The coronet will not
'grace' the 'pretty Vis,' till your tattered lining ceases to
'dis'grace it. Pray favour me with an answer, as we must finish
the affair one way or another immediately,--before next week.
Believe me, yours truly,
BYRON."
"Byron," says Webster, in a note, "was more than strict about
trifles."]
[Footnote 3: The death of Mrs. Byron, August 1, 1811.]
* * * * *
171.--To R. C. Dallas.
Newstead Abbey, August 25, 1811.
Being fortunately enabled to frank, I do not spare scribbling, having
sent you packets within the last ten days. I am passing solitary, and do
not expect my agent to accompany me to Rochdale [1] before the second
week in September; a delay which perplexes me, as I wish the business
over, and should at present welcome employment. I sent you exordiums,
annotations, etc., for the forthcoming quarto, if quarto it is to be:
and I also have written to Mr. Murray my objection to sending the MS. to
Juvenal, [2] but allowing him to show it to any others of the calling.
Hobhouse [3] is amongst the types already: so, between his prose and my
verse, the world will be decently drawn upon for its paper-money and
patience. Besides all this, my 'Imitation of Horace' [4] is gasping for
the press at Cawthorn's, but I am hesitating as to the how and the when,
the single or the double, the present or the future. You must excuse all
this, for I have nothing to say in this lone mansion but of myself, and
yet I would willingly talk or think of aught else.
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