The actual acquaintance of the two men did not begin until 1813, when Thomas Moore, since 1811 a staunch admirer of Hunt's political courage and of his literary talent, and one of the visitors welcomed to Surrey Gaol, mentioned the circumstances of his imprisonment to Lord Byron, likewise a sympathizer with the attitude of _The Examiner_ towards the Prince Regent. Mr. Cordy Jeaffreson[321] thinks that it was this reckless sympathy with the libeller of the Prince Regent that led Byron to reprint with _The Corsair_, eight lines addressed in 1812 to the Princess Charlotte, _Weep, daughter of a Royal Line_. The retaliation of one of the Tory papers goaded Byron to write in return an article which strongly resembles Hunt's famous libel[322] on the Prince Regent. Byron expressed a wish to call on Hunt with Moore, and a visit followed on May 20, 1813.[323] Five days later Hunt wrote: "I have had Lord B. here again. He came on Sunday, by himself, in a very frank, unceremonious manner, and knowing what I wanted for my poem [_Story of Rimini_] brought me the last new _Travels in Italy_ in two quarto volumes, of which he requests my acceptance, with the air of one who did not seem to think himself conferring the least obligation. This will please you. It strikes me that he and I shall become _friends_, literally and cordially speaking: there is something in the texture of his mind and feelings that seems to resemble mine to a thread; I think we are cut out of the same piece, only a little different wear may have altered our respective naps a little."[324] With the pride of a sycophant in the presence of a lord Hunt relates that Byron would not let the footman carry the books but gave "you to understand that he was prouder of being a friend and a man of letters than a lord. It was thus by flattering one's vanity he persuaded us of his own freedom from it: for he could see very well, that I had more value for lords than I supposed."[325] In June of the same year Hunt invited Byron, Moore and Mitchell to dine with him in prison. Among several others who came in during the evening was Mr. John Scott, later a severe critic of Byron in _The Champion_.[326] Many years after Moore, in his _Life of Byron_, wrote of the gathering with venom, recalling Scott as an assailant of Byron's "living fame, while another [Hunt] less manful, would reserve the cool venom for his grave."[327] Byron esteemed Hunt greatly during the first year of their acquaintance. His advances show a desire for intimacy which goes far toward contradicting the statements sometimes made that the overtures were on Hunt's side only.[328] Byron expressed himself thus at the time: