A Publisher and His Friends Part 47

_October_ 25, 1831.

... I see that what I took for a joke of yours is true, and that you are _at_ me in this number of the _Quarterly_. I have desired Power to send you back my copy when it comes, not liking to read it just now for reasons. In the meantime, here's some _good_-humoured doggerel for you:

THOUGHTS ON EDITORS.

_Editur et edit_.

No! Editors don't care a b.u.t.ton, What false and faithless things they do; They'll let you come and cut their mutton, And then, they'll have a cut at you.

With Barnes I oft my dinner took, Nay, met e'en Horace Twiss to please him: Yet Mister Barnes traduc'd my Book, For which may his own devils seize him!

With Doctor Bowring I drank tea, Nor of his cakes consumed a particle; And yet th' ungrateful LL.D.

Let fly at me, next week, an article!

John Wilson gave me suppers hot, With bards of fame, like Hogg and Packwood; A dose of black-strap then I got, And after a still worse of Blackwood.

Alas! and must I close the list With thee, my Lockhart of the _Quarterly?_ So kind, with b.u.mper in thy fist,-- With pen, so very gruff and tartarly.

Now in thy parlour feasting me, Now scribbling at me from your garret,-- Till, 'twixt the two, in doubt I be, Which sourest is, thy wit or claret?

Should you again see the n.o.ble Scott before he goes, remember me most affectionately to him. Ever yours,

Thomas Moore.

Mr. Murray now found himself at liberty to proceed with his cherished scheme of a complete edition of Lord Byron's works.

_John Murray to Mr. Moore._

February 28, 1832.

When I commenced this complete edition of Byron's works I was so out of heart by the loss upon the first edition of the "Life," and by the simultaneous losses from the failure of three booksellers very largely in my debt, that I had little if any hopes of its success, and I felt myself under the necessity of declining your kind offer to edit it, because I did not think that I should have had it in my power to offer you an adequate remuneration. But now that the success of this speculation is established, if you will do me the favour to do what you propose, I shall have great satisfaction in giving you 500 guineas for your labours.

Most sincerely yours,

John Murray.

In 1837, the year in which the work now in contemplation was published, the Countess Guiccioli was in London, and received much kindness from Mr. Murray. After her return to Rome, she wrote to him a long letter, acknowledging the beautifully bound volume of the landscape and portrait ill.u.s.trations of Lord Byron's works. She complained, however, of Brockedon's portrait of herself.

_Countess Guiccioli to John Murray_.

"It is not resembling, and to tell you the truth, my dear Mr. Murray, I wish it was so; not on account of the ugliness of features (which is also remarkable), but particularly for having this portrait an expression of _stupidity_, and for its being _molto antipatico_, as we say in our language. But perhaps it is not the fault of the painter, but of the original, and I am sorry for that. What is certain is that towards such a creature n.o.body may feel inclined to be indulgent; and if she has faults and errors to be pardoned for, she will never be so on account of her _antipatia_! But pray don't say that to Mr. Brockedon."

A copy was likewise sent to Sir R. Peel with the following letter:

ALBEMARLE STREET, _April_ 17, 1837.

DEAR SIR,

As the invaluable instructions which you addressed to the students of the University of Glasgow have as completely a.s.sociated your name with the literature of this country, as your political conduct has with its greatest statesmen, I trust that I shall be pardoned for having inscribed to you (without soliciting permission) the present edition of the works of one of our greatest poets, "your own school-and form-fellow," _Byron_.

I have the honour to be, etc.,

JOHN MURRAY.

_The Right Hon. Sir R. Peel to John Murray_.

WHITEHALL, _April_ 18, 1837.

MY DEAR SIR,

I am much flattered by the compliment which you have paid to me in dedicating to me a beautiful edition of the works of my distinguished "school-and form-fellow."

I was the next boy to Lord Byron at Harrow for three or four years, and was always on very friendly terms with him, though not living in particular intimacy out of school.

I do not recollect ever having a single angry word with him, or that there ever was any the slightest jealousy or coldness between us.

It is a gratification to me to have my name a.s.sociated with his in the manner in which you have placed it in friendly connection; and I do not believe, if he could have foreseen, when we were boys together at school, this continuance of a sort of amicable relation between us after his death, the idea would have been otherwise than pleasing to him.

Believe me,

My dear Sir,

Very faithfully yours,

ROBERT PEEL.

A few words remain to be added respecting the statue of Lord Byron, which had been so splendidly executed by Thorwaldsen at Rome. Mr.

Hobhouse wrote to Murray: "Thorwaldsen offers the completed work for 1,000, together with a bas-relief for the pedestal, suitable for the subject of the monument." The sculptor's offer was accepted, and the statue was forwarded from Rome to London. Murray then applied to the Dean of Westminster, on behalf of the subscribers, requesting to know "upon what terms the statue now completed could be placed in some suitable spot in Westminster Abbey." The Dean's answer was as follows:

_The Dean of Westminster to John Murray_.

DEANERY, WESTMINSTER, _December_ 17, 1834.

DEAR SIR,

I have not had the opportunity, till this morning, of consulting with the Chapter on the subject of your note. When you formerly applied to me for leave to inter the remains of Lord Byron within this Abbey, I stated to you the principle on which, as Churchmen, we were compelled to decline the proposal. The erection of a monument in honour of his memory which you now desire is, in its proportion, subject to the same objection. I do indeed greatly wish for a figure by Thorwaldsen here; but no taste ought to be indulged to the prejudice of a duty.

With my respectful compliments to the Committee, I beg you to believe me,

Yours truly,

JOHN IRELAND.

The statue was for some time laid up in a shed on a Thames wharf. An attempt was made in the House of Commons to alter the decision of the Dean and Chapter, but it proved of no avail. "I would do my best," said Mr. Hobhouse, "to prevail upon Sir Robert Peel to use his influence with the Dean. It is a national disgrace that the statue should lie neglected in a carrier's ware-house, and it is so felt by men of all parties. I have had a formal application from Trinity College, Cambridge, for leave to place the monument in their great library, and it has been intimated to me that the French Government desire to have it for the Louvre." The result was that the subscribers, in order to retain the statue in England, forwarded it to Trinity College, Cambridge, whose n.o.ble library it now adorns.

The only memorial to Byron in London is the contemptible leaning bronze statue in Apsley House Gardens, nearly opposite the statue of Achilles.