"I was quite sorry to hear you say you stayed in town on my account, and I hope sincerely you did not mean so superfluous a piece of politeness.
"Our _six_ critiques!--they would have made half a Quarterly by themselves; but this is the age of criticism."
The following refer apparently to a still later edition.
"I have just recollected an alteration you may make in the proof to be sent to Aston.--Among the lines on Hassan's Serai, not far from the beginning, is this--
Now to share implies more than _one_, and Solitude is a single gentleman; it must be thus--
"For many a gilded chamber's there, Which Solitude might well forbear;
and so on.--My address is Aston Hall, Rotherham.
"Will you adopt this correction? and pray accept a Stilton cheese from me for your trouble. Ever yours, B.
"If[75] the old line stands let the other run thus--
"Nor there will weary traveller halt, To bless the sacred bread and salt.
"_Note_.--To partake of food--to break bread and taste salt with your host, ensures the safety of the guest; even though an enemy, his person from that moment becomes sacred.
"There is another additional note sent yesterday--on the Priest in the Confessional.
"P.S.--I leave this to your discretion; if any body thinks the old line a good one or the cheese a bad one, don't accept either. But, in that case, the word _share_ is repeated soon after in the line--
This is not so well, though--confound it!"
[Footnote 75: This is written on a separate slip of paper enclosed.]
"You must look The Giaour again over carefully; there are a few lapses, particularly in the last page.--'I _know_ 'twas false; she could not die;' it was, and ought to be--'I _knew_.' Pray observe this and similar mistakes.
"I have received and read the British Review. I really think the writer in most points very right. The only mortifying thing is the accusation of imitation. _Crabbe_'s passage I never saw[76]; and Scott I no further meant to follow than in his _lyric_ measure, which is Gray's, Milton's, and any one's who likes it. The Giaour is certainly a bad character, but not dangerous; and I think his fate and his feelings will meet with few proselytes. I shall be very glad to hear from or of you, when you please; but don't put yourself out of your way on my account."