"8. St. James's Street, October 29. 1811.
"Sir,
"Soon after my return to England, my friend, Mr. Hodgson, apprised
me that a letter for me was in his possession; but a domestic event
hurrying me from London, immediately after, the letter (which may
most probably be your own) is still _unopened in his keeping_. If,
on examination of the address, the similarity of the handwriting
should lead to such a conclusion, it shall be opened in your
presence, for the satisfaction of all parties. Mr. H. is at present
out of town;--on Friday I shall see him, and request him to forward
it to my address.
"With regard to the latter part of both your letters, until the
principal point was discussed between us, I felt myself at a loss
in what manner to reply. Was I to anticipate friendship from one,
who conceived me to have charged him with falsehood? Were not
_advances_, under such circumstances, to be misconstrued,--not,
perhaps, by the person to whom they were addressed, but by others?
In _my_ case, such a step was impracticable. If you, who conceived
yourself to be the offended person, are satisfied that you had no
cause for offence, it will not be difficult to convince me of it.
My situation, as I have before stated, leaves me no choice. I
should have felt proud of your acquaintance, had it commenced under
other circumstances; but it must rest with you to determine how far
it may proceed after so _auspicious_ a beginning. I have the honour
to be," &c.
* * * * *
Somewhat piqued, I own, at the manner in which my efforts towards a more
friendly understanding,--ill-timed as I confess them to have been,--were
received, I hastened to close our correspondence by a short note,
saying, that his Lordship had made me feel the imprudence I was guilty
of, in wandering from the point immediately in discussion between us;
and I should now, therefore, only add, that if, in my last letter, I had
correctly stated the substance of his explanation, our correspondence
might, from this moment, cease for ever, as with that explanation I
declared myself satisfied.
This brief note drew immediately from Lord Byron the following frank and
open-hearted reply:--