"By the way--I have a charge against you. As the great Mr. Dennis roared out on a similar occasion--'By G----d, _that_ is _my_ thunder!' so do I exclaim, '_This_ is _my_ lightning!' I allude to a speech of Ivan's, in the scene with Petrowna and the Empress, where the thought and almost expression are similar to Conrad's in the 3d Canto of 'The Corsair.' I, however, do not say this to accuse you, but to exempt myself from suspicion[84], as there is a priority of six months' publication, on my part, between the appearance of that composition and of your tragedies. "George Lambe meant to have written to you. If you don't like to confer with the managers at present, I will attend to your wishes--so state them. Yours very truly, BYRON." [Footnote 84: Notwithstanding this precaution of the poet, the coincidence in question was, but a few years after, triumphantly cited in support of the sweeping charge of plagiarism brought against him by some scribblers. The following are Mr. Sotheby's lines:-- "And I have leapt In transport from my flinty couch, to welcome The thunder as it burst upon my roof, And beckon'd to the lightning, as it flash'd And sparkled on these fetters." I have since been informed by Mr. Sotheby that, though not published, these lines had been written long before the appearance of Lord Byron's poem.] * * * * * LETTER 225. TO MR. TAYLOR. "13. Terrace, Piccadilly, September 25. 1815. "Dear Sir, "I am sorry you should feel uneasy at what has by no means troubled me.[85] If your editor, his correspondents, and readers, are amused, I have no objection to be the theme of all the ballads he can find room for,--provided his lucubrations are confined to _me_ only. "It is a long time since things of this kind have ceased to 'fright me from my propriety;' nor do I know any similar attack which would induce me to turn again,--unless it involved those connected with me, whose qualities, I hope, are such as to exempt them in the eyes of those who bear no good-will to myself. In such a case, supposing it to occur--to _reverse_ the saying of Dr. Johnson,--'what the law could not do for me, I would do for myself,' be the consequences what they might. "I return you, with many thanks, Colman and the letters. The poems, I hope, you intended me to keep;--at least, I shall do so, till I hear the contrary. Very truly yours."