“On Sunday next I set off for the Highlands*. A friend of mine accompanies me in my carriage to Edinburgh. There we shall leave it, and proceed in a tandem (a species of open carriage) through the
* This plan (which he never put in practice) had been talked of by him before he left Southwell, and is thus noticed in a letter of his fair correspondent to her brother:—“How can you ask if Lord B. Is going to visit the Highlands In the summer? Why, don’t you know that he never knows his own mind for ten minutes together? I tell him he is as fickle as the winds, and as uncertain as the waves.” |
| A. D. 1807. | LIFE OF LORD BYRON. | 119 |
“Last week I swam in the Thames from Lambeth through the bridges, Westminster and Blackfriars, a distance, including the different turns and tacks made on the way, of 3 miles! You see I am in excellent training in case of a squall at sea. I mean to collect all the Erse traditions, poems, &c. &c., and translate, or expand the subject to fill a volume, which may appear next spring under the denomination of ‘The Highland Harp,’ or some title equally picturesque. Of Bosworth Field, one book is finished, another just began. It will be a work of 3 or 4 years, and most probably never conclude. What would you say to some stanzas on Mount Hecla? they would be written at least with fire. How is the immortal Bran? and the Phœnix of canine quadrupeds, Boatswain? I have lately purchased a thorough-bred bull-dog, worthy to be the coadjutor of the aforesaid celestials—his name is Smut!—‘bear it, ye breezes, on your balmy wings.’
“Write to me before I set off, I conjure you by the 5th rib
of your grandfather. Ridge goes on well with the
books—I thought that worthy had not done much in the country. In town they have been
very successful; Carpenter (Moore’s publisher) told me a few days ago they
sold all theirs immediately, and had several inquiries made since, which, from the books
being gone, they could not supply. The Duke of York,
the Marchioness of Headfort, the Duchess of Gordon, &c. &c. were among the
purchasers, and Crosby says the circulation will
be still more extensive in the winter; the summer season being very bad for a sale, as
most people are absent from London. However, they have gone off extremely well
altogether. I shall pass very near you on my journey through Newark, but cannot
approach. Don’t tell this to Mrs. B., who
supposes I travel a different road. If you have a letter, order it to be
| 120 | NOTICES OF THE | A. D. 1807. |
