'The Foscaris' is the
_suppressed_ passions, rather than the rant of the present day. For
that matter--

"Nay, if thou'lt mouth,
I'll rant as well as thou--

would not be difficult, as I think I have shown in my younger
productions--_not dramatic_ ones, to be sure. But, as I said
before, I am mortified that Gifford don't like them; but I see no
remedy, our notions on that subject being so different. How is
he?--well, I hope? let me know. I regret his demur the more that he
has been always my grand patron, and I know no praise which would
compensate me in my own mind for his censure. I do not mind
_Reviews_, as I can work them at their own weapons.

"Yours, &c.

"Address to me at _Pisa_, whither I am going. The reason is, that
all my Italian friends here have been exiled, and are met there for
the present, and I go to join them, as agreed upon, for the
winter."

[Footnote 53: This short satire, which is wholly unworthy of his pen,
appeared afterwards in the Liberal.]

* * * * *

LETTER 456. TO MR. MURRAY.

"Ravenna, September 24. 1821.

"I have been thinking over our late correspondence, and wish to
propose to you the following articles for our future:--

"1stly. That you shall write to me of yourself, of the health,
wealth, and welfare of all friends; but of _me_ (_quoad me_) little
or nothing.

"2dly. That you shall send me soda-powders, tooth-powder,
tooth-brushes, or any such anti-odontalgic or chemical articles, as
heretofore,'ad libitum,' upon being reimbursed for the same.

"3dly. That you shall not send me any modern, or (as they are
called) _new_ publications, in _English whatsoever_, save and
excepting any writing, prose or verse, of (or reasonably presumed
to be of) Walter Scott, Crabbe, Moore, Campbell, Rogers, Gifford,
Joanna Baillie, _Irving_ (the American), Hogg, Wilson (Isle of
Palms man), or _any_ especial _single_ work of fancy which is
thought to be of considerable merit; _Voyages_ and _Travels_,
provided that they are _neither in Greece, Spain, Asia Minor,
Albania, nor Italy_, will be welcome. Having travelled the
countries mentioned, I know that what is said of them can convey
nothing farther which I desire to know about them.--No other
English wo