aw a man (and of him I have seen very little) so
sensitive;--what a happy temperament! I am sorry for it; what can
_he_ fear from criticism? I don't know if Bland has seen Miller,
who was to call on him yesterday.

"To-day is the Sabbath,--a day I never pass pleasantly, but at
Cambridge; and, even there, the organ is a sad remembrancer. Things
are stagnant enough in town,--as long as they don't retrograde,
'tis all very well. H * * writes and writes and writes, and is an
author. I do nothing but eschew tobacco. I wish parliament were
assembled, that I may hear, and perhaps some day be heard;--but on
this point I am not very sanguine. I have many plans;--sometimes I
think of the East again, and dearly beloved Greece. I am well, but
weakly.--Yesterday Kinnaird told me I looked very ill, and sent me
home happy.

* * * * * "Is Scrope still interesting and invalid? And how does
Hinde with his cursed chemistry? To Harness I have written, and he
has written, and we have all written, and have nothing now to do
but write again, till death splits up the pen and the scribbler.

"The Alfred has three hundred and fifty-four candidates for six
vacancies. The cook has run away and left us liable, which makes
our committee very plaintive. Master Brook, our head serving-man,
has the gout, and our new cook is none of the best. I speak from
report,--for what is cookery to a leguminous-eating ascetic? So now
you know as much of the matter as I do. Books and quiet are still
there, and they may dress their dishes in their own way for me. Let
me know your determination as to Newstead, and believe me,

"Yours ever, [Greek: Mpairon]."

[Footnote 37: This poem is now printed in Lord Byron's Works.]

* * * * *

LETTER 80. TO MR. HODGSON.

"8. St. James's Street, Dec. 12. 1811.

"Why, Hodgson! I fear you have left off wine and me at the same
time,--I have written and written and written, and no answer! My
dear Sir Edgar, water disagrees with you,--drink sack and write.
Bland did not come to his appointment, being unwell, but M * * e
supplied all other vacancies most delectably. I have hopes of his
joining us at Newstead. I am sure you would like him more and more
as he developes,--at least I do.

"How Miller and Bland go on, I don't k