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

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year {1823} if all had gone properly – I should have had between twelve and fourteen thousands – (the
three thousand {& odd} surplus of this year included –) This would have discharged all debt and left a
surplus of several thousands – as it is I will retrench – {and may} starve – perish – but – as far as
human means can go in retrenchment – I will have – the proper over=plus – and enough to put out at
interest as it should be; low but safe, – so as not to look to paltry contingencies. – To this I entreat y r .
attention – but first get well – I would rather be
3:2 [above address:] out of cash than out of the few friends I retain; the former may be replaced – but I
have no funds which can re=instate the latter. – So Get thee well 112 – and look to your concerns – also
when at ease [below address:] don’t forget those of y rs .
ever & truly
N. B.
Byron to Douglas Kinnaird, from Genoa, December 26th 1822:
(Source: text from NLS Ms.43454; not in 1922 II; BLJ X 72)
[To, The Honourable / Douglas Kinnaird. / & c . & c . & c . / Honoured by M r . J. Hunt. –]
10b re . 26 o 1822.
My dear Douglas,
Since I wrote to you on y e . 23 d . I have thought further over the matter – and am of
opinion that Counsel should be retained (at my expence) in behalf of M r . J no . Hunt. Choose whom you
& he think best – Scarlet – or Denman (my personal friend the latter is or was) or any other fit
Advocate. – –
This will be delivered to you by M r . John Hunt – I am further of opinion
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that the seven new Cantos of D.J. ought to be published immediately – (the proofs however to be sent
first to & corrected by me) but who the publisher is to be or on what conditions – I must leave to you to
decide – as it may perhaps be already settled before this arrives. If it should not – pray – decide in some
way – – M r . H. and his Son (if of age) ought to give guarantees that the accounts shall
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be subject to all pro[Ms. tear: “per”] investigation previously [Ms. tear: “to”] their being past, – the
[Ms. tear: “Copy”]right to remain with the author – and the profits to be settled on a fair basis.
y rs . ever
& affect ly .
N. B.
Byron to Douglas Kinnaird, from Genoa, December 30th 1822:
(Source: text from NLS Ms.43454; 1922 II 245-6; BLJ X 72-5)
[To, The Honorable / Douglas Kinnaird. / Messrs Ransom & C o . Bankers. / Pall Mall. / London. /
Angleterre. // Inghilterra.]
Genoa. 10b re . 30 o 1822.
My dear Douglas – I have received the enclosed letter from young Hanson – and shall refer him to you
for an answer. – If you think the proposed mortgages eligible – we can agree. – I have also y rs . of the
17 th . – I am willing to retain Counsel (at my expence) and the best going – for M r . J. Hunt. – –
I am also willing to be both ostensible and responsible for the poem – and to come home and face the
consequences on the Author – though I did not wish the publication of the V. and indeed particularly
warned him to pause – or erase passages likely to be obnoxious. 113 – But I never said nor say – that he
is to have “the profit” of what I have written – meaning I suppose the unpublished D. Juans – on the
contrary I have particularly prescribed to you the terms on which it is to be pub=
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=lished. – All this outcry is merely temporary – its’ very violence will defeat itself – and shows the
alarm & weakness of those who use it – but be this as it may – I will not be bullied – and I would rather
111: B. means “remaining debt”.
112: BLJ reads B.’s decorated “w” as “we”, and has “weel”.
113: B. nowhere expresses a wish that TVOJ should not be published.