22 Parliament Street, (London).—(29th.) Has been with her husband to call on Murray, where she read parts of Byron’s manuscript memoirs. Discusses the contents and her negative view of Byron’s character. Describes a boat journey to the Tower, and a visit to the White Tower.—(29th.) Has received his letter. Her husband has gone to the Tower again.
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Transcript
22 Parliament Street Oct. 29. 1823.
My dear Papa /
Since you were kind enough to wish to hear from me whenever I should meet with any matter of interest to communicate, I will not close this day, which has afforded me some respite from my late engrossing household cares, without setting down what I have been able to remember, however little it may be, which may interest you to hear. My husband went this morning to the Chapter-House {1} in order to initiate his youngest Clerk into the mystery of decyphering the Rolls in that office, and as his morning was thus broken into, he devoted the remainder of it to assisting Mr Bayley {2} in procuring a publisher for his intended history of the City of London. For this purpose he went to Murray’s, and he was kind enough to take me with him. Mr Murray seems inclined to enter into Mr Bayley’s proposal—While he and Frank were talking of the expence etc. of the work, he was so obliging as to put into my hands the MS. of Lord Byron’s memoirs of his own life, which, with those of his other poems including the 2 first cantos of Don Juan, are carefully preserved in a coffre-fort in Mr Murray’s private room. I opened the pages accidentally at that part of his Lordship’s life which mentions his marriage, and I read it with the utmost interest and avidity. Lord Byron prefaces this portion of his MS. by professing his design of hurrying over it, as it is of all the most painful to record. He then, in the most cold-blooded and heartless manner, declares his little attachment to his wife at any time—not that he married her for her fortune, which in possession was small though in prospect large, while he settled his own more lavishly upon her—but he was snowed-up for a month in the country without another creature to whom he could make love in his way. It is grievous to read his declaration of indifference to his wife and of aversion to her mother, whom he never mentions but by the most opprobrious epithets. Nor does he ever call his wife by any name but that of “Miss Milbanke”.
I wonder that Mr Murray should allow these papers to be seen so freely. They contain the most severe remarks, not only on Sir Ralph Milbanke’s family, mode of life etc,—but all the families in the neighbourhood whom his Lordship met, are mentioned by name and classed in the wittiest but most cruel manner. Lord Byron evidently set his mind to evil—he takes delight in recording his own wickedness, and in the most perverted of all feelings—that of exposing and degrading his wife. A leading trait in his memoirs, is the extreme pleasure he takes in levelling, as far as he can, those who are eminent for virtue to his own standard. Some unworthy anecdotes of Dr Paley, he records with evident delight. Throughout the whole he seeks to harden his own heart. Even when relating his wife’s confinement he barely mentions her or his child with interest, but dwells on every annoyance from her mother and the detested Mrs Clermont, {3} and on every offensive and degrading circumstance. As far as good can be compared with evil, I should say that Lord Byron’s mode of writing bears great resemblance to Mr Hudson Gurney’s, for strength, clearness and quaintness.—But all the power of his mind seems forcibly turned to do evil only. And if bad passions unrestrained can account for his conduct, yet in committing such a testimony of himself to the world, he must have been actuated by motives so perverted as to be really unaccountable.
Mr Murray begged me to thank you for a present of game which he had received.
From his house we went to Gifford’s, {4} but he was too unwell to see any one. The next Quarterly will be published in December. We then took boat and went down to the Tower to acquaint Mr Bayley with Murray’s communication. This ease of going by water is very agreeable to us. The distance is lessened, the conveyance is cheap, and the views on the river would make it a pleasure to go thus, were it merely to look at them. Then the bridges too are such noble features. I think Westminster and Blackfriars are both very elegant, and old London bridge with its broken and time-stained piers and its immense feet through which the water struggles and dashes, is well contrasted with its new cast iron neighbour, which, though ugly enough from its materials, yet has a peculiar character of lightness as it crosses the Thames in three great strides. But the level top of Waterloo bridge, and its admirable granite fabric set it far above all the rest.—We landed at London bridge and went in front of the new Custom house—where the view, with that noble building, the concourse and variety of people, of goods and shipping, is more what we imagine of Venice than of an English capital. We looked at the front of St Magnus’ church. The tower, originally solid, has been excavated to allow of a current for the stream of population which throng before and through it. The operation has been beautifully performed. They found, when considering its practicability, that Sir Christopher Wren, in building the Church, had foreseen the possible desireability of such an alteration, and had set the massy Tower so firmly on four piers connected above by a vaulted roof, that the edifice stood steady and uninjured when the walls were removed. I think this gives a noble idea of Sir Christopher Wren’s mind.
Just within the Tower-walls, we met Mr Petrie, who congratulated us both very kindly. He is recovering, but he is much shrunk. After talking with Mr Bayley, we went over the White Tower and looked at the curious Norman chapel occupying the 2nd and 3d story. As the only entirely unaltered building of the date in England, it is very interesting. There is so much resemblance in the columns and capitals to Gournay and St. Georges, that it almost seems as if the same workmen had been employed. By the bye, I need not make a marvel of this, for Mr Bayley in his history of the Tower, says that a monk from the abbey of Bec was employed in building this chapel.
Oct. 30. The post this morning has just brought me your very kind letter, dear Papa. I do thank you sincerely for it. The pleasure it has given me is indeed very great, and more than doubled by your saying that you found it “a comfort” to write to me. Pray do not think, employed as I know you are, of returning my letters, whenever it may be inconvenient to you. Frank desired I would remember him most kindly to all before he started for the Tower this morning. He is gone in a dismal pouring rain, with only the chance of meeting with a coach. In this weather there is certainly “enough of water” without going on the river. I am very sorry that he is obliged to take these long daily excursions, especially since he cannot return till past 5 o’clock, when it is just dark. But unless he goes, he loses not only his own work but that of his 2nd Clerk, who is not trusted at present with the Rolls except under his master’s eye.
I am sorry not to be able to procure a frank. I should have liked to write to Mamma and the dear girls. My husband called yesterday on Mr Wynne, {5} intending to ask him for a cover, but he is not in London. I have received a beautiful present of ornamental china {6} from Mr Gunn, with a very kind letter. If I cannot write sooner, I will send our thanks by Barclay’s parcel.
Again, my dear Papa, I beg you to accept my thanks for your letter. It is very good of my family to write so often—and the receiving and answering their dear letters, is quite a happiness to me in my morning solitude. My best love to all.
Your very affectionate child,
E. Palgrave.
Mr Dibdin and Mrs Douce called yesterday while we were out. I shall be exceedingly glad to receive Mamma’s letter and advice.
[Superscription:] Oct 29. 1823. | To / | Dawson Turner Esqre | Yarmouth | Norfolk
[Postmark:] OC | X 20 | 1823
[Postal fee:] 11
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{1} The chapter-house of Westminster Abbey, a repository of state records till 1863.
{2} John Bayley, chief clerk of the Record Office in the Tower. His History and Antiquities of the Tower of London was published by T. Cadell in two parts in 1821 and 1825.
{3} Claire Clairmont.
{4} 6 St James’s Street, the home of William Gifford, editor of the Quarterly Review.
{5} Charles Williams-Wynn
{6} A wedding present.