BYRON.



[Footnote 1: Mrs. Byron, writing to Hanson (June 25, 1805), says, "The
fame of Byron's oratory has reached Southwell" (see page 27, note 1).]





29.--To John Hanson.


Harrow, 8 July, 1805.


My dear Sir,--I have just received a Letter from my Mother, in which
she talks of coming to Town about the _commencement_ of our Holidays.
If she does, it will be impossible for me to call on _my Sister_,
previous to my leaving it, and at the same time I cannot conceive what
the Deuce she can want at this season in London. I have written to
tell her that my Holidays commence on the 6th of August, but however,
July the 1st is the proper day.--I beg that if you cannot find some
means to keep her in the Country that you at least will connive at
this deception which I can palliate, and then I shall be down in the
country before she knows where I am. My reasons for this are, that I
do _not wish_ to be detained in Town so uncomfortably as I know I
shall be if I remain with her; that _I do wish_ to see my Sister; and
in the next place she can just as well come to Town after my return to