"November 12. 1813.
"My dear Sir,
"I hope you will consider, when I venture on any request, that it
is the reverse of a certain Dedication, and is addressed, _not_ to
'The Editor of the Quarterly Review,' but to Mr. Gifford. You will
understand this, and on that point I need trouble you no farther.
"You have been good enough to look at a thing of mine in MS.--a
Turkish story, and I should feel gratified if you would do it the
same favour in its probationary state of printing. It was written,
I cannot say for amusement, nor 'obliged by hunger and request of
friends,' but in a state of mind from circumstances which
occasionally occur to 'us youth,' that rendered it necessary for me
to apply my mind to something, any thing but reality; and under
this not very brilliant inspiration it was composed. Being done,
and having at least diverted me from myself, I thought you would
not perhaps be offended if Mr. Murray forwarded it to you. He has
done so, and to apologise for his doing so a second time is the
object of my present letter.
"I beg you will _not_ send me any answer. I assure you very
sincerely I know your time to be occupied, and it is enough, more
than enough, if you read; you are not to be bored with the fatigue
of answers.
"A word to Mr. Murray will be sufficient, and send it either to the
flames or
"A hundred hawkers' load,
On wings of wind to fly or fall abroad.
It deserves no better than the first, as the work of a week, and
scribbled 'stans pede in uno' (by the by, the only foot I have to
stand on); and I promise never to trouble you again under forty
Cantos, and a voyage between each. Believe me ever
"Your obliged and affectionate servant,
"BYRON."
* * * * *
The following letters and notes, addressed to Mr. Murray at this time,
cannot fail, I think, to gratify all those to whom the history of the
labours of genius is interesting:--