Mr. Blackwood, of Edinburgh, was then in London, spending several days with Mr. Murray over their accounts and future arrangements.  The latter was thinking of making a visit to Paris, in the company of his friend D’Israeli, during the peace which followed the exile of Napoleon to Elba.  D’Israeli had taken a house at Brighton, from which place the voyagers intended to set sail, and make the passage to Dieppe in about fourteen hours.  On August 13 Mr. Murray informs his wife that “Lord Byron was here yesterday, and I introduced him to Blackwood, to whom he was very civil.  They say,” he added, “that Madame de Stael has been ordered to quit Paris, for writing lightly respecting the Bourbons.”  Two days later he wrote to Mrs. Murray: 

August 15, 1814.

“I dined yesterday with D’Israeli, and in the afternoon we partly walked and partly rode to Islington, to drink tea with Mrs. Lindo, who, with Mr. L. and her family, were well pleased to see me.  Mr. Cervetto was induced to accompany the ladies at the piano with his violoncello, which he did delightfully.  We walked home at 10 o’clock.  On Saturday we passed a very pleasant day at Petersham with Turner and his family....

“I have got at last Mr. Eagle’s ‘Journal of Penrose, the Seaman,’ for which, as you may remember, I am to pay L200 in twelve months for 1,000 copies:  too dear perhaps; but Lord Byron sent me word this morning by letter (for he borrowed the MS. last night):  ’Penrose is most amusing.  I never read so much of a book at one sitting in my life.  He kept me up half the night, and made me dream of him the other half.  It has all the air of truth, and is most entertaining and interesting in every point of view.’”

Writing again on August 24, 1814, he says: 

“Lord Byron set out for Newstead on Sunday.  It is finally settled to be his again, the proposed purchaser forfeiting L25,000.  ‘Lara’ and ‘Jacqueline’ are nearly sold off, to the extent of 6,000, which leaves me L130, and the certain sale of 10,000 more in the 8vo form.  Mr. Canning called upon Gifford yesterday, and from their conversation I infer very favourably for my Review.  We shall now take a decided tone in Politics, and we are all in one boat.  Croker has gone down to the Prince Regent, at Brighton, where I ought to have been last night, to have witnessed the rejoicings and splendour of the Duke of Clarence’s birthday.  But I am ever out of luck.  ’O, indolence and indecision of mind! if not in yourselves vices, to how much exquisite misery do you frequently prepare the way!’ Have you come to this passage in ‘Waverley’ yet?  Pray read ‘Waverley’; it is excellent.”

On September 5, 1814, Mr. Murray communicated with Mrs. Murray as to the education of his son John, then six-and-a-half years old: 

John Murray to Mrs. Murray.