LORD  BYRON  and  his  TIMES
Byron
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Astarte: a Fragment of Truth
Lord Byron to Augusta Leigh, 12 October 1822
INTRODUCTION & INDEXES
DOCUMENT INFORMATION
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Introduction
Preface
Contents
I. Byron Characteristics
II. Three Stages of Lord Byron’s Life
III. Manfred
IV. Correspondence of Augusta Byron
V. Anne Isabella Byron
VI. Lady Byron’s Policy of Silence
VII. Informers and Defamers
VIII. “When We Dead Awake”
IX. Lady Byron and Mrs. Leigh (I)
X. Lady Byron and Mrs. Leigh (II)
XI. Byron and Augusta
Notes by the Editor
Appendix
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Genoa. Octr. 12th 1822.
My dearest Augusta,

My date will inform you that I am an hundred miles or better nearer to you than I was. Address to Genoa where we all are for the present—i.e. The family of Count Gamba, who left Ravenna in 1821 with me on account of the political troubles, together with myself &c. &c. &c.

Lady B. has done a very acceptable thing to me—and I presume to you—in sending you the game, it is the first thing of the kind too for these seven years, for what with trustees, lawyers, bankers, and arbitrators, both sides have hitherto proceeded as they did in the feudal times, when people used to shake hands with iron gauntlets on through a hole in the door, after being searched for concealed arms, by way of ascertaining the sincerity of their politeness. You cannot conceive how much things harass me, and provoke me into expressions which I momentarily feel; it appears to me that persons who are in our peculiar situation, and can never see each other as long as they live again, should at least be courteous in their distance, because they never can come in contact. She has lately had a chance of having the estate to herself, for I was for four days confined to my bed, in “the worst inn’s worst room” at Lerici, on my way here, with a very painful attack of bile and rheumatism and I know not what besides—no physician but a young Italian in no great practice—however I got over it, and on my journey further got well again. The English Physician here says I am bilious, and must take the “blue pill” &c. I have no objection to take all the colours of the rainbow if they can make them into a prescription.

I saw Mr. Hobhouse at Pisa before I left it, he is gone to Rome I believe. He told me that the Revd Thomas Noel (who married us) had requested him to ask me for the promise (in case of the incumbent’s demise) of some
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living or other at Kirkby Mallory. I wish you would ask Lady B. about it, for in the first place I know nothing of any living, and in the next place, to this hour I do not know whether the estate is in her, or in me, or in the trustees, or whether the living is in her gift, or mine, or anybody’s or nobody’s. I greatly fear by what I hear on those subjects that we shall have all to go into Chancery which—Heaven knows—is but a prospect of no pleasing augurey. About the living you may tell her that I (if I have a voice in the matter) can have no views or preferences, that as T. Noel is the son of Ld. W. and, poor fellow, in the awkward situation of seeing what should have been his own in the possession of others, had his father observed the rights of the Church, it is but fair that the Church should give him some portions of what should have been his rights. If therefore he can obtain Lady B’s promise, I will not withhold mine, but in any case (supposing that the whole right was vested in me) I should not put myself in opposition to her, if she had any other views upon the subject. But I know little or nothing of the matter.

Address to Genoa—yrs ever & truly

N. B.