Volume I Part 22 (1/2)
P.S.--Since we met, I have reduced myself by violent exercise, _much_ physic, and _hot_ bathing, from 14 stone 6 lb. to 12 stone 7 lb. In all I have lost 27 pounds. [1] Bravo!--what say you?
[Footnote 1: The following extract is taken from a ledger in the possession of Messrs. Merry, of St. James's Street, S.W.:--
”1806--January 4. Lord Byron (boots, no hat) 13 stone 12 lbs 1807--July 8. Lord Byron (shoes) 10 stone 13 lbs 1807--July 23. Lord Byron (shoes) 11 stone 0 lbs 1807--August 13. Lord Byron (shoes) 10 stone 11-1/2 lbs 1808--May 27. Lord Byron (shoes) 11 stone 1 lbs 1809--June 10. Lord Byron (shoes) 11 stone 5-3/4 lbs 1811--July 15. Lord Byron (shoes) 9 stone 11-1/2 lbs”]
72.--To John Hanson.
[6, Chancery Lane, Temple Bar, London.]
Southwell, 19 April, 1807.
Sir,--My last was an Epistle ”_entre nous_;” _this_ is a _Letter_ of _Business_, Of course the _formalities_ of _official communication_ must be attended to. From lying under pecuniary difficulties, I shall draw for the Quarter due the 25th June, in a short Time. You will recollect I was to receive 100 for the Expence of Furniture, etc., at Cambridge. I placed in your possession accounts to amount and then I have received 70, for which I believe you have my Receipt. This extra 25 or 30 (though the Bills are long ago discharged from my own purse) I should not have troubled you for, had not my present Situation rendered even that Trifle of some Consequence. I have therefore to request that my Draft for 150, instead of 125 the simple Quarter, may be honoured, but think it necessary to apprize you previous to its appearance, and indeed to request an early Answer, as I had one Draft returned by Mistake from your _House_, some Months past. I have no Inclination to be placed in a similar Dilemma.
I lent Mrs. B. _60_ last year; of this I have never received a Sou and in all probability never shall. I do not mention the circ.u.mstance as any Reproach on that worthy and lamblike Dame, [1] but merely to show you how affairs stand. 'Tis true myself and two Servants lodge in the House, but my Horses, etc., and their expences are defrayed by your humble Sert. I quit Cambridge in July, and shall have considerable payments to make at that period; for this purpose I must sell my _Steeds_. I paid Jones in January 150, 38 to my Stable Keeper, 21 to my wine Merchant, 20 to a _Lawyer_ for the prosecution of a Scoundrel, a late Servant. In short I have done all I can, but am now completely _done_ up.
Your answer will oblige
Yours, etc., etc.,
BYRON.
[Footnote 1: Mrs. Byron, on the other hand, tells a different story.
”Lord Byron,” she writes to Hanson (March 19, 1807), ”has now been with me seven months, with two Men Servants, for which I have never received one farthing, as he requires the five hundred a year for himself. Therefore it is impossible I can keep him and them out of my small income of four hundred a year,--two in Scotland [Mrs. Gordon of Gight (see Chapter I. p. 4) was dead], and the pension is now reduced to two hundred a year. But if the Court allows the additional two hundred, I shall be perfectly satisfied.
”I do not know what to say about Byron's returning to Cambridge. When he was there, I believe he did nothing but drink, gamble, and spend money.”
A month later (April 29, 1807), she consults Hanson about raising 1000 by a loan from Mrs. Parkyns on her security.
”Byron from their last letter gave up all hopes of getting the money, and behaved very well on the occasion, and proposed selling his Horses and plans of OEconomy that I much fear will be laid aside if the Money is procured. My only motive for wis.h.i.+ng it was to keep him clear of the Jews; but at present he does not seem at all disposed to have anything to do with them, even if he is disappointed in this resource.
I wish to act for the best: but G.o.d knows what is for the best.”
Eventually money was provided on Mrs. Byron's security (see Letters of March 6 [Letter 117] and April 26 [Letter 121], 1809), and he resided at Trinity for a few days at the end of the May term, 1807.
73.--To Elizabeth Bridget Pigot.
June 11, 1807.
Dear Queen Bess,--_Savage_ ought to be _immortal_:--though not a _thorough-bred bull-dog_, he is the finest puppy I ever _saw_, and will answer much better; in his great and manifold kindness he has already bitten my fingers, and disturbed the _gravity_ of old Boatswain, who is _grievously discomposed_. I wish to be informed what he _costs_, his _expenses_, etc., etc., that I may indemnify Mr.