Letters and Journals of Lord Byron
Lord Byron to Mrs. Byron, 30 July 1810
“Patras, July 30, 1810.
“DEAR MADAM,
“In four days from Constantinople, with a favourable wind, I
arrived in the frigate at the island of Ceos, from whence I took a boat ![]()
| 238 | NOTICES OF THE | A. D. 1810. |
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to Athens, where I met my friend the Marquis of Sligo, who expressed a wish to proceed with me as
far as Corinth. At Corinth we separated, he for Tripolitza, I for Patras, where I had
some business with the consul, Mr. Strané, in
whose house I now write. He has rendered me every service in his power since I quitted
Malta on my way to Constantinople, whence I have written to you twice or thrice. In a
few days I visit the Pacha at Tripolitza, make the tour of the Morea, and return again
to Athens, which at present is my head-quarters. The heat is at present intense. In
England, if it reaches 98°, you are all on fire: the other day, in travelling
between Athens and Megara, the thermometer was at 125°!! Yet I feel no
inconvenience; of course I am much bronzed, but I live temperately, and never enjoyed
better health.
“Before I left Constantinople, I saw the Sultan (with
Mr. Adair), and the interior of the mosques,
things which rarely happen to travellers. Mr.
Hobhouse is gone to England: I am in no hurry to return, but have no
particular communications your country, except my surprise at Mr. H * *’s silence, and my desire that he
will remit regularly. I suppose some arrangement has been made with regard to Wymondham
and Rochdale. Malta is my post-office, or to Mr.
Strané, consul-general, Patras, Morea. You complain of my silence—I have
written twenty or thirty times within the last year: never less than twice a month, and
often more. If my letters do not arrive, you must not conclude that we are eaten, or
that there is a war, or a famine: neither must you credit silly reports, which I dare
say you have in Notts., as usual. I am very well, and neither more or less happy than I
usually am; except that I am very glad to be once more alone, for I was sick of my
companion,—not that he was a bad one, but because my nature leads me to solitude, and
that every day adds to this disposition. If I chose, here are many men who would wish to
join me—one wants me to go to Egypt, another to Asia, of which I have seen enough. The
greater part of Greece is already my own, so that I shall only go over my old ground,
and look upon my old seas and mountains, the only acquaintances I ever found improve
upon me.
“I have a tolerable suite, a Tartar, two Albanians, an
interpreter, besides Fletcher: but in this
country these are easily maintained. Adair
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| A. D. 1810. | LIFE OF LORD BYRON. | 239 |
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received me wonderfully well, and indeed I have no
complaints against any one. Hospitality here is necessary, for inns are not. I have
lived in the houses of Greeks, Turks Italians, and English—to-day in a palace, to-morrow
in a cowhouse; this day with the Pacha, the next with a shepherd. I shall continue to
write briefly, but frequently, and am glad to hear from you; but you fill your letters
with things from the papers, as if English papers were not found all over the world. I
have at this moment a dozen before me. Pray take care of my books, and believe me, my
dear mother, yours, &c.”
Sir Robert Adair (1763-1855)
English diplomat; he was Whig MP for Appleby (1799-1802) and Camelford (1802-12), a
friend and disciple of Charles James Fox, and ambassador to Constantinople, 1809-10. He was
ridiculed by Canning and Ellis in
The Rovers.
William Fletcher (1831 fl.)
Byron's valet, the son of a Newstead tenant; he continued in service to the end of the
poet's life, after which he was pensioned by the family. He married Anne Rood, formerly
maid to Augusta Leigh, and was living in London in 1831.
John Hanson (1755-1841)
Byron's solicitor and business agent.
John Cam Hobhouse, baron Broughton (1786-1869)
Founder of the Cambridge Whig Club; traveled with Byron in the orient, radical MP for
Westminster (1820); Byron's executor; after a long career in politics published
Some Account of a Long Life (1865) later augmented as
Recollections of a Long Life, 6 vols (1909-1911).
