The Works Of Lord Byron, Letters and Journals, Vol. 1

L >> Lord Byron, Edited by Rowland E. Prothero >> The Works Of Lord Byron, Letters and Journals, Vol. 1

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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 passage:--

"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 space 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 repetition 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 publishing extracts from my volume,
particularly the _Morning Herald_. I cannot say for my own part I have
observed this, but I am assured 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 pronounced 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.

[Footnote 1: See page 104 [Letter 53], [Foot]note 2 [1].]

[Footnote 2: Thomas Moore (1779-1852) had already published 'Anacreon'
(1800), 'The Poetical Works of the late Thomas Little' (1801), and
'Odes, Epistles, and other Poems' (1806). In all, especially in the
second, the poetry was of an erotic character.

"So heartily," said Rogers ('Table-Talk, etc.', pp. 281, 282), "has
Moore repented of having published 'Little's Poems', that I have seen
him shed tears--tears of deep contrition--when we were talking of
them. Young ladies read his 'Lalla Rookh' without being aware (I
presume) of the grossness of 'The Veiled Prophet'. These lines by Mr.
Sneyd are amusing enough--

"''Lalla Rookh'
Is a naughty book
By Tommy Moore,
Who has written four,
Each warmer
Than the former.
So the most recent
Is the least decent.'"]

62.--To Captain John Leacroft. [1]

January 31, 1807.

Sir,--Upon serious reflection on the conversation we last night held,
I am concerned to say, that the only effectual method to crash the
animadversions of officious malevolence, is by my declining all future
intercourse with those whom my acquaintance has unintentionally
injured. At the same time I must observe that I do not form this
resolution from any resentment at your representation, which was
temperate and gentlemanly, but from a thorough conviction that the
desirable end can be attained by no other line of conduct.

I beg leave to return my thanks to Mr. & Mrs. Leacroft, for the
attention and hospitality I have always experienced, of which I shall
ever retain a grateful remembrance.

So much to them; with your permission, I must add a few words for
myself. You will be sensible, that a coolness between families,
hitherto remarkable for their intimacy, cannot remain unobserved in a
town, whose inhabitants are notorious for officious curiosity; that
the causes for our separation will be mis-represented I have little
doubt; if, therefore, I discover that such misrepresentation does take
place, I shall call upon you, to unite with myself in making a serious
example of those _men_, be they _who_ they may, that dare to cast an
aspersion on the character I am sacrificing my own comfort to protect.

If, on the other hand, they imagine, that my conduct is the
consequence of intimidation, from my conference with you, I must
require a further explanation of what passed between us on the
subject, as, however careful I am of your Sister's honour, I am
equally tenacious of my own.

I do not wish this to be misconstrued into any desire to quarrel; it
is what I shall endeavour to avoid; but, as a young man very lately
entered into the world, I feel compelled to state, that I can permit
no suspicion to be attached to my name with impunity.

I have the honour to remain,

Your very obedient Servant,

BYRON.

[Footnote 1: This and the two following letters refer to a quarrel
between Byron and the Leacroft family, which arose from his attentions
to Miss Julia Leacroft. Moore's statement, that Captain Leacroft, the
lady's brother (see page 34 [Letter 12], [foot]note 3), sent a challenge
to Byron, who was at first inclined to accept it, is inaccurate. But it
is possible that Byron was acting on the advice of the Rev. J. T.
Becher, when he decided, in order to prevent misunderstanding, to break
off his acquaintance with the Leacrofts absolutely.]

63.--To Captain John Leacroft.

February 4th, 1807.

Sir,--I have just received your note, which conveys all that can be
said on the subject. I can easily conceive your feelings must have
been irritated in the course of the affair. I am sorry that I have
been the unintentional cause of so disagreeable a business. The line
of conduct, however painful to myself, which I have adopted, is the
only effectual method to prevent the remarks of a _meddling world_. I
therefore again take my leave for the last time. I repeat, that,
though the intercourse, from which I have derived so many hours of
happiness, is for ever interrupted, the remembrance can never be
effaced from the bosom of

Your very obedient Servant,

BYRON.

64.--To Captain John Leacroft.

February 4th, 1807.

Sir,--I am concerned to be obliged again to trouble you, as I had hoped
that our conversations had terminated amicably. Your good Father, it
seems, has desired otherwise; he has just sent a most _agreeable_
epistle, in which I am honoured with the appellations of _unfeeling_ and
ungrateful. But as the consequences of all this must ultimately fall on
you and myself, I merely write this to apprise you that the dispute is
not of my seeking, and that, if we must cut each other's throats to
please our relations, you will do me the justice to say it is from no
_personal_ animosity between us, or from any insult on my part, that
such _disagreeable_ events (for I am not so much enamoured of quarrels
as to call them _pleasant_) have arisen.

I remain, your's, etc.,

BYRON.

65.-To the Earl of Clare. [1]

Southwell, Notts, February 6, 1807.

My Dearest Clare,--Were I to make all the apologies necessary to atone
for my late negligence, you would justly say you had received a
petition instead of a letter, as it would be filled with prayers for
forgiveness; but instead of this, I will acknowledge my _sins_ at
once, and I trust to your friendship and generosity rather than to my
own excuses. Though my health is not perfectly re-established, I am
out of all danger, and have recovered every thing but my spirits,
which are subject to depression. You will be astonished to hear I have
lately written to Delawarr, [2] for the purpose of explaining (as far
as possible without involving some _old friends_ of mine in the
business) the cause of my behaviour to him during my last residence at
Harrow (nearly two years ago), which you will recollect was rather
"_en cavalier_." Since that period, I have discovered he was treated
with injustice both by those who misrepresented his conduct, and by me
in consequence of their suggestions. I have therefore made all the
reparation in my power, by apologizing for my mistake, though with
very faint hopes of success; indeed I never expected any answer, but
desired one for form's sake; _that_ has not yet arrived, and most
probably never will. However, I have _eased_ my own _conscience_ by
the atonement, which is humiliating enough to one of my disposition;
yet I could not have slept satisfied with the reflection of having,
_even unintentionally_, injured any individual. I have done all that
could be done to repair the injury, and there the affair must end.
Whether we renew our intimacy or not is of very trivial consequence.

My time has lately been much occupied with very different pursuits. I
have been _transporting_ a servant, [3] who cheated me,--rather a
disagreeable event;--performing in private theatricals;
[4]--publishing a volume of poems (at the request of my friends, for
their perusal);--making love,--and taking physic. The two last
amusements have not had the best effect in the world; for my
attentions have been divided amongst so many fair damsels, and the
drugs I swallow are of such variety in their composition, that between
Venus and AEsculapius I am harassed to death. However, I have still
leisure to devote some hours to the recollections of past, regretted
friendships, and in the interval to take the advantage of the moment,
to assure you how much I am, and ever will be, my dearest Clare,

Your truly attached and sincere

BYRON.

[Footnote 1: John Fitzgibbon (1792-1851), son of the first Earl of
Clare, by his wife Anne Whaley, succeeded his father as second Earl in
January, 1802. A schoolfellow of Byron's at Harrow, he was the "Lycus"
of "Childish Recollections," and one of his dearest friends. Clare,
after leaving Harrow, went to a private tutor, the Rev. Mr. Smith, at
Woodnesborough, near Sandwich. There he formed so close a friendship
with Lord John Russell as to provoke Byron's jealousy ('Life', p. 21).
Clare was at Christ Church, Oxford (B.A. 1812); Byron at Trinity,
Cambridge. They rarely met after leaving Harrow. Their meeting on the
road between Imola and Bologna in 1821,

"annihilated for a moment," says Byron (see 'Life', p. 540; 'Detached
Thoughts', November 5, 1821), "all the years between the present time
and the days of Harrow. We were but five minutes together, and on the
public road; but I hardly recollect an hour of my existence which
could be weighed against them. Of all I have ever known, he has always
been the least altered in everything from the excellent qualities and
kind affections which attached me to him so strongly at school. I
should hardly have thought it possible for society (or the world, as
it is called) to leave a being with so little of the leaven of bad
passions. I do not speak from personal experience only, but from all I
have ever heard of him from others, during absence and distance."

Lord Clare was Governor of Bombay from 1830 to 1834.]

[Footnote 2: See page 41 [Letter 14], note 1 [Footnote 5].]

[Footnote 3: See page 81 [Letter 38], [Foot]note 1.]

[Footnote 4: In the theatricals, which took place at Southwell in the
autumn of 1806, Byron was the chief mover. A letter received by Mr.
Pigot, quoted by Moore ('Life', p. 38), shows how eagerly his return
from Harrogate was expected:--

"Tell Lord Byron that, if any accident should retard his return, his
mother desires he will write to her, as she shall be 'miserable' if he
does not arrive the day he fixes. Mr. W. B. has written a card to Mrs.
H. to offer for the character of 'Henry Woodville,'--Mr. and Mrs.----
not approving of their son's taking a part in the play: but I believe
he will persist in it. Mr. G. W. says, that sooner than the party
should be disappointed, 'he' will take any part,--sing--dance--in
short, do any thing to oblige. Till Lord Byron returns, nothing can be
done; and positively he must not be later than Tuesday or Wednesday."

A full account of the theatricals is given in a manuscript written by
Miss Bristoe, one of the performers. Two plays were represented, (1)
Cumberland's 'Wheel of Fortune' and (2) Allingham's 'Weathercock'. The
following were the respective casts:--

(1) 'Penruddock', Lord Byron.
'Sir David Daw', Mr. C. Becher.
'Woodville', Captain Lightfoot.
'Sydenham', Mr. Pigot.
'Henry Woodville', Mr. H. Houson.
'Mrs. Woodville', Miss Bristoe.
'Emily Tempest', Miss J. Leacroft
'Dame Dunckley', Miss Leacroft.
'Weazel', Mr. G. Wylde.
'Jenkins', Mr. G. Heathcote.

(2) 'Tristram Fickle', Lord Byron.
'Old Fickle', Mr. Pigot.
'Briefwit', Captain Lightfoot.
'Sneer', Mr. R. Leacroft.
'Variella', Miss Bristoe.
'Ready', Miss Leacroft.
'Gardener', Mr. C. Becher.
'Barber', Mr. G. Wylde.

Between the two plays, a member of the Southwell choir sang "The Death
of Abercrombie." The brave General, attended by two aides-de-camp, all
three in the costume of the Southwell volunteers, appeared on the stage,
and the General, sinking into the outstretched arms of his two friends,
warbled out his dying words in a style which convulsed Byron with
laughter.

The play itself nearly came to an untimely conclusion. Captain Lightfoot
screwed his failing courage to the sticking point by several glasses of
wine, with the result that, being a very abstemious man, he became
tipsy. But "restoratives were administered," and he went through his
part with credit. Byron, who was the star of the company, repeatedly
brought down the house by his acting.

(For Byron's Prologue to 'The Wheel of Fortune', see 'Poems', vol. i.
pp. 45, 46.) Moore's account of the epilogue, written by the Rev. J. T.
Becher, and spoken by Byron, is erroneous. Only one word gave any
opportunity for mimicry. It occurs in the lines--

"Tempest becalmed forgets his blust'ring rage,
He calls Dame Dunckley 'sister' off the stage."

In pronouncing the word "sister," Byron "took off exactly the voice and
manner of Mr. R. Leacroft."]

66.--To Mrs. Hanson.

Southwell, Feb. 8, 1807.

Dear Madam,--Having understood from Mrs. Byron that Mr. Hanson is in a
very indifferent State of Health, I have taken the Liberty of
addressing you on the Subject.

Though the _Governor_ & _I_ have lately not been on the _best_ of
_Terms_, yet I should be extremely sorry to learn he was in Danger,
and I trust _he_ and _I_ will live to have many more _Squabbles_ in
_this world_, before we _finally make peace_ in the next. If therefore
you can favor me with any _salutary_ Intelligence of the _aforesaid_
Gentleman, believe me, nothing will be more acceptable to

Yours very truly,

BYRON.

P.S.--Remember me to all the family now in _Garrison_, particularly my
old Friend Harriet.

67.--To William Bankes. [1]

Southwell, March 6, 1807.

Dear Bankes,--Your critique is valuable for many reasons: in the first
place, it is the only one in which flattery has borne so slight a
part; in the _next_, I am _cloyed_ with insipid compliments. I have a
better opinion of your judgment and ability than your _feelings_.
Accept my most sincere thanks for your kind decision, not less
welcome, because totally unexpected. With regard to a more exact
estimate, I need not remind you how few of the _best poems_, in our
language, will stand the test of _minute_ or _verbal_ criticism: it
can, therefore, hardly be expected the effusions of a boy (and most of
these pieces have been produced at an early period) can derive much
merit either from the subject or composition. Many of them were
written under great depression of spirits, and during severe
indisposition:--hence the gloomy turn of the ideas. We coincide in
opinion that the "_poesies erotiques_" are the most exceptionable;
they were, however, grateful to the _deities_, on whose altars they
were offered--more I seek not.

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