Philadelphia, U. S.
_Immoral Works._--What ought to be done with works of this class? It is
easy to answer, "destroy them:" but you and I know, and Mr. Macaulay has
acknowledged, that it is often necessary to rake into the filthiest
channels for historical and biographical evidence. I, personally, doubt
whether we are justified in destroying _any_ evidence, however loathsome
and offensive it may be. What, then, are we to do with it? It is impossible
to keep such works in a private library, even under lock and key, for death
opens locks more certainly than Mr. Hobbs himself. I think such ought to be
preserved in the British Museum, entered in its catalogue, but only
permitted to be seen on good reasons formally assigned in writing, and not
then allowed to pass into the reading-room. What is the rule at the Museum?
I ask these questions because I have, by accident, become possessed of a
poem (about 1500 lines) which professes to be written by Lord Byron, is
addressed to Thomas Moore, and was printed abroad many years since. It
begins,--
"Thou ermin'd judge, pull off that sable cap."
More specific reference will not be necessary for those who have seen the
work. Is the writer known? I am somewhat surprised that not one of Byron's
friends has, so far as I know, hinted a denial of the authorship; for,
scarce as {67} the work may be, I suppose some of them must have seen it;
and, under existing circumstances, it is possible that a copy might get
into the hands of a desperate creature who would hope to make a profit, by
republishing it with Byron's and Moore's names in the title-page.