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

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expence. – The Creditors must wait another year or so – which they may well do – since happen what
may [below address:] to me – they are eventually secure. – As to Literary matters – they seem hopeless
– though I do not see why you are so frightened – as Henry Fox (L d . Holland’s son) tells me you are –
this is to want moral courage – which is strange in one who has so much physical valour as
to be rather too temerarious in most things. – – You however might probably dispose of the ten Cantos
and “the Island” to Somebody or other. y rs ever N. B. –
Byron to Douglas Kinnaird, from Genoa, April 9th 1823:
(Source: text from NLS Ms.43454; not in 1922 II; BLJ X 146-7)
[To, The Honorable / Douglas Kinnaird. / Messrs Ransom & Co. Bankers. / Pall Mall. / London. /
Angleterre. // Inghilterra.]
A single sheet. Byron has been visited by Blaquiere, and plans to go to Greece.
Genoa. April 9 th . 1823.
Dear Douglas / I have received the inclosed note from and seen a M r . Jones. – I can only say of the
Messrs Howard and Gibbs and Miss Massingberd – that I have nothing further to do in the business. –
The letter contains a proposal for me to pay the insurance of Miss M d ’s life! – With exactly the same
equity as if I were to insure your life – and ask you to pay the insurance. – I have paid at one or another
[Ms. tear: “time”] more than the principal and legal interest of the whole sum – if Miss M. did not
choose to pay them what she received – that is her affair. – In 1814 she proposed to me by a M r . Fozard
– that if I would advance a certain sum – I should hear no more of her – I did advance it – and till
within this last year – heard no more on the subject. – You are I suppose fully aware what sort of
people Howard & Gibbs turned out – and I shall listen to no representations of theirs – I never spoke
with Gibbs – or saw him or Howard that I recollect – since I was one and twenty. – Thomas and Riley
were my only Jews – and they were paid off in 1818 or 1819. – At least so it was stated in my accounts
1:2 [above address:] from Hanson – which I presume you saw verified. – –
If M r . Jones calls upon you – I can only say – that you may repeat what is here stated – and what I
stated to himself this morning. – – – – – –
I wrote to you and Hobhouse by Monday’s post 144 – chiefly on the substance of an interview between
Cap t . Blaquiere and [below address:] the Greek envoy – and myself on the subject of the Greek cause.
– It is probable – if they {send to} me (as they seem inclined –) that I may go out there – {to
the provisional seat of Government} – or at any rate do what I can for them in the way of
correspondence & c . – – In that case I shall wish you to reserve all monies to supply me with as ample a
credit as you can furnish me with consistent with the sums you may receive or are likely to receive for
me. – y rs . ever N. B.
Byron to Douglas Kinnaird, from Genoa, April 14th 1823:
(Source: text from NLS Ms.43454; not in 1922 II; BLJ X 150)
[To, The Honorable / Douglas Kinnaird, / Messrs Ransom and C o . Bankers / Pall Mall, / London. /
Angleterre. // Inghilterra.]
April 14 th . 1823.
Dear Douglas /
I have received a copy of “the Age” from M r . J.H. who seems apprehensive of piracy – if
such an attempt is made we must apply for an injunction – as there is nothing illegal that I see in the
publication. – Tell Hobhouse that I have written twice on the subject of Greece – with a request that
you should know what I have written on the subject of my interview with {Cap t .} Blaquiere. – – You
will in case of it’s being necessary – supply me with such a credit as my available funds will sanction –
I suppose. – Do not make any more payments – without letting me know – and pray let us stop these
Rochdale proceedings. – I suppose that M r . Deardon would give us something for the Manor – a little
would be better now – than more at another time. I have now been a year and quarter in possession of
Kirkby & we have received nine hundred pounds! out of a (stated as available) rental of six thousand
three hundred and thirty six pounds per annum. – Admitting a thousand for the mortgage – (which you
say is to be repaid to me eventually) and another thousand for Lady Noel’s posthumous perquisite –
144: See B. to H. (not to H. and K.), April 7th 1823: I saw Cap t . Blaquiere and the Greek Companion of his
mission on Saturday. – of course I entered very sincerely into the object of their journey – and have even offered to
go up to the Levant in July – if the Greek provisional Government think that I could be of any use. – – It is not that
I could pretend to anything in a military capacity – I have not the presumption of the philosopher of Ephesus –
who lectured {before} Hannibal on the art of war – nor is it much that an individual foreigner can do in any other
way – but perhaps as a reporter of the actual state of things there – or in carrying on any correspondence
{between} them and their western friends – I might be of use – at any rate I would try. –