four miles from Leghorn, much resorted
to, as a place of residence during the summer months.]

* * * * *

LETTER. 495. TO MR. MURRAY.

"Montenero, near Leghorn, May 29. 1822.

"I return you the proofs revised. Your printer has made one odd
mistake:--'poor as a _mouse_,' instead of 'poor as a _miser_.' The
expression may seem strange, but it is only a translation of
'semper avarus eget.' You will add the Mystery, and publish as soon
as you can. I care nothing for your 'season,' nor the _blue_
approbations or disapprobations. All that is to be considered by
you on the subject is as a matter of _business_; and if I square
that to your notions (even to the running the risk entirely
myself), you may permit me to choose my own time and mode of
publication. With regard to the late volume, the present run
against _it_ or _me_ may impede it for a time, but it has the vital
principle of permanency within it, as you may perhaps one day
discover. I wrote to you on another subject a few days ago.

Yours, N.B.

"P.S. Please to send me the Dedication of Sardanapalus to Goethe. I
shall prefix it to Werner, unless you prefer my putting another,
stating that the former had been omitted by the publisher.

"On the title-page of the present volume, put 'Published for the
Author by J.M.'"

* * * * *

LETTER 496. TO MR. MURRAY.

"Montenero, Leghorn, June 6. 1822.

"I return you the revise of Werner, and expect the rest. With
regard to the Lines to the Po, perhaps you had better put them
quietly in a second edition (if you reach one, that is to say) than
in the first; because, though they have been reckoned fine, and I
wish them to be preserved, I do not wish them to attract IMMEDIATE
observation, on account of the relationship of the lady to whom
they are addressed with the first families in Romagna and the
Marches.

"The defender of 'Cain' may or may not be, as you term him, 'a tyro
in literature:' however I think both you and I are under great
obligation to him. I have read the Edinburgh review in Galignani's
Magazine, and have not yet decided whether to answer them or not;
for, if I do, it will be difficult for me not 'to make sport for
the Philistines' by pulling down a house or two; since,