ollection that you
will probably be at the Count Goess's this evening, which has made
me postpone my intrusion.

"I think your Elegy a remarkably good one, not only as a
composition, but both the politics and poetry contain a far greater
portion of truth and generosity than belongs to the times, or to
the professors of these opposite pursuits, which usually agree only
in one point, as extremes meet. I do not know whether you wished me
to retain the copy, but I shall retain it till you tell me
otherwise; and am very much obliged by the perusal.

"My own sentiments on Venice, &c., such as they are, I had already
thrown into verse last summer, in the fourth Canto of Childe
Harold, now in preparation for the press; and I think much more
highly of them, for being in coincidence with yours.

"Believe me yours," &c.

* * * * *

LETTER 304. TO MR. MURRAY.

"Venice, January 8. 1818.

"My dear Mr. Murray,
You're in a damn'd hurry
To set up this ultimate Canto;
But (if they don't rob us)
You'll see Mr. Hobhouse
Will bring it safe in his portmanteau.

"For the Journal you hint of,
As ready to print off,
No doubt you do right to commend it;
But as yet I have writ off
The devil a bit of
Our 'Beppo;'--when copied, I'll send it.

"Then you've * * * Tour,--
No great things, so be sure,
You could hardly begin with a less work;
For the pompous rascallion,
Who don't speak Italian
Nor French, must have scribbled by guess-work.

"You can make any loss up
With 'Spence' and his gossip,
A work which must surely succeed;
Then Queen Mary's Epistle-craft,
With the new 'Fytte' of 'Whistlecraft,'
Must make people purchase and read.

"Then you've General Gordon,
Who girded his sword on,
To serve with a Muscovite master,
And help him to polish
A nation so owlish,
They thought shaving their beards a disaster.

"For the man, '_poor and shrewd_[11],'
With whom you'd conclude
A compact without more delay,
Perhaps some such pen is
Still extant in Venice;
But please, sir, to mention _your pay_."

[Footnote 11: "Vide