therefore, probable, that, after all, the merit
of the choice may have belonged to Mr. Gifford.]

* * * * *

Immediately after succeeded another note:--

"Did you look out? Is it _Medina_ or _Mecca_ that contains the
_Holy_ Sepulchre? Don't make me blaspheme by your negligence. I
have no book of reference, or I would save you the trouble. I
_blush_, as a good Mussulman, to have confused the point.

"Yours, B."

* * * * *

Notwithstanding all these various changes, the couplet in question
stands at present thus:--

"Blest as the Muezzin's strain from Mecca's wall
To pilgrims pure and prostrate at his call."

In addition to his own watchfulness over the birth of his new poem, he
also, as will be seen from the following letter, invoked the veteran
taste of Mr. Gifford on the occasion:--

LETTER 144. TO MR. GIFFORD.

"November 12. 1813.

"My dear Sir,

"I hope you will consider, when I venture on any request, that it
is the reverse of a certain Dedication, and is addressed, _not_ to
'The Editor of the Quarterly Review,' but to Mr. Gifford. You will
understand this, and on that point I need trouble you no farther.

"You have been good enough to look at a thing of mine in MS.--a
Turkish story, and I should feel gratified if you would do it the
same favour in its probationary state of printing. It was written,
I cannot say for amusement, nor 'obliged by hunger and request of
friends,' but in a state of mind from circumstances which
occasionally occur to 'us youth,' that rendered it necessary for me
to apply my mind to something, any thing but reality; and under
this not very brilliant inspiration it was composed. Being done,
and having at least diverted me from myself, I thought you would
not perhaps be offended if Mr. Murray forwarded it to you. He has
done so, and to apologise for his doing so a second time is the
object of my present letter.

"I beg you will _not_ send me any answer. I assure you very
sincerely I know your time to be occupied, and it is enough, more
than enough, if you read; you are not to be bored with the fatigue
of answers.

"A word to Mr. Murray will be sufficient, and send it either to the
flames or

"A hundred hawkers' load,
On wings of wind