of a meteor. Father Paschal is also a learned and
pious soul. He was two years in England.

"I am still dreadfully in love with the Adriatic lady whom I spake
of in a former letter, (and _not_ in _this_--I add, for fear of
mistakes, for the only one mentioned in the first part of this
epistle is elderly and bookish, two things which I have ceased to
admire,) and love in this part of the world is no sinecure. This is
also the season when every body make up their intrigues for the
ensuing year, and cut for partners for the next deal.

"And now, if you don't write, I don't know what I won't say or do,
nor what I will. Send me some news--good news. Yours very truly,
&c. &c. &c.

"B.

"P.S. Remember me to Mr. Gifford, with all duty.

"I hear that the Edinburgh Review has cut up Coleridge's
Christabel, and me for praising it, which omen, I think, bodes no
great good to your forthcome or coming Canto and Castle (of
Chillon). My run of luck within the last year seems to have taken a
turn every way; but never mind, I will bring myself through in the
end--if not, I can be but where I began. In the mean time, I am not
displeased to be where I am--I mean, at Venice. My Adriatic nymph
is this moment here, and I must therefore repose from this letter."

* * * * *

LETTER 258. TO MR. MURRAY.

"Venice, Jan. 2. 1817.

"Your letter has arrived. Pray, in publishing the third Canto, have
you _omitted_ any passages? I hope _not_; and indeed wrote to you
on my way over the Alps to prevent such an incident. Say in your
next whether or not the _whole_ of the Canto (as sent to you) has
been published. I wrote to you again the other day, (_twice_, I
think,) and shall be glad to hear of the reception of those
letters.

"To-day is the 2d of January. On this day _three_ years ago The
Corsair's publication is dated, I think, in my letter to Moore. On
this day _two_ years I married, ('Whom the Lord loveth he
chasteneth,'--I sha'n't forget the day in a hurry,) and it is odd
enough that I this day received a letter from you announcing the
publication of Childe Harold, &c. &c. on the day of the date of
'The Corsair;' and I also received one from my sister, written on
the 10th of December, my daughter's birth-day (and relative chi