Letters and Journals of Lord Byron
Lord Byron to Richard Belgrave Hoppner, 12 September 1817
“La Mira, Sept. 12th, 1817.
“I set out yesterday morning with the intention of paying my
respects, and availing myself of your permission to walk over the ![]()
| A. D. 1817. | LIFE OF LORD BYRON. | 145 |
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premises*. On arriving at Padua, I found that the march of the Austrian
troops had engrossed so many horses†, that those I could procure were hardly able
to crawl; and their weakness, together with the prospect of finding none at all at the
post-house of Monselice, and consequently either not arriving that day at Este, or so
late as to be unable to return home the same evening, induced me to turn aside in a
second visit to Arqua, instead of proceeding onwards; and even thus I hardly got back in
time.
“Next week I shall be obliged to be in Venice to meet
Lord Kinnaird and his brother, who are expected in a few days. And this interruption, together
with that occasioned by the continued march of the Austrians for the next few days, will
not allow me to fix any precise period for availing myself of your kindness, though I
should wish to take the earliest opportunity. Perhaps, if absent, you will have the
goodness to permit one of your servants to show me the grounds and house, or as much of
either as may be convenient; at any rate, I shall take the first occasion possible to go
over, and regret very much that I was yesterday prevented.
“I have the honour to be your obliged,
&c.”
Richard Belgrave Hoppner (1786-1872)
The son of John Hoppner, R.A. (1758-1810) and likewise a painter; he was English consul
at Venice (1814-25). He married Marie Isabella May, of Bern, in 1814.
Charles Kinnaird, eighth baron Kinnaird (1780-1826)
The son of George Kinnaird, seventh baron Kinnaird; he was Whig MP for Leominster
(1802-05) before he succeeded to the title. He was the elder brother of Byron's friend,
Douglas Kinnaird.
