The Works of Lord Byron: Letters and Journals Volume I Part 20

[Footnote 2: See page 41 [Letter 14], note 1 [Footnote 5].]

[Footnote 3: See page 81 [Letter 38], [Foot]note 1.]

[Footnote 4: In the theatricals, which took place at Southwell in the autumn of 1806, Byron was the chief mover. A letter received by Mr.

Pigot, quoted by Moore ('Life', p. 38), shows how eagerly his return from Harrogate was expected:--

"Tell Lord Byron that, if any accident should r.e.t.a.r.d his return, his mother desires he will write to her, as she shall be 'miserable' if he does not arrive the day he fixes. Mr. W. B. has written a card to Mrs.

H. to offer for the character of 'Henry Woodville,'--Mr. and Mrs.---- not approving of their son's taking a part in the play: but I believe he will persist in it. Mr. G. W. says, that sooner than the party should be disappointed, 'he' will take any part,--sing--dance--in short, do any thing to oblige. Till Lord Byron returns, nothing can be done; and positively he must not be later than Tuesday or Wednesday."

A full account of the theatricals is given in a ma.n.u.script written by Miss Bristoe, one of the performers. Two plays were represented, (1) c.u.mberland's 'Wheel of Fortune' and (2) Allingham's 'Weatherc.o.c.k'. The following were the respective casts:--

(1) 'Penruddock', Lord Byron.

'Sir David Daw', Mr. C. Becher.

'Woodville', Captain Lightfoot.

'Sydenham', Mr. Pigot.

'Henry Woodville', Mr. H. Houson.

'Mrs. Woodville', Miss Bristoe.

'Emily Tempest', Miss J. Leacroft 'Dame Dunckley', Miss Leacroft.

'Weazel', Mr. G. Wylde.

'Jenkins', Mr. G. Heathcote.

(2) 'Tristram Fickle', Lord Byron.

'Old Fickle', Mr. Pigot.

'Briefwit', Captain Lightfoot.

'Sneer', Mr. R. Leacroft.

'Variella', Miss Bristoe.

'Ready', Miss Leacroft.

'Gardener', Mr. C. Becher.

'Barber', Mr. G. Wylde.

Between the two plays, a member of the Southwell choir sang "The Death of Abercrombie." The brave General, attended by two aides-de-camp, all three in the costume of the Southwell volunteers, appeared on the stage, and the General, sinking into the outstretched arms of his two friends, warbled out his dying words in a style which convulsed Byron with laughter.

The play itself nearly came to an untimely conclusion. Captain Lightfoot screwed his failing courage to the sticking point by several gla.s.ses of wine, with the result that, being a very abstemious man, he became tipsy. But "restoratives were administered," and he went through his part with credit. Byron, who was the star of the company, repeatedly brought down the house by his acting.

(For Byron's Prologue to 'The Wheel of Fortune', see 'Poems', vol. i.

pp. 45, 46.) Moore's account of the epilogue, written by the Rev. J. T.

Becher, and spoken by Byron, is erroneous. Only one word gave any opportunity for mimicry. It occurs in the lines--

"Tempest becalmed forgets his bl.u.s.t'ring rage, He calls Dame Dunckley 'sister' off the stage."

In p.r.o.nouncing the word "sister," Byron "took off exactly the voice and manner of Mr. R. Leacroft."]

66.--To Mrs. Hanson.

Southwell, Feb. 8, 1807.

Dear Madam,--Having understood from Mrs. Byron that Mr. Hanson is in a very indifferent State of Health, I have taken the Liberty of addressing you on the Subject.

Though the _Governor_ & _I_ have lately not been on the _best_ of _Terms_, yet I should be extremely sorry to learn he was in Danger, and I trust _he_ and _I_ will live to have many more _Squabbles_ in _this world_, before we _finally make peace_ in the next. If therefore you can favor me with any _salutary_ Intelligence of the _aforesaid_ Gentleman, believe me, nothing will be more acceptable to

Yours very truly,

BYRON.

P.S.--Remember me to all the family now in _Garrison_, particularly my old Friend Harriet.

67.--To William Bankes. [1]

Southwell, March 6, 1807.

Dear Bankes,--Your critique is valuable for many reasons: in the first place, it is the only one in which flattery has borne so slight a part; in the _next_, I am _cloyed_ with insipid compliments. I have a better opinion of your judgment and ability than your _feelings_.

Accept my most sincere thanks for your kind decision, not less welcome, because totally unexpected. With regard to a more exact estimate, I need not remind you how few of the _best poems_, in our language, will stand the test of _minute_ or _verbal_ criticism: it can, therefore, hardly be expected the effusions of a boy (and most of these pieces have been produced at an early period) can derive much merit either from the subject or composition. Many of them were written under great depression of spirits, and during severe indisposition:--hence the gloomy turn of the ideas. We coincide in opinion that the "_poesies erotiques_" are the most exceptionable; they were, however, grateful to the _deities_, on whose altars they were offered--more I seek not.

The portrait of Pomposus [2] was drawn at Harrow, after a _long sitting_; this accounts for the resemblance, or rather the _caricatura_. He is _your_ friend, he _never was mine_--for both our sakes I shall be silent on this head. The _collegiate_ rhymes [3] are not personal--one of the notes may appear so, but could not be omitted. I have little doubt they will be deservedly abused--a just punishment for my unfilial treatment of so excellent an Alma Mater. I sent you no copy, lest _we_ should be placed in the situation of _Gil Blas_ and the _Archbishop_ of Grenada; [4] though running some hazard from the experiment, I wished your _verdict_ to be unbia.s.sed. Had my "_Libellus_" been presented previous to your letter, it would have appeared a species of bribe to purchase compliment. I feel no hesitation in saying, I was more anxious to hear your critique, however severe, than the praises of the _million_. On the same day I was honoured with the encomiums of _Mackenzie_, the celebrated author of the _Man of Feeling_ [5] Whether _his_ approbation or _yours_ elated me most, I cannot decide.

You will receive my _Juvenilia_,--at least all yet published. I have a large volume in ma.n.u.script, which may in part appear hereafter; at present I have neither time nor inclination to prepare it for the press. In the spring I shall return to Trinity, to dismantle my rooms, and bid you a final adieu. The _Cam_ will not be much increased by my _tears_ on the occasion. Your further remarks, however _caustic_ or bitter, to a palate vitiated with the _sweets of adulation_, will be of service. Johnson has shown us _that no poetry_ is perfect; but to correct mine would be an Herculean labour. In fact I never looked beyond the moment of composition, and published merely at the request of my friends. Notwithstanding so much has been said concerning the "Genus irritabile vatum," we shall never quarrel on the subject--poetic fame is by no means the "acme" of my wishes.--Adieu.

Yours ever,

BYRON.

[Footnote 1: William John Bankes, of Kingston Lacy, Dorsets.h.i.+re, was Byron's friend, possibly at Harrow, though his name does not occur in the school lists, certainly at Trinity College, Cambridge (B.A. 1808).

He represented Truro from 1810 to 1812, when he left England on his Eastern travels. At Philae he discovered an obelisk, the geometrical elevation and inscriptions of which he published in 1820. In Mesopotamia he encountered John Silk Buckingham, whom he afterwards charged with making use of his notes in his 'Travels', a statement, found to be libellous, which (October 19, 1826) cost Bankes 400 in damages. He also travelled with Giovanni Finati, a native of Ferrara, who, under the a.s.sumed name of Mahomet, made the campaigns against the Wahabees for the recovery of Mecca and Medina. Finati's Italian 'Narrative' was translated by Bankes, to whom it is dedicated by his "attached and faithful servant Hadjee Mahomet," and published in 1830. In 1822 Bankes was elected M.P. for Cambridge University, but lost his seat to Sir J.

Copley in 1826. At a bye-election in 1827, he was again unsuccessful.

His candidature gave occasion to Macaulay's squib, which appeared in the 'Times' for May 14, 1827, 'A Country Clergyman's Trip to Cambridge'.

"A letter--and free--bring it here: I have no correspondent who franks.

No! Yes! Can it be? Why, my dear, 'Tis our glorious, our Protestant Bankes.

'Dear Sir as I know your desire That the Church should receive due protection, I humbly presume to require Your aid at the Cambridge election,'"etc., etc.

Bankes subsequently represented Marlborough (1829-1832) and Dorsets.h.i.+re (1833-1834). He was Byron's "collegiate pastor, and master and patron,"

"ruled the roast" at Trinity, "or, rather, the 'roasting', and was father of all mischief" (Byron to Murray, October 12, 1820). "William Bankes," Byron told Lady Blessington ('Conversations', p. 172), "is another of my early friends. He is very clever, very original, and has a fund of information: he is also very good-natured, but he is not much of a flatterer." Bankes died at Venice in 1855.]