Letters and Journals of Lord Byron
Journal Entry: 17 March 1814
“Thursday, March 17th.
“I have been sparring with Jackson for exercise this morning; and mean to continue and renew my
acquaintance with the muffles. My chest, and arms, and. wind are in very good plight,
and I am not in flesh. I used to be a hard hitter, and my arms are very long for my
height (5 feet 8½ inches). At any rate, exercise is good, and this the severest of
all; fencing and the broad-sword never fatigued me half so much.
“Redde the ‘Quarrels of Authors’ (another sort of sparring)—a ![]()
| 508 | NOTICES OF THE | A. D. 1814. |
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new work, by that most
entertaining and researching writer, Israeli.
They seem to be an irritable set, and I wish myself well out of it. ‘I’ll
not march through Coventry with them, that’s flat.’ What the devil
had I to do with scribbling? It is too late to inquire, and all regret is useless. But,
an’ it were to do again—I should write again, I suppose. Such is human nature, at
least my share of it;—though I shall think better of myself, if I have sense to stop
now. If I have a wife, and that wife has a son—by any body—I will bring up mine heir in
the most anti-poetical way—make him a lawyer, or a pirate, or—any thing. But if he
writes too, I shall be sure he is none of mine, and cut him off with a Bank token. Must
write a letter—three o’clock.
Isaac D'Israeli (1766-1848)
English essayist and literary biographer; author of
Curiosities of
Literature (1791). Father of the prime minister.
John Jackson [Gentleman Jackson] (1769-1845)
Pugilist; champion of England from 1795 to 1804, when he was defeated by Jem Belcher.
After retirement he established a school that became headquarters of the Pugilistic
Club.
