me with the following
interesting communication:[78]--

"My first acquaintance with Byron began in a manner rather doubtful. I
was so far from having any thing to do with the offensive criticism in
the Edinburgh, that I remember remonstrating against it with our friend,
the editor, because I thought the 'Hours of Idleness' treated with undue
severity. They were written, like all juvenile poetry, rather from the
recollection of what had pleased the author in others than what had been
suggested by his own imagination; but, nevertheless, I thought they
contained some passages of noble promise. I was so much impressed with
this, that I had thoughts of writing to the author; but some exaggerated
reports concerning his peculiarities, and a natural unwillingness to
intrude an opinion which was uncalled for, induced me to relinquish the
idea.

"When Byron wrote his famous Satire, I had my share of flagellation
among my betters. My crime was having written a poem (Marmion, I think)
for a thousand pounds; which was no otherwise true than that I sold the
copy-right for that sum. Now, not to mention that an author can hardly
be censured for accepting such a sum as the booksellers are willing to
give him, especially as the gentlemen of the trade made no complaints of
their bargain, I thought the interference with my private affairs was
rather beyond the limits of literary satire. On the other hand, Lord
Byron paid me, in several passages, so much more praise than I deserved,
that I must have been more irritable than I have ever felt upon such
subjects, not to sit down contented, and think no more about the matter.

"I was very much struck, with all the rest of the world, at the vigour
and force of imagination displayed in the first Cantos of Childe
Harold, and the other splendid productions which Lord Byron flung from
him to the public with a promptitude that savoured of profusion. My own
popularity, as a poet, was then on the wane, and I was unaffectedly
pleased to see an author of so much power and energy taking the field.
Mr. John Murray happened to be in Scotland that season, and as I
mentioned to him the pleasure I should have in making Lord Byron's
acquaintance, he had the kindness to mention my wish to his Lordship,
which led to some correspondence.

"It was in the spring of 1815 that, chancing to be in London, I had the
advantage of a personal introduction to Lord Byron. Report had prepared
me to meet a man of peculiar