[Footnote 6:  He had made a present of the copyright of “The Corsair” to Mr. Dallas, who thus describes the manner in which the gift was bestowed:—­“On the 28th of December, I called in the morning on Lord Byron, whom I found composing ‘The Corsair.’  He had been working upon it but a few days, and he read me the portion he had written.  After some observations, he said, ‘I have a great mind—­I will.’  He then added that he should finish it soon, and asked me to accept of the copyright.  I was much surprised.  He had, before he was aware of the value of his works, declared that he never would take money for them, and that I should have the whole advantage of all he wrote.  This declaration became morally void when the question was about thousands, instead of a few hundreds; and I perfectly agree with the admired and admirable author of Waverley, that ’the wise and good accept not gifts which are made in heat of blood, and which may be after repented of.’—­I felt this on the sale of ‘Childe Harold,’ and observed it to him.  The copyright of ‘The Giaour’ and ‘The Bride of Abydos’ remained undisposed of, though the poems were selling rapidly, nor had I the slightest notion that he would ever again give me a copyright.  But as he continued in the resolution of not appropriating the sale of his works to his own use, I did not scruple to accept that of ‘The Corsair,’ and I thanked him.  He asked me to call and hear the portions read as he wrote them.  I went every morning, and was astonished at the rapidity of his composition.  He gave me the poem complete on New-year’s day, 1814, saying, that my acceptance of it gave him great pleasure, and that I was fully at liberty to publish it with any bookseller I pleased, independent of the profit.”

Out of this last-mentioned permission arose the momentary embarrassment between the noble poet and his publisher, to which the above notes allude.]

* * * * *

TO MR. MURRAY.

     ["Jan. 1814.]

“I will answer your letter this evening; in the mean time, it may be sufficient to say, that there was no intention on my part to annoy you, but merely to serve Dallas, and also to rescue myself from a possible imputation that I had other objects than fame in writing so frequently.  Whenever I avail myself of any profit arising from my pen, depend upon it, it is not for my own convenience; at least it never has been so, and I hope never will.

     “P.S.  I shall answer this evening, and will set all right about
     Dallas.  I thank you for your expressions of personal regard, which
     I can assure you I do not lightly value.”

* * * * *

LETTER 155.  TO MR. MOORE.

     “January 6. 1814.