h' clock--I must 'to bed, to bed, to bed,' as mother S *
* (that tragical friend of the mathematical * * *) says.

"Have you ever seen--I forget what or whom--no matter. They tell me
Lady Melbourne is very unwell. I shall be so sorry. She was my
greatest _friend_, of the feminine gender:--when I say 'friend,' I
mean _not_ mistress, for that's the antipode. Tell me all about you
and every body--how Sam is--how you like your neighbours, the
Marquis and Marchesa, &c. &c.

"Ever," &c.

* * * * *

LETTER 312. TO MR. MURRAY.

"Venice, March 25. 1818.

"I have your letter, with the account of 'Beppo,' for which I sent
you four new stanzas a fortnight ago, in case you print, or
reprint.

"Croker's is a good guess; but the style is not English, it is
Italian;--Berni is the original of _all_. Whistlecraft was _my_
immediate _model_! Rose's 'Animali' I never saw till a few days
ago,--they are excellent. But (as I said above) Berni is the father
of that kind of writing, which, I think, suits our language, too,
very well;--we shall see by the experiment. If it does, I shall
send you a volume in a year or two, for I know the Italian way of
life well, and in time may know it yet better; and as for the verse
and the passions, I have them still in tolerable vigour.

"If you think that it will do you and the work, or works, any good,
you may put my name to it; _but first consult the knowing ones_. It
will, at any rate, show them that I can write cheerfully, and repel
the charge of monotony and mannerism.

"Yours," &c.

* * * * *

LETTER 313. TO MR. MURRAY.

"Venice, April 11. 1818.

"Will you send me by letter, packet, or parcel, half a dozen of the
coloured prints from Holmes's miniature (the latter done shortly
before I left your country, and the prints about a year ago); I
shall be obliged to you, as some people here have asked me for the
like. It is a picture of my upright self done for Scrope B. Davies,
Esq.[18]

"Why have you not sent me an answer, and list of subscribers to the
translation of the Armenian _Eusebius_? of which I sent you printed
copies of the prospectus (in French) two moons ago. Have you had
the letter?--I shall send you another:--you must not neglect my