us--indeed,
everything that a man can be, short of absolute perfection. She
thinks me narrow-minded and prejudiced because I do not care to
read his life, and because, in spite of all Moore's assertions, I
maintain that with Byron's own works in one's hand his character
cannot possibly be a riddle to anybody. I dare say the devil may
sometimes be painted blacker than he is; but Byron has a fancy for
the character of Lucifer, and seems to me, on the contrary, _tres
pauvre diable_. I have no idea that Byron was half fiend, half man
(at least, no more so than all of us are); I dare say he was not at
all really an atheist, as he has been reputed; indeed, I do not
think Lord Byron, in spite of all the fuss that has been made about
him, was by any means an uncommon character. His genius was indeed
rare, but his pride, vanity, and selfishness were only so in
degree. You know, H----, nobody was ever a more fanatical worshiper
of his poetry than I was: time was that I devoured his verses
(poison as they were to me) like "raspberry tarts;" I still know,
and remember with delight, their exquisite beauty and noble vigor,
but they don't agree with me. And, without knowing anything of his
religious doubts or moral delinquencies, I cannot at all agree with
Mr. Moore that upon the showing of his own works Byron was a "good
man." If he was, no one has done him such injustice as himself; and
if _he_ was _good_, then what was Milton? and what genial and
gentle Shakespeare?

Good-by, dear H----; write me along "thank you" for this longest of
mortal letters, and believe that I am your ever affectionate

F. A. K.

I began living upon my allowance on New Year's Day, and am keeping
a most rigorous account of every farthing I spend. I have a
tolerable "acquisitiveness" among my other organs, but think I
would rather get than keep money, and to earn would always be
pleasanter to me than to save. I act in "Fazio" to-night, Friday,
and Monday next, so you will know where to find me on those
evenings.

MONDAY, 27th.
DEAR H----,

Horace Twiss has been out of town, and I have been obliged to delay
this for a frank. You will be glad, I know, to hear that "