"Pisa, March 1. 1822.
"As I still have no news of my 'Werner,' &c. packet, sent to you on
the 29th of January, I continue to bore you (for the fifth time, I
believe) to know whether it has not miscarried. As it was fairly
copied out, it will be vexatious if it be lost. Indeed, I insured
it at the post-office to make them take more care, and directed it
regularly to you at Paris.
"In the impartial Galignani I perceive an extract from Blackwood's
Magazine, in which it is said that there are people who have
discovered that you and I are no poets. With regard to one of us, I
know that this north-west passage to _my_ magnetic pole had been
long discovered by some sages, and I leave them the full benefit of
their penetration. I think, as Gibbon says of his History, 'that,
perhaps, a hundred years hence it may still continue to be abused.'
However, I am far from pretending to compete or compare with that
illustrious literary character.
"But, with regard to _you_, I thought that you had always been
allowed to be _a poet_, even by the stupid as well as the
envious--a bad one, to be sure--immoral, florid, Asiatic, and
diabolically popular,--but still always a poet, _nem. con._ This
discovery therefore, has to me all the grace of novelty, as well as
of consolation (according to Rochefoucault), to find myself
_no_-poetised in such good company. I am content to 'err with
Plato;' and can assure you very sincerely, that I would rather be
received a _non_-poet with you, than be crowned with all the bays
of (the _yet_-uncrowned) Lakers in their society. I believe you
think better of those worthies than I do. I know them * * * * * *
*.
"As for Southey, the answer to my proposition of a meeting is not
yet come. I sent the message, with a short note, to him through
Douglas Kinnaird, and Douglas's response is not arrived. If he
accepts, I shall have to go to England; but if not, I do not think
the Noel affairs will take me there, as the arbitrators can settle
them without my presence, and there do not seem to be any
difficulties. The licence for the new name and armorial bearings
will be taken out by the regular application, in such cases, to the
Crown, and sent to me.
"Is there a hope of seeing you in Italy again ever? What are you
doing?--_bored_ by me, I know; but I have explained _why_ before. I
have no correspondence now with London, except through relations
and lawyers and one or two friends. My greatest friend, Lord Clare,
is at Rome: we met on the road, and our meeting was quite
sentimental--_really_ pathetic on both sides. I have always loved
him better than any _male_ thing in the world."
* * * * *
The preceding was enclosed in that which follows.