264.--To John Murray.
Cheltenham, Oct. 18, 1812,
Dear Sir,--Will you have the goodness to get this Parody of a peculiar kind [1] (for all the first lines are _Busby"s_ entire), inserted in several of the papers (_correctly_--and copied _correctly; my hand_ is difficult)--particularly the "Morning Chronicle"? Tell Mr. Perry I forgive him all he has said, and may say against _my address_, but he will allow me to deal with the Doctor--(_audi alteram partem_)--and not _betray_ me. I cannot think what has befallen Mr. Perry, for of yore we were very good friends;--but no matter, only get this inserted.
I have a poem on Waltzing for _you_, of which I make _you_ a present; but it must be anonymous. It is in the old style of "English Bards, and Scotch Reviewers".
Ever yours,
BYRON.
P.S.--With the next edition of "Childe Harold" you may print the first fifty or a hundred opening lines of the "Curse of Minerva" [2] down to the couplet beginning
Mortal ("twas thus she spake), etc.
Of course, the moment the Satire begins, there you will stop, and the opening is the best part.
[Footnote 1: The "Parenthetical Address", "By Dr. Plagiary," is a parody by Byron of Dr, Busby"s "Address", the original of which will be found in the "Genuine Rejected Addresses", as well as parodied in "Rejected Addresses" ("Architectural Atoms"). On October 14 young Busby forced his way on to the stage of Drury Lane, attempted to recite his father"s address, and was taken into custody. On the next night, Dr. Busby, speaking from one of the boxes, obtained a hearing for his son, who could not, however, make his voice heard in the theatre. Then another "rejected" author tried to recite his composition, but was hooted down.
Order was restored by Raymond reminding the audience that the Chamberlain"s licence was necessary for all stage speeches. To the failure of the younger Busby (himself a compet.i.tor and the author of an "Unalogue" of fifty-six lines) to make himself heard, Byron alludes in the stage direction to the "Parenthetical Address"--"to be spoken in an inarticulate voice by Master P." The "Parenthetical Address" appeared in the "Morning Chronicle" for October 23, 1812. In the same issue was printed a long statement by Dr. Busby, in which, after paying a compliment to Byron"s "poetical genius," he insisted that the Committee of Drury Lane had broken faith by not choosing one of the addresses sent in by compet.i.tors. (See references to Dr. Busby in "Poems", vol. i. pp.
481 and 485, "note" 1.) Dr. Thomas Busby (1755-1838) composed the music for Holcroft"s "Tale of Mystery", the first musical melodrama produced on the English stage (Covent Garden, November 13, 1802). He was for some time a.s.sistant editor of the "Morning Post", and Parliamentary reporter for the "London Courant"; wrote on musical subjects, taught languages and music, and translated Lucretius into rhymed verse (1813).]
[Footnote 2: "The Curse of Minerva," written at Athens, in 1811, was not published as a whole till 1828. But the first fifty-four lines appeared in Canto III. of "The Corsair" (1814). (See "The Curse of Minerva:"
Introductory note, "Poems," 1898, vol. i. p. 453.)]
265.--To Robert Rushton.
Cheltenham, Oct. 18th, 1812.
Robert,--I hope you continue as much as possible to apply yourself to _Accounts_ and Land-Measurement, etc. Whatever change may take place about Newstead, there will be none as to you and Mr. Murray. It is intended to place you in a situation in Rochdale for which your pursuance of the Studies I recommend will best fit you. Let me hear from you; is your health improved since I was last at the Abbey? In the mean time, if any accident occur to me, you are provided for in my will, and if not, you will always find in your Master a sincere Friend.
B.
266.--To John Murray.
Oct. 19, 1812.
Dear Sir,--Many thanks, but I _must_ pay the "damage", and will thank you to tell me the amount for the engraving. I think the "Rejected Addresses" by far the best thing of the kind since the "Rolliad", and wish _you_ had published them. Tell the author "I forgive him, were be twenty times our satirist;" and think his imitations not at all inferior to the famous ones of Hawkins Browne. He must be a man of very lively wit, and much less scurrilous than Wits often are: altogether, I very much admire the performance, and wish it all success. The "Satirist" has taken a _new_ tone, as you will see: we have now, I think, finished with "C. H."s" critics. I have in "hand" a "Satire" on "Waltzing", which you must publish anonymously: it is not long, not quite 200 lines, but will make a very small boarded pamphlet. In a few days you shall have it.
Ever yours,
BYRON.
P.S.--The editor of the "Satirist" almost ought to be thanked for his revocation; it is done handsomely, after five years" warfare.
267.--To John Hanson.
Octr. 22d, 1812.
DEAR SIR,--I enclose you Mr. C[laughton]"s letter, from which you yourself will judge of my own. I insisted on the _contract_, and said, _if_ I gave up the wines, etc., it would be as a _gift_. He admits the validity, as you perceive. I told him that _I_ wished to avoid raising difficulties and in all respects to fulfil the bargain.
I am going to Lord Oxford"s, _Eywood, Presteigne, Hereford_. In my way back I will take Farleigh, if you are not returned to London before.
I wish to take a small _house_ for the winter any where not remote from St. James"s. Will you arrange this for me?--and think of young Rushton, whom I promised to provide for, and must begin to think of it; he might be a _sub_-Tythe _collector_, or a Bailiff to our agent at Rochdale, or many other things. He has had a fair education and was well disposed; at all events, he must no longer remain in idleness.
Let the Mule be sold and the dogs.
Pray let me hear from you when convenient, and