The Works of Lord Byron: Letters and Journals Volume II Part 98

Tuesday, December 7.

Went to bed, and slept dreamlessly, but not refres.h.i.+ngly. Awoke, and up an hour before being called; but dawdled three hours in dressing. When one subtracts from life infancy (which is vegetation),--sleep, eating, and swilling--b.u.t.toning and unb.u.t.toning--how much remains of downright existence? The summer of a dormouse.

Redde the papers and _tea_-ed and soda-watered, and found out that the fire was badly lighted. Lord Glenbervie wants me to go to Brighton--um!

This morning, a very pretty billet from the Stael about meeting her at Ld. H.'s to-morrow. She has written, I dare say, twenty such this morning to different people, all equally flattering to each. So much the better for her and those who believe all she wishes them, or they wish to believe. She has been pleased to be pleased with my slight eulogy in the note annexed to _The Bride_. This is to be accounted for in several ways,--firstly, all women like all, or any, praise; secondly, this was unexpected, because I have never courted her; and, thirdly, as Scrub [1]

says, those who have been all their lives regularly praised, by regular critics, like a little variety, and are glad when any one goes out of his way to say a civil thing; and, fourthly, she is a very good-natured creature, which is the best reason, after all, and, perhaps, the only one.

A knock--knocks single and double. Bland called. He says Dutch society (he has been in Holland) is second-hand French; but the women are like women every where else. This is a bore: I should like to see them a little _un_like; but that can't be expected.

Went out--came home--this, that, and the other--and "all is vanity, saith the preacher," and so say I, as part of his congregation. Talking of vanity, whose praise do I prefer? Why, Mrs. Inchbald's [2], and that of the Americans. The first, because her _Simple Story_ and _Nature and Art_ are, to me, _true_ to their _t.i.tles_; and, consequently, her short note to Rogers about _The Giaour_ delighted me more than any thing, except the _Edinburgh Review_. I like the Americans, because _I_ happened to be in _Asia_, while the _English Bards, and Scotch Reviewers_ were redde in _America_. If I could have had a speech against the _Slave Trade in Africa_, and an epitaph on a dog in _Europe_ (i.e.

in the _Morning Post_), my _vertex sublimis_ [3] would certainly have displaced stars enough to overthrow the Newtonian system.

[Footnote 1: The reference is only to the form of the sentence. "Scrub,"

in 'The Beaux' Stratagem' (act iv. se. 2), says,

"First, it must be a plot, because there's a woman in't; secondly, it must be a plot, because there's a priest in't; thirdly, it must be a plot, because there's French gold in't; and fourthly, it must be a plot, because I don't know what to make on't."]

[Footnote 2: Elizabeth Simpson (1753-1821), daughter of a Suffolk farmer, married (1772) Joseph Inchbald, actor and portrait-painter.

Actress, dramatist, and novelist, she was one of the most attractive women of the day. Winning in manner, quick in repartee, an admirable teller of stories, she always gathered all the men round her chair.

"It was vain," said Mrs. Sh.e.l.ley, "for any other woman to attempt to gain attention."

Miss Edgeworth wished to see her first among living celebrities; her charm fascinated Sheridan, and overcame the prejudice of Lamb; even Peter Pindar wrote verse in her praise. From the age of eighteen she was wooed on and off the stage, where her slight stammer hindered her complete success; but no breath of scandal tarnished her name. Had John Kemble, the hero of 'A Simple Story', proposed to her, she probably would have married him. Mrs. Butler records that her uncle John once asked the actress, when matrimony was the subject of green-room conversation, "Well, Mrs. Inchbald, would you have had me?" "Dear heart," said the stammering beauty, turning her sunny face up at him,"

I'd have j-j-j-jumped at you." Mrs. Inchbald's 'Simple Story' (1791) wears a more modern air than any previously written novel. Her dramatic experience stood her in good stead. "Dorriforth," the priest, educated, like Kemble, at Douay, impressed himself upon Macaulay's mind as the true type of the Roman Catholic peer. 'Nature and Art' (1796) was written when Mrs. Inchbald was most under the influence of the French Revolution. Of two boys who come to London to seek their fortunes, Nature makes one a musician, and Art raises the other into a dean. The trial and condemnation of "Agnes" perhaps suggested to Lytton the scene in 'Paul Clifford', where "Brandon" condemns his own son.]

[Footnote 3: Horace, 'Odes', I. i. 36.]

Friday, December 10, 1813.

I am _ennuye_ beyond my usual tense of that yawning verb, which I am always conjugating; and I don't find that society much mends the matter.

I am too lazy to shoot myself--and it would annoy Augusta, and perhaps ----; but it would be a good thing for George, on the other side, and no bad one for me; but I won't be tempted.

I have had the kindest letter from Moore. I _do_ think that man is the best-hearted, the only _hearted_ being I ever encountered; and, then, his talents are equal to his feelings.

Dined on Wednesday at Lord H.'s--the Staffords, Staels, Cowpers, Ossulstones, Melbournes, Mackintoshes, etc., etc.--and was introduced to the Marquis and Marchioness of Stafford [1],--an unexpected event. My quarrel with Lord Carlisle (their or his brother-in-law) having rendered it improper, I suppose, brought it about. But, if it was to happen at all, I wonder it did not occur before. She is handsome, and must have been beautiful--and her manners are _princessly_.

The Stael was at the other end of the table, and less loquacious than heretofore. We are now very good friends; though she asked Lady Melbourne whether I had really any _bonhommie_. She might as well have asked that question before she told C. L. "_c'est un demon_." True enough, but rather premature, for _she_ could not have found it out, and so--she wants me to dine there next Sunday.

Murray prospers, as far as circulation. For my part, I adhere (in liking) to my Fragment. It is no wonder that I wrote one--my mind is a fragment.

Saw Lord Gower, Tierney [2], etc., in the square. Took leave of Lord Gower, who is going to Holland and Germany. He tells me that he carries with him a parcel of _Harolds_ and _Giaours_, etc., for the readers of Berlin, who, it seems, read English, and have taken a caprice for mine.

Um!--have I been _German_ all this time, when I thought myself _Oriental_?

Lent Tierney my box for to-morrow; and received a new comedy sent by Lady C. A.--but _not hers_. I must read it, and endeavour not to displease the author. I hate annoying them with cavil; but a comedy I take to be the most difficult of compositions, more so than tragedy.

Galt says there is a coincidence between the first part of _The Bride_ and some story of his--whether published or not, I know not, never having seen it. He is almost the last person on whom any one would commit literary larceny, and I am not conscious of any _witting_ thefts on any of the genus. As to originality, all pretensions are ludicrous,--"there is nothing new under the sun." [3]

Went last night to the play. Invited out to a party, but did not go;--right. Refused to go to Lady----'s on Monday;--right again. If I must fritter away my life, I would rather do it alone. I was much tempted;--C----looked so Turkish with her red turban, and her regular, dark, and clear features. Not that _she_ and _I_ ever were, or could be, any thing; but I love any aspect that reminds me of the "children of the sun."

To dine to-day with Rogers and Sharpe, for which I have some appet.i.te, not having tasted food for the preceding forty-eight hours. I wish I could leave off eating altogether.

[Footnote 1: George Granville Leveson Gower (1758-1833) succeeded his father, in 1803, as second Marquis of Stafford. He married, in 1785, Elizabeth, Countess of Sutherland, and was created, in 1833, first Duke of Sutherland. Lord Carlisle had married, in 1770 Margaret Caroline, sister of the second Marquis of Stafford.]

[Footnote 2: George Tierney (1761-1830) entered Parliament as Member for Colchester in 1789. In 1796 he was returned for Southwark. A useful speaker and political writer, he was Treasurer of the Navy in the Addington administration, and President of the Board of Control in that of "All the Talents." His drafting of the pet.i.tion of the "Society of the Friends of the People," his duel with Pitt in 1798, and his leaders.h.i.+p of the Opposition after 1817, are almost forgotten; but he is remembered as the "Friend of Humanity" in 'The Needy Knife-Grinder'.]

[Footnote 3: 'Eccles'. i. 9.]