"February 20. 1816.
"I wrote to you hastily this morning by Murray, to say that I was
glad to do as Mackintosh and you suggested about Mr. * *. It occurs
to me now, that as I have never seen Mr. * * but once, and
consequently have no claim to his acquaintance, that you or Sir J.
had better arrange it with him in such a manner as may be least
offensive to his feelings, and so as not to have the appearance of
officiousness nor obtrusion on my part. I hope you will be able to
do this, as I should be very sorry to do any thing by him that may
be deemed indelicate. The sum Murray offered and offers was and is
one thousand and fifty pounds:--this I refused before, because I
thought it more than the two things were worth to Murray, and from
other objections, which are of no consequence. I have, however,
closed with M., in consequence of Sir J.'s and your suggestion, and
propose the sum of six hundred pounds to be transferred to Mr. * *
in such a manner as may seem best to your friend,--the remainder I
think of for other purposes.
"As Murray has offered the money down for the copyrights, it may be
done directly. I am ready to sign and seal immediately, and
perhaps it had better not be delayed. I shall feel very glad if it
can be of any use to * *; only don't let him be plagued, nor think
himself obliged and all that, which makes people hate one another,
&c. Yours, very truly,
"B."
* * * * *
In his mention here of other "purposes," he refers to an intention which
he had of dividing the residue of the sum between two other gentlemen of
literary Celebrity, equally in want of such aid, Mr. Maturin and Mr. * *.
The whole design, however, though entered into with the utmost sincerity
on the part of the noble poet, ultimately failed. Mr. Murray, who was
well acquainted with the straits to which Lord Byron himself had been
reduced, and foresaw that a time might come when even money thus gained
would be welcome to him, on learning the uses to which the sum was to be
applied, demurred in advancing it,--alleging that, though bound not only
by his word but his will to pay the amount to Lord Byron, he did not
conceive himself called upon to part with it to others. How earnestly
the noble poet himself, though with executions, at the time, impending
over his head, endeavoured to urge the point, will appear from the
following letter:--