"April 23. 1818.
"The time is past in which I could feel for the dead,--or I should
feel for the death of Lady Melbourne, the best, and kindest, and
ablest female I ever knew, old or young. But 'I have supped full of
horrors,' and events of this kind have only a kind of numbness
worse than pain,--like a violent blow on the elbow or the head.
There is one link less between England and myself.
"Now to business. I presented you with Beppo, as part of the
contract for Canto fourth,--considering the price you are to pay
for the same, and intending to eke you out in case of public
caprice or my own poetical failure. If you choose to suppress it
entirely, at Mr. * * * *'s suggestion, you may do as you please.
But recollect it is not to be published in a _garbled_ or
_mutilated_ state. I reserve to my friends and myself the right of
correcting the press;--if the publication continue, it is to
continue in its present form.
"As Mr. * * says that he did not write this letter, &c. I am ready
to believe him; but for the firmness of my former persuasion, I
refer to Mr. * * * *, who can inform you how sincerely I erred on
this point. He has also the note--or, at least, had it, for I gave
it to him with my verbal comments thereupon. As to 'Beppo,' I will
not alter or suppress a syllable for any man's pleasure but my own.
"You may tell them this; and add, that nothing but force or
necessity shall stir me one step towards places to which they would
wring me.
"If your literary matters prosper let me know. If 'Beppo' pleases,
you shall have more in a year or two in the same mood. And so 'Good
morrow to you, good Master Lieutenant.' Yours," &c.
* * * * *