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

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whole – (of his part with his permission) that is – and I am then willing either to settle it by arbitration
– or by contract – or by partnership over the whole – or any other honourable method or mode of
proceeding. – You will please not to forget – that in case of enclosure – a large allottment of land must
come to the Lord of the Manor – as is the usual claim and custom on such occasions – the Manorial
rights are over nearly forty thousand acres. – There are also some other privileges and pickings (besides
the right of sporting & c . & c . & c .) as the Rochdale Market toll payment shows. – – –
I hope that you received the deed and the other parcels of y e 12 th . of D.J. and that you will safely
receive the packet accompanying this also. [wavy line.]
Byron to Douglas Kinnaird, from Genoa, January 18th 1823:
(Source: Ms. Lady Charnwood Collection, B. L., unseen; not in 1922 II; text from BLJ X 87-8)
Genoa. J y . 18 th . 1823.
My dear Douglas, / By y e . post of yesterday—or rather of y e . 16 o —I forwarded a packet to you
containing a letter—–the revise of J. and certain poeshies for any ensuing number of “the Liberal” be
transmitted by you to M r . J. H. in time.—This is merely a line of Advice to your Honour.—I have
already written more than once to express my willingness to accept the—or almost any mortgage—
anything to get out of the tremulous funds of these oscillatory times.—There will be a war
somewhere—no doubt—and wherever it may be the funds will be affected more or less—so pray—get
us out of them with all proper expedition—It has been the burthen of my song to you these three years
and better and about as useful as better Counsels.—With regard to Chancery—Appeals—
Arbitrations—Surveyings—Bills—fees—receipts—disbursements—copy-rights—manorial ditto—
funds—land—& c . & c . & c .—I shall always be disposed to follow your more practical—and practicable
experience.—I will economize—and do as I have partly proved to you by my surplus revenue of
1822—(which almost equals the ditto of the United States Of America—vide—– President’s report to
Congress—in proportion) & do you second my parsimony by judicious disbursements of what is
requisite—and a moderate liquidation,—also such an investment of any spare monies—as may render
some usance to the owner because however little—“every little makes a mickle” as we of the North say
with more reason than rhyme.—I hope that you have all receipts & c . & c . & c . and acknowledgements of
monies paid towards liquidation of debts,—to prevent confusion and hinder the fellows from
coming twice—of which they would be capable—particularly—as my absence would lend a pretext to
the pretension.—
You will perhaps wonder at this recent & furious fit of accumulation and retrenchment—but—it is not
so unnatural—I am not naturally ostentatious—although once careless and expensive because careless
and my most extravagant passions have pretty well subsided—as it is time that they should on the very
verge of thirty five.—–I always looked to about thirty as the barrier of any real or fierce delight in the
passions—and determined to work them out in the younger ore and better veins of the Mine—and I
flatter myself (perhaps) that I have pretty well done so—and now the dross is coming—and I loves
lucre for one must love something. At least if I have not quite worked out the others—it is not for want
of labouring hard to do so—but perhaps I deceive myself—At any rate then I have a passion the
more—and thus a feeling. However it is not for myself—but I should like (God willing) to leave
something to my relatives more than a mere name; and besides that to be able to do good to others to a
greater extent. If nothing else—will do—I must try bread & water—which by the way—are very
nourishing—and sufficient—if good of their kind.
yrs. ever
N B
P.S. to Byron to Kinnaird, January 21st 1823:
(Source: Ms. NLS TD 3079, f.48; not in 1922 II; BLJ X 78)
[To, The Honourable / Douglas Kinnaird. / Messrs Ransom & C o Bankers. / Pall Mall. / London. /
Angleterre. // Inghilterra.] Postmark “JAN 21 1823”
Another postscript for which we do not have the main letter. Probably it was only enclosed with the
Hanson letter it mentions.
P.S. – Please to read and forward the enclosed to Charles Hanson. – I think you will approve of part of
it. – I pass everything through you – that you may know it – as it is useless to consult a friend – and
conceal anything at the same time. – – –
Byron to Charles Hanson, from Ravenna, January 11th 1821:
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