"I have no thoughts of coming amongst you yet awhile, so that I can fight off business. If I could but make a tolerable sale of Newstead, there would be no occasion for my return; and I can assure you very sincerely, that I am much happier (or, at least, have been so) out of your island than in it. "Yours ever. "P.S. There are few English here, but several of my acquaintance; amongst others, the Marquis of Lansdowne, with whom I dine to-morrow. I met the Jerseys on the road at Foligno--all well. "Oh--I forgot--the Italians have printed Chillon, &c. a _piracy_,--a pretty little edition, prettier than yours--and published, as I found to my great astonishment on arriving here; and what is odd, is, that the English is quite correctly printed. Why they did it, or who did it, I know not; but so it is;--I suppose, for the English people. I will send you a copy." * * * * * LETTER 279. TO MR. MOORE. "Rome, May 12. 1817. "I have received your letter here, where I have taken a cruise lately; but I shall return back to Venice in a few days, so that if you write again, address there, as usual. I am not for returning to England so soon as you imagine; and by no means at all as a residence. If you cross the Alps in your projected expedition, you will find me somewhere in Lombardy, and very glad to see you. Only give me a word or two beforehand, for I would readily diverge some leagues to meet you. "Of Rome I say nothing; it is quite indescribable, and the Guide-book is as good as any other. I dined yesterday with Lord Lansdowne, who is on his return. But there are few English here at present; the winter is _their_ time. I have been on horseback most of the day, all days since my arrival, and have taken it as I did Constantinople. But Rome is the elder sister, and the finer. I went some days ago to the top of the Alban Mount, which is superb. As for the Coliseum, Pantheon, St. Peter's, the Vatican, Palatine, &c. &c.--as I said, vide Guide-book. They are quite inconceivable, and must _be seen_. The Apollo Belvidere is the image of Lady Adelaide Forbes--I think I never saw such a likeness. "I have seen the Pope alive, and a cardinal dead,--both of whom looked very well indeed. The latter was in state in the Chiesa Nuova, previous to his interment. "Your poetical alarms are groundless; go on and prosper. Here is Hobhouse just come in, and my horses at the door, so that I must mount and take the field in the Campus Martius, which, by the way, is all built over by modern Rome. "Yours very and ever, &c. "P.S. Hobhouse presents his remembrances, and is eager, with all the world, for your new poem." * * * * * LETTER 280. TO MR. MURRAY. "Venice, May 30. 1817.