to display his vigilance by calling out to me whenever we passed any thing—­no matter whether moving or stationary.  Conceive ten miles, with a tremor every furlong.  I have scribbled you a fearfully long letter.  This sheet must be blank, and is merely a wrapper, to preclude the tabellarians of the post from peeping.  You once complained of my not writing;—­I will ’heap coals of fire upon your head’ by not complaining of your not reading.  Ever, my dear Moore, your’n (isn’t that the Staffordshire termination?)

     “BYRON.”

* * * * *

LETTER 127.  TO MR. MOORE.

     “July 27. 1813.

“When you next imitate the style of ‘Tacitus,’ pray add, ’de moribus Germanorum;’—­this last was a piece of barbarous silence, and could only be taken from the Woods, and, as such, I attribute it entirely to your sylvan sequestration at Mayfield Cottage.  You will find, on casting up accounts, that you are my debtor by several sheets and one epistle.  I shall bring my action;—­if you don’t discharge, expect to hear from my attorney.  I have forwarded your letter to Ruggiero; but don’t make a postman of me again, for fear I should be tempted to violate your sanctity of wax or wafer.

     “Believe me ever yours indignantly,

     “BN.”

* * * * *

LETTER 128.  TO MR. MOORE.

     “July 28. 1813.

“Can’t you be satisfied with the pangs of my jealousy of Rogers, without actually making me the pander of your epistolary intrigue?  This is the second letter you have enclosed to my address, notwithstanding a miraculous long answer, and a subsequent short one or two of your own.  If you do so again, I can’t tell to what pitch my fury may soar.  I shall send you verse or arsenic, as likely as any thing,—­four thousand couplets on sheets beyond the privilege of franking; that privilege, sir, of which you take an undue advantage over a too susceptible senator, by forwarding your lucubrations to every one but himself.  I won’t frank from you, or for you, or to you—­may I be curst if I do, unless you mend your manners.  I disown you—­I disclaim you—­and by all the powers of Eulogy, I will write a panegyric upon you—­or dedicate a quarto—­if you don’t make me ample amends.

“P.S.—­I am in training to dine with Sheridan and Rogers this evening.  I have a little spite against R., and will shed his ’Clary wines pottle-deep.’  This is nearly my ultimate or penultimate letter; for I am quite equipped, and only wait a passage.  Perhaps I may wait a few weeks for Sligo, but not if I can help it.”

* * * * *

He had, with the intention of going to Greece, applied to Mr. Croker, the Secretary of the Admiralty, to procure him a passage on board a king’s ship to the Mediterranean; and, at the request of this gentleman, Captain Carlton, of the Boyne, who was just then ordered to reinforce Sir Edward Pellew, consented to receive Lord Byron into his cabin for the voyage.  To the letter announcing this offer, the following is the reply.