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enter, there is a monument with a tablet containing these words:

"When sorrow weeps o'er Virtue's sacred dust,
Our tears become us, and our grief is just:
Such were the tears she shed, who grateful pays
This last sad tribute of her love and praise."

I recollect them (after seventeen years), not from any thing remarkable in them, but because from my 'seat in the gallery I had generally my eyes turned 'towards that monument. As near it as convenient I 'could wish Allegra to be buried, and on the wall a 'marble tablet placed, with these words:

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'The funeral I wish to be as private as is consistent with decency; and I could hope that Henry Drury will, perhaps, read the service over her. If he 'should decline it, it can be done by the usual minister for the time being. I do not know that I need 'add more just now.

'Since I came here, I have been invited by the 'Americans on board their squadron, where I was ' received with all the kindness which I could wish, and with more ceremony than I am fond of. I found 'them finer ships than your own of the same class, 'well manned and officered. A number of Ameri

can gentlemen also were on board at the time, and 'some ladies. As I was taking leave, an American 'lady asked me for a rose which I wore, for the pur

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pose, she said, of sending to America something 'which I had about me, as a memorial. I need not 'add that I felt the compliment properly. Captain 'Chauncey showed me an American and very pretty 'edition of my poems, and offered me a passage to the United States, if I would go there. Commodore Jones was also not less kind and attentive. I have since received the enclosed letter, desiring me to sit for my picture for some Americans. It is singular that, in the same year that Lady Noel leaves by will an interdiction for my daughter to 'see her father's portrait for many years, the indi'viduals of a nation, not remarkable for their liking to the English in particular, nor for flattering men in 'general, request me to sit for my "pourtraicture," as Baron Bradwardine calls it. I am also told of con'siderable literary honours in Germany. Goethe, I am told, is my professed patron and protector. At 'Leipsic, this year, the highest prize was proposed ' for a translation of two cantos of Childe Harold. I ' am not sure that this was at Leipsic, but Mr. Row'croft was my authority-a good German scholar (a young American), and an acquaintance of 'Goethe's.

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'Goethe and the Germans are particularly fond of 'Don Juan, which they judge of as a work of art. 'I had heard something of this before through Baron 'Lutzerode. The translations have been very frequent of several of the works, and Goethe made a comparison between Faust and Manfred.

All this is some compensation for your English 'native brutality, so fully displayed this year to its 'highest extent.

'I forgot to mention a little anecdote of a different

'kind. I went over the Constitution (the Commo'dore's flag-ship), and saw, among other things wor

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thy of remark, a little boy born on board of her by ' a sailor's wife. They had christened him "Consti'tution Jones." I, of course, approved the name; ' and the woman added, "Ah, sir, if he turns out but half as good as his name!

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LETTER 495.

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TO MR. MURRAY.

Yours ever, &c.'

'Montenero, near Leghorn, May 29th, 1822.

I return you the proofs revised. Your printer has 'made one odd mistake:-"poor as a mouse," instead of "poor as a miser." The expression may seem strange, but it is only a translation of "semper 'avarus eget." You will add the Mystery, and pub'lish as soon as you can. I care nothing for your "season," nor the blue approbations or disapproba'tions. All that is to be considered by you on the subject is as a matter of business; and if I square that to your notions (even to the running the risk entirely myself), you may permit me to choose my ' own time and mode of publication. With regard to the late volume, the present run against it or me may 'impede it for a time, but it has the vital principle of permanency within it, as you may perhaps one day 'discover. I wrote to you on another subject a few 'Yours, 'N. B.

6

days ago.

'P.S. Please to send me the Dedication of Sarda'napalus to Goethe. I shall prefix it to Werner, 'unless you prefer my putting another, stating that 'the former had been omitted by the publisher.

On the title-page of the present volume, put "Published for the Author by J. M.”

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LETTER 496.

( rest.

you

TO MR. MURRAY.

'Montenero, Leghorn, June 6th, 1822.

I return you the revise of Werner, and expect the With regard to the Lines to the Po, perhaps had better put them quietly in a second edition (if you reach one, that is to say) than in the first; 'because, though they have been reckoned fine, and I wish them to be preserved, I do not wish them to 'attract IMMEDIATE observation, on account of the ' relationship of the lady to whom they are addressed ' with the first families in Romagna and the Marches.

'The defender of "Cain" may or may not be, as you term him, "a tyro in literature:" however I 'think both you and I are under great obligation to 'him. I have read the Edinburgh review in Galig'nani's Magazine, and have not yet decided whether 'to answer them or not; for, if I do, it will be diffi'cult for me not "to make sport for the Philistines by pulling down a house or two; since, when I once 'take pen in hand, I must say what comes uppermost, or fling it away. I have not the hypocrisy to pre'tend impartiality, nor the temper (as it is called) to keep always from saying what may not be pleasing to the hearer or reader. What do they mean by "" elaborate?" Why, you know that they were 'written as fast as I could put pen to paper, and 'printed from the original MSS., and never revised 'but in the proofs: look at the dates and the MSS. 'themselves. Whatever faults they have must spring from carelessness, and not from labour. They said 'the same of "Lara," which I wrote while undressing ' after coming home from balls and masquerades, in 'the year of revelry 1814.

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'Yours.

'June 8th, 1822.

'You give me no explanation of your intention as to "the "Vision of Quevedo Redivivus," one of my best things indeed, you are altogether so abstruse and 'undecided lately, that I suppose you mean me to write "John Murray, Esq., a Mystery,”—a composition which would not displease the clergy nor the trade. I by no means wish you to do what you don't like, but merely to say what you will do. The Vision must be published by some one. As to "clamours," the die is cast; and "come one, come all,” we will fight it out-at least one of us.'

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LETTER 497.

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TO MR. MOORE.

Montenero, Villa Dupoy, near Leghorn, June 8th, 1822. 'I have written to you twice through the medium of Murray, and on one subject, trite enough,-the loss ' of poor little Allegra by a fever; on which topic I 'shall say no more-there is nothing but time.

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6

A few days ago, my earliest and dearest friend, 'Lord Clare, came over from Geneva on purpose to

see me before he returned to England. As I have always loved him (since I was thirteen, at Harrow) 'better than any (male) thing in the world, I need hardly say what a melancholy pleasure it was to see him for a day only; for he was obliged to resume his 'journey immediately. Do you ' recollect, in the year of revelry 1814, the pleasantest parties and balls all over London? and not the least so at **'s. Do you recollect your singing duets ⚫ with Lady ** *, and my flirtation with Lady ** *, and

*

*

all the other fooleries of the time? while **

**

was

sighing, and Lady * ogling him with her clear ' hazel eyes. But eight years have passed, and, since

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