Letters and Journals of Lord Byron
Lord Byron to John Cowell, 22 October 1814
LETTER CCVI.
TO MR. COWELL.
“October 22d, 1814.
“MY DEAR COWELL,
“Many and sincere thanks for your kind letter—the bet, or
rather forfeit, was one hundred to Hawke, and
fifty to Hay (nothing to Kelly), for a guinea received from each of the two
former*. I shall feel much obliged by your setting me right if I am incorrect in this
statement in any way, and have reasons for wishing you to recollect as much as possible
of what passed, and state it to Hodgson. My
reason is this: some time ago Mr. * * * required a bet of
me which I never made, and of course refused to pay, and have heard no more of it; to
prevent similar mistakes is my object in wishing you to remember well what passed, and
to put Hodgson in possession of your memory on the subject.
“I hope to see you soon in my way through Cambridge.
Remember me to H., and believe me ever and truly, &c.”
Martin Bladen Edward Hawke (1777-1839)
English poet and friend of Byron; the son of Martin Bladen Hawke, second Baron Hawke, he
was the author of
Trafalgar; or Nelson's last Triumph (1805) and
Howell Wood, or, the Raby Hunt in Yorkshire (1806).
Captain John B. Hay (1822 fl.)
Of Kelso in Scotland, a Brighton acquaintance with whom Byron made a bet that he would
not be married; he was with Byron and Shelley at Pisa where he was involved in the Masi
affray.
Francis Hodgson (1781-1852)
Provost of Eton College, translator of Juvenal (1807) and close friend of Byron. He wrote
for the
Monthly and
Critical Reviews, and was
author of (among other volumes of poetry)
Childe Harold's Monitor; or
Lines occasioned by the last Canto of Childe Harold (1818).
Captain Kelly (1814 fl.)
An acquaintance with whom Byron made a bet that he would not be married.
