TO MR. SOTHEBY.

     “September 25. 1815.

     “Dear Sir,

“I think it would be advisable for you to see the acting managers when convenient, as there must be points on which you will want to confer; the objection I stated was merely on the part of the performers, and is general and not particular to this instance.  I thought it as well to mention it at once—­and some of the rehearsals you will doubtless see, notwithstanding.

“Rae, I rather think, has his eye on Naritzin for himself.  He is a more popular performer than Bartley, and certainly the cast will be stronger with him in it; besides, he is one of the managers, and will feel doubly interested if he can act in both capacities.  Mrs. Bartley will be Petrowna;—­as to the Empress, I know not what to say or think.  The truth is, we are not amply furnished with tragic women; but make the best of those we have,—­you can take your choice of them.  We have all great hopes of the success—­on which, setting aside other considerations, we are particularly anxious, as being the first tragedy to be brought out since the old Committee.

“By the way—­I have a charge against you.  As the great Mr. Dennis roared out on a similar occasion—­’By G——­d, that is my thunder!’ so do I exclaim, ‘This is my lightning!’ I allude to a speech of Ivan’s, in the scene with Petrowna and the Empress, where the thought and almost expression are similar to Conrad’s in the 3d Canto of ‘The Corsair.’  I, however, do not say this to accuse you, but to exempt myself from suspicion[84], as there is a priority of six months’ publication, on my part, between the appearance of that composition and of your tragedies.

“George Lambe meant to have written to you.  If you don’t like to
confer with the managers at present, I will attend to your
wishes—­so state them.  Yours very truly, BYRON.”

[Footnote 84:  Notwithstanding this precaution of the poet, the coincidence in question was, but a few years after, triumphantly cited in support of the sweeping charge of plagiarism brought against him by some scribblers.  The following are Mr. Sotheby’s lines:—­

              “And I have leapt
    In transport from my flinty couch, to welcome
    The thunder as it burst upon my roof,
    And beckon’d to the lightning, as it flash’d
    And sparkled on these fetters.”

I have since been informed by Mr. Sotheby that, though not published, these lines had been written long before the appearance of Lord Byron’s poem.]

* * * * *

LETTER 225.  TO MR. TAYLOR.

     “13.  Terrace, Piccadilly, September 25. 1815.

     “Dear Sir,