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

84
(Source: text from NLS Ms.43454; not in 1922 II; BLJ X 162)
1:
fair play on my part – I don’t know what is. – Believe me
y rs . ever & truly
N. B.
P.S.
I hope you have retained the best Counsel for the H.s – have you received the 12 th . C o of D.J. sent on
the 14 th . 10b re . 1822? – I do not know what security we can have for H.’s accounting for the profits –
but he has a property in the Examiner; – a fair account of profit or loss – would perhaps be the better
way – supposing it to be accurately stated. – – – – – – –
I have had a letter from my Sister – wishing me not to leave anything by my will to her children!! I do
not know, if I mentioned to you
2:
a similar circumstance; – when Allegra died I was going to leave the five thousand pounds which I had
originally bequeathed to {that infant} to Madame La Comtesse Guiccioli – which she
declined in the most positive and, indeed, displeased terms – declaring that she should consider such a
bequest as not only an injustice to my daughter by Lady B. – and to my Sister’s family – but as a
posthumous insult to herself – and persisted so – that I have been obliged to leave my will as it was – Is
not this odd? two women of different countries converging upon the same point! It is true Madame G.
has {her separate} allowance (by the Pope’s decree) from her husband – and will have a
considerable jointure at his demise, but it is not unhandsome conduct nevertheless. – – – – – –
Byron to Douglas Kinnaird, from Genoa, May 21st 1823:
(Source: text from NLS Ms.43454; 1922 II 260-1; QII 731-2; BLJ X 177-8)
No address: sent with proofs of Don Juan.
May 21 st . 1823.
My dear Douglas /
I enclose you another corrected proof of D. J. – and also – a note {of} M r .
Barry – the acting partner of Messrs Webb – on the proposed Credit – in case I go up – to the Levant. –
– –
I do not quite know what to name as the amount – undoubtedly about 5000 – in addition to what I
already have in y e . {Circular} notes – and in Webb’s bank – would be more than sufficient for my own
personal wants for good four years – for my habits are simple – and you are aware that I have lately
reduced my other expences of every kind. – – –
But if I go up among the Greeks – I may have occasion to be of service to them – There may be
prisoners to ransom – some cash to advance – arms to purchase – or if I was to take an angry turn some
sulky morning – and raise a troop of my own (though this is unlikely) any or all of these would require
a command of credit – and require my resources. – – You will let me have what you think proper not
under the sum above
1:2
stated – but there is no immediate hurry – as I shall not sail till about July – if at all. – It is to be
understood that the letter of Credit for two thousand pounds which I have now untouched is to be
returned or left to be returned untouched in the hands of Messrs Webb – for your house – – the moment
I receive the more extended credit. – It is also to be understood – that if I receive this extended Credit –
and from any circumstances do not go up into the Levant – then that Credit is to be null and void as it
would in fact then become quite superfluous to my present occasion. I am doing all I can to get away –
but I have all kinds of obstacles thrown in my way – by the “absurd womankind” 147 – who seems
determined on sacrificing herself in every way – and preventing me from doing any good – and all
without reason – for her relations and her husband (who is moving the Pope – and the Government here
to get her to live with him again) and every body are earnest with her to return to Ravenna. – – She
wants to go up to Greece too! forsooth – a precious place to go at present! of course
147: Scott, The Antiquary, Chap. VI (“… he’s more absurd than womankind”).