“I am going on with my Armenian studies in a morning, and assisting
     and stimulating in the English portion of an English and Armenian
     grammar, now publishing at the convent of St. Lazarus.

     “The superior of the friars is a bishop, and a fine old fellow,
     with the beard of a meteor.  Father Paschal is also a learned and
     pious soul.  He was two years in England.

“I am still dreadfully in love with the Adriatic lady whom I spake of in a former letter, (and not in this—­I add, for fear of mistakes, for the only one mentioned in the first part of this epistle is elderly and bookish, two things which I have ceased to admire,) and love in this part of the world is no sinecure.  This is also the season when every body make up their intrigues for the ensuing year, and cut for partners for the next deal.

     “And now, if you don’t write, I don’t know what I won’t say or do,
     nor what I will.  Send me some news—­good news.  Yours very truly,
     &c. &c. &c.

     “B.

     “P.S.  Remember me to Mr. Gifford, with all duty.

“I hear that the Edinburgh Review has cut up Coleridge’s Christabel, and me for praising it, which omen, I think, bodes no great good to your forthcome or coming Canto and Castle (of Chillon).  My run of luck within the last year seems to have taken a turn every way; but never mind, I will bring myself through in the end—­if not, I can be but where I began.  In the mean time, I am not displeased to be where I am—­I mean, at Venice.  My Adriatic nymph is this moment here, and I must therefore repose from this letter.”

* * * * *

LETTER 258.  TO MR. MURRAY.

     “Venice, Jan. 2. 1817.

“Your letter has arrived.  Pray, in publishing the third Canto, have you omitted any passages?  I hope not; and indeed wrote to you on my way over the Alps to prevent such an incident.  Say in your next whether or not the whole of the Canto (as sent to you) has been published.  I wrote to you again the other day, (twice, I think,) and shall be glad to hear of the reception of those letters.

“To-day is the 2d of January.  On this day three years ago The Corsair’s publication is dated, I think, in my letter to Moore.  On this day two years I married, (’Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth,’—­I sha’n’t forget the day in a hurry,) and it is odd enough that I this day received a letter from you announcing the publication of Childe Harold, &c. &c. on the day of the date of ‘The Corsair;’ and I also received one from my sister, written on the 10th of December, my daughter’s birth-day (and relative chiefly to my daughter), and arriving on the day of the date of my marriage,