Letter from John C. Hobhouse, Foremark, to John Murray, 1829 September 20 : autograph manuscript signed | WorldCat.org (original) (raw)

Summary:Discussing, at length and in detail, his objection to Thomas Moore's proposed publication on Byron; saying "I am extremely sorry Mr. Kinnaird should have done what you mention but not for the reasons to which you allude - for I cannot see what possible claim the undertaker of the forthcoming Life of lord Byron, either author or publisher can have upon those whom you call his 'real friends' - You know very well the true origins and object of that work, and you would be the last man in the world to pretend that the thing was done for the sake of Lord Byron's memory, and ought, therefore to be countenanced and supported by all his friends - The extracts of the letters you have just sent to me prove nothing more than I knew before from the perusal of that strange bond which made over not only Lord Byron's correspondence, but that of his friends, to you and Mr. Moore, or any biographer you or your heirs might select, as a sort of supplement to the memoir which you, yourself, so much to your credit, assisted to destroy - Lord Byron's authority when he was alive did not weigh with me so much as to make me a party to what I disapproved, nor can it, now that he is gone, induce me to cooperate publickly in an undertaking which is only a continuation and a part of that project which I will venture to say, is in that a parallel in the history of literary friendships. But you seem to forget that Lord Byron's positive assurance to me - that his implied resolution to Mr. Kinnaird - the cancelling of the bond - the substitution of a second bond in which the non-publication of the memoir was provided for, and above all, the destruction of the memoir for the sake, as you know, of Lord Byron's character, have altogether deprived of value whatever he may have written or said under the impression of carrying into effect the publication and adding to the materials of those Memoirs - When you call to mind these facts and adopt the conclusion inevitable from them, you will not, I am sure, expect that the extracts which you have sent to me should alter the determination which I have formed not to be a public contributor to the Life of Lord Byron; nor will you infer from that conduct an indifference to the fame of my friend - I know that Mr. Moore has used that language and I should not be surprised if he insinuated as much in his book - If he does he must take the consequences in which I should be very sorry to find you involved. There is no harm in any author trying to turn one honest penny by his intimacy with an illustrious friend; but there is a great deal of harm, and somewhat of a ludicrous audacity in being angry with those who possessed of the same advantages do not chuse either to make the same use of them, or to empty their own letter boxes for the sake of filling the pockets of another man - In this instance forbearance and silence are almost more than could be reckoned upon; but to expect assistance and to be offended with neutrality, is really a little too unusual not to say presumptuous. If the Book answers the intended object without injuring the character of the dead, or wounding the feelings of the living, so much the better - if it raises the personal reputation of Lord Byron, better still - But in neither case will the nature of the original transaction, nor the object of the undertaking, be altered in the slightest degree - No No, my dear Mr. Murray, Mr. Moore is a very clever fellow - no one doubts that - and his work, in spite of the keepsake, will turn out a very saleable article, but you must not advertize it as an eternal monument of disinterested friendship and the only real basis of Lord Byron's fame - After all, I know not why I should give you the trouble of reading and myself or writing this homily; considering that you and I have talked over the subject fifty times before and have never, that I can recollect, differed on any one point connected with it. I have written to all the members of the sub committee communicating Thorvaldsen's offer and when I have their answers will call upon you in London."