300—to John Murray
June 12, 1813.
Dear Sir,—Having occasion to send a servant to London, I will thank you to inform me whether I left with the other things 3 miniatures in your care (—if not—I know where to find them), and also to "report progress" in unpacking the books? The bearer returns this evening.
How does Hobhouse's work go on, or rather off—for that is the essential part? In
yesterday's paper, immediately under an advertisement on "Strictures in the Urethra," I see—most appropriately consequent—a poem with " strictures on Ld B., Mr. Southey and others," 1 though I am afraid neither "Mr. S.'s" poetical distemper, nor "mine," nor "others," is of the suppressive or stranguary kind. You may read me the prescription of this kill or cure physician. The medicine is compounded at White and Cochrane's, Fleet Street. As I have nothing else to do, I may enjoy it like Sir Fretful, or the Archbishop of Grenada, or any other personage in like predicament.
Recollect that my lacquey returns in the Evening, and that I set out for Portsmouth 2 to-morrow. All here are very well, and much pleased with your politeness and attention during their stay in town.
Believe me, yours truly,
B.
P. S.—Are there anything but books? If so, let those extras remain untouched for the present. I trust you have not stumbled on any more "Aphrodites," and have burnt those. I send you both the advertisements, but don't send me the first treatise—as I have no occasion for Caustic in that quarter.
Footnote 1:
In the Morning Chronicle (June 10, 1813) appeared advertisements of the two following books:
- Practical Observations on the best mode of curing Strictures, etc., with Remarks on Inefficacy, etc., of Caustic Applications. By William Wadd. Printed for J. Callow, Soho.
- Modern Poets; a Dialogue in Verse, containing some Strictures on the Poetry of Lord Byron, Mr. Southey, and Others. Printed for White, Cochrane, and Co., Fleet Street.
In a note on Modern Poets (p. 7) occurs the following passage:
"In English Bards, and Scotch Reviewers the same respectable corps of critics is successively exhibited, in the course of only ten lines, under the following significant but somewhat incongruous forms, viz. (1) Northern Wolves, (2) Harpies, (3) Bloodhounds."
In proof the writer quotes lines 426-437 of the Satire. Then follows a long review of Childe Harold, in which the critic condemns Harold, the hero, as "an uncouth incumbrance of this flighty Lord;" the want of "plot ... action and fable, interest, order, end;" and asks:
"Shall he immortal bays aspire to wear
Who immortality from man would tear,
Repress the sigh which hopes a happier home,
And chase the visions of a life to come?"
Footnote 2:
For Byron's intention to go abroad with Lord and Lady Oxford, see p. 164, note 3.
