“Your account of your family is very pleasing: would that I ‘could answer this comfort with the like!’ but I have just lost my natural daughter, Allegra, by a fever. The only consolation, save time, is the reflection, that she is either at rest or happy; for her few years (only five) prevented her from having incurred any sin, except what we inherit from Adam.
‘Whom the gods love, die young.’ |
“I need not say that your letters are particularly welcome, when they do not tax your time and patience; and now that our correspondence is resumed, I trust it will continue.
“I have lately had some anxiety, rather than trouble, about
an awkward affair here, which you may perhaps have heard of: but our minister has behaved very handsomely, and the Tuscan
Government as well as it is possible for such a government to behave, which is not
saying much for the latter. Some other English, and Scots, and myself, had a brawl with
a dragoon, who insulted one of the party, and whom
we mistook for an officer, as he was medalled and well mounted, &c., but he turned
out to be a sergeant-major. He called out the guard at the gates to arrest us (we being
unarmed); upon which I and another (an Italian) rode through the said guard; but they
succeeded in detaining others of the party. I rode to my house and sent my secretary to
give an account of the attempted and illegal arrest to the authorities, and then,
without dismounting, rode back towards the gates, which are near my present mansion.
Half way I met my man, vapouring away, and threatening to draw upon me (who had a cane
in my hand, and no other arms). I, still
| A. D. 1822. | LIFE OF LORD BYRON. | 593 |
“These are the only literary matters in which I have been engaged since the publication and row about ‘Cain;’—but Mr. Murray has several things of mine in his obstetrical hands. Another Mystery—a Vision—a Drama—and the like.—But you won’t tell me what you are doing—however, I shall find you out, write what you will. You say that I should like your son-in-law—it would be very difficult for me to dislike any one connected with you; but I have no doubt that his own qualifies are all that you describe.
“I am sorry you don’t like Lord Orford’s new work. My aristocracy, which is very fierce, makes him a favourite of mine.
Recollect that those ‘little factions’ comprised Lord Chatham and Fox, the father,
and that we live in gigantic and exaggerated times, which make
all under Gog and Magog appear pigmean.—After having seen Napoleon begin like Tamerlane and end
like Bajazet in our own time, we have not the
| 594 | NOTICES OF THE | A. D. 1822. |
