little gossip in the notes as to the present state of Italian literati and literature, being acquainted with some of their capi—­men as well as books;—­but this depends upon my humour at the time.  So, now, pronounce:  I say nothing.

“When you have got the whole four Cantos, I think you might venture on an edition of the whole poem in quarto, with spare copies of the two last for the purchasers of the old edition of the first two.  There is a hint for you, worthy of the Row; and now, perpend—­pronounce.

     “I have not received a word from you of the fate of ‘Manfred’ or
     ‘Tasso,’ which seems to me odd, whether they have failed or
     succeeded.

     “As this is a scrawl of business, and I have lately written at
     length and often on other subjects, I will only add that I am,”
     &c.

* * * * *

LETTER 292.  TO MR. MURRAY.

     “La Mira, near Venice, August 7, 1817

“Your letter of the 18th, and, what will please you, as it did me, the parcel sent by the good-natured aid and abetment of Mr. Croker, are arrived.—­Messrs. Lewis and Hobhouse are here:  the former in the same house, the latter a few hundred yards distant.

“You say nothing of Manfred, from which its failure may be inferred; but I think it odd you should not say so at once.  I know nothing, and hear absolutely nothing, of any body or any thing in England; and there are no English papers, so that all you say will be news—­of any person, or thing, or things.  I am at present very anxious about Newstead, and sorry that Kinnaird is leaving England at this minute, though I do not tell him so, and would rather he should have his pleasure, although it may not in this instance tend to my profit.

“If I understand rightly, you have paid into Morland’s 1500 pounds:  as the agreement in the paper is two thousand guineas, there will remain therefore six hundred pounds, and not five hundred, the odd hundred being the extra to make up the specie.  Six hundred and thirty pounds will bring it to the like for Manfred and Tasso, making a total of twelve hundred and thirty, I believe, for I am not a good calculator.  I do not wish to press you, but I tell you fairly that it will be a convenience to me to have it paid as soon as it can be made convenient to yourself.

“The new and last Canto is 130 stanzas in length; and may be made more or less.  I have fixed no price, even in idea, and have no notion of what it may be good for.  There are no metaphysics in it; at least, I think not.  Mr. Hobhouse has promised me a copy of Tasso’s Will, for notes; and I have some curious things to say about Ferrara, and Parisina’s story, and perhaps a farthing candle’s worth of light upon the present state of Italian literature.  I shall