l bring
the fourth Canto with him, notes and all; the text contains one
hundred and fifty stanzas, which is long for that measure.

"With regard to the 'Ariosto of the North,' surely their themes,
chivalry, war, and love, were as like as can be; and as to the
compliment, if you knew what the Italians think of Ariosto, you
would not hesitate about that. But as to their 'measures,' you
forget that Ariosto's is an octave stanza, and Scott's any thing
but a stanza. If you think Scott will dislike it, say so, and I
will expunge. I do not call him the '_Scotch_ Ariosto,' which would
be sad _provincial_ eulogy, but the 'Ariosto of the _North_,
meaning of all _countries_ that are _not_ the _South_. * *

"As I have recently troubled you rather frequently, I will
conclude, repeating that I am

"Yours ever," &c.

* * * * *

LETTER 299. TO MR. MURRAY.

"October 12. 1817.

"Mr. Kinnaird and his brother, Lord Kinnaird, have been here, and
are now gone again. All your missives came, except the
tooth-powder, of which I request further supplies, at all
convenient opportunities; as also of magnesia and soda-powders,
both great luxuries here, and neither to be had good, or indeed
hardly at all, of the natives. * * *

"In * *'s Life, I perceive an attack upon the then Committee of
D.L. Theatre for acting Bertram, and an attack upon Maturin's
Bertram for being acted. Considering all things, this is not very
grateful nor graceful on the part of the worthy autobiographer;
and I would answer, if I had _not_ obliged him. Putting my own
pains to forward the views of * * out of the question, I know that
there was every disposition, on the part of the Sub-Committee, to
bring forward any production of his, were it feasible. The play he
offered, though poetical, did not appear at all practicable, and
Bertram did;--and hence this long tirade, which is the last chapter
of his vagabond life.

"As for Bertram, Maturin may defend his own begotten, if he likes
it well enough; I leave the Irish clergyman and the new Orator
Henley to battle it out between them, satisfied to have done the
best I could for _both_. I may say this to _you_, who know it.

"Mr. * * may console himself with the fervour,--the almost
religious fervour o