19 — To the Hon. Augusta Byron

6, Chancery Lane, Wednesday, 30th Jany., 1805.

I have delayed writing to you so long, My dearest Augusta, from ignorance of your residence, not knowing whether you

graced

Castle Howard, or Kireton with your

presence.

The instant Mr. H[anson] informed me where you was, I prepared to address you, and you have but just forestalled my intention. And now, I scarcely know what to begin with; I have so many things, to tell you. I wish to God, that we were together, for It is impossible that I can confine all I have got to say in an epistle, without I was to follow your example, and fill eleven pages, as I was informed, by my

proficiency

in

the art of magic,

that you sometimes send that

number

to

Lady Gertrude.

To begin with an article of

grand importance;

I on Saturday dined with Lord Carlisle, and on further acquaintance I like them all very much. Amongst other circumstances, I heard of your

boldness

as a

Rider,

especially one anecdote about your horse carrying you into the stable

perforce.

I should have admired amazingly to have seen your progress, provided you met with no accident. I hope you recollect the circumstance, and know what I allude to; else, you may think that I am

soaring

into the

Regions of Romance.

I wish you to corroborate my account in your next, and inform me whether my information was correct.

I

think your friend Lady G. is a sweet girl. If your taste in

love

, is as good as it is in

friendship

, I shall think you a

very discerning little Gentlewoman

. His Lordship too improves upon further acquaintance, Her Ladyship I always liked, but of the Junior part of the family Frederick

is my favourite. I believe with regard to my future destination, that I return to Harrow until June, and then I'm off for the university. Could I have found Room there, I was to have gone immediately.

I have contrived to pass the holidays with Mr. and Mrs. Hanson, to whom I am greatly obliged for their hospitality. You are now within a days journey of my

amiable Mama

. If you wish your spirits

raised

, or rather

roused

, I would recommend you to pass a week or two with her. However I daresay she would behave very well to

you

, for you do not know her disposition so well as I do. I return you, my dear Girl, a thousand thanks for hinting to Mr. H. and Lord C. my uncomfortable situation, I shall always remember it with gratitude, as a most

essential service

. I rather think that, if you were any time with my mother, she would bore you about your marriage which she

disapproves

of, as much for the sake of finding fault as any thing, for that is her favourite amusement. At any rate she would be very inquisitive, for she was always tormenting me about it, and, if you told her any thing, she might very possibly divulge it; I therefore advise you,

when you see her

to say nothing, or as little, about it, as you can help. If you make haste, you can answer this

well written

epistle by return of post, for I wish again to hear from you immediately; you need not fill

eleven pages, nine

will be sufficient; but whether it contains nine pages or nine lines, it will always be most welcome, my beloved Sister, to Your affectionate Brother and Friend,

Byron

Footnote 1:

The Hon. Frederick Howard, third son of Lord Carlisle, the "young, gallant Howard" of

Childe Harold

(Canto III. stanzas xxix., xxx.; see Byron's note), was killed at Waterloo. "The best of his race," says Byron, in a letter to Moore, July 7, 1815.

return to footnote mark

cross-reference: return to Footnote 2 of Letter 166

List of Letters