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

76
[To The Honorable / Douglas Kinnaird. / Messrs Ransom & Co. Bankers. / Pall Mall. / London. /
Angleterre. // Inghilterra.]
Byron denies that he is sabotaging The Liberal.
Genoa. March 10 th . 1823.
My dear Douglas /
Enclosed is the 14 th . Canto of D.J. – the thirteenth was sent a few days ago – also –
the Age of Bronze (proof to be compared carefully with the M.S.S. by the publisher) – and a poem in 4
Cantos called the Island – this makes the fourth packet. – Please to acknowledge arrivals of the same. –
M r . J. H. writes to his brother that you desired him to stop the L. – You forget that we have no power to
stop the publication of a work over which we have no control – there is the Pulci translation for his
next number if he pleases. – The things I have sent to you – are not to be inserted in the Liberal – but it
does not follow – that that Journal is to cease – and L. H. says that it will do him great harm if that
journal stops. – If there must be a sacrifice – I would rather risk myself than other people. – As to the
D.J. you have now nine Cantos in hand – I sent the proofs of the last six; – I care nothing for outcry & c .
– they shall be published and that speedily if I were to print them myself. y rs . ever N. B.
1:2
P.S. – I know no reason for further delay of the publication of the 6 th . 7 th . and 8 th . {Cantos} and the
others need only wait till I can revise them. – Never mind me – and do not allow yourself to be swayed
by any temporary oppression – if I don’t – why should you? –
Anything from Deardon? it is very strange that you never did answer whether you received my letter
and his sent on the 24 th . January 1823. – I have asked twenty times. – It was ensured. –
Byron to Douglas Kinnaird, from Genoa, March 20th 1823:
(Source: text from NLS Ms.43454; not in 1922 II; BLJ X 126-7)
[To The Honorable / Douglas Kinnaird. / Messrs Ransom & Co. Bankers. / Pall Mall. / London. /
Angleterre // Inghilterra]
Genoa. March 20 th . 1823.
My dear Douglas /
Hobhouse writes that you are in Leicestershire 140 – hunting I presume – I pray you to
have a reverend care of your invaluable neck – and to make the present leap year in your accidents –
for I think that one has annually occurred to you for the two last. – You have now kept me in warm
water – by not acknowledging the receipt of Deardon’s letter – inclosed to you with my own answer –
and tending to advance the negociation – Crabtree who was to go in February does not appear to have
been – the suit advances – and lo – another lawyer’s bill – and the uncertainty of whether I am to make
a not very agreeable journey or not. – Hobhouse is very earnest that we should close with Hanson – I
am sure he cannot be more than I am – by the way – why was I not summoned by either party on the
Portsmouth case? – I would and
1:2
still will – if required – give what I know on the subject in evidence. – In my answer to Hobhouse – I
have stated what he will probably show you. –
You will – or should have received various packets of M.S.S. – a proof of the Age of Bronze –
{another} poem M.S.S. in four cantos – and the 13 th . and 14 th . of D. J. – also a Scotch deed for 133
pounds & c . signed in order to receive the money – and forwarded by the Consul’s Courier some time
ago. – I do not want you to write letters beyond simple acknowledgements of packets received. – – I
have already stated – that I am determined to publish “Coute qui coute” – neither public nor private
shall alter my course in what I think right on such subjects. – As to more Childe Harolds – and Naples
– it was a mere hypothetical case – which now that
1:3
Murray has thought proper to hint it about – I would not write – at all – and least of all for such as him.
– He went about saying that “perhaps he & c . & c . – does the fellow think that he is or ever will be on the
same terms with me as formerly? – I have been unwell – & better – but relapsed after dining with M r .
140: H. to B., March 2nd 1823: I shall speak to Kinnaird about it the moment he comes back from Leicestershire
... this is the letter in which H. relates the horrors of the Portsmouth marriage.