“For my own part, I have suffered severely in the decease of my two greatest friends, the only beings I ever loved (females excepted); I am therefore a solitary animal, miserable enough, and so perfectly a citizen of the world, that whether I pass my days in Great Britain or Kamschatka, is to me a matter of perfect indifference.  I cannot evince greater respect for your alteration than by immediately adopting it—­this shall be done in the next edition.  I am sorry your remarks are not more frequent, as I am certain they would be equally beneficial.  Since my last, I have received two critical opinions from Edinburgh, both too flattering for me to detail.  One is from Lord Woodhouselee, at the head of the Scotch literati, and a most voluminous writer (his last work is a life of Lord Kaimes); the other from Mackenzie, who sent his decision a second time, more at length.  I am not personally acquainted with either of these gentlemen, nor ever requested their sentiments on the subject:  their praise is voluntary, and transmitted through the medium of a friend, at whose house they read the productions.

“Contrary to my former intention, I am now preparing a volume for the public at large:  my amatory pieces will be exchanged, and others substituted in their place.  The whole will be considerably enlarged, and appear the latter end of May.  This is a hazardous experiment; but want of better employment, the encouragement I have met with, and my own vanity, induce me to stand the test, though not without sundry palpitations.  The book will circulate fast enough in this country, from mere curiosity, what I prin—­“[58]

* * * * *

The following modest letter accompanied a copy which he presented to Mr. Falkner, his mother’s landlord:—­

LETTER 11.

TO MR. FALKNER.

“Sir,

“The volume of little pieces which accompanies this, would have been presented before, had I not been apprehensive that Miss Falkner’s indisposition might render such trifles unwelcome.  There are some errors of the printer which I have not had time to correct in the collection:  you have it thus, with ’all its imperfections on its head,’ a heavy weight, when joined with the faults of its author.  Such ‘Juvenilia,’ as they can claim no great degree of approbation, I may venture to hope, will also escape the severity of uncalled for, though perhaps not undeserved, criticism.

“They were written on many and various occasions, and are now published merely for the perusal of a friendly circle.  Believe me, sir, if they afford the slightest amusement to yourself and the rest of my social readers, I shall have gathered all the bays I ever wish to adorn the head of yours,

very truly,

“BYRON.

“P.S.—­I hope Miss F. is in a state of recovery.”