The Works of Lord Byron: Letters and Journals Volume II Part 24

On December 9, 1811, he appeared at the Haymarket as "Lothario" in Rowe's 'Fair Penitent'. Mathews, at Covent Garden, imitated his performance, in Bate Dudley's 'At Home', as "Mr. Romeo Rantall,"

appearing in the

"pink silk vest and cloak, white satin breeches and stockings, Spanish hat, with a rich high plume of ostrich feathers," in which Coates had played "Lothario"

'Memoirs of Charles Mathews', (vol. ii. pp. 238, 239).]

218.--To Robert Rushton. [1]

8, St. James's Street, Jan. 21, 1812.

Though I have no objection to your refusal to carry _letters_ to Mealey's, you will take care that the letters are taken by _Spero_ at the proper time. I have also to observe, that Susan is to be treated with civility, and not _insulted_ by any person over whom I have the smallest controul, or, indeed, by any one whatever, while I have the power to protect her. I am truly sorry to have any subject of complaint against _you_; I have too good an opinion of you to think I shall have occasion to repeat it, after the care I have taken of you, and my favourable intentions in your behalf. I see no occasion for any communication whatever between _you_ and the _women_, and wish you to occupy yourself in preparing for the situation in which you will be placed. If a common sense of decency cannot prevent you from conducting yourself towards them with rudeness, I should at least hope that your _own interest_, and regard for a master who has _never_ treated you with unkindness, will have some weight.

Yours, etc., BYRON.

P.S.--I wish you to attend to your arithmetic, to occupy yourself in surveying, measuring, and making yourself acquainted with every particular relative to the _land_ of Newstead, and you will _write_ to me _one letter every week_, that I may know how you go on.

[Footnote 1: The two following letters, and a suppressed pa.s.sage in the letter to Moore of January 29, 1812, refer to a quarrel among his dependents, in which Rushton, the "little page" of Childe Harold (see 'Letters', vol. i. pp. 224, 242), played a part. The story is told at considerable length in a letter to Hodgson, dated January 28, 1812. To the same affair probably belong the following sc.r.a.p and Byron's note:

"Pray don't forget me, as I shall never cease thinking of you, my Dearest 'and only Friend, (signed) S. H. V.'"

To this Byron has added this note:

"This was written on the 11th of January, 1812; on the 28th I received ample proof that the Girl had forgotten _me_ and _herself_ too.

Heigho! B."

The letters show, writes Moore ('Life', p. 152),

"how gravely and coolly the young lord could arbitrate on such an occasion, and with what considerate leaning towards the servant whose fidelity he had proved, in preference to any new liking or fancy by which it might be suspected he was actuated toward the other."

In a MS. book written by Mrs. Heath of Newstead ('nee' Rebekah Beardall), it is stated that the elder Rushton had as his farm-servant Fletcher, afterwards Byron's valet. Byron watched Fletcher and young Robert Rushton ploughing, took a fancy to both, and engaged them as his servants. Rushton accompanied Byron to Geneva, but afterwards entered the service of James Wedderburn Webster (see p. 2, 'note' 1). In 1827 he married a woman of the name of Bagnall, and with her help kept a school at Arnold, near Nottingham. Subsequently he took a farm on the Newstead estate, named Hazelford, and shortly afterwards died, leaving a widow and three children.]

219.--To Robert Rushton.

8, St. James's Street, January 25, 1812.

Your refusal to carry the letter was not a subject of remonstrance: it was not a part of your business; but the language you used to the girl was (as _she_ stated it) highly improper.

You say, that you also have something to complain of; then state it to me immediately: it would be very unfair, and very contrary to my disposition, not to hear both sides of the question.

If any thing has pa.s.sed between you _before_ or since my last visit to Newstead, do not be afraid to mention it. I am sure _you_ would not deceive me, though _she_ would. Whatever it is, _you_, shall be forgiven. I have not been without some suspicions on the subject, and am certain that, at your time of life, the blame could not attach to you.

You will not _consult_, any one as to your answer, but write to me immediately. I shall be more ready to hear what you have to advance, as I do not remember ever to have heard a word from you before _against_, any human being, which convinces me you would not maliciously a.s.sert an untruth. There is not any one who can do the least injury to you, while you conduct yourself properly. I shall expect your answer immediately.

Yours, etc.,

BYRON.

220.--To Thomas Moore.

January 29, 1812.

My Dear Moore,--I wish very much I could have seen you; I am in a state of ludicrous tribulation.***

Why do you say that I dislike your poesy [1]? I have expressed no such opinion, either in _print_ or elsewhere. In scribbling myself, it was necessary for me to find fault, and I fixed upon the trite charge of immorality, because I could discover no other, and was so perfectly qualified in the innocence of my heart, to "pluck that mote from my neighbour's eye."

I feel very, very much obliged by your approbation; but, at _this moment_, praise, even _your_ praise, pa.s.ses by me like "the idle wind."

I meant and mean to send you a copy the moment of publication; but now I can think of nothing but d.a.m.ned, deceitful,--delightful woman, as Mr.

Liston says in the 'Knight of Snowdon' [2]? Believe me, my dear Moore,

Ever yours, most affectionately, BYRON.

[Footnote: 1. Of Moore's early poems Byron was an admirer. The influence of "Little" and "Anacreon" is strongly marked throughout 'Hours of Idleness'. For the "trite charge of immorality," see 'English Bards, etc.', lines 283-294; and 'Letters', vol. i. p. 113. Byron's opinion of Moore's later poetry was thus stated by him to Lady Blessington ('Conversations', pp. 354, 355):

"Having compared Rogers's poems to a flower-garden, to what shall I compare Moore's?--to the Valley of Diamonds, where all is brilliant and attractive, but where one is so dazzled by the sparkling on every side that one knows not where to fix, each gem beautiful in itself, but overpowering to the eye from their quant.i.ty."]