“The time seems to be past when (as Dr. Johnson said) a man was certain to ‘hear the truth from his bookseller,’ for you have paid me so many compliments, that, if I was not the veriest scribbler on earth, I should feel affronted.  As I accept your compliments, it is but fair I should give equal or greater credit to your objections, the more so, as I believe them to be well founded.  With regard to the political and metaphysical parts, I am afraid I can alter nothing; but I have high authority for my errors in that point, for even the AEneid was a political poem, and written for a political purpose; and as to my unlucky opinions on subjects of more importance, I am too sincere in them for recantation.  On Spanish affairs I have said what I saw, and every day confirms me in that notion of the result formed on the spot; and I rather think honest John Bull is beginning to come round again to that sobriety which Massena’s retreat had begun to reel from its centre—­the usual consequence of unusual success.  So you perceive I cannot alter the sentiments; but if there are any alterations in the structure of the versification you would wish to be made, I will tag rhymes and turn stanzas as much as you please.  As for the ‘orthodox,’ let us hope they will buy, on purpose to abuse—­you will forgive the one, if they will do the other.  You are aware that any thing from my pen must expect no quarter, on many accounts; and as the present publication is of a nature very different from the former, we must not be sanguine.

“You have given me no answer to my question—­tell me fairly, did you show the MS. to some of your corps?—­I sent an introductory stanza to Mr. Dallas, to be forwarded to you; the poem else will open too abruptly.  The stanzas had better be numbered in Roman characters.  There is a disquisition on the literature of the modern Greeks and some smaller poems to come in at the close.  These are now at Newstead, but will be sent in time.  If Mr. D. has lost the stanza and note annexed to it, write, and I will send it myself.—­You tell me to add two Cantos, but I am about to visit my collieries in Lancashire on the 15th instant, which is so unpoetical an employment that I need say no more.  I am, sir, your most obedient,” &c.

The manuscripts of both his poems having been shown, much against his own will, to Mr. Gifford, the opinion of that gentleman was thus reported to him by Mr. Dallas:—­“Of your Satire he spoke highly; but this poem (Childe Harold) he pronounced not only the best you have written, but equal to any of the present age.”

* * * * *

LETTER 66.  TO MR. DALLAS.

     “Newstead Abbey, September 7. 1811.