LORD  BYRON  and  his  TIMES
Byron
Documents Biography Criticism
Samuel Rogers and his Contemporaries
Sir George Beaumont to Samuel Rogers, 18 October 1826
INTRODUCTION & INDEXES
DOCUMENT INFORMATION
GO TO PAGE NUMBER:
Preface
Vol. I Contents
Chapter I. 1803-1805.
Chapter II. 1805-1809.
Chapter III. 1810-1812.
Chapter IV. 1813-1814.
Chapter V. 1814-1815.
Chapter VI. 1815-1816.
Chapter VII. 1816-1818.
Chapter VIII. 1818-19.
Chapter IX. 1820-1821.
Chapter X. 1822-24.
Chapter XI. 1825-1827.
Vol. II Contents
Chapter I. 1828-1830.
Chapter II. 1831-34.
Chapter III. 1834-1837.
Chapter IV. 1838-41.
Chapter V. 1842-44.
Chapter VI. 1845-46.
Chapter VII. 1847-50.
Chapter VIII. 1850
Chapter IX. 1851.
Chapter X. 1852-55.
Index
Creative Commons License

Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.
Produced by CATH
 

‘My dear Rogers,—It was some comfort to me in my disappointment to find it was not caused by violent illness on your part; indeed I had the satisfaction to find
SIR GEORGE BEAUMONT437
it was very slight indeed, and hardly deserved the name; moreover, the reception I met with from my noble host and hostess was so gratifying that it must have been a great evil indeed which could have been felt at all. I hope you are now quite well.

‘You thank me for my kindness, and, as I am a very Frenchman at interpreting things in my own favour, I am in great hopes, that is as much as to say our journey has been a pleasant one, to which I can fairly add, that to me it has been delightful and profitable also.

‘My good fortune did not quit me with you, for in my journey from Mulgrave, about two miles on the other side of Malton, I had an escape little short of a miracle. The postilion’s horse stumbled, and in saving himself he gave a jerk to the rein by which he held the other horse, broke it, and the horse, who was blind, swerved towards a precipice which was guarded by a strong rail—the rail gave way, and both wheels went down the bank so far that I can form no idea how the carriage preserved its balance. My man with great activity leaped from behind, and held the carriage with all his strength, afraid to open the door lest, during the time, wanting his assistance, it would certainly upset; with difficulty I opened it myself, and it was so much on one side it was hardly possible to get out. Providentially, however, I escaped, and was very glad to find myself on terra firma. Observe my good fortune: had the horse not been blind his situation must have made him restless, and the least motion on his part would have precipitated me into the ditch, which was eight or nine feet deep at least, so that the carriage, followed by both the
438 ROGERS AND HIS CONTEMPORARIES  
horses, would have been dashed on its top with inexpressible violence against the bottom, and I cannot form an idea how I could have escaped a fractured skull. Then came the difficulty of extricating the carriage, which took up an hour at least; six or seven lusty honest Yorkshiremen heartily set to work, and with the assistance of a lot of Quakers who were passing, and lent their heads on the occasion with great effect, it was recovered without much damage. I was so much pleased by the zeal of the Quakers that I forgive Mrs. Opie her whim and am almost inclined to applaud her. I must add, I find I was saved by a stone which was left (of an old bridge) in the bank and caught the carriage; had it been only the soft bank I had been gone! I hope I have piety enough not to attribute all this to mere chance. It made me too late to see the Marys to advantage, but I was in full time for dinner.

‘I am afraid I have given you a puzzling account of this accident, but I was led into it somehow or other, and I hope you will forgive me.

‘I know you will not be sorry to hear of the pleasure you have given my poor old friend and his family by your visit to Mulgrave. To-morrow I set off for Coleorton, where I hope to remain some months in perfect quiet.

‘The post is just going out.

‘Most truly yours,
‘G. H. Beaumont.
‘Castle Howard: 18 Oct., 1826.’