“P.S. Ought not R * * * fe’s supper to have been a dinner? 
     Jackson is here, and I must fatigue myself into spirits.”

* * * * *

TO MR. MOORE.

     “May 18. 1814.

“Thanks—­and punctuality. What has passed at * * * s House?  I suppose that _I_ am to know, and ‘pars fui’ of the conference.  I regret that your * * s will detain you so late, but I suppose you will be at Lady Jersey’s.  I am going earlier with Hobhouse.  You recollect that to-morrow we sup and see Kean.

     “P.S. _Two_ to-morrow is the hour of pugilism.”

* * * * *

The supper, to which he here looks forward, took place at Watier’s, of which club he had lately become a member; and, as it may convey some idea of his irregular mode of diet, and thus account, in part, for the frequent derangement of his health, I shall here attempt, from recollection, a description of his supper on this occasion.  We were to have been joined by Lord R * *, who however did not arrive, and the party accordingly consisted but of ourselves.  Having taken upon me to order the repast, and knowing that Lord Byron, for the last two days, had done nothing towards sustenance, beyond eating a few biscuits and (to appease appetite) chewing mastic, I desired that we should have a good supply of, at least, two kinds of fish.  My companion, however, confined himself to lobsters, and of these finished two or three, to his own share,—­interposing, sometimes, a small liqueur-glass of strong white brandy, sometimes a tumbler of very hot water, and then pure brandy again, to the amount of near half a dozen small glasses of the latter, without which, alternately with the hot water, he appeared to think the lobster could not be digested.  After this, we had claret, of which having despatched two bottles between us, at about four o’clock in the morning we parted.

As Pope has thought his “delicious lobster-nights” worth commemorating, these particulars of one in which Lord Byron was concerned may also have some interest.

Among other nights of the same description which I had the happiness of passing with him, I remember once, in returning home from some assembly at rather a late hour, we saw lights in the windows of his old haunt Stevens’s, in Bond Street, and agreed to stop there and sup.  On entering, we found an old friend of his, Sir G * * W* *, who joined our party, and the lobsters and brandy and water being put in requisition, it was (as usual on such occasions) broad daylight before we separated.

* * * * *

LETTER 182.  TO MR. MOORE.

     “May 23. 1814.

“I must send you the Java government gazette of July 3d, 1813, just sent to me by Murray.  Only think of our (for it is you and I) setting paper warriors in array in the Indian seas.  Does not this sound like fame—­something almost like posterity?  It is something to have scribblers squabbling about us 5000 miles off, while we are agreeing so well at home.  Bring it with you in your pocket;—­it will make you laugh, as it hath me.  Ever yours,

     “B.