Lord Byron - Delphi Poets Series

by Lord Byron

  I remain ever yours,

  BYRON.

  [Footnote 1: Henry Dundas (1742-1811), created Viscount Melville in 1802, Lord Advocate (1775-83), made himself useful to Lord North’s Government as a shrewd, hard-working man of business, a ready speaker — in broad Scotch, and a consummate election agent. For twenty years he was the right-hand man of Pitt —

  ”Too proud from pilfered greatness to descend,

  Too humble not to call Dundas his friend.”

  Not only was he Pitt’s political colleague, but in private life his boon companion. A well-known epigram commemorates in a dialogue their convivial habits —

  ’Pitt’. “I cannot see the Speaker, Hal; can you?”

  ’Dundas’. “Not see the Speaker, Billy? I see two.”

  Melville, for a long series of years, held important political posts. He was Treasurer of the Navy (1782-1800); member of the Board of Control for India (1784-1802) and President (1790-1802); Home Secretary (1791-94); Secretary of War (1794-1801); First Lord of the Admiralty (1804-5). In 1802 a Commission had been appointed to examine into the accounts of the naval department for the past twenty years, and, in consequence of their tenth report, a series of resolutions were moved in the House of Commons (April, 1805) against Melville. The voting was even — 216 for and 216 against; the resolutions were carried by the casting vote of Speaker Abbott.

  “Pitt was overcome; his friend was ruined. At the sound of the Speaker’s voice, the Prime Minister crushed his hat over his brows to hide the tears that poured over his cheeks: he pushed in haste out of the House. Some of his opponents, I am ashamed to say, thrust themselves near, ‘to see how Billy took it.’“

  (Mark Boyd’s ‘Reminiscences of Fifty Years’, p. 404.) Melville, who was heard at the bar of the House of Commons in his own defence, was impeached before the House of Lords (June 26, 1805) of high crimes and misdemeanours. At the close of the proceedings, which began in Westminster Hall on April 29, 1806, Melville was acquitted on all the charges. Whitbread took the leading part in the impeachment. See ‘All the Talents: a Satirical Poem’, by Polypus (E. S. Barrett) —

  ”Rough as his porter, bitter as his barm,

  He sacrificed his fame to M — lv — lle’s harm.”

  Dialogue ii.]

  24. — To the Hon. Augusta Byron.

  [The Earl of Carlisle’s, Grosvenor Place, London.] Burgage Manor,

  Southwell, Friday, April 25th, 1805.

  My dearest Augusta, — Thank God, I believe I shall be in town on Wednesday next, and at last relieved from those agreeable amusements, I described to you in my last. I return you and Lady G. many thanks for your benediction, nor do I doubt its efficacy as it is bestowed by two such Angelic beings; but as I am afraid my profane blessing would but expedite your road to Purgatory, instead of Salvation, you must be content with my best wishes in return, since the unhallowed adjurations of a mere mortal would be of no effect. You say, you are sick of the Installation; and that L’d C. was not present; I however saw his name in the Morning Post, as one of the Knights Companions. I indeed expected that you would have been present at the Ceremony.

  I have seen this young Roscius several times at the hazard of my life, from the affectionate squeezes of the surrounding crowd. I think him tolerable in some characters, but by no means equal to the ridiculous praises showered upon him by John Bull.

  I am afraid that my stay in town ceases after the 10th. I should not continue it so long, as we meet on the 8th at Harrow, But, I remain on purpose to hear our Sapient and noble Legislators of Both Houses debate on the Catholic Question, as I have no doubt there will be many nonsensical, and some Clever things said on the occasion. I am extremely glad that you sport an audience Chamber for the Benefit of your modest visitors, amongst whom I have the honour to reckon myself: I shall certainly be most happy again to see you, notwithstanding my wise and Good mother (who is at this minute thundering against Somebody or other below in the Dining Room), has interdicted my visiting at his Lordship’s house, with the threat of her malediction, in case of disobedience, as she says he has behaved very ill to her; the truth of this I much doubt, nor should the orders of all the mothers (especially such mothers) in the world, prevent me from seeing my Beloved Sister after so long an Absence. I beg you will forgive this well written epistle, for I write in a great Hurry, and, believe me, with the greatest impatience again to behold you, your

  Attached Brother and [Friend,

  BYRON].

  P.S. — By the bye Lady G. ought not to complain of your writing a decent long letter to me, since I remember your 11 Pages to her, at which I did not make the least complaint, but submitted like a meek Lamb to the innovation of my privileges, for nobody ought to have had so long an epistle but my most excellent Self.

  [Footnote 1: On St. George’s Day, April 23, 1805, seven Knights were installed at Windsor as Knights of the Garter, each in turn being invested with the surcoat, girdle, and sword. The new Knights were the Dukes of Rutland and Beaufort; the Marquis of Abercorn; the Earls of Chesterfield, Pembroke, and Winchilsea; and, by proxy, the Earl of Hardwicke.

  Lady Louisa Strangways, writing to her sister, Lady Harriet Frampton, on April 24, 1805 (‘Journal of Mary Frampton’, p. 129), says, “I was full dressed for seventeen hours yesterday, and sat in one spot for seven, which is enough to tire any one who enjoyed what was going on, which I did not. I saw them walk to St. George’s Chapel, which was the best part, as it did not last long … Their dresses were very magnificent. The Knights, before they were installed, were in white and silver, like the old pictures of Henry VIII., and afterwards they had a purple mantle put on. They had immense plumes of ostrich feathers, with a heron’s feather in the middle.”]

  [Footnote 2: William Henry West Betty (1791-1874), the “Young Roscius,” made his first appearance on the stage at Belfast, in 1803, in the part of “Osman,” in Hill’s ‘Zara;’ and on December 1, 1804, at Covent Garden, as “Selim” disguised as “Achmet,” in Browne’s ‘Barbarossa’. In the winter season of 1804-5, when he appeared at Covent Garden and Drury Lane, such crowds collected to see him, that the military were called out to preserve order. Leslie (‘Autobiographical Recollections’, vol. i. p. 218) speaks of him as a boy “of handsome features and graceful manners, with a charming voice.” Fox, who saw him in ‘Hamlet’, said, “This is finer than Garrick” (‘Table-Talk of Samuel Rogers’, p. 88). Northcote (‘Conversations’, p. 23) spoke of his acting as “a beautiful effusion of natural sensibility; and then that graceful play of the limbs in youth gave such an advantage over every one about him.” “Young Roscius’s premature powers,” writes Mrs. Piozzi, February 21, 1805, “attract universal attention, and I suppose that if less than an angel had told ‘his’ parents that a bulletin of that child’s health should be necessary to quiet the anxiety of a metropolis for his safety, they would not have believed the prediction” (‘Life and Writings of Mrs. Piozzi’, vol. ii. p. 263). In society he was the universal topic of conversation, and he commanded a salary of £50 a night, at a time when John Kemble was paid £37 16’s’. a week (‘Life of Frederick Reynolds’, vol. ii. p. 364).

  “When,” writes Mrs. Byron of her son to Hanson (December 8, 1804), “he goes to see the Young Roscius, I hope he will take care of himself in the crowd, and not go alone.”

  Betty lost his attractiveness with the growth of his beard. Byron’s opinion of the merits of the youthful prodigy became that of the general public; but not till the actor had made a large fortune. He retired from the stage in 1824.]

  [Footnote 3: On March 25, 1805, petitions were presented by Lord Grenville in the House of Lords, and Fox in the House of Commons, calling the attention of the country to the claims of the Roman Catholics, and praying their relief from their disabilities, civil, naval, and military. On Friday, May 10, Lord Grenville moved, in the Upper House, for a committee of the whole House to consider the petition. At six o’clock on the morning of Tuesday, May 14, the
motion was negatived by a division of 178 against 49. On Monday, May 13, Fox, in the Lower House, made a similar motion, which was negatived, at five o’clock on the morning of Wednesday, May 15, by a division of 336 against 126. Byron, on April 21, 1812, in the second of his three Parliamentary speeches, supported the relief of the Roman Catholics.]

  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, 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, 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.

  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; 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.