“I hear nothing more from you about Moore’s poem, Rogers, or other literary phenomena; but to-morrow, being post-day, will bring perhaps some tidings.  I write to you with people talking Venetian all about, so that you must not expect this letter to be all English.

“The other day, I had a squabble on the highway, as follows:  I was riding pretty quickly from Dolo home about eight in the evening, when I passed a party of people in a hired carriage, one of whom, poking his head out of the window, began bawling to me in an inarticulate but insolent manner.  I wheeled my horse round, and overtaking, stopped the coach, and said, ’Signor, have you any commands for me?’ He replied, impudently as to manner, ‘No.’  I then asked him what he meant by that unseemly noise, to the discomfiture of the passers-by.  He replied by some piece of impertinence, to which I answered by giving him a violent slap in the face.  I then dismounted, (for this passed at the window, I being on horseback still,) and opening the door desired him to walk out, or I would give him another.  But the first had settled him except as to words, of which he poured forth a profusion in blasphemies, swearing that he would go to the police and avouch a battery sans provocation.  I said he lied, and was a * *, and if he did not hold his tongue, should be dragged out and beaten anew.  He then held his tongue.  I of course told him my name and residence, and defied him to the death, if he were a gentleman, or not a gentleman, and had the inclination to be genteel in the way of combat.  He went to the police, but there having been bystanders in the road,—­particularly a soldier, who had seen the business,—­as well as my servant, notwithstanding the oaths of the coachman and five insides besides the plaintiff, and a good deal of paying on all sides, his complaint was dismissed, he having been the aggressor;—­and I was subsequently informed that, had I not given him a blow, he might have been had into durance.

“So set down this,—­’that in Aleppo once’ I ‘beat a Venetian;’ but I assure you that he deserved it, for I am a quiet man, like Candide, though with somewhat of his fortune in being forced to forego my natural meekness every now and then.

     “Yours, &c.  B.”

* * * * *

LETTER 288.  TO MR. MURRAY.

     “Venice, July 9, 1817.

     “I have got the sketch and extracts from Lalla Rookh.  The plan, as
     well as the extracts, I have seen, please me very much indeed, and
     I feel impatient for the whole.