"Some weeks ago I wrote to you my acknowledgments of Walter Scott's article. Now I know it to be his, it cannot add to my good opinion of him, but it adds to that of myself. _He_, and Gifford, and Moore, are the only _regulars_ I ever knew who had nothing of the _garrison_ about their manner: no nonsense, nor affectations, look you! As for the rest whom I have known, there was always more or less of the author about them--the pen peeping from behind the ear, and the thumbs a little inky, or so. "'Lalla Rookh'--you must recollect that, in the way of title, the '_Giaour_' has never been pronounced to this day; and both it and Childe Harold sounded very facetious to the blue-bottles of wit and humour about town, till they were taught and startled into a proper deportment; and therefore Lalla Rookh, which is very orthodox and oriental, is as good a title as need be, if not better. I could wish rather that he had not called it '_a Persian Tale_;' firstly, because we have had Turkish Tales, and Hindoo Tales, and Assyrian Tales, already; and _tale_ is a word of which it repents me to have nicknamed poesy. 'Fable' would be better; and, secondly, 'Persian Tale' reminds one of the lines of Pope on Ambrose Phillips; though no one can say, to be sure, that this tale has been 'turned for half-a-crown;' still it is as well to avoid such clashings. 'Persian Story'--why not?--or Romance? I feel as anxious for Moore as I could do for myself, for the soul of me, and I would not have him succeed otherwise than splendidly, which I trust he will do. "With regard to the 'Witch Drama,' I sent all the three acts by post, week after week, within this last month. I repeat that I have not an idea if it is good or bad. If bad, it must, on no account, be risked in publication; if good, it is at your service I value it at _three hundred_ guineas, or less, if you like it. Perhaps, if published, the best way will be to add it to your winter volume, and not publish separately. The price will show you I don't pique myself upon it; so speak out. You may put it in the fire, if you like, and Gifford don't like. "The Armenian Grammar is published--that is, _one_; the other is still in MS. My illness has prevented me from moving this month past, and I have done nothing more with the Armenian.