I have only seen one review of the book, and that was in Galignani's magazine, quoted from the Monthly. It was very favourable to the plays, as Compositions.

TO JOHN MURRAY

MONTENERO, near Leghorn, May 26, 1822.

Since I came here, I have been invited by the Americans on board of 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 American 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 purpose, 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.1 It is

1"LEGHORN, 25th May, 1822.

"Casa del Console Olandese, San Marco.

"MY LORD, - If Captain Chauncey of the U. S. Ship Ontario had not left Leghorn a day sooner than he expected, it was his intention to have communicated in person the substance of this note.

"Lord Chatham, in the British Senate, and the Eulogist of Washington, are solitary examples in English Literature of those who have done justice to our character. My friend Mr. West of Mississippi, a student in the Academy at Florence, has been desired to request permission to paint a

singular that, in the same year that Lady Noel1 leaves by will an interdiction for my daughter to see her father's portrait for many years, the individuals 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 Brad wardine calls it. I am also told of considerable 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. Bancroft 2 was my authority a good German Scholar (a young American), and an acquaintance of Goethe's.

Goethe and the Germans are particularly fond of Don Juan, which they judge of as a work of Art. I had heard something like this before through Baron Lutzerode. The translations have been very frequent of several of the

portrait of your Lordship for the Academy of Fine Arts at New York. I would not have ventured to intrude this request upon your Lordship's patience if I did not know how much we should value in our own country a portrait of Lord Byron painted by an American, who has already obtained at home some reputation in his art. I beg your Lordship to attribute whatever might appear rude or unreasonable in this note to anything other than to a want of the great respect with which

"To the Rt Honble Lord Byron, Montenero."

1 The maternal grandmother of Byron's daughter Ada.

of New York.

2 In the Lenox Library, New York, is a duodecimo edition of Don

Juan, with the inscription, "Mr. George Bancroft.

Noel Byron, May 22, 1822."

From the Author

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 (I mean not your individually) to its brightest extent.

TO THOMAS MOORE

MONTENERO, VILLA DUPUY, near Leghorn, June 8, 1822.

I have read the recent article of Jeffrey in a faithful transcription of the impartial Galignani. I suppose the long and short of it is, that he wishes to provoke me to reply. But I won't, for I owe him a good turn still for his kindness by-gone. Indeed, I presume that the present opportunity of attacking me again was irresistible; and I can't blame him, knowing what human nature is. I shall make but one remark: - what does he mean by elaborate? 1 The whole volume was written with the greatest rapidity, in the midst of evolutions, and revolutions, and persecutions, and proscriptions of all who interested me in Italy. They said the same of Lara, which, you know, was written amidst balls and fooleries, and after coming home from masquerades and routs, in the summer of the sovereigns. Of all I have ever written, they are perhaps the most carelessly composed; and their faults, whatever they may

1 In Jeffrey's review of "Cain," he had said "The whole argument — and a very elaborate and specious argument it is—is directed against the goodness or the power of the Deity, and against the reasonableness of religion in general; and there is no answer so much as attempted to the offensive doctrines that are so strenuously inculcated.”