1811.]

RESPECT FOR HEROD.

II

that disease is epidemic in our family. Neither have I been apprised of any of the changes at which you hint, indeed how should I? On the borders of the Black Sea, we heard only of the Russians. So you have much to tell, and all will be novelty.

I don't know what Scrope Davies' meant by telling you I liked Children, I abominate the sight of them so much that I have always had the greatest respect for the character of Herod. But, as my house here is large enough for us all, we should go on very well, and I need not tell you that I long to see you. I really do not perceive any thing so formidable in a Journey hither of two days, but all this comes of Matrimony, you have a

"with any degree of comfort or satisfaction. I intend to do so "again shortly, so I hope you won't think me a bore.

"Remember me most kindly to Old Joe. I rejoice to hear of his "health and prosperity. Your letter (some parts of it at least) made 66 'me laugh. I am so very glad to hear you have sufficiently overcome your prejudices against the fair sex to have determined upon marrying; but I shall be most anxious that my future Belle Saur "should have more attractions than merely money, though to be "sure that is somewhat necessary. I have not another moment, "dearest B., so forgive me if I write again very soon, and believe "me,

"Do write if you can."

"Your most affecte Sister,

"A. L.

1. For Scrope Berdmore Davies, see Letters, vol. i. p. 165, note 2. The following story is told of him by Byron, in a passage of his Detached Thoughts (Ravenna, 1821):-"One night Scrope Davies "at a Gaming house (before I was of age), being tipsy as he usually "was at the Midnight hour, and having lost monies, was in vain "intreated by his friends, one degree less intoxicated than himself, "to come or go home. In despair, he was left to himself and to "the demons of the dice-box.

"Next day, being visited about two of the Clock, by some friends "just risen with a severe headache and empty pockets (who had "left him losing at four or five in the morning), he was found in a "sound sleep, without a night-cap, and not particularly encumbered "with bed-cloathes: a Chamber-pot stood by his bed-side, brim-full "of Bank Notes! all won, God knows how, and crammed, "Scrope knew not where; but THERE they were, all good legitimate notes, and to the amount of some thousand pounds.'

66

Nurse and all the etcæteras of a family.

Well, I must

marry to repair the ravages of myself and prodigal ancestry, but if I am ever so unfortunate as to be presented with an Heir, instead of a Rattle he shall be provided with a Gag.

I shall perhaps be able to accept D's invitation to Cambridge, but I fear my stay in Lancashire will be prolonged, I proceed there in the 24 week in Sep" to arrange my coal concerns, & then if I can't persuade some wealthy dowdy to ennoble the dirty puddle of her mercantile Blood,-why-I shall leave England and all it's clouds for the East again; I am very sick of it already. Joe' has been getting well of a disease that would have killed a troop of horse; he promises to bear away the palm of longevity from old Parr. As you won't come, you will write; I long to hear all those unutterable things, being utterly unable to guess at any of them, unless they concern your relative the Thane of Carlisle,2-though I had great hopes we had done with him.

I have little to add that you do not already know, and being quite alone, have no great variety of incident to gossip with; I am but rarely pestered with visiters, and the few I have I get rid of as soon as possible. I will now take leave of you in the Jargon of 1794. "Health "& Fraternity !"

Yours alway,

B.

1. For Joe Murray, see Letters, vol. i. p. 21, note 3.

2. For the Earl of Carlisle, see Letters, vol. i. p. 36, note 2.

1811.]

A LAUGHING PHILOSOPHER.

13

174. To the Hon. Augusta Leigh.

Newstead Abbey, Aug" 30th, 1811.

MY DEAR AUGUSTA,—I wrote to you yesterday, and as you will not be very sorry to hear from me again, considering our long separation, I shall fill up this sheet before I go to bed. I have heard something of a quarrel between your spouse and the Prince, I don't wish to pry into family secrets or to hear anything more of the matter, but I can't help regretting on your account that so long an intimacy should be dissolved at the very moment when your husband might have derived some advantage from his R. H.'s friendship. However, at all events, and in all Situations, you have a brother in me, and a home here.

I am led into this train of thinking by a part of your letter which hints at pecuniary losses. I know how delicate one ought to be on such subjects, but you are probably the only being on Earth now interested in my welfare, certainly the only relative, and I should be very ungrateful if I did not feel the obligation. You must excuse my being a little cynical, knowing how my temper was tried in my Non-age; the manner in which I was brought up must necessarily have broken a meek Spirit, or rendered a fiery one ungovernable; the effect it has had on mine I need not state.

However, buffeting with the World has brought me a little to reason, and two years travel in distant and barbarous countries has accustomed me to bear privations, and consequently to laugh at many things which would have made me angry before. But I am wandering -in short I only want to assure you that I love you, and that you must not think I am indifferent, because I don't shew my affection in the usual way.

Pray can't you contrive to pay me a visit between this and Xmas ? or shall I carry you down with me from Cambridge, supposing it practicable for me to come? You will do what you please, without our interfering with each other; the premises are so delightfully extensive, that two people might live together without ever seeing, hearing or meeting,-but I can't feel the comfort of this till I marry. In short it would be the most amiable matrimonial mansion, and that is another great inducement to my plan,-my wife and I shall be so happy, one in each Wing. If this description won't make you come, I can't tell what will, you must please yourself. Good night, I have to walk half a mile to my Bed chamber.

Yours ever,

BYRON.

175.-To James Wedderburn Webster.

Newstead Abbey, Notts., Augst 31, 1811.

MY DEAR W.,-I send you back your friend's letter, and, though I don't agree with his Canons of Criticism, they are not the worse for that. My friend Hodgson 1 is not much honoured by the comparison to the Pursuits of L., which is notoriously, as far as the poetry goes, the worst written of its kind; the World has been long but of one opinion, viz. that it's sole merit lies in the Notes, which are indisputably excellent.

1. Webster had sent Byron a letter from Naylor Hare, in which the latter criticized Hodgson's poems, Lady Jane Grey, a Tale; and other Poems (1809) (see Letters, vol. i. p. 195, note 1). In the volume (pp. 56-77) was printed his "Gentle Alterative prepared "for the Reviewers," which Hare apparently compared to The Pursuits of Literature (1794-97), by T. J. Mathias. To this criticism Byron objected, saying that the "Alterative" might be more fairly compared to Gifford's Baviad (1794).

1811.]

DEFENCE OF HODGSON'S POETRY.

15

Had Hodgson's "Alterative" been placed with the Baviad the compliment had been higher to both; for, surely, the Baviad is as much superior to H.'s poem, as I do firmly believe H.'s poem to be to the Pursuits of Literature.

Your correspondent talks for talking's sake when he says "Lady J. Grey" is neither "Epic, dramatic, or "legendary." Who ever said it was "epic" or "dra"matic" he might as well say his letter was neither "epic or dramatic;" the poem makes no pretensions to either character. "Legendary" it certainly is, but what has that to do with its merits? All stories of that kind founded on facts are in a certain degree legendary, but they may be well or ill written without the smallest alteration in that respect. When Mr. Hare prattles about the "Economy," etc., he sinks sadly;-all such expressions are the mere cant of a schoolboy hovering round the Skirts of Criticism.

Hodgson's tale is one of the best efforts of his Muse, and Mr. H.'s approbation must be of more consequence, before any body will reduce it to a "Scale," or be much affected by "the place" he "assigns" to the productions of a man like Hodgson.

But I have said more than I intended and only beg you never to allow yourself to be imposed upon by such "common place" as the 6th form letter you sent me. Judge for yourself.

1

I know the Mr. Bankes you mention though not to that "extreme" you seem to think, but I am flattered by his "boasting" on such a subject (as you say), for I never thought him likely to "boast" of any thing which was not his own. I am not “ melancholish”—pray

1. For William John Bankes, see Letters, vol. i. p. 120, note 1.