His short notes to Mr. Murray, during the printing of this work, are of the same impatient and whimsical character as those, of which I have already given specimens, in my account of his preceding publications:  but, as matter of more interest now presses upon us, I shall forbear from transcribing them at length.  In one of them he says, “I have just corrected some of the most horrible blunders that ever crept into a proof:”—­in another, “I hope the next proof will be better; this was one which would have consoled Job, if it had been of his ‘enemy’s book:’” —­a third contains only the following words:  “Dear sir, you demanded more battle—­there it is.

“Yours,” &c.

The two letters that immediately follow were addressed to me, at this time, in town.

LETTER 187.  TO MR. MOORE.

     “July 8. 1814.

“I returned to town last night, and had some hopes of seeing you to-day, and would have called,—­but I have been (though in exceeding distempered good health) a little head-achy with free living, as it is called, and am now at the freezing point of returning soberness.  Of course, I should be sorry that our parallel lines did not deviate into intersection before you return to the country,—­after that same nonsuit[38], whereof the papers have told us,—­but, as you must be much occupied, I won’t be affronted, should your time and business militate against our meeting.

“Rogers and I have almost coalesced into a joint invasion of the public.  Whether it will take place or not, I do not yet know, and I am afraid Jacqueline (which is very beautiful) will be in bad company.[39] But in this case, the lady will not be the sufferer.

     “I am going to the sea, and then to Scotland; and I have been doing
     nothing,—­that is, no good,—­and am very truly,” &c.

[Footnote 38:  He alludes to an action for piracy brought by Mr. Power (the publisher of my musical works), to the trial of which I had been summoned as a witness.]

[Footnote 39:  Lord Byron afterwards proposed that I should make a third in this publication; but the honour was a perilous one, and I begged leave to decline it.]

* * * * *

LETTER 188.  TO MR. MOORE.

     “I suppose, by your non-appearance, that the phil_a_sophy of my
     note, and the previous silence of the writer, have put or kept you
     in humeur.  Never mind—­it is hardly worth while.

“This day have I received information from my man of law of the non—­and never likely to be—­performance of purchase by Mr. Claughton, of impecuniary memory.  He don’t know what to do, or when to pay; and so all my hopes and worldly projects and prospects are gone to the devil.  He (the purchaser, and the devil too, for aught I care,) and I,