“Address to me at Pisa, whither I am going.  The reason is, that all my Italian friends here have been exiled, and are met there for the present, and I go to join them, as agreed upon, for the winter.”

[Footnote 53:  This short satire, which is wholly unworthy of his pen, appeared afterwards in the Liberal.]

* * * * *

LETTER 456.  TO MR. MURRAY.

     “Ravenna, September 24. 1821.

     “I have been thinking over our late correspondence, and wish to
     propose to you the following articles for our future:—­

     “1stly.  That you shall write to me of yourself, of the health,
     wealth, and welfare of all friends; but of me (quoad me) little
     or nothing.

     “2dly.  That you shall send me soda-powders, tooth-powder,
     tooth-brushes, or any such anti-odontalgic or chemical articles, as
     heretofore,’ad libitum,’ upon being reimbursed for the same.

“3dly.  That you shall not send me any modern, or (as they are called) new publications, in English whatsoever, save and excepting any writing, prose or verse, of (or reasonably presumed to be of) Walter Scott, Crabbe, Moore, Campbell, Rogers, Gifford, Joanna Baillie, Irving (the American), Hogg, Wilson (Isle of Palms man), or any especial single work of fancy which is thought to be of considerable merit; Voyages and Travels, provided that they are neither in Greece, Spain, Asia Minor, Albania, nor Italy, will be welcome.  Having travelled the countries mentioned, I know that what is said of them can convey nothing farther which I desire to know about them.—­No other English works whatsoever.

     “4thly.  That you send me no periodical works whatsoever—­no
     Edinburgh, Quarterly, Monthly, nor any review, magazine, or
     newspaper, English or foreign, of any description.

     “5thly.  That you send me no opinions whatsoever, either good,
     bad, or indifferent, of yourself, or your friends, or others,
     concerning any work, or works, of mine, past, present, or to come.

“6thly.  That all negotiations in matters of business between you and me pass through the medium of the Hon. Douglas Kinnaird, my friend and trustee, or Mr. Hobhouse, as ‘alter ego,’ and tantamount to myself during my absence—­or presence.

“Some of these propositions may at first seem strange, but they are founded.  The quantity of trash I have received as books is incalculable, and neither amused nor instructed.  Reviews and magazines are at the best but ephemeral and superficial reading:  who thinks of the grand article of last year in any given Review?  In the next place, if they regard myself, they tend to increase egotism.