, and practise pistol-shooting
at a pumpkin, and I am not sorry to observe that I approach towards
my noble friend's exactness of aim. I have the greatest trouble to
get away, and Lord Byron, as a reason for my stay, has urged, that
without either me or the Guiccioli, he will certainly fall into his
old habits. I then talk, and he listens to reason; and I earnestly
hope that he is too well aware of the terrible and degrading
consequences of his former mode of life, to be in danger from the
short interval of temptation that will be left him."

* * * * *

LETTER 443. TO MR. MURRAY.

"Ravenna, August 10. 1821.

"Your conduct to Mr. Moore is certainly very handsome; and I would
not say so if I could help it, for you are not at present by any
means in my good graces.

"With regard to additions, &c. there is a Journal which I kept in
1814 which you may ask him for; also a Journal which you must get
from Mrs. Leigh, of my journey in the Alps, which contains all the
germs of Manfred. I have also kept a small Diary here for a few
months last winter, which I would send you, and any continuation.
You would find easy access to all my papers and letters, and do
_not neglect this_ (in case of accidents) on account of the mass of
confusion in which they are; for out of that chaos of papers you
will find some curious ones of mine and others, if not lost or
destroyed. If circumstances, however (which is almost impossible),
made me ever consent to a publication in my lifetime, you would in
that case, I suppose, make Moore some advance, in proportion to the
likelihood or non-likelihood of success. You are both sure to
survive me, however.

"You must also have from Mr. Moore the correspondence between me
and Lady B. to whom I offered the sight of all which regards
herself in these papers. This is important. He has _her_ letter,
and a copy of my answer. I would rather Moore edited me than
another.

"I sent you Valpy's letter to decide for yourself, and Stockdale's
to amuse you. _I_ am always loyal with you, as I was in Galignani's
affair, and _you_ with me--now and then.

"I return you Moore's letter, which is very creditable to him, and
you, and me.

"Yours ever."

* * * * *

LETTER