ideration was--who
was to be the object of his choice; and while his friend mentioned
one lady, he himself named Miss Milbanke. To this, however, his
adviser strongly objected,--remarking to him, that Miss Milbanke
had at present no fortune, and that his embarrassed affairs would
not allow him to marry without one; that she was, moreover, a
learned lady, which would not at all suit him. In consequence of
these representations, he agreed that his friend should write a
proposal for him to the other lady named, which was accordingly
done;--and an answer, containing a refusal, arrived as they were,
one morning, sitting together. "You see," said Lord Byron, "that,
after all, Miss Milbanke is to be the person;--I will write to
her." He accordingly wrote on the moment, and, as soon as he had
finished, his friend, remonstrating still strongly against his
choice, took up the letter,--but, on reading it over, observed,
"Well, really, this is a very pretty letter;--it is a pity it
should not go. I never read a prettier one."--"Then it _shall_ go,"
said Lord Byron; and in so saying, sealed and sent off, on the
instant, this fiat of his fate.

* * * * *

LETTER 200. TO MR. MOORE.

"Nd., September 15. 1814.

"I have written to you one letter to-night, but must send you this
much more, as I have not franked my number, to say that I rejoice
in my god-daughter, and will send her a coral and bells, which I
hope she will accept, the moment I get back to London.

"My head is at this moment in a state of confusion, from various
causes, which I can neither describe nor explain--but let that
pass. My employments have been very rural--fishing, shooting,
bathing, and boating. Books I have but few here, and those I have
read ten times over, till sick of them. So, I have taken to
breaking soda-water bottles with my pistols, and jumping into the
water, and rowing over it, and firing at the fowls of the air. But
why should I 'monster my nothings' to you, who are well employed,
and happily too, I should hope? For my part, I am happy, too, in my
way--but, as usual, have contrived to get into three or four
perplexities, which I do not see my way through. But a few days,
perhaps a day, will determine one of them.

"You do not say a word t