Caius Cornelius Tacitus - "Germania and Agricola"

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Annual Bibliography of Commonwealth Literature 2007
This paper argues that discourses of love in Ghanaian market literature for youth offer a view into complex negotiations of agency and empowerment. Drawing on Deborah Durham's notion of youth as "social `shifters'" and Francis Nyamnjoh's conception of the "interconnectedness" of agency, I take Ghanaian market literature as one specific case of how African literature for youth foregrounds questions of continuity and change as African societies enter into increasingly complex global relations. In this literature for youth, received notions of love, often constructed out of impressions from American pop and hip hop music, carry new notions of agency that compete with existing "domesticated" forms. Authors like Ike Tandoh and Evelyn Tay employ discourses of love to offer youth alternative avenues for empowerment in a context of socio-economic disenfranchizement. In a creative process of "straddling", this writing both reveals and reproduces the contradictions that obtain in youth configurations of agency.

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








25.--To John Hanson.


Harrow-on-the-Hill, 11 May, 1805.


Dear Sir,--As you promised to cash my Draft on the Day that I left
your house, and as you was only prevented by the Bankers being shut
up, I will be very much obliged to you to _give the ready_ to this old
Girl, Mother Barnard, [1] who will either present herself or send a
Messenger, as she demurs on its being not payable till the 25th of
June. Believe me, Sir, by doing this you will greatly oblige

Yours very truly,

BYRON.



[Footnote: 1. Mother Barnard was the keeper of the "tuck-shop" at
Harrow.]





26.--To the Hon. Augusta Byron.


[The Earl of Carlisle's, Grosvenor Place, London.]

[Harrow, Wednesday, June 5, 1805.]


My Dearest Augusta,--At last you have a _decent_ specimen of the
dowager's talents for epistles in the _furioso_ style. You are now
freed from the _shackles_ of her correspondence, and when I revisit
her, I shall be bored with long stories of your _ingratitude_, etc.,
etc. She is as I have before declared certainly mad (to say she was in
her senses, would be condemning her as a Criminal), her conduct is a
_happy_ compound of derangement and Folly. I had the other day an
epistle from her; not a word was mentioned about you, but I had some
of the usual _compliments_ on my own account. I am now about to answer
her letter, though I shall scarcely have patience, to treat her with
civility, far less with affection, that was almost over before, and
this has given the finishing stroke to _filial_, which now gives way
to _fraternal_ duty. Believe me, dearest Augusta, not ten thousand
_such_ mothers, or indeed any mothers, Could induce me to give you
up.--No, No, as the dowager says in that rare epistle which now lies
before me, "the time has been, but that is past long since," and
nothing now can influence your _pretty_ _sort of_ a _brother_ (bad as
he is) to forget that he is your _Brother_. Our first Speech day will
be over ere this reaches you, but against the 2d you shall have timely
notice.--I am glad to hear your illness is not of a Serious nature;
_young Ladies_ ought not to throw themselves in to the fidgets about a
trifling delay of 9 or 10 years; age brings experience and when you in
the flower of youth, between 40 and 50, shall then marry, you will no
doubt say that I am a _wise man_, and that the later one makes one's
self miserable with the matrimonial clog, the better. Adieu, my
dearest Augusta, I bestow my _patriarchal blessing_ on you and Lady G.
and remain,

[Signature cut out.]





27.--To John Hanson.


Harrow-on-the-Hill, 27 June, 1805.

Dear Sir,--I will be in Town on Saturday Morning, but it is absolutely
necessary for me to return to Harrow on Tuesday or Wednesday, as
Thursday is our 2d Speechday and Butler says he cannot dispense with my
Presence on that Day. I thank you for your Compliment in the Beginning
of your Letter, and with the Hope of seeing you and Hargreaves well on
Saturday,

I remain, yours, etc., etc.,

BYRON.





28.--To the Hon. Augusta Byron.


[Address cut out], Tuesday, July 2d, 1805.


My dearest Augusta,--I am just returned from Cambridge, where I have
been to enter myself at Trinity College.--Thursday is our Speechday at
Harrow, and as I forgot to remind you of its approach, previous to our
first declamation, [1] I have given you _timely_ notice this time. If
you intend doing me the _honour_ of attending, I would recommend you
not to come without a Gentleman, as I shall be too much engaged all
the morning to take care of you, and I should not imagine you would
admire _stalking_ about by yourself. You had better be there by 12
o'clock as we begin at 1, and I should like to procure you a good
place; Harrow is 11 miles from town, it will just make a _comfortable_
mornings drive for you. I don't know how you are to come, but for
_Godsake_ bring as few women with you as possible. I would wish you to
Write me an answer immediately, that I may know on Thursday morning,
whether you will drive over or not, and I will arrange my other
engagements accordingly. I _beg_, _Madam_, you may make your
appearance in one of his Lordships most _dashing_ carriages, as our
Harrow _etiquette_, admits of nothing but the most _superb_ vehicles,
on our Grand _Festivals_. In the mean time, believe me, dearest
Augusta,

Your affectionate Brother,

BYRON.



[Footnote 1: Mrs. Byron, writing to Hanson (June 25, 1805), says, "The
fame of Byron's oratory has reached Southwell" (see page 27, note 1).]





29.--To John Hanson.


Harrow, 8 July, 1805.


My dear Sir,--I have just received a Letter from my Mother, in which
she talks of coming to Town about the _commencement_ of our Holidays.
If she does, it will be impossible for me to call on _my Sister_,
previous to my leaving it, and at the same time I cannot conceive what
the Deuce she can want at this season in London. I have written to
tell her that my Holidays commence on the 6th of August, but however,
July the 1st is the proper day.--I beg that if you cannot find some
means to keep her in the Country that you at least will connive at
this deception which I can palliate, and then I shall be down in the
country before she knows where I am. My reasons for this are, that I
do _not wish_ to be detained in Town so uncomfortably as I know I
shall be if I remain with her; that _I do wish_ to see my Sister; and
in the next place she can just as well come to Town after my return to
Notts, as I don't desire to be dragged about according to her caprice,
and there are some other causes I think unnecessary to be now
mentioned. If you will only contrive by settling this business (if it
is in your power), or if that is impossible, not mention anything
about the day our Holidays commence, of which you can be easily
supposed not to be informed. If, I repeat, you can by any means
prevent this Mother from executing her purposes, believe me, you will
greatly oblige

Yours truly,

BYRON.





30.--To Charles O. Gordon. [1]


Burgage Manor, Southwell, Notts, August 4, 1805.


Although I am greatly afraid, my Dearest Gordon, that you will not
receive this epistle till you return from Abergeldie, (as your letter
stated that you would be at Ledbury on Thursday next) yet, that is not
my fault, for I have not deferred answering yours a moment, and, as I
have just now concluded my Journey, my first, and, I trust you will
believe me when I say, most pleasing occupation will be to write to
you.

We have played the Eton and were most confoundedly beat; [2] however
it was some comfort to me that I got 11 notches the 1st Innings and 7
the 2nd, which was more than any of our side except Brockman & Ipswich
could contrive to hit. After the match we dined together, and were
extremely friendly, not a single discordant word was uttered by either
party. To be sure, we were most of us rather drunk and went together
to the Haymarket Theatre, where we kicked up a row, As you may
suppose, when so many Harrovians & Etonians met at one place; I was
one of seven in a single hackney, 4 Eton and 3 Harrow, and then we all
got into the same box, and the consequence was that such a devil of a
noise arose that none of our neighbours could hear a word of the
drama, at which, not being _highly delighted_, they began to quarrel
with us, and we nearly came to a _battle royal_. How I got home after
the play God knows. I hardly recollect, as my brain was so much
confused by the heat, the row, and the wine I drank, that I could not
remember in the morning how I found my way to bed.

The rain was so incessant in the evening that we could hardly get our
Jarveys, which was the cause of so many being stowed into one. I saw
young Twilt, your brother, with Malet, and saw also an old
schoolfellow of mine whom I had not beheld for six years, but he was
not the one whom you were so good as to enquire after for me, and for
which I return you my sincere thanks. I set off last night at eight
o'clock to my mother's, and am just arrived this afternoon, and have
not delayed a second in thanking you for so soon fulfilling my request
that you would correspond with me. My address at Cambridge will be
Trinity College, but I shall not go there till the 20th of October.
You may continue to direct your letters here, when I go to Hampshire
which will not be till you have returned to Harrow. I will send my
address previous to my departure from my mother's. I agree with you in
the hope that we shall continue our correspondence for a long time. I
trust, my dearest friend, that it will only be interrupted by our
being some time or other in the same place or under the same roof, as,
when I have finished my _Classical Labour_, and my minority is
expired, I shall expect you to be a frequent visitor to Newstead
Abbey, my seat in this county which is about 12 miles from my mother's
house where I now am. There I can show you plenty of hunting, shooting
and fishing, and be assured no one ever will be more welcome guest
than yourself--nor is there any one whose correspondence can give me
more pleasure, or whose friendship yield me greater delight than
yours, sweet, dearest Charles, believe me, will always be the
sentiments of

Yours most affectionately,

BYRON.



[Footnote 1: This and Letter 33 are written to Byron's Harrow friend,
Charles Gordon, one of his "juniors and favourites," whom he "spoilt by
indulgence." Gordon, who was the son of David Gordon of Abergeldie, died
in 1829.]


[Footnote 2: Byron's reputation as a cricketer rests on this match
between Eton and Harrow. It was played on the old cricket ground in
Dorset Square, August 2, 1805, and ended in a victory for Eton by an
innings and two runs. The score is thus given by Lillywhite, in his
_Cricket Scores and Biographies of Celebrated Cricketers from 1745 to
1826_ (vol. i. pp. 319, 320)--

HARROW.

First Innings. Second Innings.
--------------------------------------------------------
Lord Ipswich, b Carter --10 b Heaton --21
T. Farrer, Esq., b Carter -- 7 c Bradley-- 3
T. Drury, Esq., b Carter -- 0 st Heaton-- 6
--Bolton, Esq., run out -- 2 b Heaton -- 0
C. Lloyd, Esq., b Carter -- 0 b Carter -- 0
A. Shakespeare, Esq., st Heaton-- 8 runout -- 5
Lord Byron, c Barnard-- 7 b Carter -- 2
Hon. T. Erskine, b Carter -- 4 b Heaton -- 8
W. Brockman, Esq., b Heaton -- 9 b Heaton --10
E. Stanley, Esq., not out -- 3 c Canning-- 7
--Asheton, Esq., b Carter -- 3 not out -- 0
Byes -- 2 Byes -- 3
-- --
55 65

ETON.
--------------------------------------------------------
--Heaton, Esq., b Lloyd -- 0
--Slingsby, Esq., b Shakespeare--29
--Carter, Esq., b Shakespeare-- 3
--Farhill, Esq., c Lloyd -- 6
--Canning, Esq., c Farrer --12
--Camplin, Esq., b Ipswich --42
--Bradley, Esq., b Lloyd --16
--Barnard, Esq., b Shakespeare-- 0
--Barnard, Esq., not out -- 3
--Kaye, Esq., b Byron -- 7
--Dover, Esq., c Bolton -- 4
Byes -- 0
--
122


At this match Lord Stratford de Redcliffe remembers seeing a
"moody-looking boy" dismissed for a small score. The boy was Byron. But
the moment is not favourable to expression of countenance.






31.--To the Hon. Augusta Byron.


[Castle Howard, Malton, Yorkshire.] Burgage Manor, August 6th, 1805.


Well, my dearest Augusta, here I am, once more situated at my mother's
house, which together with its _inmate_ is as _agreeable_ as ever. I
am at this moment _vis a vis_ and Tete a tete with that amiable
personage, who is, whilst I am writing, pouring forth complaints
against your _ingratitude_, giving me many oblique hints that I ought
not to correspond with you, and concluding with an interdiction that
if you ever after the expiration of my minority are invited to my
residence, _she_ will no longer condescend to grace it with her
_Imperial_ presence. You may figure to yourself, for your amusement,
my solemn countenance on the occasion, and the _meek Lamblike_
demeanour of her Ladyship, which, contrasted with my _Saintlike
visage_, forms a _striking family painting_, whilst in the back
ground, the portraits of my Great Grandfather and Grandmother,
suspended in their frames, seem to look with an eye of pity on their
_unfortunate descendant_, whose _worth_ and _accomplishments_ deserve
a milder fate.

I am to remain in this _Garden_ of _Eden_ one month, I do not indeed
reside at Cambridge till October, but I set out for Hampshire in
September where I shall be on a visit till the commencement of the
term. In the mean time, Augusta, your _sympathetic_ correspondence
must be some alleviation to my sorrows, which however are too
ludicrous for me to regard them very seriously; but they are _really_
more _uncomfortable_ than _amusing_.

I presume you were rather surprised not to see my _consequential_ name
in the papers [1] amongst the orators of our 2nd speech day, but
unfortunately some wit who had formerly been at Harrow, suppressed the
merits of Long [2], Farrer [3] and myself, who were always supposed to
take the Lead in Harrow eloquence, and by way of a _hoax_ thought
proper to insert a panegyric on those speakers who were really and
truly allowed to have rather disgraced than distinguished themselves,
of course for the _wit_ of the thing, the best were left out and the
worst inserted, which accounts for the _Gothic omission_ of my
_superior talents._ Perhaps it was done with a view to weaken our
vanity, which might be too much raised by the flattering paragraphs
bestowed on our performance the 1st speechday; be that as it may, we
were omitted in the account of the 2nd, to the astonishment of all
Harrow. These are _disappointments_ we _great men_ are liable to, and
we must learn to bear them with philosophy, especially when they arise
from attempts at wit. I was indeed very ill at that time, and after I
had finished my speech was so overcome by the exertion that I was
obliged to quit the room. I had caught cold by sleeping in damp sheets
which was the cause of my indisposition. However I am now perfectly
recovered, and live in hopes of being emancipated from the slavery of
Burgage manor. But Believe me, Dearest Augusta, whether well or ill,

I always am your affect. Brother,

BYRON.



[Footnote 1: See page 27, note 1.]


[Footnote 2: Edward Noel Long, son of E. B. Long of Hampton Lodge,
Surrey, the "Cleon" of "Childish Recollections" ('Poems', vol. i. pp.
101, 102), entered Harrow in April, 1801. He went with Byron to Trinity
College, Cambridge, and till the end of the summer of 1806 was his most
intimate friend.

"We were," says Byron, in his Diary ('Life', p. 31), "rival swimmers,
fond of riding, reading, and of conviviality. Our evenings we passed
in music (he was musical, and played on more than one
instrument--flute and violoncello), in which I was audience; and I
think that our chief beverage was soda-water. In the day we rode,
bathed, and lounged, reading occasionally. I remember our buying, with
vast alacrity, Moore's new quarto (in 1806), and reading it together
in the evenings. ... _His_ friendship, and a violent though pure
passion--which held me at the same period--were the then romance of
the most romantic period of my life."

Long was Byron's companion at Littlehampton in August, 1806. In 1807 he
entered the Guards, served with distinction in the expedition to
Copenhagen, and was drowned early in 1809, "on his passage to Lisbon
with his regiment in the 'St. George' transport, which was run foul of
in the night by another transport" ('Life', p. 31. See also Byron's lines
"To Edward Noel Long, Esq.," 'Poems', vol. i. pp. 184-188).]


[Footnote 3: Thomas Farrer entered Harrow in April, 1801. He played in
Byron's XI. against Eton, on the ground in Dorset Square, on August 2,
1805.]





CHAPTER II.


1805-1808.

CAMBRIDGE AND JUVENILE POEMS.





32.--To the Hon. Augusta Byron.


[Castle Howard, Malton, Yorkshire.] Burgage Manor, August 10th, 1805.


I have at last succeeded, my dearest Augusta, in pacifying the
dowager, and mollifying that _piece_ of _flint_ which the good Lady
denominates her heart. She now has condescended to send you her
_love_, although with many comments on the occasion, and many
compliments to herself. But to me she still continues to be a torment,
and I doubt not would continue so till the end of my life. However
this is the last time she ever will have an opportunity, as, when I go
to college, I shall employ my vacations either in town; or during the
summer I intend making a tour through the Highlands, and to Visit the
Hebrides with a party of my friends, whom I have engaged for the
purpose. This my old preceptor Drury recommended as the most improving
way of employing my Summer Vacation, and I have now an additional
reason for following his advice, as I by that means will avoid the
society of this woman, whose detestable temper destroys every Idea of
domestic comfort. It is a happy thing that she is my mother and not my
wife, so that I can rid myself of her when I please, and indeed, if
she goes on in the style that she has done for this last week that I
have been with her, I shall quit her before the month I was to drag
out in her company, is expired, and place myself any where, rather
than remain with such a vixen. As I am to have a very handsome
allowance,[1] which does not deprive her of a sixpence, since there is
an addition made from my fortune by the Chancellor for the purpose, I
shall be perfectly independent of her, and, as she has long since
trampled upon, and harrowed up every affectionate tie, It is my
serious determination never again to visit, or be upon any friendly
terms with her. This I owe to myself, and to my own comfort, as well
as Justice to the memory of my nearest relations, who have been most
shamefully libelled by this female 'Tisiphom', a name which your
'Ladyship' will recollect to have belonged to one of the Furies.
You need not take the precaution of writing in so enigmatical a style
in your next, as, bad as the woman is, she would not dare to open any
letter addressed to me from you. Whenever you can find time to write,
believe me, your epistles will be productive of the greatest pleasure,
to your

Affectionate Brother,

BYRON.



[Footnote 1: During Byron's schooldays, Mrs. Byron received L500 a year
from the Court of Chancery for his education. When he went to Cambridge,
she gave up this allowance to her son, and the expenditure of a certain
sum was sanctioned by Chancery for furniture, clothes, plate, etc. At
the same time, Mrs. Byron applied for an allowance of L200 a year, but
in 1807 the allowance had not been granted. Her pension, it may be
added, most irregularly paid at all times, was reduced to L200 a year.
Writing to Hanson (September 23, 1805), she says, "I give up the five
hundred a year to my son, and you will supply him with money
accordingly. The two hundred a year addition I shall reserve for myself;
nor can I do with less, as my house will always be a home for my son
whenever he chooses to come to it."]





33.--To Charles O. Gordon.


Burgage Manor, August 14, 1805.

Believe me, my dearest Charles, no letter from you can ever be
unentertaining or dull, at least to me; on the contrary they will
always be productive of the highest pleasure as often as you think
proper to gratify me by your correspondence. My answer to your first
was addressed to Ledbury; and I fear you will not receive it till you
return from your tour, which I hope may answer your expectation in
every respect; I recollect some years ago passing near Abergeldie on
an excursion through the Highlands, it was at that time a most
beautiful place.

I suppose you will soon have a view of the eternal snows that summit
the top of Lachin y Gair, which towers so magnificently above the rest
of our _Northern Alps_. I still remember with pleasure the admiration
which filled my mind, when I first beheld it, and further on the dark
frowning mountains which rise near Invercauld, together with the
romantic rocks that overshadow Mar Lodge, a seat of Lord Fife's, and
the cataract of the Dee, which dashes down the declivity with
impetuous violence in the grounds adjoining to the House. All these I
presume you will soon see, so that it is unnecessary for me to
expatiate on the subject. I sincerely wish that every happiness may
attend you in your progress. I have given you an account of our match
in my epistle to Herefordshire. We unfortunately lost it. I got 11
notches the first innings and 7 the 2nd, making 18 in all, which was
more runs than any of our side (except Ipswich) could make. Brockman
also scored 18. We were very _convivial_ in the evening.[1]



[Footnote 1: Here the letter, which is printed from a copy made by the
Rev. W. Harness (see page 177 [Letter 92], [Foot]note 1), comes to an
end.]





34.--To Hargreaves Hanson.


Burgage Manor, August 19th, 1805.


My Dear Hargreaves,--You may depend upon my Observance of your
father's Invitation to Farleigh [1] in September, where I hope we
shall be the cause of much destruction to the feathered Tribe and
great Amusement to ourselves. The Lancashire Trial [2] comes on very
soon, and Mr. Hanson will come down by Nottingham; perhaps, I may then
have a chance of seeing him; at all events, I shall probably accompany
him on his way back; as I hope his Health is by this time perfectly
reestablished, and will not require a journey to Harrowgate. I shall
not as you justly conjecture have any occasion for my _Chapeau de
Bras_, as there is nobody in the Neighbourhood who would be worth the
trouble of wearing it, when I went to their parties. I am uncommonly
dull at this place, as you may easily imagine, nor do I think I shall
have much Amusement till the commencement of the shooting season. I
shall expect (when you next write) an account of your military
preparations, to repel the Invader of our Isle whenever he makes the
attempt.--_You_ will doubtless acquire _great Glory_ on the occasion,
and in expectation of hearing of your Warlike Exploits,

I remain, yours very truly,

BYRON.



[Footnote 1: Hanson had property at Farleigh, near Basingstoke.]


[Footnote 2: The Rochdale property of the Byron family had been
illegally sold by William, fifth Lord Byron. Proceedings were taken to
recover the property; but fresh points arose at every stage, and
eventually Byron, unable to wait longer, sold Newstead.]






35.--To Hargreaves Hanson.


Burgage Manor.


My Dear Hargeaves,--I would be obliged to you, if you would write to
your father, and enquire--what time it will be most convenient for him
to receive my visit, and I will come to Town immediately to the time
appointed and accompany you to the _Rural Shades_ and _Fertile Fields_
of Hants. You must excuse the laconic Style of my Epistle as this place
is damned dull and I have nothing to relate, but believe me,

Yours truly,

BYRON.





36.--To Hargreaves Hanson.


Trinity Coll., October 25, 1805.


Dear Hargreaves,--I presume your father has by this time informed you
of our safe Arrival here. [1] I can as yet hardly form an Opinion in
favour, or against the College, but as soon as I am settled you shall
have an account. I wish you to pack up carefully--& send immediately
the remainder of my books, and also my _Stocks_ which were left in
Chancery Lane. _Mon Chapeau de Bras_ take care of till Winter extends
his Icy Reign and I shall visit the Metropolis. Tell your father that
I am getting in the furniture he spoke of, but shall defer papering
and painting till the Recess. The sooner you execute my _commands_ the
better. Beware of Mr. Terry,

And believe me, yours faithfully,

BYRON.

The Bills for Furniture I shall send to Mr. H., your worthy papa,
according to his _particular Desire_. The Cambridge Coach sets off
from the White Horse, Fetter Lane.



[Footnote 1: Byron entered Trinity on July 1, 1805; but he did not go
into residence till the following October. His tutors were the Rev.
Thomas Jones (1756-1807), who was Senior Tutor from 1787 till his death
in 1807, and the Rev. George Frederick Tavell (B.A., 1792; M.A., 1795),
to whom Byron alludes in 'Hints from Horace', lines 228-230:--

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