[Footnote 3: No. 20, Maiden Lane, Covent Garden, was a tavern called the "Cider Cellars". Over the entrance was the motto, "Honos erit huic quoque h.o.m.o", supplied by Porson, who frequented the house. There Lord Campbell heard him "recite from memory to delighted listeners the whole of Anstey"s "Pleader"s Guide"" ("Lives of the Chief Justices", vol. iii.
p. 271, note). Mr. Wheatley, in "London Past and Present, sub voce"
"Maiden Lane," says that the
"tavern continued to be frequented by young men, and "much in vogue for devilled kidneys, oysters, and Welch rabbits, cigars, "goes" of brandy, and great supplies of London stout" (also for comic songs), till it was absorbed in the extensions of the Adelphi Theatre."]
328.--To Thomas Moore.
September 8, 1813.
I am sorry to see Toderini again so soon, for fear your scrupulous conscience should have prevented you from fully availing yourself of his spoils. By this coach I send you a copy of that awful pamphlet _The Giaour_, which has never procured me half so high a compliment as your modest alarm. You will (if inclined in an evening) perceive that I have added much in quant.i.ty,--a circ.u.mstance which may truly diminish your modesty upon the subject.
You stand certainly in great need of a "lift" with Mackintosh. My dear Moore, you strangely under-rate yourself. I should conceive it an affectation in any other; but I think I know you well enough to believe that you don"t know your own value. However, "tis a fault that generally mends; and, in your case, it really ought. I have heard him speak of you as highly as your wife could wish; and enough to give all your friends the jaundice.
Yesterday I had a letter from _Ali Pacha!_ brought by Dr. Holland, who is just returned from Albania [1]. It is in Latin, and begins "Excellentissime _nec non_ Carissime," and ends about a gun he wants made for him;--it is signed "Ali Vizir." What do you think he has been about? H. tells me that, last spring, he took a hostile town, where, forty-two years ago, his mother and sisters were treated as Miss Cunigunde [2] was by the Bulgarian cavalry. He takes the town, selects all the survivors of this exploit--children, grandchildren, etc. to the tune of six hundred, and has them shot before his face. Recollect, he spared the rest of the city, and confined himself to the Tarquin pedigree [3],--which is more than I would. So much for "dearest friend."
[Footnote 1: See "Letters", vol. i. p. 246 [Letter 131], and "note"
[Footnote 1 of Letter 131]. Dr., afterwards Sir Henry, Holland (1788-1873) published his "Travels in the Ionian Islands, Albania, etc.", in 1815.]
[Footnote: Voltaire"s "Candide", ch. vii.:
"On ne vous a done pas viole? on ne vous a point fendu le ventre, comme le philosophe Pangloss me l"avait a.s.sure? Si fait, dit la belle Cunegonde; mais on ne meurt pas toujours de ces deux accidents."]
[Footnote 3: The "false s.e.xtus... that wrought the deed of shame," and violated Lucretia.]
329.--To Thomas Moore.
Sept. 9, 1813.
I write to you from Mr. Murray"s, and I may say, from Murray, who, if you are not predisposed in favour of any other publisher, would be happy to treat with you, at a fitting time, for your work. I can safely recommend him as fair, liberal, and attentive, and certainly, in point of reputation, he stands among the first of "the trade." I am sure he would do you justice. I have written to you so much lately, that you will be glad to see so little now.
Ever, etc., etc.
330.--To James Wedderburn Webster.
September 15th, 1813.
My dear Webster,--I shall not resist your second invitation, and shortly after the receipt of this you may expect me. You will excuse me from the races. As a guest I have no "antipathies" and few preferences.... You won"t mind, however, my _not_ dining with you--every day at least. When we meet, we can talk over our respective plans: mine is very short and simple; viz. to sail when I can get a pa.s.sage. If I remained in England I should live in the Country, and of course in the vicinity of those whom I knew would be most agreeable.
I did not know that Jack"s graven image [1] was at Newstead. If it be, pray transfer it to Aston. It is my hope to see you so shortly, tomorrow or next day, that I will not now trouble you with my speculations.
Ever yours very faithfully,
BYRON.
P.S.--I don"t know how I came to sign myself with the "i." It is the old spelling, and I sometimes slip into it. When I say I can"t _dine_ with you, I mean that sometimes I don"t dine at all. Of course, when I do, I conform to all hours and domestic arrangements.
[Footnote 1: "Jack"s graven image" means the portrait of John Jackson the pugilist.]