“It is some time since I have heard from you:  are you in bad
     humour?  I suppose so.  I have been so myself, and it is your turn
     now, and by and by mine will come round again.  Yours truly,

     “B.

     “P.S.  Countess Albrizzi, come back from Paris, has brought me a
     medal of himself, a present from Denon to me, and a likeness of Mr.
     Rogers (belonging to her), by Denon also.”

* * * * *

LETTER 303.  TO MR. HOPPNER.

     “Venice, December 15. 1817.

“I should have thanked you before, for your favour a few days ago, had I not been in the intention of paying my respects, personally, this evening, from which I am deterred by the recollection that you will probably be at the Count Goess’s this evening, which has made me postpone my intrusion.

“I think your Elegy a remarkably good one, not only as a composition, but both the politics and poetry contain a far greater portion of truth and generosity than belongs to the times, or to the professors of these opposite pursuits, which usually agree only in one point, as extremes meet.  I do not know whether you wished me to retain the copy, but I shall retain it till you tell me otherwise; and am very much obliged by the perusal.

“My own sentiments on Venice, &c., such as they are, I had already thrown into verse last summer, in the fourth Canto of Childe Harold, now in preparation for the press; and I think much more highly of them, for being in coincidence with yours.

     “Believe me yours,” &c.

* * * * *

LETTER 304.  TO MR. MURRAY.

     “Venice, January 8. 1818.

        “My dear Mr. Murray,
        You’re in a damn’d hurry
          To set up this ultimate Canto;
        But (if they don’t rob us)
        You’ll see Mr. Hobhouse
          Will bring it safe in his portmanteau.

        “For the Journal you hint of,
        As ready to print off,
          No doubt you do right to commend it;
        But as yet I have writ off
        The devil a bit of
          Our ’Beppo;’—­when copied, I’ll send it.

        “Then you’ve * * * Tour,—­
        No great things, so be sure,
          You could hardly begin with a less work;
        For the pompous rascallion,
        Who don’t speak Italian
          Nor French, must have scribbled by guess-work.

        “You can make any loss up
        With ‘Spence’ and his gossip,
          A work which must surely succeed;
        Then Queen Mary’s Epistle-craft,
        With the new ‘Fytte’ of ‘Whistlecraft,’
          Must make people purchase and read.