has been vain, complaint would be useless. I presume, by the trustees-my life threatened last month (they put however for your own sake, (if not for mine,) that you about a paper here to excite an attempt at my assassinaand my other friends will have at least published my dif- tion, on account of politics, and a notion which the priests ferent protests against its being brought upon the stage at disseminated that I was in a league against the Germans) all; and have shown that Elliston (in spite of the writer)—and, finally, my mother-in-law recovered last fortnight, forced it upon the theatre. It would be nonsense 'o say and my play was damned last week! These are like that this has not vexed me a good deal, but I am not the eight-and-twenty misfortunes of Harlequin.' But dejected, and I shall not take the usual resource of bla-they must be borne. If I give in, it shall be after keeping ming the public, (which was in the right,) or my friends for up a spirit at least. I should not have cared so much not preventing what they could not help, nor I neither—about it, if our southern neighbours had not bungled us all a forced representation by a speculating manager. It is out of freedom for these five hundred years to come. a pity, that you did not show them its unfitness for the stage before the play was published, and exact a promise from the managers not to act it. In case of their refusal, we would not have published it at all. But this is too "Yours. late. "P. S. I enclose Mr. Bowles's letters; thank him in my name for their candour and kindness.-Also a letter for Hodgson, which pray forward. The Milan paper states that I brought forward the play!!! This is pleasanter still. But don't let yourself be worried about it; and if (as is likely) the folly of Elliston checks the sale, I am ready to make any deduction, or the entire cancel of your agreement. "You will of course not publish my defence of Gilchrist, as, after Bowles's good humour upon the subject, it would be too savage. Let me hear from you the particulars; for, as yet, I have only the simple fact. If you knew what I have had to go through here, on account of the failure of these rascally Neapolitans, you would be amused: but it is now apparently over. They seemed disposed to throw the whole project and plans of these parts upon me chiefly." LETTER CCCCXCIII. TO MR. MOORE "May 14, 1821. "If any part of the letter to Bowles has (unintentionally, as far as I remember the contents) vexed you, you are fully avenged; for I see by an Italian paper that, notwithstanding all my remonstrances through all my friends, (and yourself among the rest,) the managers persisted in attempting the tragedy, and that it has been unanimously hissed!! This is the consolatory phrase of the Milan paper, (which detests me cordially, and abuses me, on all cccasions, as a Liberal,) with the addition, that I 'brought the play out' of my own good-will. "Did you know John Keats? They say that he was killed by a review of him in the Quarterly-if he be dead, which I really don't know. I don't understand that yielding sensitiveness. What I feel (as at this present) is an immense rage for eight-and-forty hours, and then, as usual-unless this time it should last longer. I must get on horseback to quiet me. "Yours, &c. "Francis I. wrote, after the battle of Pavia, 'All is lost except our honour.' A hissed author may reverse itNothing is lost, except our honour.' But the horses are waiting, and the paper full. I wrote last week to you." LETTER CCCCXCIV. TO MR. MURRAY. "Ravenna, May 19, 1821 "By the papers of Thursday, and two letters of Mr. Kinnaird, I perceive that the Italian Gazette had lied most Italically, and that the drama had not been hissed, and that my friends had interfered to prevent the representation. So it seems they continue to act it, in spite of us all: for this we must 'trouble them at 'size.' Let it by all means be brought to a plea: I am determined to try the right, and will meet the expenses. The reason of the Lombard lie was that the Austrians-who keep up an Inquisition throughout Italy, and a list of names of all who think or speak of any thing but in favour of their despotism-have for five years past abused me in every form in the Gazette of Milan, &c. I wrote to you a week ago on the subject. "Now, I should be glad to know what compensation Mr. Elliston would make me, not only for dragging my writings on the stage in five days, but for being the cause that I was kept for four days (from Sunday to Thursday morning, the only post days) in the belief that the tragedy had been acted and unanimously hissed; and this with the addition that I had brought it upon the stage,' and "All this is vexatious enough, and seems a sort of dra-consequently that none of my friends had attended to my matic Calvinism-predestined damnation, without a sin-request to the contrary. Suppose that I had burst a bloodner's own fault. I took all the pains poor mortal could to vessel, like John Keats, or blown my brains out in a fit of prevent this inevitable catastrophe-partly by appeals of all kinds up to the Lord Chamberlain, and partly to the fellows themselves. But, as remonstrance was vain, complaint is useless. I do not understand it-for Murray's letter of the 24th, and all his preceding ones, gave me the "I wrote to you to keep up your spirits, for reproach is strongest hopes that there would be no representation. useless always, and irritating-but my feelings were very yet, I know nothing but the fact, which I presume to much hurt, to be dragged like a gladiator to the fate of a glabe true, as the date is Paris, and the 30th. They must diator by that 'retiarius,' Mr. Elliston. As to his defence have been in a hell of a hurry for this damnation, since I and offers of compensation, what is all this to the pur did not even know that it was published; and, without its pose? It is like Louis the XIV. who insisted upon buybeing first published, the histrions could not have got holding at any price Algernon Sydney's horse, and, on his of it. Any one might have seen, at a glance, that it was refusal, on taking it by force, Sydney shot his horse. I utterly impracticable for the stage; and this little accident will by no means enhance its merit in the closet. As "Well, patience is a virtue, and, I suppose, practice will make it perfect. Since last year (spring, that is) I have lost a lawsuit, of great importance, on Rochdale collieries --have occasioned a divorce-have had my poesy disparaged by Murray and the critics-my fortune refused to be placed on an advantageous settlement (in Ireland) rage, neither of which would have been unlikely a few years ago. At present I am, luckily, calmer than I used to be, and yet I would not pass those four days over again for-I know not what. could not shoot my tragedy, but I would have flung it into the fire rather than have had it represented. "I have now written nearly three acts of another, (in tending to complete it in five,) and am more anxious than ever to be preserved from such a breach of all literary courtesy and gentlemanly consideration. See Letter 499. T See Don Juan. Canto XI. Stana 80. "If we succeed, well; if not, previous to any future publi- "You will oblige me, then, by causing Mr. Gazette of cation we will request a promise not to be acted, which I France to contradict himself, which, I suppose, he is used would even pay for, (as money is their object,) or I will to. I never answer a foreign criticism; but this is a mere not publish—which, however, you will probably not much regret. "The Chancellor has behaved nobly. You have also conducted yourself in the most satisfactory manner; and I have no fault to find with any body but the stageplayers and their proprietor. I was always so civil to Elliston personally that he ought to have been the last to attempt to injure me. "There is a most rattling thunder-storm pelting away at this present writing; so that I write neither by day, nor by candle, nor torchlight, but by lightning light: the flashes are as brilliant as the most gaseous glow of the gas-light company. My chimney board has just been thrown down by a gust of wind: I thought it was the 'Bold Thunder' and 'Brisk Lightning' in person.-Three of us would be o many. There it goes-flash again! but I tax not you, ye elements, with unkindness; as I have done by and upon Mr. Elliston. "Why do you not write? You should at least send me a line of particulars: I know nothing yet but by GaligLani and the Honourable Douglas. "Well, and how does our Pope controversy go on? and the pamphlet? It is impossible to write any news: the Austrian scoundrels rummage all letters. "P. S. I could have sent you a good deal of gossip and some real information, were it not that all letters pass through the Barbarians' inspection, and I have no wish to inform them of any thing but my utter abhorrence of them and theirs. They have only conquered by treachery, however." LETTER CCCCXCV. TO THE COUNTESS GUICCIOLI. without know matter of fact, and not of opinions. I presume that you LETTER CCCCXCVII. TO MR. HOPPNER. "Ravenna, May 25, 1821. zerland, and will ponder upon it. I would rather she "I am very much pleased with what you say of Swit married there than here for that matter. For fortune, 1 shall make it all that I can spare, (if I live and she is correct in her conduct,) and if I die before she is settled, 1 have left her by will five thousand pounds, which is a fair increase it all I can, if circumstances permit me; but, of provision out of England for a natural child. I shall course (like all other human things) this is very uncertain. the FACTS of the play-acting stated, as these scoundrels "You will oblige me very much by interfering to have appear to be organizing a system of abuse against me because I am in their 'list.' I care nothing for their criticism, but the matter of fact. I have written four acts of another tragedy, so you see they can't bully me. * You know, I suppose, that they actually keep a list of all individuals in Italy who dislike them-it must be numerous. Their suspicions and actual alarms, about You will see here confirmation of what I told you the my conduct and presumed intentions in the late row, other day! I am sacrificed in every way, were truly ludicrous-though, not to bore you, I touched ing the why or the wherefore. The tragedy in question is or affect to believe it, that the whole plan and project of upon them lightly. They believed, and still believe here, not (nor ever was) written for, or adapted to, the stage; rising was settled by me, and the means furnished, &c. nevertheless, the plan is not romantic; it is rather regular &c. All this was more fomented by the barbarian agents, than otherwise ;-in point of unity of time, indeed, per-who are numerous, here, (one of them was stabbed yesfectly regular, and failing but slightly in unity of place. terday, by-the-way, but not dangerously :)—and although, You well know whether it was ever my intention to have when the Commandant was shot here before my door it acted, since it was written at your side, and at a period in December, I took him into my house, where he had assuredly rather more tragical to me as a man than as an author; for you were in affliction and peril. In the mean although not one of them dared to receive him into their every assistance till he died on Fletcher's bed; and time, I learn from your Gazette that a cabal and party houses but myself, they leaving him to perish in the night has been formed, while I myself have never taken the in the streets, they put up a paper about three months slightest step in the business. It is said that the author read it aloud!!!—here, probably, at Ravenna?-and to stirring up persons to assassinate me. ago, denouncing me as the Chief of the Liberals, and whom? perhaps to Fletcher!!!-that iliustrious literary never silence nor bully my opinions. All this came from But this shall character, &c. &c." the German Barbarians." LETTER CCCCXCVI. TO MR. MOORE. "Ravenna, May 20, 1821. LETTER CCCCXCVIII. TO MR. MURRAY. α MR. MORAY, "Ravenna, May 25, 1821. "Since I wrote to you last week I have received Eng- "Since I wrote the enclosed a week ago, and for some lish letters and papers, by which I perceive that what I weeks before, I have not had a line from you: now, took for an Italian truth is, after all, a French lie of the should be glad to know upon what principle of common Gazette de France. It contains two ultra-falschoods in or uncommon feeling, you leave me without any informaas many lines. In the first place, Lord B. did not bring tion but what I derive from garbled gazettes in English, forward his play, but opposed the same; and, secondly, it and abusive ones in Italian, (the Germans hating me, as a was not condemned, but is continued to be acted, in de-coal-heaver,) while all this kick-up has been going on about spite of publisher, author, Lord Chancellor, and (for aught the play? You SHABBY fellow!!! Were it not for two ! know to the contrary) of audience, up to the first of jetters from Douglas Kinnaird, I should have been as May, at least-the latest date of my letters. ignorant as you are negligent. 'S, I hear Bowles has been abusing Hobhouse? if that's the case, he has broken the truce, like Morillo's successor, and I will cut him out, as Cochrane did the Esmeralda. "About Allegra-I will take some decisive step in the course of the year; at present, she is so happy where she is, that perhaps she had better have her alphabet unparted in her convent. "What you say of the Dante is the first I have heard of it-all seeming to be merged in the row about the tragedy. Continue it!-Alas! what could Dante himself now prophesy about Italy? I am glad you like it however, but doubt that you will be singular in your opinion. My new tragedy is completed. "Since I wrote the enclosed packet I have completed (but not copied out) four acts of a new tragedy. When I have finished the fifth I will copy it out. It is on the subject of 'Sardanapalus,' the last king of the Assyrians. The words Queen and Pavilion occur, but it is not an allusion to his Britannic Majesty, as you may tremulously imagine. This you will one day see, (if I finish it,) as I "The Benzoni is right,-I ought to have mentioned have made Sardanapalus brave, (though voluptuous, as her humour and amiabuty, but I thought at her sixty history represents him,) and also as amiable as my poor beauty would be most agreeable or least likely. How powers could render him:-so that it could neither be ever, it shall be rectified in a new edition; and if any truth nor satire on any living monarch. I have strictly of the parties have either looks or qualities which they preserved all the unities hitherto, and mean to continue wish to be noticed, let me have a minute of them. I them in the fifth, if possible; but not for the stage. Yours, have no private nor personal dislike to Venice, rather the in haste and natred, you shabby correspondent! contrary, but I merely speak of what is the subject of all remarks and all writers upon her present state. me hear from you before you start. Believe me, LETTER CCCCXCIX. TO MR. MURRAY. "N." "Ravenna, May 28, 1821. "Since my last of the 26th or 25th, I have dashed off my fifth act of the tragedy called 'Sardanapalus. But now comes the copying over, which may prove heavy work-heavy to the writer as to the reader. I have written to you at least six times sans answer, which proves you to be a-bookseller. I pray you to send me a copy of Mr. Wrangham's reformation of Lang horne's Plutarch.' I have the Greek, which is somewhat mall of print, and the Italian, which is too heavy in style, and as false as a Neapolitan patriot proclamation. I pray you also to send me a Life, published some years ago, of The Magician Apollonius of Tyana. It is in English, and I think edited or written by what Martin Marprelate calls 'a bouncing priest.' I shall trouble you no farther with this sheet than with the postage. "Yours, &c. Let "Ever, &c. "P. S. Did you receive two letters of Douglas Kinnaird's in an endorse from me? Remember me to Mengaldo, Soranzo, and all who care that I should remember them. The letter alluded to in the enclosed, to the Cardinal,' was in answer to some queries of the government, about a poor devil of a Neapolitan, arrested at Sinigaglia on suspicion, who came to beg of me here; being without breeches, and consequently without pockets for halfpence, I relieved and forwarded him to his country, since interrogated me (civilly and politely, however,) and they arrested him at Pesaro on suspicion, and have about him. I sent them the poor man's petition, and such him out again, that is to say, if they give him a fair information as I had about him, which, I trust, will get hearing. * You have not written lately, as is the usual custom with literary gentlemen to console their friends with their observations in cases of magnitude. I do not know whether I sent you my 'Elegy on the recovery of Lady Noel "You say you have written often: I have only re"Behold the blessings of a lucky lotceived yours of the eleventh, which is very short. By My play is damn'd, and Lady Noel not. this post, in five packets, I send you the tragedy of Sardanapalus, which is written in a rough hand: perhaps you in possession of Muster Elliston's dramatic behaviour. "The papers (and perhaps your letters) will have put Ms. Leigh can help you to decipher it. You will please It is to be presumed that the play was fitted for the stage to acknowledge it by return of post. You will remark that the unities are all strictly observed. The scene by Mr. Dibdin, who is the tailor upon such occasions, and passes in the same hall always: the time, a summer's will have taken measure with his usual accuracy. I hear night, about nine hours, or less, though it begins before that it is still continued to be performed-a piece of ob sunset and ends after sunrise. In the third act, when stinacy for which it is some consolation to think that the Sardanapalus calls for a mirror to look at himself in his discourteous histrio will be out of pocket. armour, recollect to quote the Latin passage from Juvenal upon Otho, (a similar character, who did the same thing) Gifford will help you to it. The trait is perhaps too familiar, but it is historical, (of Otho, at least,) and natural in an effeminate character." LETTER DI. TO MR. HOPPNER. "Ravenna, May 31, 1821. "I enclose you another letter, which will only confirm what I have said to you. "You will be surprised to hear that I have finished another tragedy in five acts, observing all the unities strictly. It is called 'Sardanapalus, and was sent by last post to England. It is not for the stage, any more than the other was intended for it, and I shall take better care this time that they don't get hold on 't. "I have also sent, two months ago, a farther letter on Bowles, &c.; but he seems to be so taken up with my 'respect' (as he calls it) towards him in the former case, that I am not sure that it will be published being somewhat too full of 'pastime and prodigality.' I learn from some private letters of Bowles's, that you were 'the gentleman in asterisks.' Who would have dreamed it? you * * * * see what mischief that clergyman has done by printing with him,-else I had a savage joke or two at his service. notes without names. How the deuse was I to suppose* that the first four asterisks meant 'Campbell' and not "I can't send you the little journal, because it is in 'Pope, and that the blank signature meant Thomas boards, and I can't trust it per post. Don't suppose it is Moore. You see what comes of being familiar with any thing particular; but it will show the intentions of parsons. His answers have not yet reached me, but I the natives at that time-and one or two other things understand from Hobhouse that he (H.) is attacked in chiefly personal, like the former one. them. If that be the case, Bowles has broken the truce, (which he himself proclaimed, by-the-way,) and I must have at him again. "Did you receive my letters with the two or three concluding sheets of Memoranda ? "So, Longman don't bite.-It was my wish to have made that work of use. Could you not raise a sum upor it, (however small,) reserving the power of redeeming it on repayment? "Are you in Paris, or a villaging? If you are in the "There are no news here to interest much. A Ger-city, you will never resist the Anglo-invasion you speak man spy (boasting himself such) was stabbed last week, of. I do not see an Englishman in half a year; and but not mortally. The moment I heard that he went when I do, I turn my horse's head the other way. The about bullying and boasting, it was easy for me, or any fact, which you will find in the last note to the Doge, has one else, to foretell what would occur to him, which I did, given me a good excuse for quite dropping the least conand it came to pass in two days after. He has got off, nexion with travellers. however, for a slight incision. "I do not recollect the speech you speak of, but suspect "A row the other night, about a lady of the place, it is not the Doge's, but one of Israel Bertuccio to Calen between her various lovers, occasioned a midnight dis- daro. I hope you think that Elliston behaved shamefully charge of pistols, but nobody wounded. Great scandal, it is my only consolation. I made the Milanese felhowever-planted by her lover-to be thrashed by her lows contradict their lie, which they did with the grace of husband; for inconstancy to her regular Servente, who people used to it. "Yours, &c. is coming home post about it, and she herself retired in confusion into the country, although it is the acme of the opera season. All the women furious against her (she) herself having been censorious) for being found out. She is a pretty woman-a Countess ****-a fine old Visigoth name, or Ostrogoth. "The Greeks! what think you? acquaintances-but what to think I hope, howsomever. LETTER DIII. TO MR. MOORE. They are my old know not. Let us "Yours, "B." LETTER DIV. TO MR. MOORE. "R" And d-n the fool who rung it-Well! From all such plagues I'll quickly be delivered. "Ravenna, June 22, 1821. Your dwarf of a letter came yesterday. That is "I have had a friend of your Mr. Irving's*-a very right;-keep to your 'magnum opus'-magnoperate away. pretty lad-a Mr. Coolidge, of Boston-only somewhat Now, if we were but together a little to combine our too full of poesy and entusymusy.' I was very civil to 'Journal of Trevoux! But it is useless to sigh, and yet him during his few hours' stay, and talked with him much very natural,—for I think you and I draw better together, of Irving, whose writings are my delight. But I suspect in the social line, than any two other living authors. that he did not take quite so much to me, from his having "I forgot to ask you, you had seen your own pane-expected to meet a misanthropical gentleman, in wolfgyric in the correspondence of Mrs. Waterhouse and skin breeches, and answering in fierce monosyllables, Colonel Berkeley? To be sure, their moral is not quite instead of a man of this world. exact; but your passion is fully effective; and all poetry to understand that poetry is the expression of excited pas I can never get people of the Asiatic kind-I mean Asiatic, as the Romans sion, and that there is no such thing as a life of passion called 'Asiatic oratory,' and not because the scenery is any more than a continuous earthquake, or an eternal Oriental-must be tried by that test only. I am not fever. Besides, who would ever shave themselves in such quite sure that I shall allow the Miss Byrons (legitimate a state? or illegitimate) to read Lalla Rookh-in the first place, on account of this said passion; and, in the second, that they may n't discover that there was a better poet than papa. You say nothing of politics—but alas! what can be said? "I have had a curious letter to-day from a girl in England, (1 never saw her,) who says she is given over of a decline, but could not go out of the world without thanking me for the delight which my poesy for several years, &c. &c. &c. It is signed simply N. N. A. and has not a word of 'cant' or preachment in it upon any opinions. She merely says that she is dying, and that as I had contributed so highly to her existing pleasure, she thought that she might say so, begging me to burn her letterwhich, by-the-way, I can not do, as I look upon such a letter, in such circumstances, as better than a diploma from Gottingen. I once had a letter from Drontheim, in Norway, (but not from a dying woman,) in verse, on the same score of gratulation. These are the things which nake one at times believe one's self a poet. But if 1 must believe that ******, and such follows, are poets also, it is better to be out of the corps. • See Memorandums, page 268. See do. 267. "I am now in the fifth act of 'Foscari,' being the third tragedy in twelve months, besides proses; so you perceive that I am not at all idle. And are you, too, busy? I doubt that your life at Paris draws too much upon your time, which is a pity. Can't you divide your day, so as to combine both? I have had plenty of all sorts of worldly business on my hands last year, and yet it is not so difficult to give a few hours to the Muses. This sentence is so like **** that "Ever, &c. "If we were together, I should publish both my plays (periodically) in our joint journal. It should be our plan to publish all our best things in that way." LETTER DV. TO MR. MURRAY. LETTER DVII. TO MR. MURRAY. "Ravenna, July 22, 1821. "The printer has done wonders; he has read what 1 cannot-my own handwriting. "I oppose the 'delay till winter? I am particularly anxious to print while the winter theatres are closed, to gain time, in case they try their former piece of politeness. Any loss shall be considered in our contract, whether occasioned by the season or other causes; but print away and publish. "I think they must own that I have more styles than one. 'Sardanapalus' is, however, almost a comic character: but for that matter, so is Richard the Third. Mind the unities, which are my great object of research. I am glad that Gifford likes it: as for the million,' you see I have carefully consulted any thing but the taste of the day for extravagant 'coups de threatre. Any probable loss, as I said before, will be allowed for in our accompts. "Ravenna, July 6, 1821. "In agreement with a wish expressed by Mr. Hob- The reviews (except one or two, Blackwood's, for inhouse, it is my determination to omit the stanza upon the stance) are cold enough; but never mind those fellows: horse of Semiramis* in the Fifth Canto of Don Juan. II shall send them to the right about, if I take it into my mention this, in case you are, or intend to be, the publisher of the remaining Cantos. LETTER DVI. head. I always found the English baser in some things than any other nation. You stare, but it's true as to gratitude,-perhaps, because they are prouder, and proud people hate obligations. "At the particular request of the Contessa G. I have promised not to continue Don Juan. You will therefore "The tyranny of the Government here is breaking out. look upon these three Cantos as the last of the poem. She had read the first two in the French translation, and They have exiled about a thousand people of the best never ceased beseeching me to write no more of it. The families all over the Roman states. As many of my reason of this is not at first obvious to a superficial friends are among them, I think of moving too, but not till observer of FOREIGN manners; but it arises from the I have had your answers. Continue your address to me wish of all women to exalt the sentiment of the pas- here, as usual, and quickly. What you will not be sorry sions, and to keep up the illusion which is their empire. to hear is, that the poor of the place, hearing that I meant Now Don Juan strips off this illusion, and laughs at that to go, got together a petition to the Cardinal to request and most other things. I never knew a woman who did that he would request me to remain. I only heard of it a not protect Rousseau, nor one who did not dislike De day or two ago, and it is no dishonour to them nor to me; Grammont, Gil Blas, and all the comedy of the passions, but it will have displeased the higher powers, who look when brought out naturally. But 'kings' blood must keep upon me as a Chief of the Coal-heavers. They arrested a servant of mine for a street-quarrel with an officer, (they word' as Serjeant Bothwell says." drew upon one another knives and pistols,) but as the officer was out of uniform, and in the wrong besides, on my protesting stoutly, he was released. I was not present at the affray, which happened by night near my stables. My man, (an Italian,) a very stout and not overpatient personage, would have taken a fatal revenge afterwards, if I had not prevented him. As it was, he drew "July 14, 1821. 'I trust that Sardanapalus will not be mistaken for his stiletto, and, but for passengers, would have carbonadoed political play, which was so far from my intention, that the captain, who, I understand, made but a 'poor figure in thought of nothing but Asiatic history. The Venetian the quarrel, except by beginning it. He applied to me play, too, is rigidly historical. My object has been to and I offered him any satisfaction, either by turning away dramatise, like the Greeks, (a modest phrase,) striking the man, or otherwise, because he had drawn a knife. He passages of history, as they did of history and mythology. answered that a reproof would be sufficient. I reproved You will find all this very unlike Shakspeare; and so him; and yet, after this, the shabby dog complained to much the better in one sense, for I look upon him to be the Government,--after being quite satisfied, as he said. he worst of models, though the most extraordinary of This roused me, and I gave them a remonstrance, which vriters. It has been my object to be as simple and had some effect. The captain has been reprimanded. severe as Alfieri, and I have broken down the poetry as the servant released, and the business at present rests there." nearly as I could to common language. The hardship is that in these times one can neither speak of kings or queens without suspicion of politics or personalities. I intended neither. TO MR. MURRAY. a "I am not very well, and I write in the midst of unpleasant scenes here: they have, without trial or process, bamshed several of the first inhabitants of the cities-here and all around the Roman states-among them many of my personal friends-so that every thing is in confusion and grief: it is a kind of thing which cannot be described without an equal pain as in beholding it. "You are very niggardly in your letters. Stanza 01. "Yours truly, "B." LETTER DVIII. TO MR. HOPPNER. "Ravenna, July 23, 1821. "This country being in a state of proscription, and all my friends exiled or arrested-the whole family of Gamba obliged to go to Florence for the present-the father and son for politics-(and the Guiccioli because menaced with a convent, as her father is not here,) I have determined to remove to Switzerland, and they also. Indeed my life here is not supposed to be particularly safe-but that has been the case for this twelvemonth past and is therefore not the primary consideration. |