages in the next edition. I have taken Kinsham Court. The business of last summer I broke off [6], and now the amus.e.m.e.nt of the gentle fair is writing letters literally threatening my life, and much in the style of "Miss Mathews" in "_Amelia_," or "Lucy"

in the "_Beggar's Opera_." Such is the reward of restoring a woman to her family, who are treating her with the greatest kindness, and with whom I am on good terms. I am still in _palatia Circes_, and, being no Ulysses, cannot tell into what animal I may be converted; as you are aware of the turn of both parties, your conjectures will be very correct, I daresay, and, seriously, I am very much _attached_. She has had her share of the denunciations of the brilliant Phryne, and regards them as much as I do. I hope you will visit me at K. which will not be ready before spring, and I am very sure you would like my neighbours if you knew them. If you come down now to Kington [7], pray come and see me.

[Footnote 1: