"March 25, 1813.
"I enclose you a draft for the usurious interest due to Lord * *'s
_protégé_;--I also could wish you would state thus much for me to
his Lordship. Though the transaction speaks plainly in itself for
the borrower's folly and the lender's usury, it never was my
intention to _quash_ the demand, as I _legally_ might, nor to
withhold payment of principal, or, perhaps, even _unlawful_
interest. You know what my situation has been, and what it is. I
have parted with an estate (which has been in my family for nearly
three hundred years, and was never disgraced by being in possession
of a _lawyer_, a _churchman_, or a _woman_, during that period,) to
liquidate this and similar demands; and the payment of the
purchase is still withheld, and may be, perhaps, for years. If,
therefore, I am under the necessity of making those persons _wait_
for their money, (which, considering the terms, they can afford to
suffer,) it is my misfortune.
"When I arrived at majority in 1809, I offered my own security on
_legal_ interest, and it was refused. _Now_, I will not accede to
this. This man I may have seen, but I have no recollection of the
names of any parties but the _agents_ and the securities. The
moment I can it is assuredly my intention to pay my debts. This
person's case may be a hard one; but, under all circumstances, what
is mine? I could not foresee that the purchaser of my estate was to
demur in paying for it.
"I am glad it happens to be in my power so far to accommodate my
Israelite, and only wish I could do as much for the rest of the
Twelve Tribes.
"Ever yours, dear R., BN."
[Footnote 61:
"Tis said that persons living on annuities
Are longer lived than others,--God knows why,
Unless to plague the grantors,--yet so true it is,
That some, I really think, _do_ never die.
Of any creditors, the worst a Jew it is;
And _that_'s their mode of furnishing supply:
In my young days they lent me cash that way,
Which I found very troublesome to pay."
DON JUAN, Canto II
]
* * * * *
At the beginning of this year, Mr. Murray having it in contemplation to
publish an edition of the two Cantos of Childe Harold with engravings,
the noble author entered with much zeal into his plan; and, in a note on
the subject to Mr. Murray, says,--"Westall has, I believe, agreed to
illustrate your book, and I fancy one of the engravings will be from the
pretty little girl you saw the other day[62], though without her name,
and merely as a model for some sketch connected with the subject. I
would also have the portrait (which you saw to-day) of the friend who is
mentioned in the text at the close of Canto 1st, and in the
notes,--which are subjects sufficient to authorise that addition."
Early in the spring he brought out, anonymously, his poem on Waltzing,
which, though full of very lively satire, fell so far short of what was
now expected from him by the public, that the disavowal of it, which, as
we see by the following letter, he thought right to put forth, found
ready credence:--