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Sloperton, Chippenham - Concerning the Byron statue.

Copied by Robert Pemberton Milnes?

Stamp on back of H. Parker, Photographer, 26 Lloyd St, Greenheys. MS endorsement: 'Taken at Pisa from life | By Bartholini 1822| Byron he parted his hair in front'.

Harts, Almondsbury, Bristol. - Thanks Bob for sending her his poem ["A Dream"]. Her sister read it twice before she had a chance to see it. Asks if Bob has copies for sale, as she would like a few to send to friends; thinks it 'one of the best things' he has written, on a level with his 'letter to Goldie [Lowes Dickinson]'. Asks what his other friends think of it. His 'powers do not decay', though he 'often scratch[es] his head' and says he does not know what to do. The reconciliation of Lucifer and Christ seems original and interesting; must read "Par[adise] Regained" again. Wishes she could see Bob and talk to him. Finds Lady Bessborough and her family letters 'fascinating', as is everything that 'gets near Byron'; the letters are 'newly published by Lord Bessborough' ["Lady Bessborough and Her Family Circle"], and inspired her to [re-?] read and enjoy Byron. Has also read a new biography of [Edward] Trelawny [by Margaret Armstrong?]. 'That lot and the Wordsworth-Coleridge group never grow stale'. Heard 'scraps of a talk on Hazlitt' by ? on her 'very bad wireless' recently; wishes more of such talks were broadcast.

Originally enclosing notes by Emily Jourdain on Bartolini's bust of Byron.

Embossed notepaper, Weston Park, Shifnal. - Delighted by speeches for the centenary of Sir Walter Scott; Houghton is mistaken in stating that there is now no Byron - writer recently heard the 'Bill' read in the old fourth form room at Harrow and a 'little blackheaded boy' responded to the title 'just as I was gazing at BYRON, which the poet had cut on the wall'; an actual descendant is Lord Wentworth, the eldest surviving son of Byron's only child.

Impossible that Henry Sidgwick 'should have named anything which would interest [him] more than the Byron' [to be left to Trevelyan?] Refers to one of the poems, the Ode to Napoleon, which is 'exceedingly characteristic of Cowell' and a pleasant reminder of the close friendship that united Cowell, Henry and himself. Has not been in the habit of keeping letters from anyone, but that he has kept, as a bookmark, 'a very tattered letter of Henry's of 1896'; also Henry's last two of May and July 1900, kept 'as priceless possessions.' Also possible that he may find one or two letters written to him at important occasions of his life, as his wife has kept a great many of them. Undertakes to send all that he has.

Enclosing preface to bowdlerised version of Byron's Don Juan.

Milnes's poetry belongs to the school of Tennyson; cannot help loving the style's 'quaint involutions of language into a wierd [sic] music, &... mystical suggestiveness of fancy and thought'. Names favourite verses. Restrictions of didactic element? She herself would create the perfect modern poet from 'Shelley's visionariness & Byron's intensity, admitting Wordsworth's magnanimity of simplicity, & Coleridge's [...". Thanks Kenyon for book; Mrs Hedley will be delighted to hear from him.

Central fragments and end missing.

Florence - heard of Blakesley's Fellowship while in Florence, Marquise Sacrati, Byron - "poetry must be a villainous trade if such a man was at the head of his profession", English character

Constantinople. - They had a 'tedious passage' from Prevesa to Navarin [Pilos], then to Napoli [Nafplio], being 'long delayed by calms and foul winds', but their journey on to Athens took only twenty four hours. From Egina to Constantinople took five days.
At Navarin [Pylos] they were 'amazed to find outside the walls a complete french village in which are counted more than a dozen cafés with as many Billiard tables'; they had some 'fair shooting', but the only excursion they made was to Modon [Methoni].

Delivered letter to Meyer's nephew at Napoli, but did not make Mr Griffith's acquaintance; heard at Navarin that Griffith had a 'narrow escape from the bursting of his gun'. At Napoli they made an excursion to Corinth, and also met King, who got a passage to Malta with a friend of Clay's, Captain Graham ('brother of Sir James') on the Rattlesnake, to which Graham had just been appointed on the death of Captain Spencer.

At Athens they 'stumbled upon Gropius to whom Byron has given a somewhat uncomfortable celebrity'; they however found his practical manner of 'great service'. Gropius has 'purchased most of the beautiful situations for hours close to Athens (which may be thought some of the most beautiful in the world) for next to nothing'. Clay was himself tempted to spend a hundred pounds on many acres, 'but scarcely knew what to do with them'. Sir Pulteney Malcolm has bought a 'little place'. They 'got into the Acropolis', made excursions to Marathon and other places. General impressions of Greece.

Has now been in Constantinople about a month; the inhabitants keep threatening severe weather but it remains fine. Is 'much delighted with the beauties of this place', but since he is 'half ruined by buying pipes, sabres, shawls and the other temptations to extravagance which it abundantly offers', proposes starting 'when the north winds set in'. Has been at Pera in lodgings for the last few days, since the walk from the yacht to dine at the Palace every day does not suit him. Delivered Mayer's letter to Cartwright, from whom he has received 'every hospitable attention', as he has from Sir Robert Gordon. Cartwright is a 'capital fellow'.

Meredith left the other day for Smyrna, but Disraeli remains with Clay; they plan to travel to Smyrna, Acre, Jerusalem, Alexandria, Cairo, and to go from Alexandria to Malta. From there he will go to Venice, and 'make the best of my way home. I had intended to do more but English politics now possess such overwhelming interest' that he cannot bear being absent any longer. Expects to be back by the autumn; invites Meyer to give him any 'commands' back in England. Suggests Meyer should write to him at the Albion Club, as he thinks he will either change or give up his house in Town. Disraeli sends best wishes.

Adds postscript with best wishes from Cartwright, who says he is 'quite well but getting a little old, tho' he has the intention of stopping in this world as long as he can, as he is not sure of as good a situation in the next'.

Annotations and under-linings in pencil and red crayon.

Two letters from A. C. Benson to the Master of Trinity H. M. Butler in 1907 describing his acquisition of the portrait which had been very dirty, with the appearance of having been used as a target by children and offering it to Trinity, with another letter from S. Taylor to Canon Parry in 1925 concerning the portrait's similarities to Stephen Poyntz Denning's work.

Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland. - Glad that Robert found Julian 'so well and stout', and to hear about Aunt Annie [Philips]; as well as Robert's 'report about "darkling". His shoot yesterday was very disappointing; plenty of birds but they only got fifteen and Charles shot all day; once got thirty-nine in a day on the same day while shooting with Thornton [Trevelyan?]. They are waiting for six hundred Newcastle Liberals to arrive; will give lunch to fourteen of them 'of whom 4 are knights or baronets', but will 'take care not to give bite or sup otherwise' since 'the Dorsetshire petition... warns us that hosts must not be Guests' [a pun on Freddie Guest, unseated due to election irregularities by his constituency agent]. Impressed by Byron's 'courage in making "darkle" a verb. But he was an audacious aristocrat.'

Wallington, Cambo, Northumberland. - Thanks Elizabeth for her 'long interesting letter'; hopes she and Robert will now have some quiet weeks. Sir George has had an accident: the nails in his fishing boots made him slip down the doorstep, and he has hurt his elbow badly. At first it was just put in carbolic dressings, but they had to send for the doctor on Friday and Booa [Mary Prestwich] is now kept busy making poultices; the arm is in a sling and Sir George 'gets very low-spirited'. Thinks it is improved today; hopes in a few days it may be 'strapped up with plaister'; fortunately no injury to the bone. George enjoyed himself at Naworth; expects Charles will be back tomorrow. Will keep the list of things left at Gr[osvenor] Cr[escen]t; thinks Elizabeth is right not to take the silver, as Mrs Enticknap does not have time to look after it; always thinks it is a 'pity to give young married people silver' as often it is not suitable. Hoping to visit in October. They are reading some of [Austen's] "Emma" each evening, and have finished the third volume of Byron's letters. Has not got on fast with Santayana, as she has little time for reading, but thinks what she has read 'very interesting'. No shooting since Elizabeth left. Charlotte came to tea yesterday and was sorry to miss her, and the Daylishes [?] called on her last week. Very interesting for Elizabeth to see [Joseph?] Joachim; sounds like a pleasant excursion. Asks how her aunt and cousin Marie are. Tells her not to do 'too much stitching at [her] curtains and take a good walk every day'. Sent her a cream cheese yesterday. Supposes the manuscript came safely.

Claims that the statue 'when first executed by Roubiliac and before it left his Studio, had the lips closed'; this was first noted in the piece on Byron's Childe Harold in the Eclectic Review, whose editor Josiah Conder had married Roubiliac's niece [actually, his granddaughter]. 'It is likely that the story was traditional in the family, tho never heard of in this place'.

Signed 'F. T. Cambridge'.

On paper with printed address, 'Twickenham House, Staines'.

Three translations, one unsigned, another signed by F. V. H., C. B. S., A. A. V. [Vansittart], and another signed by Stewart Brown MA.

Concerning plans to move the Byron statue to Cambridge.

Addressed: "1814, London January ye eleventh, To The Lady F. W. Webster, Piersie, Kirriemuir, Angus, N.B." with Byron's frank signature at bottom left. Address has been partially overwritten with a redirection to the "[?] Hotel, Edin." With three postal stamps on the front.

Printed notepaper for Star Yard, Lower King St, Manchester. - Requests copy of one of Milnes' poems for his autograph collection, which includes Scott, Byron, Moore, Wordsworth, Southey and Tennyson; already has envelope addressed to Sir John Potter by Milnes.

Usk, Monmouthshire. - Glad Milnes likes his book [Recollections of the Last Days of Shelley and Byron]. No mistake about Byron's 'unfortunate feet': he bathed in trousers and used only his arms when fencing or boxing; subsequent dispute as to which leg was lame; Trelawny knew both were affected but only learned cause after Byron's death; malformation of the feet affected Byron's health and caused the morbid sensitivity in his temper and verse.

Erle, Stoke Park, Westbury, Wiltshire - Concerning the Byron statue's move to Cambridge, and the inscription.

The Shiffolds. - Apologises for not writing lately; is 'only just settled down at home'. Had to go to London on Tuesday and Wednesday. Julian returned to Bedales on Monday, seeming 'very well and cheerful'; Robert was glad to see him for a few days before he went back. Bessie seems well, and enjoyed her trip to the Netherlands, 'though it was a bit tiring seeing so many people in so short a time'.

Is 'very glad' he went to Greece, since he greatly enjoyed his walks in the countryside. Read 'Nicholson's book about Byron [Harold Nicolson's Byron: The Last Journey] and thought it very good'; it made him like Byron more. He 'took care to be out of the way of the Celebrations [of the centenary of Byron's death] and was walking in the Peloponnese at the time'.

Will write to his father soon. Will try to visit before his parents go North: will know in a few days when he can come, and write to fix dates then. Is sorry Pauline 'did not get through [to university?]: but the standard seems very high now, owing to the number of girls who want to get in. Three clever Bedales girls also failed'. Charles and Molly 'seemed very cheerful' when he saw them in London.