"Newstead Abbey, February 4. 1814.
"I need not say that your obliging letter was very welcome, and not
the less so for being unexpected.
"It doubtless gratifies me much that our _finale_ has pleased, and
that the curtain drops gracefully.[12] _You_ deserve it should, for
your promptitude and good nature in arranging immediately with Mr.
Dallas; and I can assure you that I esteem your entering so warmly
into the subject, and writing to me so soon upon it, as a personal
obligation. We shall now part, I hope, satisfied with each other. I
_was_ and am quite in earnest in my prefatory promise not to
intrude any more; and this not from any affectation, but a thorough
conviction that it is the best policy, and is at least respectful
to my readers, as it shows that I would not willingly run the risk
of forfeiting their favour in future. Besides, I have other views
and objects, and think that I shall keep this resolution; for,
since I left London, though shut up, _snow_-bound, _thaw_-bound,
and tempted with all kinds of paper, the dirtiest of ink, and the
bluntest of pens, I have not even been haunted by a wish to put
them to their combined uses, except in letters of business. My
rhyming propensity is quite gone, and I feel much as I did at
Patras on recovering from my fever--weak, but in health, and only
afraid of a relapse. I do most fervently hope I never shall.
"I see by the Morning Chronicle there hath been discussion in the
_Courier_; and I read in the Morning Post a wrathful letter about
Mr. Moore, in which some Protestant Reader has made a sad confusion
about _India_ and Ireland.
"You are to do as you please about the smaller poems; but I think
removing them _now_ from The Corsair looks like _fear_; and if so,
you must allow me not to be pleased. I should also suppose that,
after the _fuss_ of these newspaper esquires, they would materially
assist the circulation of The Corsair; an object I should imagine
at _present_ of more importance to _yourself_ than Childe Harold's
seventh appearance. Do as you like; but don't allow the withdrawing
that _poem_ to draw any imputation of _dismay_ upon me.
"Pray make my respects to Mr. Ward, whose praise I value most
highly, as you well know; it is in the approbation of such men that
fame becomes worth having. To Mr. Gifford I am always grateful,
and surely not less so now than ever. And so good night to my
authorship.
"I have been sauntering and dozing here very quietly, and not
unhappily. You will be happy to hear that I have completely
established my title-deeds as marketable, and that the purchaser
has succumbed to the terms, and fulfils them, or is to fulfil them
forthwith. He is now here, and we go on very amicably
together,--one in each _wing_ of the Abbey. We set off on Sunday--I
for town, he for Cheshire.
"Mrs. Leigh is with me--much pleased with the place, and less so
with me for parting with it, to which not even the price can
reconcile her. Your parcel has not yet arrived--at least the
_Mags_. &c.; but I have received Childe Harold and The Corsair.
"I believe both are very correctly printed, which is a great
satisfaction.
"I thank you for wishing me in town; but I think one's success is
most felt at a distance, and I enjoy my solitary self-importance in
an agreeable sulky way of my own, upon the strength of your
letter--for which I once more thank you, and am, very truly, &c.
"P.S. Don't you think Buonaparte's next _publication_ will be
rather expensive to the Allies? Perry's Paris letter of yesterday
looks very reviving. What a Hydra and Briareus it is! I wish they
would pacify: there is no end to this campaigning."
[Footnote 12: It will be recollected that he had announced The Corsair
as "the last production with which he should trespass on public patience
for some years."]
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