“I have spent a good deal of time on my book since I came here, and am just beginning to make a fair copy of it. I have read since I came here,—first, Parry’s Account of the last month of Lord Byron’s life: second, Gamba’s ditto: third, Blaquiere’s ditto: fourth, Anecdotes of Lord B.: fifth, Dallas’s Recollections of Lord B.: sixth, Madame Beloe on Lord Byron, in two volumes, French. In all these, except Dallas’s, my conversations are mentioned, and placed in a false and ridiculous point of view. I have also read some of Byron’s works, which I had not seen before, in order to enable me to form a more correct estimate of his character. The more I read and consider, the more I am convinced that every word I say should be weighed, and just and true. The subject will, from idleness or curiosity, cause many to look into the book; and it is a heavy duty on me to take care, if my book does not produce any positive good, that at least it will produce no evil or scandal. B. is represented as a man of mighty intellect and great knowledge of the Scriptures—that he astonished and perplexed me—and put to flight, by one attack, all my arguments, and consequently, my attempt was an absurd and silly one. I must prove, in fact, that I am no fool, which is rather a difficult thing to do, when one writes a book. I shall keep this object in view, and endeavour to accomplish it, at the risk of being deemed lazy and dilatory.”
