“January 5. 1814.

     “Sir,

“When you accuse a stranger of neglect, you forget that it is possible business or absence from London may have interfered to delay his answer, as has actually occurred in the present instance.  But to the point.  I am willing to do what I can to extricate you from your situation.  Your first scheme[114] I was considering; but your own impatience appears to have rendered it abortive, if not irretrievable.  I will deposit in Mr. Murray’s hands (with his consent) the sum you mentioned, to be advanced for the time at ten pounds per month.

     “P.S.—­I write in the greatest hurry, which may make my letter a
     little abrupt; but, as I said before, I have no wish to distress
     your feelings.”

[Footnote 114:  His first intention had been to go out, as a settler, to Botany Bay.]

* * * * *

The service thus humanely proffered was no less punctually performed; and the following is one of the many acknowledgments of payment which I find in Ashe’s letters to Mr. Murray:—­“I have the honour to enclose you another memorandum for the sum of ten pounds, in compliance with the munificent instructions of Lord Byron."[115]

His friend, Mr. Merivale, one of the translators of those Selections from the Anthology which we have seen he regretted so much not having taken with him on his travels, published a poem about this time, which he thus honours with his praise.

LETTER 154.  TO MR. MERIVALE.

     “January, 1814.

     “My dear Merivale,

“I have redde Roncesvaux with very great pleasure, and (if I were so disposed) see very little room for criticism.  There is a choice of two lines in one of the last Cantos,—­I think ‘Live and protect’ better, because ‘Oh who?’ implies a doubt of Roland’s power or inclination.  I would allow the—­but that point you yourself must determine on—­I mean the doubt as to where to place a part of the Poem, whether between the actions or no.  Only if you wish to have all the success you deserve, never listen to friends, and—­as I am not the least troublesome of the number, least of all to me.

“I hope you will be out soon. March, sir, March is the month for the trade, and they must be considered.  You have written a very noble Poem, and nothing but the detestable taste of the day can do you harm,—­but I think you will beat it.  Your measure is uncommonly well chosen and wielded."[116]

[Footnote 115:  When these monthly disbursements had amounted to 70_l._, Ashe wrote to beg that the whole remaining sum of 80_l_. might be advanced to him at one payment, in order to enable him, as he said, to avail himself of a passage to New South Wales, which had been again offered to him.  The sum was accordingly, by Lord Byron’s orders, paid into his hands.]