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

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to go to liquidation also. – These two Sums of five hundred pounds – added to the like sum for the
Rochdale Market tolls – make fifteen hundred pounds to be applied in re=imbursement for the
insurances effected and in liquidation of debts. – – – –
Of course I speak hypothetically as to the Kirkby receipts – which are not clearly stated – as far as
regards 1822. – – –
I shall still have (at this present writing) besides the twelve hundred remitted to you for the purpose
specified – fourteen hundred pounds of your circulars – for my expences here – besides the six hundred
pounds in Webb’s hands of Leghorn – which latter pays four per cent – and I have now a half year of it
due – and ready to be paid. – – All these details will seem trifling to a large dealer in Assetts – but they
are “great to little men”, 125 I can
1:4
not afford to let a few thousand pounds float about without rendering interest of some kind – – and I
think when I assign fifteen hundred pounds – at the very beginning of the year 1823. to the payment of
outstanding debt – & c . – I may be allowed to invest the three thousand mentioned (including the 1200
now sent) in such a way as to obtain me at least a trifling increase. – I do not despair of being able to
remit even more from hence – – for the same purpose – (when I hear from you in reply) and I will live
– or starve – {on the rest,} for starve I will – rather than go on longer in this vexatious labyrinth of
{lawyer’s bills} – Besides this I have a letter unused of credit for Leghorn & c . – for two thousand
pounds, – shall I return it? as it is quite gratuitous – and you have no funds for it – at least will not –
when the monies are invested in Ex. bills. – – –
2:1
J y . 29 th . 1823.
P.S.
You will perhaps be surprized – that after the enclosed epistle – somewhat lengthy – I have not
re=manded the subject {(the Circulars of August)} on which it treats. – But on second thoughts – or
third – I have postponed {their mission} till I hear from you {again,} – as I wish to know whether you
think my scheme of investment proper? – or whether the sum ought not to be applied otherwise? – or
whether I had better keep it by me – as a fund in case of unlooked for emergencies? – You will
therefore not suppose that the Circulars are on their tour {as yet} a second time – as when [Ms. tear:
“originally”] transmitted by your house in August, when [Ms. tear: “they described”] a circle of their
own, before arriving at their address. – When I hear from you – I shall probably do – what you think
most requisite, i.e. forward or retain them. –
With regard to the D. J.s – in addition to what I have stated within – I would add that as much rolls (in
them) upon the White Bears of Muscovy – who do not at present dance to English Music – it is an
appropriate moment to introduce them to the discerning public – in all their native
2:2 [above address:] intractability. – – Besides – they and the Turks form at the present the farce
{after} the Congress melodrame upon Spain. – Their names & qualities are become more familiar
household words – than when the D. J.s were written. – I am aware of no inferiority in the four
succeeding cantos i.e. the 8 th . 9 th . 10 th . 11 th . 12 th . [below address:] but all these things – like most things
are a lottery – it may be as well at least to have the ticket withdrawn. – It is true – the adventures are
kept in abeyance – but if I err not – – – there is some morality and perhaps poesy – and it may be wit –
to keep them as fresh as salt can make them. y rs . ever N. B.
Byron to Douglas Kinnaird, from Genoa, February 1st 1823:
(Source: Ms. NLS TD 3079, f. 56; not in 1922 II; BLJ X 94-5)
[To, The Honourable / Douglas Kinnaird. / Messrs Ransom & Co. Bankers. / Pall Mall. / London. /
Angleterre. // Inghilterra.]
Byron announces The Age of Bronze, and offers some new lines. He “assumes” that The Liberal is
finished, so it cannot be published there,
F y . 1 st . 1823.
My dear Douglas –
On the 16 th . Ulti mo . I sent you a packet containing the corrected proofs of D.J. Canto 6 o
– and also a poem of seven hundred and forty lines or so entitled “the Age of Bronze” – will you please
125: Goldsmith, The Traveller, l.62.