The Works of Lord Byron: Letters and Journals Volume I Part 18

Metrical compliment is an ample reward for my strains: you are one of the few votaries of Apollo who unite the sciences over which that deity presides. I wish you to send my poems to my lodgings in London immediately, as I have several alterations and some additions to make; _every_ copy must be sent, as I am about to _amend_ them, and you shall soon behold them in all their glory. I hope you have kept them from that upas tree, that antidote to the arts, Mrs. B. _Entre nous_, --you may expect to see me soon. Adieu.

Yours ever.

[Footnote 1: Byron was disappointed in his expectations. Fresh legal difficulties arose, and Newstead had to be sold before they were settled (see page 78 [Letter 34], [Foot]note 2).]

58.--To Elizabeth Bridget Pigot. [1]

My Dear Bridget,--I have only just dismounted from my _Pegasus_, which has prevented me from descending to _plain prose_ in an epistle of greater length to your _fair_ self. You regretted, in a former letter, that my poems were not more extensive; I now for your satisfaction announce that I have nearly doubled them, partly by the discovery of some I conceived to be lost, and partly by some new productions. We shall meet on Wednesday next; till then, believe me,

Yours affectionately,

BYRON.

P.S.--Your brother John is seized with a poetic mania, and is now rhyming away at the rate of three lines _per hour_--so much for _inspiration_! Adieu!

[Footnote 1: This letter was written about September, 1806, from Harrogate, where Byron had gone with John Pigot. It forms the conclusion of a longer letter, written by Pigot to his sister, from which Moore quotes ('Life', p. 37) the following pa.s.sage:--

"Harrowgate is still extremely full; Wednesday (to-day) is our ball-night, and I meditate going into the room for an hour, although I am by no means fond of strange faces. Lord B., you know, is even more shy than myself; but for an hour this evening I will shake it off....

How do our theatricals proceed? Lord Byron can say 'all' his part, and I 'most' of mine. He certainly acts it inimitably. Lord B. is now 'poetising', and, since he has been here, has written some very pretty verses ['To a Beautiful Quaker,' see 'Poems', vol. i. pp. 38-41]. He is very good in trying to amuse me as much as possible, but it is not in my nature to be happy without either female society or study....

There are many pleasant rides about here, which I have taken in company with Bo'swain, who, with Brighton, is universally admired.

'You' must read this to Mrs. B., as it is a little 'Tony Lumpkinish'.

Lord B. desires some s.p.a.ce left: therefore, with respect to all the comedians 'elect', believe me," etc., etc.

(For the theatricals to which Mr. Pigot alludes, see page 117 [Letter 65], [Foot]note 3 [4].) Brighton, it may be added, was one of Byron's horses; the other was called Sultan. Bo'swain was the dog to which Byron addressed the well-known epitaph (see 'Poems', vol. i. pp. 280, 281, and note 1).

Moore also quotes Pigot's recollections of the visit to Harrogate ('Life', pp. 37, 38).

"We, I remember, went in Lord Byron's own carriage, with post-horses; and he sent his groom with two saddle-horses, and a beautifully formed, very ferocious, bull-mastiff, called Nelson, to meet us there.

Boatswain went by the side of his valet Frank on the box, with us.

"The bull-dog, Nelson, always wore a muzzle, and was occasionally sent for into our private room, when the muzzle was taken off, much to my annoyance, and he and his master amused themselves with throwing the room into disorder. There was always a jealous feud between this Nelson and Boatswain; and whenever he latter came into the room while the former was there, they instantly seized each other; and then, Byron, myself, Frank, and all the waiters that could be found, were vigorously engaged in parting them,--which was in general only effected by thrusting poker and tongs into the mouths of each. But, one day, Nelson unfortunately escaped out of the room without his muzzle, and going into the stable-yard fastened upon the throat of a horse from which he could not be disengaged. The stable-boys ran in alarm to find Frank, who taking one of his Lord's Wogdon's pistols, always kept loaded in his room, shot poor Nelson through the head, to the great regret of Byron.

"We were at the Crown Inn, at Low Harrowgate. We always dined in the public room, but retired very soon after dinner to our private one; for Byron was no more a friend to drinking than myself. We lived retired, and made few acquaintance; for he was naturally shy, 'very'

shy; which people who did not know him mistook for pride. While at Harrowgate he accidentally met with Professor Hailstone from Cambridge, and appeared much delighted to see him. The professor was at Upper Harrowgate: we called upon him one evening to take him to the theatre, I think,--and Lord Byron sent his carriage for him, another time, to a ball at the Granby. This desire to show attention to one of the professors of his college is a proof that, though he might choose to satirise the mode of education in the university, and to abuse the antiquated regulations and restrictions to which undergraduates are subjected, he had yet a due discrimination in his respect for the individuals who belonged to it. I have always, indeed, heard him speak in high terms of praise of Hailstone, as well as of his master, Bishop Mansel, of Trinity College, and of others whose names I have now forgotten.

"Few people understood Byron; but I know that he had naturally a kind and feeling heart, and that there was not a single spark of malice in his composition."

Professor Hailstone was Woodwardian Professor of Geology (1788-1818).

(For Bishop Mansel, see page 84, note 1.)]

59.--To John Hanson. [1]

Southwell, Dec. 7th, 1806.

Sir,--A Letter to Mrs. Byron has just arrived which states, from what "you have _heard_ of the Tenor of my Letters," you will not put up with Insult. I presume this means (for I will not be positive on what is rather ambiguously expressed) that some offence to you has been conveyed in the above mentioned Epistles. If you will peruse the papers in question, you will discover that the _person_ insulted is not _yourself_, or any one of your "_Connections_." On Mr. B.'s apology, I have expressed my opinion in a Letter to your Son, if any Misrepresentation has taken place, it must be those "Connections" to whom I am to pay such Deference, & whose conduct to me has deserved such _ample respect_. I must now beg leave to observe in turn, that I am by no means disposed to bear Insult, &, be the consequences what they may, I will always declare, in plain and explicit Terms, my Grievance, nor will I overlook the slightest Mark of disrespect, & silently brood over affronts from a mean and interested dread of Injury to my person or property. The former I have Strength and resolution to protect; the latter is too trifling by its Loss to occasion a moments Uneasiness.

Though not conversant with the methodical & dilatory arrangements of Law or Business, I know enough of Justice to direct my conduct by the principles of Equity, nor can I reconcile the "Insolence of office" to her regulations or forget in an Instant a poignant Affront.

But enough of this Dispute. You will perceive my Sentiments on the Subject, in my correspondence with Mr. B. and Mr. H. Junior. In future to prevent a repet.i.tion and altercation I shall advise; but as, even then, some Demur may take place, I wish to be informed, if the equitable Court of Chancery, whose paternal care of their Ward can never be sufficiently commended, have determined, in the great Flow of parental Affection, to withhold their beneficent Support, till I return to "Alma Mater" (i.e.) Cambridge. Your Information on this point will oblige, as a College life is neither conducive to my Improvement, nor suitable to my Inclination. As to the reverse of the Rochdale Trial, I received the News of Success without confidence or exultation; I now sustain the Loss without repining. My Expectations from _Law_ were never very sanguine.

I remain, yr very obedt. sert.,

BYRON.

[Footnote 1: Hanson's partner, Birch, the "Mr. B." of the letter, seems to have irritated Byron by withholding the income allotted to him by the Court of Chancery for his education at Cambridge. The attempt to compel his return to Trinity by cutting off the supplies, failed. He did not appear again at Cambridge till the summer term of 1807.]

60.--To J. Ridge.

Dorant's Hotel, Albemarle Street, Jany. 12, 1807.

Mr. Ridge,--I understand from some of my friends, that several of the papers are in the habit of publis.h.i.+ng extracts from my volume, particularly the _Morning Herald_. I cannot say for my own part I have observed this, but I am a.s.sured it is so. The thing is of no consequence to me, except that I dislike it. But it is to you, and as publisher you should put a stop to it. The _Morning Herald_ is the paper; of course you cannot address any other, as I am sure I have seen nothing of the kind in mine. You will act upon this as you think proper, and proceed with the 2d. Edition as you please. I am in no hurry, and I still think you were _premature_ in undertaking it.

Etc., etc.,

BYRON.

P.S.--Present a copy of the _Antijacobin_ therein to Mrs. Byron.

61.--To John M. B. Pigot.

Southwell, Jan. 13, 1807.

I ought to begin with _sundry_ apologies, for my own negligence, but the variety of my avocations in _prose_ and _verse_ must plead my excuse. With this epistle you will receive a volume of all my _Juvenilia_, published since your departure: it is of considerably greater size than the _copy_ in your possession, which I beg you will destroy, as the present is much more complete. That _unlucky_ poem to my poor Mary [1] has been the cause of some animadversion from _ladies in years_. I have not printed it in this collection, in consequence of my being p.r.o.nounced a most _profligate sinner_, in short, a "_young Moore_," [2] by------, your----friend. I believe, in general, they have been favourably received, and surely the age of their author will preclude _severe_ criticism. The adventures of my life from sixteen to nineteen, and the dissipation into which I have been thrown in London, have given a voluptuous tint to my ideas; but the occasions which called forth my muse could hardly admit any other colouring. This volume is _vastly_ correct and miraculously chaste. Apropos, talking of love, ...

If you can find leisure to answer this farrago of unconnected nonsense, you need not doubt what gratification will accrue from your reply to yours ever, etc.