“I hope you will consider, when I venture on any request, that it is the reverse of a certain Dedication, and is addressed, not to ‘The Editor of the Quarterly Review,’ but to Mr. Gifford. You will understand this, and on that point I need trouble you no farther.
“You have been good enough to look at a thing of mine in MS.—a Turkish story, and I should feel gratified if you would do it the same favour in its probationary state of printing. It was written, I cannot say for amusement, nor ‘obliged by hunger and request of friends,’ but in a state of mind, from circumstances which occasionally occur to ‘us youths’ that rendered it necessary for me to apply my mind to something, any thing but reality; and under this not very brilliant inspiration it was composed. Being done, and having at least diverted me from myself, I thought you would not perhaps be offended if Mr. Murray forwarded it to you. He has done so, and to apologise for his doing so a second time is the object of my present letter.
“I beg you will not send me any answer. I assure you very
| A. D. 1813. | LIFE OF LORD BYRON. | 481 |
“A word to Mr. Murray will be sufficient, and send it either to the flames, or
‘A hundred hawkers’ load, On wings of winds to fly or fall abroad.’ |
