accept that of 'The Corsair,' and I thanked him. He asked me to call and
hear the portions read as he wrote them. I went every morning, and was
astonished at the rapidity of his composition. He gave me the poem
complete on New-year's day, 1814, saying, that my acceptance of it gave
him great pleasure, and that I was fully at liberty to publish it with
any bookseller I pleased, independent of the profit."

Out of this last-mentioned permission arose the momentary embarrassment
between the noble poet and his publisher, to which the above notes
allude.]

* * * * *

TO MR. MURRAY.

["Jan. 1814.]

"I will answer your letter this evening; in the mean time, it may
be sufficient to say, that there was no intention on my part to
annoy you, but merely to _serve_ Dallas, and also to rescue myself
from a possible imputation that _I_ had other objects than fame in
writing so frequently. Whenever I avail myself of any profit
arising from my pen, depend upon it, it is not for my own
convenience; at least it never has been so, and I hope never will.

"P.S. I shall answer this evening, and will set all right about
Dallas. I thank you for your expressions of personal regard, which
I can assure you I do not lightly value."

* * * * *