'ance.

'our foreign friend, which, however, was of no consequence, as there was a gondola to hold his clothes ' and pick him up. Scott swam on till past the Rialto, 'where he got out, less from fatigue than from chill, 'having been four hours in the water, without rest or stay, except what is to be obtained by floating on one's back-this being the condition of our performI continued my course on to Santa Chiara, 'comprising the whole of the Grand Canal (besides 'the distance from the Lido), and got out where the 'Laguna once more opens to Fusina. I had been in 'the water, by my watch, without help or rest, and 'never touching ground or boat, four hours and twenty 'minutes. To this match, and during the greater part ' of its performance, Mr. Hoppner, the Consul-general, was witness, and it is well known to many others. 'Mr. Turner can easily verify the fact, if he thinks it 'worth while, by referring to Mr. Hoppner. The dis'tance we could not accurately ascertain; it was of 'course considerable.

'I crossed the Hellespont in one hour and ten mi'nutes only. I am now ten years older in time, and twenty in constitution, than I was when I passed the 'Dardanelles, and yet two years ago I was capable of 'swimming four hours and twenty minutes; and I am sure that I could have continued two hours longer, though I had on a pair of trousers, an accoutrement 'which by no means assists the performance. My two companions were also four hours in the water. Mengaldo might be about thirty years of age; Scott ' about six-and-twenty.

With this experience in swimming at different 'periods of life, not only upon the SPOT, but elsewhere, ' of various persons, what is there to make me doubt

'that Leander's exploit was perfectly practicable? If 'three individuals did more than the passage of the 'Hellespont, why should he have done less? But Mr. Turner failed, and, naturally seeking a plausible reason for his failure, lays the blame on the Asiatic side of the strait. He tried to swim directly across, ' instead of going higher up to take the vantage: he might as well have tried to fly over Mount Athos.

That a young Greek of the heroic times, in love, ' and with his limbs in full vigour, might have suc'ceeded in such an attempt is neither wonderful nor 'doubtful. Whether he attempted it or not is another question, because he might have had a small boat to 'save him the trouble. I am yours very truly, ' BYRON. 'P.S. Mr. Turner says that the swimming from 'Europe to Asia was "the easiest part of the task." I doubt whether Leander found it so, as it was the return; however, he had several hours between the ' intervals. The argument of Mr. Turner, "that higher up, or lower down, the strait widens so considerably that he would save little labour by his start'ing," is only good for indifferent swimmers; a man of any practice or skill will always consider the dis'tance less than the strength of the stream. If Ekenhead and myself had thought of crossing at the

6

narrowest point, instead of going up to the Cape ' above it, we should have been swept down to Te( nedos. The strait, however, is not so extremely wide, even where it broadens above and below the 'forts. As the frigate was stationed some time in the 'Dardanelles waiting for the firman, I bathed often

in the strait subsequently to our traject, and gene'rally on the Asiatic side, without perceiving the

'greater strength of the opposite stream by which the 'diplomatic traveller palliates his own failure. Our 'amusement in the small bay which opens immediately 'below the Asiatic fort was to dive for the LAND tor'toises, which we flung in on purpose, as they amphibiously crawled along the bottom. This does not

'argue any greater violence of current than on the 'European shore. With regard to the modest insinua'tion that we chose the European side as "easier," I appeal to Mr. Hobhouse and Captain Bathurst if it be true or no (poor Ekenhead being since dead). Had 'we been aware of any such difference of current as 'is asserted, we would at least have proved it, and were not likely to have given it up in the twenty-five 'minutes of Mr. Turner's own experiment. The 'secret of all this is, that Mr. Turner failed, and that we succeeded; and he is consequently disappointed, ' and seems not unwilling to overshadow whatever 'little merit there might be in our success. Why did 'he not try the European side? If he had succeeded 'there, after failing on the Asiatic, his plea would 'have been more graceful and gracious. Mr. Turner 'may find what fault he pleases with my poetry, or my 'politics; but I recommend him to leave aquatic ' reflections till he is able to swim " five-and-twenty 'minutes" without being "exhausted," though I believe he is the first modern Tory who ever swam against the stream" for half the time*."

6.66

LETTER 414.

TO MR. MOORE.

'Ravenna, February 22d, 1821.

As I wish the soul of the late Antoine Galignani

To the above letter, which was published at the time, Mr. Turner wrote a reply, but, for reasons stated by himself, did not print it. At his request, I give insertion to his paper in the Appendix.

'to rest in peace (you will have read his death, published by himself, in his own newspaper), you are requested particularly to inform his children and 'heirs, that of their "Literary Gazette," to which I 'subscribed more than two months ago, I have only ' received one number, notwithstanding I have written 'to them repeatedly. If they have no regard for me, ⚫ a subscriber, they ought to have some for their de'ceased parent, who is undoubtedly no better off in 'his present residence for this total want of attention. 'If not, let me have my francs. They were paid by Missiaglia, the Wenetian bookseller. You may also 'hint to them that when a gentleman writes a letter, it is usual to send an answer. If not, I shall make them "a speech," which will comprise an eulogy on 'the deceased.

We are here full of war, and within two days of 'the seat of it, expecting intelligence momently. We 'shall now see if our Italian friends are good for anything but "shooting round a corner," like the Irish'man's gun. Excuse haste,-I write with my spurs 'putting on. My horses are at the door, and an Italian Count waiting to accompany me in my ride.

'Yours, &c.

P.S. Pray, amongst my letters, did you get one detailing the death of the commandant here? He 'was killed near my door, and died in my house.

'BOWLES AND CAMPBELL.

To the air of " How now, Madame Flirt," in the Beggars' Opera.

LETTER 415.

TO MR. MURRAY.

' March 2d, 1821.

'This was the beginning of a letter which I meant 'for Perry, but stopped short, hoping you would be ' able to prevent the theatres. Of course you need 'not send it; but it explains to you my feelings on the 'subject. You say that "there is nothing to fear, let 'them do what they please;" that is to say, that you would see me damned with great tranquillity. 'You are a fine fellow.'

'Dear Sir,

TO MR. PERRY.

• Ravenna, January 22d, 1821.

'I have received a strange piece of news, which 'cannot be more disagreeable to your public than it is 'to me. Letters and the gazettes do me the honour 'to say that it is the intention of some of the London 'managers to bring forward on their stage the poem of Marino Faliero," &c. which was never intended for 'such an exhibition, and I trust will never undergo it. 'It is certainly unfit for it. I have never written but 'for the solitary reader, and require no experiments for ' applause beyond his silent approbation. Since such 'an attempt to drag me forth as a gladiator in the 'theatrical arena is a violation of all the courtesies of ' literature, I trust that the impartial part of the press 'will step between me and this pollution. I say pol'lution, because every violation of a right is such, and 'I claim my right as an author to prevent what I 'have written from being turned into a stage-play. I 'have too much respect for the public to permit this 'of my own free will. Had I sought their favour, it 'would have been by a pantomime.

VOL. III.

M