“As I have written to you often lately at some length, I won’t bore you further now, than by begging you to comply with my request; and I presume the ‘esprit du corps’ (is it ‘du’ or ‘de?’ for this is more than I know) will sufficiently urge you, as one of ‘ours,’ to set this affair in its real aspect.  Believe me always yours ever and most affectionately,

     “BYRON.”

* * * * *

LETTER 429.  TO MR. HOPPNER.

     “Ravenna, May 25. 1821.

“I am very much pleased with what you say of Switzerland, and will ponder upon it.  I would rather she married there than here for that matter.  For fortune, I shall make all that I can spare (if I live and she is correct in her conduct); and if I die before she is settled, I have left her by will five thousand pounds, which is a fair provision out of England for a natural child.  I shall increase it all I can, if circumstances permit me; but, of course (like all other human things), this is very uncertain.

“You will oblige me very much by interfering to have the FACTS of the play-acting stated, as these scoundrels appear to be organising a system of abuse against me, because I am in their ‘list.’  I care nothing for their criticism, but the matter of fact.  I have written four acts of another tragedy, so you see they can’t bully me.

“You know, I suppose, that they actually keep a list of all individuals in Italy who dislike them—­it must be numerous.  Their suspicions and actual alarms, about my conduct and presumed intentions in the late row, were truly ludicrous—­though, not to bore you, I touched upon them lightly.  They believed, and still believe here, or affect to believe it, that the whole plan and project of rising was settled by me, and the means furnished, &c. &c.  All this was more fomented by the barbarian agents, who are numerous here (one of them was stabbed yesterday, by the way, but not dangerously):—­and although when the Commandant was shot here before my door in December, I took him into my house, where he had every assistance, till he died on Fletcher’s bed; and although not one of them dared to receive him into their houses but myself, they leaving him to perish in the night in the streets, they put up a paper about three months ago, denouncing me as the Chief of the Liberals, and stirring up persons to assassinate me.  But this shall never silence nor bully my opinions.  All this came from the German Barbarians.”

* * * * *

LETTER 430.  TO MR. MURRAY.

     “Ravenna, May 25. 1821.

     “Mr. Moray,