"Newstead Abbey, February 5. 1814.
"I quite forgot, in my answer of yesterday, to mention that I have
no means of ascertaining whether the Newark _Pirate_ has been doing
what you say.[13] If so, he is a rascal, and a _shabby_ rascal too;
and if his offence is punishable by law or pugilism, he shall be
fined or buffeted. Do you try and discover, and I will make some
enquiry here. Perhaps some _other_ in town may have gone on
printing, and used the same deception.
"The _fac-simile_ is omitted in Childe Harold, which is very
awkward, as there is a _note_ expressly on the subject. Pray
_replace_ it as _usual_.
"On second and third thoughts, the withdrawing the small poems from
The Corsair (even to add to Childe Harold) looks like shrinking and
shuffling after the fuss made upon one of them by the Tories. Pray
replace them in The Corsair's appendix. I am sorry that Childe
Harold requires some and such abetments to make him move off; but,
if you remember, I told you his popularity would not be permanent.
It is very lucky for the author that he had made up his mind to a
temporary reputation in time. The truth is, I do not think that any
of the present day (and least of all, one who has not consulted the
flattering side of human nature,) have much to hope from posterity;
and you may think it affectation very probably, but, to me, my
present and past success has appeared very singular, since it was
in the teeth of so many prejudices. I almost think people like to
be contradicted. If Childe Harold flags, it will hardly be worth
while to go on with the engravings: but do as you please; I have
done with the whole concern; and the enclosed lines, written years
ago, and copied from my skull-cap, are among the last with which
you will be troubled. If you like, add them to Childe Harold, if
only for the sake of another outcry. You received so long an answer
yesterday, that I will not intrude on you further than to repeat
myself,
"Yours, &c.
"P.S. Of course, in reprinting (if you have occasion), you will
take great care to be correct. The present editions seem very much
so, except in the last note of Childe Harold, where the word
_responsible_ occurs twice nearly together; correct the second into
_answerable_."
[Footnote 13: Reprinting the "Hours of Idleness."]
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