of Thebes, I think it will not hurt you; if I had my
dragoman, or wrote Turkish, I could have given you letters of _real
service_; but to the English they are hardly requisite, and the
Greeks themselves can be of little advantage. Liston you know
already, and I do not, as he was not then minister. Mind you visit
Ephesus and the Troad, and let me hear from you when you please. I
believe G. Forresti is now at Yanina, but if not, whoever is there
will be too happy to assist you. Be particular about _firmauns_;
never allow yourself to be bullied, for you are better protected in
Turkey than any where; trust not the Greeks; and take some
_knicknackeries_ for _presents_--_watches_, _pistols_, &c. &c. to
the Beys and Pachas. If you find one Demetrius, at Athens or
elsewhere, I can recommend him as a good dragoman. I hope to join
you, however; but you will find swarms of English now in the
Levant.

"Believe me," &c.

* * * * *

TO MR. MURRAY.

"February 20. 1813.

"In 'Horace in London' I perceive some stanzas on Lord Elgin in
which (waving the kind compliment to myself[60]) I heartily concur.
I wish I had the pleasure of Mr. Smith's acquaintance, as I could
communicate the curious anecdote you read in Mr. T.'s letter. If he
would like it, he can have the _substance_ for his second edition;
if not, I shall add it to our next, though I think we already have
enough of Lord Elgin.

"What I have read of this work seems admirably done. My praise,
however, is not much worth the author's having; but you may thank
him in my name for _his_. The idea is new--we have excellent
imitations of the Satires, &c. by Pope; but I remember but one
imitative Ode in his works, and _none_ any where else. I can hardly
suppose that _they_ have lost any fame by the fate of the _farce_;
but even should this be the case, the present publication will
again place them on their pinnacle.

"Yours," &c.

[Footnote 60: In the Ode entitled "The Parthenon," Minerva thus
speaks:--

"All who behold my mutilated pile
Shall brand its ravager with classic rage;
And soon a titled bard from Britain's isle
Thy country's praise and suffrage shall engage,
And fire with Athens' wrongs an angry age!"
HORACE IN LONDON.
]

* * *