* * * * *

LETTER 92.  TO MR. WILLIAM BANKES.

     “April 20. 1812.

     “My dear Bankes,

“I feel rather hurt (not savagely) at the speech you made to me last night, and my hope is, that it was only one of your profane jests.  I should be very sorry that any part of my behaviour should give you cause to suppose that I think higher of myself, or otherwise of you than I have always done.  I can assure you that I am as much the humblest of your servants as at Trin.  Coll.; and if I have not been at home when you favoured me with a call, the loss was more mine than yours.  In the bustle of buzzing parties, there is, there can be, no rational conversation; but when I can enjoy it, there is nobody’s I can prefer to your own.  Believe me ever faithfully and most affectionately yours,

     “BYRON.”

* * * * *

LETTER 93.  TO MR. WILLIAM BANKES.

     “My dear Bankes,

“My eagerness to come to an explanation has, I trust, convinced you that whatever my unlucky manner might inadvertently be, the change was as unintentional as (if intended) it would have been ungrateful.  I really was not aware that, while we were together, I had evinced such caprices; that we were not so much in each other’s company as I could have wished, I well know, but I think so acute an observer as yourself must have perceived enough to explain this, without supposing any slight to one in whose society I have pride and pleasure.  Recollect that I do not allude here to ‘extended’ or ‘extending’ acquaintances, but to circumstances you will understand, I think, on a little reflection.

“And now, my dear Bankes, do not distress me by supposing that I can think of you, or you of me, otherwise than I trust we have long thought.  You told me not long ago that my temper was improved, and I should be sorry that opinion should be revoked.  Believe me, your friendship is of more account to me than all those absurd vanities in which, I fear, you conceive me to take too much interest.  I have never disputed your superiority, or doubted (seriously) your good will, and no one shall ever ‘make mischief between us’ without the sincere regret on the part of your ever affectionate, &c.

     “P.S.  I shall see you, I hope, at Lady Jersey’s.  Hobhouse goes
     also.”

* * * * *

In the month of April he was again tempted to try his success in the House of Lords; and, on the motion of Lord Donoughmore for taking into consideration the claims of the Irish catholics, delivered his sentiments strongly in favour of the proposition.  His display, on this occasion, seems to have been less promising than in his first essay.  His delivery was thought mouthing and theatrical, being infected, I take for granted (having never heard him speak in Parliament), with the same chanting tone that disfigured his recitation of poetry,—­a tone contracted at most of the public schools, but more particularly, perhaps, at Harrow, and encroaching just enough on the boundaries of song to offend those ears most by which song is best enjoyed and understood.