steem is held of Manfred.

"I have now been nearly as long _out_ of England as I was there
during the time I saw you frequently. I came home July 14th, 1811,
and left again April 25th, 1816: so that Sept. 28th, 1820, brings
me within a very few months of the same duration of time of my stay
and my absence. In course, I can know nothing of the public taste
and feelings, but from what I glean from letters, &c. Both seem to
be as bad as possible.

"I thought _Anastasius excellent_: did I not say so? Matthews's
Diary most excellent; it, and Forsyth, and parts of Hobhouse, are
all we have of truth or sense upon Italy. The Letter to Julia very
good indeed, I do not despise * * * * * *; but if she knit blue
stockings instead of wearing them, it would be better. _You_ are
taken in by that false stilted trashy style, which is a mixture of
all the styles of the day, which are _all bombastic_ (I don't
except my _own_--no one has done more through negligence to corrupt
the language); but it is neither English nor poetry. Time will
show.

"I am sorry Gifford has made no further remarks beyond the first
Act: does he think all the English equally sterling as he thought
the first? You did right to send the proofs: I was a fool; but I do
really detest the sight of proofs: it is an absurdity; but comes
from laziness.

"You can steal the two Juans into the world quietly, tagged to the
others. The play as you will--the Dante too; but the _Pulci_ I am
proud of: it is superb; you have no such translation. It is the
best thing I ever did in my life. I wrote the play from beginning
to end, and not a _single scene without interruption_, and being
obliged to break off in the middle; for I had my hands full, and my
head, too, just then; so it can be no great shakes--I mean the
play; and the head too, if you like.

"P.S. Politics here still savage and uncertain. However, we are all
in our 'bandaliers,' to join the 'Highlanders if they cross the
Forth,' _i.e._ to crush the Austrians if they cross the Po. The
rascals!--and that dog Liverpool, to say their subjects are
_happy_! If ever I come back, I'll work some of these ministers.

"Sept. 29.

"I opened my letter to say, that on reading _more_ of the four
volumes on Italy, where the author says 'declined