BYRON'S LETTERS TO DOUGLAS KINNAIRD ... - Get a Free Blog

Pisa. March 22 d . 1822
My dear Douglas /
I presume to hope that by this time you will have ensured Lady B’s life
“absolutely” without waiting for further advices from myself. – I enclose you two letters from Hanson
– to which I pray your attention & consideration as far you think that he gives sound Counsel. – I regret
this portrait whim of Lady Noel’s because it shows a posthumous protraction of no very good feelings
on her part. – You must advise D r . Lushington & L y . B. from me that I came to this discussion of
interests with every conciliatory disposition to settle things amicably – as far as the Separation would
allow – but that I will not wittingly have my daughter prejudiced against her father. – We must have
something about her settled in Chancery – or I must have an assurance from their part – that her Mind
is not to be
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biassed against me. I must also stipulate that M rs . Clermont 19 is not to be about her person. – – If these
points are not accorded I must come to England & bring the matter before a Court of law – as far as
regards her education and my paternal rights to direct it. – I have otherwise no wish to remove her from
the mother.
y rs . ever & truly
Noel Byron
P.S. 20 I hear of some erroneous paragraphs in the foreign papers (taken from the English) on the Noel
business. – I trust that you will see {all} such corrected. It is more honourable for all parties
that the real temper of the settlement should be fully comprehended and explained. // I also recommend
to your consideration what M r . Hanson says of “the Mansion” & c . – – Would not Deardon (think you?)
come to some arrangement about Rochdale without going through with the Appeal? –
Still it ought to go on in the interim. – not to lose time – if he refuses an arbitration. – – –
On March 24th, Sergeant-Major Masi is pitchforked by one of Byron’s servants after he has provoked
an affray at the city gate. Also injured are Shelley, a servant called Giuseppe Strauss, and John Hay.
Byron to Douglas Kinnaird, from Pisa, March 28th 1822:
(Source: text from NLS Ms.43453; BLJ IX 130)
11
Pisa. March 28 th .
1822.
Dear K /
To prevent misstatements I send you authentic copies of some circumstances which occurred
on Sunday last. – – –
You can use them according to the circumstances related {by others;} if there is anything stated
incorrectly in the papers these will serve to rectify them by. – You must get them translated by a very
careful hand. – –
They are the same papers directed to the Government {here} & our Ambassador at Florence. The
Aggressor is dangerously wounded & still in danger – (they say) two of my Servants both
Italians are arrested on suspicion. – I need hardly add that I neither approved nor sanctioned directly
nor indirectly – their summary mode of
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acting – notwithstanding the atrocious brutality of {the Dragoon’s} whole conduct – of part of
which (his sabring those arrested at the gate) I was ignorant having rode through the Guard to send my
Steward to the police. – I did not dismount – but rode back to the Gate with only a stick in my hand –
and expecting merely to find the party detained. – On my way I met the Aggressor – the papers
{enclosed} will inform you of the rest. –
y rs . truly & ever
Noel Byron
To
The
19: Annabella’s friend, subject of A Sketch from Private Life.
20: B. writes one P.S., then crams a second P.S. in above it.