because I introduced you to Hunt, and because I believe him to be a
good man; but till I know the particulars, I can give no opinion.

"Let me know about Lalla Rookh, which must be out by this time.

"I restore the proofs, but the _punctuation_ should be corrected. I
feel too lazy to have at it myself; so beg and pray Mr. Gifford for
me.--Address to Venice. In a few days I go to my _villeggiatura_,
in a cassino near the Brenta, a few miles only on the main land. I
have determined on another year, and _many years_ of residence if I
can compass them. Marianna is with me, hardly recovered of the
fever, which has been attacking all Italy last winter. I am afraid
she is a little hectic; but I hope the best.

"Ever, &c.

"P.S. Torwaltzen has done a bust of me at Rome for Mr. Hobhouse,
which is reckoned very good. He is their best after Canova, and by
some preferred to him.

"I have had a letter from Mr. Hodgson. He is very happy, has got a
living, but not a child: if he had stuck to a curacy, babes would
have come of course, because he could not have maintained them.

"Remember me to all friends, &c. &c.

"An Austrian officer, the other day, being in love with a Venetian,
was ordered, with his regiment, into Hungary. Distracted between
love and duty, he purchased a deadly drug, which dividing with his
mistress, both swallowed. The ensuing pains were terrific, but the
pills were purgative, and not poisonous, by the contrivance of the
unsentimental apothecary; so that so much suicide was all thrown
away. You may conceive the previous confusion and the final
laughter; but the intention was good on all sides."

* * * * *

LETTER 282. TO MR. MURRAY.

"Venice, June 8. 1817.

"The present letter will be delivered to you by two Armenian
friars, on their way, by England, to Madras. They will also convey
some copies of the grammar, which I think you agreed to take. If
you can be of any use to them, either amongst your naval or East
Indian acquaintances, I hope you will so far oblige me, as they and
their order have been remarkably attentive and friendly towards me
since my arrival at Venice. Their names are Father Sukias Somalian
and Father Sarkis Theodorosian. They speak Italian, and probably
French, or a little En