My
Dear Hargreaves, — You may depend upon my Observance of your father's Invitation to Farleigh
in September, where I hope we shall be the cause of much destruction to the feathered Tribe and great Amusement to ourselves.
The
Lancashire Trial
comes on very soon, and Mr. Hanson will come down by Nottingham; perhaps, I may then have a chance of seeing him; at all events, I shall probably accompany him on his way back; as I hope his Health is by this time perfectly reestablished, and will not require a journey to Harrowgate. I shall not as you justly conjecture have any occasion for my
Chapeau de Bras
, as there is nobody in the Neighbourhood who would be worth the trouble of wearing it, when I went to their parties. I am uncommonly dull at this place, as you may easily imagine, nor do I think I shall have much Amusement till the commencement of the shooting season. I shall expect (when you next write) an account of your military preparations, to repel the Invader of our Isle whenever he makes the attempt. —
You
will doubtless acquire
great Glory
on the occasion, and in expectation of hearing of your Warlike Exploits,
I remain, yours very truly,
Byron
.
Footnote 1:
Hanson had property at Farleigh, near Basingstoke.
Footnote 2:
The Rochdale property of the Byron family had been illegally sold by William, fifth Lord Byron. Proceedings were taken to recover the property; but fresh points arose at every stage, and eventually Byron, unable to wait longer, sold Newstead.