Memoir of John Murray
John Murray to Lord Byron, [10 January 1816?]
Though I have not written to you, you have occupied my
thoughts. Gifford declares to me that
you never surpassed ‘Parisina.’ I enclose Ward’s note after reading the ‘Siege of Corinth.’ I lent him ‘Parisina’ also, and he called yesterday to
express his mind at your hesitation about their merits. He was particularly
struck with the “Son’s reply to Azo.” I lent Parisina to
Mr. Hay (Mr. Wilmot’s friend) last night, and I enclose his note.
I send the proof. If you are sure that you can improve
it, do; otherwise, touch it not. I will send a revise of ‘Corinth’ to-night or to-morrow.
Gifford thinks, if the narrative were put into the
mouth of the Turk (if it didn’t choke him), would give it additional
interest. I hope your Lordship is well.
J. M.
William Gifford (1756-1826)
Poet, scholar, and editor who began as a shoemaker's apprentice; after Oxford he
published
The Baviad (1794),
The Maeviad
(1795), and
The Satires of Juvenal translated (1802) before becoming
the founding editor of the
Quarterly Review (1809-24).
Robert William Hay (1786-1861)
After education at Christ Church, Oxford, he was private secretary to Viscount Melville,
first lord of the Admiralty (1812) and permanent under-secretary of state for the colonies
(1825).
Sir Robert John Wilmot- Horton, third baronet (1784-1841)
Byron's cousin; he was MP for Newcastle under Lyme (1818-30), governor of Ceylon
(1831-37), and was Augusta Leigh's representative at the destruction of Byron's memoir; he
succeeded to his title in 1834.
John William Ward, earl of Dudley (1781-1833)
The son of William Ward, third Viscount Dudley (d. 1823); educated at Edinburgh and
Oxford, he was an English MP, sometimes a Foxite Whig and sometimes Canningite Tory, who
suffered from insanity in his latter years.
