the dregs of the third bottle he fished up his
memory. The Stael out-talked Whitbread, was _ironed_ by Sheridan,
confounded Sir Humphry, and utterly perplexed your slave. The rest
(great names in the red book, nevertheless,) were mere segments of
the circle. Ma'mselle danced a Russ saraband with great vigour,
grace, and expression.

"Ever," &c.

* * * * *

TO MR. MURRAY.

"June 21. 1814.

"I suppose 'Lara' is gone to the devil,--which is no great matter,
only let me know, that I may be saved the trouble of copying the
rest, and put the first part into the fire. I really have no
anxiety about it, and shall not be sorry to be saved the copying,
which goes on very slowly, and may prove to you that you may _speak
out_--or I should be less sluggish. Yours," &c.

* * * * *

LETTER 186. TO MR. ROGERS.

"June 27. 1814.

"You could not have made me a more acceptable present than
Jacqueline,--she is all grace, and softness, and poetry; there is
so much of the last, that we do not feel the want of story, which
is simple, yet _enough_. I wonder that you do not oftener unbend to
more of the same kind. I have some sympathy with the _softer_
affections, though very little in _my_ way, and no one can depict
them so truly and successfully as yourself. I have half a mind to
pay you in kind, or rather _un_kind, for I have just 'supped full
of horror' in two cantos of darkness and dismay.

"Do you go to Lord Essex's to-night? if so, will you let me call
for you at your own hour? I dined with Holland-house yesterday at
Lord Cowper's; my Lady very gracious, which she can be more than
any one when she likes. I was not sorry to see them again, for I
can't forget that they have been very kind to me. Ever yours most
truly,

"BN.

"P.S. Is there any chance or possibility of making it up with Lord
Carlisle, as I feel disposed to do any thing reasonable or
unreasonable to effect it? I would before, but for the 'Courier,'
and the possible misconstructions at such a time. Perpend,
pronounce."

* * * * *

On my return to London, for a short time, at the beginning of July, I
found his poem of 'Lara,' which he had begun at the latter end of May,
in the hands of the print