“I was honoured, my dear Lady Alvanley, by the kind letter which you sent me with our
friend Miss Smith, whose talents are, I
hope, receiving at Edinburgh the full meed of honourable applause which they so
highly merit. It is very much against my will that I am forced to speak of them
by report alone, for this being the term of removing, I am under the necessity
of being at this farm to superintend the transference of my goods and chattels,
a most miscellaneous collection, to a
| “FLITTING” TO ABBOTSFORD. | 3 |
“I have got here at length, and had the pleasure to hear Miss Smith speak the Ode on the Passions charmingly last night. It was her benefit, and the house was tolerable, though not so good as she deserves, being a very good girl, as well as an excellent performer.
“I have read Lord Byron with great pleasure, though pleasure is not quite the appropriate word. I should say admiration—mixed with regret, that the author should have adopted such an unamiable misanthropical tone.—The reconciliation with Holland-house is extremely edifying, and may teach young authors to be in no hurry to exercise their satirical vein. I remember an honest old Presbyterian, who thought it right to speak with respect even of the devil himself, since no one knew in what corner he might one day want a friend. But Lord Byron is young, and certainly has great genius, and has both time and capacity to make amends for his errors. I wonder if he will pardon the Edinburgh reviewers, who have read their recantation of their former strictures.
| 4 | LIFE OF SIR WALTER SCOTT. |
“Mrs Scott begs to offer her kindest and most respectful compliments to your ladyship and the young ladies. I hope we shall get into Yorkshire this season to see Morritt: he and his lady are really delightful persons. Believe me, with great respect, dear Lady Alvanley, your much honoured and obliged
