"Venice, April 14. 1817.
"The present proofs (of the whole) begin only at the 17th page; but
as I had corrected and sent back the first Act, it does not
signify.
"The third Act is certainly d----d bad, and, like the Archbishop of
Grenada's homily (which savoured of the palsy), has the dregs of my
fever, during which it was written. It must on _no account_ be
published in its present state. I will try and reform it, or
rewrite it altogether; but the impulse is gone, and I have no
chance of making any thing out of it. I would not have it published
as it is on any account. The speech of Manfred to the Sun is the
only part of this act I thought good myself; the rest is certainly
as bad as bad can be, and I wonder what the devil possessed me.
"I am very glad indeed that you sent me Mr. Gifford's opinion
without _deduction_. Do you suppose me such a booby as not to be
very much obliged to him? or that in fact I was not, and am not,
convinced and convicted in my conscience of this same overt act of
nonsense?
"I shall try at it again: in the mean time, lay it upon the shelf
(the whole Drama, I mean): but pray correct your copies of the
first and second Acts from the original MS.
"I am not coming to England; but going to Rome in a few days. I
return to Venice in _June_; so, pray, address all letters, &c. to
me _here_, as usual, that is, to _Venice_. Dr. Polidori this day
left this city with Lord G * * for England. He is charged with
some books to your care (from me), and two miniatures also to the
same address, _both_ for my sister.
"Recollect not to publish, upon pain of I know not what, until I
have tried again at the third Act. I am not sure that I _shall_
try, and still less that I shall succeed, if I do; but I am very
sure, that (as it is) it is unfit for publication or perusal; and
unless I can make it out to my own satisfaction, I won't have any
part published.
"I write in haste, and after having lately written very often.
Yours," &c.
* * * * *