om Manx, Russian, Danish and
Norse--one poem, on Harald Harfagr, being illustrated by Frederick
Sandys. He never published the two-volume books, advertised as "ready
for the press" in 1857, "Celtic Bards, Chiefs, and Kings," "Kaempe Viser
. . . translated from the Ancient Danish," "Northern Skalds, Kings and
Earls."

Borrow was living in Hereford Square, seeing many people, occasionally
dining well, walking out into the suburban country, and visiting the
Gypsy camps in London. He made notes of his observations and
conversations, which, says Knapp, "are not particularly edifying,"
whatever that may mean. Knapp gives one example from the manuscript,
describing the race at Brompton, on October 14, 1861, between Deerfoot,
the Seneca Indian, and Jackson, the "American Deer." Borrow also wrote
for the "Antiquities of the Royal School of Norwich," an autobiography
too long for insertion. This survived to be captured and printed by
Knapp. It is very inaccurate, but it serves to corroborate parts of
"Lavengro," and its inaccuracy, though now transparent, is
characteristically exaggerated or picturesque.

Borrow's scattered notes would perhaps never have been published in his
lifetime, but for an accident. In 1870 Charles Godfrey Leland, author of
"Hans Breitmann," introduced himself to Borrow as one who had read "The
Zincali," "Lavengro," and "The Romany Rye," five times. Borrow answered
that he would be pleased to see him at any time. They met and Leland
sent Borrow his "Breitmann Ballads" because of the German Romany ballad
in it, and his "Music Lesson of Confucius" because of the poem in it
inspired by Borrow's reference to Svend Vonved in "The Romany Rye."
Leland confessed in a genial familiar way what "an incredible influence"
Borrow's books had had on him, and thanked him for the "instructions in
'The Romany Rye' as to taking care of a horse on a thirty-mile ride."
Borrow became jealous of this American "Romany Rye." Leland, suspecting
nothing, wrote offering him the dedication of his "English Gypsies." John
Murray assured Leland that Borrow received this letter, but it was never
acknowledged except by the speedy announcement of a new book--"Romano
Lavo-Lil: a word book of the Romany or English Gypsy Language, by George
Borrow, with specimens of Gypsy poetry, and an account of certain
Gypsyries or places inhabited by them, and of various things relating to
Gypsy life in England." Leland speaks of the affair in