tranchant reply, as you may suppose; and have given
to understand that, if any soldados of that respectable corps
insult my servants, I will do likewise by their gallant commanders;
and I have directed my ragamuffins, six in number, who are
tolerably savage, to defend themselves, in case of aggression; and,
on holidays and gaudy days, I shall arm the whole set, including
myself, in case of accidents or treachery. I used to play pretty
well at the broad-sword, once upon a time, at Angelo's; but I
should like the pistol, our national buccaneer weapon, better,
though I am out of practice at present. However, I can 'wink and
hold out mine iron.' It makes me think (the whole thing does) of
Romeo and Juliet--'now, Gregory, remember thy _swashing_ blow.'

"All these feuds, however, with the Cavalier for his wife, and the
troopers for my liveries, are very tiresome to a quiet man, who
does his best to please all the world, and longs for fellowship and
good will. Pray write. I am yours," &c.

* * * * *

LETTER 379. TO MR. MOORE.

"Ravenna, July 13. 1820.

"To remove or increase your Irish anxiety about my being 'in a
wisp[77],' I answer your letter forth-with; premising that, as I am
a '_Will_ of the wisp,' I may chance to flit out of it. But, first,
a word on the Memoir;--I have no objection, nay, I would rather
that _one_ correct copy was taken and deposited in honourable
hands, in case of accidents happening to the original; for you know
that I have none, and have never even _re_-read, nor, indeed,
_read_ at all what is there written; I only know that I wrote it
with the fullest intention to be 'faithful and true' in my
narrative, but _not_ impartial--no, by the Lord! I can't pretend to
be that, while I feel. But I wish to give every body concerned the
opportunity to contradict or correct me.

"I have no objection to any proper person seeing what is there
written,--seeing it was written, like every thing else, for the
purpose of being read, however much many writings may fail in
arriving at that object.

"With regard to 'the wisp,' the Pope has pronounced _their
separation_. The decree came yesterday from Babylon,--it was _she_
and _her friends_ who demanded it, on the grounds of her husband's
(the noble Count