hen the English Consul-General at Venice, had for some
time occupied, and which Lord Byron afterwards rented of him, but never
resided in it.]

[Footnote 8: So great was the demand for horses, on the line of march of
the Austrians, that all those belonging to private individuals were put
in requisition for their use, and Lord Byron himself received an order
to send his for the same purpose. This, however, he positively refused
to do, adding, that if an attempt were made to take them by force, he
would shoot them through the head in the middle of the road, rather than
submit to such an act of tyranny upon a foreigner who was merely a
temporary resident in the country. Whether his answer was ever reported
to the higher authorities I know not; but his horses were suffered to
remain unmolested in his stables.]

* * * * *

LETTER 297. TO MR. MURRAY.

"September 15. 1817.

"I enclose a sheet for correction, if ever you get to another
edition. You will observe that the blunder in printing makes it
appear as if the Chateau was _over_ St. Gingo, instead of being on
the opposite shore of the Lake, over Clarens. So, separate the
paragraphs, otherwise my _to_pography will seem as inaccurate as
your _ty_pography on this occasion.

"The other day I wrote to convey my proposition with regard to the
fourth and concluding Canto. I have gone over and extended it to
one hundred and fifty stanzas, which is almost as long as the two
first were originally, and longer by itself than any of the smaller
poems except 'The Corsair.' Mr. Hobhouse has made some very
valuable and accurate notes of considerable length, and you may be
sure that I will do for the text all that I can to finish with
decency. I look upon Childe Harold as my best; and as I begun, I
think of concluding with it. But I make no resolutions on that
head, as I broke my former intention with regard to 'The Corsair.'
However, I fear that I shall never do better; and yet, not being
thirty years of age, for some moons to come, one ought to be
progressive as far as intellect goes for many a good year. But I
have had a devilish deal of tear and wear of mind and body in my
time, besides having published too often and much already. God
grant me some judgment to do what may be most fitting in that and
every thing else, for I doubt m