[82] [William Brodie Gurney (1777-1855), the son and grandson of eminent shorthand writers, "reported the proceedings against the Duke of York in 1809, the trials of Lord Cochrane in 1814, and of Thistlewood in 1820, and the proceedings against Queen Caroline."--_Dict. of Nat. Biog_., art. "Gurney."] {67}[83] ["Venice, December 7, 1818. "After _that stanza_ in the first canto of _Don Juan_ (sent by Lord Lauderdale) towards the _conclusion_ of the canto--I speak of the stanza whose two last lines are-- "'The best is that in short-hand ta'en by Gurney, Who to Madrid on purpose made a journey,' insert the following stanzas, 'But Donna Inez,' etc."--B. The text is based on a second or revised copy of stanzas cxc.-cxcviii. Many of the corrections and emendations which were inserted in the first draft are omitted in the later and presumably improved version. Byron's first intention was to insert seven stanzas after stanza clxxxix., descriptive and highly depreciatory of Brougham, but for reasons of "fairness" (_vide infra_) he changed his mind. The casual mention of "blundering Brougham" in _English Bards, etc._ (line 524, _Poetical Works_, 1898, i. 338, note 2), is a proof that his suspicions were not aroused as to the authorship of the review of _Hours of Idleness_ (_Edin. Rev._, January, 1808), and it is certain that Byron's animosity was due to the part played by Brougham at the time of the Separation. (In a letter to Byron, dated February 18, 1817, Murray speaks of a certain B. "as your incessant persecutor--the source of all affected public opinion respecting you.") The stanzas, with the accompanying notes, are not included in the editions of 1833 or 1837, and are now printed for the first time. I. "'Twas a fine cause for those in law delighting-- 'Tis pity that they had no Brougham in Spain, Famous for always talking, and ne'er fighting, For calling names, and taking them again; For blustering, bungling, trimming, wrangling, writing, Groping all paths to power, and all in vain-- Losing elections, character, and temper, A foolish, clever, fellow--_Idem semper!_ II. "Bully in Senates, skulker in the Field,[*A] The Adulterer's advocate when duly feed, The libeller's gratis Counsel, dirty shield Which Law affords to many a dirty deed; A wondrous Warrior against those who yield-- A rod to Weakness, to the brave a reed-- The People's sycophant, the Prince's foe, And serving him the more by being so. III. "Tory by nurture, Whig by Circumstance, A Democrat some once or twice a year, Whene'er it suits his purpose to advance His vain ambition in its vague career: A sort of Orator by sufferance, Less for the comprehension than the ear; With all the arrogance of endless power, Without the sense to keep it for an hour. IV.