offensive passages. You know, if there was such a thing, I would not deny it.  I mentioned it openly at the time to you, and you will remember why and where I destroyed it; and no power nor wheedling on earth should have made, or could make, me (if I recollected them) give a copy after that, unless I was well assured that Mr. Croker was really the author of that which you assured me he was not.

“I intend for England this spring, where I have some affairs to adjust; but the post hurries me.  For this month past I have been unwell, but am getting better, and thinking of moving homewards towards May, without going to Rome, as the unhealthy season comes on soon, and I can return when I have settled the business I go upon, which need not be long.  I should have thought the Assyrian tale very succeedable.

     “I saw, in Mr. W.W.’s poetry, that he had written my epitaph; I
     would rather have written his.

“The thing I have sent you, you will see at a glimpse, could never be attempted or thought of for the stage; I much doubt it for publication even.  It is too much in my old style; but I composed it actually with a horror of the stage, and with a view to render the thought of it impracticable, knowing the zeal of my friends that I should try that for which I have an invincible repugnance, viz. a representation.

“I certainly am a devil of a mannerist, and must leave off; but what could I do?  Without exertion of some kind, I should have sunk under my imagination and reality.  My best respects to Mr. Gifford, to Walter Scott, and to all friends.

     “Yours ever.”

* * * * *

LETTER 266.  TO MR. MOORE.

     “Venice, March 10. 1817.

“I wrote again to you lately, but I hope you won’t be sorry to have another epistle.  I have been unwell this last month, with a kind of slow and low fever, which fixes upon me at night, and goes off in the morning; but, however, I am now better.  In spring it is probable we may meet; at least I intend for England, where I have business, and hope to meet you in your restored health and additional laurels.

“Murray has sent me the Quarterly and the Edinburgh.  When I tell you that Walter Scott is the author of the article in the former, you will agree with me that such an article is still more honourable to him than to myself.  I am perfectly pleased with Jeffrey’s also, which I wish you to tell him, with my remembrances—­not that I suppose it is of any consequence to him, or ever could have been, whether I am pleased or not, but simply in my private relation to him, as his well-wisher, and it may be one day as his acquaintance.  I wish you would also add, what you know, that I was not, and, indeed, am not even now, the misanthropical and gloomy gentleman