humbly solicit his attendance. I am just returned from a gallop
along the banks of the Brenta--time, sunset. Yours,

"B."

* * * * *

LETTER 286. TO MR. MURRAY.

"La Mira, near Venice, July 1. 1817.

"Since my former letter, I have been working up my impressions into
a _fourth_ Canto of Childe Harold, of which I have roughened off
about rather better than thirty stanzas, and mean to go on; and
probably to make this 'Fytte' the concluding one of the poem, so
that you may propose against the autumn to draw out the
conscription for 1818. You must provide moneys, as this new
resumption bodes you certain disbursements. Somewhere about the end
of September or October, I propose to be under way (_i.e._ in the
press); but I have no idea yet of the probable length or calibre of
the Canto, or what it will be good for; but I mean to be as
mercenary as possible, an example (I do not mean of any individual
in particular, and least of all, any person or persons of our
mutual acquaintance) which I should have followed in my youth, and
I might still have been a prosperous gentleman.

"No tooth-powder, no letters, no recent tidings of you.

"Mr. Lewis is at Venice, and I am going up to stay a week with him
there--as it is one of his enthusiasms also to like the city.