"I think your Elegy a remarkably good one, not only as a composition, but both the politics and poetry contain a far greater portion of truth and generosity than belongs to the times, or to the professors of these opposite pursuits, which usually agree only in one point, as extremes meet. I do not know whether you wished me to retain the copy, but I shall retain it till you tell me otherwise; and am very much obliged by the perusal. "My own sentiments on Venice, &c., such as they are, I had already thrown into verse last summer, in the fourth Canto of Childe Harold, now in preparation for the press; and I think much more highly of them, for being in coincidence with yours. "Believe me yours," &c. * * * * * LETTER 304. TO MR. MURRAY. "Venice, January 8. 1818. "My dear Mr. Murray, You're in a damn'd hurry To set up this ultimate Canto; But (if they don't rob us) You'll see Mr. Hobhouse Will bring it safe in his portmanteau. "For the Journal you hint of, As ready to print off, No doubt you do right to commend it; But as yet I have writ off The devil a bit of Our 'Beppo;'--when copied, I'll send it. "Then you've * * * Tour,-- No great things, so be sure, You could hardly begin with a less work; For the pompous rascallion, Who don't speak Italian Nor French, must have scribbled by guess-work. "You can make any loss up With 'Spence' and his gossip, A work which must surely succeed; Then Queen Mary's Epistle-craft, With the new 'Fytte' of 'Whistlecraft,' Must make people purchase and read. "Then you've General Gordon, Who girded his sword on, To serve with a Muscovite master, And help him to polish A nation so owlish, They thought shaving their beards a disaster. "For the man, '_poor and shrewd_[11],' With whom you'd conclude A compact without more delay, Perhaps some such pen is Still extant in Venice; But please, sir, to mention _your pay_." [Footnote 11: "Vide your letter."] * * * * * LETTER 305. TO MR. MURRAY. "Venice, January 19. 1818. "I send you the Story[12] in three other separate covers. It won't do for your Journal, being full of political allusions. _Print alone, without name_; alter nothing; get a scholar to see that the _Italian phrases_ are correctly published, (your printing, by the way, always makes me ill with its eternal blunders, which are incessant,) and God speed you. Hobhouse left Venice a fortnight ago, saving two days. I have heard nothing of or from him. "Yours, &c.